Comments on: Mars Mira http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/ BOSFAM in Bosnia Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:44:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mirsada http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-66 Mirsada Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:44:29 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-66 Hi Alison, Great recount! Im originally from Bosnia,from srebrenica to be more precise, but now live in a far away Australia. I got to do the Mars Mira this year whilst visiting family back in Bosnia and making sure I was present at the commemoration. Must admit I wasn't adequately prepared and the heavy rain left me drained on the first day. However, I found the absurb conditions to be a minor reflection of what the March may have been for those back in 1995 and that made me feel a little selfish by thinking of the conditions as unbearable and contemplating about giving up.How bad would it be if we had no food, shelling everywhere, your own people getting killed by thousands etc??? The significant comparison gave me strength and motivation even though I had few emotional breakdowns. Once again good piece of writing. Glad you did Mars Mira and I invite all other foreigners as well to participate. I encourage. "Let the peace dominate" or if not lets strive for "humans and peace to co-exist" Hi Alison,

Great recount! Im originally from Bosnia,from srebrenica to be more precise, but now live in a far away Australia. I got to do the Mars Mira this year whilst visiting family back in Bosnia and making sure I was present at the commemoration.

Must admit I wasn’t adequately prepared and the heavy rain left me drained on the first day. However, I found the absurb conditions to be a minor reflection of what the March may have been for those back in 1995 and that made me feel a little selfish by thinking of the conditions as unbearable and contemplating about giving up.How bad would it be if we had no food, shelling everywhere, your own people getting killed by thousands etc???

The significant comparison gave me strength and motivation even though I had few emotional breakdowns.

Once again good piece of writing. Glad you did Mars Mira and I invite all other foreigners as well to participate. I encourage.

“Let the peace dominate” or if not lets strive for “humans and peace to co-exist”

]]> By: R http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-56 R Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:59:12 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-56 hi there alison i.m a former dutchbat soldier and i walkt the mars 2 times together whit M whe al whants too pay respect too the good people of bosnia and whant them too know that whe were not too blame its was al politicks by UN and dutch goverment.whe al being betraid when you want too know some more just ask greets R hi there alison i.m a former dutchbat soldier and i walkt the mars 2 times together whit M whe al whants too pay respect too the good people of bosnia and whant them too know that whe were not too blame its was al politicks by UN and dutch goverment.whe al being betraid when you want too know some more just ask greets R

]]> By: Alison Sluiter http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-49 Alison Sluiter Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:16:25 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-49 Dear Emma, Thanks for you interest in participating in next year's Mars Mira - I hope you'll be able to make it! You can read more about Mars Mira at , but I can tell you that the registration process is extremely informal. You simply fill out a quick form on the website and show up where the busses leave from in Tuzla at 6 AM or in Nezuk before 8 AM on the morning the March begins. Participation is free and tents are provided by the Bosnian Army. Food and water are also provided, but it's a good idea to bring a sleeping bag, a water bottle, and some snacks. If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to contact me again either by commenting on the blog post or by emailing me at asluiter@advocacynet.org. Best, Alison Dear Emma,

Thanks for you interest in participating in next year’s Mars Mira – I hope you’ll be able to make it!

You can read more about Mars Mira at , but I can tell you that the registration process is extremely informal. You simply fill out a quick form on the website and show up where the busses leave from in Tuzla at 6 AM or in Nezuk before 8 AM on the morning the March begins. Participation is free and tents are provided by the Bosnian Army. Food and water are also provided, but it’s a good idea to bring a sleeping bag, a water bottle, and some snacks.

If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to contact me again either by commenting on the blog post or by emailing me at asluiter@advocacynet.org.

Best,
Alison

]]> By: Emma Carlsson http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-48 Emma Carlsson Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:28:30 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-48 Hi Alison! I would love to participate in the next year's "mars mira", I am wondering how you sign up for it? Thanks /Emma Hi Alison!

I would love to participate in the next year’s “mars mira”, I am wondering how you sign up for it?

Thanks /Emma

]]> By: Alison Sluiter http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-44 Alison Sluiter Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:36:34 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-44 Hi Peter, Quite a few internationals participated in Mars Mira (which means Peace Route). There were especially large numbers from France and Switzerland (approx. 30), but I also met several Germans, Poles, Austrians, and Italians. Most participants from North America were Bosnians who currently live in the US or Canada. I would certainly recommend that you participate next year - it was a great experience for me. The more international attention we can keep focused on Srebrenica specifically, and BiH in general, the better! Hi Peter,

Quite a few internationals participated in Mars Mira (which means Peace Route). There were especially large numbers from France and Switzerland (approx. 30), but I also met several Germans, Poles, Austrians, and Italians. Most participants from North America were Bosnians who currently live in the US or Canada. I would certainly recommend that you participate next year – it was a great experience for me. The more international attention we can keep focused on Srebrenica specifically, and BiH in general, the better!

