On September 21, 2009 my original and innovative idea “GARLAND OF PEACE- Declare War Ruins As Peace Heritage Sites“, was launched and dedicated to the world by Hon’ble Minister of Labour & Employment, India, Shri Oscar Fernandes.
A video of the Launch Ceremony follows:
News and Views:
https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/SandeepSilas.aspx
http://www.garlandofpeace.com/photographs_launch_ceremony.php
http://www.garlandofpeace.com/genesis_idea.php
http://www.garlandofpeace.com/expert_says.php
http://www.garlandofpeace.com/related_news.php
I recall my Professor Mr. Steve Lux, Director, Executive Education Program at Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University, New York, USA telling me, “Sandeep, this is an idea worth living a lifetime!”
Professor Catherine M. Gerard who serves as Associate Director of Executive Education Programs and Director of the Program For the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, my favorite Professor, encouraged me on this path and supports the idea with full enthusiasm. She says,”The Vietnam generation is out, the second world war generation is almost out. The time for this idea has now come.”
I would also like to acknowledge Louis Kriesberg, Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Social Conflict Studies Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Associate Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration who started me on the work of building peace bridges between nations and communities.
Professor Dr. Michael Tomlan, Graduate Chair of Historic Preservation, Cornell University had invited me to deliver a talk on Garland of Peace at Cornell.
Dr. Kapila Vatsayayana, a renowned international expert on culture and Member UNESCO Committee on Heritage, told me in a conversation after watching the presentation: “You are attempting to change the memory of war, the human cognition. I am with you. Run to the Prime Minister and request him to take it to the UN. The moral prestige of India will reach the heights of Swami Vivekananda days.”
Ms. Bhaswati Mukherjee, former Permanent Representative of India to the UNESCO writes: “The proposal is interesting and innovative and closely linked to conflict resolution, peace education and peace building. These issues would need to be discussed among interested delegations in the UN General Assembly in New York.”
I remember in Syracuse I was fondly called the Garland of Peace Man!
My website www.garlandofpeace.com stands for global peace and requests all citizens of the world who crave for world peace to participate and transform it into an international peace movement.
I invite all lovers of peace to kindly participate in this peace movement, visit the site and write comments on the Peace Wall.
Please nominate such sites from your countries on the Nomination page as you think are deserving to enlarge the garland of peace!
Together we can make a difference!
How long do we wait for peace…?
Please visit www.garlandofpeace.com
