January 26, 2012

The Palestinian Authority, Secretary General, Yasser Abed Rabbo:
“We actively support Roots of Peace turning MINES TO VINES™ in Palestine”

January 26, 2012—Ramallah—The Palestinian Authority has formally approved the historic efforts of Roots of Peace to serve as the first international organization to bring forth consensus on land issues in the Middle-East by the removal of landmines and restoring the economics of peace.

The Palestinian Authority, Secretary General, Yasser Abed Rabbo:
“We actively support Roots of Peace turning MINES TO VINES™
in Palestine”

January 26, 2012—Ramallah—The Palestinian Authority has formally approved the historic efforts of Roots of Peace to serve as the first international organization to bring forth consensus on land issues in the Middle-East by the removal of landmines and restoring the economics of peace.

Secretary General, Yasser Abed Rabbo, met with the CEO of Roots of Peace (ROP), Heidi Kühn, and ROP Director of Palestine, Fadwa Abu Laban, to express his firm support for their humanitarian initiative. “As mothers, we give birth to children with the faith that their tiny footsteps will never wander into a minefield,” says Heidi Kühn. “It takes only eight pounds to detonate a landmine, the average weight of a newborn child.”

There are an estimated 1.5 million landmines silently poised in Israel/West Bank. Earlier this week, Roots of Peace earned the exclusive support from the Israeli National Mine Action Authority (INMAA) which will begin working in The Fields of Bethlehem and The Island of Peace.

Kühn confirmed the importance of working within the scope of the Palestinian Authority to help the Palestinian people live their lives far from the danger of deadly landmines. Abad Rabbo assured his support for the valuable mission of Roots of Peace in the Palestinian Territories stating, “This is a historical day for the Palestinians. We actively support the work of Roots of Peace to remove landmines throughout the West Bank.”

In Palestine, Roots of Peace intends to replicate its successful Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ program. Those who will benefit from the project in Palestine are the land owners, mine victims, and the local community—as the children will be able to play safely without the fear of the ghosts in the ground. “No longer will the sandals of a child or a footstep of a shepherd be lost to land mine,” said Heidi Kühn.

MISSION STATEMENT: Roots of Peace is an international humanitarian organization working to unearth dangerous landmines in war-torn countries and empowers the local communities scarred by these indiscriminate weapons. Working to build sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse is how we transform the scars of conflict into the Roots of Peace. For more information visit us at www.rootsofpeace.org

###

Roots of Peace offers support to Israel/West Bank humanitarian demining program. PM supports Mines to Vines™—replacing minefields with bountiful vineyards.

Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Heidi Kühn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“The Holy Land is not ‘holy’ when there are Landmines in the Ground”

January 23, 2012—Jerusalem—In a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and Agriculture Minister Orit Noked at the Knesset today, the Founder/CEO of international NGO Roots of Peace offered her support to Israel's humanitarian demining program.

Netanyahu referred to global work of Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace, saying that “Your concept of turning Mines into Vines and transforming the scourge of war into bountiful vineyards agricultural fields resonates with me.”

Young Daniel Yuval, age 13, inspired Israel's recent mine action law, after losing his leg to a landmine two years ago while playing in the snow with his family, spoke to the Prime Minister and received his blessing for his Bar-Mitzvah celebration this week, and a promise to continue to work for the fulfillment of Daniel's call to action to properly demine all non-operational minefields in the country with the help of Roots of Peace.

“You are standing at a momentous junction in your history” Kühn told Ministers Vilnai and Noked, who announced last week the allocation of 60 million NIS ($16 million USD) for clearance of 2,000 acres of agricultural land in the Arava Valley, “You have the power to restore this toxic soil into a pure land overflowing with milk and honey.”

Roots of Peace intends to replicate its successful Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ model from Afghanistan, where it has boosted the economy and empowered farmers in 28 out of the 34 provinces. “As Founder/CEO of Roots of Peace I am honored and humbled to stand with you, and to kneel together, to demine—to replant and to harvest.” Kühn added.

MISSION STATEMENT: Roots of Peace is an international humanitarian organization working to unearth dangerous landmines in war-torn countries and empowers the local communities scarred by these indiscriminate weapons. Working to build sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse is how we transform the scars of conflict into the Roots of Peace. For more information visit us at www.rootsofpeace.org

###

His Excellency, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace;
Yoav Yuval, brother of Daniel; and Tali Yuval, mother of Daniel.

