URI Young Leaders Program

UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE

MARCH 2009

In This Issue Prayers for Peace in the Middle East Noteworthy Youth Action Projects Taking the Initiative on the Environment Upcoming Interfaith Conferences and Events Quick Links Join the Global Youth Network URI Young Leaders Communications Hub Contact Us More about URI Young Leaders Program URI Young Leaders Program Steering Committee: Kiran Bali - United Kingdom Joseph Kigozi - Uganda Rim Nour - Tunisia Jahangir Piara - Pakistan Sam Ruben - USA Atefeh Sadeghi - Iran Sarah Talcott - USA Sharon Vaswani - Philippines Matthew Youde - Wales / UK Soroush Zand - Denmark

Dear friends, During the month of February, the URI Young Leaders Program focused on conducting activities for social justice, sharing information about initiatives and ideas for both individual and community commitments. A live online chat on this topic was also held through the Young Leaders Communications Hub on March 1st in which youth from 8 countries participated: Argentina, Brazil, England, Iran, Pakistan, Scotland, UAE and USA. Click here to read the transcript of this conversation. We are excited to share the following articles from our young leaders about action projects they are organizing in their communities for social and environmental justice, as well as our Young Leader Prayer for Peace in the Middle East. Prayers for Peace in the Middle East On Christmas Day, 2008, just after the transformative interfaith gathering of Young Leaders in Mayapur, India, news reached the URI global community about the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. Global Council member Tareq Altamimi wrote to us, "Greetings from Bleeding Palestine," calling URI to action to release a statement alerting the world of the increasing bloodshed of innocents and escalation of violence taking place in Gaza. While the URI Global Council wrestled with the right words for this statement as representatives of the global community, the young leaders carried on a virtual conversation, sharing ideas, frustrations, their hopes for change and prayers for peace with one another. Michal Weiner from Israel called for prayer and dialogue, quoting Nasim, a Pakistani youth working for interfaith harmony in her country: "As a human being and a peace worker we have to promote peace and interfaith harmony among the different communities and faiths for coexistence, to stress the resolving of disputes through dialogue." Anas al-Abbadi from Jordan launched a campaign - 1,000 Acts of Peace in the Middle East - calling on Cooperation Circles to organize one small activity for peace, and to send in a report of their actions to the global URI. URI staff circulated a list of relief service organizations that our members could make donations to, in order to get emergency aid into Gaza. One of our youth members, Olivia Damm, a student from University of Edinburgh, joined her Palestinian Solidarity student society to organize a sit-in demanding the university to stop supporting defense contractors. They have also been raising money for aid to Gaza (over $4,000 raised thus far!) and organizing an informative lecture series featuring Israeli and Palestinian human rights activists. These are just some of the many efforts launched by the concerned members of the URI Youth around the world. Two months later, where do things stand in the Middle East? There is a ceasefire between the two nations, yes, but there is a long road that stretches ahead to heal the deep wounds between nations and communities that this recent breakout of violence has caused. Because of this, the URI Young Leaders have composed a collective prayer for peace in the Middle East, each one listening to his or her heart to speak out a line of this prayer. It is written by youth from Baha'i, Brahma Kumaris, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Indigenous, Muslim, Sikh, Theosophist and universal spirituality traditions. We would like to share it with the rest of our global community: Oh Dear Lord: You named Yourself "Assalam" (Peace)Guide your children to find YOU. May peace in the Middle East be as wide as the star-lit skies of its immortal deserts. And may the love of God reveal itself through each of our individual ways. May "Waheguru" - the Almighty bless us with vision and courage to walk the path for Peace. By thy grace, may there be peace and goodwill among all people everywhere. And my heart sings: Allah the Almighty...May the sun radiate your compassionate soul into everybody's spirit. Oh dear Lord: please give me Serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, Courage to change the ones that I can, and Wisdom to acknowledge the difference. And this will give me the peace that I can spread around. Excellent Being, Father of all creation, Counselor of all minds, in your presence I invite all that is fellow humanity, may we from different paths and walks of life recognize that we are all made from one breath. And that is how we can make peace. Of that I'm so sure That we will endure Cause we have done no sin ...And our blood is pure My dear Lord: Thank you for the peace we are already living. This beautiful universe is marvelous and perfect as it is. All is Love, all is One. And may we all accept what we have, listen to one another, react with love and peace in our hearts, speak with care, tolerate and accept the differences. Oh the people of the Middle East; May there always be peace within your hearts and always know that you are never alone and that you are being sent love and light every moment of every day. And may we be grateful for all the blessings. Holy Spirit, lead us to our true essence, break our illusions, fill our hearts with love for life in your accord, let us remain one with all. Oh my dear God, May you enrich our hearts with love and peace. And may these vibrations of peace fly and reach the Middle East, transform the environment, touch the human souls and radiate in the World. Shall you let the world overstand one another, being compassionate in its purest form, and living through the totality of unconditional love. Ase, Ahoe, Amen, Namaste', Shalom, Peace. We pray that all people and leaders of the Middle East be awakened to the light of truth. May they be liberated from the bonds of ignorance, fear and suffering. And that shall be the love to give us the strength to live the peace that is already gifted to us. Noteworthy Youth Action Projects We are happy to report on the collaborative and collective action projects URI Young Leaders are organizing around the world. This month, we are blessed with the birth of new URI Cooperation Circles - URI-Sierra Leone and GreenFaith Australia - as well as news about inspiring action projects for environmental and social justice being carried out by members of our Global Youth Network. Birth of URI - Sierra Leone - Training Youth Community Animators "URI-Sierra Leone, an interfaith meditation team, is a collection of seven members from the Christian, Islam, Judaism, Baha'i, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism faiths in Sierra Leone. URI-Sierra Leone is an outgrowth of URI worldwide. It challenges young people, men and women to: Engage in the resolution of religiously motivated violence with a particular focus on disadvantaged communities in Sierra Leone. Build networks of reconciliation and friendship along religious and social divides. URI-Sierra Leone was borne out of the desire of a driven team of young men and women who resolve to contribute to the post war reconstruction process in Sierra Leone starting by acknowledging their roles and responsibilities to build bridges across religious and social divides thereby sustaining our hard won peace in Sierra Leone." - Franklyn Koroma, URI-Sierra Leone Click here for the full article on the URI community website... For more information, contact: Franklyn Koroma, [email protected] Working Together for Social Transformation in the Philippines - Youth 4 Unity's participation in Kaya Natin! Movement "...Regardless of whether you are a career oriented professional, or just a kid playing on the street, what makes us all alike is our desire for a trouble-free, happy and peaceful existence. But as Martin Luther King, Jr. said, 'true peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice' and this is exactly what the Kaya Natin! Movement aims to do... Recently I was privileged to attend the 1st Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship Training Seminar of the Kaya Natin! Movement in pushing for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership in our country. But what exactly is this Kaya Natin! Movement, you may ask... Well, in the Philippines, a group of trustworthy and inspiring leaders met and together have created an emerging political movement which aims to bring about social justice in the country..." Click here for link to the full article. - Sharon Vaswani, Youth 4 Unity of the Peacemakers' Circle CC, Philippines For more information, contact: Sharon Vaswani, [email protected] Rally and Seminar Against Burning of Girls' Schools in Swat Valley, Pakistan "About 100 people from different civil society, labor and students organizations organized a rally and a seminar against the burning of the girls' schools in Swat and FATA by Taliban in front of the District Press Club Toba Tek Singh. The participants of the rally were carrying banners asking government to reconstruct the schools and start education facilities for the girls in Swat and FATA areas. Harmony Foundation Toba Tek Singh, Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD) Lahore and Toba Tek Singh CC organized the rally. Later the participants gathered in the courtyard of the District Press Club and speakers stressed on the government not to spare the Taliban as they have deteriorated the law and order situation and have now spread to all parts of the country. The speakers said the government should deal with the matter with iron hands as the education facility is a basic human right of all human beings and nobody can be allowed to deprive them of this right. The extremism was nourished in the patronage of the government and now it is the duty of the government to restore peace in the areas and ensure the provision of basic human rights to the people. The speakers spoke on the importance of the girls' education and how the Constitution of Pakistan ensures this basic right. The participants of the seminar and rally presented a resolution to the President of the Press Club about their concern on burning the girls' school in Swat and FATA... We have reached this stage of protesting in rallies on sensitive issues after a deep interfaith and social harmony dialogue in our area. The Muslim and Christian friends get together for these kinds of activities. The worker unions, civil society groups, youth groups and women's groups join us in the activities." - Atif Jamil Pagaan, Toba Tek Singh CC, Pakistan For more information, contact: [email protected] GreenFaith Cooperation Circle, Australia: Linking People of Faith through Ecological Initiatives "Greenfaith Australia is a new URI Cooperation Circle [approved February 2009]. We began as an organization in August 2008 and are now incorporated with a growing membership. Our purpose is to link people from different faith communities in acting together on ecological themes and issues. Since we began, we have run two successful eco-interfaith events: 'Water for Life' and 'Spirit into Sustainability.' Water for Life was a three-part seminar series that looked at water from a variety of angles. Firstly, from the perspective of faith traditions with an interfaith panel including Sikh, Muslim, Christian and Jewish speakers who reflected on what water means spiritually and mythologically in their traditions. Secondly, we invited an environmental scientist, journalist and community worker to speak about water from a scientific, political and community action perspective. Our final session was a facilitated discussion on how we can act as people of faith on water issues in our lives and communities. Our second event, 'Spirit into Sustainability' was held at a major Melbourne Festival called the Sustainable Living Festival. Our program involved story-telling from faith traditions, an interfaith eco-ritual and meditation, art work, live music and a panel showcasing faith communities who are taking ecological action seriously in our region. This was moderated by the religion editor of The Age, our main state newspaper. After the success of these events we are a growing organization and have many hopes and dreams for the coming years. Our next major event will be a pilgrimage tour for those attending the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne this year to come on a pre-parliament journey to the drought affected local towns and rural communities in the Murray-Darling Basin area. We will be connecting with interfaith and indigenous communities and bringing their messages back to the PWR with us. Anyone interested in joining us for htis journey is most welcome. For more info check out our website: www.greenfaithaustralia.org Thank you for welcoming us into the URI Family!" - Elyse Rider, Chair of GreenFaith Australia Taking the Initiative on the Environment This month's Taking the Initiative focus is on the environment. We invite young people to organize environmental projects in your communities and to engage in a live chat online to share your ideas for what people of faith can do to better care for the environment. This year's World Water Day will take place on March 22nd. Our live chat will follow on Sunday, March 29th, at 14:00 GMT / UTC. Details about how to participate in this live chat can be found at the Young Leaders Hub at www.ga08youth.com. The Peace and Environment CC in Pakistan offers a wonderful model for a project you could begin in your own community. They have begun the creation of Green Clubs as a way to involve youth in practical actions for conservation and to promote environmental education. "A Green Club is a forum through which students and youth can get guidance and awareness about a clean and healthy environment and can organize themselves in a way to clean and protect the surrounding enviornment. A Green Club is generally comprised of 20-25 youth and students. Every Green Club will prepare its botanical garden in which different plants will be produced and then the club will transplant these at schools and different public places like parks, streets and roads. After completion of the project, botanical gardens will be handed over to school management, who will prepare green clubs for each session and hence this will be a continuous system providing environmental education to young students." For more information about how to start your own Green Club, contact: Liaquat Shahzad, Youth Coordinator, Peace & Environment CC Pakistan, [email protected] , +92-300-4515297.

