26/11/2002

I read, Handle with care - Fragile, as I turned from the mailbox, I then read the back of the parcel, a simple message "From your Granddaughter", this brought a picture of Caitlin's smiling face floating into my mind and I swear, I could hear her giggle coming out of the parcel. As I opened the padded bag and unwrapped the pink tissue - I starred at the treasure which lay now in the palm of my hand - a small white plaster cast of a little hand - Caitlin's hand coming out from the hand- painted black plaster background, the tiny fingers slightly cupped so that I could even feel the tip of her fingers hardly bigger then peas. The delicate creases and lines quite visible.

As I ran my fingers over her life line on the palm of her hand, a tears of joy ran down my face. WOW!

I was transported to a backyard, where I could see without being there, my son and Caitlin busy working together on this project - no finer birthday present could there be. Caitlin busy playing and enjoying the feel of the soft clay as her dad helps her to make the imprint of her left hand. The plaster mould made and date marked on the back while still wet, then dried and background painted. A treasure in the making, fit for any museum or Granma's office.

A reminder of great love and fragility.

A little hand that needs to be protected. Not from her family, but from a world out of control. A little hand that reminds me, of all the other little hands around the world who would love nothing better then to spend such quality time with their dads. We must protect them all, we must encourage them to have times like these.

This beautiful gift could have been made by any fathers and daughters around the world, her little white plaster hand no different to any other two year olds, yet completely original, it could be proved to belonging to only her. The fact it is her left hand is very telling. You can't tell the sex, faith or race by looking at this little hand - but is does show her stronger hand and the one she will use the most in life, her left hand.

You can see the love radiating from the artwork - it fills the room - can bring a granma to tears or sighs of joy from anyone else who has seen it. Money can't buy these emotions. These are the things that sons and their daughters around the world should be doing together - not going to some expensive store to buy a birthday gift on credit card, a gift they probably can't afford. A gift that may last a while or go out of fashion.

This gift will become a family heirloom. Michelangelo could not have done better. This hand would send him off the find a piece of white marble to carve.

That's why the decision I have been making lately - I know is the right one.

I will concentrate on the Global Children's Alliance I have been asked to help set up and run, Caitlin and One Mind One Voice has been the Catalyst for the Children's Alliance - my job will be to think globally about all children not just Caitlin. That won't be hard when all little hands look so much alike and radiate the same love as hers.

As the Australian Rep, on the Global Strategic Alliance, I will be looking to all of you for support and involvement in the Alliance, more later.

Our purpose is to take direct action to reduce and eventually eliminate violence and its effects on humanity and to create a large scale forum and social movement from which a new humanity can emerge. Something which is close to all our hearts.

The Children's section Global Children's Alliance, I have said before will take me on

A Journey into Peace and a New Humanity where we all will be discovering the joys of life, where we will encourage others to find solutions which are non -violent. A Journey that will take us into the imaginations of children, a journey we will share with children, parents, grandparents, teachers, and adults around the globe.

My role will be to encourage others to enjoy and discover the simple pleasures in life and to find inside themselves, the creative being we all are. Discovering that nothing is impossible, that each child can be an Einstein, Gandhi or Mandela, if we encourage their imaginations to be game to dream and think outside the square.

Don't go away there will be lots for you to help me with. I promise it will be positive and inspiring for all of us. I want you to come with me on this incredible journey I am setting out on from today. Together we will fly to greater heights as we expand our minds and be game to awaken our inner being and become the new humanity so badly needed for our continued existence on this planet..

Read something Deepak Chopra said in a resent interview when asked

Who are your heroes in real life? His answer -
Children. In the words of a great Indian poet.