Christmas story from Colombia

Christmas can create peace. The experts at an international
advertising agency. They were working on behalf of the Colombian government. And
made the longing of many people for a peaceful and jointly celebrated
Christmas to their mission: to get the armed fighters in the Colombian jungle to lay down their weapons.
the advertising experts launched "Operation Christmas", the campaign "Rivers
of Light" and "Operation Bethlehem".

They sent the advertisers in unusual ways during the Advent season for several years
Messages to the armed men and women in the jungle that convince them
should: "Come home! Lay down your weapons before Christmas!"
In the first year, trees over 20 metres tall were decorated with countless lights.
directly on the paths used by the rebels. Banners bore the inscription:
"If Christmas can come to the jungle, you can come home too
come!"

More than 300 rebels are said to have responded to this call and left the jungle. In
another year, over 6,000 Christmas tree baubles were placed in the river, in which
handwritten messages and personalised gifts from family and friends,
from the water directly towards the rebel camps. Then there was this
strong beam of light that reached far into the sky, shining brightly from various
villages, from Macarena, from EL Paujil, from Toribio. Those who have not yet left the jungle
who didn't know the way, could now set off. All he had to do was
Put your head back and walk towards the light. And this action also had a
Motto: "Anything is possible at Christmas." The message was well received. A few years later, the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel
Santos, the Nobel Peace Prize - for his unusual and successful ways of
Silencing weapons.

Iris Macke