In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s Bed-In, the organizing committee of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence will be holding a “Bed-In for Peace and Nonviolence.” Participants will gather at the Cherry Hill Fountain Terrace adjacent to Strawberry Fields in Central Park on August 16th from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m, where they will pay tribute to John Lennon, and Yoko Ono, and the timeless cause for peace.
A “Peace Bed” will be set-up so musicians and attendees can express their thoughts on peace, nuclear proliferation and violence of all kinds in the same way that Lennon and Ono brought world attention to the violence of the Viet Nam War from their honeymoon bed.

The press is invited to stop by to speak to the World March’s spokesperson in the US, Chris Wells, who has characterized the bed-in as a, “tribute for two remarkable beings that dared to dream and used their imagination to promote and support the planet’s most urgent need.” This event is part of the initiatives that started in May in Montreal and is now taking in place in New York City for the World March for Peace and Nonviolence. Bed-In celebrations have been organized in Montreal, Rio, Prague, Helsinki, Ireland, San Clemente, Munich, Madrid and Berlin to date.

The World March will be held in seven continents, starting in New Zealand on October 2nd, the International Day of Nonviolence, and will bring together more than one million direct participants in 95 countries, who will celebrate and demand peace for all countries. The message carried by all is the end of wars, the dismantling of nuclear weapons and to eliminate all forms of violence.

An international team of marchers will travel through the seven countinents, where marches, festivals, exhibits, concerts, forums, conferences and social, cultural, educational and athletic events will be taking place. The march will arrive in New York City on November 30, 2009, and reach its final destination in Punta de Vacas, Argentina on January 2. 2010.

The World March is backed by hundreds of endorsements including Nobel Laureates, heads of state, mayors and artists, such as Jimmy Carter, the President Michelle Bachelet and Penelope Cruz. The World March was launched by the international organization World Without Wars and the Humanist Movement. For more info: www.worldmarchusa.net

Yoko Ono has endorsed the March and received a special invitation to attend the Bed-In. Yoko has sent this special message to the organizers, “Remember, each one of us has the power to change the world. Power works in mysterious ways. You don’t have to do much. Visualise the domino effect. And just start thinking PEACE. The message will circulate faster than you think. It’s Time For Action. The Action is PEACE. Spread the word. Spread PEACE.“

What: Bed-In 40 Anniversary

When: August 16th, 2009

Where: Cherry Hill Fountain Terrace (Just east of “Strawberry
Fields”, entrance on 72nd St, Central Park West)

Who: World March For Peace And Nonviolence

Press Contact: Nicole Myers 212-580-8029

Note: this event was originally scheduled for June 21, 2009 and was cancelled due to rain. This time it will happen rain or shine.