Ray of hope from the Hague.`We couldn't let the century end without giving peace the last word,' said Cora Weiss, President of the Hague Appeal for Peace Foundation (HAP HAP. An old word which signifies to catch; as, "to hap the rent," to hap the deed poll." Techn. Dict. h.t. ). The HAP's civil societies conference in May drew some 7,000 people, representing over 100 countries and 700 organizations. It took place 100 years after the first world peace congress in the Hague, initiated by the Czar of Russia and the Queen of the Netherlands. `Let us find the moral, spiritual and political will to do what our leaders know must be done but cannot bring themselves to do,' stated the HAP vision statement. Among the issues on its agenda are the banning of nuclear weapons, landmines and the arms trade; peace education in schools; and the eradication of poverty and colonialism. The four-hour opening session included performances by the Sarajevo Drum Orchestra and the Victory Sonkoba Theatre of Johannesburg and a videotaped message from Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi (oung sän s  chē), 1945–, Burmese political leader. , which had been smuggled smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. out of Burma. Speakers included Nobel laureates Winners of the Nobel Prize are scientists, writers and peacemakers who have been awarded in their field of endeavour, and who are known collectively as either Nobel laureates or Nobel Prize winners. Archbishop Desmond Tutu Noun 1. Desmond Tutu - South African prelate and leader of the antiapartheid struggle (born in 1931) Tutu , Rigoberta Menchu and Jose Ramos Jose Ramos (born 1965), also known as Pepe Ramos, is a Puerto Rican boxing manager. Biography Jose Ramos surfaced in the 1990s, when he became famous in the boxing world as Felix Trinidad's career took off. Ramos, Trinidad and Felix Trinidad Sr. Horta. The UN Secretary General's special representative for children in armed conflicts, Olara Otunnu Olara A. Otunnu is the President of LBL Foundation for Children, an independent international organization devoted to promoting protection, hope, healing and rehabilitation for children in communities devastated by war. From 1997 to 2005, Mr. , received a standing ovation for a speech which dealt with the ethical crisis in the world. `Values matter,' he said, `and traditional local values give ethical bearings.' Calling for a `spiritual renewal', he said, `we need justice, forgiveness, reconciliation ... a spirit that will yield in order to bend the sword into a ploughshare'. There were 400 workshops and meetings during the four days. Films and theatrical productions included Facing the truth, a film about South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the musical Peace Child 2000, performed by high school students. Among the scores of booths, some for material gain, others giving powerful messages of healing, was one manned by participants in the Creators of Peace programme, launched at MRA's conference centre in Caux, Switzerland in 1991. The Dutch newspaper, NRC-Handelsblad, started out sceptical but ended up running an editorial on the conference. `In the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of daily violence the Hague Appeal for Peace showed a ray of hope,' it concluded. `Not governments but civil society will have to lay the foundations for future peaceful resolution of conflict. This may be an idealistic perspective. But it is also something to hold onto in order to prevent the 21st century continuing the blood-stained history of the century that has almost passed.' |
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