“It is a great honor to stand here today on the grounds of Azerbaijan.”
This statement was made by Heidi Thomas Kuhn, the founder and CEO of “Roots of Peace” NGO in the tree-planting campaign dedicated to 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev:
“Today marks the 100th anniversary of President Heydar Aliyev, the national hero of this country and to be here with the true heroes on the ground, the ANAMA team, yesterday to walk the minefields of Karabakh to see the devastation of this once beautiful land. And today it renews my spirit to see the gift of life. This is truly how the world may go from “Mines to Vines” and the soils and the soul of the Azerbaijani people are such an example to the world those who've suffered the most terrible devastation of war. And today, on the advent of Mother's Day, which is this Sunday. I have four children, six grandchildren and I can't imagine the devastation of mothers who hold their children, who've lost limbs and lives to landmines. I stand here today in Azerbaijan on this extraordinary week. Today again in honor of the national hero, the national president of Azerbaijan and a commitment from the heart of an American mother to turn “Mines to Vines”, swords into plowshares and renew the face of this earth.”
“Today people have lost their sense of hope, a sense of apathy we're watching Ukraine and a country since I was there a year ago to now see 30% of Ukraine is mined. I think this is an opportunity to call the world to action. It's spring. It's time to plant and to be here with these incredible members of ANAMA and IEPF, the International Eurasia Press Fund and my friends, my dear friend Umud Mirzayev and also the head Director General of ANAMA, Mr. Vugar.”
H.T.Kuhn called to the world:
“Today let us use this opportunity to call to the world. May we beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. I hope you will join me on a global quest to turn mines into vines and to remove the insidious 100 million landmines that plague the face of this earth. That's only half the problem because we need to restore it with regenerative agriculture and work with the earth. For each of these 100 trees that I have the honor of planting today will provide carbon credits up into the earth and restore the climate crisis that the world is suffering. The answers, ladies and gentlemen, are in the soil. By removing the landmines, we are healing the soil and soul of humanity. Join me as we plant the roots of peace on earth now.”
