Lord Michael Bates backs olympic tourism peace campaign

Campaign gathers strength with just 200 days to London Olympics

Member of the UK House of Lords and ex MP, Lord Michael Bates, is currently walking from Athens to London to publicise the effect that the Olympics can have on world peace.

The campaigning peer is is walking from Olympia in Greece to London – a journey of over 3,000 miles.

Through his Walk for Truce initiative, Lord Bates hopes to encourage others to do something to show their commitment to the London 2012 Olympic Truce resolution.

He told Gordon Sillence (who is running the tourism for Olympic peace campaign) “I think that the idea of a minutes silence for global peace is a great one. The UN Resolution for London 2012 states that the truce will run from the opening ceremony rather than seven days before and a moment's silence at the opening ceremony would be a powerful way of reminding us as to the original purpose of the games and the potential for the truce.”

Said Gordon Sillence: “Lord Bates’ support will guarantee the right people will listen to the request for the  One Minute SIlence and the reception of the teenagers in London on an official basis, and open all LOCOG and government channels to our process, which is  great news to start the new year. “

In the gap of government inaction, civil society groupings have created a London 2012 Olympic Peace Strategy, based on an active role of peace, sports, culture and tourism sector stakeholders. The strategy includes:

• raising global attention for a move from a culture of violence to a culture of peace with one minutes silence during the opening ceremony of the Games
• using the Global Peace Index map to show the state of violence in countries across the world during the times of the Games
• bringing 40 teenagers from conflict zones and areas of violence to the Games as Peace & Culture Youth Ambassadors
• creating an international inter-cultural travel and tourism bonanza celebrating the best of global responsible and sustainable tourism next to our Olympic athletes.

Says Mr Sillence: “In spite of these worrying times of global challenges, a hope-filled vision of a peace-based, green global economy can be realized, and the sustainability message mainstreamed through large scale events.”

“The countdown to this opportunity continues with the June 2012 Rio+20 UN Conference aligned with the July- August London 2012 Olympics – and now at this 11th hour, culture, peace, sports and tourism stakeholders need to unify to make this happen practically. Implementation guidance is given on. http://destinet.eu/topics/sustainable-consumption-and-production/peace-through-tourism.

Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Get your copy at a special offer price: HERE