May Peace Prevail On Earth News

MARCH 31ST, 2010

Letter addressed to Lieutenant Colonel Graves, family, friends and members of The World Peace Prayer Society

Soldiers really “want” for little to nothing given the environment we are in and the surrounding needs of the Afghan people.  We would rather help the Afghan community.  Two officers from my Charlie Medical Company are new committee members with Operation Outreach.  This is a volunteer effort to support humanitarian causes in the country.  Some of you may want to work with your church or social groups to collectively send school and art supplies, help pay for children’s’ medical procedures, purchase blankets, coats, hats, etc.  Operation Outreach has even paid for visas in order to send children and families to other countries for specialty care.

To nurture creativity, see the attached picture and write-up regarding High School students who are being supported to develop their creative gifts. Americans have so much EXCESS. If we share just a little, each in our own way, to show the Afghan people that we care about their physical, emotional and spiritual needs then we are helping to cultivate a world of peace and cooperation.

I am very excited about the work of Operation Outreach.  As for my special contribution, I have also chosen to work directly with the World Peace Prayer Society ( www.worldpeace.org ) to spread the World Peace Message, “May Peace Prevail On Earth”, here on Camp Phoenix and in the Capital region.

If you want to support the troops from where you are, help us by supporting the development, joy, and hope for this war-torn country.

To support Operation Outreach, email: christine.peterson@afghan.swa.army.mil or leonor.l.spahr@afghan.swa.army.mil .

If you want to help spread the world Peace Message, May Peace Prevail On Earth,  email me: renee.marie@afghan.swa.army.mil .

Read about Operation Outreach here:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/12/23/81193/troops-in-afghanistan-call-home.html
http://www.friendsofoperationoutreach.com/help.htm

We look forward to your continued interest and support.
May Peace Prevail On Earth!
Very Respectfully,
CPT, Reneé Marie
Commander, CO C (MED) 186 BSB / 86 IBCT (MTN)
Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan

Captain Renee Marie in Afghanistan with Marafat Kabul Artists

The Universal Peace Message, May Peace Prevail On Earth,  creatively displayed with other peace messages on this colorful Peace Pole at the Layla House; a children’s home in Ethiopia.  May Peace Prevail among the children in Ethiopia!

May Peace Prevail On Earth!

http://www.adoptionadvocates.org/ethiopia/ethiopia_help_projects_layla.php

“The Space In Between”

Inner Peace is a personal quest for peace, and World Peace is the global experience of peace. While we at The Peace Flag Project(PFP) advocate for the individual experience of peace, and hold great hope for World Peace, our Mission is to create peace in the space in between: the space where we live our every day lives. Our goal is peaceful relationships on all levels. Our focus is on how we live with our families, friends, and community members; what kind of citizens, coworkers and colleagues we are; and, how we educate our children and work for social justice. It’s about being able to live a healthy life with meaningful work, good housing and safe neighborhoods. It’s about affirming our need for artistic expression and appreciation for culture in all its diversity. It’s about how we live on this planet and use its resources. It’s about appreciating the connection of all life physically and spiritually.  To learn more, visit: www.thepeaceflagproject.org
Our work is to foster peace in our ordinary lives. We do this in three ways:

(1) Creation of Peace Flags
(2) Celebration of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace
(3) Creation of Peace Parks
Peace Poles are often part of these parks, expressing hope for peace in the world with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the languages of the local communities ( www.worldpeace.org/peacepoles.html ).

We believe that each of the things we do helps in a small way to make this a more peaceful world. Everything big begins as something small. History tells many stories of enormous changes that began as small ideas or actions. The amazing work of Mahatmas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela all began with small gestures in the right direction. In addition to these important world leaders, ordinary people contribute to peace and kindness and generosity every day. The Peace Pilgrim, who walked across the United States for 30 years, wrote: “One little person, giving all of her time to peace, makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history.” We believe this can be so.  Please visit our website:

 ( www.un.org/overviewrights.html ). Our work has also been informed by the efforts of Nobel Peace Laureates and the UN to create the Culture of Peace ( http://www3.unesco.org ) and the Peace Manifesto www3.unesco.org/manifesto2000 to help us all work for peace in that space in between.

January 26 to February 1st, 2010

Junko and I traveled to Paris, France last month.

We took a two day tour to Le Mont Saint Michel, a famous World Heritage site.

We enjoyed the landscape, food and meeting people.

Junko and I gave Peace dolls wherever we met people such as hotels, restaurants, stores and the airport.

People were happy to receive the Peace Dolls that bear the Universal Peace Message, May Peace Prevail On Earth.