Category Archives: TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Canadian Jewish Group Organizes Hanukkah Event to Raise Money for Solar Panels for Palestinians in Gaza

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article from Canada Talks Israel Palestine

A Jewish group in Vancouver is fundraising Saturday night to provide small, practical, hand-held solar lamps to families trapped in the dark in Gaza. Read more….Roughly 2 million people in Gaza have electricity on average only 3~4 hours per day. Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver is partnering with Rebuilding Alliance, a California-based NGO with 15 years experience on the ground in Gaza to help the people of Gaza face their Israeli induced and PA assisted power shortage.  So far, they’ve shipped 27,000 solar lamps and need funds for more.

On Saturday, December 16th, they are using the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah to raise money for this humanitarian cause.

Event details.

See a video.        

About the lights.

At the event, five candles will be lit and dedicated by five different people engaged in five different ways of bringing light into this world.  It is the fifth night of the eight-night Hanukkah holiday celebrated for more than 2,000 years by Jews around the world.  Candles will be lit beginning 7:30 pm by:

▪  Omar Mansour, a young man from Gaza living in Vancouver who has worked with a number of NGOs in Gaza and whose own family is in the dark every night. 

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Question for this article

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East; Is it important for a culture of peace?

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▪  Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. of the Ihanktowan Sioux and Chickasaw Nations, who will give the territorial acknowledgement on behalf of the Coastal Salish people.  He will dedicate his candle to indigenous people everywhere who are struggling against foreign domination.

▪  Hilla Kerner of Vancouver Rape Relief and former executive director of the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel.  She will dedicate her candle to the struggle to end sexual violence against women.

▪  Jack Gates, a tenant organizer in the Regent Hotel in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside supporting struggles to end homelessness and addiction.

▪ Valery and Yvon Raoul, long-time Vancouver activists in the struggle for
environmental and social justice.

“We welcome reporters and camera crews to our fundraising party, December 16, at the Peretz Centre, 6184 Ash Street, in Vancouver,” said organizer Rabbi David Mivisair. 

The visually and aurally rich candle-lighting ceremony will be 7:30 – 8 pm. “After the candle-lighting, at about 8 pm, we’ll sing traditional songs and enjoy traditional Hanukkah foods.  The event is open to everyone,” he said.

More info.

A video of the lights in Gaza.

Donations online. 

Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver is a chapter of a national human rights organization whose mandate is to promote a just resolution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine through the application of international law and respect for human rights.  More info.

For more information or interview, call Rabbi David Mivasair, at (604) 781-7839.

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

North America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

The League of Ulema, Preachers and Imams of the Sahel Countries: Communication to counter extremism

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article from L’Expression

The ulema, imams and preachers of the Sahel countries must imperatively use modern means of communication to counter the threat of religious and violent extremism. Extremism is changing fast. To counter it, you need a quick adaptation. In other words, the fight against extremist ideologies and violent discourses that currently use the Web and social networks must use the same communication media.

It is to allow the League of Ulema, Preachers and Imams of the Sahel Countries to achieve this goal that the [Algerian] Minister of Communication, Djamel Kaouane, received yesterday its secretary general, Youcef Belmehdi. According to a communiqué from the Ministry of Communication, Djamel Kaouane “listened, during this interview, to a presentation by Youcef Belmehdi on the activities of the League of Ulema Sahel whose principles are the peaceful coexistence with other religions and the rejection of all kinds of extremism”.

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(Click here for the original French version of this article.)

Question for this article

Islamic extremism, how should it be opposed?

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The meeting also allowed them to “review the means likely to be implemented by the communication to popularize and promote the message of tolerance and moderation advocated by this association,” says the same source. It must be said that the ulema, imams and preachers of the Sahel countries have an important mission to accomplish, that of fighting through information and sensitization against religious extremism in the region. The latter must therefore use modern means of communication to succeed in their awareness campaign.

In order to realize this preventive mission to counter the threat of religious and violent extremism, and to carry out this struggle upstream, the League has set up a program involving the intervention of imams and preachers on the Web and social networks. This “incursion” of members of the League in the virtual world, will allow to do a work of counter-propaganda blocking the road to dormant cells of extremist groups who indoctrinate and recruit victims on social networks.

