Playing For Change | Peace Through Music

One Love

“Let’s get together and feel alright”. While recording and filming in Dharmsala India, where we planned to add some Tibetan singers to this track we passed by a small record shop on the side of the road. The display featured about 50 Tibetan CD covers and one Bob Marley album in the middle. This song around the world is in dedication to the love inside each of us. We can achieve far more together as a human race than we ever can apart. One Love." by Playing for Change.

Playing For Change | Peace Through Music - Click the title to go to the Playing for Change website or the link below to listen to - ONE LOVE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xjPODksI08

There is No Happy Ending With War: Violence Never Leads to Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIxBRA5qjA&feature=rec-rev-rn-1f-4-HM

The Nani Laie Serenaders Featured Performers For Artimos Concert

Current group members: Aunty Noa Au, Aunty Cecilia Fong, Aunty Thelma Kamae, Uncle Thomas Kamae, Aunty Donnette, Kekauoha, Uncle Philip Kekauoha, Randolph Kehauoha, Aunty Tino Kuaho, Uncle Mickey Kuhia, Aunty Barbara Nauahi, Aunty Percy TeHira and Aunty Ipolani Thompson.

Aunty Martha Washington-Kalama dedicated her life to serving others through her music.  She formed the original group, The Nani Laie Serenaders, who began performing in the community of Laie, on the north shore of Oahu, in 1994.  The group's performances spread out to Kahuku, Hauula and the surrounding communities of Laie.  

Their primary focus is to perform for service - for the love of their community and their love of the people - at weddings, parties, funerals, firesides and benefits. These kupuna really love music and it shows by the smiles they wear on their faces as they sing and play along with their instruments.  Their music is so contagious that you find yourself singing, smiling and dancing right along with them.  The Nani Laie Serenaders are truly a gift from God and gift to their audiences.  

These old timers reminded me of what really matters in life - to love one another and to serve - not out of obligation but out of a pureness of heart and out of the desire to help those around us. My heart and my appreciation go out to these beautiful and magical Polynesian Kupuna. 

Laie Elementary Children ~ Learn About Conflict Resolution and Building Community

Third-grade children, working the land, side-by-side at the Edible Garden, are not only building         community but they are learning that there is "something deeper and more important than their behavior." One little rambunctious boy, during a conflict-resolution lesson tells me and the class, "you can pretend to be nice but if your heart is angry your behavior won't matter." In amazement, I burst out you're right - you got it- there is a difference between behavior and an individual's "way of being." He seems pleased and so do the rest of the kids.

These children are learning to see people with "a loving heart that says I care about you."  A heart that helps them to think twice about being unkind to a classmate or a playmate. One little girl catches the vision: "Miss Ema, I like the conflict lessons because now when I get mad I ask myself if I have a caring heart or a heart that says I don't care about you.  I used to whack the other kids on the head - when I got mad at them she says - but now I don't want to hit them anymore - I don't want to have an uncaring heart."  I look at her and smile- we embrace with a great big hug and a high five. As I walk away I am reminded that we are never too young or too old to change our hearts.

Peace it Together

http://www.creativepeacenetwork.ca/

My Enemy (11:32) [Docu-Drama 2008]

Made by: Alex Rivers, Mohammed Abu Maria, Tom Leifer

Mohammad and Tom, two teenagers from Palestine and Israel, discuss the difficult issues that come between them. The more they talk, the more their friendship grows.

Playing for Change

PLAYING FOR CHANGE INTERNATIONAL is a musical exploration that glides across four continents, revealing a relentless insight of humanity that strives for global unification. It is a story of hope, struggle, perseverance, joy, and celebration. It is a story of human ambition to overcome prejudices, separation, natural hardships, and evil existing in our world today. Its passion, its path, and at times, its weapon, is music.

http://www.playingforchange.com/

In a time where conflict seems never ending I am moved by people who devote their lives to making the world a better place to live. Change does not happen overnight it is an uphill process that takes commitment, work, and perseverance -especially when everything around you feels heavy and overwhelming.

Nelson Mandela says, "After climbing a great hill, one finds there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk has not yet ended." Mandela illuminates the importance of a brief respite, a time to ponder the beauty that surrounds us and to take notice of the path we have just traveled, and then he reminds us to forge forward continuing on our pathway. A pathway that, for me, means alleviating the pain for children who are surrounded by war and poverty and the dehumanization of marginalized groups.

When the desire to change the world around you, comes knocking at your door, the responsibility may feel overwhelming, burdensome, and lonely. Yet, knowing that some one else's burden might be lessened makes the load feel a little lighter. Perhaps, I am writing these thoughts as a reminder to myself not to give up on the path that I am on and to ask all of you to Stand by Me and help make the world a better place.

Please take a moment to enjoy the music of these amazing musicians ............. The song they perform happens to be favorite.

Tell Them We Are Just Looking For Our RIghts

Issam Abu Amaryih, wearing his newly gifted green Hawaiian lei, is a friendly man with a contagious smile and an inviting personality.  He lives in Beit Sefafa, a weathered old Palestinian village, in the southeastern part of Jerusalem.  Abu Amaryih is a family man who earns his living as a bus driver.

On a recent trip to the Holy Land, I had the privilege of meeting him.  He drove our bus on a guided tour from Jerusalem to Nazareth and then to Tel Aviv and back.  I mostly sat up front, next to him, because of my ongoing carsickness, which gave us the opportunity to talk about our personal feelings on various aspects of life with each other.

