P5 Peace Child Script

2025 EISTEDDFOD UNITING NATIONS CONCERT – PART ONE

“P5 Peace child for Future Generations”

FINAL BASE

SCRIPT

by

David Woollcombe

© Peace Child International - June 14th 2025

Shea Ferron Sapu D’Jano Jeremy Chan Karina Kolitinova

Mathilde Malleret

Eisteddfod Pavilion – Uniting Nations Concert Stage Layout

1

SONGS [click to go to each song page on the Peace Child Website] 1. I Who Am I?

– 3 mins – Choir & Soloists

– ORCHESTRATED

2. W A R

– 2.5 mins – Choir & Soloists

– ORCHESTRATED

3. I Want To Live

– 2 mins – Child Soloist

– TO BE SCORED

4. I Want to Live TWO

– 1 min – Choir

– TO BE SCORED

5. World

– 3.5 min – Narrators & Choir

– ORCHESTRATED

6. Superman

– 3 mins – Choir

– ORCHESTRATED

7. Listen to Me

– 3 mins – Male Soloist & Choir

– ORCHESTRATED

8. I Have A Vision

– 4 mins – Soloists & Choir

– TO BE SCORED

9. Mr President

– 4 mins – Child Soloists & Choir – TO BE SCORED

10. Child for a Day

– 3 mins – Choir

– ORCHESTRATED

TOTAL: 29-mins;

SCENES

Timings:

1. UN S-G Statement 2. Alpha Omega Biblical Introduction 3. UN Introduction – Who are we?

4. W A R 5. Imperialists 6. I Want to Live!

7. Our World is Dying 8. Superpower Leadership?

9. D E S P A I R: The only Option 10. The Dream 11. N U K E S 12. Resolution 1 13. Resolution 2 14. Resolution 3

– 1 min. 15 secs – 55 secs – 1 min. 50 secs – 1 min. 30 secs – 2 mins. 45 secs – 10 secs – 45 secs – 55 secs – 1 min. 35 secs – 1 min. 10 secs – 1 min. 5 secs – 2 mins. 56 secs – 20 secs – 1 min. 30 secs

TOTAL: 18-mins. 40 secs.;

UN Introduction – Who are we?

The chorus and orchestra assemble on stage and tune up. Maybe show some fun videos as the audience enter: Tears for Fears – Everybody wants to rule the world; Harry Secombe: If I ruled the world!

UN S-G Video Statement UN Secretary-General, António Guterres: “Thank you for coming together to celebrate United Nations. 80 Years is a blink of an eye in History and yet, until the United Nations, humanity never had a single place where every government and all peoples could unite to fix the world and build something better. The UN is a living miracle and women and men of United Nations bring this miracle to life every day and everywhere – forging peace, tackling poverty, hunger and disease, advancing human rights, delivering life-saving aid and striving to make our organisation stronger. 80 years later, our world faces age-old challenges, and newer threats like 2

the Climate Crisis and runaway technology. But we have the tools to guide us starting with the United Nations Charter. In our divided world, only one flag represents all of humanity and the dignity and worth of every person. Only one organisation of all – for all. We all have a stake in a strong United Nations, now more than ever. Thank you for supporting and celebrating the UN’s essential, oneof-a-kind mission. Thank you.” https://s3.us-east1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG +/SG+3+April+25/3357799_MSG+SG+80TH+ANNIV+OF+UN+03+APR+25.mp4

The lights fade to black and a follow-spot picks out the figure of the 1st young Narrator come downstage centre to start the Prologue, thus: Young US Narrator 80 years ago last month, 56 governments signed the UN Charter which promised to “… save succeeding generations from the scourge of war …..” In those 80 years, the UN’s done many good things - dismantled colonial empires - looked after refugees, lifted countless millions out of poverty, fought disease and saved the lives of thousands of children and mothers; Young Chn Narrator (Coming on) But – it hasn’t saved succeeding generations from the scourge of war!

Young UK Narrator (Coming on) Nor has it solved the problem of catastrophic climate change Young Rus Narrator (Coming on) Nor the massive inequities that exist in our world Young Fr Narrator

(Coming on) Nor the pollution and plundering of our natural resources that leaves

nothing for future generations Young Rus Narrator We’ve been terrible ancestors to our children. We’ve failed to make the laws or institutions that have the power to protect our planet’s resources for them.

Young Chn Narrator The UN is not that institution!

Young Fr Narrator

Not yet! But it could be – !

