Empress Farah Pahlavi participates in a
"UNESCO Children in Need" gathering
Essen-Germany - September 4, 2002
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Empress Farah Pahlavi also intervened on behalf of Iranian refugees in
Germany:
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Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi was given an outstanding welcome and a standing ovation
before she delivered her remarks below:
I would like to begin by expressing my sorrow for the insufferable loss of life and destruction brought about by the recent catastrophic floods in your country.
It is with great pleasure, that my daughter in law Princess Yasmine and I join you in attending this special performance tonight: Most of us are familiar with the life of "Sissi", the legendary Empress Elizabeth of Austria. We cherish her memory, especially tonight, for being instrumental in benefiting "UNESCO's Children in Need."
It is hard to imagine that in an era of highly sophisticated technology and great scientific achievements, there are close to 40,000 children, who die daily because of war, hunger and disease.
There are millions of innocent children throughout the world, who as a result of wars and conflicts become maimed, orphaned and suffer indescribable corporal and mental abuses. In order to survive, they are forced into the horror of child labor, prostitution and drug dealing. They are denied the opportunity of an education or vocation. We witness these calamities mostly in underdeveloped countries, or in nations where people have no say in choosing their leaders and are governed by oppressive regimes.
I pay tribute to Ambassador Ute Ohoven whose dedication and determination has made a positive change in the lives of many of these unfortunate children. Ms. Ute Ohoven's enthusiasm and commitment to this cause and your most generous contributions have resulted in establishing 180 projects in 87 countries. These centers provide children, without having to abandon their homeland, the opportunity to become literate, to acquire basic vocational training and have a certain degree of dignity restored to them.
A civilized society should be judged, not only by its scientific and technological accomplishments, but also by how the knowledge and moral values of one generation is passed on to the next.
On my way to the theatre, my daughter in law Princess Yasmine handed me a quote from Oswald Spengler, German philosopher, which I like to share with you: "This our purpose: to make as meaningful as possible this life that has been bestowed upon us… to live in such a way that we may be proud of ourselves to act in such a way that some parts of us live on."
Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in thanking Mr. Burkhart Koch and the ensemble of "Elizabeth" for offering this splendid musical to come to the aid of "Children in Need."
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Below From Iran va Jahan - Shahbanou Farah Pahlavi
participates in a UNESCO gathering
