US Servas has hosted events for the past two years  to celebrate the International Day of peace, held each year on the solstice, September 25. Details for the 2025 US event will be posted soon.

Charlotte and Tim Sullivan

The homepage of the Servas.org website says we promote tolerance. We do that by bringing people from different cultures and backgrounds together. We have often heard that the key to learning tolerance for others is to spend a little time rubbing shoulders with them. My spouse, Charlotte and I volunteer for Servas because it is one small way we can promote tolerance.

Today in the U.S. we are seeing new levels of intolerance being promoted by the language and actions of our government regarding undocumented immigrants. Our current administration came to power in 2016 and again in 2024 by demonizing undocumented immigrants. Today we are seeing that rhetoric turned into actions against our immigrant communities that is purposely designed to create fear in an attempt to drive the undocumented out of our country.

The irony is that the families we are trying to drive out now were during the pandemic called essential workers. The truth is today they are still doing essential work; here in Iowa that includes working in packing plants and on farms. I suspect if the administration is actually able to remove all undocumented workers from the U. S. our grocery stores will once again have lots of empty shelves and meat cases.

Charlotte and I have had the opportunity to volunteer on the border working in shelters with asylum seekers and on the Mexican side of the border with those that were deported. Our experience tells a much different story about what kind of people are trying to cross our border. We heard all kinds of stories about horrific experiences in their home countries and about their trip to the border, but what stays with us the most, is the kind, friendly, and grateful people we served. Today we would like to share a deeply personal story about a rubbing-shoulders experience we have had these last two years.

This is a story about people, good work, values, governments and broken promises.

In December of 2022, people from Nicaragua, Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba were arriving at the United States border, requesting asylum at higher rates than almost any other country. In an effort to reduce these numbers and provide some humanitarian relief, the administration of that time created the program “Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelan” (CHNV), a humanitarian parole program allowing eligible individuals from those countries to enter the U.S. temporarily, for up to two years, with advance permission.

If a person had a U.S. sponsor, they could legally come into the country and work for two years. These individuals could receive a social security card and driver's license while working and living in the country for two years, but then they must leave. There was no path in this program for citizenship or any options to continue to live in the U.S. for an extended period of time. CHVN worked: The numbers of people from these countries approaching the border dropped dramatically; in some cases, by over 90%. 

The program also worked in the sense that some American communities, including in Iowa, benefited by having great workers doing jobs that local people would not do. There was an extensive application process where both the beneficiary and the sponsor (who is held accountable) reported personal information including financial data. In addition, the beneficiary went through a background check including fingerprinting and health screening. 

Charlotte and I have been doing development work, including placing solar panels and water filters in very rural homes with no infrastructure for electricity or water. The living conditions in Nicaragua have worsened over the last five years. The pandemic was especially damaging to the countries of Central America. In addition, the Nicaraguan president has managed to change the constitution so he can be president for life. His government has become extremely oppressive, jailing any political opposition. If you are not willing to support his party, you cannot get a job making livable wages and risk government-sponsored retaliation.

When CHNV temporary protective status became available, five young Nicaraguans were sponsored and came to Iowa. These people include two who have college degrees, and a family of three who lived on a very rural Nicaraguan farm.

For Juan and his family, this program was a godsend; a classic example of how the program was supposed to work. Juan’s family owns about an acre of land in a very rural area of Nicaragua. This was enough to grow the beans and corn they needed for sustenance but not enough to improve their home, pay medical bills or send their daughter to college. Six days a week, Juan rode his horse an hour to another landowner’s property and cut woody plants all day with a machete. The pay was $7.00 a day.

His family jumped at the chance to come to Iowa. They had no interest in staying permanently in the U.S., but hoped they could earn enough money to buy some land and milk cows. Juan had been a dairy farmer his whole life and knew if he could get the land and cows, he could support his family. That dream seemed within reach as he, his wife and daughter had good jobs in Iowa and were saving money. That was until now.

On Friday, May 30, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with a new Trump administration policy that revokes protective status for more than 500,000 immigrants, and voids their sponsors’ hosting abilities. This action ends their ability to work and demands their immediate return to their home countries. For most, a return to their home countries means not just economic disaster but possibly mortal danger as well. 

