And fans can say Yoko Ono broke up the Beatles all they want–because, well, she was involved–but the fact remains that she and John Lennon held some of the most peaceful protests ever witnessed in history.

One such event was their “bed-in” in 1969, during which they did interviews from their bed in Montreal promoting peace. They also recorded one of the most monumental tracks about peace in our time that week–the unforgettable “Give Peace a Chance,” still played today at protests, vigils, and peace rallies worldwide.

Today Yoko Ono and Sean and Julian Lennon are extending the peaceful notions generated by their song in a way that modern people, untouched by (or having forgotten) the sixties, can understand–they’re using it to raise money.

A 40th anniversary digital single of “Give Peace a Chance,” officially by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band is available for downloading at iTunes for $1.29. All net proceeds will go to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

“It is indeed a time when we are all getting more aware of the necessity of doing something to achieve world peace, no matter how small. I feel deeply that we are all one, regardless of where we stand,” says Ono.

But is this effort worth a Nobel Peace Prize?

Some say absolutely. Obama has been attempting to reverse the previous administration’s conflict-heavy rule, opting for peaceful solutions, declaring torture wrong, and calling for diplomatic dialog rather than a hit first, ask questions later policy.

However, there are others–including his own supporters–who say no. Not only were there many contenders for the prize this year with much less celebrity status and many more years spent on their causes; there is also the fact that we still have wars ranging on in the Middle East that Obama has not yet pulled out of.

And whether or not people are in support of that, continuing to wage war does not scream “Nobel Peace Prize.” Even famous liberal Michael Moore said that President Obama needed to “earn” his prize. (He later changed his mind.) Some have even argued that accepting the award is simply unconstitutional.

One thing is for sure: people cannot simply blame the president for winning the award. He didn’t buy it, or order it to be given to him, after all. He’s also not the first president to win a Nobel Peace Prize. But will he–or has he already–live up to the award?

According to Mark Johnson, creator of Playing for Change, the concept is “a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music.” It’s like a modern-day, globalized Woodstock that doesn’t end. Using a portable recording studio, Playing for Change records music from around the world, merging different voices from any and every culture and background into single pieces of music that symbolically unify the people of the world. That’s even better than Woodstock!

Johnson got the idea for the movement from two monks playing music in a New York City subway. Mesmerized, Johnson watched as the monks–one singing, one playing a nylon guitar–captured an audience of 200 New Yorkers, who all stopped and stared. They disregarded their train completely, transfixed on the peace and unification created by the music they were experiencing together.

Johnson realized that, in that moment, several dozen strangers were connected through that music.

The “Stand by Me” performance he recorded was the first of many for the group. He traveled from New Orleans to New Mexico, South Africa to Italy and beyond to make this amazing recording that is now taking the world by storm.

And not only does the music Playing for Change impact the world today; the sales from the music benefit tomorrow–specifically, the children of tomorrow. Proceeds from Playing for Change sales benefit music schools all over the globe.

To get involved with Playing for Change, be sure to visit their website.

An estimated 3,000 child soldeirs will be released. This marks a giant step forward towards true peace in Nepal, especially since the government is even calling for the release of all the child soldiers by November. And with the peace treaty signed over two years ago, it’s also a moment that should have arrived well before today.

While this is a huge victory for these children that should be celebrated, it reminds us not to forget the rest of the world’s innocents left in the violence. An estimated 300,000 children continue to serve as soldiers in the world today, continually robbed of their innocence and murdered at the front lines of bloody conflicts.

Of these, at least 24,000 have been confined in U.N. camps since the peace deal signing in November 2006.

What homes will these former soldiers be returning to–the places where they have seen and even caused more bloodshed than any of us could ever dream of, places where they have lost their entire families and friends? And what of the former child soldiers who are now adults; will they not be receiving some sort of aid and transitioning into whatever normalcy they might be able to find out of life?

There even remains a question of whether or not to integrate these now-adults into the current army! Surely they deserve better than that?

Perhaps it’s all they know at this point.

In hopes of spreading awareness and education, the site hosting the live footage also has a live chat available, as well as social networking tools to share the event and its message. Other pre-recorded videos, some featuring U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, are also available.

There are also texting options for users taking part, including an opportunity to make a $5 donation using a cell phone.

From 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern Time, site visitors will be able to see a glimpse into the world of  refugees receiving aid in Chad, Colombia, Pakistan and Iraq.

The camp in Djabal, Chad is the temporary home to more than 250,000 people displaced from the genocide in Darfur.

“Whether it be from Darfur, Myanmar or the Swat Valley, or some as yet unknown crisis, mass migrations will be a feature of our future. We must look beyond the simple numbers and instead at the individual,” says Jolie, touching on this year’s theme, “Real People, Real Needs.”

Indeed, while the word “refugee” may sound so foreign, any one of us could become one at a moment’s notice; just ask any survivor of Hurricane Katrina. The U.N. estimates that there are over 40 million refugees displaced from their homes right now, 80% of whom are in developing countries.

