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How is world peace seen through children's eyes? More than 3 million children ages 11 to 13 have shared their visions for peace through the Lions International jersey sepeda murah Peace Poster Contest.

"Achieving peace requires a deep desire to understand, respect and honor others," said Kyler B. Watson,13, of Stuttgart, Ark., one of the contest's 2005-2006 merit award winners.

The 2005-2006 grand prize winner was Cleverson da Silva Rosa, a 13-year-old from Parana, Brazil, who, along with two family members and the sponsoring Lions club president, traveled to New York for Lions Day with the United Nations. The annual event gives Lions the opportunity to meet with ambassadors at U.N. Headquarters. More than 700 Lions attended this year.

Previous grand prize winners have come from all over the world, many from areas where children do not know peace.

"The Peace Poster Contest represents a unique way for our members to provide an outlet for these future leaders to express their visions of peace," said Lions Clubs International President Ashok Mehta.

Lions clubs sponsor the contest in schools and organized youth programs. It provides an outlet for children and adults to discuss the meaning of world peace while artistically demonstrating ideas for reaching this goal. Now in its 18th year, the contest has been held in more than 75 countries.

"I think it is important that young people have a chance to really think about world peace," said 13-year-old Wade Angeli of Fairfax, Va., another merit winner.

Two years ago some Chinese friends of mine took me to NTDTV’s (New Tang Dynasty TV) live Chinese New Year Spectacular. It was a thrilling and enchanting music and dance performance, with traditional Chinese instruments and costumes faithfully recreated from old manuscripts, paintings and pottery. The dragons, drums and dancers all evoked the grandeur of China’s great dynasties and legends of remote history.

Ancient Chinese traditions speak of harmony between heaven and earth. They say that humans were created by Gods. Culture as well as moral and spiritual guidance were also imparted to humans by divine beings during different times in history. When humans respect the Tao, the “Divine Law or Way” and follow Heaven’s order, society will be prosperous and peaceful.

Like most Westerners I knew next to nothing about the Chinese New Year. So I asked my friends to tell me more and share their favorite New Year’s memories. I learned that Chinese New Year is actually celebrated by almost a quarter of the world’s population in several Asian countries where it is the most important holiday of the year. It follows the Lunar calendar, and the date varies each year, depending on the moon’s cycle. 

Several friends shared about fire works and favorite foods–dumplings were often mentioned–and various traditions. One is to write poems or lucky phrases on red paper to be pasted around every family’s door. After breakfast there would be a round of visits. The first stop would be at a local temple to burn incense and honor the gods. Next came visits to relatives and friends. In many towns musicians paraded through streets to announce the arrival of spring.

The Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year season. It evolved from the ancient belief of celestial spirits flying about in the light of the first full moon. Lanterns of many colors and shapes were lit during the night.

Maquiong, who grew up in a town near the Yangzi River, said, “Some communities would organize a lantern market. Usually, my mom would take us to watch the activities. Later she’d cook another good dinner which included dumplings filled with syrup, which symbolizes harmony in the family and sweetness of life.”

She said that in recent years traditions like these have been changing in China. In big cities fireworks were forbidden, and people have New Year’s dinner at restaurants. Also, many people exchange new year greetings by phone and don’t visit each other so much anymore. “But in my memories,” Maquiong said, “Chinese New Year always means having a good time.”

"Traditional Chinese culture and spiritual traditions were destroyed and outlawed by the Chinese Communist  Party,” said Jason, a medical doctor. He said that the CCP smashed almost all the temples and burned the ancient manuscripts. Since coming to power in the late 40s, they have changed history books and brainwashed generations of Chinese with party culture, class struggle and Marxist ideology.

“Young people know nothing about true Chinese history or the deeper values of our ancient traditions,” Jason said. “NTDTV and its annual global Chinese New Year Shows are instrumental in promoting a rebirth of traditional Chinese culture. The performances are magnificent and full of nobility.”