Myrtus

Candy Diplomacy

Newsmax.com - Nancy Reagan Joins 'Candy Diplomacy'

Former first lady Nancy Reagan is lending her support to Move America Forward’s “Candy Diplomacy” campaign aimed at bringing 100,000 bags of “American goodwill” to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nancy said in a statement that her husband Ronald Reagan “would often break the ice in meetings by passing around his jar of Jelly Bellys. It had a way of putting a smile on everyone’s face and putting them in the mood to work cooperatively.

Awww what a lovely gesture!

Hey I'd like some of that American goodwill too, I like the black licorice ones, you can keep the rest.

Thanks! :D

Fashion for Peace

This is great!  Africa is not all war and famine like it's usually portrayed as, there should be tons of events like this all over the continent.  Ultimately it takes hard work and cooperation, not just mere handouts to alleviate the problems.

African models, designers promote peace in Kenya

Scores of top African designers and models held a show in Nairobi National Park at the weekend to raise money for victims of Kenya's post-election violence and show a different face to their continent.

The "Fashion for Peace" event drew mainly West and East African models onto a catwalk in a marquee under the moonlight on savannah usually known for its lions and rhinos.

"Fashion for Peace will not change the world, although it does aim at changing people's negative perceptions of Kenya and Africa in other countries," organizers said in a statement.

"And it is a call for peace."

A Homemade Peace in the Mideast

Recent talks mediated by Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia suggest the region is assuming responsibility for its own stability.

I'm posting the entire article here because you may have to register with the L.A. Times to read it on their site.

You know something interesting is happening in the Middle East when a major peace agreement is brokered by Qatar. This tiny emirate (population 900,000) has accomplished what the United States, France, the United Nations and the Arab League failed to do: get Lebanon's chronically feuding factions to agree to a deal that will at least give the country a temporary government and allow Qataris and other Gulf Arabs to spend their summer in Beirut without worrying about being caught in another civil war.

Americans who have followed the Middle East for decades and lost any optimism that the region can ever resolve its chronic conflicts should feel good for a change about what is happening these days. Instead of complaining about a lack of U.S. leadership (or evenhandedness), the region is trying to solve problems on its own.

While Qatar was pacifying Lebanon, Turkey was attempting to mediate a peace agreement between Syria and Israel. That effort, which has been going on for months, is a long shot, and its initial progress may have more to do with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's desire to distract attention from corruption charges against him than any real prospect of Israel withdrawing from the Golan Heights. But it also reflects Israel's recognition that it cannot afford to wait for a new U.S. administration to breach a tightening circle of hostility formed by Hamas, a Lebanon in which Hezbollah has veto power and a Syria in the arms of Tehran.

Meanwhile, Saudi King Abdullah has invited former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani to an "Islamic dialogue conference" in Mecca at the end of June. Even as they exchange hostile rhetoric, Saudi Arabia and Iran also have been talking about trying to ease Sunni-Shiite tensions in Lebanon and Iraq. Saudi Arabia also has tried to mediate between Fatah and Hamas in the Palestinian territories, as has Yemen, not exactly known as a diplomatic powerhouse. Egypt, a durable diplomatic heavyweight, has been working for months to arrange a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

These developments are not an argument for U.S. neglect. Ultimately, the United States needs to be involved in the region, if for nothing else to guarantee Israel's security. A U.S. imprimatur for peace deals, if not a signing ceremony on the White House lawn, can only be for the good. But what the Bush administration has inadvertently shown is that a policy of neglect and choosing sides -- seeking to isolate those one does not like -- can produce unforeseen good results by forcing other countries to act as mediators.

Perhaps after all the war and bloodshed between Arabs and Israelis, Americans and Arabs, Persians and Arabs, and Arabs and Arabs, the Middle East is collectively saying: Enough.

Barbara Slavin is a senior fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace and the author of "Bitter Friends, Bosom Enemies: Iran, the U.S. and the Twisted Path to Confrontation."

Heartbeat: Jerusalem -- Youth Playing Music for Peace

Gotta love it.

It happened in Woodstock and in John Lennon and Yoko Ono's bed. When used for democratic purposes, music is a universal language that can negotiate peace.

So hopes Aaron Shneyer a Georgetown University graduate from America. Armed with a BA in Anthropology, the 24 year-old musician and songwriter has traveled to Jerusalem on a year long MTV and Fulbright scholarship to help make music in the Middle East.

His ambitious plan is to unite Israeli and Palestinian high school youth and turn them into a recording and performing band through his project Heartbeat:Jerusalem.

Today there are 12 Muslim, Christian and Jewish high school students in the band. Despite the ongoing conflicts in Jerusalem, they meet once a week in a professional studio in the city where they jam, write songs together and share each other's unique musical heritage.

Watch videos of the band and read more about them here!

Instead of killing each other

Let's talk about PEACE!

Yea I know, I know....even the universal concept of "peace" has been corrupted, abused, hijacked and forced to lose its positive appeal, especially in recent years, perhaps the more reason for us to try and claim it back.

Los Angeles City Council Asks Residents to Promote Peace

Los Angeles -- Instead of killing each other, the Los Angeles City Council asked residents Tuesday to promote peace and talk about the causes of violence -- for at least 40 hours.

