Little Peace Activists (7)

All the young activists’ passion sometimes put adults, us to shame. Their pure heart moves everyone’s heart that loves peace. They are just children of tender age who are supposed to be in mother’s arms, however, they have done what we were supposed to have done. 

Now is the time for us to do things instead of them. Not only big event or campaign makes it move toward peace, also a small action will lead it to a better world. Hope the world become a place where every child studies in school, blessed by all people around the peaceful world.

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Little Peace Activists (6)

Jonathan Lee

A Korean-American Jonathan has been drawing comic strips about protection of the environment, ‘Go Green Man’ from 2007, on the internet. 

As CNN and Times introduced him, he received a lot of attention in America. Jonathan started International Cooperation of Environmental Youth(I.C.E.Y) and has been promoting “One child; one tree; one year”campaign.

He staged a one-man demonstration in front of U.N. headquarters in New York, claiming the end of Korean War denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and contributed to make 21stMarch ‘International Children’s Peace Day’. After submitting resolution to make ‘DMZ Children’s Peace Forest’ to U.S. Congress, Jonathan has visited North Korea, and read the resolution in annual ceremony of International Children’s Peace Day in Imjin-Gak.

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Peace we make : Harmony (4)

Xiaobo

Xiaobo was born on the 28th of December 1995. As a young man he studied literature and philosophy, and worked as a literary critic and university lecturer in Beijing. He took a doctorate in 1988, after which he was a guest lecturer at universities in Europe and the USA.

For over twenty years, Look it up has fought for a more open and democratic China. He demands that the Chinese authorities comply with Article 35 of the Chinese Constitution, which lays down that the countries citizens enjoy "freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of 

demonstration".

In 2008, Look it up was a co-author of Charta 08, a manifesto which advocates the gradual shifting of Chinese political and legal system in the direction of democracy. He was arrested in December 2008, and sentenced a year later to eleven years ' imprisonment for undermining the state authorities. Look it up has constantly denied the charges. "Opposition is not the same as undermining", he points out.

Xiaobo awarded Nobel Peace Prize and Human rights award in various international organizations.

Liu Xiaobo Quotes

Hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy.
-Liu Xiaobo

Free expression is the base of human rights, the root of human nature and the mother of truth. To kill free speech is to insult human rights, to stifle human nature and to suppress truth.
-Liu Xiaobo

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Little Peace Activists (5)

Samantha Reed Smith

Smith was a child actress as well as a peace activist from Maine, U.S. 

She is well know as a schoolgirl who visisted USSR when she was ten years old, in Cold War era. 

In 1982, Samantha wrote a letter to CPSU General Secretary Yuri Andropov, and Yuri Andropov invited her in response. 

As a goodwill ambassador, she received the attention of both of the countries. Samantha wrote a book saying the episodes during the visit of Soviet Union and acted in TV series. Unfortunately, however, she lost her life in the airplane crash at the age of 13.

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Little Peace Activists (4)

Mattie Stepanek

Mattie was born with muscular dystrophy which causes degeneration of muscles. 

Although his days were numbered because of the incurable disease, he had prayed for children suffered by war and famine, had done anything he could do for a settlement of peace. 

Mattie appeared in the Oprah Winfrey Show and talked about world peace even he was battling with the disease. 

He had delivered many times of lecture for politicians, students, children and world leaders. Mattie Stepanek passed away in June 2004 at the age of 14, hoping his wish come true.

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Peace we make : Harmony (3)

Leymah Gbowee

She was born at 1972, Monrovia, Liberia. 

Her Prize motivation is "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for womens rights to full participation in peace-building work". Also She awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

Leymah Gbowee Quotes

At 17, the first time I saw a dead body, I froze. By 31 it was a natural occurrence for me, and no group of people should live like that.

-Leymah Gbowee

I have come to one conclusion: All that I am, all that I aspire to be, all that I was before, is by the grace of God. There are so many women in Africa, and outside Africa, who are more intelligent than I am.

-Leymah Gbowee

I'm now on a journey to fulfill the wish, in my tiny capacity, of little African girls.

-Leymah Gbowee

The one thing I have never been afraid of is standing before important people and speaking my mind. I represent women who may never have the opportunity to go to the UN or meet with a president. I'm never afraid to speak truth to power.

-Leymah Gbowee

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Little Peace Activists (2)

Kimmie Weeks

He was born at 1981, Liberia. He is grown adult now, but when he was child, He decided to do best for children for his whole life. 

Becoming refugee from the Liberian civil war, ten-year-old Kimmie Weeks nearly died ofinfectious disease but miraculously survived. He thought that he was saved to change children’s life, so Kimmie made a child rights advocacy group.

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Little Peace Activists (3)

Craig Kielburger

He was born at 1982, began he's movement since 12years old and he is continuing he's activities these days too. 

