Peace Mala
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| Peace Mala™ | |
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| Type of Company | Company limited by guarantee |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2002, Cardiff, Wales UK |
| Founder | Pam Evans |
| Headquarters | Morriston, Wales UK |
| Key people | Pam Evans Norma Glass MBE Martin Green Pam El-Hosaini |
| Products | Peace Mala bracelets and Guides for Teachers |
| Website | www.peacemala.org.uk |
Peace Mala is a Swansea-based interfaith organisation dedicated to the "promotion of understanding, respect, friendship, tolerance and peace between all communities, cultures and enlightened, compassionate faiths"[1]. Peace Mala promotes 'global citizenship' and invites all people to treat each other with respect and compassion regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexuality or ability.
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[edit] History
Peace Mala was founded in the year 2002 by Pam Evans, former Head of the Department of Religious Studies at Coedcae Comprehensive School in Llanelli, South Wales. The idea came after a series of class discussions about the 9/11 2001 terrorist attacks in New York. Pam and her students soon realised that the attacks had affected not only the victims of the attrocity, but that they had also contributed to the rise in Islamaphobia, racism, religious intolerance and fundamentalism witnessed in the world today. Racist taunts had been suffered by a number of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds.[2]
This was particularly felt by Year 11 student Imran Sheikh. During an interview by BBC Wales, he commented "I suffered from racist taunts and our local mosque was attacked following September 11 and that is when the Peace Mala all started" [3]
[edit] Launch
Peace Mala was officially lauched in the UNA Temple of Peace in Cardiff, Wales on Wednesday 27th November 2002 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (then Archbishop of Wales). He was joined by members of the fourteen faiths represented on the Peace Mala bracelet, NGOs, students and teachers of schools from across Wales, lectureres from the University of Wales, and pupils and staff of Coedcae Comprehensive School.
The ceremony involved a procession of fourteen representatives of different faiths (Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Baha'i, ISKCON, Zoroastrianism, Tribal Religions, Jainism, Earth Religions, Taoism, Hinduism and Yundrung Bön, respectively).
[edit] The Peace Mala Bracelet
A Peace Mala is a symbolic bracelet used to promote the message of the Golden Rule of mutual respect recognised by all spiritual paths. It consists of 16 beads threaded on black or clear elasticated thread and is accompanied by a colour explanatory booklet. Each coloured bead (following the order of a double rainbow) represents a different faith or religion (Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Baha'i, ISKCON, Zoroastrianism, Tribal Religions, Jainism, Earth Religions, Taoism, Hinduism and Yundrung Bön) with the central white bead representing the wearer and whatever path he or she may follow.
The beads of the Peace Mala are held in place by two knots which also have messages for the wearer. The first knot symbolises the wearer at the moment of their birth and emphasises their uniqueness and equality regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, sexuality or ability . The second knot reminds wearers of the effects that our everyday actions have on other people and asks them to "follow the path of peace and friendship to help create a better world."[4]
All Peace Malas are currently hand made in Wales, UK.
[edit] Double Rainbow
These are the typical Peace Malas, which are made from 8mm, 7mm, and 6mm high quality glass beads. Peace Malas are also availble in kit form. These are intended for use in the classroom or youthclub and can be assembled with instructions found in the Guide for Teachers.
[edit] Black and White
The black and white version of the Peace Mala (which has fourteen black beads and a central white bead) was devised after a minority of supporters asked for a Peace Mala that was less colourful than the double rainbow. This alternative version of the Peace Mala has proved to be very popular with many teenage boys, Goths and some people who follow the Pagan path.
[edit] Solid Sterling Silver
Launched on Tuesday 8th November 2005 by Welsh star Bonnie Tyler, the deluxe solid sterling silver Bespoke Peace Mala was designed by award winning Welsh Designer Jewellers, Mari Thomas and Nicola Palterman. Monies raised from the sale of Bespoke Peace Malas is put towards the Peace Mala Awards for Youth. The launch took place at the Peace Mala Registered Office in Morriston, Swansea, South Wales.
[edit] Registered Office
On Wednesday 18th August 2004, the Peace Mala Registered Office was officially opened during a ceremony attended by various NGOs and faith representatives to celebrate the achievements of Peace Mala since its launch in the Temple of Peace in Cardiff with the Archbishop of Canterbury two years previously. [5], Faith representatives who attended included members of Govindas ISKCON Centre in Swansea, Rising Eagle (Malcolm Edwards), Venerable Robert Williams Archdeacon of Gower who represented the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Lama Khyimisar Rinpoche, one of the patrons of Peace Mala. A candle for world peace was lit by Rinpoche and the Archdeacon.
The Registered Office is currently used as a base for Peace Mala activites including workshops and public talks. Yundgdrung Bon practitioners in Wales also use the centre for their weekly Ngon-Dro practice.
[edit] Peace Garden
Attached to the Registered Office is a peace garden designed for use as an area of peace and tranquility. The garden has many interesting areas featuring a shrine to Saint Francis of Assisi, Buddhist statues and prayer flags, a minature Zen-style stone garden, water features, and a tree area which has been blessed in a ceremony lead by Witches, and Druids. There is also a tranquil area facing Makka, which is dedicated to the Muslim faith.
[edit] Activities
Peace Mala raises awareness of issues of global interdependence and encourages schools and youth groups to be involved in activities that support compassionate causes.
[edit] Fundraising for Iraq
During the Summber of 2003, Pam Evans, then Head of Religious Studies at Coedcae Comprehensive School, was approached by some of her students who wished to organise a series of activities that would raise funds for children in Iraq. These pupils were members of the Peace Mala Club that had been formed in the school. Permission was granted by the Headteacher and the fund raising began. Activities included football matches between teams composed of mixed boys and girls, a Religious Studies Quiz, and general donations by pupils and staff at the school. These activities were all organised by the pupils themselves.
In total, £460 was raised and used for the production of 100 Peace Malas to be sent to a school in Iraq as a "symbol of peace, friendship and hope for the future".[6] The rest of the funds were sent to a children's ward in an Iraqi hospital.
[edit] External Links
- Peace Mala website
- BBC News: Word spreads of Peace Mala
- BBC News: Do you know your awareness bracelets?
[edit] Notes
- ^ From the 'Main aims of Peace Mala' [1]
- ^ Official account of the early history of the group. [2]
- ^ During an interview by BBC Wales, during a meeting with Esther Rantzen upon winning first prize in the ChildLine in Partnership with Schools (CHIPS) initiative.[3]
- ^ Official description of the symbology and representations[4]
- ^ www.peacemala.org.uk/news/centre/centre.html
- ^ An account of the events. [5]
[[Category:Religious pluralism
]]Global Education
