Budding Peace Entrepreneurs

From August 13-22 San Diego State University will host a Summit for Peace Entrepreneurs. "Peace is a process, not an end in itself — it needs constant nurturing." Palestinian and Israeli participants with backgrounds in agri-business, business and entrepreneurship or food technology will work together on business opportunities in food innovation - peace products can include olive oil, almonds, strawberries, date and pomegranates. The partnerships are between the University Entrepreneurial Management Center (EMC), the Fred J. Hansen Institute for World Peace and the Palestinian Center for Agricultural Research and Development with Peres Center for Peace in Israel - building economic links as they state 'form the glue for a sustainable peace. This is an opportunity to make a difference and to help us continue in our quest to build peace through entrepreneurial collaborations.'

Noticing pomegranates on their list of potential products my friend Israeli poet Ada Aharoni who has submitted poems to the Project has a lovely poem called The Sulha Pomegranate - Sulha meaning Reconciliation in Arabic.

Here's a section

Wait, don't open the juicy pomegranate yet!

Now that you have given me the gift of your story

My brother and mutual victim too

And revealed to me your heritage

Under your veiling membranes,

I can identify with you in every ruby grain

And you can identify with me -

For we are in reality,

On the same side of the present and of history.

Now, finally, we can open Sulha's Pomegranate

And fully taste together her plentiful reconciliation treasures,

Her scarlet healing juices

And her marvelous, velvety ruby grains.

The ancient pomegranate - significant in greek myths I read as a child - now a developing modern peace product!

Poetry, developing peace products, combining the work and artistry of peace check out Valentinepeaceproject.org as we work towards a peace brand for the 21st century.