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Richard Kuegeman to Lead
IIPT Global Peace Parks Program |
IIPT is proud to announce that Richard Kuegeman of Atlanta,
Georgia has agreed to spearhead IIPT’s Global Peace Park
Program.
The Global Peace Parks Program was launched on the 11th hour, of
the 11th day, of the 11th month, in the first year of the
new Millennium, at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ’s |
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Richard Kuegeman
IIPT Peace Parks Proram |
baptism. The Program continues as a living legacy of
the 1st Global Summit on Peace through Tourism, November
8-11, 2000 hosted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
His Majesty King Abdullah II was Patron of the Summit
which – like the Global Peace Park Program - was in
support of the UN Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for
the Children of the World.
Notable among the IIPT Peace Parks dedicated to date in
addition to that at ‘Bethany beyond the Jordan” are IIPT
Peace Parks at |
Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii; the Dag Hammarkskjold Memorial Site, Ndola Zambia (site of UN
Secretary Dag Hammarskjold’s plane crash while on a
peace mission to the Congo in 1961); Waterton Glacier
International Peace Park (the world’s first
international peace park); Bagamoyo, Tanzania, (a UNESCO
Heritage Site which served as a center of the slave
trade for Eastern Africa); Victoria Falls, Zambia (one
of the seven natural wonders of the world); Niagara
Falls, Ontario, Canada; and Namugongo on the Uganda
Martyr’s Trail, a World Heritage site.
Richard (Dick) Kuegeman has had a rich and varied career
as both an executive with various organizations
including Sea World, Fotomat Corporation, and Opryland,
and with successful enterprises which he established
including The Cumberland Group, an entertainment
production, marketing, and venture development
organization, where he served as President. Clients
included Stroh Brewery (creation, production, marketing,
and management of “The Stroh Run For Liberty”; the
largest single-day running event in the history of the
sport) to benefit The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
Foundation; LearnStar, Inc., (start-up counsel, roll-out
strategy, field operations and sales for this firm
engaged in interactive television for the classroom
featuring regional and national simultaneous, real-time
participation); Coca-Cola (planning, management of the
entire entertainment component of the Coca-Cola Olympic
City project during the Atlanta Olympics); and others.
More recently, Dick has chosen to redirect his
professional efforts toward providing counsel to a
select and limited client list committed to serving
(sometimes creating) social purpose enterprises. He has
served as senior consultant to Habitat for Humanity
International, started a HUD-funded program called The
Strategic Urban Initiative (exploring how to increase
Habitat’s efficacy in urban cities around the world),
and served as construction/development project manager
and executive director of a themed advocacy and
educational tourist/visitor destination, Habitat for
Humanity International’s Global Village & Discovery
Center.
As Executive Director (pro bono) of the IIPT Global Peace Parks
Program, Dick will strive to reach our goal of 2000 Peace
Parks circling the earth by 2010, as a living legacy of
the U.N. Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for the
Children of the World (2000 – 2010).
The IIPT Global Peace Parks Program involves the travel
Community, local business, service clubs, schools and
the general public in promoting cultural understanding
and a “Culture of Peace” in local neighborhoods, towns
and cities throughout the world.
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For more information – and to dedicate an IIPT Peace
Park, please contact Dick Kuegeman at
rkuegeman@iipt.org. |
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Students of the Dag Hammarskjold Living
Memorial Community School singing an original song
“Thank you Daddy Hammarskjold” |
Swedish Ambassador Christina Rehlen
placing wreath at the Dag Hammarskjold Memorial Site in
Ndola
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Chief Mukuni of the Mukuni Tribe
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Dignitaries taking part in the Victoria
Falls International Peace Park dedication
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Uganda Martyr's Trail Basilica
Namugongo – Uganda
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IIPT Peace Park dedication in Pattaya
as Pattaya is declared a “City of Peace”
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Stamp of Pope John Paul II
in honor of his visit to Uganda |
IIPT President Louis D’Amore planting
the first peace tree at Uganda Martyr’s
Trail Peace Park |
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IIPT To Commemorate
15th Anniversary of Peace Parks Across Canada |
The IIPT Global Peace Parks
program described above builds on the
foundations of the successful “Peace Parks
Across Canada” project commemorating Canada’s
125th anniversary as a nation in 1992.
Some 400 cities and towns across Canada, from
St. John’s, Newfoundland on the shores of the
Atlantic, across 5 time zones to Victoria,
British Columbia on the shores of the Pacific,
dedicated a Park to Peace – with most parks
dedicated at Noon local time, October 8th, as
the National Peacekeeping Monument was being
unveiled in Ottawa.
Each park was dedicated with a ‘Bosco Sacro’
(Peace Grove) of 12 trees as a symbolic link
with one another, and with nature - and as a
symbol of hope for the future. |
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IIPT is currently re-establishing contact with
each of the 400 cities and towns with the aim of
having a nation-wide re-dedication ceremony at
each of the parks on Tuesday, October 9th at
noon local time - one day after the precise 15th
anniversary of the original dedication.
The Peace Grove of 12 trees was also symbolic of
Canada’s 10 Provinces and two Territories. As
there are now three Territories, the
re-dedication will include the planting of an
additional tree representing the new Territory
of
Nunavut.
Peace Parks Across Canada was conceived and
implemented by IIPT in collaboration with
“CANADA 125” and the National Capital
Commission. Supporters included
the Federation of Canadian Mayors and
Municipalities, Heritage Canada, Canada Parks
and Recreation Association, the Tourism Industry
Association of Canada, Friends of the Earth
Canada, World Wildlife Fund Canada, and the many
Rotary Clubs across Canada.
Sponsors included Via Rail, Greyhound Lines
Canada, CP Hotels and Resorts, Westin Hotels and
Resorts, Ramada International Hotels and
Resorts, Four Seasons Ltd., Meridien Hotels,
Concept 3 Advertising, and Programmed
Communications Ltd.
Peace Parks Across Canada was said to be the
most successful and significant of the more than
25,000 events and projects conducted during
“Canada 125.”
Cities and towns that were not part of the
original Peace Parks Across Canada Project are
of course invited to dedicate a Park to Peace on
the same date, October 9th at noon local time.
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For more information on the Re-dedication
ceremony, or on dedicating a Park to Peace for
the first time, please contact:
peaceparks@iipt.org |
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A book to be released in September, Peace
Parks: Conservation and Conflict Resolution, edited by Saleem Ali,
examines the ways in which environmental cooperation in
multi-jurisdictional conservation areas may help resolve political and
territorial conflicts.
Its analyses and case studies of trans-boundary peace parks focus on how
the sharing of physical space and management responsibilities can build
and sustain peace among countries. The book examines the roles played by
governments, the military, civil society, scientists, and
conservationists, and their effects on both the ecological management
and the potential for peace-building in these areas. |
After describing such real-life examples as the Selous-Niassa Wildlife
Corridor in Africa and the Emerald Triangle conservation zone in
Indochina, the book looks to the future, exploring the peace-building
potential of envisioned parks in security-intensive spots including the
U.S.-Mexican border, the demilitarized zone between North and South
Korea, and the Mesopotamian marshlands between Iraq and Iran. With
contributors from a variety of disciplines and diverse geographic
regions, Peace Parks is not only a groundbreaking book in International
Relations but a valuable resource for policy makers and
environmentalists.
For more information, please click
here
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IIPT Award Winner Jamie Andrew
Completes Titanium Man Challenge |
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Jamie Andrew |
Quadruple Amputee Super Athlete and Mountain Climber
Jamie Andrew set out Saturday morning, August 4th at 06:00 AM for the
biggest challenge of his lifetime – his self named: “Titanium Man”
Event.
He arrived 06:00 AM Sunday morning, August 5th, on schedule - 24 hours
later, at Middle Meadow Walk in Edinburgh, Scotland having swum 2.4
miles in Loch Tay, cycled 112 miles to Falkirk and run and walked 26.2
miles along the canal to Edinburgh.
The “Iron Man Triathlon” length event in Jamie’s words, “Is one of the |
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most grueling feats of athletic endurance, even for
able-bodied athletes, and for me as a quadruple amputee this has been my
biggest challenge yet!”
IIPT Founder and President Louis D’Amore stated, “IIPT was proud to
support Jamie in this, the greatest challenge he has set for himself to
date. As with other significant challenges Jamie has undertaken –
Jamie’s Titanium Man Challenge was done for a most worthy cause – to
raise funds that will provide prosthetic limbs to men women and children
in deprived parts of the world who lose arms and legs each year due to
war, landmines, disease and poverty. “
Why the name “Titanium Man Event?” Jamie explains: “Iron Man is a
registered trade mark, so instead this is Titanium Man, named after the
high performance metal of which my prosthetic leg components are made.”
More details are available at
www.titaniumman.co.uk and
www.500miles.co.uk.
Jamie had this to say following the successful completion of his latest
challenge: “The swim was probably the hardest part as the water was
cold, choppy and very intimidating at 6 in the morning. The cycle was
not helped by a strong headwind for the first half but I stayed tucked
in behind my cycle team and we made good steady progress the whole way.
The run/walk was a long, gruelling effort through a drizzly night on
sore stumps, but by now the end was in sight and nothing was going to
stop me!”
To find out more about Jamie and/or to make a donation that will improve
the lives of amputees in deprived areas of the world, please click
here.
Jamie received the IIPT Achievement Award, together with other members
of his climbing team at the 2nd Global Summit on Peace through Tourism
held in Geneva 2002. With two climbers from India, two climbers from
Pakistan, and two climbers from sponsoring organizations UIAA and IUCN,
the team climbed several peaks in the Swiss Alps, notably the Monch
(4099m).
The purpose of the IUCN/UIAA supported climb was to underline the
importance of protecting mountain environments and to highlight the
success of the Swiss Government in achieving UNESCO natural World
Heritage status for the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region.
The climb also promoted the creation of trans-boundary protected areas,
in particular the Siachen Glacier between India and Pakistan, the scene
of the longest running military conflict in the world. This was the
first time the flags of India and Pakistan had flown together on a
mountain summit.
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Jamie starting his project |
Jamie swimming on Loch Tay |
Jamie during his "Titanium Man" Challenge |
Jamie cycling to Falkirk |
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World Peace Tour to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
An Amazing Journey
The first "World Peace Tour to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan" was
hosted earlier this year by IIPT and Sacred Himalaya Travel, a Bhutanese
owned and operated travel company.
Steeped in the tradition of compassion and kindness , Bhutan’s Buddhist
culture, hand in hand with IPT’s values of generating peace through
tourism, allowed five American women traveling from Alaska,
Pennsylvania, Vietnam and China to have an amazing journey.
Following is a description of the tour as told by Tour Leader Wendy Erd.
The tour began with a late winter snow fall and a climb through a
magical white forest to Taksang, Tigers Nest, one of the most sacred
temples in Bhutan. Sun broke through mists as we climbed the last stone
steps and reached Taksang, 2,700 feet above the Paro Valley. In a side
room, a monk helped us as we lit small brass lamps filled with melted
butter to make special offerings for peace.
Across Bhutan we were met with the gentle kindness and the easy going
humor of the Bhutanese people. At Paro Dzong, an ancient fortress and
the shared seat of local governance by both secular officials and monks;
young monks tied blessing threads around our necks and laughed shyly as
they practiced their English.
Once we reached the capital in Thimphu, between visits to the
Traditional Medicine Center, a young artists school (VAST) and an
India–Bhutan car rally awards ceremony, we were met by energetic Raj
Basu who’d traveled from India to share with us their successful peace
initiative in Manas National Park, which borders Bhutan to the South and
is home of many Bodo indigenous villagers.
Raj is one of the founders of both Help Tourism and ACT-Association for
Conservation and Tourism. These organizations support the "Terrorism to
Tourism"-Process on the Indian side of Manas and are now working on
cross-border conservation through ecotourism.
Losar or Bhutanese New Year is celebrated with much dancing, singing,
eating and drinking with family and friends and the traditional game of
archery. On a day hike in Bumthang valley, we heard laughter and music
coming from across a field. Local villagers waved us over and soon we
were all dancing together under a brilliant afternoon sun.
Atop Dochula Pass, we had the great good fortune to meet one of the
Queens of Bhutan, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. She was overseeing the
construction of a temple dedicated to her husband, the 4th King, who
recently gave his throne to his son and is helping to usher in a new
system of governance with Bhutan’s first upcoming elections.
Our last day in Bhutan we drove past a sparkling river to one of
Bhutan’s oldest temples, Kichu Lakhang. We arrived as nuns and monks
were holding a day long prayer for Chenrizig, the god of compassion. It
is said that Chenrizig took so much of the suffering of the world into
himself that, unable to hold it, he exploded into thousands of pieces.
The Deities put him back together. He is represented with 1,000 arms and
a ‘seeing’ eye in the palm of each hand.
From the glow of butter lamps to the light in children’s eyes, from the
beauty of the Himalayan mountains to the music of both laughter and
selfless prayers for peace, Bhutan indelibly softened our hearts.
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The second World Peace Tour to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan: A Tour
of Kindness, will take place in 2008. Please keep tuned to the IIPT web
site for upcoming dates and details . |
World Peace Tour guests: Sue Christianson,
Wendy Erd (Trip leader), Amelia Fendell-Wipf,
Suzanne Lecht, Jen Nicholson |
Magical Taksang: Tiger's Nest Monastery,
Paro Bhutan
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Tying on a blessing thread,
Young Monk at Paro Dzong
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Bhutan New Year ( Losar )
Dancing in Bumthang, Bhutan |
Butter
Lamps, lit to send blessings to all
sentient beings, Kyichu Lhakang, Paro |
Tshetem Norbu, owner and guide
Sacred Himalaya Travel Thimphu, Bhutan |
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IIPT Proud Sponsor of
THETRADESHOW |
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IIPT is proud to again be a sponsor of
THETRADESHOW
2007 (Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) being held at the Las Vegas
Convention Center, Las Vegas, September 9-11, 2007.
THETRADESHOW
2007 again provides a major opportunity for IIPT collaboration with ASTA
and its partners in promoting travel throughout the world as a vital
force for international understanding and peace.
Clearly, the mission of IIPT in “Building a Culture of Peace through
Tourism” has never been more important. The participation of IIPT and
its members in
THETRADESHOW
2007 will encourage other attendees to spread the word
throughout the world that “Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador
for Peace.” It is only through travel and people-to-people encounters
that we can come to realize the full significance of our
inter-connectedness and common future in an ever shrinking “Global
Village.”
This year, the conference program has been specifically designed to give
exhibitors the greatest amount of time with travel sellers to generate
new leads and establish new business relationships. Exhibitors will have
two full days for pre-scheduled, one-on-one appointments with travel
retailers, wholesalers, tour operators and other exhibitors.
THETRADESHOW
will be open on Sunday, Sept. 9 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and from 11 a.m.-3
p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
Buyer attendance at
THETRADESHOW
represents a large mix of travel retailers. Attendees are members of
many reputable worldwide associations, making the attendees at
THETRADESHOW
highly qualified travel professionals. The expansive trade show and
unparalleled educational program will draw every type of travel seller
making THETRADESHOW
the best place for suppliers to meet their target market and generate
new and qualified sales leads.