Matan Vilnai, Israeli Minister for Home Front Defense;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace;
Yoav Yuval, brother of Daniel; and Tali Yuval, mother of Daniel.

Orit Noked, Israeli Minister of Agriculture;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace

Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace, and a young supporter of Roots of Peace

January 23, 2012

Heidi Kühn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“The Holy Land is not ‘holy' when there are Landmines in the Ground”

January 23, 2012—Jerusalem—In a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and Agriculture Minister Orit Noked at the Knesset today, the Founder/CEO of international NGO Roots of Peace offered her support to Israel's humanitarian demining program.

Heidi Kühn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“The Holy Land is not ‘holy’ when there are Landmines in the Ground”

January 23, 2012—Jerusalem—In a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and Agriculture Minister Orit Noked at the Knesset today, the Founder/CEO of international NGO Roots of Peace offered her support to Israel's humanitarian demining program.

Netanyahu referred to global work of Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace, saying that “Your concept of turning Mines into Vines and transforming the scourge of war into bountiful vineyards agricultural fields resonates with me.”

Young Daniel Yuval, age 13, inspired Israel's recent mine action law, after losing his leg to a landmine two years ago while playing in the snow with his family, spoke to the Prime Minister and received his blessing for his Bar-Mitzvah celebration this week, and a promise to continue to work for the fulfillment of Daniel's call to action to properly demine all non-operational minefields in the country with the help of Roots of Peace.

“You are standing at a momentous junction in your history” Kühn told Ministers Vilnai and Noked, who announced last week the allocation of 60 million NIS ($16 million USD) for clearance of 2,000 acres of agricultural land in the Arava Valley, “You have the power to restore this toxic soil into a pure land overflowing with milk and honey.”

Roots of Peace intends to replicate its successful Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ model from Afghanistan, where it has boosted the economy and empowered farmers in 28 out of the 34 provinces. “As Founder/CEO of Roots of Peace I am honored and humbled to stand with you, and to kneel together, to demine—to replant and to harvest.” Kühn added.

MISSION STATEMENT: Roots of Peace is an international humanitarian organization working to unearth dangerous landmines in war-torn countries and empowers the local communities scarred by these indiscriminate weapons. Working to build sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse is how we transform the scars of conflict into the Roots of Peace. For more information visit us at www.rootsofpeace.org

###

His Excellency, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace;
Yoav Yuval, brother of Daniel; and Tali Yuval, mother of Daniel.

Matan Vilnai, Israeli Minister for Home Front Defense;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace;
Yoav Yuval, brother of Daniel; and Tali Yuval, mother of Daniel.

Orit Noked, Israeli Minister of Agriculture;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace

Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace, and a young supporter of Roots of Peace

January 6, 2012

The Epiphany–There are 1.5 Million Landmines in The Holy Lands!

The Palestinian and Israeli Authorities are celebrating the beginning of their partnership with Roots of Peace to remove deadly landmines in The Holy Lands on The Epiphany when the three wise men were guided by the star of light without the fear of landmines beneath their footsteps. The ghosts of landmines now riddle these same Abrahmic lands where shepherds once guarded their sheep and ‘a child was born’ who was cradled in the arms of parents who never imagined the perils of mines.

The Epiphany–There are 1.5 Million Landmines in The Holy Lands!
Roots of Peace DEMINE~REPLANT~REBUILD model established in The Fields of Bethlehem

January 6, 2012—Jerusalem—The Palestinian and Israeli Authorities are celebrating the beginning of their partnership with Roots of Peace to remove deadly landmines in The Holy Lands on The Epiphany when the three wise men were guided by the star of light without the fear of landmines beneath their footsteps. The ghosts of landmines now riddle these same Abrahmic lands where shepherds once guarded their sheep and ‘a child was born’ who was cradled in the arms of parents who never imagined the perils of mines.

The Bells will ring in downtown Bethlehem, as the families of The Husan Village—located four (4) miles from the heart of where Jesus Christ was born—will host a ceremony at site of the minefields where innocent footsteps of children walk each day.