The other field on which the League of Ulema, preachers and imams of the Sahel countries, wants to weigh, is that of the universities. It should be recalled that last October, the League in collaboration with the African Center for Studies and Research on Terrorism (CAERT) agreed to develop a training program for African imams and preachers. The program plans to provide Africans with the Algerian experience in preventing violent extremism and terrorism.

The League had previously organized the first training cycle for imams members of the League, which focused on topics such as “optimizing the use of the media” by imams and preachers, “the reform in Islam “and” the role of zakat and wakf in resolving social problems “.

Created in January 2013 in Algiers, the League of Ulema, preachers and imams of the Sahel works to spread the culture of peace and to ban violence and extremism in this region. It brings together ulema, preachers and imams from the region’s member countries of the League, namely Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, as well as three observer countries under of the Nouakchott Process, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Guinea.

Africa, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Taiwan: The sixth Buddhist-Christian talk in progress

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Radio Vatican

The sixth Buddhist-Christian talk is taking place in Taiwan from Monday to Thursday [November 13-16] on the theme “Christians and Buddhists: Let’s walk together the Way of Nonviolence”.

The four day event is being organized by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) and is represented by delegates from 18 countries mostly Asians.

The Secretary of PCID, Bishop Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot opened the inaugural session illustrating the role of the Dicastery since its founding in 1964. For more than fifty years he recalled, the PCID has been involved in dialogue and collaboration with Buddhists all over the world. The first Buddhist-Christian formal talk was held at the Fokuangshan Monastery in Taiwan in 1995 on the theme “convergences and divergences” between the two religions. The second meeting was held in 1998 at the Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery Bangalore, India on “word and silence”. The third was held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2002 at Rissho Kosei-kai, on “Sangha in Buddhism and Church in Christianity.” The fourth was “Interior Peace, peace among peoples” and was held in Rome in 2013 and the fifth on “Buddhists and Christians together encourage fraternity” was held in Bodh Gaya, India, in 2015.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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The current theme of the assembly is taken from the traditional message that PCID sends to the Buddhists for the Vesakh festival, which this year emphasized in particular the urgent need to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence.

“Terrorism is on the increase, as well as the number of people killed in terrorist attacks and most victims are women and children” said the Bishop. Moreover, in most cases, conflicts cross the frontiers and especially affect the poor countries, he added. Making a mention of domestic violence especially come across by women the bishop said that the study of violence is not a simple academic exercise but a matter of life and death. Some of us come from conflict-torn societies, some others experience the long-term or short-term effects of past wars. Some are victims or witnesses of unreasonable atrocities. In many of our countries, we daily hear the cry of the victims of violence he observed. Yet he said, uncontrolled nationalism, sexism, racism, caste, ethnic and religious fundamentalism may numb our hearts and blind our eyes to the suffering of so many people, hence the Buddhists and Christians work together to prevent and defeat violence he concluded.

More than 1.3 million people around the world die each year because of violence; and about 1.2 billion, or one fifth of the world’s population, are affected by some form of violence or insecurity.

Cardinal P Jean-Louis Tauran, President of PCID will take part in the concluding session of the assembly on Thursday.

East Asia, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Burkina Faso: A forum talks about peace

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by Irmine Kinda for Burkina 24

The first international youth forum on the culture of peace is taking place this Wednesday, November 15, 2017 in Ouagadougou under the sponsorship of Michel Kafando, former President of Burkina Faso. The forum brings together the different religions to discuss, revisit the holy texts, see what these texts say about the peace, and to promote peaceful coexistence in spite of religious differences.

The background of this first forum is the African initiative of education for peace and development through interfaith and intercultural dialogue launched in Cotonou in May 2015 and the historic UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security. Organizers include the Burkina Faso Interfaith Youth Network (BFIYN) and the JEC (Jeunesse Etudiante Catholique du Burkina Faso).

The forum gathers from November 15 to 18, 2017 young participants of various religions. While recognizing the need for military action in the fight against growing terrorism, they want to bring their touch as sentinels of peace. And to do this, the promoter of the Forum, Henri Kaboré, has retained for this first forum the theme: “Youth committed to a culture of peace through interreligious dialogue”

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(Click here for the original French version of this article)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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For this first edition 120 participants are expected and the coordinator stressed that the focus will be on the representation of young people coming from the various religious denominations including Islam, Christianity and African traditional religion. Young people will have the opportunity to meet, exchange, accept their differences and realize that they are all creatures of God, called to love each other and to protect human life that is sacred.

