Living Life in Peace

12 Oct 2012

Yoko Ono awarded the Biennial LennonOno Grant for Peace to Lady Gaga, Rachel Corrie, John Perkins, Christopher Hitchens and Pussy Riot before lighting the Imagine Peace Tower on October 9th, 2012.

'Lady Gaga is one of the biggest living artists of our time. She is not only an artist, she is also an activist, using her art to bring better communication to the world. She is being acknowledged for her activism, and how her album Born This Way has widely changed the mental map of the world. And how it has made us deal with the future world, which happens to be here already.' - Yoko Ono, 2012

Yoko also paid tribute to Rachel Corrie, the activist killed during peaceful protest in 2003; authors and activists John Perkins and Christopher Hitchens; and punk band Pussy Riot, three of whom were jailed after making a stand for freedom of speech and expression.

Left: Lady Gaga thanked John and Yoko for the inspiration they gave her during her acceptance speech.