Press Page
Press Release April 2016
Dozens of stars and a children’s choir sing together ‘2 Unite All’ with music
(Kindly contact Kirstie or Steve for passwords)
US/WORLD PRESS: Steve Robertson [email protected] +1310.871.2965
UK/EUROPE PRESS: Kirstie Forbes [email protected] +44 1225 740 681
ALBUM RELEASE DATE: 2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2 – Tuesday 19th April 2016
AVAILABLE AT: Amazon, iTunes, Googleplay and all good online digital stores – & MP3/Wav on request for publicity
2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2 is a double album for Gaza relief with 30 tracks of peace and unity donated by a diverse group of world famous musicians. These include Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Thomas Bergersen (2 Billion Youtube hits), Sasha Cooke (Grammy Opera Winner), Gary Nicholson (Grammy Country Music Winner), Beth Nielsen Chapman, Rick Allen (Def Leppard), Fox Lima (Enigma MMX Social Song), Joanne Shenandoah (famed Native American singer) and more. The aim of the movement behind the music is to unite people separated by conflict and prejudice through the healing power of music.
2 Unite All Vol. 1
Begin Again by Phillip Lawrence
Haumea (We Are The Ones) by Richard Gannaway with the National Centre for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR) Gaza Children’s Choir (featuring Fox Lima and Seay)
2 Unite All Vol. 2
Each Small Candle by Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Remember Me by Thomas Bergersen
Steve Robertson, Executive Producer of the album and CEO of the LA-based charity Project Peace On Earth (PPOE), started the 2 Unite All album project after watching a harrowing TV news report about a four-year-old Palestinian girl who was hospitalized and in a coma following a bombing in Gaza.
“The doctors weren’t sure if she would survive, but said if she did regain consciousness, she would learn that her mother, father and sister – her entire family – had all been killed… My tears wouldn’t stop and I said to myself: That’s enough. I have to do something now, to offer some sort of healing support to the people of Gaza.”
After almost a year of searching, Robertson found the young girl from the news report who had moved him to start the album project on July 10, 2014. Her name is Shymaa, and with the help of the National Centre for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR) in Gaza. Robertson arranged for Shymaa to sing with a childdfren’s choir from Gaza a song called Haumea (We Are The Ones) written by Richard Gannaway. The 2 Unite All video was filmed in Gaza by the NCCR and then edited together in the US by filmmaker and composer, Fritz Heede.
Robertson has conducted several large-scale, awareness-raising peace projects in Palestine (Hebron, Jericho and Bethlehem) with Project Peace On Earth. The aim of this organization, founded by Robertson, is to work toward the goal of world peace through sacred and inspirational music. Robertson believes that the Palestine and Israeli conflict might well represent the geo-political and spiritual lynchpin for peace on the entire planet.
Proceeds from sales of 2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2 will fund the provision of medical and psychological assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and people the Middle East region. Beneficiaries of the album include: Palestine Children Relief Fund, Friends of UNRWA USA, National Centre for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR) in Gaza and Project Peace On Earth’s peace initiatives in both Palestine and Israel. For more info, visit http://www.2uniteall.com/organizations.
The 2 Unite All album, states Robertson, “is a collection of musical prayers to celebrate the goodness of the Palestinian and Israeli people. Each song is a prayer for greater love, forgiveness and togetherness which, we believe, is the vision that Palestine and Israel can model for us all…a vision of world peace.”
QUOTES ABOUT 2 UNITE ALL
Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem
“I’ve personally worked with Steve Robertson, founder of Project Peace on Earth (PPoE), since Christmas of 2012. During this time he and his organization produced a large aerial image of a peace symbol and the words of Love All formed from Palestinian Boy and Girl scout children who sat at the center of Manger Square on Christmas Eve day. Their organization followed this up, a week later, with another historic aerial image at the Bethlehem dividing wall where boy scouts and girls scouts put their paint covered hands on the wall while others sat on the street to form the words “Free All.” The PPoE vision of human rights for the children of Palestine and all children is the same promise that Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, holds for the world.”
Vera continues, “We so deeply support Steve’s latest Gaza initiative which gives a voice to the voiceless and upholds the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for all humanity. The PPoE new 2 Unite All album features a precious group of children from Gaza, who live in life or death danger every day. Can you imagine?….Of all the children in the world, these are the ones who had the courage to sing out a message of hope to remind us of the power of love and peace. Richard Gannaway’s and The National Centre for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR) Gaza’s Children’s Choir song “Haumea” proclaims the message “We are the voice of One, We are the way to peace, We are the ones who carry the forward light” touched my heart. We, the city of Bethlehem and the people of Palestine echo the vision this song’s message carries… We proclaim that Bethlehem and Palestine will carry forward this light of love as a future global center for peace and reconciliation.”
