Dear friends of IIPT,
As spring arrives, bringing with it the enduring promise of renewal and rebirth, we’re reminded that our world is also facing unprecedented challenges. Amidst global turmoil, it’s more crucial than ever that we, as peace seekers, share our vision for a more harmonious world. This is your invitation to join the conversation and share in this newsletter the inspiring work your chapter or community is doing to promote peace through tourism.
We’re excited to announce a special event in Turkey this April, inaugurating a new peace park – a celebration that’s always a highlight for our IIPT community. Below, Gail Parsonage, President of our Australian Chapter, shares her report on their peace-promoting initiatives.
Your Editor, Bea Broda
Photo: The proposed site
A New Peace Park
2IIPT in collaboration with Birol Arslan Mayor of Kepez, Canakkale Turkiye, will be establishing an IIPT Olive Peace Park at the memorial site of the Mesudiye Battleship Monument, Canakkale, part of our Global IIPT Peace Park Initiative. The event will take place on the 23rd April 2025 which is the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey and is dedicated to all the world’s children – keepers and creators of the future.
The origin of the National Day goes back to April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence in Turkey. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empie, the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara to chart the future of a new Turkish Republic. The day was proclaimed a national Holiday in 1921 – marking the first National holiday of the new Turkey.
So how, did a public holiday become associated with Children’s Day? The world owes it to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He was an immortal war hero of WW1 and an extraordinary leader and peacemaker and the founder and first President of the Turkish Republic. In 1927, he dedicated April 23 to Turkey’s children to recognize that they are the future.
Most people wishing to attend the Peace Park ceremony have already made their plans and bookings, but here is the planned schedule of events:
April 20 – Make your own way to the hotel in Istanbul
April 20-22 – Istanbul accommodation 10 Karakoy Hotel or similar
April 21 – IIPT Istanbul Conference & 2025 Goals & Objectives
April 21 – Sunset Bosporus cruise
April 22 – Transfer from Istanbul to Canakkale (approximately 4 hours)
April 22-25 – Double Tree by Hilton Canakkale or Kolin Hotel Canakkale
April 23 – Full day IIPT Olive Peace Park dedication followed by tea-coffee & soft drinks informal meeting with the locals. Dinner at the Iris hotel Canakkale
April 24 – Visit of the local region (details to be advise)
April 25 – Participation at the annual Gallipoli Anzac Commemorations
(5.00 am in the morning)
April 25-26 – Hampton Inn Arnavutkoy (near Istanbul international airport)
The next newsletter will feature stories and pictures of this historic event.
Click here to read further: PDF file
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