Ride on the Peace Train

It's no longer just Cat Stevens "dreaming about the world as one." IT recently came across an organization with a mission "based on a vision of the world's largest industry, travel and tourism - becoming the world's first global peace industry; and the belief that every traveler is potentially an 'Ambassador for Peace'."

Founded more than 20 years, ago, the Vermont-based International Institute For Peace Through Tourism does a great job of encapsulating all that travel is and can be, when done thoughtfully and with an eye toward spreading goodwill.

For inspiration, they've written the Credo of the Peaceful Traveler. You can also book trips through their tour company, World Peace Travel, whose offerings include a tour of the Kingdom of Bhutan, visiting the Muscat Festival in Oman, or the Abrahamic Faith Tour of holy sites in Israel and Jordan.

The institute also sponsors conferences, gives awards, and recognizes charities such as Just a Drop and Airline Ambassadors.

We've long known that travel is big business, and it's nice to see an organization that sees it as much, much more.