Servas Monthly News 27

October 2007
Servas and Involvement
As the keylist person who deals with enquiries on britain@servas.org I get quite a few emails requesting information every month. The following one I particularly liked as it so sums up what we are all about. - involvement. I'm currently a member of Couch Surfing and have so far enjoyed my experience. I have since been told about Servas and recently visited the web site. Servas seems much more organised and involved and as a result I am interested in joining to try it out There are quite a few organisations that deal with hosting and travelling, but as my correspondent points out, in Servas we are involved. And so I thought about it. Yes we are involved. Look at the activities that are going on. Hosting and travelling is a part of what we do but there is so much more besides. Some of our activities this year have been meetings around the world which have been reported here. eg: Youth and Family Week, England, the tri-country meeting in South America, The Africa meeting to come, get togethers going on around the world. Next year Turkey for the Youth, Pathways Together and the German Summer University as well as being an NGO at the UN and the Language scheme - SYLE. Servas is involved and that is something that we need to put over to people. It is up to every one of us to do that.

S I News 2008, deadlines

The end of the year is approaching. For that it is essential to keep to the following dates for SI News 2008. a) 30 Nov 2007 - Deadline for all articles Reminder: Articles should be no more than 400 words - to fit one column. Or less with a picture. b) 31 Dec 2007 - Deadline for numbers requested. Reminder: You have the choice of English, French, Spanish and the numbers required by each country for each of these must be given. You have the choice of hard copy, CD or both. Many countries want just the hard copy. Some countries want the CD as they prefer to print their own for speed of the process. Some countries want the hard copy with the CD for back up to go on their website or in case they need extra copies. The CD should have all three languages on it. If I do not get the articles then I cannot use them. If I do not get the number and type information then I cannot do the printing and postage. Please get this information to me very quickly.

Travellers, hosts,
I recently had a discussion with a host about the behaviour of her travellers. She agreed that the travellers were not very good in her language, so she spoke theirs. So there was no excuse for them to talk amongst themselves rather than to the hosts. They had arrived much later than originally expected and when fed proceeded to complain about the food. They were up late the next morning and expected the host to find an on going host for them. They were in a group of whom only one person had a valid letter of introduction. It appears that this is an example of how a lot of ground work needs to be done at the interview stage to ensure that people are aware of suitable behaviour. Obviously some members of the group had not been interviewed and hence their behaviour. However the leader should have known better being a member. Perhaps people need reminding from time to time what is expected.

Contents: 2007
1. 2. 3 & 4. 5 6. 7 8. 9. 10 11. Editorial News - Special Days in October Meetings Languages - Chichewa, Malawi Travel and host reports: Europe, Japan Countries: Costa Rica, South America, Britain, Canada Comments: Climate change, Local -Global People - Happy Birthday Bob, Goodbye Sharon, In Rome Peace: Dialogue, USA, Peace Sec Youth - Mary from Malawi

Contact
We welcome articles coming to SI Monthly News. We do not guarantee the article, or any part of it will be published. This depends on the theme for the month along with the number of other articles also available for publication. Preferred method of contact is email at: newsletter @servas.org or jgiffould @aol.com Please make sure that Servas: Monthly News is part of the subject heading. Otherwise if the email address is not recognised it may get deleted before being read.

What is weird?
Chatting with a fellow host, she commented that one set of travellers were 'weird'. I put over that we are all weird in that we each have our own lifestyles. We are all different, just some people are more different than others.

News - Special Days in October

10 October - Servas Day
The calendar has many special days throughout the year ranging through religious festivities to international recognition days to national days to local days and to our own personal special days. For Servas there is 10th October as our Servas Day. This picture of commemoration was sent by Sercan from Turkey saying that it was his Spanish friends way of celebrating Servas Day.

And from Korea:

I wish all of you have wonderful International Servas Day. We locally celebrated today between Servas friends in Busan Korea. In Servas and Peace. Jong S. Kim,NS Servas Korea

And from Dafi Gilead in Canada:

Thank you all Servas friends for the greetings. I wish you all a wonderful peaceful life, we all need it. Servas in our area has a gathering on Saturday. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. It is always warms the heart, as you all know.

