December 19: Mumbai: Film Screening – Peace Tree
I am a filmmaker and an educator who focuses on producing films that promote peace, respect and interfaith understanding targeted at children and families. In light of the recent Mumbai attacks, and understanding the fear and anger that has been instilled in our children and families, I realize this is a time when we all need to unite and implement concrete solutions and an action plan that will empower our children to create a safe, peaceful society based on respect and understanding for people of all backgrounds.
I happen to be in Mumbai this week and wanted to share with you a film I have made entitled, The Peace Tree, which has received 12 international awards including the Liv Ullmann Peace Prize and triggered a peace initiative that has taken root in Canada, USA and other parts of the world called The Peace Tree Spirit! (Please see below) The film shares the story of two little girls, one Muslim and one Hindu, who both dream of celebrating each other’s festivals, Christmas and Eid, but encounter problems at home trying to convince their families that it’s really all about peace and so they create a Peace Tree a tree that has the symbols of all our cultures and faiths, in order to reflect the beauty of diversity in unity.
As a result of the film, now children in schools in Canada, USA and 12 different countries have started to create actual Peace Trees and the Mayor of Toronto proclaimed Peace Tree Day in the city of Toronto in 2006, a new festival for children and families of every culture and faith to celebrate peace and diversity together. Now many other cities in Canada have proclaimed June 1st as Peace Tree Day and celebrate the festival yearly.
The Mumbai Peace Tree Committee would like to introduce children, families and educators in Mumbai to the many ways to promote peace through the Peace Tree Spirit in their schools and communities. We are inviting all educators, NGOs, parents and students, who are passionate and interested in implementing peace initiatives, to a special screening of The Peace Tree on Friday December 19, 2008 at 4:00p.m. at the Juhu Jagruti Hall in Amrutben Jivanlal College, 1st floor, opposite Mithibai College, Juhu.. For more information regarding the Peace Tree film and the Peace Tree Spirit, please visit www.sandalwoodproductions.com and www.peacetreeday.com or email films@sandalwoodproductions.com.
We look forward to meeting you so we can discuss the many peace initiatives that can be implemented in Mumbai by our children and families in order to create a safe, inclusive, pluralistic society that will benefit every citizen.
Please do forward to your friends in Mumbai
Thank you.
Warmest regards,
Mitra Sen
Producer/Director
Sandalwood Productions