Upcoming Interfaith Conferences and Events The Young Leaders Program aims to connect religiously and spiritually diverse young people from around the world, and to develop their capacity to be servant leaders in the areas of interfaith cooperation, peacebuilding, ecological imperatives, human rights, and sustainable just economics. We especially wish to encourage youth participation in regional interfaith conferences, workshops and trainings this year. Here are just a few of the upcoming URI conferences and other interfaith events this year: - URI Southeast Asia and the Pacific Regional Conference: "Building Teamwork and Strengthening Leadership in the SEAP Region," March 15 - 21, Lanao del Norte, Mindanao, Philippines. To find out which URI young leaders are participating, go to: http://youth4unity.multiply.com/calendar/item/10008/. For more information, contact Regional Coordinator: Shakuntala Vaswani, [email protected]. Phone: +63-2-9207622. Website: www.uriseapnewsletter.blogspot.com - URI North American Regional Assembly "The Year of Reconciliation with Self, Others and World," May 7-10, Asheville, NC, USA, www.uri.org/na. For more information, contact: Margi Ness, Regional Coordinator, [email protected] - Interfaith Youth Core 6th Conference on Interfaith Youth Work "Leadership for a Religiously Diverse World," October 25-27, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, www.ifyc.org - NAIN Connect 2009: "Experiencing the Spirit in Education: The Challenge of Religious Pluralism", June 25-28, Kansas City, MO, USA, www.nain.org - Parliament of the World's Religions: "Make a World of Difference: Hearing Each Other, Hearing Ourselves," December 3-9, Melbourne, Australia, www.parliamentofreligions.org On behalf of the Young Leaders Program Steering Committee, I thank you all for your support and participation in building the interfaith youth movement! In peace, Sarah Talcott Director of Youth Programs [email protected]

God Is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World

Monday, April 6, 2009 08:00 AM to 09:15 AM Attend Event

On the street and in the corridors of power, religion is surging worldwide. Can religion and modernity thrive together? What impact will the world's rise of faith have in this century?

Speakers:John Micklethwait, Adrian Wooldridge

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
Merrill House
170 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10065-7478

(212) 838-4120
(212) 752-2432 - Fax

Map Click Here

** UNITED NATIONS MEDIA ALERT **

UNU Book Launch and Panel Discussion
World Religions and Norms of War: Exploring the Links
3:30pm to 5:30pm, Thursday, 19 February 2009
Conference Room 7 (CR7), UN Headquarters, New York
2:00pm to 3:30pm, Friday, 20 February 2009
United States Institute of Peace, Washington D.C.

The United Nations University Office at the UN in New York (UNU-ONY) is organizing a book launch and panel discussion entitled “World Religions and the Norms of War” to showcase a recently published volume of the same name. Published by United Nations University (UNU) Press 2009 and edited by Vesselin Popovski, Gregory M. Reichberg, and Nicholas Turner, the book originates from a joint project conducted by UNU and the International Peace Institute, Oslo (PRIO). The event will take place in two locations. The first will be on Thursday, February 19, 2009, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm in Conference Room 7 at the UN headquarters in New York and the second on Friday, February 20, 2009 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington D.C.

Recent armed conflicts - domestic and international - have drawn f resh attention to age-old questions concerning when war can be justified, and what methods and targets are permissible during war. Written by an international team of distinguished specialists in their respective traditions, the book takes the reader through the evolution of attitudes and teachings related to the ethics of war within the world's leading religious traditions, opening up new areas of discussion.

The event aims to explore fresh analyses of when and how world religions justify the use of force and its implications on the explanation of recent conflicts, as well as identify potential policy implications and areas for further research. The importance of examining such discourse arises from the fact that religions continue to be the foundations of human civilization; with their deep ethical roots and significant influence on20human thinking and actions, they are the central anchors of the human consciousness and motivation.

The three editors: Dr. Vesselin Popovski, UNU; Dr. Gregory M. Reichberg, PRIO and Mr. Nicholas Turner, UNU; as well as Dr. Henrik Syse, PRIO, will be presenting at both events. Archbishop Migliore, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and Dr. Walter Dorn, Royal Military College, Canada and Dr. Jean-Marc Coicaud, Director of the UNU-ONY (moderator) will be speaking at the New York event. Dr. David Smock, USIP (moderator) and Dr. Marshall Breger, Columbus School of Law; will be speaking at the event in D.C.

UNU’s objective behind this event is to focus on our mandate of generating knowledge on issues of global importance through discussions conducted by expert speakers. The UNU-New York office regularly organizes such events to promote ideas from experts from around the world on the UN platform. We hope to provide an engaging, interactive, and thoughtful experience to all in attendance.

All media are invited to attend. To register and for more information on the event please visit our website http://www.ony.unu.edu

(If you have any queries, please contact: Ms. Ranita Ragunathan on tel: 212-963-
6387 or email: [email protected])

ISSJS Jain Studies Program

International Summer School for Jain Studies ( ISSJS) has been in operation since 2005 and nearly 80 scholars ( faculty and students) from 5 countries and about 18 universities have attend these schools so far.

See the official flyer here

We are now inviting and accepting applications from all parts of the world for ISSJS 2009 . The announcement flier is attached for your information. Detailed information is given on www.jainstudies.org .

The last date for applying is February 14, 2009 . However we are encouraging the applicants to apply as soon as possible

Sulekh C. Jain, PhD

ISSJS Program Director
Houston, Texas, USA
281 494 7656
832 594 8005 ( cell)

North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) Annual Conference

North American Interfaith Network (NAIN)
Annual Conference - NAINConnect '09
June 25-28, 2009
Kansas City, Missouri at Unity Village

http://www.nain.org

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT IN EDUCATION:
THE CHALLENGE OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

Local Hosts: Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and SpiritPath at Unity Village

Many interfaith organizations provide interfaith education to the general public, and many educational institutions have developed advanced multifaith programs. NAINConnect '09 will bring together representatives of these two environments to inform each other to share stories, ideas and strategies for interfaith education so that we can all become more effective.

The North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) is a non-profit association with membership of interfaith agencies and organizations throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico. Its purpose is to provide communication, understanding and mutual strength among interfaith organizations, agencies and offices of denominations, religious, and educational institutions.

NAIN SEEKS TO:

• OFFER NEW VISION for intensified interfaith communication through programs of dialogue and social action.

• DEVELOP INTERFAITH GUIDELINES for comprehensive dialogue and action across religious traditions.

• PROVIDE A COLLECTIVE WITNESS of interfaith diversity through programs and events at regional and continental levels.

• EXTEND THE GIFTS OF NAIN MEMBERS by increased development of NAINews, NAINet and NAINOnline.

• FURTHER YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT through interactive education, internships and programs.

We welcome proposals for workshops on exemplary interfaith education programs. To receive a Workshop Proposal Form, please contact Peter Laurence, conference co-chair, at [email protected]. The deadline for proposal submission is March 1st.

Conference Co-Chairs:

Susan Cook, Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council Peter Laurence, Education as Transformation

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

- Unity Village is located ap-proximately one hour from the Kansas City airport (MCI).
- Ground transportation can be obtained from:

LLC: 816-522-3582 (cash only)
BATS: 816-588-4301
American Luxury Limousine: 800-861-1071
Quicksilver: 800-888-8294

CONFERENCE FEES (all meals are included). There is no registration fee for high school or college students.

Registration prior to May 15 - $249
After May 15 - $299

Conference Center (per night)
Single Room $129.50
Shared Room $96.50 pp

Unity Village Motel (per night)
(2) Double beds 1 person $108.80
(2) Double beds 2 people $80.80 pp
(1) Queen bed 1 person $96.20
(1) Queen bed 2 people $77.30 pp

Registration Form

Name __________________________________________
Title ___________________________________________
Organization ____________________________________
Address _________________________________________
City ____________________________________________
State/Prov. ______________________________________
Zip/Postal Code __________________________________

Registration Fee $ _________
Room ___ nights @ ___________
Total Room $ _________
Total Paid $ _________

Check enclosed made payable to Unity Village, or

Charge my credit card

Type of Card (MC, Visa, Amex) ___________________
Card Number ___________________________________
Expiration Date _________________________________

Mail registration form and check or credit card information to:

Attn: SpiritPath Customer Care Department
SpiritPath at Unity Village
1901 NW Blue Parkway
Unity Village, MO 64065-0001

Phone: 866-348-6489
E-mail: [email protected]

Refer to Code:

NAIN G9660625 SPRTRET9 S0043

Dallas Rabbi Jeremy Schneider Emerges as Leader in Muslim-Jewish Dialogue

02:28 PM CST on Saturday, December 13, 2008

By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider spends a lot of time talking to Muslims, and wants other Jews to do the same.

At age 32, the assistant rabbi at Dallas' Temple Shalom has emerged as a national leader in Jewish-Muslim dialogue.

"He has been in the forefront of strengthening relations between our two communities," said Rabbi Marc Schneider, president of the New York-based Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

Rabbi Schneider – whose office boasts not only diplomas but a neon University of Texas longhorn – was one of 20 clergy who participated in last year's groundbreaking National Summit of Imams and Rabbis.

He was the only rabbi in a National Peace Foundation-sponsored delegation visiting the Muslim Middle East – specifically Egypt and Syria – last June.

At Temple Shalom, he preached against "Islamophobia" on Rosh Hashana, pointedly telling his congregation, "We must learn what Islam truly stands for, not from politicians, not from e-mail forwards, and not from the media, but from Muslims themselves by engaging in dialogue."

Interfaith gatherings

To that end, Rabbi Schneider has organized monthly meetings with five members of his congregation and five from the Islamic Association of Carrollton. He and his wife, Rachel, had a dinner at their home for the group during the Jewish holiday Sukkot.

"I find Rabbi Jeremy to be an amazing person, and a dear friend," said Azhar Azeez, president of the Carrollton mosque, who at Rabbi Schneider's request gave the sermon at Temple Shalom during a service last month. "He's been extremely sincere."

Rabbi Schneider traces his passion for interfaith efforts to growing up in the predominantly Christian suburbs of Houston.

His mother, a teacher, made it a point to educate schoolchildren about Judaism. He visited a church with his best friend and had the friend over for Passover.

"It was second nature," he said. "I thought that's what you do – learn about others' religion and teach them about yours."

After attending Jewish summer camps and spending a high school term in Israel, Rabbi Schneider majored in education at the University of Texas. He decided his junior year to be a rabbi, and after graduation enrolled at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

There, he got involved in interfaith efforts, and wrote a thesis titled "Jewish-Christian Relations: From Tolerance to Pluralism to Partnership." His thesis adviser was Rabbi Reuven Firestone, author of An Introduction to Islam for Jews and an advocate of Jews and Muslims learning from one another about their faiths.

Rabbi Schneider launched right into interfaith work – both with Christians and Muslims – soon after joining the staff at Temple Shalom, a Reform congregation, in 2006.

Tension in Middle East

While Jewish-Christian dialogue and projects have been going on for decades, Jewish-Muslim efforts are in an early and tentative stage, impeded by a strained, often violent political situation in the Middle East.

"It's the beginning of a marathon, not a sprint," said Mohamed Elibiary, president of the Freedom and Justice Foundation in Carrollton, and another Muslim who has spoken at Temple Shalom.

Rabbi Schneider makes plain that the dialogue he fosters is not aimed at changing anyone's faith. Nor is it about wrangling over the Middle East.

Rather, he said, it's about building relationships between Jews and Muslims in North Texas and across the United States, and working through fears to solid knowledge of the other's faith.

Rabbi Schneider argues that the three Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – have much in common, and that extremists have, at times, "hijacked" each of them.

"There is terrorism in the world. There are fanatics in Judaism, in Christianity, in Islam. But if we give in to the fear that they're creating, then they win," he said.

Rabbi Schneider will be honored Jan. 10 by the National Peace Foundation for his interfaith work, and he plans to do more, including forming additional dialogue groups and starting a class on Islam at Temple Shalom.

There, he said, he has found "far more support than pushback," but acknowledges some congregants think he is naïve. Solidly in his corner is Rabbi Andrew Paley – senior rabbi at Temple Shalom.

"He's a terrific pastor and a wonderful teacher," Rabbi Paley said. "I'm praying that his example here will be a real model for people to follow."

Rome: annual Muslim-Catholic talks open

Yesterday, the XI talks between the Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue and the World Islamic Call Society, based in Tripoli, Libya began at the Vatican.

A spokesman said these are the latest in a long series of meetings that have taken place in various venues and regular intervals since 1989 to now. The talks, attended by 12 Muslim and 12 Catholic experts, under the presidency of Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue and Mohamed Ahmed Sherif, general secretary of the World Islamic Call Society will focus on three topics for reflection: ;religious Responsibility', 'Cultural and Social Responsibilities' and 'periods of Crisis in the Path of Interfaith Dialogue'.

At the end of the conference, on December 17, the participants will attend an audience with Pope Benedict XVI

Source: MISNA

© Independent Catholic News 2008

Contact Independent Catholic News email

Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) has approved allocation of $ 72.2 million for five member states, namely Bangladesh, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Jordan and Chad

Jeddah, December 27, SPA -- The Board of Directors of the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) has approved allocation of $ 72.2 million for five member states, namely Bangladesh, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Jordan and Chad.
The Board of Directors, which has recently held its meeting under the chairmanship of Dr Ahmad Mohammed Ali, the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), reviewed the ISF's activities and future plans.
The establishment of the ISF is aimed at fighting poverty in the member states in line with the decision adopted by the extraordinary Islamic summit, held in Makkah in December 2005.

article here

News from Doug Johnson - International Center for Religion and Diplomacy

Update #69

November 13, 2008
Partnering with Pepperdine

Last week, I met with Ken Starr, Dean of the Pepperdine University School of Law, to formalize a partnership agreement between ICRD and Pepperdine's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (the top-ranked dispute resolution program in the country for the last four-years running, according to U.S. News and World Report). Under this agreement, the two organizations will work together to build upon ICRD's current interventions in Kashmir, the Israel/Palestine dispute, and the Middle East more generally by involving Straus faculty and students in each of these initiatives for the purpose of (1) intervening as appropriate to improve the conflict situation being addressed, (2) training indigenous religious and political leaders in faith-based reconciliation, (3) developing a university-level educational program in faith-based diplomacy at Pepperdine that is informed by practical hands-on experience, and (4) training and equipping a cadre of next-generation, faith-based diplomats from Pepperdine. This is our second formal partnership to date and one that brings balance to our existing arrangement with the International Institute of Islamic Thought.

photos by Ron Hall, Pepperdine
Standing behind Dean Starr and me are (L to R) the Rev. Canon Brian Cox of ICRD and Pepperdine Professors Tim Pownall and Michael Zacharia, who formulated the partnership and who will jointly lead it in the future as the Pacis Project.

