A group of Bermudians will embark on a trip to the United Nations headquarters in New York to promote Bermudian culture and to celebrate peace.

Bermuda was selected by The Friends of the United Nations as the focal point and launch site for the Global Peace and Tolerance initiative.

Global Arts Entertainment, established one and a half years ago for the UN Quest for Global Peace and Tolerance project, has coordinated the trip.

Andrew Phillips, CEO of Global Arts Entertainment, told The Royal Gazette: "Bermuda was faced with a challenge to provide a prototype of our culture for the rest of the world to see. We met this with seven initiatives: a primary school mural, junior tennis league, national youth debate, poetry and essay contest within the schools, local entertainers showcase, peace prayers, and the West End, East End Food Hamper Campaign."

Mr. Phillip's added: "The whole initiative started at an anti-racism conference in South Africa with the late David Allen and Dr. Noel Brown, of The Friends of the United Nations. Dr. Brown became interested in Bermuda after meeting David Allen."

Children will attend the UN International School in New York on December 10, to discuss peace and tolerance.

Their creative efforts will be showcased at the school in an exhibit on December 10-11 to display a mural that they have constructed, and to recite their poetry.

Participants from the seven projects will be part of a 60-person entourage attending the trip.

Eugene (Sam) Maybury, Project Director of Global Arts Entertainment, told The Royal Gazette: "We have a commitment from the UN for the next seven years."

Mr. Phillips added: "We are honoured to have been asked by Friends of the UN to put together a Bermuda prototype, because Bermuda seems like a peaceful country but through the initiatives we saw flaws. Children were able to point them out and help deal with them."

The group attending the trip is comprised of children, parents, Government, teachers, musicians, ministerial members, business executives, and sports professionals.

They will attend The Friends of the UN award ceremony on December 10, which is a celebration of peace, tolerance, and human rights.

A press release stated: "This year it will be dedicated to the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, Mr.Viera de Mello, UN staff members, and people who died in the bombing of Baghdad in October.

The Friend's of the UN will also be honouring the Bermuda Government and people for their programmes promoting peace and tolerance.

At the ceremony, a presentation and musical will be shown by the Bermudians in attendance to offer insight to Island culture.

Representatives from Cellular One and Gorham's, sponsor's for the trip, will attend.

The presentation, to be shown at the UN awards ceremony, will be available to the public by 2004.