Vera adds: My great heartfelt thanks go out to all of the participating musicians on the 2 Unite All Gaza, Palestine and Middle East peace benefit album: Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Stewart Copeland, Serj Tankian, Thomas Bergersen, Philip Lawrence and all the additional musicians. My thanks to each of you for this great and inspiring gift of music. Thank you Steve and Project Peace On Earth. You, PPoE and all of the musicians of the benefit album always have a home in Bethlehem and in Palestine, the land of peace. Yes, the people of Bethlehem and Palestine stand in support of the message of Love All Love Wins. “Philip Lawrence’s new song, “Begin Again” for the 2 Unite All Gaza benefit album, moved me to tears. It serves to remind our world that it is indeed time for us all to Begin Again.
Philip Lawrence
Lawrence explained the reason he decided to be part of the album and write an original song for it: “Throughout my life I’ve been blessed in so many ways but most humbly through the gift of my children. I live to protect, teach and love them unconditionally so they can then share that life experience wherever they go. Knowing there are children and families in the world who have experience lives of pain, trauma, violence, injustice and feelings that they’ve been forgotten simply breaks my heart and should never be tolerated …I wanted to be part of this album to use my God given gifts to give these children and families some peace even if only for a moment. In the end we are all one family and those are all my children, brothers and my sisters.”
Mr. Khaled Abuzaid, Founder of the NCCR said, “We know that music is the universal language and we know that the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights speak of a more loving way to be with one another. It is our prayer, through music, that our children will have the chance to share their voice with other world-famed musicians to remind our world that love and peace is always possible. This is always a choice. This is the choice of the Palestinian people. Towards this goal, we believe that Palestine will one day be a center for peace and reconciliation around the world.”
Interviews are available with Steve Robertson, CEO of Project Peace on Earth and Producer of 2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2, Ricky Kej Producer of the album, Mr. Khaled Abuzaid, Founder of the NCCR, and select musicians, upon request.
Notes to Editors
The 30 songs of Volumes 1 & 2, which feature the music legends Roger Waters, Peter Gabriel, Stewart Copeland, Philip Lawrence, Thomas Bergersen, Sasha Cooke, Gary Nicholson, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Rick Allen and more listed at www.2uniteall.com/artists.
https://youtu.be/JzCSyILliZ0 is the video of the song Haumea (meaning We Are The Ones) sung by the NCCR Gaza Children’s Choir.
Project Peace on Earth is the humanitarian organization run by Steve Robertson that aims to unite people separated by conflict and prejudice through the healing power of music. Beneficiaries of the album are listed at http://2uniteall.com/organizations.
Children’s Choir in Gaza Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
From A Children’s Choir in Gaza: A Message of Hope & World Peace
GAZA CHILDREN’S CHOIR STAR IN A BENEFIT ALBUM FOR HEALING AND PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Project Peace On Earth (PPoE) is releasing the song Haumea (meaning We Are The Ones) on Easter Day, Sunday 27th March to commemorate this Holy day and celebrate the organization’s envisioned resurrection of a lasting peace in Palestine and the Middle East. PPoE partnered with the National Centre for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR) in Gaza who assembled a Children’s Choir to perform and be featured in this ground-breaking song and music video. Haumea, which was written by Richard Gannaway, the award-winning musician and founder of the world music project AOMUSIC, also features Fox Lima and Seay.
The song is being released on YouTube as a lead up to the soon to be released star-studded double album called 2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2, which benefit Gaza & Middle East region with necessary surgical teams, supplies and PTSD therapies. Haumea shines brightly amongst the 30 songs of Volumes 1 & 2, which feature the music legends Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters, Stewart Copeland, Philip Lawrence, Thomas Bergersen, Sasha Cooke, Gary Nicholson, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Rick Allen and more. Proceeds go to Palestinian and Middle East relief agencies supported by Project Peace on Earth (PPoE), the US based humanitarian organization run by Steve Robertson. The aim of the movement is to unite people who are separated by conflict and prejudice through the healing power of music. Beneficiaries of the album include: Palestine Children Relief Fund,, Friends of UNRWA USA, NCCR and Project Peace On Earth.
The story behind the song is heart wrenching. Robertson started the 2 Unite All album project immediately after watching a harrowing TV news report in the Summer 2014 about a four-year-old Palestinian girl who was hospitalized and in a coma following a bombing in Gaza.
“The doctors weren’t sure if she would survive, but said if she did regain consciousness, she would learn that her mother, father and sister – her entire family – had all been killed… My tears wouldn’t stop and I said to myself: That’s enough. I have to do something now, to offer some sort of healing support to the people of Gaza.”
Robertson engaged The National Centre for Community Rehabilitation (NCCR) in Gaza to put together a choir of children to sing on the album. With the help of both Chris Gunness from UNRWA and the NCCR, Robertson was able to find the young girl from the news report, whose name is Shymaa. Together, Robertson, Gannaway and the NCCR team worked for three months to train children with no singing experience (the NCCR Gaza Children’s Choir) and then record and film them for the album. Shymaa is featured in the Haumea music video that was beautifully edited by the esteemed musician and filmmaker, Fritz Heede. 2015 Grammy winner Ricky Kej, generously donated his time to produce the album.
Steve Robertson says:
“The NCCR and the Palestinian people of Gaza are leading the way to promote the universal message of Love and Human Rights for All. The song Haumea serves as a promotional beacon for PPoE’s and the NCCR’s new campaign movement of Love All Love Wins and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).”
Mr. Khaled Abuzaid, Founder of the NCCR stated that:
“We decided to participate in the 2 Unite All album and Love All Love Wins Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) campaigns because we believe that the children of Gaza and Palestine deserve the same rights of a peaceful co-existence that most all children who live in the US, Britain and around the world presently experience. Our precious children have witnessed and experienced the most unthinkable of the horrors of war; military invasions, jet bombings, tank shelling, the deaths of family members and friends and the destructions of their homes. They’ve suffered without the basics necessities of food, clean water, electricity and safe housing. We know that music is the universal language and we know that the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights speak of a more loving way to be with one another. It is our prayer, through music, that our children will have the chance to share their voice with other world-famed musicians to remind our world that love and peace is always possible. This is always a choice. This is the choice of the Palestinian people. Towards this goal, we believe that Palestine will one day be a center for peace and reconciliation around the world.”
Proceeds from sales of 2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2 will fund the provision of medical and psychological assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and people the Middle East region.
Interviews are available with Steve Robertson, CEO of Project Peace on Earth and Producer of 2 Unite All Vols. 1 & 2, Ricky Kej Producer of the album, Mr. Khaled Abuzaid, Founder of the NCCR, and select musicians, upon request.
QUOTES ABOUT 2 UNITE ALL
Although I am sure both the Palestinian and Israeli people would benefit enormously from a just and fair two-state agreement based around the ’67 borders, we have watched the Palestinians subjected to more and more suffering for far too long, especially in Gaza. I am not and have never been anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic; I am anti-Israeli government policy, anti-injustice, anti-oppression and anti-occupation.
There is clearly a growing movement around the world willing to speak out, including my own country’s Parliament. I am happy to be one of these voices now asking the Israeli government, ‘Where is that two state solution you have so long said you wanted?’ and more simply, saying, ‘Enough.’
Helping to rebuild the lives of Palestinians in Gaza is a necessary and noble worldwide humanitarian prerogative that we must not shy away from. It’s the least we can do for a people that have suffered under an occupation, embargo, and invasion.
Our music may not be able to rebuild homes nor bring back victims of violence, but at least it can soften hearts. Hard hearts allow violence in the Holy Land and softening up allows persuasion. Even the most flinty realpolitik analysis shows that ‘Kumbaya’ is more credible than ‘They Must Go.’
Our world is finally focusing on resolving this conflict. Too many lives have been lost and too many innocent children and families remain perilously injured.” Lauren Monroe, Allen’s wife and songwriting partner, adds, “The beautiful people of Palestine require the world’s immediate medical support. Contributing a song to help bring necessary healing and resources to Gaza was the least Rick and I could do… I’m encouraging all Def Leppard fans to buy a copy of 2 Unite All and support this cause.
These musicians understand our human inner connectedness, that we are sisters and brothers in one family.
We decided to participate in the 2 Unite All album and Love All Love Wins Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR ) campaigns because we believe that the children of Gaza and Palestine deserve the same rights of a peaceful co-existence that most all children who live in the US, Britain and around the world presently experience. Our precious children have witnessed and experienced the most unthinkable of the horrors of war; military invasions, jet bombings, tank shelling, the deaths of family members and friends and the destructions of their homes. They’ve suffered without the basics necessities of food, clean water, electricity and safe housing. We know that music is the universal language and we know that the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights speak of a more loving way to be with one another. It is our prayer, through music, that our children will have the chance to share their voice with other world-famed musicians to remind our world that love and peace is always possible. This is always a choice. This is the choice of the Palestinian people. Towards this goal, we believe that Palestine will one day be a center for peace and reconciliation around the world.
Throughout my life I’ve been blessed in so many ways but most humbly through the gift of my children. I live to protect, teach and love them unconditionally so they can then share that life experience wherever they go. Knowing there are children and families in the world who have experience lives of pain, trauma, violence, injustice and feelings that they’ve been forgotten simply breaks my heart and should never be tolerated. That’s why I wanted to be part of this album. To use my God given gifts to give these children and families some peace even if only for a moment. In the end we are all one family and those are all my children, brothers and my sisters.