Persevering in Kashmir

This past month, ICRD Sr. Vice President Brian Cox, who directs the three projects mentioned above and who initiated the partnership with Straus, conducted a ten day advanced faith-based reconciliation training workshop in Santa Barbara, California for nine Kashmiri leaders from the Indian and Pakistani sides of the Line of Control. These leaders constitute ICRD's indigenous core leadership team for promoting "peace from within" in Kashmir. Collectively they are committed to changing the prevailing paradigm from one of militancy to that of faith-based reconciliation. Involved in Kashmir since 2001, ICRD has made significant strides in establishing a cooperative spirit between next-generation leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist regions of that troubled state. With notable influence in these regions and with this advanced training under their belts, the Core Group (with help from ICRD and Straus) will now take this effort to the next level in promoting social change that will support a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Toward this end, one ingredient in their long-term game plan will involve convening 10,000 university students in 2015 to exert the kind of "pressure from below" that will inspire political leaders to follow.

Doug Johnston

President
International Center for Religion & Diplomacy
1156 Fifteenth Street, N. W., Suite 910

Washington, D. C. 20005

http://www.icrd.org

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Devotees flock to 'Buddha reincarnation' in Nepal

By BINAJ GURUBACHARYA, AP, Nov 13, 2008

RATANPUR, Nepal -- The teenage boy revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha sat silently in the jungle as he blessed his devotees Wednesday with a light tap on the head, which they consider the touch of the divine.

<< Ram Bahadur Bamjan, in white, believed to be the reincarnation of Buddha, blesses a Buddhist monk in Nijgadh town, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Katmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008. Bamjan, 18, has re-emerged from the jungle in southern Nepal, attracting thousands of devotees, officials said Tuesday. After retreating into the jungle for more than a year, he re-emerged Monday. (AP Photo/Binod Joshi)

His face was still, his long hair spilled over his white robe, and he never said a word.

The followers of Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, believe he has been meditating without food and water since he was first spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005, when believers say he spent months without moving, sitting with his eyes closed beneath a tree.

Bamjan re-emerged this week to meet his followers, who have come by the thousands to see him in the jungles of Ratanpur, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Katmandu.

"I got a chance to see God today," Bishnu Maya Khadka, a housewife, said after receiving Bamjan's blessing Wednesday. "They say he is Buddha, but for me he is just God."

Bamjan was expected to address his followers on Nov. 18 and then retreat again into the jungle for meditation, said Kamal Tamang, a Buddhist priest.

Bamjan received the pilgrims from atop a podium covered in yellow cloth and placed before a massive tree. He looked healthy and strong and showed no signs of starvation or dehydration.

Buddhism, which has about 325 million followers, mostly in Asia, teaches that every soul is reincarnated after death in another bodily form.

But several Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of the claims that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal roughly 2,500 years ago and became revered as the Buddha, or Enlightened One.

BOOKS-IRAQ: Kurdish Jews Recall a Paradise Lost

BOOKS-IRAQ: Kurdish Jews Recall a Paradise Lost
By Aaron Glantz

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 10 (IPS) - It's become popular, when talking about ongoing violence in U.S.-occupied Iraq, for officials in Washington and the media to paint the Iraqi people as savages who can't help but keep killing each other.

In last Thursday's Vice Presidential debate, Democrat Joe Biden said "the history of the last 700 years" showed the Iraqi people could never get along with each other.

But is that really true?

A different, more accurate version of history comes in a beautifully-written new book by Kurdish-American journalist Ariel Sabar: "My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Northern Iraq."

In it, Sabar tells the story of his father Yona, who grew up in 1940s Zakho, a small northern Iraqi city where Jews, Muslims, and Christians mixed relatively seamlessly. Though their community was small, Jews like Yona Sabar "went to work, prayed to a Jewish God, and spoke their own language without major disruption" just as they had "without major disruption for some twenty-seven hundred years".

Read the rest of the review here (<-- click)

7th International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action

ANUVRAT GLOBAL ORGANIZATION (ANUVIBHA)

(a transnational center for peace and nonviolent action associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations)

AN UPDATE

Name of the event : 7th International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action

First Part : International Dialogue on Evolving a New Model of Nonviolent Lifestyle for Peace and Sustainability (10th Nov. to 12th Nov. 2008)

Second Part : Second International Nonviolent Leadership Training Camp

(13th Nov. to 14th Nov. 2008)

Dear Friends of Peace,

Earlier we had sent you an invitation for our conference on peace and nonviolent action which is to be held in the world famous city of Jaipur in the first half of November 2008. We still have room for a number of participants - either as speaker or as listener and we have decided to extend free local hospitality to all delegates whose registration is confirmed.

The first part of the 7th ICPNA is an international dialogue on 'Evolving a New Model of Nonviolent Lifestyle for Universal Peace and Sustainability'. (Nov. 10 to 12, 2008)

The valedictory session of the above dialogue will be presided over by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India on 12th Nov. at 3.30pm.

The second part i.e. the Second International Nonviolence Leadership Training Camp will be held from 13th Nov. to 14th Nov. 2008.

The conference is being organized under the spiritual inspiration of the 89 year old holy man Acharya Mahapragya, who will also shower blessings on all of us.

You can take part in the dialogue or the Training Camp, or - as most do - both.

This conference is different from most other peace conferences in that it is not merely academic. Apart from the exchange of ideas on the highest possible level, it is our conviction that peace is not only a matter of discussion and the implication of good ideas, but that peace belongs to the inherent nature of human beings themselves. The aggression and many other problems in the world are a manifestation or reflection of the inner problems each man or woman, and humankind in its totality.

This conference will not only exist of intellectualism, but take the people into a recognition of inner peace and a deeper understanding of what 'peace' actually is. Especially in the second part, we will go into some special yoga and meditation exercises, which will be guided by experienced practitioners. Of paramount importance for humanity, especially in the long term, is to change our lifestyles. We are aware that world peace can not be accomplished today, not even tomorrow, but the effort has to be sustained at least as a counterbalance to other forces.

Acharya Mahapragya believes that mere preaching doesn't bring about attitudinal change and inner transformation in an individual. For it one has to undergo specific training in ahimsa. This consists of four components:

1. Nonviolence: Concept and Principles

2. Change of Heart: The Training of the Mind based on some Practical Exercises

3. Nonviolent Lifestyle: What it means and how it can be lived

4. Fair means of Livelihood: Training in Self-employment

Come, join it and learn the art of living a happy life free from stress, anxiety and fear.

Better late than never.

Last date for submitting proposals, presentations and workshops at the 7th ICPNA is Oct. 10, 2008

Those who are not presenters can register even on the day of their arrival but to ensure accommodation, you are advised to register as soon as possible.

The conference is being organized by Anuvrat Global Organization (ANUVIBHA) (a transnational center for peace and nonviolent action associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations) and is being cosponsored by several internationally acclaimed organizations. You can register online too.

For details and registration form, please visit our website www.anuvibha.in.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. S.L. Gandhi
President Anuvrat Global Organization (ANUVIBHA)
Opp. Gaurav Tower, Malviya Nagar,
Jaipur - 302 017 (Raj.) INDIA
Ph. : +91-141-2722412
Fax : +91-141-2710118, 2722412
Mobile : +91 98280 16989
email : [email protected] [email protected]
Web : www.anuvibha.in

CSID: Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World

CSID Websites: English Bulletin Archive Invitation to the 9/24 Launch of a Major New Report on U.S. Relations with the Muslim World We are pleased to invite you to the official release of Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World The release will take place: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at the National Press Club, 1:00 - 2:30 pm The Report is the culmination of 18 months of work by a group of 34 distinguished American leaders. The Leadership Group's Report is the centerpiece of the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project, an initiative of Search for Common Ground and the Consensus Building Institute. Here is what Leadership Group members are saying about the Report: Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State; Principal, The Albright Group LLC "Few challenges matter more than reducing distrust and misunderstanding between the United States and people living in Muslim majority states. This timely Report is a groundbreaking, stereotype-shattering and thought-provoking contribution to that essential cause." Richard Armitage, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State; President, Armitage International "The United States needs to make a significant shift in our relations with Muslim countries, relying more on diplomacy and helping to lay the foundation for democratic development. I enthusiastically support the Report of the Leadership Group on U.S.-Muslim Engagement because it provides a clear, strong statement on how to achieve that shift. It is critically important for the next President and our business, faith and philanthropic leaders to act on its recommendations." Richard Land, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention; Member, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom "This initiative is a serious, comprehensive, bipartisan effort that seeks to address a critical and dangerous problem: The world Muslim community misunderstands Americans and Americans misunderstand them. This initiative lays out a detailed and comprehensive plan to vastly decrease that misunderstanding through a multi-faceted approach that will build constructive bridges of mutual understanding between Americans and the Muslim world." Ingrid Mattson, President, The Islamic Society of North America; Professor of Islamic Studies, Director of Islamic Chaplaincy, and Director, Duncan Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Hartford Seminary "It is a sign of great hope that the Leadership Group, despite having substantial differences over policies and politics, was able to come together to develop this Report. This was made possible by a shared belief that the vital interests of the American people need not, and must not, conflict with core American values affirming the dignity of all people and their right to freedom and self-determination. This is a message that the mainstream majority in the Muslim world will surely welcome, and it will help them in their desire to improve relations between their people and the United States." Please click here for event details and a full listing of the Leadership Group. RSVP requested to [email protected]. Robert Fersh, David Fairman, Co-Directors Paula Gutlove, Manager Search for Common Ground-USA 1601 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20009 www.sfcg.org Consensus Building Institute 238 Main Street, Suite 400 Cambridge, MA 02142 www.cbuilding.org To become a member of CSID, please click here. To make a donation, please click here. Your membership fees and donation allow CSID to continue its mission of promoting democracy in the Muslim world and educating Americans - and American policy makers - about Islam and the Muslim world, and therefore contribute to peace, human rights, and harmony in the world. With our best wishes and regards, Sincerely, Radwan A. Masmoudi President Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy

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UN DPI’s 11th annual student observance of the International Day of Peace

To whom it may concern,

Every year for the past 10 years the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN DPI) has
convened a student conference as an important and integral part of the observance of the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace is observed by the United Nations and countries and peoples around the world on 21 September. This year the day falls on a Sunday. The UN DPI will therefore organize the student conference on Friday, 19 September.

I am pleased to invite members of your student body to participate in the UN DPI’s 11th annual student observance of the International Day of Peace on Friday, 19th September 2008. The satellite video-conference event, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (New York time), will bring together about 600 middle and high school students at United Nations Headquarters with others at participating sites in United Nations peacekeeping missions around the world.

This year’s student ceremony to mark the “International day of global ceasefire, non-violence and the culture of peace” will also involve United Nations Messengers of Peace who are available to attend. Last year Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall, Dr. Elie Wiesel and recent appointee HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan attended the annual Peace Bell ceremony and, subsequently, interacted with students participating from the field as well as at United Nations Headquarters.

The student conference will begin with opening remarks by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and the President of the 63rd General Assembly, to be followed by an exchange between the Messengers of Peace and students assembled at peacekeeping mission sites and the student audience at UN Headquarters in New York. The programme will continue with a discussion between the youths in New York and those assembled at peacekeeping video sites.

Registration of each student and teacher attending must be completed before 10 September. Please send each participant’s name and the contact information for each group to: [email protected] and [email protected]. Seats will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Additional information on the day’s programme will be sent to you during the first week of September. View last year’s event at http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/peaceday/2007

We look forward to the participation of students from your school to make this a memorable event to focus attention on peace and non-violence.
Yours sincerely,

Yvonne Acosta
Chief, Education Outreach
Outreach Division, DPI

4th Annual 9/11 Unity Walk

Faith Leaders Inspire Gandhi-Style Walk

In a powerful statement reminiscent of Gandhi's Walks, every church, synagogue, mosque and temple on Embassy Row opens their doors to each other and symbolically the world. People of all faiths will come together on September 14th for the 4th Annual 9/11 Unity Walk, the signature event in Washington, DC for building bridges between faiths.

Striking scenes broadcast worldwide on BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera include gospel singing and a Muslim call to prayer at Washington's largest synagogue and a Christian evangelical preaching and Jewish cantors singing from the Islamic Center!

Chaired by Rev Mpho Tutu, leaders of all major faiths including Christian evangelicals, rabbis, imams and gurus tell us not to compromise our own faith, but challenge us to understand our neighbors.

In a city known for power, the simple act of people coming together with no signs, banners or an agenda - like Gandhi's walks - makes the most powerful statement. The Unity Walk moves us towards a world where we are united rather than divided by our many faiths. Come be moved by the Unity Walk!!