“Difference is a wealth and not a disadvantage (…). Without peace, there is no development (…). Young people are actors of peace and development “, emphasized the initiator and the coordinator of the Forum, Henri Kaboré.

The forum’s sponsor, Michel Kafando, praised the youth initiative. Indeed, he says, “in a world where youth represents the essential in its number, it is necessary that this youth can truly make its mark in the search for peace. This forum focuses on interreligious dialogue. That means that this youth is aware that our world is disrupted and that our future is youth. By raising the issue and ensuring that through these various meetings, there is a general consciousness so that through exchanges we can find a solution that makes this world more peaceful. I accepted to sponsor this forum because I believe that the youth has a very big role to play “.

The opening of this forum also saw the presence of the deputy Jacob Ouedraogo, president of the commission of laws in the National Assembly and the general secretary of the religion for christ, Dr. Francis Kayena. The two co-chairs of the forum congratulated and encouraged the young people and said they would spare no effort to accompany them in the quest for peace.

Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Historic peacebuilding program launches in Bosnia and Herzegovina

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the Catholic News Agency

When Pope Francis visited Bosnia and Herzegovina two years ago, he found a country still healing from a devastating conflict two decades earlier. The three-year Bosnian War killed around 100,000 people and displaced a million more. Although ethnic and religious violence tapered off after the peace treaty of 1995-96, deep cultural and religious divides are enduring.

Now, a historic master’s program has been created in Sarajevo that primarily focuses on Interreligious Studies and Peacebuilding, taught by the three major theological seminaries of Catholic, Islamic and Orthodox thought.

“This program represents efforts of the three faculties to work, on a scientific basis, on peace-building and reconciliation in this country,” said Darko Tomasevic, the dean of the Catholic Theological Faculty at the University in Sarajevo.

“Above all, we want to ensure as good a foundation as possible for a better future for Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the capacity that we, as institutions within religious communities and churches, can provide,” Tomasevic said.

The first of its kind in the region, the master’s program was coordinated by Catholic Relief Services, in conjunction with the Faculty of Islamic Sciences, the Catholic Theological Faculty and Orthodox Theological Faculty of St. Basil of Ostrog.

According to Zuhdija Hasanovic, the dean of the Faculty of Islamic Sciences at the University in Sarajevo, the program is an effort to be more intentional about healing the country’s divisions with an attitude of respect.

“Each of the faculties works on developing a sense of respect for ‘others,’ or different ones, but this study program is something special and it will, hopefully, yield results,” he said.

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Question related to this article:
 

How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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The first class began on Oct. 26, and the program will run over the course of the next year. Professors and teachers from all three seminaries will lead the program, which now includes 23 students. The course is aimed at students who are have backgrounds in theology, social sciences and humanities, and are interested in interreligious studies and peacebuilding.

“Joint-study programs like this one offer a unique opportunity to use religious as a catalyst for peace,” stated Marc D’Silva, the CRS country representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“This program will show how religious institutions can train a new generation of religious and civil society leaders to be advocates for a more just and better society,” D’Silva continued.

The master’s program is currently only being offered to local students, but there are hopes of expanding the course to international students. CRS is also promoting scholarships, internships and job opportunities with local government officials and civil society organizations in the country.

The official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the U.S., Catholic Relief Services has had a presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1993, when it began offering emergency relief services to victims of the war in Sarajevo. Post-war, CRS continued to offer aid by helping displaced families return to their homes. The organization has a continued presence in the country today through education, psychological support, rebuilding homes and promoting livelihoods.

Pope Francis’ pastoral visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015 was seen as an important step in unity, in a nation where religion is closely tied to ethnicity. Forty percent of the country’s 3.8 million population are Muslim/Bosniak and another 40 percent are Orthodox/Serbian. Fifteen percent are Catholic/Croats.

“There is no other foundation on which the culture of peace can be based, but on interreligious dialogue,” stressed Vladislav Topalovic, dean of the Orthodox Theological Faculty “St. Basil of Ostrog” of the University in East Sarajevo.

“It is our only exit, our only path on which we can base that culture of peace, and trust among all of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Qatar: DICID chief highlights role in spreading peace

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from The Peninsula, Qatar’s Daily Newspaper

Chairman of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi highlighted the role of the centre in spreading the culture of peace and coexistence among diverse segments of society, in cooperation with leaders of various religions, during a meeting with a delegation of youth leaders from Europe and America yesterday.

