Yoko Ono is taking over Times Square in New York City for International Peace Day today (21.09.12).

The artist – the widow of Beatles musician John Lennon – will screen the words ”Imagine Peace” intermittently throughout the day on three huge screens around the iconic square, the message, which sums up the lyrics of John’s 1971 song ‘Imagine’, will be translated into 24 languages.

MTV, Viacom and American Eagle are all lending the video billboards to be used in the display.

Yoko will also present an award, the biennial LennonOno Grant For Peace to jailed Russian feminist punk act Pussy Riot. Three members of the band were handed two years terms for a performance against Russian President Vladimir Putin in an Orthodox cathedral.

Yoko will present the award to Pyotr Verzilov, husband of jailed band member Nadia Tolokonnikova.

Meanwhile in the UK, Sir Elton John will play a special show at Wembley Arena today for charity Peace One Day, which promotes the Global Truce 2012 campaign.

The initiative – backed and promoted by actor Jude Law – was started by film maker Jeremy Gilley in 1999 as a worldwide day of ceasefire and non-violence on September 21 each year.

The United Nations says it has led to significant reductions in violence in war torn countries such as Afghanistan, and has allowed aid workers to reach usually inaccessible areas and vaccinate millions of children.

Elton said: ”When Jeremy and Jude came to see me and told me about Peace One Day and the Global Truce 2012 campaign, I had to get involved and support them.”

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