Well-Being For All

We Have A Voice - Let's Use It!!!

What a month it has been.  First there was the Community of Christ International Peace Colloquy. The recipient of the International Peace Award this year was Dr. Halima Bashir. She has spoken out against the genocide of her people in Darfur and written her memoirs of survival in her book - "Tears of the Desert".

Before her acceptance speech there was a short film clip entitled "Voices From Darfur".

Check it out here. Voices From Darfur

Dr. Bashir was introduced by our past director, Rod Downing, who has been producing a Peace and Justice letter for several years now and has become very knowledgeable on the Darfur genocide crisis.

We had arranged to bring three very important people to the Colloquy to participate as keynote speakers:  Rupa Kumar of the CORDI Women's Shelter, in India; Felipa Xico, the executive Director of Mujeres en Accion (MeA) in Guatemala; and Domitila Curuchich, a past participant and now director of the MeA program. 

During Dr. Bashir's keynote address, I remember looking over at Domitila to see her head down with tears falling onto her lap as she listened to Dr. Bashir tell her story. It brought back for her all the memories she had of the civil war and genocide in Guatemala and the disappearance of her father and brother.

After the award ceremony I saw Felipa sitting alone in the back of the temple. She had not expected to hear such a story and it had been incredibly difficult for her.

Find recordings of the Peace Colloquy here: Recordings

The following day Domitila and Felipa did an amazing job on their keynote address but all the talk later was about the address of Rupa Kumar who held nothing back on her plea. Perhaps it would be more accurately described as "her demand" for equality for women around the globe. It was hard hitting and quite appropriate given the focus of this year's Peace Colloquy - "Justice for Women; Dignity for All".  

I was so proud to call these incredible women "partners of World Accord"!

I bought Dr. Bashir's book and began gobbling it up immediately. You can buy it by clicking here.

Once we all returned to Canada we began the journey that would see Terry Fielder and myself cross the country with our partners telling our stories to anyone who would listen. There were several radio interviews, newspaper articles and many meetings with both groups and individuals.

By the time we had completed our journey I had finished Tears of the Desert. What an incredible story! It was very heart wrenching and, as at other times in my life, I was astounded by man's ability to do completely inhuman things to other people. At times like this I feel there must be some fundamental flaw in humans that we could do such awful things to each other.

I am ashamed to admit that, at times, an email came across my desk and, too busy, I hit the delete key when it would have only take a moment to add my voice to those who speak out against atrocities. Never again!  It may be a small thing but.......From now on I will be careful to ensure I no longer remain silent. Speaking out is a wise use of a moment. It was Haile Selassie who said:

"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better;
the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph."

On this, our Remembrance Day, let us not only remember those Canadians who have fallen in wars past and present, but all those people around the world that suffer as a result of human conflict.

Let us use our voices where possible to help end conflict and bring Peace to this World. 

Peace and Love

David

ps. Here is a simple thing. Go to the Save Darfur page and download a search toolbar for your browser that will donate funds to the cause whenever you search with it. 

posted by World Accord Staff @ 11:26 AM