Circles for peace.'EVERY PERSON HAS a story to tell and a need to be heard' is one of the guiding principles of a series of Women's Peace Circles which have been taking place in Australia Australia (ôstrāl`yə), smallest continent, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. With the island state of Tasmania to the south, the continent makes up the Commonwealth of Australia, a federal parliamentary state (2005 est. pop. , Malaysia Malaysia (məlā`zhə), independent federation (2005 est. pop. 23,953,000), 128,430 sq mi (332,633 sq km), Southeast Asia. The official capital and by far the largest city is Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya is the adminstrative capital. , the US and Lebanon Lebanon, country, Asia Lebanon (lĕb`ənən, –nŏn'), officially Republic of Lebanon, republic (2005 est. pop. 3,826,000), 4,015 sq mi (10,400 sq km), SW Asia. under the umbrella of IofC. The circles grew out of the Creators of Peace women's network whose conference in Uganda Uganda (y  gän`də, gän`dä), officially Republic of Uganda, republic (2005 est. pop. last year was reported in For A Change (Vol 18 no 4). They bring together six to 12 women from different cultural backgrounds and faiths to explore their ability to create peace. As they work through a series of topics, participants are encouraged to share something of their personal stories in an atmosphere of trust and respect. Peace circles have taken place in Adelaide, Melbourne and, most recently, Sydney, where women from Lebanon, Kenya, Iraq, Rwanda, Burundi, India, Holland and Australia took part. Comments from participants included: * 'I can't be a prisoner of my past. I choose to forgive.' * 'Islam is not terrorist. I worry about my children's generation.' * 'I've held anger and disappointment inside me for many years. I am confronting this and starting the healing Healing See also Medicine. Achilles’ spear had power to heal whatever wound it made. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad] Agamede Augeas’ daughter; noted for skill in using herbs for healing. [Gk. Myth. process.' * 'Offering hospitality is a way of building peace.' Eight more peace circles are starting up in Sydney this year--including one for men ! |
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