SA Council of Churches
International Day of Peace 21 September 2010
Suggestions for activities for schools and parishes
1. To find or promote Peace Day events anywhere in the world, go to
http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org and click on Participate to locate and event or post
information. Explore the rest of the site to learn more about Peace Day and how to get involved.
2. a discussion promoted by viewing the peace windows of Cairns Cathedral
http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au ( click on St Monicas)
Posters may be purchased from the cathedral or viewed on line.
See Appendix I
3. Create a peace pole: http://www.peacepoleproject.org/peacepoleproject.html Peace poles can be
crafted locally.
4. Adelaide born, Gillian Hicks, was severely injured in the London terrorism bombings of July 7, 2005.
As a result of this, Gillian has taken on the role of ambassador for peace with Peace Direct and
established her own charity called M.A.D for peace.
Material on Peace Direct and Mad for Peace can be researched through the following weblinks
www.peacedirect.org and www.madforpeace.org
Gillian has lived and worked in London since 1992, is married to Joe Kerr and now spends her days
working towards Peace in many ways. As a result of her work, Gillian was awarded the MBE.
5. The attached book list can be used with other sources to promote discussion. Appendix 2
a) From a chapter: Conflict and Resolution in Undercover: exploring values education using
children’s literature (Maria Dibella and Julie Hamston, Collins Dove, Melbourne Australia
1989) the following are suggested.
Rose Blanch by Roberto Innocenti
The angel with the mouth organ by Christobel Mattingley
My Hiroshima by Junko Morimoto
Discuss the attempts to survive hatred and bitterness, the learning about war and
the consequences.
How can conflict be resolved?
What does it mean to be a refugee?
How can conflict be prevented?
b) Other books that may be useful
Faithful Elephants : A True Story of Animals, People, and War by Yukio Tsuchiya, Ted Lewin
The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, Ronald Himler
Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten, by Bob Graham Penguin Books
Peacetimes by Katherine Scholes & Illustrated by Robert Ingpen
God's Dream By Desmond Tutu Illustrated by Le Uyen Pham
6. Songs and music:
Many song writers have written songs about peace. What songs do you know that talk about
peace and of people living in harmony? Which songs can you think of that follow this theme?
Consider the music of popular artists. Eg John Lennon, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Cat Stevens,
The Seekers.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me was written by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller
at a retreat in 1955.
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7. Have you seen a film that makes you think about peace?
8. Psychologists for Peace give an annual award for peace books. Lists can be found at
http://www.groups.psychology.org.au
Previous winners have included
Christine Harris for Audrey Goes to Town - Little Hare Books
Kate Constable for Winter of Grace - Allen & Unwin
Michael Gerard Bauer for Don’t Call Me Ishmael – Omnibus
9. The following website has descriptions of peace symbols, as well as songs which may promote
further discussion http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/Isongs.html
10. Act for Peace
You may also like to become involved in an ongoing ways as an Act for Peace Partner. Act for
Peace is the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. It is the work of
the churches together across Australia and works with partners, wherever conflicts occur, empowering
communities to
 Reduce poverty through community food security, livelihoods, health and education programs
 Protect refugees and displace peoples by managing safe refugee camps
 Prevent conflicts through facilitating peace, reconciliation and disarmament processes.
For more information www.actforpeace.org.au
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Appendix 1
THE PEACE WINDOWS
World Peace Day Sept.21st and the Peace Windows
Thanks to the initiative of Bishop James Foley the process of installing Peace Windows and Creation
Windows in St. Monica’s Cathedral began over ten years ago. These magnificent stained glass windows
were crafted by husband and wife team, Gerry Cummins and Jill Stehn, and are the equal of anything
comparable to be found anywhere in the world .Through the recent production of posters of the Peace
Windows in particular it is now possible for people in all parts of Australia to utilise what Cairns has produced
to help us participate in World Peace Day on September 21 sponsored by the United Nations.
The Peace Windows are located at the front of the building and were installed in 1995 to celebrate the fifty years
of peace in the Pacific Region since the end of World War Two. The cathedral itself was built as a war memorial
commemorating the decisive battle of the Coral Sea which was fought due east of Cairns between the 4 th and 8th
of May in 1942. Cairns was the southern-most point to which the Japanese surface navy penetrated in World
War II.
The Battle of the Coral Sea was the first in naval history in which the ships involved did not see each other
and did not fire at each other. It was a battle of aircraft carriers and planes from Japanese and American
fleets. It was the precursor to modern missile warfare. Troops stationed in Cairns recall seeing the glowing
flashes reflected over the horizon at night during this fierce battle.
Three Central Ideas
The windows have layers of meaning and were based on three central ideas:
+ The windows reflect a central goal of Christianity – our lives should be lived in peace.
+ In 1995 they commemorated fifty years of peace since the end of World War II.
+ They express the idea that wounds of war, exemplified by wrecks of war, are healed by nature’s power.