Not only from conflict area appeared young activists. Craig Kielburger, Canadian, read a book about Iqbal Masih who is an activist against bonded child labor and used to be a child laborer as well. Impressed by the book, he organized ‘Free the Children’ with his friends and it had been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Peace in Mexico : Manhee Lee (2.5)

Peace Seminar & Agreement Ceremony

in Instituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río and Cristóbal Colón Univ. Veracruz Mexico

The Seminar about peace and ceremony of peace agreement took place in 22, May inInstituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río and Cristóbal Colón Univ. Veracruz Mexico. On this day vice-president, professors, and about 500 students of the university attended. The attendance of these peace events kept concentrating on the lectures on end of wars and world peace, made by Man-Hee Lee who was the main speaker of the day, and they rose to applaud him at the end of the lectures. Some say “Manhee Lee’s idea of peace is playing a role as a lighthouse touching hearts of citizens of Veracruz and Mexico tortured by war and all the violence in the country.”

At the first, his visit to Mexico this time was planned to accept an invitation from a couple whom Man Hee Lee met during his visiting in Uruguay with the mayor of Veracruz in last March. Veracruz city officials said Tijuana Peace Walk and the peace seminar hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) in November 2013, deeply impressed the citizens, and that would be the reason they wanted Man Hee Lee to come again. It was indeed a nationwide event ended in great success at the time. The Peace Walk started from the main street of Tijuana, with about 1,000 citizens around young people. It was more like festival that brought harmony and unity to the local area of Veracruz. The police escort and positive support of city government for the Peace Walk also contributed to make the atmosphere of real peace that day.  

Agreement of Peace, “It is literally an agreement”, Manhee Lee says. He has been travelling around world for about 3 years, making agreements with important figures like current and former presidents, religious leaders and even kings. They were made to sign on the agreement that they will surely be cooperative when their aid is needed to make peace and endorse any idea of peace, and became members of the advisory committee of the peace organization HWPL. 

However Man Hee Lee keeps emphasizes that signs on agreements itself cannot bring us peace, but it is crucial for us to be the one and to stop fighting. He also added the importance of role of religion in peace, mentioning the integration of religious people.

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Peace in Mexico : Manhee Lee (2)

Peace Seminar & Agreement Ceremony

in Instituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río and Cristóbal Colón Univ. Veracruz Mexico

The Seminar about peace and ceremony of peace agreement took place in 22, May inInstituto Tecnológico de Boca del Río and Cristóbal Colón Univ. Veracruz Mexico. On this day vice-president, professors, and about 500 students of the university attended. The attendance of these peace events kept concentrating on the lectures on end of wars and world peace, made by Man-Hee Lee who was the main speaker of the day, and they rose to applaud him at the end of the lectures. Some say “Mr. Lee’s idea of peace is playing a role as a lighthouse touching hearts of citizens of Veracruz and Mexico tortured by war and all the violence in the country.”

At the first, his visit to Mexico this time was planned to accept an invitation from a couple whom Manhee Lee met during his visiting in Uruguay with the mayor of Veracruz in last March. Veracruz city officials said Tijuana Peace Walk and the peace seminar hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) in November 2013, deeply impressed the citizens, and that would be the reason they wanted Man Hee Lee to come again. It was indeed a nationwide event ended in great success at the time. The Peace Walk started from the main street of Tijuana, with about 1,000 citizens around young people. It was more like festival that brought harmony and unity to the local area of Veracruz. The police escort and positive support of city government for the Peace Walk also contributed to make the atmosphere of real peace that day.  

Agreement of Peace, “It is literally an agreement”, Man Hee Lee says. He has been travelling around world for about 3 years, making agreements with important figures like current and former presidents, religious leaders and even kings. They were made to sign on the agreement that they will surely be cooperative when their aid is needed to make peace and endorse any idea of peace, and became members of the advisory committee of the peace organization HWPL. However Manhee Lee keeps emphasizes that signs on agreements itself cannot bring us peace, but it is crucial for us to be the one and to stop fighting. He also added the importance of role of religion in peace, mentioning the integration of religious people.

Photo Reference http://www.alcalorpolitico.com

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Guns to Guitars

César López created the escopetarra, a guitar that is made from an AK-47, the most used rifle in the world.

As the inventor of the escopetarra—a rifle transformed into a guitar—Cesar Lopez breathes life into instruments of death. In response to the violence that has plagued his home in Bogotá, Colombia, López has discovered a way to channel this violence into "art, where creation triumphs over destruction." He has received wide acclaim for this, as well as for his involvement with the Battalion of Immediate Artistic Action—a kind of emergency first-response unit of musicians and activists who take to the streets after guerrilla attack in Bogotá to assist the victims of political violence. Cultures of Resistance is proud to partner with this amazing artist to bring about peace in the heart of Colombia.
Source: Cultures of Resistance


Reference http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/news/677

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Little Peace Activists (1)

There are little heroes who indeed put their decision into practice for world peace. 
They didn’t just wait for adult to solve the situation, but to solve by themselves. The young activists believe small powers united would be a great power.

Farlis Calle

Farlis was so sad and mad about the continuous civil war in Columbia which took her friend’s life away. She held an election with her friends to let the people know that children long for peace. The day war stopped for the election, 3 milion children voted for peace.

