In
Memory
Hermelin Peacemaker
Award caps event
for Seeds of Peace.
Designed by campers
and created by Maine
artist Robert Katz,
this sculpture
symbolizes the goal
of Seeds of Peace.
A WORLD
OF G O OD
Local supporters visit Seeds of Peace
to see coexistence among teens
from countries in conflict.
DIANA LIEBERMAN
Staff Writer
Otis zeld, Maine
especting each other's con-
fidentiality. Listening. Not
blaming individuals.
Keeping coexistence in
mind. Providing emotional support
The list of ground rules for Middle
East coexistence sessions at Seeds of
Peace Camp in Otisfield, Maine, goes
on and on. It's tacked to the wall of
each tiny wooden building where a
dozen or so campers, ages 13 to 16,
meet every morning with two facilita-
tors to give vent to their innermost
feelings and try to light some tiny
spark of understanding.
But, at the start of camp's second
week, the rules are ignored as often as
they are followed — especially the one
that states, "No interruptions."
8/10
2001
14
Within the 90-minute session, the
group goes from discussing camp
procedures and decision-making to
tackling really big issues. Should the
camp have allowed two representa-
tives of Israel — one Arab, the other
Jewish — to speak at opening cere-
monies? Does Israel give fair treat-
ment to its non-Jewish citizens? What
is Israel, anyway? What — and where
— is Palestine?
At one point, the facilitators ask
for "down time," walking around the
circle and gently patting each partici-
pant's knee.
Touring The Camp
Seven members of the Detroit chapter
of Seeds of Peace visited the camp in
late July.
The group is planning a gala to
raise funds and increase public aware-
ness of the camp and its related activi-
ties. The Sept. 10 dinner at the Hotel
Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn, will be the
first Seeds event outside of New York.
Although guests at camp can
observe coexistence sessions, the
Detroit group quickly learned that
statements made at the sessions must
remain private.
Seeds of Peace
founder John
Wallach explains
his philosophy to
Michigan board
members Florine
Mark-Ross and
Lisa and Hannan
Lis, all of
Farmington Hills.
DIANA LIEBER1VIAN
Staff Writer
early two years ago, the late
AN David Hermelin, ambassador
to Norway, helped facilitate the
1999 Oslo peace talks.
Doreen Hermelin of Bingham
Farms remembers how she and
her husband opened the door of
the ambassador's mansion in Oslo
to Ehud Barak, then prime minis-
ter of Israel, Yasser Arafat, leader
of the Palestinian Authority, and
U.S. President Bill Clinton.
"It was probably the highlight
of our time there," she says.
For his unceasing work, accom-
plished despite the brain cancer
that eventually took his life,
Hermelin was awarded the Royal
Norwegian Order of Merit, the
highest civilian honor that coun-
try awards to non-Norwegians. In
the United States, Doreen posthu-
mously accepted the Presidential
Citizen's Medal on David's behalf.
Now Doreen Hermelin and the
couple's five children have agreed
to allow the Detroit chapter of
Seeds of Peace to honor his mem-
ory with the Ambassador David
Hermelin Peacemaker Award. It
will be presented to Jacques
Nasser, president and chief execu-
tive officer of Ford Motor
Company, at the Seeds of Peace
gala dinner at 6 p.m., Monday,
Sept. 10, at the Hotel Ritz-
Carlton, Dearborn.
Presenting the award will be the
ambassador's son, Brian Hermelin,
along with some of the young
people who have benefited from
the Seeds of Peace experience.
Doreen Hermelin, who visited
the Seeds camp last summer, says
her husband would have been
proud to have his name associated
with the cause. "He was very
encouraged when I came back
from the camp and told him
about it. He told me, 'We've got