By Marcelle Mansour
“Conversations in Peace” book was launched by Her Excellency Dame Marie Bashir – the former Governor of New South Wales – on Tuesday the 11th of August at Gleebooks, Glebe. It is the first volume of the speeches which were delivered by Sydney Peace Prize recipients. The first 14 recipients of the Sydney Peace Prize (1998-2011) were selected from around the world. The book was edited by both authors Dr. Lynda-Ann Blanchard & Dr. Hannah Middleton. A film of ‘Conversations in Peace’ was produced and screened under the auspices of philanthropist Steve Killelea and music was played by renowned Kurdish Artist Veli Toprak.
The book includes Nobel Laureates Muhammad Yunus and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former leader of Amnesty International Irene Khan, the Indian novelist Arundhati Roy, environmental scientist Dr. Vandana Shiva, Aboriginal leader Patrick Dodson, and the inimitable academic activist Professor Noam Chomsky, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi and more.
According to the Editors of the book: “These inspiring individuals aspire to a future in which respect for human rights is universal and unchallenged. In highly creative ways they show how poverty can be eradicated, non-violence embraced, the rich and powerful persuaded that peace with justice is precious and that violence of any kind is not only contrary to any notion of a common humanity but also serves no purpose.”
“This volume not only pays homage to the wonderful recipients of the Sydney Peace Prize, Australia’s only international prize for peace but also serves to honour Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees AM, founder of the Sydney Peace Foundation and the Sydney Peace Prize.”