The Head of Husan Council will host a reception and press conference at Husan Council Hall on Friday, January 6, at 1pm. “The ringing of bells symbolize that it is now TIME to get the landmines out of the grounds of the Fields of Bethlehem—a wake up call to the world—truly an epiphany,” stated Bethlehem Governor Abdul Fatah Hamayel. MEDIA/PRESS are invited to attend.

This is an historic first step towards a larger campaign by Roots of Peace to remove an estimated 1.5 million landmines and unexploded ordnance in The Holy Lands—including Qasr al Yahud, The Baptismal Site of Jesus. “The holy lands are not ‘holy’ when there are landmines in the ground,” stated Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace.

“This historic effort celebrates the seeds we have in common, rather than those which separate us,” stated Fadwa Abu Laban. Private donors from the Napa Valley, in the United States, donated funds to turn MINES TO VINES—replacing the scourge of landmines with the nectar of fresh grapes. This land will be demined and replanted with bountiful agricultural crops and establish a Roots of Peace School where children will be educated and restore their childhood dreams.

MISSION STATEMENT: Roots of Peace an international humanitarian, non-political organization works to unearth dangerous landmines in war-torn countries and empowers the local communities scarred by these inhumane weapons. Working to build sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse is how we transform the scars of conflict into the Roots of Peace. For more information visit us at www.rootsofpeace.org

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Learn about the Roots of Peace initiative to Demine-Replant-Rebuild™ Sacred Sites in Israel and the West Bank.

Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ Sacred Sites.

Yoav, Tali, and Daniel Yuval with Miljenko “Mike” Grgich—
Daniel shows Mike Grgich his prosthetic leg.

Mark Lhormer, Jeffery Wright & Heidi and Gary Kühn

Lights, Camera, Mine-Action!
Watch videos from the inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival.

View the recent Roots of Peace press release: Call–to–Action for a Landmine-Free World by 2025

Watch the ABC7 News video: “Israeli landmine victim speaks in Bay Area”

Watch the CBS5 News video: “Israeli Boy Hurt By Landmine Seeks Peace”

Read the St. Helena Star article: "St. Helenans support Roots of Peace"

Watch the “Making a Difference in Marin” video: Ginger Souders-Mason interviews Heidi Kühn

Watch the CineVine.com video interviews with Heidi Kühn and Cheryl Jennings, ABC7 News Anchor

DONATE to the Roots of Peace Mines to Vines™ Israel/West Bank program

November 11, 2011

Roots of Peace Call–To–Action: A Landmine-Free World by 2025

November 11, 2011—Napa Valley, California—This Veterans Day, Roots of Peace (RoP) announces a call to action for a Land Mine-Free world by 2025 and, in partnership with The Veterans Home of California–Yountville and the Napa Valley Film Festival, both vintners and veterans will get down on their hands and knees to “plant the roots of peace” Redwood grove. There are an estimated 70 million land mines planted in 70 countries; every 20 minutes a land mine explodes killing or maiming innocent people; and whether the boot of a soldier or the sandal of a child, landmines often miss their intended victims of war.

Roots of Peace Call–To–Action on Veterans Day 11.11.11
A Land Mine-Free World by 2025

Military forces and market forces joining together in humanitarian effort
to plant the roots of peace worldwide

November 11, 2011—Napa Valley, California—This Veterans Day, Roots of Peace (RoP) announces a call to action for a Land Mine-Free world by 2025 and, in partnership with The Veterans Home of California–Yountville and the Napa Valley Film Festival, both vintners and veterans will get down on their hands and knees to “plant the roots of peace” Redwood grove. There are an estimated 70 million land mines planted in 70 countries; every 20 minutes a land mine explodes killing or maiming innocent people; and whether the boot of a soldier or the sandal of a child, landmines often miss their intended victims of war.

Heidi Kühn, Roots of Peace founder, has earned the support of legendary vintners such as Robert Mondavi, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Diane Disney Miller, and over 400 California vintners—to start replacing the scourge of land mines with the nectar of fresh grapes, raisins or a fine bottle of wine. Roots of Peace is demining Bethlehem in 2011.

