Gold Coast is the first “World Kindness City”

“World Kindness Movement“, have you ever heard of this organisation? I hadn’t, until today. I read, in the “Mayors Message”, a pamphlet of community news that comes with  the 6 monthly rates and water notice, saying he was proud that our city had been named the first “World Kindness City” back in September 2017.

How had this interesting piece of news slipped by without the media letting us know about it. Maybe because it was not sensational enough. Or maybe I just missed that 5 second report on the local station because I was outside watering the garden…

I was intrigued. So where did I look for an explanation? Google of course, that all-knowing entity living up there in cyberspace.

Origins

The idea behind the World Kindness Movement (WKM) crystallised at a conference in Tokyo in 1997 when the Small Kindness Movement of Japan brought together like-minded kindness movements from around the world. The WKM was later launched in Singapore on 18 November 2000 at the 3rd WKM Conference. The mission of the WKM is to inspire individuals towards greater kindness and to connect nations to create a kinder world. The WKM encourages individuals of other nations to establish kindness movements within their countries and collaborate on global initiatives through membership to The World Kindness Movement.

What a fantastic idea. The world desperately needs a movement like this. I read a bit more…

WKM is an international movement with no political or religious affiliations. The formation of the organisation crystallised at a conference in Tokyo on 13th November 1997 when Japan brought together like-minded kindness organisations from around the world for the first time. WKM is now recognised as the peak global body for Kindness and whilst not a governing body it is a platform for collaboration and sharing. The mission of the WKM is to inspire individuals towards greater kindness by connecting nations to create a kinder world. Members of the movement include over 28 nations with representatives from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea,Switzerland,Thailand, United Arab Emerites, Ukraine, United Kingdom and with six member organisations in the USA.

In 2017 at the 9th General Assembly in Seoul we welcome WKM’s new International Council representing South Korea, Switzerland, India, Australia, Netherlands, Nigeria, China, Mexico who strive to inspire its members and our world leaders, that the vision of a kinder world can be realised in our lifetime

So many countries are part of this movement. So how did they choose Australia to be the first “Kindness City”?…

Delegates unanimously agreed to officially list The City of Gold Coast in Australia as the first “World Kindness City” after reviewing their submission to ensure it met the criteria to be a World Kindness City.

The link will take you to the 10 point criteria that must be fulfilled to be awarded the “World Kindness City”. I especially like the “BIG HUG”, in capitals, in point number 8…

8 City either hosts, actively supports and or  participates in a Kindness Initiative e.g. Implement a 360 Kindness Index, launch officially branded community World Kindness Cards, organise The BIG HUG, A Conversation in Kindness Panel and Flash Mob, Kindness Concert of Kindness themed Short Film, Vox Popoli or Arts festival dedicated to expressing kindness through the Arts Dance, Music, Theatre, poetry, literature or photography .

I do think Gold Coast is mainly a friendly and kind city. Of course it still has its crime and problems of homelessness, family violence and other sensational happenings that the media like to report in detail each night. But when I walk down the street this is the response I get.A complete stranger spots me taking a street photo and this is her reaction, giving me a BIG HUG.

Further down the street a person stands outside her shop offering free samples of yoghurt with a smile.Of course this is a tourist city so many people will be here on holiday which makes people feel happy and also our weather is, as the marketing says, “beautiful one day, perfect the next”.

What a great movement this is. It needs to be supported and hopefully, somehow, the movement can spread, especially to politicians and trouble makers around the world. Let’s promote the BIG HUG and SMILE…