Tourism peace campaign in action despite visa problems
UNESCO Olympic Youth Peace Ambassadors meet Lord Michael Bates in the House of Lords to Mark the Olympic Truce
London 2012 olympic tourism peace campaign starts at the UK house of lords
A small but dedicated group of tourism, sports, and peace organizations have realised a long term Olympic vision by bringing youths from conflict areas from all around the world to London this week. Writes Gordon Sillence
It’s a timely reminder as we close off the Games that historically the Olympics happened to create a time of peace among nations at war, a concept taken up by the International Olympic Committee and UN on paper, but not really promoted during these London 2012 Games.
To make the peace meaningful for those who need it most in these times of global crises, over 30 youths from the main conflict areas all over the globe were invited to attend the Olympic Youth Peace Ambassador Training Programme, which started at the House of Lords on 31st August and will be completed 9th September 2012, the last day of the Official Truce.
Numbers have been decimated by the refusal of visas of many of the youths despite endorsement for their journeys by the UN – the candidates from Iraq had to go to Istanbul in Turkey and wait for 3 weeks only to hear their applications were refused – a story repeated many times around the world, bringing the Olympic value of free and safe passage during the Games into question.
UNESCO and key Truce promoters such as Lord Michael Bates, MP House of Lords UK Parliament, famous for his 3000 km Walk forTruce this year, are training these youths to be the core of a global youth peace ambassador network that will work on the Olympic Truce as a legacy of the London Games.
So far the Group has been to the House of Lords to raise the issue with the British Government, met with key members of the Stakeholder Forum to link the issue to the Rio +20 follow up actions and attended the Build the Truce exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, which brings home the urgent need to end this global system of continuous low level warfare and violent conflicts that threatens to engulf all of us, whatever creed or colour we are.
There is a media day on Thursday 6th September being held at the Sri Guru Singh Gurdwara, in Southall, where the media is invited to find out about this significant movement to create sustainable peace. To set up an interview and cover this once in a life time story, please use the contact details below..
For more information visit: http://www.london2012olympicpeacecampaign.org/ and contact:
Darryl Macer UNESCO [email protected]
Gordon SIllence London 2012 Olympic Peace Campaign [email protected]
Detailed Background of the Programme
http://destinet.eu/topics/sustainable-consumption-production-and-tourism- overarching/copy_of_peace-through-tourism/london-2012-olympic-peace-campaign
The Coordinators story …
http://destinet.eu/topics/sustainable-consumption-production-and-tourism- overarching/copy_of_peace-through-tourism/london-2012-olympic-peace-campaign/give- them-bread-and-games-…
UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassadors Global Network
http://www.unescobkk.org/rushsap/youth/youth-peace-ambassadors/
The Youth Peace Ambassadors stories – Natasha’s Story
http://voice-with-purpose.com/2012/09/02/unesco-youth-peace-ambassador-training-day- 3-no-to-weapons/
Lord Michael Bates http://www.walkfortruce.org
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