ABC7 News: Roots of Peace demining in Angola

Angolan MAG (Mines Advisory Group) women deminers visit the U.S. Institute of Peace for World Food Prize Foundation and Roots of Peace event—a tribute to International Women’s Month

For nearly 27 years, Roots of Peace has led with the vision of turning ‘MINES TO VINES’—replacing minefields with vineyards and orchards worldwide.  As the world pays tribute this week to United Nations International Landmine Awareness Day, we are reminded that we live in a world where there are an estimated 110 million landmines in over 60 countries—over 1/3 of the countries on our planet.

Even after the fighting ends, these deadly devices continue to contaminate for decades to come, posing a daily and deadly danger to women, men and children alike—blocking vital humanitarian and development assistance.

Country by country, community by community, let us rid the world of these weapons, once and for all.  Only then, are we able to cultivate peace through agriculture for future generations to thrive.

FOUNDER’S REPORT FROM THE MINEFIELDS OF ANGOLA

On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024, Roots of Peace Founder, Heidi Kuhn, walked the minefields of Angola with brave women deminers from MAG (Mines Advisory Group).

As a mother of four, and grandmother of seven, here is her account of walking through a minefield after signing a form to determine her blood-type—a requirement for all who take the dangerous footsteps for peace.

“In the heart of a war-torn land, where the echoes of conflict have silenced the once vibrant symphonies of daily life, a seed of hope is sown. Amidst the ruins, where fear and despair have long taken root, a new narrative is being written—one that speaks of healing and unity. This is the vision of a world reimagined, where the remnants of war are replaced with the seeds of peace. Through the collective effort of a community bound by the shared dream of a future unmarred by the shadows of its past, the impossible begins to take shape.

Fields once littered with the dangers of unexploded ordnance are carefully cleared, each successful demining a victory in the silent battle for peace. With tender care, the barren lands are nurtured, transforming into lush vineyards that stretch towards the horizon, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

This transformation is not merely of the land but of hearts as well. Where once there was division, now there is unity. The hands that once wielded instruments of war now tenderly care for the vines, cultivating not only grapes but also a future where children can run freely, unafraid. The vineyards become more than just sources of sustenance; they are symbols of hope, of what can be achieved when humanity chooses peace over conflict, love over hatred.

In this renewed landscape, every harvest is a celebration, a reminder of the power of hope and the endless possibilities that arise when we dare to envision a world healed from its scars. It is a testament to the belief that even in the aftermath of devastation, life can flourish, transforming swords into plowshares, minefields into vineyards.

This is the legacy we strive to leave: a world where peace takes root and thrives, a place where future generations can look back not with sorrow but with gratitude for the courage to reimagine, rebuild, and renew. In this journey of transformation, we find our collective calling, a summon to action that resonates with the deepest aspirations of the human heart—for peace, for unity, and for a world reborn.”

                                                                                               --Heidi Kuhn, Founder

                                                                                                  Roots of Peace