FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greatly inspired by Mayor Shirley Franklin’s leadership in purchasing Dr. King’s Historical Collection of Papers, Partnerships In Peace and Atlanta: City of Peace announce plans for: “The Global Peace Museum” (ATL)

In observance of The International Day of Peace (celebrated globally by 1000+ organizations) and the 10th Anniversary of Atlanta’s World Wall for Peace, the "Atlanta: City of Peace" and "Partnerships In Peace" Initiatives announce plans to establish The Global Peace Museum (ATL). All citizens of Atlanta (especially peacemakers) are invited to the press conference:

Andrea Kay Smith, Co-Creator of Partnerships in Peace, proclaims:

The "Atlanta: City of Peace" (ACP) and "Partnerships In Peace" (PIP) Initiatives are budding non profits whose missions are to deliver Atlanta into her destiny of becoming a global nexus of peace cultivation, education, and inspiration. Aside from Atlanta’s three widely-respected centers of peace education (The Gandhi Foundation USA, The King Center, and The Carter Center) we also have two globally respected Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, and three Nobel Peace Prize Nominees (Senator Sam Nunn, Dr. John Endicott, and Ted Turner). Our peace initiatives are also laying plans to create: “The World’s Biggest Peace Garden” (ATL) and “The University of Peace-North America” (ATL).

6:00 pm, Thursday, September 21, 2006 ... The International Day of Peace

The question is: “Why is Atlanta a great location for The Global Peace Museum?” Because we need to add to our blossoming global peace-legacy. Also, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (one of the world’s most internationally respected, accomplished, and well-known Nobel Peace Prize Laureates) is “The world’s MOST productive peace-movement protégé of Gandhi” (considered by billions to be “Man of the Millennium”, Years 1000-2000).

Note: There is discussion of building a civil rights museum in Atlanta; however we emphatically maintain that Atlanta needs The Global Peace Museum instead. There is already a National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. Besides Dr. Martin Luther King is a great father-figure for our entire Global Family and his widely respected peace-legacy is more than civil rights and human rights. In addition, this is The UN's Intl. Decade for a Culture of Peace (a great time to set courageous “new century & new millennium” precedents). Atlanta’s new “ Global Peace Museum” can highlight the history of our entire Global Family (ALL nationalities & colors) as we have experienced our odyssey towards Global Peace. We recommend that “The Global Peace Museum” be developed in “The Global Peace Cultivation District” (where, soon be located within three miles of each other, are The Gandhi Foundation-USA, The King Center, and The Carter Center.

The International Day of Peace (date of press conference) provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of Peace on a shared date. Partnerships In Peace and the Atlanta: City of Peace Initiatives are using this International Day of Peace to build upon Atlanta’s blossoming global peace-legacy. All peacemaking individuals and organizations are invited to participate. Their invitation to co-create “The Global Peace Museum”, celebrate International Day of peace, and observe the 10th Anniversary of building Atlanta's World Wall for Peace (80' long x 12' tall) is for ALL.

FACT: Atlanta is the MOST positioned city on Earth to set an international peace-precedent and in this New Decade, New Century, and New Millennium we will inspire and lead globally for years to come! Atlanta can also inspire the 1400+ Peace-Cities of 119 nations registered with the global organization... Mayors for Peace. Atlanta has a formidable economic and business incentive too. We have also invited: “The International Institute for Peace Through Tourism” (IIPT) to use Atlanta as host-city for their 2007-Global Summit on Peace through Tourism. In addition, we have offered Atlanta as global headquarters for: “The People's International Initiative for Departments of Peace in governments around the world”. Atlanta business, civic, and government leaders, let’s courageously join creative energies to help our town discover her true destiny in the peace industry.

WHO:

--- John R. Naugle is a writer, peacemaker, and Co-Creator of the “ Atlanta: City of Peace” Initiative. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, is a Georgia Master Gardner, has volunteered for Georgia Writers Association for over 3 years, and donated his time and talent to more than 100 other metro-Atlanta nonprofits. Losing his savings and home in developing his nonprofit service-interests, his current primary focus is finding key individuals who can assist with professionally packaging, polishing, and launching these nonprofit’s peace goals. He states: “Atlanta: City of Peace is our dream, odyssey and destiny… a wonderful goal to work towards.”

--- Geri Taran is co-founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Georgia Writers Association, Inc., and Co-Creator of the "Atlanta: City of Peace" Initiative. GWA is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to “supporting all writers; and organizing activities that celebrate the achievements of writers across the state of Georgia.” GWA, founded in 1994, accepted the mission and responsibilities for the prestigious annual Georgia Author of the Year Awards, established in 1963. Now in its 42nd year, GAYA awards recognize Georgia authors who published the best book in their genre each year. Over 500 books were published by Georgia writers in 2005, both traditionally published and independently published. Posted on GWA’s Website is this quote by Ms. Taran: “Dream of peace, act accordingly, change the world.”

--- Andrea Kay Smith is Global Coordinator of Atlanta-based Partnerships In Peace (PIP) and Co-Creator of the “ Atlanta: City of Peace” Initiative. PIP’s slogan is “MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!” Locally their nonprofit is creating a documentary on revitalizing their former ‘Little-Vietnam’ neighborhood, and they’ve shown what Atlantan’s are willing to do to make a difference at a grassroots level. At this time Partnerships In Peace is observing their 10th Anniversary of building Atlanta's World Wall for Peace (80' long x 12' tall). Their 17-trained Peace Wall Crew worked nine months in tile-painting of 2,000 six-inch tiles, helping to arrange, install, and dedicate the wall on July 18, 1996 in time for Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Games. Andrea Kay Smith states: “To further The United Nation’s International Decade for a Culture of Peace, recognize our World Wall for Peace 10th Anniversary, and as Co-Creator of Atlanta’s “ Global Peace Museum”, I’m inspired our city supports vision and leadership in developing our peace legacy. Atlanta: City of Peace is a global destination inspiring peace, love, and justice.”

--- Dr. Gail Lash is Co-Creator of the Atlanta: City of Peace (ACP), Partnerships In Peace (PIP) Initiatives, and Founder of Tourism For Peace (TFP), an Atlanta organization dedicated to teaching peace principles to Hosts & Guests worldwide, and Building the Peace Path. She is Coordinator of the Spirituality in Tourism Network of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism, on the Board of Directors at the Horizon Healing Center in Atlanta, and Owner of Ursa International, a planning and design firm that creates human and wildlife communities in mutual harmony, through zoos and wildlife sanctuaries worldwide. Her ecotourism consultations have taken her around the world, working with communities of diverse peoples to create unity. Dr. Lash states: “My objectives are peace, harmony, and understanding... I believe that as spiritual beings, having a human experience on this Earth, we are intimately connected both with all of humanity and with all of nature around us. I believe that it is important to honor that connection and to help preserve it.”

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