Dispatch from Luxembourg on 8 June and receipt in Dnipro on 12 June of clothing, footwear and hygiene products for the Internal Refugee Centre.
8 and 12 June 2024
11 June 2024: The Kharkiv hospital received 44 sets of Certofix Mono single-channel venous catheters purchased by the Ad Pacem association.
5th Bike for climate – bike for peace
On the cycle paths near the three borders (tripoint)
Eight young and not-so-young members of the Ad Pacem association met up on Saturday 18 May 2024 for their Bike for Climate in the car park next to the church in Elvange (L). Although it had rained on the previous days, it stayed dry for the entire 45km route. With overcast skies and ideal temperatures, it was a pleasure to pedal through fields, vineyards and villages. But when the cyclists arrived in Remerschen, on the promenade along the Moselle, they were surprised to have to pedal for several hundred metres on a track flooded with twenty centimetres of water from the overflowing Moselle.
Schengen Museum
Our first stop was at the Schengen European Museum (L), which traces the progress of European integration and the establishment of the Schengen area of free movement from its earliest days. On 18 December 2007, the former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bronislaw Geremek, described this process in these words:
‘The abolition of the EU’s internal borders is a sign of recognition that all the citizens of the States concerned belong to the same area, and that they share a common identity’.
The museum’s permanent trilingual exhibition shows that the abolition of internal border controls represents an important step in the process of European integration. A 200 m2 exhibition area offers visitors a range of different themes, together with background information. Visitors can see the various customs and border symbols that characterised border posts between states before the creation of the EU. They were all abolished to allow free communication and movement between the different nations and populations of the EU.
Roman villa Borg
The cyclists then crossed the bridge over the Moselle to begin the long climb, on the German side, through the vineyards to the Roman Villa Borg near Nennig (D). On the way up, the cyclists passed a bunker that forms part of the Westwall built by the Nazis between 1939 and 1940. There are 75 bunkers along this 10.9 km stretch between the east of the town of Perl and the loop in the river Saar near the village of Orscholz.
Once they had reached the Roman villa, it was time for a lunch break and a packed lunch.
After lunch, it was time to visit the impressive villa. This complex has been completely rebuilt from its foundation walls. A visit to the residences of the Villa Borg gives an idea of the life of the privileged Romans two thousand years ago. The open-air museum with artefacts found during archaeological excavations, the villa’s magnificent baths, the harmonious gardens, the banqueting rooms, the gatehouse, the Roman kitchen and the Roman tavern invite you to linger a while.
Roman villa with the largest mosaic north of the Alps
After passing through more vineyards and woods, the next stop was the Roman villa near Nennig (D). It houses the largest mosaic from the Roman era north of the Alps.
The villa’s magnificent mosaic floor is one of the most important finds of its kind north of the Alps, and one of the few that can still be visited today at the original discovery site. Protected by a structure built around 150 years ago, the site is one of the oldest museum displays of archaeological finds in Germany.
The carefully structured mosaic spreads like a carpet over an imitation of black and white marble tiles. The mosaic was created at the beginning of the 3rd century A.D. It measures around 160 m2 on the floor and incorporates a well decorated with marble slabs. The mosaic was made using around 3 million small stones.
Just before visiting the mosaic, the group had stopped for a few moments in front of a mound forming a Roman burial complex dating from the 2nd century AD.
For the last 10km, the group was forced to make a slight diversions and take the main road. Heavy rain the previous day had caused a landslide that swept away several trees, completely blocking the way.
It was a very nice cycling trip to the ‘Luxembourg, France and Germany’ tripoint.
9 June 2024 : Kharkiv hospital receives 26 sets of Certofix Duo central venous catheters purchased by the Ad Pacem association.
9 June 2024 : Kharkiv hospital receives 26 sets of Certofix Duo central venous catheters purchased by the Ad Pacem association.
Newsletter 33
Bike for climate (cycle paths around Arlon) – ‘From flame to light’ (show in Verdun)
Dear members,
Peace lacks visibility in our lives and in our societies!
It is war and violence of all kinds, with their images of the destruction of human lives, cultures, environments and the Other who is different, that continually occupy our daily lives on the many information networks.
What is missing are the initiatives and actions that enable us to be, or become, people who live and spread a spirit of peace.
We are offering our members, and anyone else who is interested, outings that teach this spirit of peace.
15 June: bike for climate – bike for peace
On Saturday 15 June 2024, starting at 9.30am, we’ll be meeting at the free car park of Clairefontaine Abbey (81, rue du Cloître, 67000 Arlon), which was once a Dominican convent before being handed over to the Fathers of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart.
Most of the cycle tour will take place on cycle paths around the town of Arlon (B). We’ll be back at Clairefontaine Abbey by 5pm.
You are all cordially invited to join us. We travel by car pool. Let us know in advance by email ([email protected]) or by calling us on 00352 621 280850 or by text message.
28 June: Verdun ‘From Flame to Light’
This is one of Europe’s biggest shows on the 1914-18 war, with 250 actors, 1,000 spotlights and 2 hectares of stage space, giving you a visual and audio immersion into the heart of the battle and life in the trenches.
You can find out more about the show on the website:
The show starts in the dark of night (between 10.30pm and 11pm). We are organising a car pool from Esch-sur-Alzette (L) (around 8pm) and should arrive around 9.30pm to take the stage. The show lasts 1h30. You should expect to leave the stands at around 00:30. The journey from Esch-sur-Alzette to Verdun takes about 1 hour 20 minutes.
We can organise admission for groups at a preferential rate:
Adult admission €15 (instead of €24 at the individual rate);
Entry for young people (aged 7 to 15) €10 (instead of €16).