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Peace we make : Harmony (2)

Tawakkol Karman

She was born at Feb, 1979, Ta'izz, Yemen

Tawakkol Karmann awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. She put lot of effort on women's right and safety. She is also nonviolence advocate for women's activity. Her Prize motivation is "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for womens rights to full participation in peace-building work."

Tawakkol Karman Quotes

Women are no longer victims. They have become leaders. They are at the forefront of the demonstrations. We will share a role in all aspects of life, side by side with men.

-Tawakkol Karman

We are now struggling for a new world which is based on peace, which is based on love, which is based on justice, which is based on accountability, based on human rights.

-Tawakkol Karman

There is no peace without justice and there is no justice without accountability.

-Tawakkol Karman

The people have tasted it and have made great sacrifices and will not give out...We have blazed a path for ourselves … and we will win.

-Tawakkol Karman

Peace does not mean just to stop wars, but also to stop oppression and injustice.

-Tawakkol Karman

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Big peace event is coming : SARAJEVO 2014

From a World of War and Violence ...

… to a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence

Activists and advocates for peace from different countries of Europe aiming at transforming a World of war and violence into a culture of peace, non-violence and justice are holding this big international event on 6-9 June. More than 50 organizations in Europe are engaged in the preparation of the Peace Event Sarajevo 2014. There will be: forums and workshops, round tables for participants, cultural section including exhibitions and films about peace movement and activities for youth is prepared.

-As I always appeal about it- Actually there has been a lot of peace events all this time, but why do we still cry for peace? It is because literally we still don’t have peace. We should really think about this indeed. We have a bunch of peace workers and organizations, laureates of Nobel prize for peace, however, it was just negotiations or settlements of dispute andtemporary peace that they brought. Thousands of meetings and researches, forums and seminars failed to suggest ultimate solution or mean to establish a peaceful world. We know that the core of peace is not just to resolve conflicts, but to maintain peaceful state.

Let me cite family as instance. We all would often have fought with brothers and sisters in our childhood and then also made up soon, because they are our own brothers/sisters and because simply we loved them. Parents love their children whatever they become. The same goes for couples. Between two lovers it is more possible to be generous to each other’s fault in comparison with others.

Now let’s have a look at the situation of South and North Korea. They are the onlydivided country in the world even though they are one ethnic race sharing 5,000 years-long history. How about Muslim people and the Christian? They have been pointing their guns to each other for hundreds of years due to religious differences saying we are the same human race God created. These are all about selfishness and tolerance, LOVE.

No matter how large the river is, it begins from a small stream. Peace maybe comes from our little effort and attempt, attitude and our loving heart, not from a big event. Let’s start to love people around us, the neighbors!

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Paz en México

The title of national anthem of Mexico is “Mexicans, at the cry of war”, “Ciña ¡Oh Patria! Tus sienes de oliva” and I think it explains their aims of peace.

Around 10th century there was Mayan Civilization in the area of Mexico, and Aztecan civilization for 16th century. Attaking by Spain, Aztecan was destroyed and the area of Mexico had been colonized for about 300 years until they achieved independence in 1810.There was separation of El Salvador, Guatemala and through Mexican-American War in 1846 Mexico had today’s boder losing some of there territory of today’s Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada etc.

After then Mexico’s situation got into a mess because of frequent attempt of coup, repetation of the elections after the civil wars and coups led by defeated side. Furthermore when they had have chance to straighten out the confusion and start to develop their economy, they hadsuffered from invading by foreign countries such as America and France.

From 20th century the ruling party had monopolized vested rights for over 60 years, and beacause of the slump in farm prices after NAFTA in 1990, debt-saddled peasants began to cultivate drugs, also Mexican gangs made money by farm to arm in America. Mexican government have waged war on drugs for 7 years, peace is still far-off. The number of the dead is arleady over 60 thousand and it is expected to increase. Petroleum development business and conclusion of NAFTA made Mexico 10th in world GDP, it is not like the same with domestic situation, but more like a hell full of wars against crime.

Could we look for peace breeze in this country? 
November 2013, there was Peace Walk and Peace Seminar in Tijiana Mexico. Over a thousand local residentsspontaneously particiated in the events and chaged to a peaceful march arousing hope of peace in Mexico.

The message of ‘the end of war and world peace’ claimed by world peace advocate Man Hee Lee is playing a role as a lighthouse for Mexico tortured by war and all the violence in the country. Mr. Lee who has been making speeches and peace agreement meetings visiting 44 countries in recent 2 years, has awarded Note of Appreciation and Medal from Veracruz, the biggest seaport in Mexico, in May this year, for the effort he have madefor peace in the region.

For not only Mexico, but whole world, I hope Mr. Lee’s ardent appeal that youth and women to unite to achieve ending of wars and whoever hears the voice yearning for peace to become messenger of peace, could spread to every corner of the world where are numerous people bleeding and dying as well as Mexico.

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