5TH IIPT AFRICAN CONFERENCE TO BE ANNOUNCED AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET
The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT), together with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of Zambia, will announce the
5th IIPT African Conference on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, at World Travel Market, ExCel Centre, London. Theme of the Conference will be:
Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change to Tourism in Africa.
 All World Travel Market exhibitors and attendees are welcome to join Hon. Catherine Namugala, MP, Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Republic of Zambia; Louis D’Amore, IIPT Founder and President; and other tourism industry leaders to learn more about this milestone event and to share their insights, ideas, and suggestions in this interactive session. The Announcement will be made:
Hon. Catherine Namugala
Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources
Republic of Zambia
Tuesday, 9th November, 15:30 – 16:30, North Gallery 4 & 5, ExCel Centre
Climate change is a major threat to sustainable growth and development in Africa, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Although Africa is
the continent least responsible for climate change, it is particularly vulnerable to the effects. Impacts of climate change include increased incidence of both drought and flooding, desertification, sea level rise, reduced freshwater availability, decreasing fish resources, cyclones, coastal erosion, deforestation, loss of forest quality, woodland degradation, coral bleaching, the spread of malaria, and impacts on food security – all of which have an impact on tourism.
With the support of the Norwegian Government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Zambia has embarked on development of a comprehensive national climate change response strategy. Speaking during the official opening of the National Inception Workshop for the development of the strategy earlier this year, Hon. Catherine Namugala emphasized that “the process of formulating the national climate change response strategy will be based on a broad stakeholder consultation and active participation…”
This World Travel Market participatory session will address how Zambia is responding to the adverse impacts of climate change - and encourage an exchange of views, ideas and suggestions in exploring the broader tourism implications and challenges for all of Africa, and throughout the developing world - in preparation for the 5th IIPT African Conference to be held in Zambia, 2011.
Persons interested in learning more about the 5th IIPT African Conference
and/or interested in sharing insights and suggestions regarding tourism related climate change initiatives are invited to contact: Louis D’Amore, Email: ljd@iipt.org
Victoria Falls, Zambia
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Travel Industry Support for Haiti Continues
 The situation in Haiti, one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world, continues to be one of desperation as the cholera epidemic becomes an increasing threat. Haitian and international health officials are focusing on preventing the spread of cholera as the number of fatalities and new cases of the disease continues to grow. Haiti's health ministry says 303 people have died in the outbreak and more than 4,700 people are now being treated for the illness.
The January 12th earthquake was the region’s most devastating earthquake in 200 years reducing much of its capital to rubble and a death toll in excess of 250,000 persons. Six months after the earthquake, only 28,000 of the 1.5 million Haitians displaced had moved into new homes. Hundreds of thousands of survivors of January's massive earthquake are living in crowded squalid camps.
 Amidst this chaos, the courageous efforts of travel related organizations such as IIPT Coalition Partners Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) and ‘Just a Drop’ continue. Airline Ambassadors, through their airline partners, have flown in 600 medical personnel and 3 million pounds of vitally needed food, water, and medical supplies. They have established a school to teach English, a sponsorship program to provide education for children orphaned by the earthquake, and two safe houses to protect children in danger of being trafficked. AAI continues to call for help in building two communities to house the homeless, and have identified hospitals, clinics, schools and orphanages that require assistance. In the words of AAI President Nancy Rivard, “Airline Ambassadors offers you a way to apply your unique interest and skills to actual world need. Join us on a humanitarian mission to Haiti and see what a difference your generosity can make to a child or family.” For more information: http://www.airlineamb.org
 One of the most desperate needs in Haiti is for potable water and sanitation. ‘Just a Drop’ is shortly sending one of its engineers to meet with relief agencies and local people to decide which essential projects the charity will be able to undertake. It will then work with construction teams to help rebuild the water and sanitation infrastructure and encourage displaced communities back to their homes and villages. “It is vital that support is ongoing so that the recovery process is sustained” said Fiona Jeffery, chairman of Just a Drop. “That way people can start taking charge of their own lives again through agriculture, employment and education. In doing so, their overall pride and sense of wellbeing will be gradually restored”. For more information: http://www.justadrop.org/page.cfm/link=130
Alison Wright, Travel Journalist and Documentary Photographer, through her non profit –  ‘Faces of Hope’ has fund raised for Haiti helping to supply tents to house displaced families. Alison seeks “To help children and their communities through grass roots help – in the spirit of giving and compassion. For more information: http://vimeo.com/15454669 and http://www.facesofhope.org/
Your generous support for the courageous work of these organizations is encouraged and greatly appreciated.
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Join us on our World Peace Tours –
Where every traveler is an ‘Ambassador for Peace’
IIPT has recently launched a series of ‘World Peace Tours’ that have been crafted to reinforce IIPT’s dedication to “making Travel and Tourism the world’s first Global Peace Industry” and the belief “that every traveler is potentially an ‘Ambassador for Peace.’ The tours will introduce travelers to new cultures, new experiences, and new friendships while exemplifying IIPT’s ideals and values as expressed in the ‘IIPT Credo of the Peaceful Traveler.’ Each tour includes interactions with local persons to learn and share in their culture and traditions.
Travel Agents are welcome. All tours are commissionable. For more information please contact:
Louis D’Amore, Email: ljd@iipt.org or Don King, Email: travelking@swissmail.org
World Peace Tours:
 An Unforgettable Journey to Tanzania
For many visitors, a safari to Africa is the trip of a lifetime but as with anything truly special it hinges on the connection you make, and with the people of Tanzania; that connection will remain in your memory forever. Their hospitality is bountiful and based on the concept that to experience peace you must extend peace to others. A thought that is evident as you travel throughout the countryside and further reinforced by the children’s smile. For more information please click here.
World Peace Tours:
 Engage In the Ultimate African challenge For a Great Cause:
Mount Kilimanjaro 2011
With this grueling challenge not only are your efforts rewarded through the success of reaching the peak of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, but your energy and dedication also helps the students of a local school situated in Tanzania’s Pare Mountains. The climb is a wonderful feat to check off the list of lifetime goals, but more importantly the aid the students receive provides them the true chance to change their entire lives. For more information please click here.
 A World Peace Tour and Festival in The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan
Bhutan, a Himalayan jewel, tucked among some of the world’s highest mountains. With a diverse, protected and astonishingly beautiful environment, where life revolves around the daily practice of kindness, compassion and peace. At the heart of The World Peace Tour is an opportunity to spend time with Bhutanese students from Thimphu’s Voluntary Artists Studio and together renovate an ancient chorten (Buddhist Stupa). Together we’ll contribute a lasting gift for Bhutanese people in the spirit of peace. For more information please click here.
WORLD PEACE TOUR IN MOROCCO
Come to feel the real taste of the perfect synthesis between art, nature, history and humanity. An authentic and enriching experience of the strong sense of culture and history of Morocco encompassing its ancient Roman civilization, Imperial towns of the Middle Ages, and ancient villages far from the tourist roads with opportunities to interact with the local population. For more information please click here.
The Gulf Experience - Emirates and Oman
A World Peace Tour 
This is the essential Arabian Gulf experience…combining two of the most spectacular cities of the modern world—Dubai and Abu Dhabi—along with the mystical timelessness of Oman. Experience the courtesy and hospitality that has been a tradition for centuries in a perfect winter climate as you visit the world’s tallest building and tallest hotel, ancient castles and forts, and one of the world’s largest Mosques. For more information please click here.
Cruise 4 Haiti
Join us on this exciting cruise 7 night cruise docking in Philipsburg, St Maarten, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Labadee, Haiti. In Labadee, Haiti participants will join For Haiti with Love, in bringing food and medical goods for those in need as well as Christmas gifts for orphaned children affected by the earthquake and enjoy a festive barbecue on the beach. For more information please click here
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Peace Caravan Partnership with IIPT Continues
Its an exciting time as Marla Mossman and her Peace Caravan project embarks on a forty day journey along the ancient Silk Road in China. Following the land routes taken by monks,  merchants and missionaries from the 2nd century when Buddhism and later Islam were first introduced to China. This continues her multi-year project to travel from Jerusalem, Israel to X’ian, China by car, foot, horse, mule and camel to document places of historical and religious significance along the early caravan trails. Marla’s solo journey explores the Silk Road connections to Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam.
Lamayuru Monastery, Western Ladakh , India
Marla’s itinerary begins in Beijing photographing the historical hutongs – Mongolian word meaning passageway. From there she travels to the ancient capital X’ian; through the Hexi Corridor to Jiayuguan to photograph the sun setting behind the western edge of the Great Wall. A one day drive further west she reaches the Mogao Caves, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas begun in 366 AD near Dunhuang, at the edge of the Gobi Desert. Then its on to the ancient town of Jiaohe, near Turphan which is believed to be one of the oldest, preserved earth-structured city in the world. From there Marla crosses the torrid Taklamakan Desert on camel before continuing to the carpet weaving centers of Hotan and Kashgar where the best silks have been woven into carpets for 2,000 years.
Along the way, Marla plans to meet with Community Officials with a view to dedicating IIPT Peace Parks at significant junctures along the ancient trade route. Thus, continuing an initiative that began in 2007 when Marla similarly partnered with IIPT, as an emissary for the IIPT International Peace Parks program, on her journey through the Middle East countries of Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Israel.
This is the fifth leg of the Peace Caravan. Previous journeys were to India, Turkey, Afghanistan and the Middle East countries of Syria, Jordan and Israel.
Today’s precarious political situations exist in many of the Silk Road nations. There is an urgent need and awareness from people around the world for openness and cultural exchange to help gain the mutual respect and cooperation necessary for world peace. Marla is optimistic that by sharing photographs and stories from her travels that readers will find a new appreciation for the religious and cultural heritage of these nations and that a new way to peace will reveal itself.
Marla’s photos capture the people going about their daily lives to remind us that even though we have differences, we share similar loves, fears, hopes and dreams. Her writings and photos capture the intimate moments she experiences with people along the way as she strives to inform and inspire others to achieve understanding and acceptance of the people living along the Silk Road.
In 2005, Marla was the first foreigner, and woman, to visit Waras; a remote part of Central Afghanistan. In an earlier trip to Northern India, Mossman hiked and backpacked to an altitude of 18,000 ft in the Himalayas, to obtain her photos.
To learn more about Marla Mossman and the Peace Caravan visit the website at www.peacecaravan.com. The Peace Caravan project is a sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
  
Father at the Caravanseri Harran, Southern Turkey, Donkey, Jark, Waras District, Afghanistan, Bedouin woman, desert near Palmyra, Syria
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