[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 288 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 288
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 20, 2003
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Honoring Seeds of Peace for its promotion of understanding,
reconciliation, acceptance, coexistence, and peace among youth from the
Middle East and other regions of conflict.
Whereas Seeds of Peace, founded by John Wallach in 1993, is a program that
brings together young people from regions of conflict to study and learn
about coexistence and conflict resolution;
Whereas although the original focus of Seeds of Peace was to bring Israeli,
Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian youth together, the program has
expanded over the past decade to involve youths from other regions of
conflict, including from Greece, Turkey and divided Cyprus, the Balkans,
India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan;
Whereas these young people study and learn primarily at a summer camp operated
by Seeds of Peace in Otisfield, Maine, and also through its regional
programs such as the Jerusalem Center for Coexistence;
Whereas Seeds of Peace works to dispel fear, mistrust, and prejudice, which are
root causes of violence and conflict, and to build a new generation of
leaders who are committed to achieving peace;
Whereas Seeds of Peace reveals the human face of those whom youth have been
taught to hate, by engaging campers in both guided coexistence sessions
and ordinary summer camp activities such as living together in cabins,
sharing meals, canoeing, swimming, playing sports, and creative
exploration through the arts and computers;
Whereas the Arab-Israeli conflict is currently at a critical juncture, and
sustained progress towards peace depends on the emergence of a new
generation of leaders who will choose dialogue, friendship, and openness
over violence and hatred;
Whereas Seeds of Peace provides year-round opportunities for former participants
to build on the relationships they have forged at camp, so that the
learning processes begun at camp can continue back in the participants'
home countries, where they are most needed;
Whereas Seeds of Peace is strongly supported by participating governments and
many world leaders;
Whereas previous Federal funding for Seeds of Peace demonstrates its recognized
importance in promoting United States foreign policy goals; and
Whereas it is especially important to reaffirm that youth must be involved in
long-term, visionary solutions to conflicts perpetuated by cycles of
violence: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) honors the accomplishments of Seeds of Peace for
promoting understanding, reconciliation, acceptance,
coexistence, and peace among youth from the Middle East and
other regions of conflict around the world; and
(2) offers Seeds of Peace as a model of hope that living
together in peace and security is possible.
Passed the House of Representatives November 19, 2003.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.