“The Holy Lands are not ‘holy’ when there are landmines in the ground,” states Heidi Kühn. “Today, there are an estimated 1.5 million landmines and UXO in Israel/West Bank. The healing of the earth begins with the removal of a single landmine, so that innocent footsteps are not lost to the perils of war.“

Roots of Peace will also honor Margrit and Robert Mondavi (posthumus) with the Global Citizen Award for their role in helping to de–mine and re–plant The Balkans (Croatia); Lieutenant General John F. Campbell, U.S. Army, The Pentagon for his leadership in helping the humanitarian efforts to “clear and plant” in war-torn regions, and 12–year–old land mine survivor, Daniel Yuval who lost his leg in 2010 while playing in a rare snowfall in Israel, for turning “ideas into reality” that transform “seeds of terror” into “seeds of hope.”

EVENTS-Media Invited, Photo Opportunities:

November 10, 2011, 2PM—Grgich Hills Estate, Rutherford
Launch of Roots of Peace Penny Campaign at Fountain created by legendary vintner Mike Grgich who has turned MINES TO VINES™ in his homeland of Croatia since May 2000.

November 11, 2011, 9AM—The Veterans Home of California, Yountville
The Roots of Peace Grove Six (6) redwood trees will be planted in honor Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. Vintner and veteran will get down on their knees to plant the roots of peace grove for future generations to live in harmony.

November 11, 2011, 6PM—Meadowood Fairways
Roots of Peace “Harvest of Hope” Gala honoring Margrit Mondavi, Robert Mondavi (posthumus), Lieutenant General John F. Campbell, The Pentagon, and William P. Murray, Chairman/Emeritus Bank of Marin.

A MINES TO VINES™ global peace initiative will be held, as Roots of Peace Founder/CEO, Heidi Kühn, calls into action a mine-free world by the year 2025.

Pablo Cruise Band will perform and ABC7 News Anchor, Cheryl Jennings, will be Mistress of Ceremonies.

More Information:
For further information on how to support the Roots of Peace Grove, please see www.rootsofpeace.org.
For more information about the inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival, visit: www.napavalleyfilmfest.org.
For more information about the California Veterans Support Foundation, visit: www.vetssupportfoundation.org.

###

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Doug Ernst, Napa (707) 266-8665, Doug-Ernst@att.net
Dhyan Or, ROP Israel +972 546 707 106, Dhyan@rootsofpeace.org
Jody Price, Yountville (707) 944-4539 Veterans Home of California, Yountville, Jody.Price@calvet.ca.gov

Roots Of Peace in Israel/West Bank

On February 6th 2010, 11–year–old Daniel Yuval was playing with his family in the snow on the Golan Heights, when he stepped on a landmine and lost his leg from the explosion. Inspired by Daniel’s courage and challenge to his country to remove all of its landmines, the Campaign for a Mine-Free Israel, led by Roots of Peace, has succeeded in bringing the long neglected problem of landmines to the forefront of public discourse and action.

Rallying people and organizations from all sectors, including the Government of Israel, Palestinian Authority, U.S. Department of State, landmine survivors, NGOs, military, media, decision makers and the private sector, Roots of Peace has built a broad consensus to begin humanitarian clearing of all non-operational minefields which have been holding hostage precious farmland and claiming lives and limbs for more than four decades. More than one million landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO), that serve no further military defense purpose, prevent access to more than 50,000 acres of productive land in Israel, the West Bank and the Jordan River valley.

Roots of Peace has an historic and precedent-setting opportunity to begin its innovative Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ work in Israel and the West Bank, where these minefields occupy agricultural and grazing lands and in some cases surround sacred sites like Qasr el-Yahud, near Jericho on the West Bank of the Jordan River—where Jesus was baptized—a place sacred to people of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths alike. Qasr el-Yahud—Arabic for “Palace of the Jews”—is also the site of the Israelites’ crossing into the land of Caanan, and the ascension of Prophet Elijah into heaven. In Islam, the site is on a route walked by the Prophet Moses, between Mount Nebo and Nabi Musa. Once the minefields are removed, Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious pilgrims and cultural tourists from Israel, Palestine, Jordan and around the world will be able to visit this sacred place, helping to build interfaith bridges of peace and tolerance throughout the Middle East.

