[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 288 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 288


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2003

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Honoring Seeds of Peace for its promotion of understanding, 
reconciliation, acceptance, coexistence, and peace among youth from the 
               Middle East and other regions of conflict.

Whereas Seeds of Peace, founded by John Wallach in 1993, is a program that 
        brings together young people from regions of conflict to study and learn 
        about coexistence and conflict resolution;
Whereas although the original focus of Seeds of Peace was to bring Israeli, 
        Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian youth together, the program has 
        expanded over the past decade to involve youths from other regions of 
        conflict, including from Greece, Turkey and divided Cyprus, the Balkans, 
        India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan;
Whereas these young people study and learn primarily at a summer camp operated 
        by Seeds of Peace in Otisfield, Maine, and also through its regional 
        programs such as the Jerusalem Center for Coexistence;
Whereas Seeds of Peace works to dispel fear, mistrust, and prejudice, which are 
        root causes of violence and conflict, and to build a new generation of 
        leaders who are committed to achieving peace;
Whereas Seeds of Peace reveals the human face of those whom youth have been 
        taught to hate, by engaging campers in both guided coexistence sessions 
        and ordinary summer camp activities such as living together in cabins, 
        sharing meals, canoeing, swimming, playing sports, and creative 
        exploration through the arts and computers;
Whereas the Arab-Israeli conflict is currently at a critical juncture, and 
        sustained progress towards peace depends on the emergence of a new 
        generation of leaders who will choose dialogue, friendship, and openness 
        over violence and hatred;
Whereas Seeds of Peace provides year-round opportunities for former participants 
        to build on the relationships they have forged at camp, so that the 
        learning processes begun at camp can continue back in the participants' 
        home countries, where they are most needed;
Whereas Seeds of Peace is strongly supported by participating governments and 
        many world leaders;
Whereas previous Federal funding for Seeds of Peace demonstrates its recognized 
        importance in promoting United States foreign policy goals; and
Whereas it is especially important to reaffirm that youth must be involved in 
        long-term, visionary solutions to conflicts perpetuated by cycles of 
        violence: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) honors the accomplishments of Seeds of Peace for 
        promoting understanding, reconciliation, acceptance, 
        coexistence, and peace among youth from the Middle East and 
        other regions of conflict around the world; and
            (2) offers Seeds of Peace as a model of hope that living 
        together in peace and security is possible.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 19, 2003.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.