I’m rather embarrassed by how long it took me to respond to the initial request, but last month I finally got a package off to Uzbekistan containing my submission for the ‘Peace Autograph Collection’. I was thrilled to receive the following lovely response from the director:
Dear Ms Ellen,
Warmest greetings from ancient Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Central Asia!
Thank you very much for your most welcome echo and enclosed nice autographed photograph, music score and two CDs (with beautiful music of yours) which have JUST reached us safely.
As for our Peace Autograph Collection, it is growing and progressing continually. Hundreds of entries have been collected so far from an array of prominent men and women of achievement from around the world. Envisioned is a library of autographed books, musical collections, artwork, archives of memorabilia etc.
See you one day here in 2750-year-old Samarkand, “Rome of the East”.
Peace and Cheers,
Anatoly Ionesov, Director
International Museum of Peace and Solidarity
The museum has been a ‘work in progress’ since 1986, and it is an amazing effort which deserves a lot more press than it has received over the past twenty years. There is a wonderful website where you can see pictures of the museum, and of some of the many children whose lives it touches.
One of my favourite projects sponsored by the museum is the Children’s Peace and Disarmament Festival, which involves trading military toys for peaceful, non-violent and creative toys. Children turn in violent or military-themed toys and then sign a document entitled The International Children’s Disarmament Treaty. In return they receive peaceful toys such as animals, paints, books, multicultural dolls, or building blocks, and a special Peace and Disarmament Diploma.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a programme like this could be replicated on local levels worldwide? It could be sponsored by youth groups, schools, churches, before/after school care programmes, parent organisations, scouting groups, private clubs, arts groups … the possibilities are endless. It might seem like a small thing to do, but sometimes small things can make very big differences.
