Friday, August 30, 2013

URI Prepares to Celebrate International Day of Peace


The United Nations’ International Day of Peace (IDP) is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Since September 21, 2004, URI has commemorated IDP by galvanizing global community action within its network of Cooperation Circles. In addition to the dozens of events that will be held by Cooperation Circles around the world, URI prepares to celebrate IDP through two initiatives: Footprints Around the World for Peace and Talking Back to Hate.
Audri Scott Williams, a URI Global Trustee, is helping to coordinate the Footprints Around the World for Peace. Her CC, Trail of Dreams, is collaborating with Global March for Peace and Unity, Heal the Atmosphere, and the organizers of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace to influence a major global solidarity initiative on September 21, 2013 at 12 noon in every time zone around the world, mobilizing local groups to take action for peace.
For years, Audri has been using peace walk events to draw attention to the peace process and to get people to start thinking about what peace means in their communities. Charles Gibbs first met Audri during a Trail of Dreams peace walk in San Francisco. ”I was instantly struck by Audri’s deep and committed spirituality, as well as her high idealism,” said Charles. “Her trusting determination to step out into the unknown to pursue a vision of peace were the makings of an exceptional leader, and corresponded to URI’s values.”
Talking Back to Hate is URI’s newest global initiative to counter hate speech, bullying and discrimination. As part of the campaign, Talking Back to Hate is rallying its supporters to join in a global day of activism on the International Day of Peace, which has the theme of Education for Peace for 2013.
With hate speech discrimination and bullying on the rise globally, IDP provides a special opportunity for local groups to draw attention to this critical issue and to demonstrate positive ways for people of different religions, traditions, cultures and backgrounds to work collaboratively on changing civil discourse about diversity.

URI Africa Signs Agreement with UN-Habitat to Promote World Urban Campaign


URI Africa supports the urban development movement by signing an agreement withUnited Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and becoming an associate partner of World Urban Campaign, a platform for public, private and civil society actors to elevate policies, share practical tools, and raise awareness for sustainable urbanization.
The agreement was signed on July 22, 2013 at the UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya by Dr. Joan Clos, Undersecretary -General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of URI Africa and Representative of URI at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
At the signing ceremony, Dr. Joan Clos recognized the value of the commitment of URI Africa to urban development. By joining UN-Habitat as an associate partner of the World Urban Campaign, URI Africa will promote the World Urban Campaign principles to achieve sustainable cities and urban communities worldwide, as well as to advance a positive vision of urban development, placing cities at the center of strategies for change. Further, URI Africa aims to disseminate the key messages of the World Urban Campaign and participate in local, national, and international events in support of the World Urban Campaign.
On behalf of URI Africa member organizations, Ambassador Mussie Hailu acknowledged the outstanding work of UN-Habitat:
“URI Africa agrees with UN-Habitat that how we plan, build, and manage our cities today will determine our future. Harnessing the city as an asset requires the commitment of all as  city changers and innovators for a better urban future. It is with this in mind that URI Africa decides to join hands with the UN-Habitat campaign under the slogan ‘I am a City Changer’ and commit to take action and change cities for a better urban world.”