Hundreds of thousands of landmines and UXO remain within and surrounding Palestinian communities throughout the West Bank, putting innocent civilians at risk of injury and death. Since marking and fencing is poorly maintained and mine risk education virtually non-existent, most of the recent casualties have been children. During the past year, Roots of Peace has been working intensively with the Government of Israel, Palestinian Authority, U.S. Department of State, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and have now received approval with these groups to undertake the initial projects at Qasr el-Yahud and the Fields of Bethlehem at Husan village, a Palestinian community dating from the 3rd century A.D.

Roots of Peace with its Israeli and Palestinian partners is now ready to begin the first phase of Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ work at Qasr el-Yahud and the Fields of Bethlehem at Husan. The fact that both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority have signaled their willingness to support this effort, positions mine action and replanting as crucial tools to promote urgently needed cooperation between the two parties. The success of these high profile initial projects will establish the legal, geopolitical and socioeconomic support needed to carry forward this timely peace building work throughout Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Funding Needed: The estimated budget to develop and implement these initial projects during the 3–year period 2011–2013 is $2.5 million. Additional funding will be provided by the Government of Israel for their work on the project. Roots of Peace is preparing funding proposals for the U.S. Agency of International Development (USAID) for $2 million to support the primary project activities described on the following pages. ROP is also seeking urgently needed immediate grant funding of $500,000 from individual donors and private foundations to assure that the implementation phase can begin right away in early 2011, while the longer-term USAID and other donor funding is secured.

July 27, 2011

Napa Valley Film Festival Joins Forces With Roots of Peace

Turning MINES TO VINES™ by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful vineyards worldwide, the new Partners will pair the showcasing of excellent films in Napa Valley with the excellence of soil/soul restored in war-torn lands.

Roots of Peace to present its Global Citizen Awards as part of Tribute Night at the Inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival.

“Napa Valley Film Festival Joins Forces With Roots of Peace”

Turning MINES TO VINES™ by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful vineyards worldwide, the new Partners will pair the showcasing of excellent films in Napa Valley with the excellence of soil/soul restored in war-torn lands

Roots of Peace to present its Global Citizen Awards as part of Tribute Night at the Inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival

July 27, 2011—NAPA, California—Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) co-founders and co-directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer announced that Roots of Peace (ROP) is its global philanthropic partner. The two non-profit organizations are joining forces in the run-up to the inaugural Film Festival set for November 9–13, 2011. While the festival will present 60 or more new films and host panel discussions, food and wine tastings, receptions, tributes, awards shows and parties, ROP activities to highlight its work transforming Mines to Vines™ around the world will be woven into the schedule.

The festival’s Opening Night Gala takes place at Robert Mondavi Winery on Thursday, November 10, with Margrit Mondavi hosting. Fourteen years ago, Margrit and her late husband Robert hosted ROP’s first fundraiser to support its initial efforts to remove landmines from the earth in war-ravaged Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On Friday, November 11, ROP and NVFF will collaborate on activities and programming that honors Veterans, culminating in a silent auction and dinner in support of ROPs newest initiative in Israel and the West Bank. On Saturday, November 12, NVFF and ROP will combine for the festival’s Tribute Night, taking place at Lincoln Theater in Yountville, with NVFF’s tribute to legendary filmmakers and ROP’s presentation of its annual Global Citizen Awards. Past recipients include Her Majesty Queen Noor, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Winemaker and President of Grgich Hills Estate, Napa Valley Legend and Vintners Hall of Fame Inductee, Theodore C. Sorensen, speech writer for President John F. Kennedy, Gillian Martin Sorensen, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, former Afghan Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed, Jerry White, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Daniel Yuval and Shirley Buchanan Dean, recognizing their efforts to turn seeds of terror into seeds of hope.

“We are honored and humbled to work with Roots of Peace as our global philanthropic partner,” said NVFF Co-Founder and Executive/Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Locally, we plant seeds of possibility by presenting films that inspire adults and aspiring student filmmakers; Roots of Peace extends these good works out across the world by healing the earth and giving communities and young people a hopeful future.”

