The Ribbon International

A gathering of NGO's in support of the first round of 150,000 signatures to be given to the UN Secretary General's office for the UN to oversee the dismantling of Fukishima Unit 4. Unit 4 severely damaged, highly vulnerable to continuing earthquakes and is scheduled to begin removal in mid-November. (www.nukefree.org) "At Fukushima Unit 4, the impending removal of hugely radioactive spent fuel rods from a pool 100 feet in the air presents unparalleled scientific and engineering challenges. With the potential for 15,000 times more fallout than was released at Hiroshima, we ask the world community, through the United Nations, to take control of this uniquely perilous task." www.nukefree.org

The Ribbon in South Africa

In the summer of 2012, youth representative Gina Leow traveled to Cape Town, South Africa as part of a volunteer program for the International YCMA. While there, she spread the message of the Ribbon which is similar to the South African philosophy of Ubuntu. According to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his book No Future Without Forgiveness, "A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed." This resonates with the mission of The Ribbon International in that the ribbons, which celebrate the beauty and importance of life, are symbolically tied together to represent all of humanity in protecting Earth's life. Here are a few pictures from the trip:

International Peace Day

On September 21st, 2013 The Ribbon International celebrated International Peace Day along with the Peace Museum and other organizations at the Central Park 72nd Street Bandshell. We joined Ribbons on stage with the Interfaith Prayer for Peace and received positive responses for the activities we participated in at the event.

From Hiroshima to Fukushima - The Nuclear Threat Continues

The Ribbon International walked with Pax Christi and other organizations in NYC on Sunday, August 4th, 2013 to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a memorial prayer, discussion about the continuing nuclear dangers, and a silent procession with signs on a march towards Father Demo Square. The Ribbon International's Youth Representative, Gina Leow, is carrying a red Ribbon entitled "No More Nuclear War" that was created by an American young adult. The full video of the event can be seen here

First DPINGO Youth Led Briefing

First DPINGO Youth-Led Briefing entitled “Raising and Empowering Youth to Break the Cycle of Violence Against Women and Children” took place on Monday, March 25th, 2013 at the United Nations Headquarters. DPINGO youth representatives from various associated NGOs planned the briefing to address this year's 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) priority theme: Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. Youth representatives wanted to both promote inter-generational efforts and address the vital role that youths need to play in actively combating gender-based violence. This briefing addressed four aspects of the issue of violence: domestic and sexual violence; gender-based discrimination, existing socioeconomic circumstances and current legislation in force. Moderators: Maria-Luisa Chavez: Chief, NGO Relations, Department of Public Information Gina Leow: Youth Representative, The Ribbon International Speakers: Ahmad Alhendawi: United Nations Secretary-General’s first Envoy on Youth Quentin Walcott: Co-Executive Director, ConnectNYC Brigitte A. Watson: Equality Works Program Coordinator; Education Law Committee Youth Presenters: Katrina Martinez: Youth Representative, Association for Trauma Outreach & Prevention Kamila Jacob: Youth Representative, Unitarian Universalist United Nation Office Tevia Clarke: Youth Representative, New York Association for American-Russian Relations The video can be seen here:

No More Fukushimas Peace Walk

On March 8th, 2012, the Ribbon International attended the No More Fukushimas Peace Walk which descended from Zucotti Park up to the George Washington Bridge. It marks one year after the nuclear disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Facility, in which tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes, causing multiple cases of health problems throughout the region. The event also endorses the closing of the Indian Point Power Plant in Buchanan, NY.

A Legacy and a Light

Dec. 1-3, 2011, "A Legacy and a Light," 70th Anniversary of Church Women United Conference held in Atlantic City, NJ (where their first conference was held). Display tables of Ribbons from Colorado, other photo - each state CWU President brought a Ribbon and joined them together. The Interfaith Prayer for Peace was read by Martha DeWarf during the opening ceremony. Over 500 women from all over the US attended the multi-faith conference.

64th Annual United Nations Department of Information Non-Governmental Organizations Conference

The Ribbon International exhibit table with youth volunteers and representatives at "The 64th Annual United Nations Department of Information Non-Governmental Organizations Conference." 3-5 September, 2011; Bonn, Germany.