URI Holds Its First Workshop in Bangladesh to Promote Interreligious Harmony


In late July, URI Bangladesh helped host "Interreligious Harmony Building," coordinated by Love and Peace Circle CC. The one-day workshop was held in one of the major districts in Bangladesh, Caritas-Rupsha, Khulna. The event’s speakers included Francis Halder, the General Secretary of URI Bangladesh; representatives from Rama Krishna Mission, Dialogue Center, and Rahim Sarwar and Dr. Abdul Hye from the URI Bangladesh Committee. Francis Das, chairperson of Love & Peace CC, moderated the program.
The hall was filled with an unanticipated number of participants. The workshop’s opening speech included recitations from the holy Quran, Bhagavad Gita, and Bible. After reviewing the Holy Scriptures, Francis Halder presented the Global URI charter and purpose. From the start, the speakers asked the participants to use the workshop as an opportunity to improve the wellbeing of the Bangladeshi community, referencing important Indian and Bengali figures, literature, and arts to encourage an interfaith movement.
Dr. Abdul Hye spoke of those dedicated to the cause of interfaith, emphasizing research that maintained there was more solidarity in the past between leaders than today on account of simple yet honest motives. He used two songs to further support his point, one from Nazrul, a nationalist activist, and another from Lalon Shah Fakir, an icon of religious tolerance. Mr. Rahim Sarwar from URI Dhaka depicted the human race as a garden of various flowers and addressed the need of unity, determining that the unity as the demand of the present era. Michael Biswas, the Regional Director from Regional Office in Caritas-Khulna, recited and explained two famous poems by Nazrul and Satyendra Nath Dutta, a Bengali poet, relating to the interfaith movement.
Ashoke Podder, one of the representatives from Rama Krishna Mission, highlighted the wisdoms of Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Hindu monk and chief disciple of the 19th century saint, Ramakrishna, who is credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. The Bishop of Khulna Diocese Rev. Ramen Boiragi, in his speech, called on everyone to make a sincere effort towards the interfaith movement. He referred to the teachings of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism, creating harmony among all the Indians irrespective of their differences.
In closing, Francis Halder talked about the importance of inviting other communities to their religious centers to promote mutual respect and understanding and then thanked the participants for their involvement and interest in URI’s first workshop in Khulna.

Peace Makers of the World

"My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. Non-violence is the means of realising Him."

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, more commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Kathiawar, India. He studied law in London, England, but in 1893 went to South Africa, where he spent 20 years opposing discriminatory legislation against Indians. As a pioneer of Satyagraha, or resistance through mass non-violent civil disobedience, he became one of the major political and spiritual leaders of his time. Satyagraha remains one of the most potent philosophies in freedom struggles throughout the world today.

In 1914, Gandhi returned to India, where he supported the Home Rule movement, and became leader of the Indian National Congress, advocating a policy of non-violent non-co-operation to achieve independence. His goal was to help poor farmers and laborers protest oppressive taxation and discrimination. He struggled to alleviate poverty, liberate women and put an end to caste discrimination, with the ultimate objective being self-rule for India.Gandhi became a leader of India's independence movement, organizing boycotts against British institutions in peaceful forms of civil disobedience.

Following his civil disobedience campaign (1919-22), he was jailed for conspiracy (1922-24). In 1930, he led a landmark 320 km/200 mi march to the sea to collect salt in symbolic defiance of the government monopoly. On his release from prison (1931), he attended the London Round Table Conference on Indian constitutional reform. In 1946, he negotiated with the Cabinet Mission which recommended the new constitutional structure. After independence (1947), he tried to stop the Hindu-Muslim conflict in Bengal, a policy which led to his assassination in Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fanat

Program Schedule of Fifth International Interfaith Conference on Holy Books

Fifth International Interfaith Conference on Holy Books (Intertextuality Series)
30th September to 3rd  October 2013 at Karickam International Public School, Kottarakara, Kerala
Under the joint auspices of Dr Alexander Marthoma Center for Dialogue and Cosmic Community Center


Program Schedule

Sunday 29th September
Arrival of participants (Nearest Airport is TRIVANDRUM and nearest Railway Station is KOLLAM)

Monday 30th September
8.00   am
Breakfast (KIPS, Karickam)
9.00   am
Registration of participants (KIPS)
9.30 a.m
Opening worship
10.00 am
Welcome and introductory remarks – Rev Dr Ruwan Palapathwala, Dubai
10.30 am
Intertextuality Concept—Shanthi, Abraham, Andrew
11.00 am
Tea break
11.30 a.m
Paper presentation- Rev. Dr. KV Mathew, Former Principal, M.T Seminary, Kottayam (Title- Life After Life: Biblical Concepts)
12.00 Noon
Paper presentation- Tinumeran Ozukum, Tamil Nadu Seminary (Title- Life after life: Biblical Implications)
12.30 P.M
Paper Presentation : Bishop Kumara Illangasinhe (Sri Lnaka)
1 P.M
Lunch Break (KIPS)
2.00 pm
Paper presentation- K V V S Murthy (Andhrapradesh) (Title- Holy Books and Life after Life..)
2.30 pm
Paper presentation- Jayanthi Ranganathan Chawan  (Mumbai)                  (Title- The Eternity of Holy books and Life
Perspectives from Bhagavat Gita and Vedic Literatures)
3.00 pm
Paper presentation- Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba, Nigeria
(Title- Examining The Concepts Of God, Death And The Life Hereafter In African Traditional Religions)
3.30 pm
Tea break
4.00 pm
Paper presentation- Dr.Galina Ermolina, Russia { Title-Life after death (based on the text of Agni Yoga Teaching(Teaching of Living Ethics), given through the Roerichs’ family)}

