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Peace Park
Weyburn, SK |
Unity Peace Park
Richmond Hill, ON |
Marine Peace Park
Salmon Arm, BC |
Mair Peace Park
Prince Albert SK |
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‘Peace Parks Across Canada’
To
Commemorate 15th Anniversary
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Fifteen Years ago as Canada celebrated its 125th
Birthday, some 400 cities and towns across Canada 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.
“Peace Parks Across Canada” was conceived and organized by the
International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) in
collaboration with “CANADA 125” and the National Capital
Commission. Supporters included the Federation of Canadian
Mayors and Municipalities, Canada Parks and Recreation
Association, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada,
Heritage Canada, World Wildlife,
Fund Canada, Friends of the Earth, Canadian
Society of Landscape Architects, and local Rotary Clubs all
across Canada.
Project sponsors included VIA Rail, Greyhound Lines Canada,
Ltd., CP Hotels and Resorts, Ramada International Hotels and
Resorts, Four Seasons Ltd., Meridien Hotels, Concept 3
Advertising and Programmed Communications, Ltd.
As this is now the 15th anniversary of “Peace Parks Across
Canada,” and as Canada continues to be a beacon of peace,
Tolerance, and Understanding in a world of increasing violence
and distrust, and a nation that celebrates diversity, we are
seeking to re-establish communication with each of the 400
cities and towns that dedicated a Park to Peace in 1992 with a
view to coordinating a nation-wide re-dedication.
As Monday, October 8th is Thanksgiving, we recommend holding dedications at noon local time, Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 – one day after
the precise 15th Anniversary of the original dedications.
Each of the original Peace Parks incorporated 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. The 12
trees were also symbolic of Canada’s 10 Provinces and two
Territories.
As there are now three Territories, we are suggesting that a
13th tree be planted as part of the “Re-dedication Ceremony.”
For more information on the 400 cities and towns that dedicated
a park to peace and to view the original promotional flyer for
“Peace Parks Across Canada,” in either French or English, please
visit the homepage of our website:
www.iipt.org or write
to us.
A limited number of CD's of the original promotional video (11
minutes) are also available in both French and English. Persons
interested in receiving a CD may write to us at the same email
address:
peaceparks@iipt.org.
Cities and towns that did not dedicate a park to peace
in 1992 are invited to join us in dedicating a peace
park on this 15th anniversary occasion. Please
use this link to register your Peace Park. For help
in getting started – Please see our “Peace
Park Tool Kit”
“Peace Parks Across Canada” has served as the foundation
for an “IIPT Global Peace Parks Program” launched on the
11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 2000 –
the first year of the new Millennium - from Bethany
Beyond the Jordan, site of Christ’s baptism. The Global
Peace Parks Program is a legacy of the First Global
Summit on Peace through Tourism, Amman, Jordan –
organized under the patronage of His Majesty King
Abdullah II.
Our goal is 2,010 Peace Parks circling the earth by 2010
commemorating the final year of the U.N. Decade of Peace
and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. Please
see the next article.
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Dragon Boat race, Canada Day,
Marine Peace Park
Salmon Arm, BC |
Bosco Sacro at Richmond Hill
Unity
Peace Park
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Youth pyramid
Marine Peace Park
Salmon Arm, BC |
Fall at Marine Peace
Park -
Salmon Arm, BC
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IIPT Global Peace Parks Program
Gains Momentum |
IIPT’s Global Peace
Parks Program is beginning to generate a
renewed head of steam with the recent
appointment of Richard Kuegeman as Executive
Director (pro bono) of the Program. Discussions
are currently under way with individuals and
organizations that we anticipate will result in
the formation of additional IIPT Peace Parks.
Our goal remains to have in place 2010 IIPT
Peace Parks circling the earth by 2010 as a
living legacy of the U.N. Decade (2000-2010) of
Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
World. We are seeking to create and promote a
“Culture of Peace” through inter-cultural
experiences both at home and abroad.
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Richard Kuegeman
IIPT Peace Parks Program |
| The Objectives of
the Global Peace Parks Program are: |
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• To nurture the
growth of peace and understanding at home and
throughout the world.
• To enhance awareness of a community’s
commitment to peace and a
healthy environment.
• To create a common ground for members of the
community to come
together in celebration of their nation’s
people, land, and heritage, and the common
future of all humankind.
• Reflect on our connectedness to
one another as a Global
Family and to the earth of which we are all a
part. |
As indicated in the previous article, we are
building on the solid foundations of the
successful “Peace Parks Across Canada” project
now commemorating its 15th anniversary. But to
reach our ambitious goal of 2010 Global Peace
Parks by 2010 we need help. We need your help.
Here’s how you can help.
First, give the concept some careful thought.
Where might an IIPT Peace Park be located in
your community? Is there an existing park,
public space, or other location which you can
envision as a gathering place with a view to
promoting the above objectives?