Contact: Natalya Pantaleoni (00352 621280850;
e-mail: [email protected])
We look forward to meeting you,
Claude Pantaleoni
Newsletter 32
7th General Meeting – Bike for climate – Outing to Verdun
Dear friends, dear members,
The Board of our association “Pour la Paix et contre la Guerre – Ad pacem servandam” called its members to the 7th General Meeting, which was held on 23 March 2024. You can consult the report of the GM by clicking on the following link:
=> Report on our 7th General Meeting 2024
Bike for climate – bike for peace
This is the third year that Ad Pacem has organised this peaceful initiative on two wheels. Cycling is good for individual health and reminds us of the many advantages of a policy that promotes cycling as part of our daily mobility (cycle paths in and around our towns, cycle parking facilities, etc.). Some of the wars currently being waged (notably in Ukraine, Sudan and Syria) are wars in which the aggressors appropriate energy resources to consolidate their dictatorial powers. Added to this is climate change, which calls into question our erroneous travel habits.
These arguments, combined with the pleasure of seeing you again, mean that we are delighted to invite you to our 5th cycle tour, which will take place on Saturday 18 May 2024. The tour will start at 9am in front of the church in Elvange, Luxembourg, where you can park for free all day. We plan to return to the same place at around 5pm.
The route, of around forty kilometres, will take us mainly along cycle paths in Luxembourg and Saarland.
The programme includes a number of interesting visits: the European Museum in Schengen, the Roman villa at Borg, and the Roman mosaic at Nennig, the latter two being among the largest and best preserved north of the Alps. We will also pass by the Remerschen nature reserve and the Remich esplanade, all set in the heart of the Moselle landscape and the surrounding vineyards.
All visits are free of charge for participants, as they are paid for by the association. Please bring your own provisions for lunch, in the form of a packed lunch.
To take part, please confirm your attendance by e-mail to [email protected] before 15 May.
You can find out more about the route by clicking on the following link:
=> Ad Pacem Bike Tour n. 5
VERDUN: “Des Flammes à la Lumière” show
Ad Pacem also invites you to take part in its outing to the “Des Flammes à la Lumière” show, which recalls the First World War battle at Verdun, on Friday 28 June 2024 (from dusk until around midnight).
It’s one of Europe’s biggest shows on the 1914-18 War. 250 actors, 1,000 spotlights and 2 hectares of stage space will immerse you in the sounds and sights of combat and life in the trenches.
For more information on the show, visit the following website:
=> https://spectacle-verdun.com/
We will organise the purchase of tickets. If you are interested in seeing this unique show, let us know before 25 May by emailing [email protected].
To make travelling easier, we are organising a car pool. If you are coming with your own car, let us know please if you have room to take other people with you.
The departure time from Esch-sur-Alzette will be communicated to you a few days before.
Best peace regards,
Claude Pantaleoni
Chairman
Report on our 7th General Meeting 2024
On Saturday 23 March 2024, from 10am to 12pm, the 7th General Meeting of our association was held at the Willibrord Centre in Bascharage.
Contents:
- Opening of the meeting by the Chairman
- Report on 2023 activities
- Financial report 2023
- Auditor’s report
- Amendment to the Articles of Association
- Additional election of the Committee of Administrators
- Election of the auditor
- Provisional budget for 2024
- Determination of the membership fee
- Miscellaneous
- Opening of the meeting by the Chairman
Claude Pantaleoni, President of Ad Pacem servandam (Ad Pacem), thanked everyone for coming to this 7th General Meeting in Bascharage, at the Willibrord Centre. In his welcoming remarks, he emphasised the need to highlight the works of peace rather than the rhetoric of war. Because PEACE needs to be more visible in our society. This is one of the association’s raisons d’être.
Claude Pantaleoni and Christian Welter were elected President and Secretary respectively of the General Meeting.
Continue reading “Report on our 7th General Meeting 2024”15 April 2024
On the same day, medicines were purchased in Kyiv for soldiers and civilians suffering from war trauma who are being treated at the Vorzel hospital in Ukraine.The money came from a grant from the town of Differdange (L)
– 30 March and 4 April 2024
Clothing, sheets, antiseptics and dressings were sent from Luxembourg on 30 March. They were received at the refugee centre in Dnipro on 4 April and distributed to those in need.
– 23 and 28 March 2024
On 23 March, from Luxembourg were sent post-operative dressings, antiseptics, enteral nutrition, orthopaedic cushion and equipment for bed-ridden people were sent. These were received at the Kharkiv hospital on 28 March.
Mid to late January 2024
Production of trench candles by the children of Berezhany. The paraffin for the candles was bought by our association in Ukraine. Once made, the candles were delivered at the end of January to the soldiers at the front. In the trenches, they are used to heat food, warm cold hands, provide some light, dry small items of clothing, etc.
3 and 17 February 2024: on 3 February, a wheelchair, a walking frame, a table that can be hung next to the patient’s bed, linen, blankets and medicines were sent from Luxembourg to the centre for internal refugees in Dnipro. This aid arrived on the 17th of the month.
5 January 2024: Oleksadr P., a doctor at the front near Bahmut, received a bullet-proof waistcoat and protective belt from our association. As early as 18 January, when he went out to help the wounded, he was only slightly wounded in the hand and was operated on at Poltava hospital. He stayed alive thanks to the protection he had received a few days earlier.His wife wrote us a letter of thanks: “You saved the father of our children. While Oleksandr was in hospital, his third child, a daughter, was born”.
5 January 2024: the internal refugees at the Dnipro refugee centre received our help: bed linen and winter clothes sent from Luxembourg on 23 December.
