Peace, love, and social media. Celebs are using their Twitter and Instagram accounts to spread a message of goodwill today, Sept. 21, in honor of the UN's International Day of Peace. More specifically, they're promoting the Forgive for Peace campaign, which is based on the principle that "forgiveness is the first step on the path towards peace."
Stars including Justin Bieber, Ellen DeGeneres, Goldie Hawn, Ricki Lake, and LL Cool J showed their support for the campaign in the form of tweets and Instagram videos.
LL, 47, posted a clip of himself holding up a sheet of paper with the word "HATE" written on it, and then tearing that paper into pieces and tossing them away.
Bieber, 21, implored his 67.6 million followers to spread forgiveness, while DeGeneres urged her 47.7 million followers to promote peace year-round.
Let's all join the UN today and spread peace together through forgiveness. #ForgiveForPeace
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) September 21, 2015
Today is an International Day of Peace. I'm going to celebrate tomorrow too. And the next day. And the next… #ForgiveForPeace
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) September 21, 2015
Today is United Nations #ForgiveForPeace day. Forgiveness is a pathway to peace. A peaceful heart creates a peaceful world.
— Goldie Hawn (@goldiehawn) September 21, 2015
I forgive, will you? #ForgiveForPeace #InternationalDayofPeace #mybirthday ?????????? pic.twitter.com/vwRlb31iA6
— Ricki Lake (@RickiLake) September 21, 2015
So inspired by this trending today: #ForgiveforPeace (the way to peace is to forgive. Never easy, but always healing.) #ForgiveMe #iForgive
— Bear Grylls (@BearGrylls) September 21, 2015
The campaign was created by Influential, a social media marketing platform, in partnership with the UN. "Influential and our network of influencers are humbled and honored to be partnering with The United Nations for the International Day of Peace," Ryan Detert, CEO of Influential said in a press release. "We are beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to help in creating such an important message of global peace and unity."
In celebration of the movement, Deepak Chopra led a guided meditation in New York City's Central Park on Monday morning. During the event, he told attendees to let go of their "grievances" and "resentments" and to "choose miracles" instead.
"Every decision I make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle," he shared. "We are gathered here this morning to let go of all grievances, all resentment, all anger, all hostility, so that we may heal and be healed. Forgiveness heals because it it is the opposite of inflammation."
According to the UN's website, the General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981. It was observed for the first time one year later, in September 1982.
