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Grandmothers gathering for silent protest |
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Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 06 May 2008 |
Grandmothers are gathering on the steps of city hall Sunday and they are bringing with them their family, friends and the power of silence.
The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering is using the absence of sound to stand against the calamities of the world -- local and global.
"Last year was the first year it was done and it was done informally," said local supporter and grandmother Jacqueline Baldwin. "A date was set, which is Mother's Day which is appropriate, and there were quite a few last year. A maximum of 30 people - men, women and children - came together based on nothing more than a little e-mail campaign. We are hoping for a better turnout this year because last year the response from those who did attend was that it gave them some strength and did help to ease some of the anxieties so many people feel over the troubles in the world."
It is a symbolic gesture for the world and a meditative gesture for those who attend. The moment of silence strikes at 1 p.m. with the peals of hand bells and then falls quiet for five full minutes.
The whole worldwide event was started by a single story, a children's book by Sharon Mehdi (more on the book and the concept is available at www.grandmotherbook.com).
The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering has become an international phenomenon based on that tale of two grandmas who hold their own vigil in a park overlooking their city hall to project positive vibes out into the world.
"What we do is for the people who come after us," Baldwin said, explaining why grandmothers have taken this on. "There are organizations now that have come together out of this story to affirm their belief that small actions by ordinary people can make the world a better place."
Baldwin drew attention to one organization in particular that is advancing the philosophies of the Great Silent Grandmother Gathering. Standing Women (www.standingwomen.org) explains the Mehdi story in 21 languages and provides blogs, video footage and other materials including this mission statement Baldwin has taken to heart:
“We are standing for the world’s children and for the seven generations beyond them. We dream of a world where all our children have safe drinking water, clean air to breathe and enough food to eat. A world where they have access to a basic education to develop their minds, and health care to nurture their growing bodies. A world where they have a warm, safe and loving place to call home. A world where they don’t live in fear of violence in their home, in their school, in their neighbourhood, or in their world.”
Males are also welcome to attend.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 06 May 2008 )
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