The "period to promote peace, justice and non-violence" will begin at 6:01 p.m. on Friday and end at 10:01 a.m. on Sunday, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

"The violence in our communities is unceasing," said City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who represents part of South Los Angeles.

Kazakhstan's First Kosher Restaurant

Kazakhstan's first kosher restaurant opens for business

ALMATY - Kazakhstan's first kosher restaurant opened its doors for business Wednesday in what Jewish community leaders said was a symbol of their culture's revival in the mainly Muslim Central Asian state.

Kazakhstan, a steppe nation of 15 million with nomadic roots, has prided itself on being relatively tolerant toward other religions compared with other ex-Soviet states.

Women for world peace!

Women stabilizing insecure world of escalating tensions

The role of women in promoting peace and security is increasingly acknowledged, with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security as a crucial reference point, though much still remains to be done at all levels to implement this resolution.

On the eve of the International Women's Day more than 50 international women leaders will meet in Brussels to discuss the role of women in stabilizing an insecure world.

As we write this, it is hard to imagine a world without war. Every day, we hear reports of new conflicts, of escalating tensions and violence. And in any situation of insecurity, from war to health threats to climate change, women are often disproportionately affected because of their traditionally more vulnerable position in the society.

Eighty percent of the world's refugees are women and children. Sexual violence and rape are prevalent in regions of war as well as in refugee camps. We cannot talk about the role of women in conflict resolution without acknowledging this terrible reality.

At the same time, we need to remember that women are also key actors promoting peace and stability. Security cannot be effectively discussed or achieved without the involvement of women.

Women's participation is crucial not only in the more traditional "hard" security spheres like war efforts, peace-building, post-conflict reconstruction and counter-terrorism, but also countering "softer" human security threats such as global epidemics, psychological health during and post-war, and the emerging concerns of climate change and environmental degradation.

Yesterday, more than 50 women leaders from all continents met in Brussels at the invitation of commissioner Ferrero-Waldner to discuss about "Women: stabilizing an insecure world".

Female heads of states, ministers, and heads of international organizations, business leaders, and civil society activists have discussed the twin themes of security and women's empowerment.

Local Jews and Palestinians Meet to Talk Peace in Hebron

 

From Ynet

Heads of local Palestinian clans in Hebron met on Sunday with representatives from Israeli settlements in the area and discussed the easing of tensions between the two sides.

The settlers reported that sheikhs Abu Khader Jabri and Haj Abu Ahram Abu Sneina representing the city’s Arab Muslim population in the West Bank city met in Jabri's home with the Kiryat Arba Regional Council head Tzvi Katzover, former Knesset Member Elyakim Haetzni and other settler leaders.

The commander of the IDF's Hebron Brigade, Colonel Yehuda Fuchs, also took part in the meeting.

The Israelis said Sheikh Jabri told them during the meeting that "I do not regard you as settlers but as residents. This city is yours just as much as it is ours."

The Jewish participants described the meeting as cordial, adding that the sides agreed to strive to live in peace with one another.

This is a very good move. If there is any hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, it will need to include a method by which Jews can live in the Palestinian territories peacefully as minorities rather than have the area free of Jews altogether.

Some Arabs Will Celebrate Israel's Independence Day

Shfaram mayor decides to include his town in festivities for Israel's 60th anniversary; says 'we feel we are a part of Israel, we don't want our children to hate country'

I applaud people who can see beyond politics and work to advance coexistence, especially when living together in a tight space.

Unlike most of the Arab sector, the Arab town of Shfaram has decided to take part in Israel's celebrations of its 60th anniversary this year, and hold ceremonies to mark the occasion.

The town's mayor Ursan Yassin and other local officials met with members of the state committee in charge of the celebrations Thursday to discuss the nature of the festivities to be held in town.

Yassin recently spoke with the committee chairman, Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila, and stressed to her that while many in the Arab community felt unconnected to the historic date, Shfaram had no plans to be left out of the party.

Yassin told the committee that he objected to the incitement against the state among the Arab sector. "This is our country and we completely disapprove of the statements made by the Higher Monitoring Committee. I want to hold a central ceremony in Shfaram, raise all the flags and have a huge feast.

"The 40,000 residents of Shfaram feel that they are a part of the State of Israel," Yassin added. "The desire to participate in the festivities is shared by most of the residents."

The mayor stated, "We will not raise our children to hate the country. This is our country and we want to live in coexistence with its Jewish residents."

Source: Ynet

This article is even more relevant considering that Shfaram was the site of a brutal, hate-motivated massacre a couple of years ago.

Multifaith Student Delegation Aims for Mideast Peace

   

Presidents, secretaries of state and special envoys have all tried to broker peace in the Middle East.

Now a group of 27 high schoolers from across the [Denver, Colorado] metro area - equally divided among Muslims, Jews and Christians - will fly to Israel in June in an effort to bring a measure of peace to the region.

It's a heck of an after-school assignment.

"I think it will make us more well-rounded, and I think it will show us that life is more complicated than walking down to McDonald's and grabbing a double cheeseburger," says Omar Murib, a 17-year-old junior at Douglas County High School, who is Muslim.

"You've got to start somewhere, and we're taking baby steps toward (solving) the war, guns, bullets and achieving peace."

Read more here