A Dream for Our World

Description

By David Gershon

“For me and many others the First Earth Run is one of the most inspiring events of the 20th century. A Dream For Our World moves it into the 21st century by helping us see its relevance to this challenging time. As I read this story the power of the torch re-ignited my hope for the world and commitment to make a difference with my life.”
– Peter van Luttervelt, President, Tao Consulting and former director, Global Action Plan Netherlands.

This remarkable story describes a time of great fear on the planet, the cold war. It tells how the simple and profound act of passing a torch of peace around the world in partnership with the United Nations engaged the participation of millions of people, the world’s political leaders, and through the media, an estimated 20% of the planet’s population. It is a story of how the impossible became possible, creating transformative ripples out into the world, many of which are still being felt today.

The initiative, entitled the First Earth Run, came to be seen as one of the great success stories about what can be accomplished in our world with the power of imagination and the commitment of dedicated individuals.The unique conditions that allowed it to succeed then are once again present now. Then, the palpable fear in the world caused it to contract. This created a countervailing pressure for expansion and transformation. It was that opening that allowed this anomaly in world events to occur.

We are once again facing a similar fear and contraction in the world, which is again creating a comparable pressure toward expansion and transformation. I hope that this story will prove instructive, inspiring the imagination and will of many around the world to enter into this opening. To enable this it concludes with “7 Actions to Change the World.”

What people are saying:

“Wherever the fire went, people cooperated to ensure its passage – even putting aside, if briefly, ancient rivalries and local wars while the fire sparkled by. And by design or coincidence, at the end of that decade the Cold War was snuffed out too. A Dream For Our World, is the story of that adventure in its visionary beginnings, its daunting financial troubles, its incredible international complexities, the exceptional feats of cooperation between antagonists, the gush of popular enthusiasm that persuaded political leaders that they had better follow their followers.”
— From the Foreword by elder statesmen, Harland Cleveland, who for over a half century has provided outstanding leadership in American government, international affairs and higher education.

“The First Earth Run ignited the power of the collective will for peace. It provided evidence to the world that a collective will for peace exists that crosses all boundaries and ideologies. A Dream For Our World tells the phenomenal story of this global odyssey and suggests how we can once again tap into this collective will.”
— Avon Mattison, Founder and President of Pathways To Peace, has played a prominent role in developing and coordinating the United Nations International Day of Peace since its inception.