“Inspired by a call to action from 11 year-old Daniel Yuval—who only last year, while hiking with his family in the Golan Heights, stepped on a landmine buried in the snow and lost his leg—the Israeli parliament and government unanimously passed the Mine Action Bill on March 14th, 2011. Roots of Peace led the initiative which culminated in this historic legislation. Few Israeli and Palestinian citizens realized the vast impact of an estimated 1.5 million landmines hidden in the soils of the country today which prevent the use of agricultural lands and access to religious sites sacred to Christian, Jewish and Muslim people alike. The Holy Lands are not ‘holy’ when there are mines lurking underground,” said Heidi Kühn, Founder and CEO of ROP. “We are thrilled to come home to our roots in Napa Valley by teaming up with Brenda and Marc and the new Napa Valley Film Festival and inspiring people of all ages and creeds to build a better and safer world.”

NVFF and ROP leaders were introduced to each other by Shirley Dean. Shirley and her husband Paul, residents of Napa Valley, own an estate called Spiriterra Vineyards and produce a world-class wine dedicated to the mission of Roots of Peace. The Dean Family, long-time ROP supporters and avid film-lovers, were inspired by ROP’s work and this new partnership with NVFF to make a $100,000 legacy gift—kick-starting the campaign to remove landmines from sacred sites in Israel and the West Bank. The first project will demine “The Fields of Bethlehem.”

“We were deeply moved by Daniel’s words ‘When I woke up and saw that my leg had been amputated, I said to my mother that I didn’t want anyone else to be hurt by land mines, and that I intended to do something about it.’ To hear this passionate vow from a child touched our hearts”, said Shirley Dean. “We are in awe of all that Roots of Peace has done in the past fifteen years. We encourage everyone to join us at the inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival—to have fun, and to get involved.”

Participation opportunities and passes for the inaugural NVFF are available now. Please visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org for full details.

About the Napa Valley Film Festival.
The Napa Valley Film Festival is produced by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. The festival's co-creators are Brenda and Marc Lhormer, producers of the feature film Bottle Shock, about the historic upset victory by Napa Valley wines over the French at the famous 1976 wine-tasting competition in Paris. Bottle Shock premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival before going on to international theatrical distribution. The husband-and-wife team also ran the successful Sonoma Valley Film Festival from 2001 through 2008. In addition to producing the annual film festival, Cinema Napa Valley presents special film programs throughout the year and provides support to student filmmaking programs in Napa Valley schools. To learn more, visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org and follow www.facebook.com/NapaValleyFilmFestival.

About Roots of Peace.
Roots of Peace is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to the eradication of landmines, replanting of crops, and rebuilding of communities in war-torn regions of the world. Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) not only kill and maim innocent people, but also impede a country’s economic recovery and development. Landmine removal is the first step in Roots of Peace’s mission to restore the livelihood of agricultural communities in mine-affected countries. See www.rootsofpeace.org.

####

	Support Roots of Peace! Purchase tickets to the festival!

Click HERE to read “Film festival partners with worldwide nonprofit” in The Weekly Calistogan.

Turning MINES TO VINES™ by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful vineyards worldwide, the new Partners will pair the showcasing of excellent films in Napa Valley with the excellence of soil/soul restored in war-torn lands.

“Napa Valley Film Festival Joins Forces With Roots of Peace”

Turning MINES TO VINES™ by replacing the scourge of landmines with bountiful vineyards worldwide, the new Partners will pair the showcasing of excellent films in Napa Valley with the excellence of soil/soul restored in war-torn lands

Roots of Peace to present its Global Citizen Awards as part of Tribute Night at the Inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival

July 27, 2011—NAPA, California—Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF) co-founders and co-directors Brenda and Marc Lhormer announced that Roots of Peace (ROP) is its global philanthropic partner. The two non-profit organizations are joining forces in the run-up to the inaugural Film Festival set for November 9–13, 2011. While the festival will present 60 or more new films and host panel discussions, food and wine tastings, receptions, tributes, awards shows and parties, ROP activities to highlight its work transforming Mines to Vines™ around the world will be woven into the schedule.