Young UK Narrator So – here at the Llangollen Eisteddfod – we have come together, young people from the 5 x Permanent Members of the UN Security Council – Young Rus Narrator Russia Young Fr Narrator

France

Young US Narrator USA Young Chn Narrator China Young UK Narrator – and the United Kingdom to imagine how our generation might re-invent the United Nations to become the institution that can govern and protect our planet’s resources for future generations.

Young Rus Narrator Crazy ambitious, eh?!

Young US Narrator We’re crazy ambitious people, right?! (they hi-five one another) A thin wind sound sweeps across the stage, building in volume as the Host / Narrators finish: Young UK Narrator Let’s start back at the beginning – the very beginning. Three million years ago. When human beings first climbed on to their two hind legs and started walking the earth in the plains and forests of East Africa.

Young Chn Narrator Who were those people?

Young Fr Narrator

What did they think of the incredible world in which they found themselves?

Young Rus Narrator How did they become who we are today?

Music builds with the Choir and orchestra singing” Aaah!” building to a massive crescendo – then falling away to silence as the UK Narrator comes forward, singing: 3

Song 1. I who am I [KEY: C Major] Young UK Narrator

I who am I? What is this world Why am I here?

I what am I? What is my cause?

Why must I be?

Is there a reason for living And having this place of our own?

What power conceived me Abandoned me to the unknown?

Chorus & Narrators

We, who are we, what is this place?

Why are we here?

We, who are we to be so lost And all alone?

Is there a reason for living And having this place of our own?

What power conceived me Abandoned me to the unknown?

Young UK Narrator

I, who am I, what is this place?

Why are we here?

– WAR – Goal of Scene: to answer the Question: “Who are We?” We are competitive war-mongerers Young Chn Narrator Why are we here?

Young UK Narrator For us in the Boy Scouts, Robert Baden Powell told us our goal in life should be to leave the planet better than we found it!

Young Chn Narrator To be Good Ancestors!

Young Fr Narrator

To Unite Nations!!

Young Fr Narrator

The Nations Unies was set up to do all that: it helped get Human rights for all, dismantle Empires, end Apartheid, lift the Iron Curtain! For a moment, it looked like it was all working!

Young Rus Narrator But now - we’re at each others’ throats again…Young US Narrator

- preparing for World War THREE!

Young Chn Narrator Why? - Why is there always war?

Young Fr Narrator

Well – you see: Human beings are naturally competitive: that’s why we’re so successful! But – unconstrained – competition always leads to war. Listen: (music starts with drum rolls, building under – ) It started with a stick, then came a stone Soon there was an axe and a spear Then there came an arrow, a club and a gun – And bullets were flying everywhere!

Young Rus Narrator Conflict raged all over the world Hatred and envy everywhere!

4

Young US Narrator Tribe against tribe, friend against friend!

No one seemed to Care!

Young Chn Narrator With each generation passing by, There emerged new skills of war.

Young Rus Narrator Empires rose and empires fell, And the death toll started to soar Young US Narrator A pattern soon emerged of things to come, The problems Mankind would face: Young UK Narrator Tribes of men – not quite the same – Competing for food And the best bit of land Starting off that game called – Everyone

(The choir stands and shouts loudly). WAR!!!

The orchestra plays the majestic opening of the song: WAR!

Song 2. WAR [KEY: D Major] Chorus & Narrators (start @ F)

We'll fight our way to distant hills, a bloody battle have We'll raise our sword and kill them all; We'll raise our countries flag!

We'll kill our brothers, kill our friends, Kill each other till the end!

We'll kill our women, children too, Kill them all until we're through Kill them all until we're through.

God save our land, long live our flag, On to the war we go - praise to our dead But who says we're right, who says we're wrong Honour and pride - to this we belong!

Oh come and save us! Oh come and save us!

Oh come and save us from what we do!

Our world is through!

But who can save us! But who can save us?

But who can save us from what we do?

God - where are you?

Young Chn Narrator

– IMPERIALISTS – Goal of Scene: to build a bitter argument on how awful each of the P5 nations are an argument that gets more and more intense until the Child shouts: STOP! Young Fr Narrator

(Shielding her eyes, looking up) No sign of Him?!

Young Chn Narrator Who? Young Fr Narrator

God!

Young Rus Narrator You don’t seriously think that God is going to come down on a cloud and sort everything out?

Young Fr Narrator

‘Course not! I was kidding!

