Benson Ang, The New Paper 23 Sep 09;
IT WAS the biggest artwork he had made in his life of nine years.
Never mind if it was the adults who did all the sewing.
For Ethan Cheung, what mattered was that he was part of the United Nation's International Day of Peace.
Together with his brothers Keenan, 31/2, and Declan, 21/2, the Tanjong Katong Primary School student worked hard at painting the feathers, making sure each was colourful and beautiful.
About 100 participants - comprising volunteers and members of the public - attended yesterday's Day of Peace. The event was organised by the Singapore branch of the Jane Goodall Institute, a conservation group.
The birds were made from newspapers, paint, bamboo poles and bedsheets.
And each was larger than a motorcycle.
About 15 of these giant doves were paraded around the compound of the Old School at Mount Sophia about 5pm yesterday.
At least one of the doves, which had a wingspan of about 5m, was made mainly by schoolchildren. The bird's head was made of paper mache, which was stuck to a giant balloon.
It had a pink beak made of cardboard, and its wings and tail were made of 'feathers' made from pieces of scrap cloth, which were sewn onto an old bedsheet.
The dove was designed by Mr Andrew Tay, 45, a volunteer from Cicada Tree Eco-Place, a nature education group.
Mr Tay said he wanted each feather to have a heart painted on it to symbolise love and peace.
The parade of doves was followed by a concert of dance and music acts.
The event brought together several other non-governmental organisations such as Unifem Singapore, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, to celebrate peace.
