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a difference to peace, compassion, and understanding
in your community |
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Children
of the Gulf War photographic exhibition –
available for display in your community |
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| This
is an invitation to peace activists and concerned citizens
who are looking for ways to encourage compassion and raise
awareness and understanding in the local community about
issues such as war and the use of sanctions and depleted
uranium weapons. Consider organising a display of the
Children of the Gulf War exhibition at a venue in your
area. |
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The
Children of the Gulf War is an exhibition of 58 large-format
black and white photographs taken by world-acclaimed Japanese
anti-nuclear photojournalist Takashi Morizumi. WILPF Australia
(Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)
purchased the full set of photographs at the start of
2003 with help from other humanitarian groups including
groups including Queensland Peace Network, Just Peace
and the United Nations Association of Australia and Rally
for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.
Since then, WILPF members have coordinated a national
tour of this powerful exhibition as a major educational
project about the impact of war and depleted uranium weapons
on children, their families and the environment. |
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| Because
it’s been so popular, the exhibition is STILL touring
Australian cities, suburbs and regional centres on an
ad hoc basis in response to requests from local councils
and community groups. At times, popular demand is even
taking it back to the same city for a second or third
showing. And absolutely everywhere the feedback from the
organisers, councils and visitors is overwhelmingly (99.5%)
positive, with people saying over and over ‘“Why
weren’t we told? Thank you WILPF for showing us.
Why don’t we see this information on the TV news?
Every person in Australia needs to see this exhibition.
Our world leaders need to meet these children to see the
real effects of war. Please make sure Bush, Howard, Ruddock
and all politicians should see this.” |
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| At
just about all venues, the organising groups have organised
opening events with speakers who have included local mayors
and representatives of diverse groups such as the Refugee
Action Collective and Rural Australians for Refugees;
Vietnam War veterans, nurses and representatives of the
Medical Association for Prevention of War, United Nations
Association of Australia … and many others. This
has done a huge amount to get the messages out into the
community. |
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| In
August last year, the first set of the Children photographs
were ‘retired’ to Brisbane after a whirlwind
tour through six cities across the country. Mounted but
unframed as per the artist’s request, the photographs
were too fragile to maintain the pace of long distance
travel and the breaths of thousands of viewers. As so
often happens though, what seemed like a small disaster
at the time has turned out to be a blessing: thanks to
Takashi’s generosity, there are now two original
sets of these acclaimed photographs and both sets can
be borrowed. |
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The
first set
– available for groups to display in Brisbane /
south-east Queensland
The first set of Children of the Gulf War photographs
is available for display primarily in south-east Queensland.
The eventual plan is to auction this set of photographs
late in the year to raise funds for peace work and anti-war
initiatives. |
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The
second set
– continuing the national tour of galleries etc
Last July, Takashi san kindly provided a second set of
photographs which have been professionally mounted and
crated to stand up better to the rigours of long distances
numerous venues. This second set of photographs is continuing
to zoom around the country So far it has been seen in
Brisbane’s City Hall, Toowoomba’s University
of Southern Queensland, the ACT Legislative Assembly,
Perth’s Institute of Contemporary Art, Woolloongong
City Council, Adelaide University, Hobart’s Waterfront
Place, Bondi Junction Library in Sydney, regional galleries
outside Melbourne, regional South Australia, Gold Coast
City Council. Most recently it has been displayed in Atherton,
North Queensland; and at the Port Macquarie Hastings Regional
Gallery. In 2005 it will be shown at Capalaba near Brisbane;
Casuarina in the Northern Territory; and Bundaberg Regional
Art Gallery. Bookings for 2006 so far include more regional
centres in the Northern Territory.
This second set involves a rental fee to
help replace damages and cover freight costs. Information
about the costs etc can be found by visiting the Project
Description at www.wilpf.org.au/ExprInterest.html.
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| Are
you interested in having this powerful exhibition
in your suburb or town? |
| What
you’ll need to do is: |
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approach
your local council, library, or community groups
to enthuse them and gain their support and involvement |
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find
a suitable venue (with hooks on wall or display
panels) where the exhibition could be displayed
for 2-4 weeks |
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and
where possible, find some peace/humanitarian groups
willing to speak at an event in conjunction with
the (eg anti-war local council reps, refugee support
groups, doctors….) |
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call
Chris on 0437 327890, or email webkeeper@wilpf.org.au
for more info or booking. |
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| If
you’d like to know more about the exhibition, visit
www.wilpf.org.au.
And for queries about organising a display, contact the
tour’s coordinator Chris Henderson on 0427 327890
or email webkeeper@wilpf.org.au. |
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If
you’d like to spread the message in your local
community about peace, justice and compassion, this
is a great opportunity to get the conversations
going.
Contact: Chris Henderson
Exhibition and national tour coordinator
Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom (WILPF)
webkeeper@wilpf.org.au
0437 327890 |
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