Frequently our friends and families say to us that Nicaraguans and their sponsors did everything legally: Our government will never send these people back to the crisis of humanity they fled from. Sadly, that is not the case. We believe this is all about politics and not what is really best for America. The administration promised mass deportations and the folks in this program, those who have followed all the rules and came to the U.S. legally, are the easiest ones to find. Of course we are biased, but we are filled with sadness and dismay that our government would act in this way. 

On June 13, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services notified our Nicaraguan family that the program and their work permissions were terminated, and they needed to leave the country immediately. The very next day, we purchased airfare for Juan and his family to Nicaragua. We knew we would be buying these tickets at some point, but we had hoped it would be their scheduled return date of June 2026.

A USCIS press release that announced these terminations included the following line: “Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies.” We recognize the politics involved in such a statement but neither ourselves nor those who came to Iowa from Nicaragua have exploited CHNV; rather, the U.S. government invited us to sponsor Juan and his family to come to Iowa for 2 years to work. As these people proved to be responsible and provided much-needed labor that benefits the American economy, common sense policy would have been to allow them to complete their two years here, as they proved to be good neighbors, and provided much needed labor while they were.

We have become close friends with the Nicaraguans we sponsored, and they have had a deep impact on our lives. You may not know any of them personally, but if you visited Western Iowa and you ate any Doran Sweet Corn last year, there is a good chance that Juan or one of his family members picked those ears.

If you knew anyone with children in our local community schools, they might have met Fabian, who we have heard is a kind and patient teacher. And, Anyeli who, after only a few days of employment with Monogram Prepared Meats, received a promotion for her intelligence and strong work ethic. Her male supervisor cried as she walked out on her last day of her employment there. I think all who had contact with them would say they are kind, friendly and hard-working folk. We will miss them.

This experience has left us wondering about the values people of the U.S. want in their country. What kind of values do you want for our country?

Maybe it is not surprising that Juan, Yaneth, and their daughter, Maryuris took this change of events much better than we did. Juan’s response was “Many people have helped us here; God has been with them and worked through them. That is the way God works; He puts us together to help each other. God does everything!”

By Bill Magargal

Most Servas members know that we consider ourselves a peace organization, but what does that really mean? As a group we do not organize protests or rallies, we don’t travel to trouble spots to provide witness or relief, nor do we engage with policymakers and power brokers to mediate peace. So, how does Servas contribute to world peace?

Well, let’s look at our catchphrase –Promoting peace and understanding through travel and hosting, one conversation at a time. What does that really mean? Is it simply a slogan to make us feel good about being thrifty travelers? Perhaps for some, but I believe it is more. To me, the phrase is a symbol of what a typical Servas host or traveler is about… that we are a world community of people with humility who share certain core values of egalitarianism, peace, care for our planet and its creatures, and connectedness of it all.

This shared ethos is why meeting a new Servas traveler feels like running into an old friend you haven’t seen in a while… the connectedness, the shared experiences, the realness. This is why I am not surprised when I travel to a remote Italian village and I am welcomed into an extended family dinner being prepared by many, including two young Egyptian male refugees the family is fostering for two years so they can attend a school for diesel mechanics. This is why I feel a bit of pride when I share that I am a friend of a member who hikes out into the hot Sonoran Desert to provide water and medical supplies to people attempting to cross it. This is why I feel hope for the future when members give their time and money to volunteer at a Peace School in Uganda or Türkiye.

So, it really isn’t about the number of countries we’ve visited, nor sights we’ve seen. It is indeed about building and strengthening a world-wide network of individuals committed to shared ideals of living at peace with ourselves, with others, and with our planet. As a follow-up to this article you might enjoy reading the Peace Statement for a world without war adopted by the Servas Executive Committee this year.