And from Dr Ramesh Sharma visiting Nepal

I am celebrating this day with the Servas friends of Nepal in Katmandu. Wish you all for the remembrance of this day for peace and love.

From India was the following message: Today is International Servas Day and also the day where we celebrate Mahalaya the start of the festive season in India for Dusserah in north, Durga Pujas in the east, Navarathri in south, and Dusserah and Dandia in the West. I take this opportunity to wish you all a Wonderful Servas Day and hope this brings all of us together in spirit and mind to strengthen the Servas feeling in all of us and bring back the feeling of Servas togetherness in all our thoughts, feelings and actions. Also best wishes for a very happy peaceful and prosperous well being on this festive day of Mahalaya to you and your family.

02 October - International Day of Non-Violence

Was any one involved with this? Please let us know.

24 October - United Nations Day

As Servas is represented in the United Nations as an NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) so the United Nations Day should have some significance for us. And to think about it, the purpose of the United Nations was to generate Peace rather than War. So is there a link between United Nations Day on 24 October and the UN Peace Day on 21 September? For more information you could try contacting our Servas UN representatives in New York and Geneva. Otherwise you could look at Peace Direct, Practical Peace. This I have been attaching to the end of the Servas Monthly News for a while. I have now asked that it be given its own slot in the Newsletter section of the Servas website. It is worth reading to get ideas. These ideas could then be used in Servas discussion groups. Peace Direct would then be delighted to have your ideas and results of discussions sent to them.

Meetings, Get togethers, Seeing each other Get together in London

The venue is Pontefract Castle. This is in Wigmore Street, London W1. The nearest Underground Station is Bond Street. Date: First Monday in every month. Time: 6.30 onwards. Look forward to seeing you all there.

Annual Conference, India

Bangalore Dear Friends, It gives me great pleasure to invite you to our Annual Conference which we plan to hold in the South part of India at a beautiful, natural place, MITRA NIKETAN near Trivandrum in Kerala State . The conference will be for 3 days, dated 9 ,10 ,11 February 2008.. Mitre Niketan will provide the accommodation and hospitality. This is being organized by the Reception committee . Tel ;0472 2882015 H , Tel ;0472 2882045 Office, F 0471 2333614 Registration fee Rs. 300 per person (Including hospitality & food ) Travellers Rs 500 per person (Including hospitality & food ) Please send your confirmation to Servas India office by 31stth December 2007 to the address below: 1 Dr Ramesh Sharma National Sec Servas India servasindia@gmail.com, drrameshsharma@yahoo.com 2 LV Subramaniana Host Coordinator subramanianlv@gmail.com After due date Late fee Rs 100 up to 31 January 2008 Dr Ramesh Sharma, N S Servas India SAN FRANCISCO, U.S.A. COME TO THE SECOND EAST BAY SERVAS GATHERING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2007 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. INTERNATIONAL HOUSE 2299 PIEDMONT AVENUE (AT BANCROFT) (on the University of California campus) BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA $6.00 all you can eat, in the I-House cafeteria RSVP BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

Sentierinsieme Pathway Together Route de lAmiti Miteinander unterwegs

Servas members from the Alps area have been meeting each year at the beginning of summer for more than twenty years. The next meeting will take place on July 5th and 6th 2008 in France at Aussois, which is situated in the Maurienne Valley. It will be followed by two treks (4 days). If you want to get an invitation in the course of next winter, please contact: Franois Marseille 26, rue Pierre Curie 26000 Valence France Or (easier!) send an e-mail to

francoismarseille@free.fr

For Information You can phone : In German : Sabine Joertz 33 3 88 60 32 66 In Italian : Jolle Chappuis 33 4 50 22 13 82 In French :Franois Marseille 33 4 75 56 13 67 In English : By email : Myriam Michel myriam.michel3@hotmail.fr

Join with others in Lyon, France

The venue is: This is in: Date: Time: Grand Caf de la Soierie 1 place des Tapis, Lyon First Thursday of the month 8 pm

Meeting place in Paris, France

The venue is: Le Vieux Chtelet This is in: 1 place du Chtelet, 75001 Paris The nearest metro is: Chtelet Date: Second Tuesday of month Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

San Francisco, USA, ZOCALO - DECEMBER 11 Mark your calendar! We'll be back at our favourite San Francisco location on Tuesday, December 11. Since we always have a big crowd at this location, we are not asking Jeremy to cook for all of us.. The dinner will be pot luck.

