iPeace and why I respect David Califa

Hi All

I am not sure I have ever written a blog here on iPeace. Or if I have it has often been shameless self-publicity for the organisation I work with.

But it doesn't mean I haven't watched iPeace, its growth, its progress and as a designer how it looks.

And on occasions my wife Christine and I have asked David Califa for help about something and sometimes he has responded with great generosity.

I also can totally appreciate the huge task that David undertook in setting up a site such as iPeace. Both financial - because it costs money- but also in time committment.

When you start a baby like this you live it for long hours each day.

I know what that is like, I have and continue to do just that.

The main thing I have observed is the struggle that David and the team have had to keep iPeace, iPeace.

When I look around quickly it is like suddenly iPeace has become a free for all for people to promote whatever their particular story is.

Be it God or the latest book they have written.

It's as though suddenly the amazing idea and vision that David had has becomes a free advertising space for whatever we want to peddle, promote or sell.

In May last year, Chris and I, came to Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Partly honeymoon, partly to meet women friends of Chris'.

On the trip we met many women who we first connected with via iPeace.

It was the first time either of us had been to this part of the world and it was an unbeleivable experience.

We travelled in the West Bank, in Jerusalem, tried to go to Nablus, fell in love with Golan Heights, got robbed in Tel Aviv, visited the Holocaust Museum and were spied on in Amman.

And we talked to many many people.

It was the journey of a lifetime and one that was partly inspired by iPeace

When we left and returned home the overriding feeling we had was that someone, somewhere, somehow needs to find a way to create peace in this beautiful part of the world.

To find new innovative ways to break the deadlocks
Ways to help people mend the wounds
Heal the hatred and bring people together as one humanity

This for me is the reason why David Califa setup this place.

Because he beleived that if enough people came together Peace could happen

A noble vision which brought thousands along.

But today I read that David has received complaints galore because he took the site down

David, I am not suprised you did this

I have never met you, but I admire your perseverance

Your vision was and is an amazing one

Whatever you do is fine by me.

Just know that you have my undying respect and if I as one small individual can help with the dream just ask.

I don't have money, I have very little time spare, as you well know. But all you need to do is ask.


Take care

Andrew