acorns for peace, 37 years later
PA (October 14th 2005): Yoko Ono was today on a poignant peace mission to Coventry Cathedral nearly 40 years on from a famous visit she made with John Lennon. The widow of the legendary Beatle, who would have been 65 last Sunday, was in the city to launch Coventry Peace Month. Her visit is also in memory of the day in June 1968 when John and Yoko came to Coventry to plant acorns. They were supposed to be part of a sculpture for peace but started a controversy over what constituted art.This afternoon Yoko was dedicating two Japanese oak trees to complete that work, to celebrate her life and work with Lennon and in recognition of Coventry's commitment to peace and reconciliation. She said: "I am very pleased to dedicate the planting of these beautiful trees to the spirit of peace throughout the world. I am proud to carry on the work that John and I did together to spread this highly important message."

John&Yoko and acorns

imagine if john lennon was 65
Independent (October 9th 2005): "Politically, if with us today, he would have been on all the anti-Iraq marches. He'd have appeared naked in the Trafalgar Square rally, burst into George Bush's bedroom and set fire to his stetsons, broken into 10 Downing Street and smashed all Tony's guitars. For peace and love of course."

john lennon's 65th birthday anniversary
The Raft: Working Class Hero – The Definitive Lennon is to be released in October. It's a "collection of 38 of his finest solo moments spread over 2 CDs. Naturally, the most famous hit singles like ‘Imagine’, ‘Jealous Guy’, ‘Woman’ and ‘Give Peace A Chance’ are featured as well as a selection of classic album tracks, all mastered from the most up-to-date sources. It was compiled by the label and by his widow Yoko Ono Lennon."

This release precedes a large number of events around John’s 65th birthday on 9th October. These include a major documentary to be screened by the BBC and the reissue of two further albums in the John Lennon catalogue –Walls and Bridges and Some Time In New York City.

Meanwhile, Yoko Ono will be in Tokyo to join the Dream Power tribute concert at the Budokan, the legendary concert hall where the Beatles performed.

save the children campaign
Press release (October 7th 2005): Save the Children today launched a multi-media public service announcement campaign, featuring Academy Award-winning actress Sally Field and the song “Imagine” by the late John Lennon, to call attention to the agency’s efforts to assist thousands of Gulf Coast children forced from their homes by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The ads are being distributed on the weekend of the late John Lennon’s 65th birthday."

wedrock: fight to your marriage rights
Information from Miki: Wed-Rock, an evening of all-star comedy and music performances to voice opposition to the Arnold's recent veto of the gay marriage bill, is set for November 7th in Los Angeles. The eclectic line-up includes Andy Bell, Margaret Cho, Nina Hagen, Alan Cumming, John Cameron Mitchell, Kelly Osbourne, Yo La Tengo, and Yoko Ono's video installation.

imagine all the people helping alder hey
Liverpool Echo (October 6th 2005): "The ex-Beatle's lyrics of Imagine are being used with the blessing of his widow, Yoko Ono, to launch the Imagine charity appeal at Alder Hey children's hospital. (--) The Imagine appeal, with the slogan Living For Today, Giving For Tomorrow, will make sure that the biggest children's hospital in Europe has the best equipment and facilities to care for sick youngsters and is at the fore-front of medical research."

© Stephane de Sakutin / AFP