Time heals wounds between nations and people, and Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount:
‘Happy are those who work for peace, God will call them his children.’ [Mt.5:9] but later He is more
challenging: ‘Love your enemies.’ [Mt. 5:44] Most of us our own can’t do this, but with the help of the
Risen Jesus we can .St. Paul said: ‘I can do all things in Him who strengthens me’& Jesus Himself
backed that up when He said: ‘This is impossible for humans, but for God everything is possible.’
[Mt.19:26]
UPPER WINDOWS
Doom and Destruction Symbolised in 1942 – The Flood and Noah Recalled
The dense black, billowing clouds of smoke are from burning ships and aircraft carriers with their lethal
combination of aviation gasoline and fuel oil burning fiercely. The impression conveyed is one of doom and
destruction. In a Biblical sense the clouds represent the heavy water-laden clouds of the Deluge and could
lead us to think of the destruction mankind had brought upon itself through its violence and wickedness:
“ (Noah) lived in fellowship with God, but everyone else was evil in God’s sight, and violence had spread
everywhere. God looked at the world and saw that it was evil, for the people were all living evil lives.”
Gen.6:10-11
The Rainbow and God’s Covenant with Noah
A dove symbolising the Holy Spirit struggles to emerge from the rolling black clouds in the upper right window to
restore peace to warring nations just as God’s spirit hovered over the water at Creation. (Gen1:1)
In the left window there is a rainbow with clouds parting for the sun. Cf. Noah’s story & the covenant renewed:
“God said :‘When the rainbow is in the cloud I shall see it and call to mind the lasting Covenant between God
and every living creature of every kind that is found on the earth .’ ” (Gen. 9:16)
The Dove(s) of Peace and the Holy Spirit
These gloomy battle clouds, including a dispersing Hiroshima nuclear cloud, have a peace message as well.
The dove is the universal symbol of peace, while the dawn offers hope of a new beginning.
Christ’s Cross in the centre of the panel is filled with smaller white doves representing the Holy Spirit. The
whales and dolphins frolicking in the sea represent God’s presence and seem to say they are the intelligent
ones who don’t go to war!
PAX
At the bottom left of the upper windows is a shoal of fish, perch. If you squint while looking at the fish you
should see the Latin word for peace, PAX, emerge. You may need to tilt the poster to get the right angle of
light hitting this part of the poster. It is deliberately meant to be a fleeting image for in the next instant the
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school of fish would have changed shape and the reflected word disappear forever. It reminds us that when
we do have a flash of inspiring truth we should grasp it and hold it in our lives.
The word for “Peace” is repeated in 28 languages in the two lower windows so that from whatever country
visitors to the cathedral come they can recognize “Peace.” You may make out a few of these on the edge of
the left panel.
LOWER WINDOWS
Destruction, Chaos and Confusion – The Crucifixion
One of the lower windows is a window of aggression and depicts destruction, chaos and confusion. At the
top is the wreck of the “Shoho” a Japanese light aircraft carrier which was repeatedly torpedoed and sank in
15 minutes. Scarcely identifiable below it is the rear portion of the USS “Sims” which was hit by three bombs
amidships.
More easily recognisable at the bottom of this window is an infantry .303 rifle, specifically included to
represent the army. The activities of the navy and air force are of course everywhere presented in these
Coral Sea windows.
The three differently shaped helmets symbolise the American, Japanese and Australian forces. This window
represents the Crucifixion with some features clearly visible in the poster, but other features are not so
visible, e.g. the three radio masts of the “Shoho” resembling the crosses on Calvary can be seen in the
actual window but not in the poster. The broken anchor chain of the “Sims” is near the three helmets and
close to the rifle. It is right next to a crown of thorns starfish, and it is close to three nails symbolising the
Crucifixion. From the end of the rifle is a spurt of blood and upon this is a prostrate starfish in human form.
Red, white and blue corals in the window remind us that while nationalism is fine, militarism is often
associated with it.
The Resurrection Window – Nature in its Act of Regeneration
The second window also focussing on the Coral Sea battle presents more peaceful, tranquil imagery than
the mayhem of its counterpart. This window with its stable horizontal lines contrasting with the jagged edges
and tilted angles of the Crucifixion window represents the Resurrection. The wrecks have lost their
aggressiveness and are now home to fish and nature in its act of regeneration. The empty, inanimate wrecks
have begun to give rise to a proliferation of shapes, colours and diversity in the window.
At the bottom left is a Japanese Aichi dive bomber which occupies most of the bottom half of the window.
Behind the Aichi is an American Grumman “Wildcat” which occupies just a small part of the window and is
itself behind a huge fish, a Maori wrasse.
Ironically the only Australian killed in the Battle of the Coral Sea, a pilot Les Knox, was flying a Wildcat.
Humans – the most Intelligent Creatures on Earth – and What Do We Do?
At the top of the window is the gigantic aircraft carrier USS Lexington, a huge hole in its side where it is
believed stored warheads exploded after taking 5 direct hits.
At the bottom left two trigger fish dawdle past, while at the very bottom is a blackish brain coral. This is
shaped like a human brain and reminds us we are the most intelligent creatures on earth, yet we wage war
against one another.