European Servas Summer Meeting 2008

From 4 th to 9th July 2008 a European Servas Meeting following the tradition of the Servas Summer University will be held in the North of Germany near the border of Denmark and the Baltic Sea. It is aimed at Servas-enthusiasts from all over Europe who are interested in experiencing Servas beyond the private host-traveller framework in the context of a larger group event. The summer university offers the opportunity of meeting people from different European countries, learning together and from each other, developing and sharing common talents and interests, discussing and debating a variety of issues. Participants of all ages are welcome. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult/parent. Programme An interesting range of workshops, lectures and excursions will be offered. Special focus will be on workshops with a creative touch (painting, photography, dance, music), on topics referring to history, culture and present-day society of the German-Danish border region. Lectures or workshops on subjects dealing with social, intercultural, European questions may be included. Excursions to the Emil-Nolde Museum of Art, the city of Flensburg and beautiful spots on the seaside will round off the programme. Special workshops for teenagers and young members can be organised Parent-led
activities for younger children.

As in previous summer universities participants are welcome to actively contribute to the programme. The intention is to offer a framework for engaging in actitivites together rather than just consuming. If you have any special knowledge, interests or talents your are welcome to share these with others and contribute to the programme. Where? We will be hosted by the International Education Centre Jugendhof Scheersberg in Quern The centre is set in a quiet, rural environment, close to the beaches of the Baltic Sea. www.scheersberg.de Costs For accommodation and full board for 5 days including excursions 230,- per person in double rooms shared rooms (3-4 beds): adults 192,- / youth Children under 8: 110,- Registration with payment of deposit (120 p.p.) by 1 February 2008

For further information check www.servas-summer.eu, Information will be regularly updated . For registration forms and email contact: servas-summer@gmx.net Looking forward to meeting you there! The organizers Margret Klser, Erika und Richard Cabassut

Languages - Chichewa, Malawi

Language is an important tool of communication. When we understand each other we are more likely to be peaceful. Think of the problems that have arisen just by the wrong interpretation of what someone is trying to say. In this section, the aim is to build up a selection of words and phrases to help hosts and travellers communicate with each other and with other people. If you have words or phrases that you find useful then let us know. If you have languages you would like to share then let us know. For the moment the base language will be English. Hence any non-English words and phrases must have the English translation of them. In the long run it would be good to be able to publish a booklet of useful words and phrases in a range of languages for the Servas hosts and travellers. Our twenty first language is Chichewa from Malawi Thank you to Mary Boloweza for providing it. Zero One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Twenty Thirty Forty Fifty Peace Hello How are you Goodbye Be seeing you Have a safe journey Best wishes to your family. Mtendere Moni Mulibwanji Ndapita Kukuona Yenda bwino Mafuno abwino kubanja lanu Do come again Mudzabwerenso Do you eat meat? Where do you live? This is my sister Please Thank you That's nothing I love you .... so much Chonde Zikomo Palibe kanthu Ndmakukonda .... kwambiri This is my daughter Where is the toilet? Left Right Straight on Behind you Where do I sleep I am vegetarian Where is the nearest telephone? Chimbudze chilikuti? Manzere Manja Kutsogoolo Kumbuyo Ndigona kuti? Ndimadya zamasamba telephoni iri pafupi? What music do you like? Have you visited the town? Where are the shops? Is there a market? Thank you for your help. Zikomo kwambiri chifukwa chachithandizo Umakonda nyimbo zanji? Unapita ku towoni? Mashou ali kuti? This is my brother This is my mother This is my father This is my son Umady nyama? Umakhala kuti? Uyu mchemwali wanga Uyu mchimwene wanga Awa mayi anga Awa Bambo ango Mwana wanga wamwamuna Mwana wanga wamkaqi Sixty Seventy Eighty Ninety Hundred Thousand Ziro Wani Thu Three Foro Fayivi Sikisi Seveni Eyiti Nayini Teni Twente Thete Fote Fifite Sixite Sevente Eyite Niyinte Handiledi Thouszande

