As a native of Southern California, the one place that I loved to venture to quite often was the ride called, “It’s a Small World,” at Disneyland.  I was reflecting on all the native costumes (die-hard seamstress) and I remembered that the lyrics are very relative to amateur astronomers world wide.  Not sure if you have ever read the lyrics, they not only reflect the mission of Astronomers Without Borders, but a rally cry of StarPeace.

 

“It’s a Small World” - Disney

It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears,
It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears,
There’s so much that we share, that it’s time we’re aware,
It’s a small world after all.

It’s a small world after all,
(repeat twice)
It’s a small, small world.

There is just one moon and one golden sun,
And a smile means friendship to everyone,
Though the mountains divide and the oceans are wide,
It’s a small world after all.

It’s a small world after all,
(repeat twice)
It’s a small, small world.


This April, it is more important than ever to reach out over a border right now.  You cannot pick up a newspaper or see a news cast that doesn’t talk about unrest, natural catastrophes and unsettling situations abroad.  Could we not make an attempt to weigh in and let the world know we are thinking of them this April?  It is important that we send them thoughts of “hope and not of fears,” all under the banner of “just one moon and one golden sun.”   Will you partner with us to help bring a spirit of fellowship, communication, and a love for the sky for thirty days?  Using geographical longitude as a reference, we've divided the earth into ten equal segments, each one spanning 36 degrees of longitude. Countries located in each of these 10 segments will have a period of three days to participate in the 30 Nights of StarPeace project.  In this way, through the month, the starry-night experience will progress around the globe eastward in ten stages.

If you are from a country that is not currently represented by a National Coordinator, let us know if you would like to host this event and get the word out to your fellow countrymen.  We will help facilitate this event in your country.

It is very simple, register your 30NSP event at  GAM2011 website.
For more information on StarPeace project click here.
For information on 30 Nights of StarPeace

Thank you for helping to make it a small, small, world.

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Blogger:
Peggy Walker is an amateur astronomer with a passion in astronomy outreach. For IYA2009, she coordinated events locally and brought sidewalk astronomy to her local club by hosting two sites one weekend a month. She also serves as the Secretary and US National Coordinator for Astronomers without Borders. Peggy and her husband Rick conduct monthly sidewalk astronomy outreach in their community (BA Sidewalk Astronomer) and together with their other sidewalkers have co-hosted Telescope 101 Class and Observing 101 Classes. They are forming a new club called Family Astronomy Association of Oklahoma.