A flame red coral symbolizes the flame from the engine of the Aichi. The closed canopy of this plane
indicates that neither crewman escaped and the structure resembles a human rib cage. The torn leading
edge of the Aichi’s wing exposes the enormous amount of skill and labour to build a machine of destruction.
In contrast the Wildcat seems undamaged, but is also a victim of war.
God Never Forgets His Covenant with Humans even though we might
Two pairs of fish can be made out in the bottom section of the poster, but even more in the window itself.
These pick up the Noah’s Ark theme.
‘When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between me
and all living beings on earth.’ Gen.9:16
Peace and Harmony do not just happen –but they can be consciously attained when we remind ourselves of
St. Paul’s words “Surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you “(Good News trans. 2 Cor.13:5)
and the words of Jesus himself : ‘ Father…may they be one as we are one…
may they be so completely one
that the world will know that it was you who sent me.’ Jn. 17: 21-23
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THE PEACE WINDOWS POSTER
Before You Read the Description of the Windows and of their Symbolism
The 3 top sections show the main Peace Window which occupies much of the front wall of the Cathedral.
What can you make out dimly shown in the black oily cloud at the top right?
in the middle panel ?
in the whole of the middle panel ?
in the top left panel ?
at the base of top left panel – in the shoal of fish :
can you make out the word PAX in the shoal of fish ?
(Pax is the Latin word for Peace.)
The Coral Sea Battle Windows at ground level in the cathedral:
The window reproduced at the bottom left is full of a confused mass of wreckage.
What objects can you see clearly in the picture, especially at the bottom of the window?
The window on the bottom right has three main features:
at the top, part of an aircraft carrier with a huge hole blown in its side
the wreckage of an American “Wildcat’’ plane ( it is behind the huge green fish)
a Japanese dive bomber filling most of the lower part of the window.
How many sets of 2 fish of the same kind can you see?
They have been included for a special reason as will be explained.
Compare the two windows at the bottom of the poster
one suggests aggression with death and destruction in the Coral Sea between 4th -8th May 1942
the other shows tranquility restored on the seabed after the battle in the Coral Sea near Cairns.
In the early years of the 21st Century the biggest number of tourist groups visiting Cairns from overseas
came from Japan and today Japan is one of Australia’s biggest trading partners.
What has been necessary to enable the people in the two nations that were engaged in a bitter war nearly
70 years ago to welcome one another to their countries today?
What special contribution can participation by Christian Churches bring to the World Day of Peace
sponsored by the United Nations?
Now have a look at the poster of the Peace Windows and with the help of the written commentary
learn something of the symbolism in the windows.
***************
Thoughts that might be stimulated by reflection on the Peace Windows :
Peace to those who died in war
Peace to those who have been wounded in body or spirit by war
Peace to those who have been bereaved by war
Peace to our families, neighbours and to all nations and ultimately
Peace within ourselves.
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Appendix 2
Some books to promote discussions about peace.
Barwick, John, 1953- A culture of peace. Port Melbourne, Vic.: Echidna Books, 2000. 32 p. : ill. ISBN
1863911944 (hbk)
Primary/lower secondary school students.
This book discusses organizations, associations and religions that work for peace. Individuals from many
backgrounds and nationalities, eg Nelson Mandela, and Dalai Lama who have promoted peace are
introduced and contacts for peace organizations are given. A useful book which will promote discussion,
research and learning on this topic.
Radunsky Vladimir : What Does Peace Feel Like?
Atheneum Books, Anne Schwartz and imprint of Simon and Schuster NY 2004
This book was written with the help of children in Ambrit International School in Rome.
The question is asked - what does peace feel, smell, sound, taste feel and look like. The
translation for peace is given in many languages. The book would be a terrific discussion
starter for all ages but is directed at preschool to lower primary,
Mulvany, Christine: We came to Australia looking for peace
South Yarra, Vic. : Macmillan Education, 2003. 32 p. : col. ill., maps, ports. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 0732980208
Series: We came to Australia (South Yarra, Vic.)
For primary school students.
This book introduces us to children from East Timor, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia ad Bosnia-Herzegovnina who
have come to Australia as immigrants to find a peaceful place to live. It will promote discussion and
understanding.
Williams, Sam Talk peace / Sam Williams and Mique Moriuchi London : Hodder
Children's, 2005. [24] p.: col. ill ISBN 9780340883785 ( 978-0-340-88378-5 )
In this picture book peace begins in the playground. Children from various cultures are
depicted and the importance of peace around the world is observed. A useful book to
begin discussions on promoting peace in the children’s lives.
Hoffelt, Jane F: We share one world. Bellevue WA USA, Illuminations Publishing Company.
2004
Picture book. Wherever we are we share this one world.
A lovely picture book which reminds us all that we all live in one world
Goffe, Toni: War and peace. Swindon, Child’s play International Ltd, ISBN0859534565
A discussion picture book which begins with a child’s argument and progresses to politics and war. The
resolution is that peace has to start with each one of us and that war is ‘just plain silly’.
Fox, Mem; ill. Oxenbury, Helen Ten little fingers and ten little toes Penguin 2008
ISBN-13:9780670072392
These ten little finger and ten little toes belong to children everywhere.
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