Extract from the speech by Terrance Plowright at the unvieling of "Awakening Flower of Peace" at the Gough Whitlam Park for the Canterbury City council

"During my late teens and early twenties, I became deeply interested in philosophy, the seeking of Truth, and the human condition. At twenty eight, I arrived at a plausible determination that the human family has been evolving two very different brains. The one brain lives by fear and self obsession, committing violence, murder, or mass murder in order to sort out differences or fulfil self-obsessed ideology. Generally, the desire to achieve control and or absolute control has driven millions toward consistent catastrophe. We have suffered for more than 5000 years at the domination of this brain."

"The other or new mind is conciliatory, inquisitive, with an ability to listen and accept difference, and not only accept, but champion difference. Most importantly, this mind sees profound beauty in all existence, even in the life of those who would dispose of them. I believe this mind has been evolving down throughout this 5000 year journey and we have many fine examples. The great philosophers, from the Chung Tzu some 2300 years ago to the 20th Centuries Bertrand Russel: Creative giants, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Turner: Scientists, Galileo, Newton, Darwin and Einstein, and of course, those who have greatly influenced the employment of equal rights, Jefferson, Hugo and Tawine and King to name but a few."

"However, apart from the global machinations, peace is not just restricted to the large scale, to national boundaries and national ideologies, peace, must as well, start at home. Conflict between adults, between children, between mothers and fathers, between differing religious and cultural points of view must be opened to discussion and peaceful resolutions achieved via the underpinning of the rights of all individuals to be and feel safe. Any ideology, which requires psychological and or physical harm in order to achieve fulfilment, needs to be comprehensively examined, understood for what it is; “Fear and Self Obsession”, then be dissolved. And I do believe we can together, help each other see and come to terms with the destructive nature within ourselves, and together, help each other dissolve this affliction, which in the 21st century, is our only way out of our current circumstances."

"I believe the only criteria we need to form a substantial basis for Peace, Unity and Respect, is to acknowledge our own self obsession and our fear, as well as practising and encourging the practice of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right that each individual, male or female, no matter what cultural background, feel safe as they go about their daily activities, and be safe from violence. All else, when unfolding from this commitment, I believe, can bring about Peace. This notion, this commitment of safety, if at the basis of all governance, including the well being of the family, could potentially transform our entire planet."