【明報專訊】In the 1980s and 1990s, Peru (秘魯) went through hard times because of internal conflicts between the Mao-inspired rebels (Shining Path rebels) and government forces. It was estimated that, during the prolonged period of political instability, 15,000 men went missing. Many of them are believed dead.
The missing men have left their families behind. Last month, women from those families dressed themselves in traditional clothing and gathered together to knit for their loved ones. Each woman knitted an A4-size piece, and those pieces would be combined to form a scarf that would be one kilometre long. Called the Scarf of Hope, it would represent the messages those women would like to send their missing husbands, brothers and sons. The project is going on, and the Scarf of Hope is expected to measure one kilometre by the end of 2010.
■Keywords
political instability……政治不穩定
family ties……家庭聯繫
■Questions
1. What is the main aim of knitting the Scarf of Hope?
2. Wars and conflicts claim lives. What other kinds of harm may wars cause?
3. In some countries, widows are not allowed to re-marry. What do you think of this custom? Explain.
■Further readings
BBC. "Scarf of Hope to remember Peru's missing". 2010.08.30
Text: Polly Cheng