Host and Travel Reports

Europe from an Argentinian
I wanted to share the beautiful experience I lived as a Servas member.. I was lucky enough to travel to Italy (Milan) in 2003 to visit my friend Amelia, a very close friend since we were teenagers and who introduced me to Servas Since then I have been a Servas member. In 2007 during May and June I decided to visit Europe again. As usual I had the support of Amelia who opened the doors of her house. From her house I programmed my trips and journeys around Europe I arrived in Torino to visit my 2003s Servas friend Silvana who had been so thoughtful and organized all the places we will visit. In her car we saw mountains and lakes. We went to Superga, San Michelle, and even to the Avigliana party. We shared meals with friends and formal meetings with the ONG CISV, an organization that works in order to provide social assistance to needy countries such as Brazil, Africa and Guatemala by working on projects to gather money. Silvana made space for me and shared her time, knowledge and experience- but I had to keep on with my trip. I arrived in Budapest and got the chance to meet the charming Eszter, who welcomed me to her house I could then walk through the Chain Bridge, and even sailed on the Danube. During the nights, long conversations allowed to me to get to know Eszter and practice my rusty Italian. I finally arrived in Paris. I was able to go to the Eiffel Tower, sail the Seine, walk around Montmartre and pray in Notre Dame There is no need to mention but it was the dream of a lifetime and all thanks to my friend and host at Chantal, who talked about her country and traditions, while I talked about my Argentina. I had the chance to visit one more time, another of my dear 2003s friend, Franca, from Venice. Franca and her husband Sandro took me around the city to remember all the beautiful places : the bienal of Arts, the churches I was able to taste one more time the tasty pizzas, wines and coffees of the beautiful Italy. I had to leave Italy, my second home with a bitter taste since I was sure I would miss it but on the other side thankful since I was able to go there, meet her people and revive the experience. My journey continued in Spain, I arrived in Madrid where my dear and close friend Juana was waiting for me. There was no surprise in how gentle and nice Juana was and as she mention entre caas y Tapas we walked Madrid My desire to know this city made me travel to Andalusia and Sevilla Javier welcomed me such a nice young gentleman who at the same moment invited me to know the famous play El Burlador de Servilla in Alcazar. For the first time I visited la plaza de los toros, I observed the sunset by the Guadalquivir. As Spain had even more store for me, I continued to Lolas house, a very nice, sweet young student who made time for me even in her exam period so we could talk. I had the chance to meet Victor, president of Servas Spain. We exchanged opinions as regards Servas and thanks to him I could learn since he had so much to teach I thank him for his time and patience. I continued to Granada, visiting Alhambra, the Cartuja monastery and seeing the sunset in presence of the land of my dreams.. I returned to Madrid where Elvira was ready to open her house, and heart to me She took me to parks, and as we walked I realized that I had the feeling of knowing her as a very close friend we even plan future trips together! Today, back at home, I still revive all these moments and I think about Servas I know and I have confirmed that it has little to do to have a house to stay being a Servas means, discover people, making friends, create and develop commitment and finally understand that even though the world is diverse as regards, customs, language, traditions. In Servas we are all guided by the same force the sprit of peace and we all always looking for the opportunity to find a friend. One more time thank you .. to all my friends! Amalia Maffeis. Corboba Argentina

Feedback - Trip to Japan June-July 2007

After having completed a wonderful journey in, among others the Tokyo, Kyoto and Kyushu regions, I would like to thank SERVAS JAPAN, and of course especially the members who have hosted me and who helped to make it something special. I enjoyed the legendary Japanese hospitality of the Hosts, together with the traditional kindness of your People. My enthusiasm is not limited to kindness and hospitality. I could mention the general cleanliness, the quality of transportation, and many others. The arrangements with Hosts have worked punctual. There is one remark, I would be so free to do. When we send mails, in order to ask possible Members to be Host, sometimes there is no answer, what leaves in some uncertainty. I explain this with the fact that Asian people, do not like to say no. But, in order to organize a trip, it is, I think preferable to receive a no, than no answer. Well, dear Secretary, do no take the last as a reproach, but only an opinion that intends to improve our relation. Receive the best greetings from a Belgian Servas Member Charles De Wachter, Host in Waterloo, Belgium

