Why Peace, Love and Fairtrade Ice Cream Are More Important Than Ever

21 September 2017

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Why peace, love and Fairtrade ice cream is more important than ever

At Ben & Jerry’s, we believe in peace, love and Fairtrade ice cream! Today is the UN International Day of Peace, and so we’ve asked our friends at International Alert to tell us a bit more about peace, and why it’s important – and relevant – for all of us today.

Peace might sound like an impossible dream. But we believe that everyone can build peace and together create change. That’s why every September, we organise a festival to get people thinking creatively about peace and conflict around the world.

This year, we have teamed up with Ben & Jerry’s to bring a little extra sweetness to our Talking Peace Festival. It feels more important than ever before to be shouting about peace. Communities seem to be becoming more divided, with so many of us delving ever deeper into our social bubbles, only meeting people with similar ideas to us. In reality this can push us further away from each other. So, today, let’s take a moment to pause, take stock and ask the question: what you can do for peace? 

International Alert believes that peace is possible! But only if we all work together. And only if we all make small changes. For example, why not take a moment to talk to that neighbour you always walk past on the way to work?  Who knows, it might be loneliness that makes them look so sad.

Ben & Jerry’s Together for Refugees campaign has already brought many people together in support of legislation that would help refugees resettle safely in Europe. In a similar way, peace isn’t only about people signing peace treaties or groups laying down arms.  It is just as much about communities living together, side by side, and resolving their differences without resorting to violence.

That is why today we are asking you to play your part in building a more peaceful future.  Whoever you are and wherever you live, we’d love for you to make one peaceful action today and share it on www.everydaypeace.co. You could win a year’s supply of delicious Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! But more importantly, you will also get the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing that on this day of peace you’ve contributed to change, something direly needed today.

Or why not pop down and visit us at the festival, and do something small to build peace (while enjoying free ice cream).  We’re at House of Vans, Waterloo, London until Sunday!