"Businesses have a role promoting peace in conflict zones",  22 Sep 2014

[W]hat does peace-building have to do with business? Isn’t it enough for companies to protect their workers and show they aren’t stoking conflict where it occurs?  No, says British-born Jeremy Gilley. An actor-turned-filmmaker, Gilley is the driving force behind the event’s organiser, Peace One Day. “Business needs peace, because without peace it can’t do the work that it wants to do”, he argues. He’s quick to dismiss critics who point to the estimated $1,747bn that the private sector gleans from sales of arms and military hardware every year. “There is way, way, way more money in peace than war”, he insists. Some of the world’s biggest corporations (outside the defence sector) appear to agree. Unilever boss Paul Polman heads up a ‘corporate coalition’ backing Peace One Day. The list also includes the likes of Skype, McKinsey, Ocado and Innocent. “There can be no growth in an environment where there is no peace”, says Polman, insisting that business “can and must be a force for good”....Unilever’s deodorant brand Axe is running a global advertising campaign around the strapline, “Make Love Not War”...UK online retailer Lush goes one step further, intentionally sourcing Fairtrade cocoa beans from the San José de Apartadó peace community in Colombia. In addition to its trading relationship, Lush has contributed financially to social projects in the community and has helped petition the national government. The retailer also works with olive oil producer Sindyanna, a peace-focused social enterprise promoting trade partnerships between Jewish Israeli’s and Arab Palestinians. [also refers to Coca-Cola]