The following proposal was created by a colleague that vigorously states the need to commemorate our "family" that we lost one year ago. Imagine THE difference we can make by creating a WORLD PEACE CENTER? Is it possible? I say YES! We must all participate in this WORLD PEACE CENTER in order to create a world filled with respect and dignity for all people! If not NOW, when?

Thanks Alan for so powerfully sharing your vision of something doable we can participate in to create a world of safety and love for everyone!!

The World Peace Center
By Alan Guttman

I was moved the other day while watching a community forum on cable television regarding the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site. One gentleman offered a physics-like equation suggesting that the destruction of the towers was a tremendous act of hatred and must cause us to react with an incredible act of love. In that spirit I propose that the site be reborn as the World Peace Center. A variety of vital and functional memorials would serve to honor the victims of the September 11th attacks by promoting principles aimed at building harmony amongst all earth's peoples and nations. The center would encompass our highest educational, cultural, economic, medical, and religious aspirations.

Education Memorial: The University for Peace

The University for Peace would be a center of higher learning funded and operated by all of the nations of the world. Students from all countries could come here to learn the ways of peace. Schools of international politics, trade, agriculture, education, health, and languages are just some of the major areas of study that would be offered. The finest professors and deans from around the world could create a campus and curriculum that would speak to a world united in love. Children and families of victims of the multiple acts of terror on September 11th would all receive honorary full scholarships to attend the university.

Culture Memorial: The Library for Peace

The Library for Peace would serve as a world research center and as a multimedia museum. The research center would contain great literature and scholarly studies from around the world. A high-tech translation institute could instantly electronically translate subject matter from and to any and all of the world's languages. The multimedia museum would provide interactive exhibits depicting the people and events throughout history that have moved us closer to peace. One room would be devoted entirely to the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11th. Biographies in the form of written sketches, video footage, family photographs, and spoken words would be available for visitors. This section of the Library of Peace would be open twenty-four hours a day.

Economics Memorial: The Trade Center of Peace

Though looking like a "traditional" office building, the business transacted inside the Trade Center would be anything, but traditional. International businesses could work cooperatively to plan, develop, and implement projects and products focused on improving the lives of those most in need around the world. While serving primarily as a center for economic activity, the most significant profits would be realized in the form of help provided to our fellow man. Surviving family members would comprise a special trade advisory board to ensure that the mission of the center effectively served to honor those who gave their lives at work.

Medicine Memorial: The Center for World Health and Peace

The center would house a state-of-the-art medical facility whose purpose would be to address the world's most pressing health problems. Our most skilled physicians and our brightest research minds would staff this training hospital and research laboratory. Patients from Africa, South America, Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America would participate in studies to find the cures for diseases. Medical students would have access to a central repository containing the most current medical research available. Surviving family members of those killed on September 11th would be able to receive any and all of their medical treatment and health care through the center.

Religion Memorial: The Footprints Center for Peace

Surrounding the place where the Trade Center Towers stood, there would be erected a complex of houses of worship representing the major and minor world religions. The Footprints Center would be a place for visitors to reflect upon the spiritual meaning of peace. The vision of bringing together the world's religions at this one location would be the ultimate reaction to the hatred of the terrorist attacks that was falsely grounded in religious fervor. This would be where the diverse peoples of our world could express their sincerest hopes for peace and commit to achieving great acts of love. Each church, temple, mosque, and synagogue would have a "Windows on the World" section looking out onto the "footprints" and looking in towards the other houses of worship. Here each, in their own way, through their own faith, could remember and honor all of those who perished on September 11th.