The Week before an Olympic World Peace – but do you know about it?

Time for Six weeks Action on Global Peace – Are you Ready?  Writes Gordon Sillence

As the Olympics kicks off on the 27th July in the UK, Gordon Sillence,  coordinator of the international UNESCO-backed ‘ London 2012 Olympic Youth Peace Ambassadors Training and Assistance Programme, asks: ” Have you heard about the end of war on earth next week?’ 

Although some readers may have picked up this storyline, he doesn’t think many of you will have, despite the Olympic efforts of a group of individuals working on a global project to bring youths from conflict zones around the world to the London Olympics to celebrate the UN/UK call for 6 weeks of Global Truce, starting on the 27th…  (http://www.london2102olympicpeacecampaign.org)

Teaming up with the UKs Upper House member Lord Michael Bates after his epic walk for truce from Athens to London – 3000 miles in 300 days – to call attention to the Truce , Gordon has put together a global coalition of organisations centred on UNESCOs Youth Peace Ambassador Programme.  There will be a campaign during the Truce to make as many people aware of it as possible, and to get involved in supporting this global process.

To test the free and safe passage Olympic ideal during the Olympic Games, Gordon is arranging the travel for youths to set off from conflict zones over the world to the UK. Nominees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Israel, Palestine, and Haiti have already been accepted to come over to receive training in UNESCOs youth peace ambassador programme. 

They will attend a 10 day training workshop, held at Leeds Metropolitan University from 31st August to 9th September, taking in the final day of the truce in the UK with a visit down to London. Gordon is still in urgent contact with organisations such as UNICEF in South Sudan, and other global zones where violence rages, to get further participation.

Overshadowed by big budget landscapes, a mass media superficial security debate, and the selling of Destination UK, the whole official truce process has highlighted how the organisers, sponsors and national administrations have neglected to put  peace high on the agenda, or even put a plan in place where it counts most (ie in those countries where there is war at the moment). He has travelled as far as Costa Rica, Egypt and the DMZ In Seoul to raise global awareness of this programme; yet neither Lord Michaels Olympic super effort nor the actions of many others has put the peace issue in the eye of the Olympic media.  

In the last few days before the Olympics, can we put aside the celebrity hype and the sponsors logos using Olympic heroes to sell to Corporate Britain on the back of Big Society, and truly recall that the Olympics are different to events such as the World Cup because these Games were born at a time, like now, when we need to end war and violence, and that’s why we hold them! Lets not forget that basic Olympic principle, and then remember those living where violence and war is today, now – maybe not in your part of the world, but part of our global community, especially in 2012.’

So at the start of the Games, let the celebrities and media announce ‘ Enough of war and fighting and violence, free passage for all to come and compete as friends, for now … Citizens of the world, let us share this six weeks of global peace!’ … then see the reality on CCN, BBC, YouTube, Internet, Sky TV.

London 2012 Olympic Youth Peace Ambassadors Appeal:

What can you do in this six weeks to make this historic moment count, and know you played your part.  Help make this programme successful:

The opportunity for youth participants from other countries to participate in this life-changing programme is still available, and anyone living in countries or areas suffering from conflict and violence is encouraged to send a youth representative to join in a historic and life-changing opportunity.

Support is also still urgently needed to cover transport, food and accommodation costs, and an appeal to meet an estimated £25,000 short fall in the budget has been launched. We would like countries, companies and individuals to come forward as sponsors at this 11th hour. We need:

• Support for travel costs – we would like to have participation from airline/travel/transport companies)
• Support for accommodation, food and beverage – can anyone in the hospitality industry/event organisers come forward?
• We need media support – we would like to film this event and mainstream the message, can you help out?

We really are counting on a compassionate response from individuals and organisations who would be proud to contribute to supporting UNESCOs global youth peace ambassador network, and provide a lasting London 2012 Olympic legacy of a global youth peace network continuing to work on the Olympic Truce in the countries and communities who need it most.

Gordon Sillence

Please contact [email protected] or phone him on 00351 912373124 if you can help.

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