TresSugar

Summer Camp Helps International Enemies Become Friends

LibertySugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:30:00 -0700

Every summer kids from conflict-ridden regions attend the Seeds of Peace international summer camp in Maine. But this camp isn't just a chance for these children to have fun in America. At Seeds of Peace campers come face-to-face with their enemies, and together participate in a conflict-resolution program designed to help them confront differences and bring new understanding back home.

While arm-in-arm with her new Palestinian friend, Israeli 15-year-old Nadia Tibi told BBC: "Seeds of Peace is the best experience that ever happened to me. I've met people I never thought I would meet." On Fridays campers are invited to attend both Muslim and Jewish Services, so the can learn about one another’s religion and traditions.

Seeds of Peace began in 1993 with the hope that when teenagers see the human faces of their enemies, they will become a catalyst for a human solution when they grow up. Do you think a small group of leaders with this summer camp experience can make a difference?

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French Jews and Muslims Vow to Stop Conflict by Baking

LibertySugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:00:40 -0700

In Paris a group of Jewish and Muslim French women get together to bake pastries and not talk about politics in the Middle East. They call themselves Les Bâtisseuses de Paix, or Peace Builders, and they hope to prevent the spread of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to France, where 5 million Muslims and 600,000 Jews live.

The International Herald Tribune profiled the group, whose members say they don't want the problems in the Middle East to ruin their relationships with their neighbors. The women will travel to New York to meet their transatlantic counterparts this fall.

French Jewish and Muslim community leaders alike praise their "courageous work" with one Islamic TV show host saying that their "tenderness and maternal sentiment" make them "the best agents for stopping conflict." But some aren't all that impressed. To see why, read more.

Critics think the embargo on talking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict among the women makes the "peace builders" hypocritical.

Other groups like Children of Abraham and Seeds of Peace have been bringing together Jews and Muslims, young and old, from around the world, in attempt to spark an interfaith dialogue. Do you think relationships between everyday Jews and Muslims, revolving around pastries or something else, have a potential to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before politicians do?

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Kids Flock to Hezbollah Shrine, Abu Ghraib to Open Museum

LibertySugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Two commemorative destinations established in the Middle East will help shape the historical consciousness of the region's newest generation. In Lebanon children flock to a shrine dedicated to Imad Mugniyah, the dead commander of Hezbollah, who is considered a martyr to some and a terrorist responsible for numerous bombings throughout the 1980s and 90s to others.

At the exhibit schoolchildren wait to see Mugniyah's bloodstained clothes, the shoes he died in, his cell phone, or the desk he sat at while he planned his attacks. Visitors also experience a multimedia exhibit chronicling Hezbollah's fight with Israel. The exhibit - which also includes a "victory bridge" made from artillery shells, a skeleton in uniform labeled "the invincible Israeli soldier" - must stay open until 1 a.m. to keep up with its popularity.

Meanwhile Iraq plans to reopen the infamous Abu Ghraib prison, where Saddam Hussein and members of the US military abused prisoners. The new Abu Ghraib prison will include a museum dedicated to exposing the crimes committed under Saddam. Stories like this make me think that efforts like Seeds of Peace, the summer camp which brings together children from enemy countries in the Middle East, are all the more important. If the forces of violence get to the next generation before those of peace, there is little hope for reconciliation in the region.

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Essential Oils for Your Every Mood

DearSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Nature has provided an abundance of wonderful scents that come to us through the essences of flowers, fruits, barks, seeds, and woods. Aromatherapy is the art and science of combining these pure essences in order to create blends that help to bring the body, mind, and spirit into balance.

Essential oils are derived purely from plants and can be used alone, in a bath, in an Aromatherapy Ring, or in products like candles or massage oil, to enhance or change your mood. But beware -- lookout for synthetic scented oils and products since these can cause headaches and other negative side effects. Want to know which scents spark what mood? Then read more

Basil: Assertiveness
Bergamot: Alertness, joy, creativity, cheerfulness
Chamomile: Sleepiness, contentment, serenity
Clary Sage:: Tranquility, warmth
Eucalyptus: Clarity, focus
Fennel: Confidence, support
Frankincense: Creativity, helps relieve grief
Grapefruit: Confidence
Jasmine: An aphrodisiac
Juniper Berry: Peace
Lavender: Contentment, calmness, peace, harmony
Lemon: Joy, concentration
Orange: Happiness, joy
Peppermint: Alertness, relieves tension, uplifting
Rose Geranium: Uplifting, relieves nervousness or fear
Sandalwood: Joy, relieves stress
Ylang Ylang: Calming, helps relieve anxiety

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