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MAY 17, 2013
RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
Scarf project to promote world peace with Golden Rule By Lillian Cox
LA COSTA — Angela Coppola has a simple plan to bring about world peace. In July 2012 she launched the Golden Rule Project with the goal of promoting a world consciousness through a collection of silk Peace Scarves bearing the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The same sentiment, or “Golden Rule,” is shared by 11 world religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Shinto, Buddhism, Baha’I Faith, Religious Science, Jainism, Cherokee and Yoruba (Nigeria).Their versions would also be printed on scarves. The first phase of the project was a design competition last year judged by fashion directors from some of the nation’s top design schools including the Pratt Institute in New York and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. A first place prize of $5,000 cash was awarded to Katherine Barron, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, who chose for her design a Golden Rule from the Yoruba Nigerian religion: “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.” “In his mouth the baby bird holds the pointed stick used to pinch him,” she explained. “His left wing is an abstract pink ribbon (the pink ribbon of peace). Surrounding him are the words of the
Nigerian Golden Rule. In the middle of the design is a gold/yellow square to symbolize the Golden Rule.” A second place prize of $2,500 was awarded to William Psinka, a San Diego advertising professional; and a third place prize of $1,000 to Sarah Crystal from Plano,Texas.Also included in the collection is the design of another contest entry and two designs used earlier in a test market. To get the project off the ground, $9,000 was donated by Amy McQuillan for prize money. Coppola is reaching out to the community to raise $50,000 to manufacture and bring the Peace Scarf Collection to market. For this, she has targeted JC Penney as the official retailer. Interestingly, JC Penney was originally called The Golden Rule Store when James Cash Penney opened it in Kemmerer, Wyo., in 1902. When sold at wholesale, the scarves would generate $100,000 for The Golden Rule Project. Beneficiaries of product sales would include the Alliance for a New Humanity (founding member, Dr. Deepak Chopra), Born This Way (founder, Lady Gaga),The Peace Alliance (founding member, Marianne Williamson), and United Religions Initiative (founder, Bishop William Swing). “We trust that this will bring awareness and create conversations about this sim-
The Golden Rule Project's first place prize of $5,000 cash for their Peace Scarf design competition last year was awarded to Katherine Barron, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, who chose for her design a Golden Rule from the Yoruba Nigerian religion: One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to ple principle which, if prac- inspirational art from the feel how it hurts. Courtesy photo
Angela Coppola has launched the Golden Rule Project with the goal of promoting world peace through a collection of silk Peace Scarves bearing the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” in the words of 11 world religions. Photo by Lillian Cox
ticed by all people who claim to believe in a particular religion, would bring about world peace,” Coppola explained. “That will start giving us revenue; then we will have funds to start the second design competition.” That would be for a line of dinnerware, including plates and mugs, also bearing the Golden Rule in the words of 11 world religions. Coppola is owner of Sacred Silks, a manufacturer and retailer of silk prints of
world’s most sacred houses of worship and museums. “My goal in creating the business was to one day represent every religion, and through that medium, accent the similarities not the differences in them,” she said. Prior to moving to North County, Coppola had a full-service ad agency in San Francisco with clients who included Levi Strauss. She was also international corporate creative director for Faberge when it was the largest perfume company in
the world. Today, Coppola says she’s just an ordinary person who wants to use her experience to help the world. “I do believe that the shift has to take place with the younger generation because the older generation has prejudices deeply embedded in their psyche and it’s more daunting to change their thinking,” she said. “Young people are more concerned about the future and have a
clear idea about how war and mistreatment of each other is not a solution and they are more willing to work to make this concept of ‘we are one’ a reality.” For more information visit goldenruleproject.us or sacredsilks.com. To make a donation or serve on the board or advisory committee call Coppola at (760) 431-2781. Celebrities willing to serve as spokespersons are also welcomed.