The Peace Light

International Peace Light and Carrier

Peace Message 2007 -"' May the Light stretch far and wide, giving comfort, peace and friendship"

"We gladly receive the light as a sign of our willingness to be channels of peace, by our words and actions.."

Now in its 21st year, the Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organised by the Austrian Broadcasting Company - ORF (Linz) - and was part of a large charitable relief mission - Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad. Since 1986, there has been a great deal of co-operation between Scouts and Guides in many countries which has allowed the light to travel throughout Europe, such that the light is passed on 23 European Countries and for the past few years on to America . Each year, a child from Upperaustria fetches the light from the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The light is then flown to Austria from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who take it back, with a message of Peace, to their own countries for use at ecumenical services throughout the Continent. Scouts and Guides can then take the light on to other churches, hospitals, old people homes, prisons, and places of public, cultural and political importance - to anybody that appreciates the significance of the "gift". In past years the light has been presented to Pope John Paul II and Pope Pope Benedict XVI, Mikhail Gorbatshow, former King Hussain of Jordan, EU President Romano Prodi and other member of the European parliament in Strazbourg, the UN Troops in Kosovo and to Ground Zero, New York

"This years "Peace Child" is , 10-year old Elisabeth Nemec who comes from Bad Ischl. She collected the light from Bethlehem on Monday, 26th November,in the birth grotto in Bethlehem. Her family have been very excited in the days leading up to the event, who live in the small town of Lindau between Bad Ischl and Pfandl on a farm. Especially Elisabeth and her Mother as this was to be their first flight and both were very excited. Elizabeth's father, Johann, says he is proud of the courage of his youngest daughter showed in a dangerous incident at its Alm in Rettenbachtal Ischler, Elisabeth's mother Monika, while grazing livestock at 1,400 metes at Beaufsichtigen, she was stung by a wasp, and had lost consciousness.Elisabeth contacted the emergency services by mobile phone and even showed the rescue helicopters where to land. "She has saved my life" smiles Monika happily. Elisabeth's greatest wish would be to own a horse as she is an enthusiastic rider.