5

Young UK Narrator God gave us Free Will – which is why we have to sort it out ourselves.

Young Chn Narrator Where to start?

Young UK Narrator Well – how about we tell each other the truth?

Young Rus Narrator The Truth?!

Young UK Narrator Yes! C’mon: face it! We five! We’re all imperialists!

Young Fr Narrator

Former Imperialists - France & Britain?

Young Rus Narrator Us too! Russia’s not the Soviet Empire!

Young US Narrator You’re still trying to be!

Young Rus Narrator No we’re not!

Young UK Narrator What about Ukraine?! Crimea, Georgia, Belarus!

Young Rus Narrator What about your Commonwealth - your Francophonie?!

Young Fr Narrator

And China has its Belt & Road initiative!

Young US Narrator

– buying up most of Africa!

Young UK Narrator Yes – but you’re the worst! You’re an Actual Imperialist with your President going after Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal!

Young US Narrator Ok! Okay already! At least we don’t lie to our people or kill our opposition leaders!

Young Rus Narrator You do! You killed Martin Luther King and the Kennedies; Young UK Narrator

– and your President told 30,573 lies according to the Washington Post!

Young Fr Narrator

– and your President Bush lied about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

Young Chn Narrator Right back to Woody Guthrie!!

Young US Narrator Woody Guthrie?! – C’mon!!

Young Chn Narrator Yes!! “This land is your land – this land is my land!?” – No it’s NOT! You stole it from the Native Americans.

Young Rus Narrator Just like the British stole Australia from the Aborigines! And all the other colonies!

Young UK Narrator That was hundreds of years ago!!

Young US Narrator You tell your people lies every day like the BIG lie that you didn’t invade Ukraine!

Young Rus Narrator So – it’s OK for you to support Israel to commit an appalling genocide in Gaza – but not OK for us to resolve a massive threat to our southern border?!!

Young US Narrator Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel! Ukraine did NOT attack you! We’re helping Israel defend itself – and Ukraine defend itself.

Young Rus Narrator We have a right to protect ourselves too!

Young Fr Narrator

So what are we going to do? Carry on fighting and growling at each other for the next 80 years?!

Young Rus Narrator No – just until we can agree global laws that protect our vital interests….

Young US Narrator Why should you have interests any more “vital” than any one else’s?

Young Rus Narrator Because Russia does. We don’t do defeat! Remember Napoleon; remember Hitler!

Young US Narrator (witheringly) So…. What? – you want to nuke us all now?! Blow us all to smithereens in a nuclear war. That would solve the problem nicely, wouldn’t it?!!

Young Narrators

(Arguing / speaking over each other with raised voices ) You crazy! That’s not what I meant / What are your vital interests anyway? / You have got to create a 6

Palestinian state – No Way!! How dare you try to buy Canada? What about your trade war with China – you’re jealous because we work so march harder than you!!

– I WANT TO LIVE – Goal of Scene: to win audience support for the Central Message of Peace Child Child (Mabli White, aged 12, coming forward from the Chorus): STOP!!!

(The Narrators are stunned into silence. They turn and watch her as she glares at them) Stop fighting!!

Stop hating!

Start loving! – I don’t want to Die in your stupid war! I want to LIVE!!

Song 3. I want to Live [KEY: F Major] Child

(Sings) - I want to live The right to live my life I want to search far and wide Have the right to wonder why I want to learn all the secrets The world has to give, I want the chance to live my life I want to live – I want to live!

Children’s Chorus & Choir (joining softly) I want to be, I want to see A world that’s good and free I want a home, someone to love To share their life with me I want to have and to hold A child of my own I want to live, I want to love The right to grow old..

Young UK Narrator (approaching the Children, clapping) Thank you! You’ve given us something we can all agree on! (the Young Narrators nod.)

Young Rus Narrator (turning to the Chorus) You agree, don’t you?!(get a loud “YES”) Young Chn Narrator Sing it with me!

Song 4. I want to Live II [KEY: F to G Major] All (Up-tempo Version)

I want to live, I want to live The right to live my life I want to search far and wide Have the right to wonder why I want to fly through the air Like a bird in the sky, I want the chance to show the world What I am before I die.

(modulation) I want to be, I want to see

A world that’s good and free I want a home, someone to love To share their life with me I want to have and to hold A child of my own 7

I want to live, I want to love I want to live, I - want - to – live!!

