IWPG Celebrates Women and Peace Over a Candlelit Dinner
Photos by IWPG-NSW
Sydney-Australia
May 24, 2019
Sydney: The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) united the CALD diverse women, men and the youth over traditional Korean dish Bibimbap dinner along with acoustic performance of jazz classics after peace talks at the Newington Neighborhood Community Centre of Parramatta, NSW-Australia.
Sydney: The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) united the CALD diverse women, men and the youth over traditional Korean dish bibimbap dinner along with acoustic performance of jazz classics after peace talks at the Newington Neighborhood Community Centre of Parramatta, NSW.
Here, Filipinos joined Australia in also chanting and mourning by candlelight for the Sri Lankan tragedies whilst celebrating Women's Day this month with an evening of condolence poetry and life lessons.
Thus, inspired by the heart of a mother, IWPG was created to protect the youth from perishing in wars and to pass on a world of peace to our future generations.
On the 11th of May in Sydney Australia, women, their families and representatives of the community participated in one such event which began with a reading of a condolence poem regarding the Sri Lankan tragedies that recently occurred.
The poem was written and recited by Dr. Chandrika Subramaniyan, an esteemed member of the community who was a citizen of Sri Lanka herself. Embodying the heart of sadness and pain at the loss of lives cut so short, this poem was a sobering touch of the reality of today’s world and also an excellent reminder of why IWPG and its partners tirelessly do the work of peace.
The evening continued with the congratulatory remarks of the councilor of Parramatta, Cr Sameer Pandey, who expertly appraised the contribution of women to society as is the theme of Mother’s Day, by sharing the example and memory of his own mother.
All over the world, in times of conflict those who participate in war, and sacrifice their lives are the youths; individuals in the prime of their lives who are then sent out to battlefields to defend pride and country.
Those who raise these youths are often the mothers, grandmothers, aunts and many other female figures. Yet, those who decide to participate in wars are neither the youths nor the mothers who ultimately experience the loss and pain of war and conflict.
Thus, inspired by the heart of a mother, IWPG was created to protect the youth from perishing in wars and to pass on a world of peace to our future generations.
On the 26th of April 2019, IWPG proclaimed the International Women’s Peace Day in the Republic of Korea, under the theme of ‘Cessation of War and Creation of World Peace as 3.7 Billion Women Become One.’
This is now the banner under which women all over the world who are a part of IWPG and those yet to join have participated in various events over the last month in order to raise awareness for peace and for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW); the vehicle through which peace can be achieved.
Such an honest presentation of the impact of one woman, which motivated the audience to reflect on their individual influence on the world, was then followed by a crisp introduction of the International Women’s Peace Group by the Australia branch manager, Ms. Lydia Im.
In her confident and clear words, she reinforced the capability of women united in one cause to change the world, which is something that the IWPG all over the world has catalysed and witnessed in its peace letter initiative in support of the DPCW.
This synergy of peace work, and the recognition and celebration of women continued throughout the course of the event as this testimony of the work of the IWPG across the world was followed with a comprehensive breakdown of the DPCW by the regional manager of HWPL Sydney’s International Law department, Mr. Andrew Young.
After carefully detailing the motivation, history, and progress of the DPCW, two key supporters of the international law who have been actively working with both IWPG and HWPL, Mrs. Patricia Garcia and Mrs. Saroni Roy, gave their testimony on the value of the DPCW, their congratulations Attachment.png for the proclamation of the International Women’s Peace Day, and also delivered their heart towards their own and mothers everywhere.
The evening then concluded with the signing of two memorandums of understanding with Afghan Women on the Move, and with the Love Peace Harmony Foundation; two partner organisations who have actively joined IWPG’s work of peace in Sydney, after recognising that ‘partnerships like this are exactly what allows us to bring peace to each person’s heart and to the greater world’ – Mirva Inkeri.
Amidst the presentations and words of peace, this beautiful evening was also accompanied by an acoustic performance of jazz classics, dinner consisting of the traditional Korean dish bibimbap which is a balance of ingredients and harmony of flavors much like the balance and harmony IWPG and its partners wish to bring to the world, and most touchingly, the gift of a single red carnation to every woman in attendance.