International Peace Builder Honored for Lifetime Achievements

ALBANY, NY (05/07/2007)(readMedia)-- International peace builder Louise Diamond will be presented with the 2007 Andrew Thomas PeaceBuilder Award on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza in Albany, New York for her exemplary efforts to instill peace in places of deep-rooted social conflict around the world. The award is presented by the New York State Dispute Resolution Association (NYSDRA) as part of its Annual Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Day. Past recipients of the award include Arun Gandhi, Gillian Martin Sorensen, Lieutenant Governor Mary O. Donohue, Robert A. Baruch Bush, Joseph P. Folger and Andrew Thomas. Governor Spitzer has proclaimed May 6-12 as Alternative Dispute Resolution Week.

Louise Diamond, Ph.D., is an educator and consultant whose life has been devoted to helping people live in peace. She is the co-founder and President Emeritus of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a peace builder in places of violent conflict around the world. Ms. Diamond is also the founder of The Peace Company, seeking to make peace practical, popular, and profitable while showing that peace is good business. She has recently founded Where Peace Begins, a company dedicated to galvanizing a movement for a culture of peace.

“NYSDRA is exceptionally pleased and honored to recognize the work of Louise Diamond who promotes a vision for a world without violence,” said NYSDRA Executive Director, Lisa Hicks.

The gathering is held to commemorate NYSDRA’s annual Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Day, which is designed to educate the public and legislative representatives about various resources and opportunities available to creatively and effectively respond to conflict. In the morning, NYSDRA members will visit legislators to speak about several pending bills affecting alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

ADR represents a variety of processes through which potential litigants may resolve disputes. Examples are conciliation, mediation, facilitation and other ways of resolving disputes focused on effective communication and negotiation, rather than using more adversarial processes.

Studies have shown that agreements brokered in this manner enjoy a high degree of success, while helping to alleviate pressure on an overburdened legal system and saving taxpayers thousands of dollars in related court costs.

ABOUT NYS DISPUTE RESOLUTION ASSOCIATION, INC.

The New York State Dispute Resolution Association, Inc. (NYSDRA) is a private not-for-profit professional membership organization committed to the use and promotion of peaceful dispute resolution and quality conflict management. Through leadership, education, promotion of professional standards and training, and development of innovative statewide programs, NYSDRA provides opportunities for people, communities, organizations and businesses to effectively respond to conflict.