در حال حاضر دوباره به شهر ساوانا در ایالت جورجیا رسیدیم، سفر طولانی و سختی را در اتوبوس تجربه کردیم (در حدود 14 ساعت) و هم اکنون در کنار دوچرخه هایمان هستیم. در این مدت موفق به کاشت 3 درخت صلح و اجرای چندین برنامه فرهنگی و اسلاید شو در چندین دانشگاه، با همکاری دوستان شدیم، که خلاصه گزارش را تقدیم می کنیم. تقریبا در این مدت بزرگترین و موثرترین برنامه های فرهنگی در طول مسیر انجام شد، که جا دارد از کلیه دوستان ایرانی و آمریکایی کمال تشکر را داشته باشیم.

Sunday, February 17, 2008
We were invited to attend the Catholic Workers of Norfolk, Virginia (http://www.catholicworker.org/) Those that are not familiar with this fine organization can refer to their website and learn about it’s mission. As it is stated in this website:“The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human person.
Today over 185 Catholic Worker communities remain committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and forsaken. Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms.”
At this house we met some of the members who were very kind, loving and sincere people. We met the kind of people that spend their time and money helping their fellow men. There are times that one may be disappointed of good people vanishing, however seeing such people is not only refreshing and relaxing but also gives you energy and hope to continue on the right path. They assure you that we are not alone.
At this house we met several individuals that have traveled overseas, including Iran, not as a tourist but to learn about real life of the citizens and cultures of this ancient civilization. Upon their return they will convey their knowledge to others by way of conferences, seminars and interviews. Mr. Tom Palumbu was one of those that had traveled to Iran last year.Catholic Workers; only God can give you back what you deserve

یک شنبه 28 بهمن (17 فوریه 2008)
پخش فیلم تاریخ ایران و اسلاید شو در محل برگزاری جلسات عمومی Catholic Worker در شهر Norfolk, VA. در این مدت با افراد زیادی آشنا شدیم که با هزینه های شخصی به ایران (نه فقط به عنوان توریست تفریحی) سفر می کنند تا با دیدن حقایق زندگی مردم و برخورد با فرهنگ ایرانی، در بازگشت با برگزاری انواع جلسات و سخنرانی ها، تصویری متفاوت با آنچه رادیو و تلویزیون از ایران ترسیم می کنند، ارائه دهند. Tom Palumbo یکی دیگر از این افراد بود که سال گذشته بازدیدی از ایران داشته است.

Catholic Workers
Catholic Workers
Tom Palumbo
Catholic Workers

Monday February 18, 2008-Tuesday February 19, 2008
We supposedly rested and spent some time catching up with our recovered website, checked material for future postings including but not limited to pictures, videos, reports that require research and documentation, confirmed our plans for the next few days, checked, repaired, and purchased old and new Electronic gadgets. Checked and returned several dozen e-mails… and rested if there was any time left, but usually rest is when we run out of juice and crash.

Wednesday February 20 2008
A big day for us. We went to Tidewater Community College, TCC. With the help of Mrs. Azam Tabrizi, a Geology professor at this great community college and after approval by Dr. Rice, the president, we were able to plant our 27th Peace Tree. This tree was named “Mehr” that translates into “LOVE” in English. Our presentation was in a nice and warm environment. We found the students very concerned with world problems and eager in getting involved. We like to thank Dr. Rice, Azam, and of course all the students that attended our tree planting and indoor presentation that made our event a memorable one.
The second portion of the day was another event at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia. It started with an Interview with Fox43/WAVY10 a local NBC affiliate TV station. The field reporter was Mr. Eric Harryman and the broadcasted interview is posted on our site: www.rmc4peace.com
We enjoyed the interview and his report. Thank you Eric, keep up the good work.
After the interview, with the help of Dr. Roseanne Runte, Gene Walker, and a few ODU faculties and some of the students along with outside guests, a Peace tree was planted. A name of “Community” was picked for this tree by the ODU students and faculty.
Following the tree ceremony we had a presentation of our films, slide show and question-answer session. A local Virginian Pilot newspaper reporter Mr. Jim “Washington like DC” had an interview with us that was printed in the greater Hampton Roads area paper. A copy of report is also posted in our site. Jim Washington is an old cyclist and had extra interest in our work. His report is very nice and professional. Maybe we can pedal together one day for a good cause. Dr. Alireza Hosseini, one of Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers, coordinated this event, and we thank him for that. We would like to give a very special thanks to Dr. Roseanne Runte who facilitated this event and made it possible in a very nice way, as well as keeping a very low profile without getting any credit. We learned that this summer she is going to leave this University and move to Canada and become a president of a college. It will be a great loss for this school and she will be missed. We wish her the BEST. Thanks for the punch.
We have difficulty leaving this great woman without knowing more about her. With our short search we found the following about her that can explain why she had so much interest about this program.:
“Dr. Roseann O'Reilly Runte (pronounced /rʌn'teɪ/)[3] CM, PhD, DLitt, FRSC (born 1948)[4] is a college professor and the President Designate of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She is also the seventh president of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, only the third woman to head a four-year college or university in Virginia.[5] She has previously served as president of Victoria University[6] principal of Glendon College and president of l'Université Sainte-Anne.
Aside from her achievements in academia, she has served as President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and on the boards of EXPO 2000, the United Way and the Club of Rome.
A dual citizen of the United States and Canada, Runte earned her bachelor's degree in French from SUNY New Paltz and her master's and doctorate from the University of Kansas. Additionally, she has received honorary degrees from Acadia University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Vasile Goldiş Western University of Arad and the West University of Timişoara.
A prolific writer, Runte's creative writing has been translated into English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Romanian.[7] While much of her writing is poetry, she is also noted for her works on cultural studies,[8][9] with emphasis on the role of women in society.[10]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseann_Runte

