Asia-Pacific: A MEDIA TOOLKIT TO LINK PACIFIC PEACEBUILDERS AND PACIFIC ISLANDS MEDIA

August 26, 2008 – (Islands Business) A media toolkit for the International Day of Peace has been produced in partnership with the Pacific Islands News Association, to assist in the promotion of the 2008 International Day of Peace (IDP) – Sunday 21 September.

The toolkit, which is a media initiative of femLINKPACIFIC, a Suva based women’s media NGO that has served as the regional media focal point on behalf of The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) and its local Pacific partners, Pacific People Building Peace (PPBP) for the last 3 years. And according to femLINKPACIFIC Coordinator, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, the media toolkit is designed to serve as a link between Pacific Peacebuilders and Pacific Media Professionals:

"This year, as the Pacific media focal point for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict’s commemoration of the International Day of Peace, femLINKPACIFIC is pleased to be working in partnership with the Pacific Islands News Association to promote the principles, mission and purpose of the International Day of Peace through the development, production and distribution of this media toolkit which is designed to assist you in developing your coverage of the International Day of Peace.”

And PINA President, Joseph Ealedona is encouraging the members of the organisation to seek out the stories of peace and human security in the lead up to International Day of Peace as a way to forge partnerships with the peace women and peace men in their communities for IDP 2008:

"During this International Day of Peace let us remember those who have lost their lives but let us also celebrate the peacemakers, those who are determined to continue to persevere in addressing the root causes of conflicts and human insecurities, as a way to build sustainable peace - from the home to the community to the national and regional level”

According to the Interim Chair, Regional Steering Group, Pacific People Building Peace, Mosese Waqa, the partnership between Pacific Peacebuilders and Pacific media professionals is another way to strengthen civil society partnerships for conflict prevention and peacebuilding:

"The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) with its local Pacific partners, Pacific People Building Peace (PPBP), takes on this special responsibility to bolster the voice for peace in the Pacific. We are delighted that the voice for peace in the Pacific can be amplified this year, with a new partnership initiative with the leading news agency in the region, Pacific Islands News Association (PINA). This special Pacific partnership for peace will help convey the message of International Peace Day far and wide across the Pacific. This media partnership for the commemoration of the International Peace Day is an affirmation of the leading role of the media for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. PINA’s members have been in the forefront in covering conflicts and reconciliation in our regional for along time and bring to this partnership wealth of experience and network that covers all Pacific countries. PINA with its extensive Pacific media networks together with PPBP’s civil society networks will boost the level of engagements for increased awareness of the precious need for peace and peace ideals to be embraced in homes, communities, work place and governments. This Peace Media Tool Kit will enable PINA members with the support of PPBP network bring out human stories and initiatives for peace, and help write a clear and strong narrative in the Pacific, a Pacific narrative for Peace. These Pacific stories can be combined with other amazing stories from around the world through GPPAC to help achieve our universal obligations to consolidate our collective efforts for the International Day of Peace.”

The media toolkit features a range of Pacific language translations of the theme "Pacific People Building Peace” and includes background information about the International Day of Peace, suggestions for stories and coverage of the event, as well as a database of Pacific Peacebuilders.September 21st of every year is declared by the member states of the UN as The International Day of Peace. The UN in 1981 declared a resolution sponsored by Costa Rica that the third Tuesday of September, coinciding with the opening day of the UN General Assembly, as the International Peace Day devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. The day provides a unique global platform inviting all governments, organizations of the UN, regional and non-government organizations, to commemorate the International Day of Peace through public awareness and education. It is a global invitation to all nations and people to honor the day with a 24 hour of non-violence and ceasefire.

To view the toolkit, please click HERE
From:http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news