The audience and Narrators applaud – except the Russian, who stands to one side, looking sad…

– OUR WORLD IS DYING – Goal of Scene: to raise concerns about existential threats to the Biosphere Young US Narrator Why so sad?

Young Rus Narrator You may want to live but you have to know: our world is dying!

Young Chn Narrator No it’s not!

Young Rus Narrator It is – we’re killing it!

Young US Narrator She’s right! Carbon Emissions rise stubbornly upwards every year causing devastating floods and fires and hurricanes. (Keeling Curve rises across screen) Young UK Narrator More and more species driven to extinction! (LPI Indicator plummets on screen) Young Rus Narrator That’s why we need a UN that passes Global Laws to protect our world!

Young US Narrator

But it can’t and it won’t. None of our governments are going to give the UN – or anyone else - the power to tell us what to do!

Young Chn Narrator We’re not going to survive unless we solve problems like Climate Change together….

Young Fr Narrator

Your president thinks it’s a joke!

Young US Narrator

“A Chinese Hoax”! (they laugh)

Young Chn Narrator It’s not funny!

Young UK / Rus Narrator

It’s not …. (Music starts – )

Song 5. WORLD [KEY: E Major] Young Rus Narrator (sings)

World – look at the way we are Look at the things we do Look at the words we say Life! – look at the way we live Look at the love we had Look at the things we made

5 x Narrators

Gone, gone are all those lovely days Gone are all the peaceful ways All that’s left is old and grey And our world is fading Our world is dying – today!

Young US Narrator

Can’t you see the tide is changing?

Don’t you know that truth is fading?

People coming out from under Slowly rising to the thunder

Young UK Narrator

Listen to the shouting people Broken churches, broken steeple There’s no one for them to follow Every one’s a God tomorrow

Young Fr & Chn Narrator

Can’t you see the world is dying?

Repentant people all are crying 8

Law and order has been drowned Chaos rules and has been crowned!

Chorus & All

(fortissimo) World – look at the way we are

Look at the things we do Look at the games we play Life! – look at the way we live Look at the things we build Look at the love we’ve killed Gone, gone are all those lovely days Gone are all the peaceful ways All that’s left is old and grey And our world is fading Our world is dying – today!

– SUPERPOWER LEADERSHIP? – Goal of Scene: to engage the chorus in challenging the P5 Youth’s arrogant assumption that it is their problem to solve.

Young Fr Narrator

We have to save it!

Young US Narrator

That’s our generational challenge!

Young Rus Narrator

The planet will be fine! It’s our children and grand-children who will die…

Young UK Narrator

Yes! - if all we leave them is the hollowed-out husk of a dead planet!

Young Chn Narrator

Nobody wants that!

Young Rus Narrator

We can surely try to agree laws to prevent that!

Young US Narrator

Think tanks come up with a ton of fine words but they never happen…

Young Chn Narrator

Well - we’re the Superpowers! We can make it happen!

Young Fr Narrator

What about all of them? (pointing at the choir)

Young Chn Narrator

They’ll come along if we come up with a good enough plan!

Young US Narrator

The superpowers haven’t come up with a decent plan for UN reform in 80 years!

Young UK Narrator

What makes you think that we’ll come up with one now?

Young Rus Narrator

I said we could try…!

Young Narrators

(Severally – as they go into a huddle) OK – we have a Welsh Commission on Future Generations! Let’s review that and all the Think Tank suggestions – and the UN’s own Pact for the Future – and the Paris / Kunming-Montreal! Climate Change and Biodiversity! We can sort this out…

Voice from the Chorus

What about us?!

Voice from the Chorus

It’s Our World too!

Voice from the Chorus

You can’t leave us out!

Voices from the Chorus

(Music starts as they all stand in a cacophony of shouting voices and pointing fingers at the young narrators saying things like) Talk to us! It’s our problem too – you can’t handle it alone! You’re the problem – you’re the biggest carbon emitters – you’re the ones making wars… etc.

Their voices build with the orchestral introduction as they stand and sing at the Young Narrators – who turn and watch, dismayed. Single beat on the Timpani – and the Chorus sings: 9

Song 6. Superman! [KEY: C Major ] Chorus (sings)

Where you gonna run to – Superman?!

Where you gonna hide?!

Where will be your land?!

What you gotta say now – Superman?!

Who’ll be the fool in your masterplan?!

What you gonna do now – Superman?!

What have you done to God’s Promised Land?!

What have you done with this beautiful world?!

Where is your guiding star?!