RIBBONS / FREEDOM FROM GUN VIOLENCE

Ribbons created for Scooter's third annual Freedom from Gun Violence Peacewalk in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, (2010):

Robert Muller

Robert Muller, 1923-2010

UCC Peace Making Day - Oakland, CA, Ribbon display

Former Under Secretary of the UN and Founder of the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica.

Dr. Robert Muller was a great advocate for peace organizations, including the Ribbon.

Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit Gala

You are cordially invited to attend:

The Tenth Annual Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit Gala

at Science Museum Oklahoma (formerly Omniplex).

Enjoy colorful collaborations by thousands of students throughout the state of Oklahoma who are exploring diversity through the arts.

Science Museum Oklahoma

2100 N.E. 52^nd Street, Oklahoma City, OK

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Program: 5:00 p.m. in the Eleanor Maurer Theatre

Exhibit will follow: One of the displays, “Ribbons of Tangible Hope,” is a three dimensional hanging art installation filled with banners created by students and other community members with messages of peace and hope. Information about this and all displays for the Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit will be posted.

Presentations will be made by State Superintendent Sandy Garrett and Children’s Theatre Director Lyn Adams for winning entries in the state wide Respect Diversity Art & Poetry Contest.

Teachers who register early will receive

Multicultural Professional Development Points.

Desserts by Starbucks and friends!

To be placed on the guest list and

to be admitted free of charge

R.S.V.P. 359-0369 or rdfrdf@cox.net

The Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit will be open from March 11 through May.

To learn about projects of the Respect Diversity Foundation visit: www.respectdiversity.org; write to: rdfrdf@cox.net or call: 405/359-0369.

Sponsored in part by Science Museum OK, Loves, MetroFamily Magazine, Oklahoma Natural Gas, The Grateful Bean, Christian Mohamed Goldberg, Walmart Stores, the Jewish Foundation, ICelebrateDiversity.com and the Respect Diversity Foundation.

Created for the United Nations Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non Violence for the Children of the World (2001 - 2010)

World Trade Center Memorial site, representatives from Church Womean United joined other UN NGO's for the Interfaith Prayer, Sept. 11, 2005.

Ribbon exhibit, Palais Des Nations, Geneva, for the Non Proliferation Treaty of nuclear conference, 1990.

Ribbons created by students in Monterrey, Mexico for the culture conference and presented to The Ribbon International, Oct. 2007.

Ribbons displayed annually at the World Peace Society festival, Amenia, NY, Aug. 1999.

Lake Havasu City, AZ, Jamaica after school program, Oct. 2007. Ribbons have been created and displayed annually in recognition of United Nations Day. Marlene and Tom DeFilippis have over

seen these events since the early 1990's - first in Gas City, Indiana then the move to Lake Havasu, AZ. (more to be posted)

Sept. 11, 2003, Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Park, Ribbon joining and Interfaith prayer for Peace is prayed.

June 2008, 50 th Anniversary of the United Nations firts opening at Lehman College before it's home in NYC.

First photo, Culture Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, with Michele and Noomi, 1997.

Second photo, Ribbon exhibit at Rockefeller Plaza, subway display window, throughout the 1990's, various Ribbons were displayed.

Ribbons were created and displayed outside UN Headquarters, August 1997, by International Mothers of Liberia, panel tells a story of how Liberian mothers do not want their children taken and made to fight in a war.

Exhibit at Bonadssamlingen in Stenstorp, Sweden, March 1997. The embroidery museum has a collection of Ribbons.

A Peace Ribbon was presented by Loretta Kepler to the wife of the

Rev. Hector Mendez, minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Havana, Cuba, October, 2000. "I wasn't expecting to speak in front of the whole congregation, but that Sunday the Reverand Mendez introduced our gruop and brought out the Ribbon. With words in Spanish, that were pulled from my past I said that these were two islands in the same sea, and that our one hope as for peace. People cried."

Penn State University, 2004, tree planting, faculty and students peace event.