In 2006, Barb and Leo were able to attend the Second Global Summit for the Creation of Ministries for Peace and Departments of Peace – mfp-dop.org for short.

You will see Barb near the back in the group photo in the report from the summit.

On the first day of the summit, held at Royal Roads University, here in Victoria, the delegates went in to town for an evening of cultural events. At one stop, a street band was playing. Almost the entire global summit – politicians, ministers, diplomats, peace activists, peoples from all over the earth, of every colour and many diverse religions, languages and cultures, united by an earnest desire for peace – spontaneously broke into a lively street dance! Spontaneously celebrating being alive, being together and working together for a just cause.

One of the delegates from Japan came for the evening in full traditional dress. Barb, having been inspired by this lady’s spirit, overflowing with peacefulness and kindness, during the workshop and the summit, took a photo of her dancing in the street and turned it into this painting.

One of the outcomes of the conference was a suggestion that we ”Make Festivals, Not War”. This sounds like an excellent idea! We are already on it!

When we asked her permission to use her image this way, this kind lady wrote us back and said that she was thrilled that her image was being used to promote peace.

Approximately half of the proceeds of this painting and the Ministry For Peace and Reconstruction in Nepal will go to fund airfare for third world delegates to attend future Global Summits for the Creation of Departments and Ministries of Peace.

For more information please see the Departments of Peace page and the Philanthropy page .