Interfaith Youth Movement Growing Worldwide

In many societies around the world where religious differences have boiled into armed conflict, young people are at particular risk. Often, they are recruited by religious extremists to join in terror campaigns against rival religious communities. But as we hear from in this report written by VOA's Mohamed Elshinnawi, a growing interfaith youth movement is working to counter the extremists, and to give young people the tools and training they need to build more peaceful, tolerant societies.

The Interfaith Youth Core teaches young American Muslims value of religious tolerance

From its headquarters in the midwestern city of Chicago, a private organization known as the Interfaith Youth Core is training what it hopes will be tomorrow's peace-makers. The not-for-profit American group teaches young people how to build bridges of friendship and understanding across cultures and faiths. It provides leadership training, program funding and support for networking projects among groups of young people around the world.

Article here

Internships available. Become an IRFWP intern

IRFWP is an ideal place to be an intern if you have interest in peace and interreligious affairs

Contact

Dr. Frank Kaufmann
[email protected]

2008 Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle Eastern Journalism

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) requests submissions for the annual Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle Eastern Journalism competition to recognize and encourage journalism that contributes to better understanding between people and to maintaining political dialogue in the Middle East.

Each article submitted for consideration will be reviewed by a panel of international judges. Each winner will be invited to Jerusalem in the Fall of 2008 for an award ceremony at the International YMCA, Jerusalem and will receive a monetary prize of $1,000 (USD).

Awards will be offered for articles originally published in either Arabic, Hebrew, or English. The articles must have been published between May 1st, 2007 and July 1st, 2008 in a recognized newspaper, magazine, web-publication or other periodical. Each individual applicant is invited to submit one article for consideration. Media outlets and press clubs may nominate up to three articles for consideration.

Please consider the following questions, which will be used by the judges, while selecting articles for submission:

· Does the article address societal, national, or regional issues related to the Middle East?

· Does the language used in the article reflect on or give voice to multiple sides and points of view in a balanced manner?

· Does the article suggest or have an implied suggestion for how to manage conflict better or to work towards a constructive solution of the issue addressed?

· Are the issues handled in a self-reflective way that helps to broaden understanding among or about peoples in the Middle East? Does the article acknowledge the needs, experiences, histories, values, emotions, or beliefs of those involved, even those with whom the author disagrees?

· Is the topic, focus, or handling of the article distinctive? Does it raise questions that are not commonly raised in the media, or does it raise them in a way that is unique? Does it highlight issues that may merit further attention? Is the article timely, reflecting the context of the time and place it was published?

· Does the article display skillful writing and reporting? Is there clarity and strength of message? Is it thought provoking? Moving?

SFCG reserves the right to submit articles that meet the awards’ criteria for consideration from the judges. SFCG also assumes the right to reproduce the winning articles or portions thereof. Application materials will not be returned.

Please send submissions (original or quality copy of published article) for the 2008 awards competition before July 15th 2008 to Search for Common Ground; fax +972 (2) 582 0117; e-mail: [email protected].

For further questions please call 972-(0)2-581-2049 or email [email protected] and [email protected]

The cultural dimension of Poson

Here is a lovely report on the celebration of Poson:

Asoka was a harsh king. He was known among his subjects as “Chandasoka”, meaning “cruel Asoka”, but after embracing Buddhism he came to be known as “Dharmasoka”. He accepted the new religion that was fast spreading in his native India and wished to propagate the Buddha Dhamma in the island adjacent to his country.

Arahath Mahinda, after putting King Devanampiyatissa to the test with a series of questions and satisfying himself on the matter of the king’s wisdom, then introduced the Buddhist philosophy to Sri Lanka. This year’s Poson marks the 2,311th year of that historic event.

The Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue concludes conference with recommendations

Call for promoting respect for all religions
Web posted at: 5/15/2008 3:5:33
Source ::: The Peninsula
The Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, H E Sheikh Meshhaal bin Jassem bin Mohammed Al Thani opening the Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue yesterday in the presence of Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious leaders.

Doha • The sixth Doha Conference of Interfaith Dialogue, which concluded here yesterday, expressed concern over the widespread disrespect for religious symbols in society and called on governmental and non-governmental organisations to initiate steps to promote respect among all religions and communities.

Article on Dialogue teaches about Shintoism

TOKYO - 19 May 2008

Japanese priest speaks on dialogue between Shintoism and Christianity

Japanese priest Fr Yuji Sugawara SJ, professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, outlined the relationship between Shintoism and Christianity in Japan, in an interview with Agenzia Fides.

Fr Yuji said that Shintoism is the oldest traditional religion in Japan, begun by the pre-historic peoples living in central Asia, and has been left as it is today after a long co-existence shared with Buddhism. In Shintoism, there are no doctrines or explicit ethical norms. It is based on an animist vision, the Kami, spiritual essences or gods that are manifested through nature. The worship of ancestors and the Emperor (until the modern reform), who was considered to have divine origin, are also at the center of this religion.

Launching of Guru Granth Tri-centennial in North America

Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the head of Sikhs’ highest seat Akal Takhat, formally launched the Tri-Centennial Celebration of the Ordination of Sri Guru Granth as the Sikhs’ eternal guru at the International Seminar held here.

The Guru Granth was compiled and canonized by Guru Arjan in 1604. It contains the hymns of 36 gurus and holy men from all world religions originating in the Indian sub-continent using all major languages of the South East Asia and Middle East. The last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ordained the Granth as the Eternal Guru in the last sermon he delivered in 1708.

2008 Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle Eastern Journalism

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Belief in aliens doesn't negate faith in God, Vatican says

The mainstream media tends not to cover religion too well (though that is changing slowly, which is encouraging). Here is an LATimes article which on first blush seems like a topic of fun or passing curiosity, but the fact is that it is important for a major religion, with a strong Western, scholarly, and philosophical and theological is issuing a statement with broad implications for an eternal question, and one especially urgent for this time, namely the relationship between religion and science.

Here (<-- click) is the entire article:

Belief in aliens doesn't negate faith in God, Vatican says

VATICAN CITY — Believing that there may be extraterrestrial life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in a recent interview.

Father Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory www.vaticanobservatory.org was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible that there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."

In the interview by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Funes said such a notion "doesn't contradict our faith" because extraterrestrials would also be God's creatures. Ruling out their existence would be like "putting limits" on God's creative freedom, he said.

The interview, headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother," also covered the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and science, and the theological implications of the existence of life on other planets.