Might  you want to become the new US Servas Peace Secretary ... advocating our mission of peace and justice?  US Servas is soliciting applicants for this important position, two-year term, beginning January 1, 2026.  If you are an individual who understands the importance of promoting peace, this might be the right volunteer position for you.  We are looking for someone who is good at: 

• networking and establishing connections with other peace organizations,

• collaboration and team building,

•  engaging our US Servas membership,

• implementing our annual Peace Award,

• joining monthly Board meetings in an Ex-Officio capacity (non-voting member),

If you are interested in hearing more, please send an email to:  volunteer@usservas.org.  We would love to hear from you. 

by Yosi McIntire

Many years ago, I stayed with a Druze Servas family in the Golan Region of Northern Israel. Servas Israel currently has nearly 200 members, with thirty-five in the Northern region. My stay was an island of calm in an angsty region of turmoil, rocket barrages, political turmoil, and nearby wars. I learned a lot about what it means to live in such an area. Recently I received a copy of the Urgent Appeal written by my host to make the world aware of what is going on in Syria. The situation has not been widely reported in the US news. Below is their letter of appeal.

Urgent Appeal Letter

To: Global Conflict Resolution Forces

Subject: Urgent Call to Stop the Mass Killings of the Druze in Southern Syria

We are writing to you with deep pain and urgent concern regarding the ongoing mass killings and targeting of the Druze community in the Jabal al-Druze (Jabal al-Arab) region of southern Syria.

In recent weeks, we have witnessed a horrifying escalation of violence against innocent civilians. Entire families, including women, children, and even infants, are being brutally slaughtered. We have in our possession numerous video recordings that clearly document these atrocities - videos showing the killing of babies in their mothers' arms, elderly people executed in their homes, and villages attacked without mercy.

This is not a local conflict. It is a systematic campaign of terror and extermination against a peaceful ethnic and religious minority that has lived in the region for centuries. What is happening is nothing short of ethnic cleansing, and the world must not remain silent. We appeal to you - as a global organization tasked with conflict resolution and the protection of vulnerable populations - to take immediate action:

1. Send observers or peacekeeping forces to the affected areas.

2. Pressure relevant international bodies and governments to intervene.

3. Publicly condemn the atrocities and demand an end to the violence.

4. Ensure the protection of the Druze population and hold the perpetrators accountable.

We are not speaking in generalities. We are speaking about babies, mothers, and grandparents whose lives are being taken simply because of who they are. History will remember the silence of those who could have spoken - and the inaction of those who could have helped. Please act now.

Sincerely,

A son/daughter of the Druze community in the world.

The family has withheld their names for their safety.

by Karen Morian  

Clean out your inbox 

All emails — even the ones parked in your inbox — consume power thanks to the network of data centers around the world that store and manage delivery of our communications. An average year of email could have theimpact of driving 200 miles. Simply deleting old messages will save power and shrink your carbon footprint. While you're at it, unsubscribe from unnecessary newsletters, delete unnecessary attachments and remove social media notifications. 

Bring your own bag 

The next time you head to the grocery store, bring your own reusable shopping bag. Try to keep one in whatever bag you use on a daily basis or attach it to your key ring so that you’ll always have one handy. 

Step up to the bar 

Instead of liquid soap in a plastic bottle, try a cleaner alternative: bar soap. You'll help cut back on the billions of pounds of plastic waste generated each year, including often unrecyclable pump dispensers. Seek out brands that sell glass bottles and biodegradable vials of concentrated soap. You can now also buy bar shampoos and conditioners  

Stay away from endangered-animal souvenirs 

When traveling abroad, avoid souvenirs made from endangered species — think ivory, tortoiseshell, reptile skins, furs or corals. Part of protecting the environment means protecting its biodiversity, and these aren't the kind of keepsakes you want to keep. 

Screen your sunscreen 

Shop for sunscreen that's free of oxybenzone and octinoxate, two reef-killing chemicals that make up part of the 6,000 tons of sunscreen that damage coral reefs each year. Instead look for mineral sunscreen featuring titanium oxide or zinc oxide, and/or the words “reef safe” on the label. 

Wash your clothes in cold water 

About 90 percent of the energy used by your washing machine simply goes toward heating the water. Save that energy by washing full loads incold water instead. 

Downsize your travel wardrobe 

The heavier passengers’ bags are, the more energy the plane needs to lift all that luggage. Here's one easy way to reduce the carbon footprint of your flight: Pack a lighter checked bag or just a carry on. While on your trip, take note of what you didn’t use and jot down a few ideas for how you could take less on your next trip. 

