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Before we begin, I have invited my friend Cindy Dunham, a Torres Strait Islander woman, to help me sing a spiritual song from home, from Birthday Island, which is part of Australia. We sing this song before we start anything—whether it's a feast or a house blessing. We sing it at the start of most of our presentations. In our language, it simply means: Father, send your Spirit to bless us, the Holy Spirit to bless us. God bless us, send your holy angels to save us throughout the day and all night long. I remember during the monsoon season, Dad would have us all prepare the roof for the onslaught of heavy rains. One day, my brother and I were given the task of climbing onto the roof to patch up the holes. We ran out of tar, so Ray said, "Use some of that kerosene soap in the rest of that hole." Do you remember that really hard kerosene soap? Am I dating myself here? Is anybody with me? Don't tell me that's over already. Oh no! We must be wise and discerning of the spiritual warfare that we wage on each other every day. On these battlefields, you will find others who will teach you and who will understand. Instead of fables, let's focus on our homes, our places of work, our schools, our community, government structures, institutions, and organizations. In fact, come back to me and my little grandson. Our weapons damage our spirits and result in physical ill health. We must combat this spiritual warfare with love—a smile, a touch, a word. Acknowledge that person whose smile has been taken away, so they know and feel that they matter. Give them back their smile. You will see it shine in their eyes, and it becomes the jewel in their crown. By acting for peace in this way, we will be contributing to keeping our homeland, Australia. This homeland has been kept, and people have been working in peace. I'd like to acknowledge all those people from other cultures who have worked, who have walked and talked first, and who have walked and worked with us in the community to maintain this peace in this great Southland of the Holy Spirit. For peace. This way, we will contribute to keeping our homeland Australia a safe place of belonging for all who are here now and for those who are yet to come. And you won't even need to buy a t-shirt, tick a box, or wave a flag. You, my brother, my sister, will be the symbol of the presence and existence of peace, with love and with justice. In conclusion, I leave you all with this: Let's strengthen the People's Peace Force of Australia, showing more love and making more peace. Our future generations will say of all of us, "Those people of that time loved us unconditionally, long before we were there." Our future generations will say of all of us, "Those people of that time loved us unconditionally, long before we—" there is none. Recording location: Australia, Sydney, World Peace Forum 2003