Less than two weeks before the 2008 Summer Olympics begin in Beijing, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN General Assembly are calling on all those who are at war to observe the traditional two-week Olympic Truce.

(Forimmediaterelease.net) International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) Founder and President Louis D’Amore and eTurboNews publisher Juergen Thomas Steinmetz have called for the World Travel and Tourism Industry to join in solidarity with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United Nations in a call for a cessation of conflict and all acts of violence in an observance of the Olympic Truce.

Less than two weeks before the 2008 Summer Olympics begin in Beijing, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN General Assembly are calling on all those who are at war to observe the traditional two-week Olympic Truce.

“Let them lay down their weapons, if only temporarily, so that humanity can lay claim to gold even before the Games begin,” he said in a message ahead of the Games. “Such a truce, while limited in duration, can provide a pause in which to reconsider the heavy cost of war, as well as an opening to initiate a dialogue and a window to provide relief for suffering populations. It can demonstrate to the world that peace is possible in even the most seemingly intractable situations if we truly work towards it,” he added.

The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) supports both the IOC and the United Nations call for a truce – and in turn calls on all sectors of the travel and tourism industry – public and private sectors - NGO’s and civil society – to join in calling for an observance of the Olympic truce.

IIPT Founder and President Louis D’Amore stated, “The time has come for the travel and tourism industry to stand and be heard as an industry that promotes peace and understanding among all peoples of the world. The challenges faced by humankind as a whole, including global warming, the elimination of poverty and disease, and the added resources required by a population soon to number 9 billion persons – together with the increased stresses an additional 3 billion persons will have on the earth’s life support systems - can only be met by a world at peace and working towards a common agenda for the benefit of all humankind.”

eTurboNews, an ardent media supporter of IIPT’s endeavors, has commended the IIPT’s move. “Without peace, tourism cannot exist, and we, at eTurboNews, are very proud to be associated with such a reputable organization such as the IIPT,” said eTurboNews publisher Thomas Steinmetz.. “We have the highest regard for what Louis D’Amore has started and will pledge our support for events that IIPT undertakes.”

If you are in support of the Olympic truce, e-mail: peace@tourismpartners.org

The ancient Greek tradition of ‘ekecheiria,’ or ‘Olympic Truce,’ was renewed by the International Olympic Committee in 1992, calling on all nations to observe the Truce.

In a resolution adopted last October, the 192-member UN General Assembly urged countries to observe the Truce during the forthcoming XXIX Olympiad and the Paralympic Games to be held in Beijing, from 8 to 24 August and from 6 to 17 September, respectively, based on the slogan “One World, One Dream.”

The resolution urged all member states to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee “in its efforts to use sport as an instrument to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period, and help build “a peaceful and better world through sport.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that the ideals of the Olympic movement underpinned those of the United Nations Charter and that the truce, though temporary, had “unlimited potential. It can demonstrate to the world that peace is possible in even the most seemingly intractable situations if we truly work towards it,”

About International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT)
IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage and poverty reduction, and through these initiatives, help bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world. IIPT’s mission is to mobilize travel and tourism, the world’s largest industry, as the world’s first “Global Peace Industry,” an industry that promotes and supports the belief that “Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.”For more information on IIPT please visit website: www.iipt.org

About eTurboNews
eTurboNews is the leading travel trade news publication that publishes Mondays through Fridays, except majors United States holidays. While majority of eTurboNews’ 215,000 global subscribers are travel trade professionals, the news publication covers issues that extend far beyond the scope of travel and tourism. For global travel trade news with a touch of aloha, go to www.eturbonews.com.