What have you done with this God-given grace?!

Who do you think you are?!

Yes who do you think you are?!

Where you gonna run to – Superman?!

Where you gonna hide?!

Where will be your land?!

We’ll wake up one morning and the world will be gone With all of our beautiful dreams We had so many chances but we threw them away And now we’ve sold our souls to the Devil’s course How did we lose control?!

And how we gonna pay the toll?!

Where you gonna run to – Superman?!

Where you gonna hide?!

Where will be your land?!

What you gotta say now – Superman?!

Who’ll be the fool in your masterplan?!

What you gonna do now – Superman?!

What have you done to God’s Promised Land?!

Where you gonna run to - Superman?!

SuperPowers!

– D E S P A I R: T H E O N L Y O P T I O N – Goal of Scene: to express the despair that many young people about the insolubility of the problems they face. Any solution has to begin with Peace Young Chn Narrator

They’re not happy!

Young US Narrator

They’re never happy!

Young UK Narrator

So what – we just ignore them?

Young Fr Narrator

No! – We have to collaborate with them.

Young Rus Narrator

That’s how you get global laws: there’s no salvation without collaboration.

Young US Narrator

It’s pretty clear 193 Nation States can never do that:

Young UK Narrator

– especially when every one of them believes it has a sovereign right to kill anyone who tries to tell them what they can, or cannot, do!

Young US Narrator

How are we going to survive if every nation state reserves the right to murder people?!

10

Young Chn Narrator

Especially if they’re murdering the planet at the same time!

Young UK Narrator

They’ll never stop unless they are beaten on the battlefield!

Young Rus Narrator

And so the wars go on and on, lining the pockets of the military and the weapons companies….

Young US Narrator

And all our taxes goes into building ever better weapons to kill us all!

Young Fr Narrator

So we carry on, fighting, fighting, fighting - when we should be spending every last cent we have on the survival of our own and future generations!

Young Rus Narrator

We cannot survive without peace – without that passion to collaborate!

Young US Narrator

But we can’t have any peace or collaboration while you still want to build your Empires and have your “Spheres of Influence” –

Young Chn Narrator

Your tariffs and your trade wars….

Young UK Narrator

- and your actual wars! Look at Eastern Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen

Young Fr Narrator

All devastated – !

Young US Narrator

Reduced to rubble….

Young Fr Narrator

(Furious) We’re mad! We don’t deserve to live on this beautiful planet…

Young Chn Narrator

(Equally furious) We have to protect ourselves from our own madness ….

Young UK Narrator

Well - as the Romans said: “If you want Peace – Prepare for War!”

Young Fr Narrator

NO!! (Spluttering with passion) If you want Peace – Prepare for Peace!

Young Chn Narrator

Live for Peace!

Young Fr Narrator

Love for Peace – Please!! (music starts under) Please!! - Listen to me….

Song 7. Listen to Me [KEY: E Major] Young Fr Narrator (speaks)

– Heed the Words that I say! (sings) We live in one world so our home is the same The same sun is our fire, the same clouds give us rain So whatever you desire our future’s the same

Young Chn Narrator

Say not that you’re righteous - nor that you are true!

Say not that I’m red – nor that you are blue Say only we are Friends! – and we want to live in peace In this here our world, Let all wars cease!

Young Narrators & Chorus (softly) Say not that you’re Christian, nor that you are Jew! Say not that you’re red, nor that I am blue!

Say only I am Man – and we want to live in Peace In this here our world, let all wars cease!

Young Chn & Fr Narrator

For where would we go if this world we destroy?

There’s only one home, this world, to enjoy!

The same earth fills our hunger, and we all breathe the air So change your desires, this world we must share.

Young Narrators & Chorus

Say not that you’re rich, nor that you are poor!

Say not that you’re less, nor that I am more!

Say only I am Man – and we want to live in Peace In this here our world, let all wars cease!

Young Fr Narrator

In this here our world…

Young Chn Narrator

(pleading) Let all wars cease!

11

– THE DREAM – Goal of Scene: to acknowledge everyone’s shared dream of Peace Young Chn Narrator

How do you prepare for Peace?

Young Fr Narrator

You love each other…

Young US Narrator

Care for each other…

Young Rus Narrator

Want the best for each other…

Young UK Narrator

Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself…

Young Chn Narrator

Nice idea, but wishful thinking, don’t you think?

Young Fr Narrator

Yes – Wishful thinking, but -….

Young US Narrator

– you have to start with the Dream!

