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Ms. Esther Ouwehand represents the Party for the Animals
in accepting the Shining World Leadership Award. |
By brother-initiate Roy Mannaart,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
and sister-initiate Katelijne Rothschild, Surrey, UK (Originally in
English)
On June 1, Golden Year 3 (2006), representatives
of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association presented
the Shining World Leadership Award to the Partij voor de Dieren (Party
for the Animals) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The award was accepted
by Ms. Esther Ouwehand, Director of the Amsterdam Bureau office. Instead
of taking place indoors, the event was held in the Vondel Park, a
lovely and fitting reminder that all animals should be able to enjoy
the beauty and peace provided by nature.
The Party for the Animals is a political
party whose single aim is to improve and protect the well-being of
animals. This party believes that the most effective way to improve
the treatment of animals is to create laws ensuring their protection.
Through its historic campaign in the 2004 EU elections, the Party’s
noble and honest message attracted the affection of millions of Dutch
citizens. It now has so many voters that the party is likely to enter
the Dutch Parliament in 2007 and has a fair chance to become part
of the European Parliament after the next elections. The Party for
the Animals has also become an inspiration and paragon of excellence
for animal welfare groups around the world. As more and more countries
follow this party’s noble lead, living conditions for billions
of animals worldwide will improve dramatically and true love for all
beings will prevail.
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An interview with Ms. Ouwehand after
the award ceremony |
During an interview after the award
ceremony, Ms. Ouwehand said that the Party was very honored to receive
the Shining World Leadership Award, as they see it as an encouragement
to continue their work. She explained that the party was created in
2002 at a time when no political parties in the Netherlands addressed
the issue of animal welfare. Since then, its members have worked to
stop cruelty against animals in the food industry and to raise awareness
regarding animal rights, such as restricting hunting practices
and the use of laboratory animals, many thousands of whom die every
year in the Netherlands.
When asked what the Party thinks
about vegetarianism, Ms. Ouwehand said that being a vegetarian not
only benefits animals, but humans and the environment as well. She
thanked Master once again for the Award, and said that she wishes
Master success in Her extraordinary work for animals and the world.
Award Letter to the Party for the Animals
The
Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
P.O. Box 9, Hsi Hu, Miao Li, Formosa R.O.C
.
April 12, 2006
Partij
voor de Dieren
Postbus 92082
1090 AB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Honorable Representatives
of the Partij voor de Dieren:
----It
is with great pleasure and admiration that we present the Partij
voor de Dieren the Shining World Leadership Award. This Award
is presented in recognition of outstanding effort and enlightened
leadership in creating a bright future for the world and all
humanity, with compliments and gratitude for exemplary kindness.
----Since
its inception in 2002, the Partij voor de Dieren has worked
ceaselessly to elevate the status of the most neglected and
mistreated inhabitants of the Earth. Through wisdom and skillful
means, and by virtue of its true sincerity and purity of motive,
the Partij has achieved unprecedented success in garnering the
patronage of the greatest leaders of Dutch culture and in winning
the affection of millions of Dutch citizens. Through its historic
campaign in the 2004 EU elections, the Partij’s noble
and honest message spread throughout the European Union. The
Partij has since become an inspiration and paragon of excellence
for animal welfare groups around the world.
----We
hereby applaud and celebrate the great deeds of the Partij voor
de Dieren.
With great Honor,
Love, and Blessings,
The Supreme Master
Ching Hai
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