Country Reports
First Bi-monthly Encounter of SERVAS - Costa Rica
It happened this rainy afternoon at a coffee shop in Downtown San Jose. There were a lot of expectations for the meeting and, regardless of the bad weather, 13 active members of SERVAS-Costa Rica attend the appointment. Curiously more people attended than for the Assembly promoted weeks ago. In the Assembly we got the idea of copying a model of gathering together that was successful in other Latin American countries: choose a public place (restaurant or coffee shop) and set an appointment there to gather once a month all the SERVAS members who want to share experiences and realize about novelties in SERVAS-Costa Rica. We agreed to set the meetings for the last Saturday of each month at 3 pm, when Costa Ricans are used to having a coffee or tea break in the middle of the afternoon. We also picked up a famous coffee shop, easy to reach: in the middle of Downtown San Jose, which everyone from the different suburbs could easily access. Back to the meeting, besides the 13 members, we also got 2 guests who were motivated to join our movement. During the gathering, we discussed about different strategies to set this kind of encounters in other regions of the country and organized a trip to attend a SERVAS meeting in Nicaragua. Also the members agreed to keep doing this kind of meeting in San Jose every 2 months, so next one will be the last Saturday of September. Note: if you come to visit Costa Rica soon, maybe you could be our guest in one of our meetings and enjoy the famous Costa Rican kindness and hospitality. Manuel D. "Malo" Ramrez, Costa Rica

Local gatherings in Britain

Autumn is the time for local gatherings around Britain. These have taken over from a national gathering as overall more people would attend a local one day/half day gathering than would attend a weekend maybe far from their own place. These gatherings can be as

formal or informal as the organisers want them. However they are recommended to include some Servas discussion points at some point.
On 13 October Servas members in the Cambridge area met in the pleasant village of Fulbourn to the east of Cambridge. Over lunch, which consisted of offerings from people, there were a variety of points discussed. This was followed by a walk in the local woods with the group splitting to account for the differing abilities of the walkers. Over tea people bought the latest merchandise in the form of tea towels. A pleasant time for all with the pleasure of being able to put faces to names.

From Canada: Paint us a picture

Not literally, although any amateur painters could submit a work and we could perhaps scan it into the website. What I mean is a short description of the highlights of your little corner of the world, what you find interesting or fascinating there and would like to share with travelers from out of town. If we printed a 'word picture' a month (or two, if we have space) we'd have verbal snapshots of places to visit with Servas across the country. Please send us a picture of YOUR neighbourhood by snail or e-mail for our next newsletter and see if intraCanada visits do not increase in leaps and bounds. What a wonderfully diverse country we live in! Lesley Rgnier, Servas Canada newsletter editor

South America Area Meeting

at the border of Argentina and Brazil, near the Argentinean town of Comandante Andrecito.

Comments
Servas and Climate change
I have been an active and enthusiastic member of SERVAS since 1979, first in UK, now in Puglia, S. Italy, I have also been working since its fairly recent formal inception for the Simultaneous Policy (www.simpol.org) an international organisation with activity in over 70 countries, support from such distinguished individuals as the Nobel Peace Prize winning Prime Minister of East Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta, Noam Chomsky, 23 Members of Parliament coming from every main UK political party, members in Europe, where Caroline Lucas (Green) has expressed her intention of spreading the word, the entire Green Party of Australia and so on.... Please look at the web-site. The aim of the International Simultaneous Policy Organisation (ISPO), by the collective power of the democratic vote, is to agree policies which will enable the peoples of the earth effectively to face down the global causes of the perilous predicament the planet now faces. It is possible and it must be attempted. There is no way in which one person - or even one nation - can save the Earth. Much must change. The activities of unregulated corporations, world poverty, the very real threat of large parts of the land mass (mainly but not exclusively the poorer parts - the parts many Servas members love to visit) disappearing under water or being dried out of living existence; and - linking them all - the criminal monetary games played by banks and individuals. Climate Change - as we all know - is well underway. Perhaps we are already too late to do as much as we could have done about it. Perhaps, as truly privileged individuals, we choose not to look at how our own activities affect the situation. But, as travellers, we have a total obligation to do so. The point I have been making at local and (so far) at 3 Italian national organisations is that Servas members must be amongst World Leaders when it comes to action. All the NGOs in the world can work their socks off, but they cannot, any more, work alone to accomplish their tasks without a planetary home base. We must work together. Today the world's governments are blindly and insanely engaged in expanding international/intercontinental airport activity and in keeping it unregulated. We have the huge task of finding a different way of being there for each other. Servas members are in the front line of this war. Servas existed decades before the era of cheap flights. It must survive this crisis; even lead the way out of it. At this moment obvious sacrifices are called for. To avoid my own need to fly to meetings, for example, I have resigned from the Simpol-UK Board of Management. My children live in the South of France and Bangkok. One journey can be made by coach, the other cannot be made at all without serious thought being given to consequences. Yesterday I spoke to our local group again. They were very supportive and considered it essential that I write both for the Italian national Servas magazine and Servas International. A serious discussion regarding the nature of both the work and the joy of Servas members needs to be taking place. I hold music workshops at national meetings. I've produced, for Servas and Simpol, a book of songs - 'Pace e Benessere' ('Peace and Well-being') mostly English, but with a fair number of Italian songs and a very few others. I would like to ask for more contributions of words, melodies or parts, with piano accompaniments and/or guitar chords as required from around the world; and to make a proper publication available to all. Jill Phillips, Italy

Act locally - report globally

Initiative for a worldwide Servas cooperation of Journalists
Servas members know is a good to find out how people in other parts of the world live and think. Sadly, we are a small minority, and most people in the world have only a more restricted view of other cultures. Most information available about other parts of the world comes through the media, and this information is mostly limited to the most prominent events, often more or less biased by the your country's mainstream perception and very rarely gives you a deeper insight into the background of a foreign country. This is sad, because a better exchange of information could foster mutual understanding and help to solve global problems - just like the idea of Servas. As a German freelance journalist specialised in environmental and other sustainability topics I would like to shed a light on the global context of what is happening in our country. Therefore, I want to build up a global cooperation network of freelance journalists and photographers, who cover topics concerning sustainability issues, e. g. peace, social justice and environment, and who help each other in researching, exchanging and translating information and distributing articles and pictures. As for me for example, I am currently looking worldwide for experienced journalists, specialised in energy-related themes as well as in professional photographers who can shoot pictures for specific stories. Furthermore I am preparing articles that would fit very well in newspapers in (Latin-)American newspapers but I'd be very happy to know a colleague over there who could cooperate brush up my not-so-perfect English or Spanish into a decent pro-style story and perhaps lend me a hand at bringing it to the newsdesk. Of course I'd like to give the same support to colleagues who are interested to bringing their stories to a German newspaper. I hope that this novel approach, facilitated by the modern communication technologies and by the network of Servas, will make it possible to provide better and more profound information on what is happening in other parts of our planet. Achim Klberer Holsteinische Str. 19, 12161 Berlin, Germany

phone: 0(049) 30-78716304 e-mail: a.kaelberer@web.de website: www.openresearch.de

People Info Happy Birthday Bob

15 November 1918, just after the First World War had terminated, a baby boy was born in the United States. Move ahead 31 years, 4 years after the termination of the second World War. That baby boy was now a man, working in Denmark, and so concerned about the results of war that he wanted to do something to help build peace. And so at Askov he started a group called Peacebuilders. 10 years later in Hamburg we have a picture of him at the name change to Servas. Continue in the time line for another 48 years to 15 November 2007 and that man is still with us as mentally active as ever. Well done Bob. And well done to Mr and Mrs Lutweiler for producing him in the first place. Now over to Gary Sealey for more detail: Bob, our elder founder of Servas, has started to celebrate his 89th birthday a bit early (usually November 15 is his birthday.) The Archivist Grant Barnes, has arranged to deposit his papers at the new home of the Servas Archives, at Arcata, California. Bob has a sense of leaving much work "in progress". Perhaps youth and writers will study and continue his work. But Bob is still working, and may produce another book. So far, Bob has given much to people and the whole world through Servas during his long life of nonviolence-through laughter, encouragement, interpretation and sometimes painful critique. Now is the best time to send Bob an email, letter or Birthday Card with lots of positive thoughts and energies, thanking him, appreciating him for a job well done -- and for his continuing encouragement. If you have enjoyed Servas but have never spoken to him, now is the time to tell him your story and in what way Servas has touched you. If you are already a friend, he welcomes your telephone call and your letters, pictures, postcards and wishes. His telephone number is (1)360 714 1043 (in Washington State, GMT-7). His email address is BOBL@STEADI.ORG but he is not regularly accessing his computer. While I was talking to him his mail with cards and birthday balloons arrived, which delighted him. We had to stop our discussion of books and writers so that he could enjoy what the mail brought. Write to Bob Luitweiler at: Alderwood Nursing Home 2726 Alderwood Ave Bellingham, Washington, 98225, USA Gary Sealey

Sad News about Sharon Beldon

Thurs, 01 November 2007 I must tell you very sad news, Sharon Beldon died last Wednesday. Last summer she heard she had cancer and shortly after it was clear that she would not recover. She was very brave in her reaction to this. Next Monday she will be cremated in Amsterdam. Hans Bruckman, Servas Netherlands
I first met Sharon at the European meeting at Carrotty Wood in Britain in 2000. She had been editing SI News for a year, having taken over in the 50th anniversary year, 1999. We chatted about the editing as I had been potentially interested back in 1992. We next met when I visited her in Amsterdam in 2004 to collect the boxes as I had agreed to take over the editing from her. Sharon started life in the USA and came over to Europe in 1966. She ended up settling in Amsterdam and taking on Dutch citizenship. She was interested in solidarity and worked on a local solidarity committee. She loved travelling with a view to understanding different people and cultures. In 1988 she discovered Servas. She commented that the encounters between hosts and travellers may not solve the world problems but they do give us inspiration to do something. In 1991 she edited the Dutch Servas newsletter. In 1999 she took over SI News and continued its development. After 2 terms of office she moved on in 2004. However she did not then sit back but was ready with advice and information when needed. Sharon was an active member of Servas. In memoriam we must thank her for all she did to help Servas.

The bit of Servas Youth in Rome

Im Fabrizio Sforna, Im a social worker. I work in a Casa-Famiglia, - a care-home, in Rome for 8 years. This care-home belongs to a national Association that cares for all the social aspects. It was founded 20 years ago by a priest: Father Vincenzo Sorce. The care-home I care for is involved in social problems of modern age people. We host boys from 12 to 18. They are separated from their family because they dont have a happy family background. In particular we deal with children coming from families that live in the suburbs, in council houses, with all the problems connected with a big city work and we deal with relationships with family members and other people. One of the main problems we are working for is how to encourage them to interrelate with other people. Because, as my favourite sociologist Zygmunt Bauman says in his book Liquid love, today relationship are disintegrating, falling apart. We try to integrate these children in our home like in family. This was way I took one of the boys on the Servas Youth Meeting: to learn how to share pleasures and tasks and to see examples of interaction at this level.

Peace
Dialogues for Peace Action in San Francisco, USA
This is a follow-up to our introductory evening at IChecking the news each day I am depressed by the House on September 4, which opened doors for wars, fighting, murders and generally bad news that are collaboration between Servas and International House. reported. I look for something good. This event is one of many activities planned for the I was very impressed by the article in the link below. week of November 11-16, which is the International Around the world there are many small groups of people Education Week which I-House celebrates every year. trying to solve problems by ways other than fighting. It "BUILDING PEACE THROUGH follows the comment a few years ago by a 6 year old UNDERSTANDING, boy in my class, when we were doing a project on ONE FRIENDSHIP AT A TIME" Nepal. The children were horrified by the fighting in This is the mission of International House at UC Nepal and wrote a peace poem to go on a Nepali site on Berkeley so similar to Servas aims that we want to the internet. The boy said 'Why do they have to fight, see how we can work together. why don't they talk about the problems?' Schedule for the evening: The article gives an example of just this happening 6:30 p.m. Dinner sharing tables with students. Brief presentation by David Gilliam about the between Palestinian and Israeli families and how it all 8:00 I-House Host Family program started by a prisoner talking with his guard. Now for Discussion of host family program; Servas sharing the sake of their children who have been killed they End by 9:00 PM want to bring peace through dialogue. Agenda: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_ 1. Servas members can learn about the host family correspondent/7064104.stm program, through which they can invite UC students to their homes for meals or other activities. The holiday Middle East families united by grief In the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, season is coming up very soon! many people on both sides seem unable to 2. University students can get to know some Servas acknowledge the legitimacy of an opposing point of members and find out how they might become Servas view - but there are exceptions. Jeremy Grange met travelers, either locally or internationally, and also get information about being day hosts. two of them in the West Bank village of Aram. .........prisoner and guard began to talk to each other Students are a promising group of potential Servas travelers and we want to encourage them to look into about themselves, their communities and their beliefs. this possibility. Servas had a table at the UC "Study After seven months of these conversations, the guard Abroad" fair at the end of September and Servas understood - even acknowledged - the claim for a volunteers gave out literature and explained the separate Palestinian state, and Bassam renounced violence, convinced that dialogue would be a more program. The experience of living abroad can be lonely; it may be much more fun if a student has a productive path. chance to make friends with some local people. The Eventually they were able to look at each other not as enthusiasm and openness of many younger travelers, prisoner and guard, Palestinian and Israeli, but as their facility with technology and their flexibility are friends. among the qualities that can revitalize Servas and help ............................ us make a stronger organization