Young Rus Narrator

“I have a dream today!”

Young US Narrator

Martin Luther King!?

Young Rus Narrator

Of course! “I dream of a day when the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will sit down at the table of Brotherhood!”

Young US Narrator

How do you know that line!?

Young Rus Narrator

We studied Martin Luther King at School: we love him!

Young US Narrator

Do you know about the World House?

Young UK Narrator

The World House?

Young Rus Narrator

The last chapter of his last book –

Young Rus & US Narrators (together) Where do we go from here? (they hi-five each other) Young US Narrator

You’ve read it?

Young Rus Narrator

Of course!

Young Chn Narrator

I’ve never heard of it…

Young Fr Narrator

Neither have I - What’s it about?

Young US Narrator

It’s completely brilliant! He imagines the world as a great big house with all the peoples of the world living together in it…

Young Rus Narrator

Everyone cares for each other, eats together, looks after each other’s kids, empties the trash, does the maintenance, has parties together! A World community!

Young Chn Narrator

A World Family!?

Young Fr Narrator

There’s your answer right there: we have to build that World House together.

Young US Narrator

I told you! Start with the Dream!

Song 8. I have a Vision [KEY: A Major ] Young US Narrator (sings) Young Rus Narrator

I have a vision, I have a dream I have the answer or so it seems.

Young Rus & US Narrators

Don't you see the truth, to fight is not right, We shall have our rainbow, we will have our sunlight!

If we unite!

12

Young US Narrator

There's a way you see, where no one gets hurt There's a way with love if you try!

There is hope and faith to keep you alive In your darkest day, just pray!

Young Rus Narrator All with Chorus

Reach out with love, gather all your courage, Reach out with love, seek a brighter day!

Love as our sword, peace as our weapon Reach out with love! Let us win this way!

Young US Narrator Young UK Narrator

Martin Luther King had a vision!

He had a dream

Young US / UK Narrators

He had the answer, or so it seemed!

He knew the truth - to fight is not right We can have our rainbow, we can have the sunlight!

We must unite!

Young Narrators Chorus Young Narrators Chorus Young Narrators Chorus

A new world,

All + Chorus

Reach out with love, gather all your courage, Reach out with love, seek a brighter day!

Love as our sword, peace as our weapon Reach out with love! Let us win this way!

Young Narrators

We have a vision!

A new light!

A new world, A new light!

A new Hope, A new light!

– NUKES – Goal of Scene: to acknowledge the Elephant in the Room – our ridiculous inability to get rid of the weapons that could wipe all life off the face of the planet in minutes A monstrous Mushroom cloud erupts behind them as the song ends. The narrators turn in horror.

Young Chn Narrator

We forgot the biggest elephant in the room

Young Fr Narrator

La bombe nucléaire!

Young Rus Narrator

Bombs that could destroy all life on earth for ever in a couple of hours!

Young US Narrator

The Multi-billion dollar industry whose only purpose is to kill us all!

Young Fr Narrator

How mad is that?!

Young UK Narrator

You know - the very first meeting the UN had was 5 months after Hiroshima. And pretty much all they talked about was how to abolish nuclear weapons. And yet, here we are, 80 years later, and we still have thousands of them!

Young Fr Narrator

And we’re supposed to sort that out too?

Young Chn Narrator

It’s very simple: we just get rid of them –

Young US Narrator

And set up a UN inspection force to make sure no one is hiding any in a secret cave somewhere.

Young UK Narrator

But – if very clever people haven’t been able to do that in 80 years, what makes you think we can?

Young Rus Narrator

Because we can learn to love each other and build a World House!

13

Young Chn Narrator

We agreed to do that, didn’t we!

Young US Narrator

We sure did! (They hi-five each other!)

Young Fr Narrator

Nuclear war would destroy everything we ever loved….

Child 1 (Coming out of the chorus in a group) Which is why we can’t let it.

Child 2

We must destroy the bombs before they destroy us.

Young Rus Narrator

Only governments can do that -

Young Fr Narrator

But we can appeal to them! (to the children) Will you help? (the children nod)

Music starts and the children walk forward to sing:

Song 9. Mr President [KEY: F Major] Child 1

Mr President is it true what they say, You can kill all the world in less than a day?

Child 2

Mr President, can it be what it seems, There will be no more love, there will be no more dreams.

Child 3

Mr President, is it true what I hear Because of men's greed we must all live in fear?

ALL + Chorus

Oh No! (Oh No) It's plain to see (It's plain to see) But so hard to understand, That this world we all love Is fading away, dying today!

Oh No! (oh no) It's not fair! (it's not fair) That mankind should have the right For the sake of their greed They can take this away Without asking why – Oh NO!

Child 3

Mr President, is it true what I read, The world could be dead with a turn of your key?

Child 2

Mr President, Can it be what it seems There will be no more children, no more love, no more dreams?

Child 1

Mr President, won't you hear our small plea?

For the millions of children, throw away your key?

ALL + Chorus

Oh No! (Oh No) It's plain to see (It's plain to see) But so hard to understand, That this world we all love Is fading away, dying today!

Oh No! (oh no) It's not fair! (it's not fair) That mankind should have the right For the sake of their greed They can take this away Without asking why – Oh NO!

Young Narrators & Children

Mr President, it's a time to be brave!

Announce to the world, this will be a Peace Day

3 x Children

The First Peace Day!

– RESOLUTION – 14

Goal of Scene: to imagine a world, 50 years hence, at peace – where poverty and climate change are distant memories – and to remind ourselves that we got there by remembering that we were all children once….

Young Rus Narrator

(coming forward) They won’t do it!

Young Fr Narrator

They might!

Young Rus Narrator

Never!

Young UK Narrator

You mean “Russia doesn’t do defeat?!”

Young Chn Narrator

No! No Government gives up power unless they have to.

Young Rus Narrator

“…unless they’re defeated on the battlefield.”

Young UK Narrator

But we have to replace the Law of Force with the Force of Law!

Young US Narrator

That bird has flown long ago.

Young Rus Narrator

We’re back in sabre-rattling Mode ….

Young Fr Narrator

The United Nations is headed for the Dustbin of History!

Young Chn Narrator

Unless we save it!

Young Rus Narrator

We can’t! Stop hallucinating!

Young Fr Narrator

What about the Treaty to prohibit all Nuclear Weapons?

Young UK Narrator

The TPNW? None of the nuclear powers signed it

Young Chn Narrator

They boycotted the negotiations!

Young Rus Narrator

They wouldn’t even talk about abolishing their nuclear weapons!

Young US Narrator

Did you hear what my government did just last month? They walked out of a UN Meeting that agreed to put a tax on the bunker fuel that cargo ships use!

Young UK Narrator

I heard about that: it was a brilliant way to encourage one of the world’s biggest polluting industries to transition to green fuels.

Young US Narrator

And, not only did the US walk away from the meeting, when everyone else signed the treaty, they threatened to stop a ship from any nation that paid the tax to dock in US ports!

Young Fr Narrator

You mean – not only did they stop their own ships from becoming greener – they want to stop the rest of the world from becoming any greener too?

Young US Narrator

Exactly! That is US policy now!

Young Chn Narrator

To kill the world?!

Young US Narrator

They don’t care – as long as their billionaire buddies get their tax cuts!

Young UK Narrator

That’s not OK

Young Rus Narrator

It’s truly evil!

Young Fr Narrator

It is! But what can we do?

Young UK Narrator

I don’t know!

Young Fr Narrator

(turning to the Chorus) What would you do?

Chorus Member 1

Kick ‘em out! (walks forward to join them)

Young Chn Narrator

What?!

Chorus Member 2

Yes! – Kick ‘em out!

Chorus Members

(all join, shouting) Out – Out – Out – Out! 15

Narrators

Who?

Chorus Member 1

All of you!

Narrators

Why?

Chorus Member 1

Basic Planetary Hygene! Your planet is a fragile, beautiful thing that has supported Life for millions of years. You can’t allow a bunch of ignorant, greedy governments destroy it! If that’s what they want to do, you must kick them out of your World House and only let ‘em back in when they agree to obey global laws that require them to behave like good, caring members of the planetary family.

Young Chn Narrator

They won’t go!

Chorus Member 1

Make ‘em! (he walks back.)

Young Rus Narrator

You’re Delusional!!!

Young US Narrator

They’ll never do any of it!

Young UK Narrator

Kick our governments out of the UN?!

Young Chn Narrator

(to the chorus) You’re crazy!

Young Fr Narrator

We can ask them!

Young Rus Narrator

They’ll laugh at us!

Chorus Member 1

No they won’t!

Chorus Member 2

Kick ‘em out!

Chorus Members

(all join, shouting) Out – Out – Out – Out!

