Past Events

October 13-17, 2007

Heidi Kuhn and ROP Board member, Diane Baker, visit project sites in Croatia where ROP has demined six villages. (see link to Croatian Mine Action news.)

War-damaged building in the town of Vukovar, Croatia, where ROP has demined nearby vineyards.

Croatian President Stipe Mesic recognizes Roots of Peace work. ROP Board member, Diane Baker, and Dijana Plestina (right) join Heidi in presenting a new donation for demining from Croatian-born, legendary Napa Valley vintner, Mike Grgich.

October 3, 2007
Heidi Kuhn has an audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican where the world leader recognized Roots of Peace’s efforts to convert deadly minefields into bountiful agricultural lands in war-torn countries.

Heidi Kuhn meets Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican officials (Photo Credit: Fotografia Felici)

September 28 , 2007
Heidi Kuhn receives the "Spirit of Marin" award sponsored by Bank of Marin. The Spirit of Marin Award recognizes the achievements and volunteer spirit of local businesses and business people.

Heidi Kuhn receives the "Spirit of Marin" award given by Bank of Marin on September 28, 2007

September 28-30 , 2007
Roots of Peace takes part in Squisito! in the San Patrignano Community in Rimini, Italy, featuring agricultural products from the mine-affected countries of Afghanistan and Croatia in the cooking of Michelin starred chefs. See press release.

Homaira Wali, niece of the late Afghan King Zahir, and the Director of San Patrignano, Andrea Musscoli, join Heidi Kuhn in planting the San Giovese vine-the oldest rootstock in all of Italy at Squisito! September 30, 2007. (photo courtesy of Giorgio Salvatori)

Italian students launching the first ROP Penny Campaign in Italy, October 2007

September 11 , 2007
Two Communities Commemorate 9/11 with Roots of Peace Penny Campaign Event - San Rafael High School hosts a special student assembly (photos) and the community of St. Helena hosts a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony (photos).

August 16 , 2007
Wilfrid Wilkinson, President of Rotary International, joins John Hoch, President of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, and Heidi Kuhn for a call to action to “Give Us Your 2 Cents for Peace” at special luncheon. See photos and join in the Rotary Roots of Peace Penny Campaign .

Heidi Kuhn, Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson and Cheryl Jennings at the Rotary Roots of Peace Penny Campaign launch lead by the Rotary Club of San Francisco. August 16, 2007

June 5, 2007
Barrow, Alaska joins Roots of Peace Penny Campaign in tribute to UN World Environment Day 2007. The Barrow branch of Wells Fargo Bank lends support.

The community from the land of the midnight sun, Barrow, Alaska joins the Penny Campaign in recognition that landmines are an environmental concern. Photo courtesy of John Gleason

May 1, 2007
European Community awards Roots of Peace contract to establish a national Afghan almond industrial organization under their Perennial Horticulture Development Program.

April 30, 2007
Roots of Peace presents the first-ever Global Citizen Awards to Her Majesty Queen Noor and legendary Napa Valley vintner, Mike Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate, during a special "Bon Voyage" luncheon on board the Queen Mary 2, hosted by Cunard Lines. Grammy nominated singer, Judy Collins performed for the luncheon. (See luncheon photos.)

Heidi Kuhn presents Her Majesty Queen Noor with the "Global Citizen Award" during the Bon Voyage luncheon hosted by Cunard onboard the Queen Mary 2 on April 30th in New York

April 25, 2007
GIVE US YOUR 2 CENTS FOR PEACE! Roots of Peace announces 15 million pennies raised by American children for peace. REGISTER for the Penny Campaign. See ABC 7 News coverage.

2007 Program Announcements

FROM MINES TO VINES:
Roots of Peace continues work assisting Afghan grape farmers and merchants grow higher value table
grape varieties that are marketable in foreign countries. Roots of Peace has been working in the Shomali where we have removed 100,000 landmines and UXO’s, trained 10,000 Afghan farmers, and exported over 100 metric tons of grapes to India, Pakistan, UAE, and other countries—doubling income for farmers. (More)

SPRING OFFENSIVE FOR PEACE: Roots of Peace announces new national orchard programs in Afghanistan to plant nearly 2 million cherries, apricots, prunes, plums, apples, walnuts, and almonds trees throughout the regions of Kandahar, Badakhshan, and Jalalabad. (More)

April 16 & 17, 2007
PLANTING PEACE IN THE VALLEY:
Roots of Peace hosted the Afghan Ambassador to the U.S., Said T. Jawad, to the Bay Area. Ambassador and Mrs. Jawad joined legendary vintners Mrs. Robert Mondavi and Mike Grgich in a vine planting ceremony at COPIA in Napa. Ambassador Jawad spoke at UC Berkeley on "Winning the Peace in Afghanistan, Challenges and Opportunities." (See UC Berkeley News Center and ABC 7 news coverage of his visit.)

March 19, 2007
Roots of Peace and UK non-profit MAG (Mines Advisory Group) have joined forces to organize global events that will raise funds to remove landmines and UXO from some of the world's poorest nations.

March 11, 2007
Bay Area Jefferson Award Winner: Heidi Kuhn is nominated for National Award (see CBS 5 News Coverage.)