Al Nuaimi noted that the DICID is the institution concerned with interreligious and intercultural dialogue and capacity building in the field of dialogue and culture of peace in Qatar, stressing the center’s great interest in the youth sector and its keenness on involving them in its various activities, both in its annual conferences and in roundtables. Al Nuaimi gave a brief presentation of the center’s various activities, notably its annual Interfaith Dialogue Conference, which brings together people interested in interfaith dialogue, as well as local community roundtables, publications and other activities.

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Question related to this article:
 

How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

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For their part, the members of the youth delegation praised the center’s efforts in consolidating the values of coexistence and dialogue between religions and cultures.

The visit of the young leaders to the DICID comes as part of its activities and interactive programmes, which seek to establish communication and interaction with all cultures, religions and communities, especially with the youth.

The visit also comes as part of the activities of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Fellowship programme aimed at deepening the mutual understanding between the countries of Europe, America, Arab and Islamic countries.

Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

USA/Ecuador: Film festival to present story of roots, nature

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article from Red Rock News

“The Roots Awaken” is a hopeful story about how indigenous communities — despite their differences in traditions — are connected to each other through their sacred relationship with nature.

The Sedona International Film Festival presents a free film screening of “The Roots Awaken,” featuring an introduction and Q-and-A with the film’s director, Kumiko Hayashi. This one-time-only screening will be held at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. Free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.


(click on photo to enlarge)

“The Roots Awaken” is a documentary film that reveals how diverse indigenous communities from the Andes mountains to the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador are united at heart through their prayer to protect their land and maintain their culture in a globalized world. The film is a hopeful story about how indigenous communities — despite their differences in traditions — are connected to each other through their sacred relationship with nature.

Told through the narration of a young woman, the film begins as people from South to North America gather together at the Kumbre Konciencia Global, which takes place on an ancient pyramid located on 0’0”, Cochasqui, Ecuador.

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Question for discussion

The understanding of indigenous peoples, Can it help us cultivate a culture of peace?

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This gathering was an assembly to create a culture of peace surrounding the topics of ancestral medicine, technology and nature. From the gathering, we follow the ceremonies of each community as they pray to maintain their culture and sacred traditions in the face of globalization and to resist big companies in protection of their territory.

In this increasingly fast-paced world, how do the elders pass on their ancient wisdom to the youth? From Ayahuasca ceremonies in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, to protests using music in the streets of Quito, the film explores the importance of prayer in the presence of culture.

“The Roots Awaken” was made in collaboration with 12 indigenous communities in the country of Ecuador through a process of community cinema, where the individuals in the film participated in the production. The aim of the film is to support the indigenous communities that co-created the film and their movement to maintain their ancestral lands and cultures through new collaborative initiatives.

Part of the proceeds from the film will go directly to building an educational center in the Amazon rainforest for international guests to come and learn about medicinal plants and ancestral cultures.

Join us for a special free premiere of “The Roots Awaken” and a Q-and-A with Hayashi. This free screening was made possible with the generous support of Adele Sands.

“The Roots Awaken” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. All tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are available in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office; by calling 282-1177; or online at SedonaFilmFestival.org. The theater and film festival office are located at 2030 W. SR 89A in West Sedona.

Latin America, North America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Spain: Melilla Unesco Center will host the presentation ‘Islam: Culture of peace and non-violence’

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Islamedia (translated by CPNN)

The Unesco Center in Melilla announced yesterday [October 17] the celebration of the conference: ‘Islam: Culture of peace and non-violence’. The talk will take place in the Salón de Grados of the Campus of the University of Granada in Melilla, at 19:30 hours.


Amaruch Mohamed and Juan Antonio Vera (Photo: Christian Calvo)

The speaker, Amaruch Mohamedi Amaruch, is a doctor in the area of ​​Didactics of Language and Literature (University of Granada) and has obtained the Degree of Expert in Islamic Legislation by the European Institute of Human Sciences (in Chateau Chinoun, France).

Islamic religion

He also has linguistic competence in Tamazight and has completed the Higher Cycle of Arabic and French by the Official Language School of Melilla. He is currently a teacher of Islamic Religion on the staff of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.