From the International Peace Secretary

Hi Servas colleagues, This is again to remind you of the Peace network we intend building up. You may already be involved with many Peace organizations and Peace promoting activities which others may not know. Servas is still not directly involved in Peace activities other than Peace task forces in Italy and Turkey and UN observations . We may not be fully aware and I strongly believe In developing a Peace network of Servas where we could not only harness violence but also find ways of avenues to harness other causes that prevent bridging community Peace and harmony. Also you suggestions on how we could promote this is very well entertained . You may have very good and bright ideas on how to develop a strong Peace Network. As we could share with each other of how we could build a strong Peace Network I am waiting for your response please. Thanks , In Peace, Nandee, N.Amaradinghe, Peace Secretary- Servas International

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Youth - Mary from Malawi

International Servas Youth and Family event meeting, Dalesbridge, Yorkshire, Britain 27 July - 4 Aug 07
THANKS to the entire Servas Great Britain committee for the wonderful support towards the International Servas Youth Meeting and Family event. Your contributions have made me able to experience life at an international level, and I appreciate this lot. May you all be blessed richly for the helping hand you gave me. It has been such a wonderful time to experience fun at an international meeting with people from different cultural backgrounds in Great Britain. Servas members were able to participate fully and contribute positively through presentations and group discussions. Some found it very difficult to express their ideas because of languages communication, but still participants shared ideas. As a Malawian female ambassador I really enjoyed a lot being able to share African cultural backgrounds experiences among the Servas members through smiling, dancing, beating drums, composing Malawian songs to teach people, and chatting. This challenge has given me an aspiration to have vision and contribute positively to Servas Malawi as a whole. My presentation to the event aimed to enlighten Servas members to see how the other side of the continent was affected with health issues. To me, it was a pleasure to have time to share with Servas participants how Africans face the challenge especially in Malawi, and realise the meaning of the world when we can share PEACE. The health problems which have taken my family away, indeed made me realise the right way to make improvements. I also keep thinking of others who are troubled with such type of issues and I visit them in their houses in rural areas with a private organisation which is really keen to support the under privileged people who cant access food, medication, clothes, or even shelters because of their bodies being so weak. My family tragedy has empowered me with lots of aspirations through encouragement, hope and dedication. This is the reason now my friends in the world are proud of me. To be open always, you can create friendships with people from different races, ages, and from different backgrounds. Meeting new people you learn from others experiences. For example I can offer to share my experience of completion of an HIV Aids course at a Malawian University College in Blantyre, for which I received a certificate. Having had the privilege of attending this event, I am hoping to do a lot with my international experiences within Malawi and across neighbouring countries. This will be to support the idea of SERVAS helping people to interact with each other from different cultural backgrounds. I have really enjoyed coming to meet people from all over the world personally, and also appreciate the consideration given to the great challenge of enabling all the participants to meet people from Africa. Mary Jane Boloweza - Blantyre, Malawi (Africa)!

And here is a newspaper article from Malawi about Mary and what she is doing. Taken from the Weekend Nation News, 25 August 2007

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