Second, consider the activities that might take
place in your community’s Peace Park. Would it
include meeting space, festivals, sporting
events, art exhibits, children’s activities,
traveling exhibits and shows? What can you
envision? Would it cater to a particular
constituency? How might it be a “Place of Peace”
enjoyed by the entire community?
Third, share with us your ideas as to how to
expand the influence of Peace Parks in each
community – and throughout the world.
Fourth, don’t forget to register your IIPT Peace
Park with us -use
this link-.
Finally, contact via e-mail
Richard Kuegeman, or by calling him at
770.7269504, or by writing to
IIPT Global
Peace Parks, 1050 East Piedmont Road, Suite
E-201, Marietta, Georgia 30062 USA. He would
enjoy discussing this important initiative with
you and will value your suggestions.
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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
at Victoria Falls Peace Park dedication |
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 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.
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Dr. Ewart Brown
Bermuda Premier
Hon. Neko Grant
Minister of Tourism Bahamas
Hon. David Allen, the late
Minister of Tourism, Bermuda |
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.
It was at the First Global Summit on Peace
through Tourism in Amman, Jordan, November 2000 that the late Hon. David
H. Allen was inspired with the vision of “The African Diaspora Heritage
Trail” (ADHT). Within six months, the ADHT was launched as a self-guided
tour in Bermuda. It was subsequently presented in its full concept for
the first time at the 1st IIPT African Conference on Peace through
Tourism in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, March 2002.
In May 2002, Hon. David H. Allen’s inspired idea took full flight with
international support at the First African Diaspora Heritage Trail
Conference in Bermuda. In Hon. David Allen’s own words: “The aim of the
African Diaspora Heritage Trail is to identify, conserve, and promote
historic sites linked with the development and progress of people of
African descent.”
The ADHT is
currently 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 |
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transnational
African Diaspora Heritage Trail, linking Diasporan countries and venues
throughout the world.
The interactive 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.
IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore will be one of the Conference
speakers.
For more information, please
click here
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IIPT
Supports
WTM World Responsible Tourism Day
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WTM World Responsible Tourism Day supported by the UNWTO on Wednesday
14th November 2007, is the first opportunity for travel and tourism to
become one powerful and unifying force. A chance to make a real
difference that will keep our beaches clean, preserve our stunning
scenery, save wildlife and glory in our historic buildings and precious
heritage.
There is a responsibility too to help local people wherever they might
be, provide them with shelter, jobs, clean water, food and education.
Protect them from exploitation, corruption and deceit.
Making the difference personally and corporately is what World Travel
Market’s World Responsible Tourism Day (WTM WRTD) is all about.
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The time has come when everyone in the international travel and tourism
industry must come together to play a vital part in making a real
difference to people's lives - and to improve the contribution of
tourism to the future of our world. WTM's World Responsible Tourism Day
is a signal to the world that responsible tourism must now be top of the
agenda and follows in the successful path of WTO's World Tourism Day,
now an established date in the UN calendar.
Participate in this international movement now by completing the
questionnaire and telling us what you are doing.
Click here.
WTM is seeking inspiring responsible tourism case histories to use on
this dedicated website, already attracting millions of readers. The
information may also be used within three dedicated WTM WRTD
newsletters, distributed throughout the year to more travel and tourism
industry professionals worldwide as well as potentially featured at WTM
on the WTM World Responsible Tourism Day itself. WTM can also supply a
link to use the WTM WRTD film to capture the imagination of your
colleagues at meetings, presentations and conferences. |
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Wen-I
Chang
Creator of Green Hotels
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“When one tugs at one thing in nature, he finds it
hitches to the rest of the universe”. |
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- John Muir |
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Years ago, as Wen-I Chang was celebrating his birthday
at a Santa Cruz seafood restaurant with his family, there was no glass
of water on the table. The waitress said that if he wanted water, he had
to ask for it due to the water shortage in that coastal city. On the way
home he started to think about her comment - the message of water
conservation created a ‘butterfly effect’ in Chang’s thought processes
and behavior. That evening, he took a two-minute shower, rather then an
eight-minute one and Chang started to become more aware of the earth’s
condition. |
His life had changed forever and with time he came to the realization
that “a shifting of the mindset from selfishness and separation into
reunion with nature and genuine connection among human brothers and
sisters is the key to the fulfillment of green practice.”
In 1999 Chang set out to develop his first “Green Hotel” – The Gaia Napa
Valley Hotel. Beyond pursuing a LEED rating of silver or gold as his
ultimate green recognition, Chang took it further. He packaged his hotel
operation so that it became a communication medium following the “medium
is the message” adage of Marshall McLuhan. Chang themed his hotel with
wild birds, wild flowers, animals and even seashells. To further
communicate his message of environment and connectedness to his guests,
he had a biologist provide vivid descriptions of the ecological behavior
of specific species in order to enhance the travelers understanding of
the endangered species, and the murals on two sides of the hotel depict
the ecosystem of the Napa Valley.
As well, Chang’s hotel’s kiosk system gives information on how we can
create energy, conserve resources and protect against global warming.
