This was the first morning I woke up feeling as light as a feather. It was the last day of the 7th DPI World Assembly. No more hectic shuffling between concurrent workshops and I had delivered my two presentations to an international audience of my peers. I was still up there somewhere in between the clouds.
I did not follow the programme of the morning as it was all speeches, speeches and more speeches. As it was the last day of the World Assembly, I took the opportunity to take some shots with friends that I made over the course of the four days, not knowing when we could meet again.
After the closing ceremony of the World Assembly, Shoji-san had organised a meeting of leaders of the Independent Living Movement of the Asia-Pacific region. We discussed how we could cooperate and take the local and regional movement o a higher level through cooperation and sharing of resources. This multi-lateral cooperation would be under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Network on Independent Living Centres (APNIL).
One thing that I like to do every morning on the way to KINTEX is to count the number of church spires. Seoul is a city full of those. Everywhere I turned to look, there was bound to be at least three spires sticking out from the amidst low rise buildings. As we were going back early today, I counted the spires on the way back to the hotel and lost count after thirty. I believe there could be more than 50 spires along the way.
Yes, I have a fascination for these non-step buses.
7th Disabled Peoples’ International World Assembly Wall of Dreams where we put down our dreams
and aspirations for a world without barriers and discrimination.
One for the memory – on the stage at the 7th Disabled Peoples’ International World Assembly.
Fellow Independent Living advocates – Lin Chun Chieh (Taiwan), Abner Manlapaz (Philippines),
Edwin de Villa (Philippines) and Peter Tan.
Performance before the closing ceremomy.
Song Jin-Seok – Official photographer of the 7th DPI WA.
With Ko-Kwan-Chul – one of the leaders of the Independent Living Movement in Korea.
APNIL Meeting conducted by Shoji Nakanishi after the conclusion of the 7th DPI WA.
Seoul – Land of church spires.
Seoul – Land of church spires.
Seoul – Land of church spires.
