I wish to express my full support for your initiative aiming at sending an unmistakable message of peace from the top of our planet. The Everest Peace Project's group of peace mountaineers from various origins and faiths will be a perfect example for the way common solutions must be found to achieve our common goals. This requires a prerequisite attitude of tolerance, goodwill and readiness for dialogue.

By enlisting the powerful and universal language of sport, your project has the potential to overcome artificial barriers and build a strong bridge for humanity. What better example for the deeply inter-dependent human community than a rope of mountaineers from various faiths and origins able to rely on each other and to reach the top of the world.

I am convinced that sport is a positive life changing force that can help create a better world. I hope that your endeavour will set a great example that will illuminate the International Year for Sport and Physical Education in 2005.

I wish your courageous expedition a resounding success that shall reach all countries and peoples, especially those still victims today of the brutality and violence of conflict and lawlessness."

Yours sincerely,

Adolf Ogi

Click on the image to view the actual letter

 

 

Special Adviser to the Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sport for Development and Peace Under-Secretary-General

( Mr. Adolf Ogi, former President of Switzerland, was appointed in February 2001 to the task of assisting the Secretary-General in his efforts to reach out to the world in order to promote understanding and support for the work and ideals of the United Nations. )

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The Peres Center for Peace: Promoting Peace in the Middle East.

Endorsement Quote:
"To the Everest Peace Climb delegates,

All of us at the Peres Center for Peace would like to wish the delegates traveling on the joint expedition to Mount Everest, the very best of luck on this quest to promote friendship and peace.

This project provides opportunity for real cooperation and teamwork between Palestinians and Israelis...Not only will the delegates be taking part in this important quest with the accompanying opportunity to become involved in conflict resolution and nation building, but more importantly, they will be participating in an adventure which forces them to rely completely on one another, regardless of national identity or religion.

This project provides more than symbolism - it provides a real chance to bring people from different nations together, to cooperate and survive, under intense conditions.

May the delegation meet only kind conditions, and success on their peace building adventure.

With the best of luck and kind regards. "

Alon Beer
Sports Project Manager
The Peres Center for Peace
www.peres-center.org/

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Dennis J. Kucinich: Congressman

 

Endorsement Quote:
"The Everest Peace Project is an example of men and women from various countries and religions doing what the leaders of the world's countries should be doing, joining together and pausing to consider peacefully and without hurry what they have in common -- and assisting each other in a joint project of great challenge in which they come face-to-face with their dependence on each other. If this group of men and women from different backgrounds can join together and climb Mount Everest, it is just possible that the nations of the world can come together and address the problems of war, hunger, and environmental destruction. It is with the same sort of vision that drives this project that I have proposed the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Peace with the goal of promoting nonviolence in this country and in our international relations. If we keep in mind efforts like the Everest Peace Project, we can be inspired to do the work needed to make peace a reality. This task appears about as intimidating as climbing Mount Everest, but it is equally achievable."

www.kucinich.us

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Mayor of San Francisco: Gavin Newsom

 

 

Endorsement Quote:
"Dear Friends:

On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco , I would like to express my full and complete support for the Everest Peace Project and wish it a resounding success. Such an immense undertaking such as this expedition is the perfect way to show the world that man is capable of so many great achievements and that through our triumphs we should be united and through our struggles we should be resolved. The road to peace can be as daunting as the trek to the summit, but we should never give up and continue the climb to reach our goals.

By showing the world that individuals of different nationalities and religious beliefs can come together for a common goal, our global community can be inspired to look past those differences and see humanity's true face. As mayor of such a diverse city like San Francisco , I see first hand the unique perspective different cultures bring and the great community they create when working together.

With the utmost respect, I would like to commend the courageous men and women of this expedition and wish you a most successful climb. May your message of peace resound from the top of the world and bring hope and humanity in this time of world conflict and unrest."

Sincerely,

Gavin Newsom

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Endorsement Quote:
“From this elevated place - the very top of the world, these multi-faith peace climbers will be spreading an unmistakable message of peace for the world to witness. As a lifelong peace advocate, half of whose career has been devoted to interfaith understanding, I can honestly say that this is one of the best conceived and most promising projects that I have ever gotten wind of”.

Huston Smith
World Renowned Scholar and best selling Author of The World’s Religions.

 

Teacher and Student together!
EPP founder Lance Trumbull with his former teacher
Huston Smith at his home in Berkeley.

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OneVoice: Promoting Peace in The Middle East.

Endorsement Quote:
"OneVoice is proud to endorse The Everest Peace Project in its invigorating mission. The principle of focusing on the commonalities of individuals with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, seeking to bring them together to work for a common objective is an empowering opportunity for all.

Such exemplary and innovative endeavors inspire people to look at their neighbors and try to change past perspectives of dissonance, in order to seek new ones of respect and understanding. In the end, the challenge is to learn and understand how much we do share with others and that despite appearances, we are more alike than we realize. Once we are able to accept these fundamental ideas of tolerance, we can reach that much higher to achieve greater objectives. We look forward to hearing of your success."

Carla Hammond
Program Director
PeaceWorks Foundation
www.silentnolonger.org

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URI:
URI actively promotes interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

Endorsement Quote:
"I heartily endorse The Everest Peace Project as a magnificent effort to help us rise above the walls that divide us and, from an elevated place, recognize our common humanity. The urgency of the moment is matched only by the untapped creative potential to shape a new world. This project will be both a symbolic and practical expression of that new world. Blessings on your effort."

The Reverend Canon Charles P. Gibbs
Executive Director
United Religions Initiative
www.uri.org

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Jamling Tenzing Norgay:
Everest Summiteer, Author of best selling book “Touching My Father’s Soul”, and son of Everest Pioneer Tenzing Norgay.

Endorsement Quote:

"I would like to wish Lance the very best in his endeavor to put the Everest Peace climb together. It is a great way to celebrate my father's and Hillary’s climb. I do wish him and his team all the best and attaining their goals of peace and religious tolerance...I think what you are doing is great - to promote peace in the world - and that is exactly what we need; and there is no better way to do it then to do it on The mountain - Chomolungma, the Mother Goddess of the world."

Jamling Tenzing Norgay

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Tashi Tenzing:
Everest Summiteer, Author, and grandson of Everest Pioneer Tenzing Norgay.

 

Endorsement Quote: "I think (The Everest Peace Project) is a great idea, because Everest we call Chomolungma-the Mother Goddess of long life. In our Buddhist philosophy, in our life style, we believe in compassion and tolerance. It will be a good message to the world."

Tashi Tenzing

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David Breashears :
Everest Summiteer, Film Maker, and Author

Endorsement Quote:
"...if you can bring people together and to work cooperatively and learn how to co-exist in a non-violent manner - then that's wonderful...and I think mountains can bring out that need to work cooperatively. Your effort is notable and laudable, and I really hope you are successful. Good luck Lance and have a safe and successful climb."

David Breashears

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The Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche (the Third):
is an important lama of both the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma lineages. He was born in 1966 in Kathmandu, Nepal, to the family of the mahasiddha Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, who holds the Tsangsar Family Lineage.

 

Endorsement Quote:
"We welcome calls for worldwide tolerance and aspirations for peace. Endeavors suffused with spiritual intentions that generate compassionate activity will always gain our appreciation."

The Venerable Tsoknyi Rinpoche
www.pundarika.org