Southern Africa World Harmony Run Team visits Monticello,

Thomas Jefferson Home, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

See notes at end of report:

Heritage site listing: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/442/

5 members of the harmony run teams from Southern Africa during 2008 and 2010 were reunited for a day in Virginia USA. They went together to visit the home of Thomas Jefferson.

The former team members were citizens of New Zealand, South Africa , Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

Entering the Grounds

The team was able  to enjoy the gardens and the other fields and areas around the buildings.

Gardens,

Jefferson on Peace:

Many of Thomas Jefferson ideals of world peace and harmony are embodied in the activities of the run. “The happiness of mankind is best promoted by the useful pursuit of peace.” Thomas Jefferson - from www. lightandliberty.org

On the Official Tour they learned many interesting facts about Monticello and President Jefferson. It is quite amazing to think about how much he accomplished in these locations (Monticello and the University of Virginia). Especially considering so much of his earlier years were spent in other locations while serving his country in various capacities.

The members of the team were very interested to learn about Jefferson's 2 mile course for walking and running that he went on for many days of his life when ever he was at Monticello.

5 cent coin

Many issuances of the USA 5 cent coin have the image of Monticello on one side.

Previous USA Harmony Runs

with international member teams visited Monticello

on 19 Apr 2008

 --------------------------------------------

And on 20 Apr 2006

 World Harmony Run founder Sri Chinmoy had also visited and much admired Monticello and the University of Virginia on 07 April 1989.

Notes:

Heritage site: "Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), author of the American Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, was also a talented architect of neoclassical buildings. He designed Monticello (1769–1809), his plantation home, and his ideal 'academical village' (1817–26), which is still the heart of the University of Virginia. Jefferson's use of an architectural vocabulary based upon classical antiquity symbolizes both the aspirations of the new American republic as the inheritor of European tradition and the cultural experimentation that could be expected as the country matured.

In 2008 the Southern Africa region WHR run team visited 5 countries: Link to those reports and photos here: Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Lesotho.

In 2010 the Southern Africa region WHR run visited 5 Countries :Botswana, South Africa again and 3 new countries: Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia

Language Banners:

The Harmony Run banners used today by the Southern African team had many different languages including Russian, Ukrainian. and Belarussian

Recently Harmony Run teams from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus joined together during an international festival "Slavic Unity-2011" at the Friendship Monument of the meeting of the common borders of Russia's Bryansk region, the Chernigov region of Ukraine, and the Gomel region of Belarus. This year the festival was held by Russia and organized in the Bryansk region.

There was also a run in Siberia from mid-July –14 August. (see incredible pictures from Omsk area)

The World Harmony Run proudly supports the International Year of Youth (IYY) and the International Year of Forests (IYF) proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

See the recent Youtube video on African experience which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice"  International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony. They surprisingly mention Presidents and UN Secretary-General in a unique way! 

See also the UNESCO World Heritage (WH) Centre support for IY of Forests.  ... Convention for conservation of forest biodiversity. (more)

– Abhijatri Robinsen, Adhiratha Keefe + others

Team Members:
Southern Africa 2008, 2010 WHR team (So. Africa, New Zealand, DR of Congo, Zimbabwe)

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Gallery: See more images!