Project Pineapple: September 2010

Project Pineapple

Remember, go to Archives for full story at bottom of picture column

SPECIAL UPDATE FOR AMERICANS
FOR NON AMERICANS PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR US FRIENDS AND CONTACTS
PLEASE VIEW SITE
http://www.handicap-international.us/our-fight-against-landmines-and-cluster-bombs/in-brief/
AND FIND LINK TO
National Senate Call-In Day to Ban Cluster Bombs MAR 30
but keep up the pressure after this date
MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT YOUR SENATOR

ALSO for those who wish to make donations to Handicap International, a co-founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, and now widely recognized as a key international lobbyist on weapons of war, please got to:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/285080?m=96aaaf39

Be sure to contact your political representative too wherever you are.

PROJECT PINEAPPLE INITIATED WITH A MOTORCYCLE RIDE THROUGH INDOCHINA TO PUBLICISE THE CLUSTER BOMB ISSUE.

Laos was carpet bombed along the Vietnam border to wipe out the VietCong's supply lines, the multiple trails known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Now, the issue is still being swept under a diplomatic carpet.

The Iraq war opened on 19th March, 2003, with Cluster Bombs being dropped. I was in Laos walking through remote villages on a water well project when I got the news on my short wave radio. Those same villages were carpet bombed 35 years earlier and still living under the threat of 76 million unexploded Cluster Bombs.

Billions of dollars continue to be spent on Iraq but a mere 500 thousand dollars annually on clearing unexploded Cluster Bombs in Laos.

The Vietnam War ended on 30th April 1975 when the last ten marines were choppered out.

I used the Belarusian 125cc Minsk motorcyle to ride from Hanoi, Vietnam, through Laos and Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City between 19th March and 30th April representing respectively the start of Cluster Bombs being dropped on Iraq and the final withdrawal of US marines from Saigon.

Visits were made to various relevant projects and programs both for clearing unexploded bombs and supporting the victims.

Should you be in any of these countries it is worth
finding out what you can about this 'forgotten' problem. Rural children and adults are still dying and being maimed every day.

Please email any comments to : project.pineapple@yahoo.com

Remember to go to Blog Archives at bottom of Picture column for the full story.

See you around

Robert

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

World Peace Day, 21st September 2010 - RedR Security Management Course

Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief, RedR, provides a high quality international recruitment service for leading aid agencies, governments and the private sector involved in disaster relief.

Its reputation is based on the quality of the candidates supplied and high level of service with 30 years experience recruiting specialist professionals following major emergencies, such as the Asian tsunami or Pakistan earthquake.

RedR operates across a wide range of disciplines, sectors and countries. Through its register of 1,700 highly experienced members it is able to respond to emergencies at short notice.

RedR's training programmes are used by individuals and aid agencies worldwide. From introductory courses for those interested in getting into the sector, to credit-rated training for professionals.

I joined RedR in 1985 and have had various missions over the years. I decided to take their Security Management Course due to the significant rearrangement of global power groups.

On behalf of Peace One Day I invited fellow course members to join in marking the conception of World Peace Day being recognized by United Nations (see picture).

Peace One Day
St George's House
15 St. George's Road
Richmond TW9 2LE
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 20 833 49900
Fax: +44 20 8948 0545
www.peaceoneday.org

Sunday, September 19, 2010

BBC World News - Peace One Day by Jeremy Gilley

Dear Robert Kinnear

We'd like to invite you to take part in the latest discussions in BBC Global Minds.
This week our featured programme is Peace One Day by Jeremy Gilley.
The film documents Jeremy Gilley's successful attempt to have 21st September recognised as World Peace Day by the United Nations.

Peace One Day will be shown at:
02:10 and 15:10 Saturday 18th September and
09:10 and 21:10 Sunday 19th September.
All times are GMT.

Please click here to leave your comments and feedback on the film.

Paddy O'Connell will be interviewing Jeremy Gilley on Weekend World this weekend so please do tune in to hear what Jeremy has been getting up to since he made Peace One Day.

Have a great weekend,

BBC Tom

MY REPLY TO BBC GLOBAL MINDS

I've been in touch with Peace One Day for a long time and supported them. I have a project about Cluster Bombs which I will promote more on 21st September than usual.

Please view : www.projectpineapple.blogspot.com

I have an entry about my recent trip to Iceland where I visited Yoko Ono's IMAGINE PEACE TOWER in Iceland with a special event this year up there as she celebrates what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday 9th October. Lennon was of course one of the the earliest vocal peace activists

This week I am taking a course with RedR, Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief, www.redr.org, on Security Management where I will remind everyone about Peace One Day.

Love and Peace

Robert

Make your commitment for Peace Day 2010 here: www.peaceoneday.org

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

IMAGINE PEACE TOWER - Yoko Ono's Tribute to John Lennon

I walked around the platform of native Icelandic stone in reddish ochre, light grey and bluish grey, in a striped mosaic pattern. I walked around the Wishing Well of pure white glass, I touched it, I felt it, IMAGINE PEACE carved in 24 languages.

I walked the pebble beach below IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, the same beach Yoko Ono walked, feeling the energy of the tower, feeling the energy of Yoko, feeling the energy of John.

Beach combing, I found a yellow spade, a little lilac toy bear of determined expression decorated with a heart, a dolphin, a radiant sun face with shades hovering over CALIFORNIA in bright colours.

With my new found cuddly toy and spade, I eased on to the peace platform to enjoy the sun's warmth and imagined peace.

Every year the IMAGINE PEACE TOWER, on Videy Island opposite Reykjavik Iceland, emerges between October 9th (Lennon's birthday) and December 8th (his death day). It also emanates from winter solstice to New Year's day, during the first week of spring and other rare days agreed by the artist.

My ride along the Ho Chi Minh Trail also sat between two dates of note, 30 April, the end of the American War in Viet Nam, 1975 and 20 March, the start of the American War in Iraq, 2003.

Take a look at Yoko Ono's www.imaginepeace.com

World Peace Day, 21st Sept 2010 - RedR Security Management

Standing for Security and Peace, this group took part in recognizing this first 'World Peace Day' during their Security Management course ably presented by Lisa. Back L-R: Chris Stewart, DFID; Stephen Rous, Project Support Officer; Fredrick Palsson, Operations Manager, Danish De-Mining Group; Andy Baker, Country Director, Oxfam Tajikistan; Lisa Reilly, Security Coordinator, RedR; Front L-R: Farhad Majumder, Program Advisor, The Brooke; Najdi Dawabi, Operations Consultant; Dave McQuirk, Consultant, Disability Forward Ltd; plus one other who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons.