UPF-Austria Is Partner in the Opening of the Peace Museum Vienna

By Peter Haider, Secretary General, UPF-Austria UPF-Austria readily accepted the request of the 41 pictures organizers to present an Ambassador for Peace

J une 21, 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the certificate to Mr. Akio Komatsu, president of Komatsu death of Bertha von Suttner, the first woman to be Electric Industry and the founder of the Human, Nature awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She was an and Science Institute Foundation in Japan, which is Austrian novelist and a radical pacifist. Suttner became working for the creation of wa (Japanese word for a leading figure in the peace movement with the harmony/peace) culture. Mr. Komatsu, guest of honor publication of her novel, Die Waffen nieder! (“Lay and a patron of the Peace Museum Project, gave a Down Your Arms!”). She gained international repute, keynote speech on June 17 in the Hayek Centre near and in 1911 she became a member of the advisory the museum regarding the importance of Bertha von council of the Carnegie Peace Foundation. Suttner for his own work for peace and reconciliation between Japan, Korea and China. During the week leading up to this day honoring this outstanding woman, events were organized for the Before his lecture a film about his impressive start of the “Peace Museum Vienna,” which is located humanitarian projects was presented. Mr. Peter at Blutgasse 3, right in the city center of Vienna. Its key Haider, secretary general of UPF-Austria, before giving element, the “Windows for Peace Project,” will utilize the award praised the readiness of Mr. Komatsu to windows in the City Center of Vienna to showcase approach Koreans and Chinese as a Japanese citizen influential figures throughout history who have with the spirit of sincere apology for the cruel things devoted their life and career to peace and tolerance. Japan inflicted on her neighbors during World War II The exhibition will highlight such figures as Vienna’s and for all his projects to promote reconciliation own Bertha von Suttner, Nelson Mandela and between these countries and beyond. Mr. Komatsu Mahatma Gandhi. This is the first project in the world later unveiled a Bertha von Suttner bust, the first of its to exhibit peace heroes in windows, available to kind in Austria, which he had ordered for this occasion everyone to view. as a copy of an existing sculpture in the Peace Palace in The Hague made by the Dutch artist Ingrid Rollema. Mrs. Liska Blodgett, the president of the Peace Museum Vienna, expressed her vision to bring the Among the speakers during the opening event on June message of peace from conference centers to the 18 for the “Windows of Peace” project were Dr. Peter people on the street. “Windows of Peace” will be on van den Dungen, head and general coordinator of the view in the very center of Vienna, with heavy tourist International Network of Museums for Peace; Fr. Toni traffic. A large number of historical and touristic sites Faber, head priest of St. Stephan’s Cathedral; Prof. and a shopping area are nearby, making the museum Hope May from Central Michigan University; and Mrs. very easily accessible for people to view and talk about. Heide Schütz from the Women’s Network for Peace in It is within a short walking distance of St. Stephan’s Germany. A vernissage (preview of the exhibit) with Cathedral and Mozarthaus Vienna. portraits of famous peace heroes by the renowned Austrian artist Werner Horvath, was the highlight of the evening program.