Story Photos
 Caleb Anagnostou, 9, carries the torch Sunday for the World Harmony Run as his dad, Longview Mayor Kurt Anagnostou, right, jogs behind him. Longview residents Sarah Pius, in black, and Auna Zingelmann, in gray top, also carried the torch through downtown Longview. Leslie Slape / The Daily News
|
Carrying a torch for peace
Monday, June 23, 2008 12:14 AM PDT
By Leslie Slape
lslape@tdn.com
Printable version
E-mail this articleA global relay promoting world peace passed through Southwest Washington on Sunday.
At an afternoon ceremony on the steps of Longview City Hall, team members from several countries shared the philosophy of World Harmony Run, now in its third decade.
"We try to wish harmony and peace wherever we go," said Kanala Bolvanska of Slovakia, "and we carry all (your) wishes with us."
World Harmony Run holds peace-promoting relays simultaneously throughout the world. The relay that passed through Cowlitz County began in New York City on April 10, will loop around the United States and conclude back in New York on Aug. 15.
Longview Mayor Kurt Anagnostou, who carried the torch when it passed through town in 2006, and a handful of citizens greeted the team Sunday.
"It's just a wonderful endeavor," Anagnostou said. "Anytime somebody wants to come here promoting peace worldwide, they're welcome."
The run was founded in 1987 by the late Sri Chimnoy, a philosopher from Bangladesh, who asserted that world peace can be achieved through inner peace.
Relays also are taking place in Europe, Japan, Russia and Australia.
"I thought it was an excellent thing they're doing to promote world friendship," said Sarah Pius of Longview, one of the people who carried the torch Sunday.
San Diego resident Atulya Lee Berube, who helped coordinate the U.S. run, said no one connected to the relay is paid. No political cause is being promoted. "It's a grassroots program," he said.
Another Longview runner, Auna Zingelmann, said she enjoyed meeting relay members from other nations.
"All the people coming from all other countries is amazing," she said. "And all for the same cause."
The torch weighs less than 2 pounds with a flame about 3 inches tall. It must be refueled about every two to three miles. World Harmony runners have seven backup torches.
Sunday, the team north on Highway 30 into Rainier and crossed the Lewis and Clark Bridge into Longview. After running through Longview and Kelso, the team stopped for another ceremony in Castle Rock, then continued north to Napavine, where participants planned to spend the night.
When not running, team members follow in vehicles.
Several members of Cowlitz Valley Runners, including Dick Anderson and club president Dale Wernicke, joined them for the Southwest Washington leg.
Anderson, who also ran with the relay in 2006, described the event as "a pure sport."
For more information and daily updates, see www.worldharmonyrun.org
Past Month's Most Commented Stories