IIPT and eTurboNews call for world travel and tourism industry support of Olympic Truce

The International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT), together with eTurboNews, is calling for all sectors of the world travel and tourism industry to join with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations in a call for a cessation of conflict and all acts of violence in an observance of the Olympic Truce during the Vancouver Winter Olympics February 12–28.

The tradition of the Olympic Truce dates back to the 9th century BC in Ancient Greece. During the Truce period, the athletes, artists, and their families, as well as ordinary pilgrims, could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries. Since its revival in 1992, the Olympic Truce has a demonstrated history of helping to further dialogue and understanding — providing a valuable window of opportunity to work towards the peaceful resolution of conflict. The Olympic Truce once again calls upon humanity to lay down its weapons and to work towards building the foundations of peace, mutual respect, understanding, and reconciliation.

IIPT founder and president Louis D’Amore stated, “The challenges faced by humankind, including climate change, the elimination of poverty and disease, and the growing stresses on our ecological systems from a population soon to number 7 billion persons, can only be met by a world at peace and working towards a common agenda for the benefit of all humankind.”

Mr. D’Amore cited the following statistics: World Military Expenditures are currently in excess of US$ 1.5 trillion – greater than the GDP of every nation in the world except seven – roughly equal to the total income of 40 percent of the world’s population who struggle to survive at the bottom of the economic pyramid – US$220 for every man woman and child in the world when:

– 1 of every 6 survives on US$1 a day or less,
– another 2 of every 6 on US$2 a day or less,
– 1 of every 6 go to bed hungry,
– 1 of every 4 never get a clean glass of water to drink,
– 2 in 5 lack proper sanitation, and
– 35,000 children die each day from preventable diseases – many of them from water-born diseases.

D’Amore first announced that IIPT would seek to mobilize the global travel and tourism industry in support of the Olympic Truce at a World Travel Market 2008 special event commemorating the 20th anniversary of IIPT’s 1st Global Conference, Vancouver 1988. His proposal received immediate and enthusiastic endorsement by Ms. Michele McKenzie, chair, Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) and other global travel and tourism industry leaders taking part in the event.

ETurboNews, an ardent media supporter of IIPT’s endeavors, has commended the IIPT’s move. “Without peace, tourism cannot exist, and we at eTurboNews are very proud to be associated with such a reputable organization as the IIPT,” said eTurboNews publisher Thomas Steinmetz. “We have the highest regard for what Louis D’Amore has started and continue to pledge our support for events that IIPT undertakes.”

Building on Canada’s long history of promoting peace, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Truce aims to extend the ideals of Olympism through an open invitation to act in the Olympic spirit – mutual understanding in the spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play – on creating everyday peace at home, in schools, in the workplace, and in communities in Canada and abroad. The invitation to “Make Your Peace” calls on individuals to reflect and act on the Olympic Truce in their own unique way, resulting in a truce program that can be shared and “owned” by everyone. The messages of peace, equality, inclusion, and friendship are intrinsic to local and global citizenship.

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE THE OLYMPIC TRUCE.
EMAIL: [email protected]

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM (IIPT)
IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives, which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, poverty reduction, and the resolution of conflict – and through these initiatives, help bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world. IIPT is dedicated to mobilizing travel and tourism, the world’s largest industry, as the world’s first “Global Peace Industry,” an industry that promotes and supports the belief that “Every traveler is potentially an ‘Ambassador for Peace.’” For more information on IIPT, please visit website: www.iipt.org .

ABOUT ETURBONEWS
ETurboNews is the leading travel trade news publication that publishes Mondays through Fridays, except major United States holidays. While the majority of eTurboNews’ 215,000 global subscribers are travel trade professionals, the news publication covers issues that extend far beyond the scope of travel and tourism. For global travel trade news with a touch of aloha, go to www.www.eturbonews.com .