WFWP Canada hosts Cornerstone for Peace Webinar- Session 1
Written by: Christine Ranisavljev
The Women's Federations for World Peace (WFWP) Canada held part one of a four-part series webinar called “Cornerstone for Peace” on July 29, 2021. The topic of Session 1 was: “A Movement to Uplift Marriage and Family.” The event was hosted by Lilly Tadin, President of WFWP Canada, with an introduction by Blandine Stringe, Treasurer of WFWP Canada, and presentation by Evelyn Stewart, Vice President of WFWP Canada.
Mrs. Stewart, who has been a member of WFWP Canada since its founding, opened the presentation with questions that left the audience in deep thought: “Do we really value people and families today?” as well as “Do we know how to build healthy families?”
The next slides of her presentation included a Youtube video called “What Our Kids See,” which demonstrated the response of children of various ages and backgrounds responding to billboard advertisements of fashion models, clothing and perfumes depicting women and men in various states of undress and in provocative positions. One young child in the video said “It makes me feel uncomfortable” after seeing the billboard. Another young lady commented that “It makes me feel bad about my body.” This culture of hyper sexualizing both women and men can be very detrimental to young children and their sense of inner value.
Following this point, statistics were shown of divorce rates in the U.S. and Canada, which revealed that since the 1950’s, the divorce rate has more than doubled and one out of every three children live in a single-parent household. The statistics also showed that the children of two-parent families have an increased probability of avoiding poverty, abuse and violent crime, while also achieving higher results academically.
Mrs. Evelyn highlighted the need for promoting healthy education in families by saying, “We need deeper meaning and a paradigm shift.” It was at this point that she introduced the vision of the WFWPI co-founders, the late Dr. Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who dedicated their lives to promoting how peaceful families are the key to a peaceful world.
At the end of the presentation, the participants broke out into breakout rooms to discuss what part of the presentation touched them. When the participants and speakers returned back together, every participant shared their reflections with the rest of the group. Dr. Evelyn opened the discussion with the reflection that we have become desensitized to our over-sexualized culture, because when we see these ads our responses are not the same as those of children. Ms. Ranisavljev added that the statistics provided during the presentation were very meaningful because they were evidence to support the need for change in our culture. The session was adjourned with the encouragement to participate in Session 2.
Upcoming Event:
Session 2: Principles of Peace will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 8:00 p.m (EDT).
REGISTER