Young Fr Narrator

We have to try!

Young UK Narrator

I suppose! “The People united can never be defeated!”

Young Chn Narrator

Yes they can and will be defeated! Tyrants always defeat their people…

Young UK Narrator

Not the young people! We have our whole lives ahead of us! We have to try!

Young Fr Narrator

Our leaders were children once! They must have dreamed, like us, of Uniting Nations – of leaving the world in a better place than they found it?!

Young Rus Narrator

You really think….

Young Fr Narrator

Yes! Think of them as Children! Sir Starmer in a romper suit…

Young US Narrator

Putin in Pampers!

Young Rus Narrator

Trump in a Babygrow! (they laugh and hi-five)

Young Chn Narrator

(to the children) No child would ever want to make war and die would they?

The children shake their heads and watch as the Narrators come forward and sing with them.

Song 10. Child for a Day [KEY: G Major] Children & Narrators

I was a child who ran full of laughter I was a child who lived for a day My eyes full of sunshine My heart full of smiles I was a child for a day.

The Narrators Exit. On a screen at the back, the years roll by: 2025 to 2100.

Children + Chorus

We were the children who ran in the morning We were the children who laughed at the sun Who listened to those who spoke with their wisdom 16

We were the ones we would say.

The Narrators return, in grey wigs and hobbling ridiculously - acting geriatric: We're getting older as time goes by A little older every day We are the children of yesterday.

The Chorus remain standing as the children and Narrators come forward. 2100 fills the screen: Young UK Narrator

So – we did it!

Young US Narrator

We made the world safe and sustainable for Future Generations!

Young Rus Narrator

We were Good Ancestors!

Child

HOW did you do it?

Young US Narrator

We kicked them out of the UN!

Children

WHO?

Young UK Narrator

All five of our nuclear-armed, veto-wielding Governments

Children

HOW?

Young Fr Narrator

Well it was really hard! At first, they wouldn’t even let us talk about it.

Young Chn Narrator

They wouldn’t allow us to ask the question!

Young Rus Narrator

They were all men, of course….

Men of the Chorus

We are the men who worry of nothing We are the men who speak without aim Who listen to no one yet speak of their wisdom We were the ones we would say.

Men of the Chorus

We've gotten older - as time goes by A little older every day We were the children of yesterday.

Child

So – how did you do it?

Young Fr Narrator

We did a Greta Thunberg’s School Strike 4 Climate again!

Young Chn Narrator

– and did it properly! Full on, round-the-clock, 24/7 Global School strike.

Young UK Narrator

And it wasn’t about NOT going to school:

Young US Narrator

It was all about learning about the State of the Planet –

Young Fr Narrator

And the more we learned, the more we realised that our planet really was dying –

Young Chn Narrator

So millions joined our strike.

Young Fr Narrator

Parents and grand-parents

Young US Narrator

Business Leaders

Young Chn Narrator

Even politicians and diplomats!

Young Rus Narrator

Because everyone wants to live

Young Fr Narrator

And with floods and wild fires everywhere

Young Chn Narrator

– causing billions of dollars worth of damage!

Young UK Narrator

The pressure from those wanting to live –

Young US Narrator

– not to mention the Insurance Industry!

Young Fr Narrator

– was just too great!

17

Young Rus Narrator

We had to Unite Nations and live at peace with one another

Young US Narrator

So – we built the World House: a global institution with the power to protect all our futures!

Young US & Rus Narrators (Hi-fiving each other!) Yes! Young UK Narrator

The World House plan gave everyone access to the Internet so we could consult every member of the human family, every step of the way

Young Chn Narrator

AI systems aggregated opinions from every one of them!

Young US Narrator

So – finally! - the P5 Nuclear leaders agreed to sit down with us….

Young Rus Narrator

And – together - we made the global laws that turned the “arc of the moral universe back from tyranny and death towards justice and survival!”

Young Fr Narrator

And it was we – the young people – who drove it. We made it all happen!

Young Narrators & Children (putting their arms around each other’s shoulders!)

Young US Narrator

“A little child shall lead them….” !

Solo Child

The Peace Child?

Young Rus Narrator

Yes! The Peace Child!

Solo Child

I was a child who ran full of laughter I was a child who lived for a day My eyes full of sunshine My heart full of smiles I was a child for a day.

All join hands & sing (softly):

We're getting older as time goes by A little older every day We are the children of yesterday.

THE

END

18

YES!

Curtain Call – all bow.

19