 “I have a wife and a new baby.  According to Muslim law a man can have up to four wives; though my wife would kill me if I chose to marry another,” he jokes.  He takes out his cell phone and shows me pictures of his sweet little infant as he flashes a proud fatherly smile.  I smile with him as we sit quietly enjoying the moment.

Abu Amaryih breaks the silence by asking me if all Americans believe what they see in the news: “do they all believe we are suicide bombers and terrorists?”  I can barely stand to look him in the eyes when I answer.  Yes, sadly many Americans do believe what they see and hear in the media; that your people are terrorists.  Almost instantly I am filled with self-contempt and shame at the realization of my ignorance.

As I gain my bearings I ask him if he has a message that I could take home with me.  A message to share with the people I come in contact with.  He says, “Tell them we are just looking for our rights.  We only want what the American and Canadian people want— to have freedom in our own country.  But we have check points from city to city.”  As I sit there taking notes I fight back the tears that are welling up in my eyes.  It seems that I have more rights than he does in his own country.  How could this be?  I uttered to myself.

I softly ask him if he would like to say anything else?  “ I don’t want to be afraid of the Israeli army— I just want to go peacefully,” he answers.  As I put my pencil down I tell him that I will share his message with everyone who will listen and even with those who do not want to.  In that moment, I'm reminded of  a quote by Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter—.”  As I smile at my new friend I promise myself that I will never again remain silent regarding the Palestinian people, a people I have grown to care deeply for, living under occupation.  

The Olive Branch ~ A Symbol of Peace

In the small village of Beit Sefafa, in a country torn with conflict and division between the Arabs and Israelis..... you will find a lovely Palestinian family that invites people of varying nations, cultures and religious backgrounds to pick olives, side by side, for a day.

Beit Sefafa, an Arab village, is in the south eastern part of Jerusalem on the outskirts of Bethlehem. In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the neighborhood was divided - with half in no man's land and the other half in the Jordanian-occupied West Bank. In 1967, after the Six-Day War, the two parts of Beit Safafa were reunited.

What you might not typically find united, in this village, are Arabs, Israelis, and Americans working side by side as a symbol of peace. Yet, that is exactly what happened, this last November, when nine of us BYU-Hawaii students and our Professor participated in a service project with PeacePlayers International, to pick olives, at the Elayan home.

After a day of picking olives I found that it was us the students who had been served in a gesture of peace. While, we did pick olives this family opened their hearts and their home to all of us. They not only graciously prepared amazingly-delectable food, but they sat together around the table sharing their private lives with us.

On this day, the olive branch, a symbol of peace, was never more vivid and alive in our hearts and in our minds.

"Blessed Are The Peacemakers:for They Shall Be Called The Children of God"

By Ema M Billings

~ President David O. McKay, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, when dedicating BYU-Hawaii said, “from this school will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good toward the establishment of Peace internationally." This prophetic counsel has inspired countless students to spread the message of Peace throughout the world. ~

~ This last week the students and faculty attended a PeacePlayers-International forum sponsored by Dr. Chad Ford. As we listened to the speakers, a sweet thought entered my mind: President David O. McKay smiling upon us, from heaven, as two remarkable exemplifiers of Peace opened their hearts and souls with the students of this institution. They are Karen, an Israeli Jew, and Samer, a Palestinian Muslim who work side-by-side, often putting themselves in dangerous situations, to bring Palestinian and Israeli youth together– through the game of basketball. ~

"Blessed Are The Peacemakers (Karen & Samer):
For They Shall Be Called The Children of God

~ Karen and Samer have worked together for the last few years, at the NGO, PeacePlayers International so that children on both sides of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict learn to Peacefully Coexist: “Helping children to create bonds of friendship, through basketball, changes the way they See and Feel about each other,” says Karen and Samer. By playing basketball the kids begin to lose their fears and stereotypes of the “Other.” Once this happens they no longer See each other as enemies rather they See teammates and friends who think and feel, who have families, and who desire to live in Peace as much as they do. ~

Seeing All People, of All Nations, of All Religions, of All Races, and of All Cultures,
As Our Brothers and Sisters.

~ Fifty or more students sat somberly listening while Karen and Samer shared their life stories, heart wrenching stories of pain and suffering, of the displacement of nations, and the loss of life, on both sides— Thoughts, aching thoughts, ran through my mind... These people, who are suffering, in lands far away, are all my brothers and my sisters. If we are to help fulfill the mission of this school; we must join hands with Karen and Samer, who risk their lives, to help innocent children live in harmony. We must help them share their message of Peace ~ http://www.peaceplayersintl.org/

~ Join us to spread Peace throughout the world ~

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This article is dedicated to our Professor, Dr. Chad Ford, for his unwavering and selfless contribution toward the establishment of Peace worldwide; for teaching his students, by his living example, that faith, hope, and charity make Peace Possible. ~ Also, for inviting Karen and Samer, our new friends from the Middle East, to bring their message of Peace and hope to the students of BYU-H. Their willingness to share not only the tragic histories of their homeland, Israel/ Palestine, but also the current state of affairs, in an honest and open way, has deeply touched our hearts.

~ I speak for All of Us, when I say, we will never be the same. ~