At twelve midnight on 31 december 1992, more than 1000 beacon signal fires be lit across the 12 countries of the European Community to celebrate the new unity in Europe and the advent of the Single Market. Beacon Europe will bring the peoples and families of Europe together in common celebration of "peace and friendship". Young people will have an important part to play as European future belongs to them. The Scout Movement, the Young European Federalists, the European Movement, Local Authorities and Government bodies are taking part, ensuring that Beacon Europe truly becomes a community activity. Although not yet full members of the EC, the Island of Cyprus, Malta, along with Gibraltar, are taking part, demonstrating a new communal spirit among all in Europe. Beacon signal fires have been traditional method of communication in Europe for at least 2000 years. News of the fall of Troy was reputedly conveyed to Argos in Greece in a single night by beacons spread over 320 miles. Over the centuries, chains of fi

res were widely used to carry tidings of victory, danger and celebration. Numbers of original signal towers and beacon sites still exist throughout Europe. The lighting of the beacon fires across Europe will be governed by the various time zones. The Islands of Greece will be first to light their beacons; at twelve midnight their time, the first beacon being lit in Athens. Two hours ahead of the United Kingdom, Portugal and Ireland, one hour ahead of the other countries within the EC. The lighting of the first beacon in Athens will signal a chain reaction throughout all the other beacon sites in Greece. An hour later all other beacons will be lit in other capital cities, followed by all remaining beacons, setting a chain reaction across Europe in time rather than site. By organising Beacon Europe - European Unity Celebrations with the support of Young European Federalists and others, we played a small part to help promote a new era of "peace and friendship" in Europe, and we can all look forward to a bright

future in a Europe with no barriers, as there is nothing more precious than freedom of choice, speech and movement.