Concerts key to World Peace One initiative

By Ray Waddell

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - The mission of World Peace One is nothing if not ambitious: Bring peace to the world through a 10-year global campaign of concerts, education and government advocacy.

"Our mission is ending all war at the end of our 10-year period," WP1 founder Douglas Ivanovich said. "We know it's a daunting challenge, but mobilizing 90 percent of the world that wants peace and no more part of war, terror, violence or conflict is a very powerful process."

Ivanovich -- who has a background in business development, finance, executive management, communications, event production and broadcasting -- has already enlisted an impressive array of governments and has the endorsement of Claes Nobel, senior member of the family behind the Nobel Peace Prize.

The initiative will begin with a series of concerts May 17 in Beijing; Istanbul, Turkey; London; Johannesburg; and Miami, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Colombia, India and possibly other locations.

Ivanovich said WP1 is in discussions with such marquee acts as U2, Madonna, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith to perform. Top international acts like Reyna Reyna, Tarkan, Tamara Day and Jane Zhang are also in talks to perform.

The WP1 team includes Artie Kornfeld, one of the original founder/producers of Woodstock, and Paul Flattery, a producer/director for the Live Earth concerts.

POLITICIANS RESPOND

Government participation is a big part of the mission. "We are opening relationships not with promoters per se, but with governments," Ivanovich said. "And in my 30 years of activism and 20 years in broadcasting and entertainment, I have never seen such a response from world leaders, parliamentarians, government officials and dignitaries as we're seeing with