4.30 pm
Paper presentation- Dr. Shanthikumar Hettiarachchi, Sri Lanka
(Title-The Living WORD in the Words of the Living)
5.00 pm
Cultural program
7.00 pm
Dinner (At the residence of Abraham)
Tuesday 1st October
8.00   am
Breakfast (Motel Aaram)
9.00   am
Morning worship with students of KIPS
9.30   am
Capturing of previous day
10.00 am
Paper presentation- Rev. Dr. M J Joseph, Kottayam (Title: Affirming the Power of Life)
10.30 am
Paper presentation- Ian Fry, Australia (Title: LIFE AFTER LIFE:
The Tripwire to More Questions than Answers)
11.00 am
Tea break
11.30 am
Paper presentation- Kesavadasa Swami, Argentina (Title: Holy Books: Life after Life:References from the Srimad Bhagavatam)
12.00 pm

Paper presentation- Sidhar Dr. B. Rajaram,Ph.D, Coimbatore (Title: Holy Books  &  Life After Life – Interpretation)

12.30 pm
Paper presentation- Greshma P Raju, Punalur (Title: Holy Books and Life After Life)
1.00 pm
Lunch break (KIPS)
2.00 pm
Meeting with students of KIPS
3.30 pm
Tea break
4.00 pm
Official Inauguration, AMCD Award presentation and Book Release (Public Meeting)

Programs
1.      Opening hymn
2.      Welcome- Dr. Abraham Karickam
3.      Over view of the Holy Books Conference- Dr. Ruwan Palapathwala, Dubai (Conference Manager)
4.      Introducing the award winners- Jiji P Mathew
5.      Reading of Mangalapathra- K C George
6.      Presentation of AMCD Award to Rev. Dr. M J Joseph
7.      Presentation of best CC award to Cosmic CC, Odanavattom
8.      Presentation of Essay Contest- Afna Jaleeb
9.      Book release (Life after Life)
10.  Presidential remarks- Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos  Episcopa (President, AMCD)
11.  Key-note Address: Swami Chaturvedi
12.  Felicitation- Swami Sachidananda Bharathi
13.  Reply speeches i) Rev. Dr. M J Joseph  ii) Cosmic Rajan iii. Afana Jaleeb
14.  Vote of thanks- Prof. John Kurakkar



Wednesday 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanthi and International Day of Peace Celebration)

8.00 am
Breakfast (Motel Aaram)
9.00 am
Participation in the IDP Peace Procession
11.00 am
Tea break

11.30 am
Paper presentation- Dr. Meher Master Moos, Zoroastrian College, Mumbai (Title: Holy Books And Life After Life
From The View Point Of The Ancient Avestan Mazdayasnie Zarathushtrian Daena)
12.00 pm
Paper presentation- Ramanujadas, Ekanathdas and Lekshmipatidas- Argentina
(Title: Life After Life)-
12.30 pm
 Paper presentation- Dr. J. Prameela Devi
1.00  pm
Lunch (KIPS)
2.00 pm
Paper presentation- Vasudeva Rao (Culcutta)
2.30  pm
Paper presentation- Prof. Dr. Waleboda (Sri Lanka)
3.30 pm
Paper presentation- Dr. Abraham Karickam (Title: Journey of the Soul)
4.00 pm
Evaluation      
4.30 pm
Trip to Kollam Beach and Dinner at Hotel Nila Palace

Thursday, 3rd October

Picnic to Palaruvi Water Falls/ Courtallam



Thursday, August 29, 2013

PEACE MAKERS OF THE WORLD

"Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent revolt of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution
of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty".
(Bishop Oscar Romero, 1917-1980)