Funes said science, especially astronomy, did not contradict religion, touching on a theme of Pope Benedict XVI, who has made exploring the relationship between faith and reason a key aspect of his papacy.

The Bible "is not a science book," Funes said, adding that he thinks the Big Bang theory is the most "reasonable" explanation for the creation of the universe. The theory holds that the universe began billions of years ago in the explosion of a single, super-dense point that contained all matter.

But he continues to believe that "God is the creator of the universe and that we are not the result of chance," he said.

Funes urged the church and the scientific community to leave behind divisions caused by Galileo's persecution 400 years ago, saying the incident had "caused wounds."

In 1633 the astronomer was tried as a heretic and forced to recant his theory that Earth revolved around the sun. Church teaching at the time placed Earth at the center of the universe.

"The church has somehow recognized its mistakes," he said. "Maybe it could have done it better, but now it's time to heal those wounds and this can be done through calm dialogue and collaboration."

Pope John Paul II declared in 1992 that the ruling against Galileo was an error resulting from "tragic mutual incomprehension."

The Vatican Observatory has been at the forefront of efforts to bridge the gap between religion and science. Its scientist-clerics have generated top-notch research and its meteorite collection is considered one of the world's best.

The observatory, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, is based in Castel Gandolfo, a lakeside town in the hills outside Rome where the pope has a summer residence. It also conducts research at an observatory at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Sri Lanka Interfaith Effort

Leaders of Different Faiths Inaugurate Historic Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council–Sri Lanka
—Representatives from North and South Convene in Unprecedented Multi-Religious Summit in War-Torn Region—

( New York, 30 April 2008)—Senior religious leaders of diverse faiths from around the world—Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian—launched the groundbreaking Religions for Peace Inter-religious Council (IRC)–Sri Lanka in Kandy and war-torn Trincomalee on 28 April and 30 April 2008, respectively. Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition.

The conference was organized by Religions for Peace–International in partnership with its local affiliate, Religions for Peace–Sri Lanka, and the National Peace Council. The 22-member Religions for Peace IRC–Sri Lanka becomes the country’s most representative multi-religious body and includes such senior Buddhist leaders from the South and senior Tamil religious leaders from the North as Most Rev. Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar. The Council will offer mediation, reject extremist tendencies, and educate the public on the positive, socially transformative power of multi-religious cooperation. The Council has begun building district-level IRCs in Kandy and Trincomalee.

“ Sri Lanka has endured decades of violent conflict, and cooperation among the religious communities is vital for peace,” said Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General of Religions for Peace. “With the new Council, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Muslim goodwill now has a channel for sustained cooperation.”
The international delegation at the meeting included members of the Religions for Peace World Council, His Holiness Tep Vong, Great Supreme Patriarch, Kingdom of Cambodia, and Bishop Gunnar J. Stålsett, Moderator, Religions for Peace European Council of Religious Leaders; Religions for Peace Honorary Presidents Ms. Ela Gandhi, a granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi and Trustee of the Mahatma Gandhi Trust, and Dr. M. Din Syamsuddin, Chairman, Muhammadiyah; and Religions for Peace International Trustee Rev. Norio Sakai, Chairman Emeritus, Rissho Kosei-kai. They were supported by Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, Religions for Peace Director of Inter-religious Council Development and Field Coordination.

Sri Lankan religious leaders included Most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddharatha Maha Nayake Thero, Malwatte Maha Nikaya, Kandy; Most Ven. Udugama Sri Buddharakkitha Maha Nayake Thero, Asgiri Maha Nikaya, Kandy; Karthikeja Santhirasegara Sarma, International Secretary, Hindu Priest Organization, Jaffna; Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Rizwe, President, All Ceylon Jamiyattul Ulama’s Association, Colombo; Neelakandan Kandiah, Honorary General Secretary, All Ceylon Hindu Congress; and Bishop Dr. Joseph Vianney Fernando, Bishop of Kandy, President, Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka.

Religions for Peace, in partnership with its affiliate in Sri Lanka and the National Peace Council, the country’s leading peace NGO, has facilitated private negotiations and a series of public consultations with senior leaders of major religious communities, the government and the LTTE. The milestones of Religions for Peace work in Sri Lanka include its facilitation in the issuance of a historic statement by Mahanayakes (Buddhist high priests) in support of peace, rejecting Sinhala Buddhist extremism, accepting Sri Lanka as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, and calling for solidarity from the international community. Religions for Peace has also since 2004 undertaken strategic multi-religious humanitarian projects, including the building of rain-fed water tanks as confidence building measures for Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim communities in Trincomalee and other border districts as a symbol of inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony. Furthermore, Religions for Peace held an international summit in Jaffna, the war-torn Northern city, in December 2007, to bring together 10 international and 50 Sri Lankan senior religious leaders from the North, East and South of the country.

Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970. Headquartered in New York and accredited to the United Nations, Religions for Peace works through affiliated inter-religious councils in 70 countries in six continents.

Rabbi leads interfaith delegation to Iran

clipped from www.campaigniran.org

Rabbi leads interfaith delegation to Iran

For the first time, an American rabbi will be traveling to Iran Tuesday on a mission of interfaith dialogue and understanding.

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, one of the early forces behind the Jewish Renewal movement in America, will co-lead a delegation of 21 peace activists to the Islamic Republic on a mission "to humanize the face of Iran, lest we end up with a disaster of global proportions we cannot imagine,"

Gottlieb

said her participation in the mission came out of Tuesday's threat by Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton that an Iranian assault on Israel would be met with an American response that would "obliterate" Iran.

"It is important to negotiate and not threaten obliteration," Gottlieb believes, "in particular because there are between 30,000 and 40,000 Jewish people living in Iran, the oldest extant Jewish community in the Middle East, which has been there since the first exile in 586 BCE."

UK Muslims Launch Body to Promote Secular Democracy

Read about this development associated with the Quilliam Foundation

clipped from www.crosswalk.com

UK Muslims Launch Body to Promote Secular Democracy

London (CNSNews.com) - It's time for the "silent majority" of British Muslims to be heard over the noise made by religious extremists, speakers launching a new community organization in Britain said on Thursday.

A small group of radicals had hijacked the image of British Muslims, activists said at the launch of British Muslims for Secular Democracy (BMSD).

Launched at a London press conference, the Quilliam Foundation said its aim was to combat the influence of extreme Islamist ideology.

Mustafa said in a statement it was time to question the capitalist system and liberal western values associated with it.

"Our campaign will show the sublime values of Islam and the ability of the Islamic system to solve modern problems," he said. "The Muslim world is crying out for Islam."

What is your opinion about this initiative?

Posted by admin on May 06, 2008