Dr. Maury Albertson, one of the developers of the original Peace Corps, honored during "our for Peace"
Peaceful individuals can make a difference
Jan 23, 2004
The Coloradoan
Peaceful individuals can make a difference Topic: Involvement By Cheryl Beckett While most of Fort Collins slept, at 4:45 a.m., Dec. 31, about 350 to 400 people were gathered at the Lincoln Center to begin their last day of 2003, united with thousands of others around the globe creating intentions for peace through art, music, drama and silence. The 18th annual Hour for Peace is just one way the Fort Collins community creates positive possibilities. This year, two community members were honored with Lifetime Achievement for Peace Award. Dr. Maury Albertson, professor emeritus at Colorado State University, was one of the developers of the original Peace Corps. How many people in Fort Collins are aware that the Peace Corps started in this community fter Sargent Shriver called Albertson early one morning to ask for his help in setting up that wonderful organization.
Albertson has remained active for more than 60 years in creating a more sustainable, peaceful world. He, along with his wife, Audrey F ulkner, have created the model for all communities to be self-sustaining as a Village Earth ( We are truly fortunate to have these people in our community. The award was also given to Joe Stern. Stern, a former trial lawyer for New York City, moved here in the 1970s. Through much discernment, Stern came to the conclusion that war was never justified. He began in his own way to be a person of peace, and educated others to question the status quo of violence and to look historically and currently to ways of peace.
His own personal campaign finds Stern, along with his wife, Holly, distributing factoid sheets in very quiet and respectful ways at most public gatherings in Fort Collins. If you see Stern on the street, you might congratulate him for showing ow one person can make a difference for peace. As the forest is green because the individual trees are green, so will we have a peaceful world when we have peaceful individuals. We have many such people in our community. I often hear people moaning that the problem of creating peace is so large, and asking what they can do. Our community has ample resources to allow people to participate quietly or actively as they see fit.
From the quiet side, becoming a peaceful individual has profound influence. Med tation and prayer are quieting to the nervous system, and that allows us to not be so overshadowed by stress. A seven-year study in 12 prisons in Senegal had all inmates and personnel meditating twice a day with the results that four prisons were closed because recidivism was at only 5 percent to 12 percent compared to around 85 percent in nonmeditating populations. Check out a technique that appeals to your sensitivity. Compassionate-listening projects and restorative justice are new ways we can relat to people that honors our humanity.
We are moving into dialogue rather than debate as a way to learn how most issues are multifaceted. We would do well to demand those running for election to operate this way and that the media not stir negativity with black-and-white approaches to today's problems. For teens, there is Peace Jam Fort Collins ( which is part of an international organization that studies a Nobel Peace Laureate and creates projects to help our community be a better place. Additionally, t ere is The Center for Peace, Justice and Environment; A Place for Peace; Interfaith Alliance; The Committee for the Hour For Peace; A Season of NonViolence, which is scheduled to bring Arun Gandhi to Greeley on Jan.
30; and multiple other organizations
