AWARDEES

WORLD PEACE PRIZE GOES TO TEXAS WOMAN LABOR LEADER

Barbara Flaherty, Montserrat Garibay, Fr. Sean McManus

CAPITOL HILL. Austin, Texas.— A top Texan woman Labor leader has been awarded the World Peace Prize.

Montserrat Garibay, Secretary-Treasurer, Texas AFL-CIO, was presented with the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

The presentation ceremony took place on Monday afternoon, February 18, 2019, at the Texas AFL-CIO headquarters in Austin.

World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989. Dr. Han is a Presbyterian Minister.

The presentation was made by Fr. Sean McManus—Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize and President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus— and the ceremony was chaired by Barbara Flaherty, a Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council, and Executive Vice President of the Irish National Caucus.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council consists of a 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges. The Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism.

Fr. Mc Manus explained: “Working for peace, locally or globally, means, in effect and of necessity, working for social justice. Therefore, members of the Labor Movement are ideally qualified to be recipients of our World Peace Prize. Montserrat Garibay— originally from Mexico City, and once an undocumented immigrant, but now an American citizen—personifies the true Labor spirit and the true immigrant spirit. She has a driving desire to create justice and solidarity for all. She is an ideal recipient for the World Peace Prize of ‘Roving Ambassador for Peace’—for as Pope John Paul II powerfully reminds us, peace is the fruit of solidarity.”

Secretary-Treasurer Garibay in her acceptance speech expressed heartfelt appreciation for the honor of the Prize; she movingly recounted her early experience in the United States and how so many people helped her and her family to overcome difficulties. She sees her mission as Labor leader as a perfect way of “giving back”— of promoting solidarity and justice for all, with a helping hand to immigrants and all who are seeking dignity and fairness.

[Full speech will be available next week on our website — WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org]

Top Massachusetts Labor Leader Receives World Peace Prize

“Steven Tolman, president, AFL-CIO— a charismatic, energetic, and passionate Labor leader— eminently deserves this Prize.”

Fr. Sean McManus, President Steven Tolman, and Barbara Flaherty

CAPITOL HILL. Wednesday, January 16, 2019— A top Massachusetts Labor leader has been awarded the World Peace Prize.

Steven Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, was presented with the World Peace Prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

The presentation ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon, January 15, 2019, in Florian Hall, Dorchester, Boston.
World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989. Dr. Han is a Presbyterian Minister.

The presentation was made by Fr. Sean McManus—Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize and President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus— and the ceremony was chaired by Barbara Flaherty, a Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council, and Executive Vice President of the Irish National Caucus.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council consists of 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges. The Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism.

Fr. Mc Manus explained: “Working for peace, locally or globally, means, in effect and of necessity, working for social justice. Therefore, members of the Labor Movement are ideally qualified to be recipients of our World Peace Prize. Steven Tolman, President, AFL-CIO— a charismatic, energetic, and passionate Labor leader— eminently deserves this Prize. As Pope John Paul 1I has said, ‘peace is the fruit of solidarity.’ And the American Labor Movement knows a thing or two about solidarity.”

President Tolman in his acceptance speech said: “I am humbled by this award because I truly believe that every union leader and activist is worthy of the same recognition. We’re all working day in and day out for justice…
On behalf of our members,
On behalf of fairness in the workplace,
On behalf of all working people who deserve a voice and their fair share.
As Martin Luther King said: ‘As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love.’Thank you for the honor of receiving this award.” [Full speech will be available next week on our website — WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org]

Massachusetts Labor Leader to Receive World Peace Prize

Steven Tolman, President, AFL-CIO

CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, December 20, 2018— For the first time, a Massachusetts resident will be honored with the World Peace Prize.

The World Peace Prize Awarding Council (WPPAC) has announced that Steven Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, will receive the prestigious prize of “Roving Ambassador for Peace.”

The presentation ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at 2:30-4:30 PM in Florian Hall, 55 Hallet Street, Dorchester, Boston, MA 02124.

World Leader and Master Planner, Rev. Dr. Han Min Su, founded the World Peace Prize in Seoul, South Korea, in 1989. Dr. Han is a Presbyterian Minister.

Dr. Han said: “Our Washington office—WWW.WorldPeacePrizeWashington.org— headed by Fr. Sean Mc Manus and Barbara Flaherty of the Irish National Caucus, nominated the Honorable Steven Tolman. Our 14-member Board of International and Interfaith judges unanimously selected Mr. Tolman. Our Board is comprised of representatives of the world’s nine major religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox, and Zoroastrianism. We congratulate Mr. Tolman, while also knowing that his acceptance honors our noble idea and mission of world peace.”

Fr. Sean Mc Manus — President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus and Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council (WPPAC)— said: “I have the honor of being the Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council (headquartered in Seoul, South Korea).

We were pleased to be able to propose Steven Tolman because of the intrinsic link between justice and peace. As Saint Pope John Paul II has declared, peace is, indeed, the fruit of solidarity.’ Labor Leaders who spend their entire lives working in solidarity for justice for working men and women are, indeed, working for peace—not only nationally but also globally. Hence, Labor leaders — and Steven Tolman in particular—are eminently qualified to be candidates for the World Peace Prize of Roving Ambassador for Peace. Furthermore, our Peace Prizes encourage members of the Labor Movement to positively think of themselves as not just fighters for justice but as peace builders as well. I believe this gives an important dimension to Labor’s self-understanding, self-image, and self-identity. And, I urge all members of the Labor Movement to embrace it —as I know Steven Tolman does. So, too, does the national president of the AFL-CIO, the great Richard L. Trumka.”

Mr. Tolman said: “I am truly honored to be chosen as the Roving Ambassador for World Peace. Within the ranks of the labor movement, there are leaders of every sector who are committed to standing up against injustice of all types. Each and every day I am honored to partner with them in their fight, and I accept this award in the spirit of their work as we strive for a more just and peaceful world.” END.