News from Nobel Peace Laureate Project:
August 25 , 2008
EUGENE, OREGON TEACHER OF THE YEAR PRESENTATION
This morning at Willamette High school David Mandelblatt, Nancy Newman, and I presented the Nobel Peace Laureate Project's first ever Teacher of the Year award to Lura Pierce of Shasta Middle School. It was a simple presentation and the award consisted of a certificate created by Nancy Newman. The award was given for outstanding teaching of peace. Some of you may recall it was Lura Pierce's class that visited the Peace Park site as a field trip where the student's staged their own inspiring and moving ceremony focusing on the American Nobel Peace Laureates.
At the ceremony when Lura's name was announced the audience -- the faculties off all the schools in the Bethel school district -- stood up and gave her a standing ovation. After receiving the award, she responded with the shortest acceptance speech in history: "Peace." I am sure that will become a local legend in the Bethel area.
Present at the ceremony were three TV camera crews and you should be able to catch 30 seconds worth of it on the local newscasts. You also should be able to read about the award in the RG and perhaps the weekly. MANY THANKS TO GEORGE BERES FOR HANDLING THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE MEDIA.
THANKS ALSO TO MARGO SCHAEFER WHO SET UP THE CEREMONY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE BETHEL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
To see what inspired us to give the award, visit the nobelpeacelaureate site on YouTube.
It was a great experience and we are sure Lura was thrilled. She deserves this award.
We intend to do this again in the future and intend to spend some time developing criteria for the awards next time around. If any of you have some suggestions, please let us know.
March 21, 2008
"MEET ME AT THE PEACE PARK"
STUDENTS FROM SHASTA MIDDLE SCHOOL TAKE FIELD TRIP TO THE FUTURE NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE PARK SITE
The Nobel Peace Laureate monument site in Alton Baker Park was visited by its very first school field trip. This turned out to be more than anticipated.
The program started with landscape architect and co-designer of the monument, Kate McGee, leading the 45 or so Shasta Middle School students on a mock tour of the now open site. Dan Arkin then discussed how the ADA applied to the monument. Then came the turn of the students.
The kids called the roll of American Peace Laureates. This was followed by a statement by each 6th grader about what peace meant to him or her. The students sang a verse of "Let There Be Peace On Earth" and had the 12-15 adults in the audience join in an encore. A solo sax player completed the program with "America the Beautiful". The kids wore armbands with the Nobel Project logo and displayed banners designed by themselves.
At the end of the student program there was hardly a dry adult eye in the group. Kate McGee told me that this event made her proud to be a part of our project. Others of you who were present expressed similar sentiments. I could barely make closing remarks.
We have always believed our Peace Park and education program will inspire others to work for peace and the place to learn about the process begins with the young. I believe we saw evidence of a lot of inspiration on Good Friday, 2008.
Special thanks goes to Lura Pierce, teacher of the students. Her students showed a knowledge of facts, an ability to carry out plans, and a spirit that went beyond the raw material with which they were working.
March 7, 2008
DONATIONS TO THE NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE PROJECT INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY
Within the past three months several major donations have increased the support for the plaques of Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Al Gore, Teddy Roosevelt, Linus Pauling and Woodrow Wilson join Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jimmy Carter as Laureates gifted by donors. Included are a donation from Palo Alto and another from Atlanta. The word is spreading.
In addition to the $5,000 gifts for Laureate plaques, there have been three new donations at $1,500 each for memorial trees, including one to honor Lane County teachers. Each gift in the latter amount will include a paver to be placed near one of the trees. The donor can designate a particular type from one of those available.
In addition to these pledges or donations in cash, the Nobel Project has received pledges of donations in kind of over 1,800 plants to be included in the site of the monument and of physical labor from Rotary's Community Projects Committee to assist in planting and landscaping. Other donations in kind are pending.
The Nobel Peace Laureate Project also has been named as one of several projects to be supported by World Peace One, a new organization that plans to include large scale musical concerts to raise money in support of peace organizations throughout the world. More on that later.
We certainly look forward to more financial support and welcome your gifts and suggestions. If you know of any person or organization that you believe may be inclined to donate to the first ever monument to recognize as a group the achievements of the nation's internationally honored peacemakers, please contact them or give us their name and contact information.
December 6, 2007
NEW DONATIONS SPONSOR LAUREATE PLAQUES
Recently the Nobel Project has received significant donations and pledges that will sponsor four of the plaques in the Peace Park. The latest Nobel Peace Laureates to be supported are: Jody Williams, Al Gore, Linus Pauling, and Theodore Roosevelt. They join Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Jimmy Carter who have received previous commitments from donors.
To find out how you can sponsor a favorite American Peace Laureate's plaque in the monument or help in other ways to bring the monument to life, please go to the Volunteer section and/or contact us.
November 29, 2007
CLAES NOBEL RECEIVES LIFETIME
HUMANITARIAN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD!
In Hollywood on November 11 the film industry’s social activist organization Artivist recognized Claes Nobel, Honorary Co-Chairman of the Nobel Peace Laureate Project, with a lifetime achievement award for his long efforts for environmental protection, planetary health, and the benefit of children. Present with the Nobel family at the ceremony in the Egyptian Theater was John Attig, President of the Nobel Project.
Nobel, an Oregon resident and senior member of the Nobel [Prize] family, will continue his efforts for world peace and the environment. At present he is working with World Peace One to raise money worldwide for peace organizations. He is a co-founder of the National Society of High School Scholars that has over 340,000 members. Nobel recently indicated he is looking forward to attending the dedication ceremony of the Nobel Peace Laureate’s Peace Path in Eugene’s Alton Baker Park.
Photo: Courtesy of and Copyright © The Nobel Foundation