چهارشنبه 1 اسفند (20 فوریه 2008)
با تلاشهای فراوان خانم اعظم تبریزی استاد زمین شناسی دانشگاه TCC (Tidewater Community College) موفق به کاشت درخت بیست و هفتم به نام "مهر" در حیاط دانشگاه شدیم. در مراسم کاشت درخت خانم دکتر Rice رئیس دانشگاه، جمعی از اساتید ایرانی و آمریکایی و گروهی از دانشجویان علاقمند به طبیعت شرکت داشتند.
قبل از مراسم کاشت درخت، در یکی از کلاسها فیلم طبیعت ایران و اسلاید شو سفر پخش شد.

دانشگاه TCC
درخت مهر
دکتر Rice

بعد از ظهر چهارشنبه درخت 28 در محوطه دانشگاه ODU (Old Dominion University) با همراهی خانم دکتر Roseanne Runte رئیس دانشگاه، خانم Geneva Walker معاون، جمعی از اساتید و دانشجویان ایرانی و غیر ایرانی و همچنین جمعی از هموطنان ایرانی مقیم ویرجینیا بیچ کاشته شد. هماهنگی های لازم جهت اجرای مراسم توسط آقای علیرضا حسینی، یکی از اساتید EVMS انجام شد. برگزار کننده این برنامه، بخش امور بین الملل دانشگاه بود.
در ادامه و پس از کاشت درخت، فیلم تاریخ ایران و اسلاید شو سفر برای دانشجویان و مسئولین دانشگاه پخش شد. خبر کاشت درخت توسط شبکه تلویزیونی FOX و چندین روزنامه پوشش داده شده و نام Community برای درخت 28 انتخاب گردید. جهت مشاهده فیلم گزارش تلویزیونی به صفحه اصلی سایت www.rmc4peace.com مراجعه نمایید.

Community
درخت 28
Virginia Pilot

Thursday February 21 2008
We were invited by Dr. Ehsan Salek to attend Virginia Wesleyan College, VWC, a fine 4 year college in the city of Norfolk, Virginia to conduct a presentation and share a Peace tree with the students and faculties of VWC. This campus is centrally located and is adjacent to the city of Virginia Beach and very close to the cities of Chesapeake and Portsmouth; as well as other cities that are part of “Greater Hampton Roads” or the “Tidewater” region. Dr. Ehsan Salek of the Management, Business and Economics departments was gracious enough to coordinate this event with help of Ms. Lena Johnson (Office of international & inter cultural program), the event was well planned.
The reception at the student center (Multi-Activity Center) was a very warm and welcoming. The faculties and students joining us at this presentation were genuinely interested in our program and questions were very sincere.
The 29th Peace tree was planted along the tree line separating VWC from Norfolk Academy. The tree with the help of students and faculty was named “Compassion”.
We would like to thank Dr. Salek, Ms. Lena Johnson and other faculties and students that made this event possible. special thanks to president Greer and Dr.O'Rourke


پنج شنبه 2 اسفند (21 فوریه 2008)
پخش فیلم تاریخ ایران و اسلاید شو سفر در دانشگاه VWC (Virginia Wesleyan College) و در ادامه کاشت درخت بیست و نهم با نام Compassion در محوطه دانشگاه با حضور جمعی از دانشجویان و اساتید. سئوالهای مطرح شده در بخش پرسش و پاسخ، نمایان گر توجه و علاقه خاص دانشجویان و اساتید حاضر در سالن بود.
هماهنگی های لازم جهت اسلاید شو و کاشت درخت توسط آقای احسان سالک از اساتید VWC و خانم Lena Johnson در بخش امور بین الملل و فرهنگی دانشگاه، انجام گردید. جا دارد در انتها تشکر ویژه ای از دکتر Greer ریاست دانشگاه و معاون ایشان دکتر O'Rourke داشته باشیم.

VWC
Compassion
درخت 29
Wesleyan news