26/3/2003

Never has it been more important to have HOPE.

HOPE to remind us to care for all children not only our own.

HOPE for the children around the world wanting to know why we are killing children?

HOPE for the children of Iraq who now more then ever need to know there is HOPE for all of us.

My soul was put at rest as soon as I returned my OAM, which should be on the way to the Queen and Governor General by now. I kept the box the medals came in, as I had painted in red poster paint "War is not the Answer" on the front and my handprint on the back.

Inside the box now fits perfectly where the biggest medal used to be, is a little plastic badge with NO WAR on it.

Caitlin in years to come will know, this is what granma did for her and the children of Iraq.

To read article written by Philip Henderson which appeared in the Cairns Post

I thought I would give you an insight into how I to receive an OAM.

One of my Mentors said to me. "Kerry think about it. Governments come and go- you earnt that OAM" Yes I did earn it, I paid a heavy price for it. and I thought about it.

But I didn't do what I did to get a medal, I did it because it had to be done.

In 1991 I received my OAM for my work in starting the Noosa Regional Gallery with $64.00 and for inspiring indigenous artists to believe in themselves, when they didn't believe in themselves, or could even see any hope for their futures.

Another friend who knows me and my living conditions said "Kerry how do you survive on less - when you have a besser block in front of your fridge, because you can't afford a new seal for it and you have washed by hand for ages, because you can't afford to get your washing machine fixed?"

"Maybe you should have sold your medals"

Well yes I must admit I am a - bit poor at the moment. But no I needed to do my bit to protest the war on behalf of the children, who can't protest and selling the medals was not an option.

Since August last year I have had a frozen shoulder, caused by treatment I was receiving for my bad back, so I have had a medical certificate since then - don't worry I am on the mend. It was pretty bad for awhile when I couldn't put my bra or pants on.

Being poor has been good as it also taught me a lot. You have to be creative to survive. Being poor has shown me what it is like for so many around the world.

The difference is, I don't have children to bring up, my needs are small and as I don't drink or smoke, but I can tell you first hand how hard it is, I am lucky being creative saves me lots of money.

I don't have to impress my friends. They like me for who I am - not what I've got

Material things have never mattered to me.

People have. Material things haven't got me where I am today. Being creative has.

Material things haven't made me happy, the things that make me happy are all the things that don't cost money.

You don't have to be a brilliant student, just someone who thinks outside the square.

Your gramma or spelling doesn't have to be perfect - you just have to have something to say, that people want to listen to.

It doesn't take money to be able to get people involved in what you are doing, you have to inspiring them to want to be involved.

It doesn't take money to be able to get to the right people, to get a project off the ground. It takes a good idea that captures their imagination.

It doesn't take money for a project to get underway - it sure helps, but there are other ways of getting there.

I think I have proved to everyone, that it doesn't take money to achieve things or to change the world, anyone can do it. You just have to want to.

One Mind One Voice is already inspiring so many around the world and now HOPE while only two weeks old, is know in so many countries now including South Korea, Hawaii, Israel where both Israeli and Palestinian children will work on the HOPE project. Ada, Jeremy and myself are riding the Peace Train together.

From Japan I received a copy of the One Mind One Voice poem which has been translated into Japanese, by a Peace group who will now promote HOPE to the children of Japan.

Even the commissioner on Pitcairn Island has sent the Hand Of Peace Exchange project on to the school on the island.

These are just a few of the things happening as we speak.

Not bad when HOPE was only created, on the 12 March 2003. Who says "I'm too poor to do anything"

So many amazing emails this week, I will make sure they are on the website by next week so you can read them all. Thank you each and everyone of you for your support. Do I need funds, yes I do, will I get funds-yes I will, because I have started HOPE and it will grow tall and strong with all your help.

Now lets see if we can get North Korea involved. http://www.onemindonevoice.org/hope/hopeupdate.html Almost forgot received this yesterday
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Dear Kerry,

I have enclosed a notice of motion which I plan to move in the Senate this week regarding the "HOPE" Hand of Peace Exchange.

I welcome your feedback on the notice of motion, and again wish you all the best with this wonderful project.

Yours sincerely,

Natasha Stott Despoja
Senator for South Australia
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Now if HOPE can help getting a bit more aid for the children of Iraq, I would say it's doing it's job.

Kerry Bowden
Global Children's Alliance
A Family of Humanity
One Mind One Voice

To remind us all to look after all children not only our own. Please support our HOPE project, by making a handprint of any child under the age of 18 years, we will exchange it for the handprint of another child around the world.