To learn more or to participate in today’s extraordinary event of global solidarity, click here.

Ebadi, 61, has kept her word. In light of the recent controversial Iranian election, she has called for peace, saying that she expects “the international community to prevent the pursuit of violence by the government.”

At a news conference in Geneva, she went on to say that she also expects the government to stop firing on the people of Iran, and that a new election should be held in Iran.

According to Amnesty International, up to 10 people have been killed in the violence, hundreds have been arrested, and street protests against the dubious election results continue.

Ebadi, a lawyer, says that those imprisoned should be released, and that protests should continue, though peacefully.

Through death threats and constant opposition, Ebadi has continued to lobby for human rights for all people. “I condemn all human rights violations. I am not an opposition leader, I am a human rights defender,” she says.

According to Ebadi, the closing of her Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran was illegal; however, though she has filed a complaint, it has yet to be addressed.

“But for the moment the authorities haven’t looked at our case.”

Hopefully her impassioned words will help end some of the violence in Iran.  U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay echoed Ebadi’s cries for peace at the same news conference, saying that the Iranian government should put a stop to the Islamic militiamen who are supposedly behind the violence.

During this past winter, over 1,200 Palestinians were killed during what is now known as “The Gaza Massacre.” And while the city was completely demolished, Israel will not allow any building materials to be sent in to rebuild.

It is emphasized that rather than attacking and spreading hate against Israel, these events are to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians caught in the crossfire and to promote peace for all involved–for both Palestinians and Israelis. It is also a collective global ask for the U.S. to stop sending financial and military aid to the occupation, and for Palestinians who have been evicted from their homes to be returned safely.

To express solidarity on this day, there will be events in San Francisco, Washington DC, and other cities.

Some sponsoring organizations include the National Council of Arab Americans (NCA), ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the Muslim American Society (MAS) and many more.

If attending a rally or vigil is not feasible on this day, sending prayers for peace and safety for everyone involved in this violence is just as a revolutionary and much-needed act. Also, for those who would like to ask Congress to stop giving aid to Israel, a letter can be sent using this form.

A massive blanket drive for people living in Northern Iraq has been created by combat medic Spc. Steve Stephens of Portland, Oregon. He and his fellow soldiers have decided to help people who have been displaced by the fighting and have no electricity or heat.

“It is our mission to make a positive difference in their lives; and as simple as a blanket may be to those back home, a blanket to those who have nothing is more of a necessity than it is a want,” he says.

Soldiers Helping Those in Need-Iraq, Stephens’ program, is completely voluntary and receives no aid from the government. Through their efforts, these troops have collected over 3,500 blankets to date. As they pass out the blankets to Iraqi people, the troops also distribute candy and toys.

Stephens took on the project after an organized toy drive for children led him to the realization that people were in need of blankets much more than toys. He has done charity work for much of his life–some through his church, and others through swimming events through which he raised funds for child cancer and domestic abuse programs.

Now that Stephens is safely home, Major Alex Stephenson of Medfield, Massachusetts coordinates the program.

For $8.50 (including shipping) you can send a blanket from blankets.com directly to a person in need in Iraq.

The government says that it will find homes for these 280,000 displaced people within six months; the delay, they say, is because Tamil Tiger rebels have to be found before people can return to their homes.

Humanitarian aid groups, on the other hand, say that the government seems willing to hold the displaced Tamil people indefinitely, and that they are being heavily restricted from distributing aid. These groups have been begging for better access to these “welfare villages,” the term used by the government.

Tamil Tigers call these areas “concentration camps.”

While their may be truth to both sides, it is certain that safety needs to come first, and the area landmines must be located and cleared before resettlement can happen.

The Tamil Tigers have agreed to lay down their weapons, and Sri Lanka has declared a victory… but at what price? We can all hope that Sri Lanka will look at the Tamil people as people, and help them re-establish their lives following this lengthy ordeal–as well as treat them as citizens with legitimate concerns that do need to be addressed.

“The Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally recognized borders… I know how much you have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the turmoil that has afflicted this land for decades. My heart goes out to all the families who have been left homeless,”the Pope told his audience at the presidential palace.

He also said that he was praying for victims of the violence in Gaza earlier this year.

61 black balloons were released at the camp to represent the number of years the conflict has been raging. The name of a destroyed or abandoned Palestinian village was carried to the sky with each balloon.

As the solemn reminders drifted above, the Pope made his way through the archway memorial commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Naqba, what the Palestinians call the “catastrophe” of Israel’s founding.

The archway is also the home of the largest key in the world, a symbol of the keys of all the homes that Palestinian refugees where displaced from during the Israeli War of Independence.

March 14 the Pope will be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Nazareth. Perhaps we can all travel with him in our thoughts; faith or creed aside, we can all send fellow thoughts of peace.