Suzanne Mubarak's Women's International Peace Movement resumed its Peace Matters lecture series with renewed vitality, Nevine El-Aref reports If the age-old expression, "the pen is mightier than the sword" sums up the essence of the importance of culture for lasting peace, then Mrs Suzanne Mubarak was keen on using it to make her point during a discussion panel held early this week at the Cairo Opera House. The debates were being held as part of the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement's (SMWIPM) Peace Matters lecture series. The series involved inspirational speakers to stimulate public discussions on the role of women in peace and security issues. In addition, the lectures aimed at encouraging the active participation of civil society in the promotion and advancement of the principles of a culture of peace. Chaired by Mrs Mubarak and attended by Culture Minister Farouk Hosni along with prominent Egyptian and international cultural figures, writers and several high- profile women's rights activists, the event entitled "Culture: The Language of Peace" brought together globally renowned musician, producer and director Quincy Jones, Seeds of Peace President Janet Wallach, prominent SMWIPM board member Leila Takla, and writer Mohamed Salmawy, head of the Egyptian Writers' Association, to share their insight and experience in implementing the power of culture to redress misunderstandings and stereotypes and to promote principles of tolerance, equality and peace. The gathering's message was crystal clear. In our troubled times, as prospects for peace seem bleaker than ever, culture can play a key role in helping the international community towards reaching it. "Through literature, poetry and prose, truths can be unveiled, negative perceptions can be shifted and innovative visions for peace can be cemented," stressed Mrs Mubarak in her speech addressed to the meeting. During her speech she underlined the significance of the works of famous writers and visionaries like Leo Tolstoy, Hans Christian Andersen, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Egypt's living Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Mrs Mubarak believes that culture, in all its forms, works as an excellent conveyor of the principles of peace. Art, she said, "is a very powerful tool that captivates the people's imagination and nurtures their creativity. It also crosses boundaries and mobilises people for the vital job of making the world a better and more peaceful place, bringing nations, people and cultures together. And it does." For, in a world of diversity, she said, music leaps across differences and protests against the horrors of war with timeless melodies by artists like Beethoven and Benjamin Britten. In Plato's words, "music gives soul to universe, wings to the mind and flight to the imagination." Mrs Mubarak went on: "We have all been inspired, at some point, by global humanitarian concerts, such as Live Aid and songs like 'We are the World', produced by this event's guest of honour, the vocal conscience of peace, the very talented Quincy Jones." While culture is often reduced by many to being a source of conflict between people and nations, she continued, "I firmly believe it also holds the key to building and maintaining long-term peace. In the same vein, one of the most important challenges of our times is not our diversity in itself, but the way in which we handle our differences with respect and understanding." In her statement, Mrs Mubarak described the event as a vital opportunity which "allows us to reflect together on the meaning of peace and to collectively continue to work together for lasting peace and stability." Underscoring that "all people of goodwill want peace", she said that definitions of peace vary. "For many, it means the absence of war and violence, while others see that it represents the quest for inner peace and tranquillity, peace with oneself and the surrounding environment. But for many more, and I am one of them, peace is a prerequisite for development and democracy as well as a state of order where justice and the rule of law are respected and upheld." Fuelled by such aspirations, Mrs Mubarak explained that SMWIPM focuses on the more positive and holistic aspects of peace. High on its agenda are forging partnerships with active members of the global community and empowering all actors, especially women -- who are custodians of timeless noble values and traditions -- to become effective peace builders. It also provides a platform for communication and information-sharing between individuals and groups working for peace, justice and human security. At the gathering, Mrs Mubarak also announced that the SMWIPM is set to launch a new national programme titled Together Towards a Safe Society. The programme aims at connecting, empowering and engaging young men and women in building sustainable peace in their communities. It will be officially launched on 25 April, in commemoration of Sinai Liberation Day -- a day described by Mrs Mubarak as "a day of national dignity, pride and peace for all Egyptians, a peace that has been carefully preserved and strengthened throughout the years." The initiative came to light as a result of the SMWIPM's commitment to working with children and youth, one which is woven into the very fabric of the movement. "With their unique voice, their boundless creative powers and their infectious optimism, young people have the potential to confidently chart new peace initiatives, and all along, open new avenues of cooperation and hope. In order to enhance this positive potential for change, we spare no effort in providing them with the tools and resources that will equip them to become the world's future architects of peace." At the end of her speech, Mrs Mubarak appealed to all peace-seekers for the need to ensure that peace becomes an intrinsic to our daily lives. "We can make a brighter day, when we all join action to words and allow all people to flourish and grow. So, let's start giving to others of our time, our energy, our knowledge and compassion and together engineer the future we want to see," she said. She added that she hoped that "we can finally get ourselves out of the dark tunnel and into the brighter light emanating from a global culture peace." Panel discussions then raised the issue of how culture can be used as a language of peace. Walach introduced her association's successes in enabling people of different cultural background to live together in peace through music, songs, drawings and poetry side by side with sports including football and basketball. She related that as an association that aims at bringing together teenagers from the Middle East and elsewhere to live together in peace for almost a month, one summer the Seeds of Peace camp brought together a team composed of a Jordanian, a Palestinian, an Egyptian and an Israeli. They were sent to live together in the woods for 25 days. "As enemies, as they once called themselves, their first night was a nightmare," said Walach. They were not able to sleep as each expected to be assassinated during the night. But on the contrary, she continued, they were surprised as they woke up the following day safe and sound. As their days in the camp progressed, they came to live together in a natural way. The ice between them melted as they started to share each other's interests, hobbies, foods, music, dance and other elements of culture. They also realised that their tastes were almost the same, Walach asserted, and at the end of the camp they danced the debka together and each learned a dozen words of his colleagues' language. They were no longer enemies, she pointed out. They respected each other and came to accept the idea of living together in peace. When they returned home these youngsters would spread the culture of peace among their communities, giving a push towards a better future.
