Let me introduce Dr Cynthia Maung, recipient of the 2013 Sydney Peace Prize, who is consuming my life right now as (as Executive Officer of the Sydney Peace Foundation) I am organising Dr Cynthia’s visit to Sydney and two HUGE events that follow.
Since the announcement in the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Weekend (“Fragile Sanctuary”), on 17 August, we have been on a mission to sell tickets, stimulate media interest and organise the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture in the Sydney Town Hall and the Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony at the University of Sydney’s MacLaurin Hall.
Dr Cynthia Maung, an ethnic Karen, fled her native Burma during the pro-democracy uprising of 1988 and set up the Mae Tao Clinic on the Thai-Burmese border, where each year 700 staff treat over 150,000 people including refugees, migrant workers and orphans. Dr Maung has advanced the cause of peace in the AsiaPacific region and upheld the best humanitarian and ethical traditions of the medical profession.
The Sydney Peace Prize Jury’s citation reads: “Dr Maung: for her dedication to multi-ethnic democracy, human rights and the dignity of the poor and dispossessed, and for establishing health services for victims of conflict.”
That doesn’t come without a whole lot of work, for a small team consisting of two staff and a growing team of committed, hardworking and enthusiastic volunteers. Following a few weeks of 10-hour days, slowly but surely we are getting there…
Media, thus far, includes:
“Peace Prize winner fights for survival of her health clinic” by Sharon Bradley in the Sydney Morning Herald, 17 August 2013
Photogallery of Mae Tao Clinic taken by Fairfax photographer Brendan Esposito, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 August 2013
Burmese refugees the forgotten victims of AusAID cuts by PhD scholar Belinda Thompson, Crikey, 24 October 2013
An interview with Belinda Thompson, AusAid cuts hurt Burmese refugees, produced by Bridget Backhaus, The Wire (radio) 25 October 2013. Audio: http://www.thewire.org.au/audio/bjb%20burma%20thompson%20voice.mp3
Tickets:
Tickets for the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture in the Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday 6 November ($35/$25) are available via Ticketek: http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=SYDNEYPE13, phone Ticketek on 132 849, or by visiting your nearest Ticketek agent
To purchase a seat or table for the Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony at MacLaurin Hall, University of Sydney on Thursday 7 November ($375 per person) please book online: https://sydney.onestopsecure.com/OneStopWeb/aspx/tranform.aspx?TRAN-TYPE=949 or else contact the Sydney Peace Foundation on 9351 4468 / peace.foundation@sydney.edu.au
This remarkable woman is leading a team of doctors and staff who care for everyone, bringing about peace where it is truly felt and helping it work from the ground up. What an honour to be broadcasting that!
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