Last night I attended the TEDWomen Conference in Doha where Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was one of the speakers at the session titled “Harmony and Discord: The role Women play in peace and security.”  The global event took place in Washington, DC, and was broadcast live in Doha with the participation of Her Excellency via Satellite from Doha.

HE Al Mayassa stated at one point

“Women are leading the charge on culture in the Gulf Region – and why is that? Is it because it’s the ‘soft option’? I don’t think so. I believe it’s because these women recognize that art is a perfect conduit for people to share transcendental moments; the creative arts can unify people locally and internationally”

She spoke of wanting

To go beyond building bridges. I want us to tear down the walls of ignorance of  East and West.

We don’t want to be all the same. We want to understand each other and respect each other.

Another speaker at the event, Jody Williams (Nobel Peace Laureate, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to eradicate landmines), said

We need to redefine what makes us secure in this world. It is not arming our country to the teeth.

Peace isn’t personal serenity; it’s justice, education, access to resources, living dignified lives.

As I have said before we are more the same than we are different.  It is all about learning from one another.

Let’s give peace a chance.

So, you may say I’m a dreamer –

but I’m not the only one….

(In honor of the 30th Anniversary of John Lennon’s death and all those working towards peace in the world)