2021 is beginning with new opportunities for expanding our work in the region.
We have been collaborating USAID Wildlife Asia, WildAid Thailand, the Thai Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), FHI60 and the Sekhiyadhamma network and Wat Chak Daeng to reduce the use of wildlife products and will have two more workshops in 2021.
We congratulate our dear friend Venerable Ponmyun Sunim on receiving the 37th Niwano Peace Prize. Thanks to Susan Hayward for sharing the background for Venerable being selected to receive the award. Venerable, in his acceptance speech, makes an urgent appeal for peace and to choose coexistence over mutual destruction.
We thank JTS Korea for their generous donations to several initiatives including the new Female Sangha Initiative for social transformation in Southeast Asia. This women’s empowerment initiative was announced at the end of December 2020, and proposals are due January 31, 2021. JTS Korea also donated medical materials for health and medical workers in Myanmar. Our partner, Kalyana Mitta Development Foundation coordinated the distribution activities in Yangon. More information is available in this issue.
