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The European Peace Monument, in Chavasse Park Liverpool, England, is a peace monument dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.

The European Peace Monument Story

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The European Peace Monument was unveiled by Julian and Cynthia Lennon at a moving ceremony in Chavasse Park, Liverpool England, on Saturday 9th October 2010 to celebrate John Lennon’s 70th birthday. [1]

The eighteen-foot peace monument entitled ‘Peace & Harmony’ was created by Lauren Voiers, an American art prodigy of just 19 years of age. Lauren was commissioned by the Global Peace Initiative to create the peace monument for Europe, a sculpture to represent and inspire peace in the continent of Europe. [2]

Jerry Goldman, MD The Beatles Story, Liverpool comments:

“Lennon’s message of peace is timeless and is one that is now more relevant than ever. We hope that this imposing monument dedicated to John will become a place that people from all over the world will visit to contemplate peace and John Lennon’s contribution to it through his music.


“Liverpool is the only ideal destination for such a remarkable monument and we feel sure that it will take on a global significance as word travels round the world that there is a place to go to in England where people can meet under the timeless banner of peace.” [3]

This monument is the second peace monument to be gifted by the Global Peace Initiative the first is the peace monument for Asia which has a permanent home in Singapore. The Global Peace Initiative hope to position a peace monument on each continent.

At the unveiling ceremony at Chavasse Park, Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson said:

"The statue is there as a celebration of John's legacy.”
"The Global Peace Initiative picking John and wanting the monument in Liverpool is a real mark of the great man's incredible achievements and the fact he touched millions and millions of lives." [4]

Video coverage of the European Peace Monument

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  • Unveiling of ‘Peace & Harmony’ – European Peace Monument – Dedicated to John Lennon - Youtube video by Creative Concern[5]
  • John Lennon European Peace Monument Liverpool – Youtube video[6]
  • BBC coverage of the European Peace Monument unveiling – October 9th 2010, Liverpool, England[7]


The Sculpture - 'Peace & Harmony'

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An American art prodigy from Phoenix, Arizona, Lauren Voiers created the European Peace Monument dedicated to John Lennon. Entitled ‘Peace and Harmony’, the sculpture was inspired by Lauren's musical influences, including that of John Lennon and the Beatles.

The European Peace Monument ‘Peace and Harmony’ is a visually striking work of art, offering an inspiring and creative place for people to gather and also a fitting reminder of John Lennon’s quest for world peace.

Situated in Chavasse Park, a five acre green space in the heart of Liverpool overlooking the River Mersey, the European Peace Monument hopes to give hundreds of thousands of visitors to Liverpool the opportunity to celebrate the life and spirit of Lennon and his message of peace. [8]

Lauren Voiers is a self-taught, Cleveland, Ohio-based visual artist and painter, who, at age of 19, has already established herself as an internationally recognised artist. Voiers combines her artistic talent, inventiveness and life experiences to create original artwork that transcends time and cultures, and garners universal appeal. [9]

Quotes - Lauren Voiers

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'About a year ago I came up with an idea for a painting about the concept of world peace. I decided to incorporate a musical theme because I believe that music is the common denominator among all people of the world, the one thing that everyone shares regardless of race, religion or nationality.'

'My sculpture eventually evolved into an 18-foot tall metal and glass monument that will be unveiled to the world on October 9th, what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday.'

'This monument is dedicated to the spirit of John Lennon and will serve as a symbol of peace to the people of Europe.'

'My hope is that it will be a beacon of light, in memory of John Lennon who devoted the later part of his life to a worldwide peace movement.'

'If my monument helps carry on the unfinished work of John Lennon then I believe I will have done my small part in helping to promote peace and freedom.'[10]

The Global Peace Initiative

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The Global Peace Initiative is an American arts organisation dedicated to creating peace monuments around the world to promote and inspire global peace.

The Global Peace Initiative is committed to spreading the message of peace through artistic expression. They pledge to place a monument on every continent of the world, giving people a place to gather and reflect on the idea and possibility of world peace.[11]

The John Lennon Peace Monument, ‘Peace & Harmony’, by US artist Lauren Voiers, is the second peace monument to be gifted by the Global Peace Initiative. The first was gifted to the people of Asia in 2005, was accepted by the President of Singapore and has a permanent home in the country.

There are plans for a third monument to be gifted to the people of South America as part of a pledge by the Global Peace Initiative to reach out to all continents with their message.[12]

White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon

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One of the doves within the ‘Peace and Harmony’ monument holds a white feather in its beak as a symbol of the spirit of John Lennon.

Lauren Voiers was asked to make her painting, ‘Peace and Harmony’, into a sculpture as part of the Global Peace Initiative to position sculptures of peace in each continent.

The Beatles Story contacted Voiers and suggested that the sculpture be placed in Liverpool, as a way to remember the life and work of John Lennon. It was at this point that Julian Lennon requested the addition of a white feather into the sculpture, to represent the spirit of his father, John Lennon.

The significance of this white feather is explained by Julian Lennon, “Dad once said to me that should he pass away, if there was some way of letting me know he was going to be OK – that we were all going to be OK – the message would come to me in the form of a white feather.”[13]

Julian Lennon views the white feather as a symbol of peace and has created the White Feather Foundation.

The White Feather Foundation embraces environmental and humanitarian issues and, in conjunction with partners from around the world, helps to raise funds for the betterment of all life, and to honour those who have truly made a difference.[14]

Global Media Interest

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Julian and Cynthia Lennon were centre stage at the ceremony at Chavasse Park and proudly unveiled the monument dedicated to John. The event was a moving event of local, national and international significance and had The Liverpool Signing Choir performing 'Imagine' and other John Lennon songs. The ceremony was attended by global press, TV and radio media and reached an impressive international audience while being covered extensively by national and regional media.

At the unveiling of the European Peace Monument Julian Lennon told the crowd which included European Ambassadors, Beatle drummer Pete Best and hundreds of Liverpudlians:

“We come here with our hearts to honour Dad and pray for peace and say thank you to everybody who is celebrating today”

Cythia Lennon said:

“I think the mourning is over for John. I think it’s time to celebrate which is what we’re doing, thinking about his life which was positive and good, enjoying the joy he had and we all have from hearing his music.”[15]

Hundreds of articles have been written about the event demonstrating both the global enthusiasm for a Peace Monument in honour of John Lennon and the exceptional geographical spread of the media interest in John Lennon and the Beatles.

To show how far and wide the media coverage here is a link to a Google map illustrating how the media story for the John Lennon Peace Monument spanned from Liverpool, England to Pago Pago in the South Pacific! [16]

Countries Reached

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  • UK
  • Ireland
  • USA
  • Thailand
  • Indonesia
  • Australia
  • Argentina
  • Canada
  • Singapore
  • Greece
  • Rhodes Island - Greece
  • India
  • Poland
  • Israel
  • France
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Germany
  • China
  • Pago Pago, American Samoa

National Media Interest in the UK

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UK Nationals:

  • Daily Express[17]
  • Daily Mail[18]
  • News of the World
  • NME[19]
  • Observer
  • Sunday People
  • Sunday Star
  • Sunday Times
  • The Mirror[20]
  • The Sun
  • The Telegraph[21]

References

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  1. ^ "European Peace Monument - Official Press Release".
  2. ^ Click Liverpool, Phillip Coppell, Saturday 09 October 2010. "John Lennon peace monument unveiled in Beatle's Liverpool home".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ The Beatles Story October 2010. "John Lennon peace monument".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ The Daily Telegraph. "Telegraph Article October 9th 2010".
  5. ^ Creative Concern. "Unveiling of 'Peace & Harmony' – European Peace Monument – Dedicated to John Lennon - Youtube video".
  6. ^ "John Lennon European Peace Monument Liverpool – Youtube video".
  7. ^ BBC. "BBC coverage of the European Peace Monument unveiling – October 9th 2010, Liverpool, England".
  8. ^ Press Release. "EUROPEAN PEACE MONUMENT TO BE UNVEILED BY JULIAN AND CYNTHIA LENNON IN LIVERPOOL TO MARK JOHN LENNON'S 70TH BIRTHDAY" (PDF).
  9. ^ Lauren Voiers. "The Peace and Harmony Story".
  10. ^ "Lauren Voiers Blog".
  11. ^ "The Global Peace Inititative".
  12. ^ Liverpool City Council. "Monument honours Lennon".
  13. ^ Lauren Voiers. "Significance of the White Feather".
  14. ^ "The White Feather Foundation".
  15. ^ Liverpool Daily Post. "John Lennon Peace Monument Unveiled at Liverpool One".
  16. ^ Creative Concern. "John Lennon Peace Monument Press Coverage".
  17. ^ Daily Express. "Lennon's 70th Birthday Marked with Hometown Monument".
  18. ^ Daily Mail. "Imagine... if he was still alive: Sculpture of Peace unveiled to mark John Lennon's life on his 70th birthday".
  19. ^ NME. "John Lennon memorial statue unveiled in Liverpool".
  20. ^ The Mirror. "Sculpture Unveiled to Honour Lennon".
  21. ^ The Daily Telegraph. "Telegraph Article October 9th 2010".
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