Sri Sri traveled to Cuba too.
AB Wire
WASHINGTON, DC: The spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has had an eventful summer thus far, traversing the globe to try and help alleviate stress and violence.
On June 29, Shankar traveled to Cuba to meet with the FARC, (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia/Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) leaders.
On his three-day-visit to Cuba, Sri Sri had several rounds of discussions with the FARC members in an exercise of confidence-building in the peace process in Colombia, which has encountered a slew of hurdles over the past three years.
According to a press release, “the FARC agreed that hatred had derailed the peace process.”
“We will work for peace and justice for all the people of Colombia,†said FARC leader Ivan Marquez.
Prior to his Cuban visit, Shankar was bestowed with Columbia’s highest honor by the President of the House.
“I promise I will do all that is in my capacity to bring peace to all in the conflict in Colombia,†Shankar said as Dr. Fabio Raúl AmÃn Saleme conferred the Orden de la Democracia Simón BolÃvar award. The award is in recognition of Sri Sri’s peace work around the world, with special reference to his work in Colombia through his foundation, The Art of Living.
In addition to his Columbian commendation, while on his South American tour Shankar was also presented with three awards in Peru in recognition of his social work and mission of peace: the Diploma de Honor of the National Congress of Peru, the Medalla de la Integracion en el Grado de Gran Oficial, and the Ana MarÃa Solórzano from the mayor of Lima.
While in Peru, Shankar stated, “We all need to work together to see that this entire continent is free from violence and stress.”
Shankar is notably the first Indian to win each of the awards garnered during his trip to South America.