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By JoAnn Knutson
09/26/2006
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Photo submitted
Christine Ford, Chris Loney, Resha Ford and
David Rolla at the PeaceJam conference Sept.
15-17 in Denver. |
“Change Starts Here,” read the background
of the stage at the University of Denver’s
Magness Arena.
When Adams City High School senior Chris Loney
agreed to attend the 10th annual PeaceJam conference
Sept. 15-17 in Denver, he wasn’t expecting
much to change in his life.
It didn’t take him long to realize he was
among those who had and those who could change
the world.
Loney attended the conference with fellow Adams
City High School students Resha Ford, Christine
Ford and David Rolla.
“I think what really hit me was how personable
the Nobel Peace Prize winners were,” Loney
said. “The Dalai Lama and (Archbishop) Desmond
Tutu – they both had a great sense of humor.
They are both people that have changed the world.
I just didn’t expect them to be that way.”
PeaceJam is an international education program
built around leading Nobel Peace lauretes (the
recipient of honor or achievement) who work with
youth to pass on the spirit, skills and wisdom
they embody. The goal is to inspire a new generation
of peacemakers who will transform their local
communities, themselves and the world.
Loney also was inspired by Jody Williams, a Vermont
woman who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
1997 for her work to eliminate land mines. He
said it was nice to hear a Nobel Peace Prize winner
from the United States but it was her words that
stood out.
“It went something like, ‘If you
have emotion but don’t take action, than
the emotion is just wasted,’” he said.
All four students agreed it was also a great
opportunity to interact with people from different
cultures and countries and to learn how they look
at life.
Christine Ford, an Adams City senior, said her
favorite speaker was Tutu.
“I thought he was going to have the answers
for everything but instead he made us remember
the simple things,” she said.
Ford’s sister, Resha, an Adams City freshman,
said the conference was what she was expecting
and more.
“I was really impressed with how laid back
they were,” Resha said. “Their fame
hadn’t gotten to them at all. They were
very personable.”
Resha said she realized, listening to the speakers,
how grateful she is to live in America.
“Being American, there is a lot I can do
to help people in my community and in other parts
of the country, like writing to the (United Nations)
about justice issues,” she said.
Other Nobel Peace laureates participating in
the conference were Rigoberta Menchu Tum, President
Oscar Arias, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Shirin
Ebadi, Jose Ramos Horta, Adolfo Perez Esquivel,
Betty Williams, and Aung San Suu Kyi via video.
Kyi has been under house arrest in Burma since
1989 for speaking out on her policy of non-violence
for her people.
Contact Staff Writer JoAnn Knutson
at
jknutson@metrowestnewspapers.com or 303-659-2522,
ext. 206.
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