Lingnan University (the University) Kwan Fong Cultural Research and Development Programme (KFCRD) and Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong jointly organized a series of events entitled “I Act, I Sing, I Create – Chinese Women Writing Peace” on 16-21 June 2010. Six PeaceWomen from Mainland China came to Hong Kong to speak on “Strategies and Achievements of Environmental Action in China” and “Working with Marginalized Groups in China” and share their experience with the audience.  Mr Hans Roth, Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong.

 

Officiating at the opening ceremony on 19 June 2010 were Mr Hans Roth, Consul General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, Ms Maren Haartje, Manager of PeaceWomen Across the Globe, Bern, Switzerland, the University’s Associate Vice-President Professor William Lee and Co-ordinator of KFCRD Professor Meaghan Morris.

In his opening address, Mr Roth said that women’s social and international status as well as political participation had improved greatly in the 21st Century, signifying the development of human rights is moving towards gender equality. He commended on the work of “PeaceWomen Across the Global Association” and looked forward to further breakthroughs in developing countries.

Ms Haartje remarked that she had met with 40 peacewomen since the project of “Ecological, Security and Livelihood” was launched in Taiwan and Mainland China in 2008 and it was an honour to have six of them coming to Hong Kong for the forums to share and promote peace through their experiences.

The Six PeaceWomen participated in the event were: Cheng Wei, who started her poverty alleviation activities in a remote village in Shanxi Province, China; Yun Jianli, the former of “Green Han River” environmental group in Hubei; Yin Yuzhen, who has planted 5000 hectares of trees in the vast desert in Inner Mongolia for more than 20 years; Xu Jiying, who has devoted more than 26 years in the study of the uses of tea flowers; Wang Yongchen, the founder of Beijing Green Earth Volunteers Organization; Zhang Shuqin, who has since 1994 been aiding unattended minor children of prisons.

“I Act, I Sing, I Create – Chinese Women Writing Peace” also included an “Ecology and Livelihood’ exhibition, an inaugural screening on two documentary films followed by a public forum. In addition, books and traditional handicrafts from mainland China were displayed for charity sale.  Staff members of Department of Cultural Studies and guests. 

 

The two documentary films were: “Cheng Wei: The Path to the Mountains” and “Yin Yuzhen: Green Dreams in the Desert”, which recorded the stories of two Peacewomen putting their dream into action. After the inaugural screening, the PeaceWomen engaged in dialogues with the audience on environmental protection and sustainable development, and with Dr Wen Tiejun, Vice-Dean of School of Agricultural, Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China and Professor Tani Barlow, History Department of Rice University, California as commentators.

“PeaceWomen Across the Global Association” is originated from a historic nomination made to the Nobel Peace Committee. Since then, it has developed into an international network of women working in different fields of human security.

As a research apparatus of the University, the mission of Kwan Fong Cultural Research and Development Programme is to develop cultural studies and research projects on sexuality, education and metropolis. Members include renowned international and local culture studies scholars.