Barbara Müller Book order

Before the Europeans came, Amerindians celebrated on Hilton Head Island with seasonal oyster feasts. Later, planters made fortunes here with Sea Island cotton. But the island came alive to the guns of the Union in 1861 and, for seven years, was host to the troops who helped former slaves even before the Emancipation Proclamation made freedom official. The forces left, and the island slept. In the pages of this book are some of the people who kept the Gullah sea island culture alive, a self-sustaining culture of mutual help and integrity, living off the sea and the land. This volume also includes some of the people who set a standard for development and made the island what it is today, unique visionaries who had a fierce devotion to preservation of the island's natural beauty, its flora, and its fauna.

Jorgen Johansen, a peace activist and researcher with expertise in various global conflicts, discusses a significant shift in the international peace movement's strategy during the early nineties. Members began moving into war zones in large numbers, a departure from previous practices. This shift rendered many past experiences obsolete, highlighting that good intentions alone were insufficient for effective intervention. To enhance future campaigns, it is essential to critically evaluate these new interventions. Barbara Müller’s study of the Balkan Peace Team’s work in Croatia, Serbia, and Kosovo offers a thorough evaluation of this project. In a true ‘Gandhian’ spirit, the author leads readers through this “experiment with the truth,” providing more than just praise for the dedicated volunteers. The book's most valuable sections detail the complexities and challenges faced by such initiatives, organized by diverse peace organizations and staffed by individuals from various backgrounds. Working in a war zone further complicates these efforts. Overall, the Balkan Peace Team's accomplishments merit recognition, and this critical examination serves as an important resource. Any organization planning similar projects or sending volunteers to conflict areas should prioritize reading this essential work.