Holland American Line donates $100,000 to Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation
In honor of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s work to spread peace, justice and democracy around the globe, Holland America Line has made a $100,000 donation to the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation (DTPF). The donation follows Tutu’s appearance as a special guest lecturer on a segment of ms Amsterdam’s Grand World Voyage. The DTPF celebrates young people 17-22 who are changing the world as the next generation of peace makers in the U.S. The goal of the foundation is to teach one million young people the power of peace within, peace between, and peace among all people. other and that what affects one of us affects us all. “We are truly honored that one of the world's foremost human rights activists and spiritual leaders recently spent time onboard with our Grand World Voyage guests…
Russia Fails to Lift Arctic 30 Piracy Charges
Prosecuting authorities in Russia were under fire today after it was revealed that they have failed to lift charges of piracy against the Arctic 30, despite pledging to do so. Russia’s powerful Investigative Committee announced last week that the piracy charges – which carry a 15-year jail sentence – would be replaced with charges of hooliganism. But when the thirty detainees were brought before the Committee over the course of this week, the piracy charge was not withdrawn. Instead each of them was simply served with the additional charge of hooliganism. They now stand accused of both offences, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 and 7 years, respectively.
Nobel Prize Winners Join Forces to Plead Greenpeace Arctic Case
Eleven Nobel Peace Prize laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu have written a joint letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin offering their support to twenty eight Greenpeace International activists, a freelance photographer and a freelance filmmaker who are being detained in a Russian prison whilst they are investigated for allegations of piracy. Describing the Arctic as a “precious treasure of humanity,” the signatories are all supporting efforts to protect the High North from oil exploration and climate change. They write, “Arctic oil drilling is a dangerous, high-risk enterprise.
Maintaining the Ship of Mercy
International faith-based organization Mercy Ships has used ships as traveling hospitals since 1978, providing health services to millions of people from the world’s poorest countries. Gathering praise from figures such as Nelson Mandella, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Tony Blair, the organization and its work have had a vast impact globally with more than 2.42 million direct beneficiaries to date and an estimated cumulative work bill near $1 billion. Funded primarily through private donations, Mercy Ships is now operating its fourth vessel, Africa Mercy.
Archbishop Tutu to Lecture Aboard MS Amsterdam
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town and one of the greatest living moral icons of our time, is scheduled to lecture on a segment of Holland America Line's 2014 Grand World Voyage on ms Amsterdam. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate will sail March 28 to April 2, 2014, from Durban to Cape Town, South Africa. Tutu will address guests at two speaking engagements onboard about his role as the first black African to serve as archbishop of Cape Town and about his work forging racial equality throughout the world.