]]> By: peter slavin http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-42 peter slavin Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:20:04 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-42 Hi Alison, > > Another fascinating post and excellent photos. I'm so glad you brought > this march to our attention. Though I've been in Balkans three times and followed aftermath of Srebenica for years and once visited Serbia, I never knew there was such a thing as this march! > A shame the US press ignores it (I'm a freelance journalist). How many > internationals would you guess were on the march? I'd like to do this. > > Oh, and does "Mars Mira" mean War March? (p.s. I first replied day this appeared but simply hit "reply" unwittingly) Peter Slavin Hi Alison,
>
> Another fascinating post and excellent photos. I’m so glad you brought
> this march to our attention. Though I’ve been in Balkans three times and followed aftermath of Srebenica for years and once visited Serbia, I never knew there was such a thing as this march!
> A shame the US press ignores it (I’m a freelance journalist). How many
> internationals would you guess were on the march? I’d like to do this.
>
> Oh, and does “Mars Mira” mean War March?

(p.s. I first replied day this appeared but simply hit “reply” unwittingly)

Peter Slavin

]]> By: Alison Sluiter http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-41 Alison Sluiter Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:12:16 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-41 Hi M - thanks so much for commenting! Several Bosnians on Mars Mira told me that your delegation was participating. They all seemed very moved and thankful that so many of the original Dutch peacekeepers were there in solidarity with them. Please make sure to get back in touch prior to next year's march. Hi M – thanks so much for commenting! Several Bosnians on Mars Mira told me that your delegation was participating. They all seemed very moved and thankful that so many of the original Dutch peacekeepers were there in solidarity with them. Please make sure to get back in touch prior to next year’s march.

]]> By: Roy Moses http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-36 Roy Moses Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:22:56 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-36 Dear Alison, Your grueling 3 day hike to Mars Mira sounded like quite an experience. The pictures were wonderful (I liked the with you in it best of all). Speaking about being ill prepared, it reminds me of our trip out west about 10 years ago when Barbara and I hiked down the Grand Canyon with 75 pound packs on our backs. When we arrived at the Bright Angel campsite the temperature was 120 degrees. Our preparations were "overkill" to say the least. Your church is praying for you and the good work that you're doing. Love, Mr. Roy Dear Alison,
Your grueling 3 day hike to Mars Mira sounded like quite an experience. The pictures were wonderful (I liked the with you in it best of all). Speaking about being ill prepared, it reminds me of our trip out west about 10 years ago when Barbara and I hiked down the Grand Canyon with 75 pound packs on our backs. When we arrived at the Bright Angel campsite the temperature was 120 degrees. Our preparations were “overkill” to say the least. Your church is praying for you and the good work that you’re doing.
Love,
Mr. Roy

]]> By: M http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-33 M Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:37:55 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-33 With great interest and admiration (you actually walked on sneakers!?) I read your Blog. Well done! I to walked the Mars Mira 2009 edition and know that this is not what you call “a walk in the park”. I have walked the route with 5 ex colleagues who also were there in ‘95… I’m from the Netherlands… to pay our respect and to remember. You’re description about the people from BiH is so extremely true. Makes it even more difficult to understand what has happened over there. Changes are that we will meet next year if you really should decide to go through this again :-) M. With great interest and admiration (you actually walked on sneakers!?) I read your Blog. Well done! I to walked the Mars Mira 2009 edition and know that this is not what you call “a walk in the park”. I have walked the route with 5 ex colleagues who also were there in ‘95… I’m from the Netherlands… to pay our respect and to remember. You’re description about the people from BiH is so extremely true. Makes it even more difficult to understand what has happened over there.

Changes are that we will meet next year if you really should decide to go through this again :-)

M.

]]> By: Stephanie http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/blog/2009/07/22/mars-mira/#comment-32 Stephanie Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:39:16 +0000 http://advocacynet.org/wordpress-mu/alisonsluiter/?p=59#comment-32 Dear Alison, I had no knowledge of this march. The Albanians in Kosovo used to visit the warehouses where they were tortured to mark their expulsion from Kosovo. It is very good that you and Kelsey went on the march. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I love the photos. Dear Alison,
I had no knowledge of this march. The Albanians in Kosovo used to visit the warehouses where they were tortured to mark their expulsion from Kosovo. It is very good that you and Kelsey went on the march. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I love the photos.

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