MALALA'S STORY

On October 9th, 2012 in a region of Pakistan known as the Swat Valley, 14 year old Malala Yousafzai, an advocate and champion for the rights of young girls to attend school, was targeted and shot on a school bus.  Malala’s story is not unique: thousands of girls around the world do not have access to education and many risk violence in its pursuit.  What is unique is that at 11 years old, Malala began her very public fight for the rights to education of girls in her country. With the encouragement and support of her father, Ziauddin Yousufzai, a headmaster of a girls’ school in the Swat Valley, she raised her voice against the repressive and violent discourse of extremists desperate for power. She began questioning why some girls were not allowed to attend school; she participated in rallies and marches; she spoke out against the burning of girls’ schools. After one of her schoolmates backed out of an offer of publication with the BBC, Malala began writing an anonymous blog about her life in the Swat Valley; copy from which would be published in local papers, followed and supported in her community. In 2009 she became the president of the District Child Assembly in Swat; in 2011 she was nominated for the Children’s Peace Prize and was awarded Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize two months later in December.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Malala’s voice echoes strong; support has swelled in both secular and religious communities in Pakistan, uniting people in acknowledging the importance of her struggle, the importance of growing the discourse.  Malala’s courage has become a strong seed for change both in the Swat valley, and in the broader world; her example a template for critical engagement and activity for all young people.

www.etfo.c
Taliban victim Malala Yousafzai wins International Children's 

Peace Prize 2013


PAKISTANI teenager Malala Yousafzai, who "risked her life in the fight for access to education for girls", has been named winner of the International Children's Peace Prize 2013.
Malala, 16, is "a brave and talented child who has demonstrated special dedication to children's rights," the Dutch children's rights organization KidsRights said.
Starting at age 11, Malala started to write a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC about how she felt about being denied access to school.
Her activism made her a potential target. She was shot in the head by Taliban agents in October and was eventually flown to Britain for treatment, where she currently lives.
Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkul Karman, co-winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, will present the 100,000 euro ($149,175) award on September 6 at a ceremony in The Hague.
The funds will be used for projects aimed at improving access to education for girls in Pakistan.
Malala has also been nominated for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.


Monday, August 26, 2013

Activity Report about Cosmic Community Center
Karickam P.O, Kottarakara, Kerala, India

Cosmic Community Center is a registered non-governmental organization which is a                   cooperation circle of United Religions Initiative, founded in conjunction with the golden jubilee of United Nations. Established two decades ago it promotes interfaith harmony and peace. It has become a reputed organization in India and a pioneering institution in the field of dialogical enterprises. It collaborates with various organizations for peace building projects and major activities include the following:

1.      We have established an International Peace Research Institute (IPRI), which concentrates on world military spending and alternate peace initiatives.

2.      We conduct International Conferences on Holy Books  (Intertextuality Series every two years). Fifth in this series is scheduled to be held in October 2013.

3.      We supported the formation of URI Travelling Peace Academy and Training Programmes are being conducted every year in different parts of the world.

4.      We celebrate UN International Day of Peace (September 21) and UN Interfaith Harmony Week (February 1-7) every year, with a variety of programs.

5.      We supported the establishment of Karickam International Public School which has already become a peace building institution in itself.
6.      We were instrumental in establishing Santhwanam Cancer Care and Palliative Center which provides assistance to a number of needy patients.
7.      We publish a series of books for the promotion of interfaith harmony and peace in addition to organizing a number of national and international study conferences.
8.      We conduct youth exchange programs and welcome a good number of URI volunteers and guests every year.

9.      We established a world fellowship of Inter Faith Students Movement and co ordinate formation of units in schools and colleges so as to bring the message of Interfaith Harmony among the younger generation.

