THIS YEAR\’S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THREE WOMEN.
IN A MONTH IN WHICH WE HAVE ALL MOURNED THE DEATH, AND CELEBRATED THE LIFE, OF OUR GREAT FRIEND AND SISTER, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE, WANGARI MAATHI, WE ARE UPLIFTED AND INSPIRED BY THE GREAT NEWS THAT THIS YEAR’S NOBEL PEACE PRIZE HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THREE WOMEN. WANGARI WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS NEWS AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DANCING AND SINGING WITH THE MILLIONS OF WOMEN, AND MEN, AROUND THE WORLD WHO WILL CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF THE NEW NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE WOMEN.
TO ALL THREE WOMEN – LIBERIAN PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSTON SIRLEAF, LIBERIAN LEYMAH GHOWEE AND TAWAKUL KARMAN OF YEMEN, AND TO ALL THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, WE SEND MY WARMEST AND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU HAVE ALL, IN YOUR OWN LIVES, GIVEN HOPE AND INSPIRATION TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, NOT ONLY IN YOUR OWN COUNTRIES BUT AROUND THE WORLD. YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO STAND UP IN SITUATIONS OF PAIN, SUFFERING, DEEP CONFLICT AND VIOLENCE, AND PROCLAIM THERE IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO SOLVING PROBLEMS, THE WAY OF COMPASSION AND NONVIOLENCE. YOU EACH HAVE SHOWN THAT WOMENS INCLUSION AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCIETY IS IMPORTANT AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOUR VOICES CONTINUE TO CALL FOR A DIFFERENT VISION, A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIVING TOGETHER AND SOLVING PROBLEMS, AND YOUR VISION IS SHARED BY NOT ONLY YOUR OWN PEOPLE, BUT ALL OF HUMANITY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP, AS BY RAISING YOUR VOICES AND ACTING OUT OF A MOTIVE OF LOVE AND SERVICE, YOU EMPOWER OTHERS, PARTICULARLY YOUTH AND WOMEN, TO ACT ALSO. YOU EACH IN YOUR OWN LIVES REMIND US WHAT IT IS TO BE A GREAT HUMAN BEING, AND FOR THAT WE ALL APPLAUD AND THANK YOU.
MAIREAD MAGUIRE
NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE