> INTERDEPENDENCE DAY I - Philadelphia, 2003

On September 12, 2003, in Philadelphia, the First Interdependence Day was launched. Following preparatory meetings in Washington and Berlin, 300 people gathered in Ben Franklin’s American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, across from the Liberty Bell, to remember the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the new Declaration of Interdependence.

With Interdependence Day Founder Benjamin Barber, under the auspices of the University of Maryland, a program commenced featuring Harry Belafonte, former Senator Gary Hart, poet Sonia Sanchez, Lord Frank Judd, University President Yolanda Moses and Lord Bhikhu Parekh.

Composer John Duffy’s commissioned chorale “Interdependence” was sung by the Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus.

With an affiliated event in Budapest organized by Parliamentarian Ivan Vitanyi, and major events at the University of Maryland, Interdependence Day had at last become a reality!