“The world must be educated to love Peace, to build it up and defend it.” ~Pope Paul VI
Peace has not one, but two global observances, giving us two chances each year to spotlight unity, hope, and harmony in our rides.
šļø Two Days Dedicated to Peace
- World Day of PeaceāJanuary 1
Established in 1967 by Pope Paul VI, this day invites all people to reflect on the work of nurturing, building, and defending peace as a new year begins. - International Day of PeaceāSeptember 21
Created by the United Nations in 1981, this day promotes global ceasefire, non-violence, reconciliation, and cooperation.
The UN reminds us that peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is āa positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged, and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.ā
These two days complement each other beautifully: one calls us inward toward reflection and renewal; the other calls us outward toward action and unity.
World Day of PeaceāJanuary 1, 2026
The theme for World Day of Peace this year is āPeace be with you all: Toward an āunarmed and disarmingā peace.ā
This themeĀ invites us to embrace a peace rooted not in force, but in trust, empathy, and the courageous dismantling of fear, violence, and hostility. Itās a call to cultivate a peace that disarms, both externally and within ourselves.
š Why Peace Matters Now
For more than 50 years, both days have served as symbols of hopeāa hope needed more than ever. With global tensions high and communities around the world experiencing conflict, the call for peace is increasingly urgent and deeply relevant.
Napoleon Hill reminds us of the power within us:
āWhat the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.ā
John Lennon captures the hope for peace in āImagine,ā inviting us to picture a world āliving life in peace.ā
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine, John Lennon, 76 rpm, 3:07
“Imagine” is the quintessential cool-down song, providing a moment of reflection as you close out your ride. The lyrics encourage us to imagine a world of peace, without materialism, borders, or religionāthree factors often at the root of global destabilization and friction.
š¶ ICA Peace Playlist
Your ICA Peace bucket currently includes about 110 songsāa rich mix of titles about peace, unity, freedom, hope, and harmony. (ICA members can follow the full playlist below.)
But let’s not confine the desire for peace to just these two daysāyou can host a peace-themed ride any day of the year. The songs in this bucket playlist transcend specific dates and themes; they are equally suitable for fundraising events dedicated to social justice or world peace. Or, if you’re moved to respond to the weight of unsettling current events with a message of peace, you don’t need a whole ride dedicated to it. Check out the playlist for a couple of songs to set the tone at the beginning and end of your next ride.
Here are a few of our favorite songs from this playlist.
One Day, Matisyahu, 69 rpm, 3:27
The song expresses hope for an end to violence and a prayer for a new era of peace and understanding. Use it as a climb, building resistance in and out of the saddle as the song progresses.
Peace Train, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, 82 rpm, 4:11
An appropriate entrƩe to your peace-themed ride. Or, use it for a working flat, holding steady or building resistance gradually over the 4 minutes. The healing power of this song has endured through time.
One Love/People Get Ready, Bob Marley & The Wailers, 76 bpm, 2:52
One love is an expression of unity and inclusion. Use it as a short, fast climb. It can also serve as a recovery song.
Nothing More (feat. Lily Costner), The Alternate Routes, 88 bpm, 3:20
A gentle warm-up or moderate flat. The lyrics are thought-provoking:
We are love, we are one,
we are how we treat each other when the day is done.
We are peace, we are war,
we are how we treat each other and nothing more.
What’s Going On, Marvin Gaye, 202 bpm, 3:53
A perfect warm-up song at 100 rpm. The song is a plea for peace:
Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some loving here today.
Love Train, O’Jays, 123 bpm, 2:58
The smooth harmonies made this an enduring get-together peace song, good for climbing at 62 rpm.
One, U2, 181 bpm, 4:36
āOneā is a love song, but its pleas for connection and understanding eventually go worldwide (āBrothers and sisters, we got to carry each otherā). U2’s later live performances upped the ante, with a taped intro from Nelson Mandela. This track is the perfect warm-up; you can also use it as a moderate higher-cadence effort at 91 rpm.
If you have any other songs for the bucket playlist below that we have missed, let us know in the comments.