PressRelease: In wake of attacks on the Worlds Children, American Cultural Ambassadors David and Renate Jakupca offers Condolences to Families in Australia, Pakistan

ARK in Berea – (ICEAnews) American Cultural Ambassadors David and Renate Jakupca offered their condolences to the families of the victims and others impacted by the deadly attacks in Australia and Pakistan.

Ambassador Renate says it’s hard enough to understand the motives that underlie a terrorist attack – but even more so when the targets of such an attack are on  innocent Worlds Children.

At least 141 people, most of them children, were killed at a school in the city of Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan, after it was targeted by a group of Taliban militants wearing explosive vests. Most of the victims of the siege were students ranging from Grade 1 through Grade 10. Another 121 students and three staff members were injured. Seven attackers, all wearing explosives vests, died in the assault.

Ambassador Renate says it’s especially heartbreaking to see such tragedy through the eyes of a father. She also acknowledged the attack Monday in Australia, where three people – including the lone gunman, a self-styled cleric with jihadist sympathies – died after a 16-hour hostage-taking at a cafe in Sydney.

“We work around the World with our affiliates and our friends in the international community  to respond to this violence and find ways to them, to prevent them,” she said. “We will continue to be in contact with authorities in these various countries, including members of Pakistan World Peace Daily through Peace Minister Baba Brohi.  Hopefully those that have been recently affected can learn from their recent experiences and how we at the International Center for environmental Arts (ICEA) can use that to do more to prevent these kinds of instances here and worldwide.” 

Unfortunately, antagonism exists in all communities; an effective response must begin with communication of the truth of our common humanity. Those who learn to believe in the dialogue of the Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts cannot be susceptible to aggressive radical principles.  We at ICEA have found a way to fundamentally add to our education system so that we can inform children to develop benevolence early on in order to create a healthier society.

Ambassador Renate said it is hard not to be emotional when hearing the circumstances of the attack in Pakistan.

"It’s hard for any of us, as rational and compassionate people, to understand terrorism – to understand why people would want, in the name of some political cause, to simply terrorize, hurt and kill innocent people composed of the Worlds Children, whole sections of society,” she said.

“But I think it is beyond our comprehension why somebody would target children".

Earlier today, David Jakupca also offered his condemnation of the attack, which took place at a military-run school. He called the act cowardly, saying there’s nothing more sinister than killing children at school. He noted that the Taliban tried and failed to kill recent Nobel Peace price winner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the head by gunmen two years ago while on her way home from school in Pakistan.

“ICEA unequivocally condemns this heinous act, there is no more cowardly act than attacking innocent Worlds Children, and nothing more sinister than brutally murdering them while at school.” he said.

Ambassador Renate urged the people of Pakistan to seek solace and inspiration from Malala’s example. “In the moments that follow such harrowing tragedy, we hope that the resolve and the dignity of innocent Pakistani people will see more children like Malala Yousafzai emerge to carry the torch forward for more education, free from violence or intimidation. Pakistan World Peace Daily through Peace Minister Baba Brohi will stand by them, and support them, in the face of this ongoing terrorist threat.”

By Eugene Schpiota

About the:
Worlds Children Peace Monument (WCPM)
Provenance of the WCPM sculpture places its conception at Germany's World's Fair, EXPO 2000's 'Culture on the Move' segment.  American Cultural Ambassadors David and Renate Jakupca addressed the 140 Nation Assembly of the concept for a permanent universal symbol of renewal and peace on earth for all living inhabitants through the 'Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts'. This Symbol of Living Peace was the subject sculpture.  This project was initiated in cooperation with the United Nations 2000 Culture of Peace Program and organized in support of the UN Decade of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. http://theicea.com/page5

The WCPM was officially inaugurated in 2003 at the 3rd World Peace Conference held in Verbania, Italy where it received an Italian Medal of Arts Award. It was debuted at its present location during the 2003 Berea Arts Fest. The WCPM Project is to encourage positive community participation through the establishment of international site-specific works of public art, through cultural education and entrepreneurial training to children around the World. 

The “Worlds Children Peace Monument" (WCPM) and the “Great American Peace Trail" (GAPT) Projects are international, public participatory art projects designed to engage children with cross-cultural awareness in order to attain the common goal of sharing peace and diversity with their neighbors.  The peace projects have direct community impact through neighborhood beautification, community and economic development while building self-esteem and hope in America. They will help to build better neighborhoods where everyone can live, respect and accept each other as they diplomatically negotiate errors and differences of prejudice and hatred and instill in its place the belief in the necessity of communication.