May Peace Prevail On Earth

Lyrics, music and vocals by Belinda McArdle of Geelong

The World Peace Flame was created in 1999 when seven living flames lit by prominent peacemakers on five continents were flown across the oceans by military and commercial aircraft to the United Kingdom and united into one eternal Flame in Bangor, North Wales. It is a universal symbol representing humanity's combined aspirations for peace.

The Flame is still being passed from person to person and lit by thousands of people daily as a dedication to peace. The World Peace Flame, a universal symbol for global peace and unity, is bringing hope to millions of people worldwide.

It is intended that each candle lit from the World Peace Flame becomes a new Peace Flame. Therefore, don't save your World Peace Flame for a special occasion, every day is special.

Light the World Peace Flame with thoughts of peace and please share the Flame with others by lighting more candles from this flame. You can re-light it at another time and it still retains the essence. Above all, let the World Peace Flame remind you of your inner light and the peace within your own heart.

Some of us from Geelong were fortunate to be part of peace activities in Sydney over the past two years for International Day of Peace, September 21st, events initiated by Biannca Pace. Within these functions was the presentation of the World Peace Flame by Victoria Sharp.

We were gifted our own peace flame, from which many candles have been lit and distributed.

We are hoping that Victoria will be present at our Symphony of Peace Prayers on May 16th here in Geelong. See a separate blog entry for details.

Jenny on the ferry

Chrysanne doing the IN for Humanity

Harmony Day 21st March 2010We here in Geelong were asked to attend a Civic Function held by the City of Greater Geelong to welcome 2010 international students and recently arrived skilled migrants as part of Harmony Day, an annual event held right across Australia, coinciding with the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
A fabric Mandala was requested with the city logo on it, a map of Australia in the middle, and a few outlines of people around the edges of the circles.
Our city Mayor was asked to be the first to write upon it, with the 120 or more attendees invited to write after this. It was so wonderful to see so many adults and children from a diverse range of nationalities and cultures contributing to this mandala over the time.
We also hung the Parliament of World Religions mandala for attendees to look at. People enjoyed reading these messages.
Also presented as a backdrop to the event was the mounted works of over 100 entries in the World Peace Prayer Society Art Exhibition. This was very popular. Up until the 21st, the Exhibition had been present in the Foyer of City Hall for a week. May Peace Prevail On Earth energy had been circling mightily in our city this past week!!!!!
Three of our Satellite attended, being available to chat to people and help with the mandala writing.
Many members of Geelong Interfaith Network were also present.

Geelong Flamefest Friday March 19thThe initial inspiration for Flamefest came from a handful of residents who wanted to help build bridges between neighbours in Whittington, a Geelong suburb, to show multicultural pride and create a fun and affordable day for families.
This is a celebration of community, of cultural diversity and of suburban pride.
The Flamefest draws deeply on the well of creativity that lies within Whittington. It is a once-a-year opportunity for this neighbourhood to tell its own stories. Like many festivals, there are children’s rides and face-painting, but the Flamefest also has a strong Indigenous activities program.

Silvana and I attended this local neighbourhood event as part of the Geelong Interfaith Network. In our tent placed on the edge of the oval, we presented two mandalas; one was of fabric and the other cardboard. Last year I had the inspiration to create a mandala that was easy for people with disabilities to share, thinking at the time of my mum in a nursing home. I printed large positive words on coloured paper and allowed people to paste these on a mandala.
For Flamefest Festival I had a big sheet of red card, drew circles on it and people could choose their words to paste upon it. This proved popular with adults and children alike who either only had a moment to spare or found it a bit daunting to write on the fabric mandala.

The fabric mandala too was very popular with additions being made from a culturally diverse range of people.
We loved the evening, even though we couldn't stay until dark to see the lantern parade. Our friends from the Interfaith network were very happy that so many people came and wrote on both mandalas and we had lots of opportunities to chat. Our Geelong Mayor wrote a message on the mandala too.

At the end of February was the annual multicultural festival, Pako Festa, in Geelong. We have a huge ethnic population who come out in force to present aspects of their culture in varied ways including a huge Parade, food stalls lining Pakington St, dance, singing, arts, crafts, etc. It's a wonderful day bringing all people together as one.
Our Geelong Interfaith Network always has a tent where different faiths can have their brochures for people to take and for conversation to occur. We often help decorate the tent in some way to become a more eye catching venue. Only minimal this year with the focus being the Parliament of World Religions Mandala, and art work from the World Peace Prayer Society. A beautiful combination.
Many people were fascinated by the mandala and even if many did not come and comment, there was a constant stream of onlookers as they passed, paused and then moved to stage venues or food stalls.

The art work from children around the world was also a drawcard. These were colourful and all radiating the message May Peace Prevail On Earth.
One of our interfaith members had some stones, so we found some marker pens and encouraged people to write positive words on the stones and take them home to place in their garden, or maybe place on their desks as paperweights. A very popular activity.