THETRADESHOW
(Travel Retailing and Destination Expo) is a 3-day, in-depth networking
and educational event. Global and inclusive,
THETRADESHOW,
powered by ASTA and ITB Berlin, unites under one roof travel suppliers
and buyers from all over the world, representing every segment of the
travel and tourism industry. It is the trade show event for travel
decision makers. For more information on
THETRADESHOW,
call 1.866.870.9333 or visit
www.THETRADESHOW.org
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IIPT Proud Partner
in 3rd African Diaspora Heritage Trail International Conference
“From Slave Ships to Self-Determined Destinations” |
IIPT is again proud to be a partner in the 3rd African Diaspora Heritage
Trail International Conference: From Slave Ships to Self-Determined
Destination” October 10-14, 2007 at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise
Island, the Bahamas.
The Conference is being hosted by the Honorable Neko Grant, Minister of
Tourism & Aviation, and the Government of the Bahamas. It will be a
diverse gathering of interested, talented and experienced persons from
throughout the African Diaspora who are committed to the authentic
research, documentation, promotion and further development of African
Diaspora Heritage sites/venues, museums, monuments, and cultural
expressions.
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Hon. Neko Grant
Minister of Tourism Bahamas
Dr. Ewart Brown
Bermuda Premier |
Conference speeches, panels and presentations are designed to be
interactive in order to tap into the expertise of all participants.
Overall the conference will convey the rich heritage, diverse stories
and culture of the peoples of Africa and the African Diaspora as
presented through their own artistic expressions, written and oral
histories, institution-building and policy making.
Conference attendees will also participate in educational and
professional development sessions, share model heritage trail programs,
and enjoy networking on an international level with professionals in
related fields.
Founded by the Government of Bermuda, the ADHT is a transnational
heritage tourism initiative to educate visitors, enhance economic
viability of African Diaspora countries and communities and conserve the
essence of African descent, culture and history for future generations.
ADHT is developing a network of collaborators who identify, build,
finance, promote and market memorable heritage destinations. ADHT
destinations foster sustainable economic development, provide inspiring
educational experiences, produce quality cultural heritage products that
expose visitors to authentic |
African Diaspora history and culture, and motivate local
populations to become active participants in the preservation and
dissemination of their own history and culture. ADHT seeks to establish
a transnational African Diaspora Heritage Trail, linking Diasporan
countries and venues throughout the world.
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Show
Your Support with One Earth One Family
IIPT Plaques and Gift Cards
Created exclusively for IIPT, both items
display the IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveler
and Art Piece by R. Padre Johnson.
The Credo of the Peaceful Traveler puts
forth an ethical travel philosophy for travelers to abide by. The IIPT
Credo of the Peaceful Traveler was the inspiration of a very special person at
the IIPT First Global Conference: Tourism - A Vital Force for Peace, Vancouver
1988. We have respected the author's request to remain annonymous. The IIPT
Credo has since spread across the travel and tourism industry worldwide. |
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The One Earth One Family art piece
by R. Padre
Johnson provides a view of our incredible earth from outer space, surrounded by the open
faces of 25 children and adults from different cultures. Each portrait represents an important visual statement
about the unique and interesting facial difference in each individual, the
culture and ethnicity each represents, and the limitless threads of common
humanity that draws all citizens of our planet more closely together as one
inter-dependent family.
These items will remind all who see or
receive them of what a privilege it is to travel freely throughout the world and
the opportunity they have as they travel to be ambassadors of international
understanding, good will and peace. These items will be admired and appreciated
by everyone who sees them in your office, place of business or home.
Costs are $200 (US) plus shipping for an Acrylic
Plaque, and $15 (US) plus shipping for a Gift Card pack of 10 Cards and Envelopes.
To order online or by fax/mail, please visit our
website.
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About IIPT
The International Institute for
Peace through Tourism (IIPT) is a not for profit organization dedicated to
fostering travel and tourism initiatives that contribute to international
understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the
preservation of heritage, and poverty reduction; and through these
initiatives, helping to bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.
It is founded on a vision of the world’s largest industry, travel and
tourism – becoming the world’s first global peace industry; and the belief
that every traveler is potentially an “Ambassador for Peace.”
For more information:
IIPT Website:
www.iipt.org
Tel: (802) 253-2658
Fax: (802) 253-2645
Email:
info@iipt.org
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