"One World" (by Roberta Donnay) was originally written and performed for the United Nations' 50th Anniversary at a performance sponsored by SGI (Soka Gakkai International).
It became an official theme of the UN50.
Performed for 188 delegates in 1994 and at the official celebrations in 1995, the song was also introduced the same year as a world peace theme in Japan at the Minon World Peace conventions.
The song was chosen to welcome Rosa Parks to San Francisco (1995) by a school in the Mission District. The students performed the song. Also, in 1995 a group of first graders performed One World at a performance for UN 50 at the De Young Museum as part of the children's recital.
The Minon Orchestra ( from Tokyo ) toured the song as a theme song for peace conventions in and outside of Japan.
It was performed at peace conventions in Italy, Korea, and Vietnam, then was adopted by schools in the United States, chosen by students to be their graduation theme.
In 1998, Roberta Donnay was invited to sing One World at The People's Assembly with 130 representatives from around the world. That same year, the song was produced as a single (by Joel Jaffe) and distributed by Rainforest Records, administered by Bug Music.
One World was performed and toured by orphans in Ethiopia after being adopted by The People's Assembly.
In 1999 Roberta was invited to perform the song at THE HAGUE APPEAL FOR PEACE in the Netherlands. The song was performed for benefits for Nicaragua, the rally for the Chinese people of Indonesia, members of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, Mother's Day Peace Pilgrimage, for the City of Hayward, and countless other peace & city functions.
The song was performed by BEYOND BORDERS students (multi-cultural summer program ~ see www.mcds.org) as their finale performance, with Carlos Santana in attendance. The children performed the song in English, Spanish, and in sign language.
The song was used in 2003 as the theme for 2 AIDS benefits in South Africa. The song was performed as both intro and finale of the benefits.
One World is currently being used as a theme at Earth Day and at Earth Charter events, and at school graduations around the US.