The festival’s Opening Night Gala takes place at Robert Mondavi Winery on Thursday, November 10, with Margrit Mondavi hosting. Fourteen years ago, Margrit and her late husband Robert hosted ROP’s first fundraiser to support its initial efforts to remove landmines from the earth in war-ravaged Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. On Friday, November 11, ROP and NVFF will collaborate on activities and programming that honors Veterans, culminating in a silent auction and dinner in support of ROPs newest initiative in Israel and the West Bank. On Saturday, November 12, NVFF and ROP will combine for the festival’s Tribute Night, taking place at Lincoln Theater in Yountville, with NVFF’s tribute to legendary filmmakers and ROP’s presentation of its annual Global Citizen Awards. Past recipients include Her Majesty Queen Noor, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Winemaker and President of Grgich Hills Estate, Napa Valley Legend and Vintners Hall of Fame Inductee, Theodore C. Sorensen, speech writer for President John F. Kennedy, Gillian Martin Sorensen, former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, former Afghan Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed, Jerry White, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Daniel Yuval and Shirley Buchanan Dean, recognizing their efforts to turn seeds of terror into seeds of hope.

“We are honored and humbled to work with Roots of Peace as our global philanthropic partner,” said NVFF Co-Founder and Executive/Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Locally, we plant seeds of possibility by presenting films that inspire adults and aspiring student filmmakers; Roots of Peace extends these good works out across the world by healing the earth and giving communities and young people a hopeful future.”

“Inspired by a call to action from 11 year-old Daniel Yuval—who only last year, while hiking with his family in the Golan Heights, stepped on a landmine buried in the snow and lost his leg—the Israeli parliament and government unanimously passed the Mine Action Bill on March 14th, 2011. Roots of Peace led the initiative which culminated in this historic legislation. Few Israeli and Palestinian citizens realized the vast impact of an estimated 1.5 million landmines hidden in the soils of the country today which prevent the use of agricultural lands and access to religious sites sacred to Christian, Jewish and Muslim people alike. The Holy Lands are not ‘holy’ when there are mines lurking underground,” said Heidi Kühn, Founder and CEO of ROP. “We are thrilled to come home to our roots in Napa Valley by teaming up with Brenda and Marc and the new Napa Valley Film Festival and inspiring people of all ages and creeds to build a better and safer world.”

NVFF and ROP leaders were introduced to each other by Shirley Dean. Shirley and her husband Paul, residents of Napa Valley, own an estate called Spiriterra Vineyards and produce a world-class wine dedicated to the mission of Roots of Peace. The Dean Family, long-time ROP supporters and avid film-lovers, were inspired by ROP’s work and this new partnership with NVFF to make a $100,000 legacy gift—kick-starting the campaign to remove landmines from sacred sites in Israel and the West Bank. The first project will demine “The Fields of Bethlehem.”

“We were deeply moved by Daniel’s words ‘When I woke up and saw that my leg had been amputated, I said to my mother that I didn’t want anyone else to be hurt by land mines, and that I intended to do something about it.’ To hear this passionate vow from a child touched our hearts”, said Shirley Dean. “We are in awe of all that Roots of Peace has done in the past fifteen years. We encourage everyone to join us at the inaugural Napa Valley Film Festival—to have fun, and to get involved.”

Participation opportunities and passes for the inaugural NVFF are available now. Please visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org for full details.

About the Napa Valley Film Festival.
The Napa Valley Film Festival is produced by Cinema Napa Valley, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Napa, California. The festival's co-creators are Brenda and Marc Lhormer, producers of the feature film Bottle Shock, about the historic upset victory by Napa Valley wines over the French at the famous 1976 wine-tasting competition in Paris. Bottle Shock premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival before going on to international theatrical distribution. The husband-and-wife team also ran the successful Sonoma Valley Film Festival from 2001 through 2008. In addition to producing the annual film festival, Cinema Napa Valley presents special film programs throughout the year and provides support to student filmmaking programs in Napa Valley schools. To learn more, visit www.napavalleyfilmfest.org and follow www.facebook.com/NapaValleyFilmFestival.

About Roots of Peace.
Roots of Peace is a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to the eradication of landmines, replanting of crops, and rebuilding of communities in war-torn regions of the world. Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) not only kill and maim innocent people, but also impede a country’s economic recovery and development. Landmine removal is the first step in Roots of Peace’s mission to restore the livelihood of agricultural communities in mine-affected countries. See www.rootsofpeace.org.

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	Support Roots of Peace! Purchase tickets to the festival!

Click HERE to read “Film festival partners with worldwide nonprofit” in The Weekly Calistogan.