For example, the solar light tubes of his hotel direct the sunlight to
the ceiling in a magnified way; the special ventilation system offsets
the temperature among different guest rooms in a noiseless and efficient
manner; water is re-cycled; and landscaping is done with non-chemical
fertilizers.
In Chang’s words, “Guests of the Gaia Napa Valley bring home fresh ideas
and information to start their own inner journey on how to shift the
mindset of separateness to the mindset of union with nature and human
interconnection. When we successfully achieve that - Gaia Napa Valley
Hotel will no longer just be a hotel room for the night - it will become
a Place, a Journey, a DreamTM.”
For more information on the Gaia Hotel Napa Valley, Please visit their
website. |
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Cross-border Balkans Peace
Park
A Model for European Green Belt
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The Cross-border Balkans Peace Park Project (BPPP) forms a small link in
the chain of a new trans-boundary protected region, the “European Green
Belt”, which is transforming the former Iron Curtain along the borders
of 23 countries from Finland to the Adriatic. more frontier crossings are opening |
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Since the end of the Cold War within the mountain range allowing for
increased cross-border travel and transactions the BPPP is helping to unite communities that have hitherto been divided
by common borders and promotes the effective protection of a region that
has mountain landscapes and rural lifestyles not found anywhere
elsewhere in Europe.
By promoting access for ethical and responsible tourism to one of
Europe’s remotest areas, the BPPP aims to assist the people still
remaining in these regions of Northern Albania, Western Kosovo and
South-eastern Montenegro, to make a living through eco-tourism, and to
care for their environment.
The magnificent mountain range known as “The Forbidden Mountains” is
still sufficiently remote that pollution and deforestation has not
affected the natural beauty and pristine nature of the environment.
Working closely with UNEP on trans-boundary biodiversity protection, the
BPPP has been chosen as an example of best practices and is the first
model initiative of 10 other such Balkan sites.
The BPPP is a grassroots network bringing together transnational actors,
especially environmental activists in the Balkans, the UK and around the
globe, linking with people living and working in the valleys and
villages of the area. A truly international cross-border protected area
in one of the most spectacular and least known mountain ranges in
Europe, can both further the needs, interests and aspirations of the
local communities, and help sustain biodiversity and ecological
responsibility.
Persons wishing to learn more about the Balkans Peace Park Project are
invited to visit the BPPP website:
www.balkanspeacepark.org.
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Presentations from 4th IIPT African Conference
Now Available Online |
We are most pleased to announce that Keynote
Speeches as well as presentations from Concurrent Sessions, Workshops,
and Forums from the 4th IIPT African Conference are now available
online. Important highlights comprise speeches by His Excellency Yoweri
Kaguta Museveni, President, Republic of Uganda and other keynote
speakers including Ministers of Tourism and international leaders from
Africa, Europe and North America.
In a spirit of sharing resources on "Peace through Tourism" in all its
dimensions, the IIPT website has recently been updated to include
speeches, articles, presentations and abstracts prepared by world
leaders, prominent academics, journalists, and leading practitioners for
delivery at past IIPT Conferences and Summits as well as the 4th IIPT
African Conference. Please utilize this amazing resource and share it
with your colleagues!
Valuable theoretical and practical information is available through a
plethora of presentations on models of best practice and success stories
which depict projects and research relevant to the several topic areas
of peace through tourism.
Past conference presentations are available from IIPT’s online Resources
section and are organized into the following topics:
Promoting International Understanding and Cooperation
Tourism in the Service of Humanity and the Earth
Poverty Reduction, Economic Development, and Capacity Building
Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Protection
Healing the Wounds of Conflict through Tourism, Culture, and Sports
Tourism Industry Response to Terrorism, Crisis, and Disasters
Educating for a Culture of Peace through Tourism
Miscellaneous
Note: If you have presented at an IIPT conference but do not find
your presentation in our archives, we welcome you to send us your
information for posting.
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Please
click here to access the above noted
speeches and presentations |
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His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
President Republic of Uganda
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IIPT would again like to express its sincere appreciation to His
Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, our Conference Patron; the
Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry – our gracious Hosts;
Bermuda Department of Tourism, Zambia Ministry of Tourism, Environment
and Natural Resources, and the Jordan Tourism Board – our generous
Sponsors; and the UN World Tourism Organization, World Bank, United
Nations Environment Program, Africa Travel Association, and Counterpart
International – our Partners in the Conference. |
We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to our Media
Partners: eTurbo News, Travel Talk Media, Africa Travel Magazine, Travel
World News, EcoClub.com, Travel Agent Media Group, and Travel Weekly.
We again congratulate H.E. President Museveni and the Ministry of
Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources for being the first nation in
the world to adopt “Tourism Legislation in Support of the U.N.
Millennium Development Goals” as a major legacy of the conference.
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4th IIPT African Conference
Sponsors |
Bermuda Department of Tourism |
Ministry of Tourism
Republic of Zambia |
Jordan Tourism Board |
Partners |
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Media Partners |
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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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