Put your phone purchase on pause 

The manufacture of one new smartphone — including mining rare earth elements and shipping the completed unit to stores — eats up as much energy as a decade's worth of typical phone use. Make a smarter call: Keep your current phone for three to four years. It's simply greener than buying a new one. And when it’s time to hang it up, check the manufacturer’s recycling program.  

Opt for refurbished electronics 

If you're in the market for a new phone or computer, consider picking up a refurbished unit. You'll keep at least one device from languishing in a landfill whilereducing the environmental impactposed by manufacturing and shipping a new unit. Perhaps from overseas. If your device is damaged beyond repair, a little research should point you to the right place to properly recycle it. 

Switch to better bulbs 

Ninety percent of the electricity used by incandescent light bulbs is given off as heat, which is wasted energy and money. Here's a bright(er) idea: Switch to LEDs, CFLs or halogen bulbs instead. They use as little as 20 percent of the electricity — reducing your energy bill and your carbon footprint. 

Steer clear of steer 

Go meat-free at least one day each week, especially avoiding beef. Beef is not great for the planet: Production of one quarter-pound burgerrequires 460 gallons of water and emits 0.126 pounds of methane— a greenhouse gasroughly 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Globally,about 15 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are due to livestock, nearly two thirds of which come from cattle. 

• By Karen Morian

  According to research by Booking.com, 76% of travelers say they want to travel more sustainably, but many travelers don’t know where to begin. Servas members can be part of the solution by adopting more responsible travel habits. By rethinking the way we travel, we can collectively create a future where travel protects and respects our planet and its cultures. Read on to discover our top five tips for eco-friendly travel. 

Use more efficient modes of transportation - there are many ways that you can reduce the carbon emissions produced by your trip. Air travel, driving, and other forms of transportation make up the largest part of tourism’s carbon footprint. Though all modes of transportation require energy, some are more efficient and cleaner than others. How you get to/from and around your destination makes a difference.

In general, planes and cars tend to be the least efficient modes of transportation. Book the least number of connecting flights possible, as each take-off and landing produces more carbon emissions. Once you’re at your destination, consider taking the bus, traveling by rail, or cycling around town instead of renting a car. If you do rent a car, opt for an electric, hybrid, or smaller model.

Get off the beaten path - As a traveler, you can help prevent a resurgence of overtourism by skipping tourist hotspots and getting off the beaten path. While it may be tempting to go to the same bucket list destinations everyone does, it can be even more rewarding to explore less traversed places. Getting off the beaten path allows you to have a more unique and authentic experience, visiting hosts who Want More Travelers, while avoiding the crowds.

Avoid single-use plastics - Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans. This is equivalent to one garbage truck full of plastic being dumped into the ocean every single minute of every single day. One of the most common plastic items used by travelers is single-use beverage bottles. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: bring your own reusable water bottle on your trip! If you’re worried about the water quality at the destination you’re visiting, bring a water bottle with a built-in purifier. Refillable toiletry bottles are another eco-friendly item to add to your packing list. Buying drinks in cans and glass bottles also reduces plastics.

Offset your carbon footprint - Some carbon emissions are unavoidable. You can compensate for these greenhouse gas emissions through a process known as “carbon offsetting.” Carbon offsetting allows you to balance out the carbon footprint of your trip, by reducing emissions somewhere else in the world. Just calculate your carbon footprint using an online carbon calculator, then purchase offsets equivalent to the amount of CO2 you produced. The money from your offset purchase will be invested in projects that reduce carbon and other greenhouse gases. For instance, one project may protect a tropical rainforest from being cut down, while another might build a wind farm or convert cow manure into energy. Carbon offset projects can also create benefits that go beyond emissions reductions, such as creating local jobs, improving sanitation, or conserving endangered species. When offsetting your footprint, just be sure to go through a reputable provider to ensure you’re creating the greatest impact.