Monday, August 12, 2013

URI ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The United Religious Initiative (URI) is pleased to announce Victor Kazanjian as its new Executive Director. Kazanjian will assume the position on October 15, after two decades serving Wellesley College as Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life, Co-Director of the Peace & Justice Studies Program and most recently Dean of Intercultural Education.
“The United Religions Initiative community in 86 countries of the world enthusiastically welcomes Victor Kazanjian as our Executive Director and looks forward to his leadership and friendship,” said William Swing, President and founder of the United Religious Initiative.
Victor Kazanjian himself is looking forward to joining the URI community. “It is a great honor for me to have been chosen as Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative. I am very excited to be a part of the URI team as we work together to build peaceful communities and engage problems of injustice and violence by supporting interfaith cooperation and understanding. One of the things that I have admired most about URI over the years is its commitment to a collaborative process of shared leadership that supports grassroots efforts to empower diverse groups of people of different beliefs and practices to transform their communities and the world. At a time when religion is often seen to be at the root of division among people, URI stands out as a beacon of hope for the possibilities for peace,” said Kazanjian. 
Global Council Chair Kiran Bali extends the council’s support. “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Victor Kazanjian as our esteemed Executive Director of URI. Victor is a real asset to URI bringing his extensive experience, leadership and high regard in the field of international interfaith cooperation. I look forward to working in partnership with Victor and our URI community to further strengthen our initiatives through the exciting times that lay ahead.”
Kazanjian’s work at Wellesley College is widely acknowledged as the catalyst in a  movement to include religious diversity and spirituality as core issues in higher education nationally and internationally, and has led to new models of interfaith and intercultural growth and understanding. Specializing in interreligious and intercultural conflict transformation, diversity and democracy, and grassroots peacebuilding, Kazanjian is a recognized thought-leader and the co-author of several books, includingEducation as Transformation: Religious Pluralism, Spirituality and a New Vision for Higher Education in America, (New York: Peter Lang, 2000), Beyond Tolerance: a Campus Religious Diversity Kit,(Washington: NASPA, 2004) and co-editor of the Studies in Spirituality and Education series published by Peter Lang Press.
In 1998 Kazanjian co-founded Education as Transformation, an international organization working with colleges and universities around the world to promote religious pluralism and spirituality in education. He is also a visiting faculty member and Fulbright Scholar at the Malaviya Center for Peace Research at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, and the creator of Wellesley College’s Wintersession program in India. 
Victor Kazanjian is an ordinated priest in the Episcopal Church and holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is also a graduate of Harvard University.


Victor Kazanjian
Dean of Intercultural Education and Religious and Spiritual Life

Dean Kazanjian supports Wellesley College’s commitment to educating students for national and global citizenship by implementing an integrated co-curricular program of intercultural and interreligious education that equips students with the knowledge and skills they will need for leadership and life in a diverse and interdependent world.
He provides leadership for the new Office of Intercultural Education and has primary responsibility for the development and leadership of intercultural education activities, trainings, and programs that educate and promote awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diversity and inclusion on campus, and increasing multicultural competency throughout the campus community. He is the founder of Wellesley's Multifaith Religious and Spiritual Life Program, which seeks to respond to the rich diversity of beliefs represented among community members through a vision of a multifaith community in which all particular expressions of belief are celebrated; no one tradition is seen as normative; and dialogue about common religious, spiritual, and ethical principles is nurtured. This program provides support for people of all religious, spiritual, and humanist traditions and builds community among people of diverse backgrounds and working with faculty, staff, and students.
Dean Kazanjian is also the co-founder and president of Education as Transformation, Inc., an organization that works nationally and internationally with colleges, universities, and educational institutions exploring issues of religious pluralism and spirituality in higher education. As co-director of the Peace & Justice Studies Program at Wellesley he teaches on issues of social justice, conflict transformation, and community change, with a focus on race and class in America, and diversity and democracy in the United States and India.             
Publications
Dean Kazanjian writes and speaks regularly on issues of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, developing multifaith and multicultural communities, spirituality and education, leadership and learning, principles of peacemaking, diversity and democracy, and social justice and institutional change. His recent publications include:
Books
·              Co-editor of Education as Transformation: Religious Pluralism, Spirituality and a New                       Vision for Higher Education in America (New York: Peter Lang, 2000),
·              Co-editor of Beyond Tolerance: a Campus Religious Diversity Kit (Washington: NASPA, 2004)
Articles
·              “Building a New Global Commons: Religious Diversity and the Challenge for Higher Education,” in the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue (Summer 2010)
·              “Design from Dialogue: Houghton Chapel and Multifaith Center at Wellesley College,” in Faith & Form: The Interfaith Journal on Religion, Art and Architecture (2009)
·              “Towards Multi-cultural Learning Communities” in Building the Interfaith Youth Movement (New York: Alta Mira Press, 2006)
·              “Religion, Spirituality and Intellectual Development,” in the Journal of Cognitive Affective Learning , Oxford College at Emory University, Summer, 2005.