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September 2007 • VOLUME 25 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine
Messenger of Peace - an open Letter to the HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein Recently HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein was apppointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace. A singularly honourable appointment. “On the occasion of 21 September 2007, the International Day of Peace, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has honoured HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein designating her as United Nations Messenger of Peace. She is joining six other Messengers of Peace, individuals who possess widely recognized talents in the fields of art, literature, music and sports, in helping to raise worldwide awareness of the ideals and activities of the United Nations. Known for her commitment to humanitarian causes, HRH Princess Haya served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the World Food Programme from 2005 to 2007 and travelled to Malawi and Ethiopia to draw attention to hunger and the impact it is having on both countries. HRH Princess Haya, FEI President and IOC member, is the first Arab woman to compete in equestrian events at the continental, world and Olympic levels. She works on promoting health, education and sports issues among youth in the Arab and Muslim worlds. She also chairs the Board of Directors of the International Humanitarian City (IHC), a global humanitarian and aid hub located in an independent, free zone authority created by the Government of Dubai. IHC aims to facilitate aid and development efforts by providing local and international humanitarian actors with facilities and services specifically designed to meet their needs. As a Messenger of Peace, HRH Princess Haya will be dedicated to helping raise global awareness of the Millennium Development Goals, including the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. The Secretary-General has recognized HRH Princess Haya’s personal commitment to humanitarian work. “I know you will make a compelling advocate for our shared goal of ending the suffering of the more than one billion people in the world who continue to live in extreme poverty,” he said. Consenting to serve as a Messenger of Peace, HRH Princess Haya said that she was honoured to accept this responsibility. Referring to her work with the first ever food aid organization in the Arab world, “Tkiyet Um Ali” in Jordan, conceived by her late mother Queen Alia, she said, “I consider it my inherited duty to help relieve the plight of people who suffer the devastating effects of poverty”. The Secretary General also announced the designation of three other Messengers of peace alongside HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein: Midori Goto, the Japanese-American virtuoso violinist; Daniel Barenboim, acclaimed conductor and pianist; and Paulo Coelho, the world renowned author and receiver of many global literary awards. The other Messengers of Peace and their areas of focus are: Jane Goodall, the environment; Michael Douglas, disarmament and peace and security; Yo-Yo Ma, youth; and Elie Wiesel, human rights. Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti was a Messenger of Peace for nearly a decade before his death in Modena, Italy on 6 September 2007.” HRH Princess Haya is a very honourable person who has the admiration of many. But I would ask what peace can be found as human beings if we cannot find it first within ourselves to deal in honour and peace with those creatures who cannot even defend themselves against us? As the President of the FEI, you have the opportunity to create true change in the human condition, by healing many souls. Children around the world are now being raised in your very own equestrian community in believing that it is okay to treat their equestrian partners in a way that is base and cruel.  How can we possibly have peace upon this planet if we cannot learn to treat these incredibly beautiful creatures with the love and respect that they deserve? How can we continue to torture them? Wound them and literally kill them before their time all in the name of money or a few paltry pieces of cloth that we call ribbons.
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