Support Local Communities - The best way to ensure host communities reap the benefits of visitors is by supporting local businesses, like staying in locally owned guesthouses rather than international chains and dining at local restaurants, savoring traditional dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. You can help promote the equitable distribution of wealth by patronizing businesses that are owned or managed by marginalized groups such as women, indigenous populations, or minorities.Get out of your comfort zone and have some fun navigating local markets. Book excursions led by local guides or learn a new skill from a local expert.

One of the incredible things about travel is that it offers a glimpse into other traditions, beliefs, and ways of life. Seize this opportunity to expand your horizons by embracing the differences and soaking up the local culture. Begin immersing yourself in other cultures by reading up on the local history, traditions, and etiquette before visiting.

And, finally, consider making a contribution to a local charity that empowers people through skills development, education, micro-loans, or access to social services.

To learn more, watch the online webinars from Sustainable Travel:

https://sustainabletravel.org/road-to-net-zero-webinar-series/

by Bill Magargal

Peace Pals International has announced their 2025 Art Competition for youth ages five through sixteen. This year's theme is "Freedom". Each submission should reflect what freedom means to the artist who created it. We have been following this project for several years and are always tickled by the vibrant, imaginative, and joyous paintings the kids create.

For those unfamiliar with the Peace Pals art project, it is a competition with four age categories where each artist draws/paints a small, 5" x 7" graphic based on the overall theme. The words "May Peace Prevail on Earth" must be incorporated into each work. 1st, 2nd & 3rd place prizes are awarded in each category. The first-place entries from every country / age-group are made available on the Peace Pals International website for use by peace groups throughout the world. In fact, US Servas displayed the winners at the 2021 National conference in North Carolina, and the 2023 conference in New York.

Entries must be submitted by August 31, 2025. Visit the Peace Pals website for more information and entry criteria.

by Bill Magargal

Early in the conference US Peace Secretary, Karen Morian, and US member, Bill Magargal, presented a custom-made peace pole to Costa Rica to celebrate peace and to commemorate the conference. Karen explained that a Peace Pole is an internationally recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four. There are estimated to be more than 250,000  Peace Poles (plus ours) including every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.

Bill Magargal explained the design of the pole US Servas gifted to Costa Rica... that the center portion was originally designed and painted on wood by Stephanie Burgess of paintedpeace.com. The words "May Peace Prevail on Earth" are painted in four languages (English, Spanish, French, Hebrew), one on each of the four sides. All proceeds from the sale of this portion are donated to Samaritan's Purse International Relief Fund.

The remainder of the pole was designed by Bill. The top eight inches of the pole include logos and brief peace messages from each of the participating groups. The bottom 24" of the pole included totems and symbols from four of the major indigenous peoples of Costa Rica.

Members from Costa Rica and the US then gathered around the peace pole and exchanged hugs and greetings. The pole will be permanently placed in a public space to commemorate the conference and remind people of its intent. For more information about peace poles visit worldpeace.org.

By Karen Morian

Considering the devastating forest fires in Southern California, the US Servas Peace Team will continue its tree-planting project into 2025. The US Servas Board is leading the way with a kick-off contribution (to be credited soon).

Planting Trees for Forest Fire Recovery

One Tree Planted supports reforestation as part of active post-fire management strategies. In addition to facilitating healthy ecosystem recovery, reforestation can reduce vulnerability to future disturbances — including wildfires, insect infestations, and disease outbreaks. When planting trees, everything from the best tree species for the local environment to the distance between trees and the exact location where they are planted is carefully considered. This is to prevent invasive species from colonizing burn scars, while restoring multi-layered wildlife habitat and increasing ecosystem resilience. For example, carefully planning “stand density” (the number of trees in a specific area) can help reduce the spread of pathogens and diseases.

Planting trees doesn’t just safeguard ecosystems against future threats. It can also help combat one of the most immediate consequences of forest fires: soil erosion. Fires consume the organic matter and litter layer that shield and nurture soil, causing hydrophobicity (an inability to absorb water). Reforestation plays a critical role in soil conservation by minimizing sedimentation, preventing erosion, and fostering a diverse vegetation community that will stabilize soils over time.

Every dollar contributed by US Servas members will plant one tree. You can help by making a tax-deductible contribution here: Servas Plants Trees