One Blue Sky Above Us All

Tonight was a speaking event at the Unitarian church in Long Island. We listened as Jacob shared pictures from his latest tour in Afghanistan as a peace activist. Once a combat engineer (explosives expert) in the war, Jacob returned to Afghanistan to meet with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, a group of young Afghans committed to non-violence. He returned just a few weeks ago.

His presentation included pictures of the people he got to know, including a young AYPV organizer with whom Jacob shares a common past of hills and farming. In the picture featured for this post you can see the blue wrist bands everyone is proudly showing. This material was bought in Kabul and is the same material and color with which the AYPVs make their scarves of solidarity. Tonight we all wore these around our wrists to show our solidarity with Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. We will be sending this picture along to them. Their scarves are a show of solidarity with the people of the world. The rare blue color is their message they send and is a representation of one blue sky above us all. You can learn more about the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers at www.livewithoutwars.org

Special thanks to Susan and Chuck for their hospitality and commitment. The same to Claire, Jackie, Mack, Bill and all the attendees for their contribution and commitment.