“Women need to be involved in more influential positions in the world” — Dalai Lama
I was so honored today to be part of the Vancouver Peace Conference and witness conversations between His Holiness, The Dalai Lama and incredible leaders from around the world.
The afternoon kicked off with a musical performance by Peter Buffet on the piano (yes! Warren Buffet’s son), an Emmy award musician and the Co-Chair of the NoVo Foundation ( Mandate: foster a culture of collaboration and partnership, empowering women and girls as the primary agents of change) and Michael Kott on the cello. I thought it was incredibly beautiful that music was used a unifying element as images of women and girls around the world were played on a slideshow.
After a somewhat delayed start, the session then really began with a conversation between the Dalai Lama and Maria Shriver, the 1st Lady of California who has used her voice as a wonderful advocate for women. I must say that Maria Shriver is an incredibly witty and intelligent women as the questions that she posed and the confidence that she carried, completely blew me away. Of all the questions she asked, I would like to highlight 3 that really struck a core with me:
1) Do you think there is a need for the re-branding of the word “compassion” as some might say that its significance has been lost through the ‘overuse of the word?
2) Of all the world issues, what worries you the most in the upcoming year?
3) What would you say to a man who doesn’t necessarily believe in making females equal/ feminism?
The Dalai Lama’s answers to the above three questions surprised me to a certain level. His answer to the first, addressed the issue of language — stating that although in English, the word ‘compassion’ might have been overused, but the Tibetan meaning still holds its ground. Sometimes I believe we take language and its meanings for granted, and His Holiness’ answer was a great reminder that sometimes, a language may not be enough to contextualize the power of a word.
His second answer was: the environment. ( I honestly thought his answer would be something along the lines of war and peace) I loved this answer, as living in Canada, we should be aware that one of the most pressing issues for this nation is what is happening to the Arctic and the effects that global warming could have on not only Canada ( environment, economy), but the world.
His third answer on feminism was simply:
“I emphasize a special rule for females very much to this world, so many people describe me as a feminist.”
I thought this was a wonderful answer as it really boils down to the fact that if you believe in empowering women, you are a feminist. Women play such a vital role in advancing peace and Aung San Suu Kyi, an honorary representative at the conference, expresses it best in her opening keynote in the 1995 NGO Forum on Women, Beijing Intl Women’s Conference:
“For millenia women have dedicated themselves almost exclusively to the task of nurturing, protecting and caring for the young and the old, striving for the conditions of peace that favour life as a whole. To this can be added the fact that, to the best of my knowledge, no war was ever started by women. But it is women and children who have always suffered most in situations of conflict. Now that we are gaining control of the primary historical role imposed on us of sustaining life in the context of the home and family, it is time to apply in the arena of the world the wisdom and experience thus gained in activities of peace over so many thousands or years. The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.” — Aung San Suu Kyi
The session then proceeded to a panel discussion with the Dalai Lama, moderated by Susan Davis. The panel included Kim Campbell ( former Prime Minister of Canada), Ela Bhatt ( Self– Employed Women’s Association founder, Ex-Member of Indian Parliament), Fazle Hasn Abed ( Founder of BRC), Peter Buffet, Swanee Hunt ( Former US Ambassador to Austria, President of Hunt Alternatives Fund) and a brief appearance (earlier on) by Nobel Peace Price Winner, Jody Williams.