Common origin

In his presentation, the lecturer plans to delve into the common origin of the three major monotheistic religions of the world, the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths, in the figure of the prophet Abraham and religion in young people today.

This conference is an event organized by the Unesco Center of Melilla, with the sponsorship of the Institute of Cultures and with the collaboration of the University Campus of Granada in our city. Last week another conference was held in the series that addressed the melting pot of cultures that is Spain.

(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article).

Question related to this article:
Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Caritas Jordan hosts Youth World Peace Forum

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by Rula Samain from the Jordan Times

Caritas Jordan on Friday [September 22] launched the Youth World Peace Forum (YWPF) under the theme “Now is the time”, with the aim of empowering youth in peacemaking.

More than 400 young participants from 40 countries convened at the American University of Madaba for the two-day event to share their personal experiences and plan initiatives to contribute to a more peaceful world.


More than 400 young participants from 40 countries participated in the Youth World Peace Forum at the American University of Madaba (Photo by Rula Samain)

Caritas, a humanitarian charity that counts 160 members worldwide, is a nongovernmental organisation affiliated with the Catholic Church.

Wael Suleiman, general director of Caritas Jordan, told The Jordan Times that the invitation was a “continuation” of the peace initiative launched by Pope Francis last year, who called all Caritas organisations around the world to spread the message of world peace.

He added that the youth are taught the values of true peace by listening and respecting each other, which also helps them to understand the importance of sharing.

For Suleiman, the message of peace can also be conveyed through art: “Most of the activities involved art, singing, music, dancing, where participants expressed themselves as well as their agonies”.

Suleiman noted that a few days before the forum was held, a special camp was established where participants spent time with Syrian and Iraqi refugees, helping fix some of their houses and organising special programmes for the children.

“This is the beauty of the conference: it served as a platform for all peace initiatives by the young generations so that all, whether Christians and Muslims, can share their experiences”, Suleiman added.

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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The two-day event saw the participation of the YWPF and the Italian project “Non Dalla Guerra”.

YWPF President Carlos Dario said that Jordan was the “right place” to host such an event because of its visible efforts in promoting peace.

He told the Jordan Times that the youth represent “the future” and that adults’ role is to guide and encourage them to work for peace, adding that focusing on proper education was essential.

Giovanni Zambon, founder of Non Dalla Guerra, said that Jordan’s effort in hosting refugees constituted a “model to follow” for other countries.

He added that his organisation, which translates into “not through war”, was born in Jordan three years ago when he visited the Zaatari camp.

“I learnt that donating money is important to help refugees but giving one’s time is even more valuable. Being with the refugees, listening to them and sharing with them taught me a lot about peace. I realised that it starts from within the person itself. Giving is not only about money, time has more of a value,” he explained.

During the event, several institutes held workshops to spread awareness on the value of peace and “spread the seeds of love”.

Among them was the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies (RIIFS), a nongovernmental organisation that provides a venue for the interdisciplinary study of intercultural and interreligious issues, with the aim of defusing tensions and promoting peace regionally and globally, according to its website.

RIIFS Academic Adviser Amer Alhafi told The Jordan Times that peace is “the essence” of the three Abrahamic religions, and stressed the importance to emulate actions of peace and kindness in our daily lives.

Among the participants was Samer Ishaq, 33, from Syria, Khdija Akjabri, 18, from Oman and Srushti Vasani, 17, from India.

The three agreed that the moments they shared together were extremely valuable, and that even though the path to peace making is not easy, it is not impossible, and they are determined to achieve it.

Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Walk2Peace – worldwide pilgrimage to world peace

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An email to CPNN From walk2peace

Greetings, my name is Albin and last year I began a worldwide pilgrimage to world peace. The pilgrimage is part of the growing movements of young citizen who knows that a peaceful world is possible in our lifetime, if we unite our efforts to transform ourselves, our community and our world.

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Question related to this article:
 

Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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I would like to reach out my hands to your organization.

We are so many that want nothing but a world in peace. Let’s unite and make it happen. I am always happy to connect with more organizations and the compassionate people behind them.

If you have any local offices in Belgrade, Sofia or Istanbul I would love to visit them on my way. In the future the peacewalk will cross all continents and I hope to meet you at some point.

Here is an invitation to our new years celebration in Istanbul:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1439145646141336/

Sending you my hearts full support here from Serbia.

Wishes for a peaceful world

Albin

www.walk2peace.world

global, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY