Universal Peace Federation - UK 2009
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Some of the activities of the UPF - UK during 2009. Websites: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/ Main UPF – UK Website www.uk.upf.org Youtube. http://uk.youtube.com/PeaceDevelopmntNetwk International UPF Website: www.upf.org
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Universal Peace Federation - UK 2009
- 1. Universal Peace Federation – UKActivities 2009
- 2. Link Commemorating Sat Guru Ram Singh: Non-Violent Opposition to Oppression Co-Hosted With Hindu Council - UK
- 3. Tony Kempster International Peace Bureau, Geneva
- 4. Inter-Religious Cooperation Beyond Dialogue
- 5. G20: Put People First Demo, March 29th Nick Deaden: Jubilee Debt Campaign
- 6. Link ‘New Vision Amid The Economic Crisis’ House of Commons April 2nd 2009
- 7. Ruth Tanner War on Want UPF UK Global Peace Tour
- 8. Rt. Rev. Riah Abu El-Assal Former Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem UPF UK Global Peace Tour
- 9. UPF Global Peace Tour Imam UmerIlyasi All India Imams and Mosques Organisation April 2nd 2009
- 10. UPF Global Peace Tour Frank Kantor on G20 URC Church and Society Secretary & Joint Public Issues Team April 2nd 2009
- 11. UPF Global Peace Tour Anil Bhanot General Secretary Hindu Council – UK April 2nd 2009
- 12. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths, April 14th 2009
- 13. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th 2009
- 14. Edwin Shuker Vice Pres. Sephardic Congress: Passover Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th
- 15. Joint Celebration Imam Dr. Abduljalil Sajid: Mawlid An-Nabi Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th
- 16. Joint Celebration: Easter Dr Shadrach Ofsuware, South London Temple: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th
- 17. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th 2009
- 18. Prof. Ursula King ‘The Search for Spirituality’ June 11th 2009
- 19. Global Economic and Meltdown : Need for Paradigm Shift Lord King: House of Lords - July 13th 2009
- 20. Global Economic and Meltdown : Need for Paradigm Shift Lord Ahmed: House of Lords - July 13th 2009
- 21. UPF UK Peace Council Lord King UPF Patron - July 4th 2009
- 22. UPF UK Peace Council Community Cohesion Committee
- 23. UPF UK Peace Council Gene Alcantara: Mindanao Peace Initiative -UK
- 24. Environment Chapter Dr MariosGerogiakas: UPF UK Peace Council
- 25. UN International Day of Families May 15th Marriage and Family Committee
- 26. LinkFood, Water and the Energy CrisisDr YacobMulugetta
- 27. World Culture Association‘An Oriental Experience’
- 28. Sakura Club Artists for Peace
- 29. Lawrence Bloom, Dr MariosGerogiakas and Murad Qureshi , July 4th 2009
- 30. Mindanao Peace Initiative – UKPhilippines Embassy, Oct. 24th, 2009
- 31. Mindanao Peace Initiative – UKPhilippines Embassy October 24th 2009
- 32. Dr. L M Singhvi Commemoration Celebration of Holy Events National Interfaith Week Nov. 18th
- 33. Dr. L M Singhvi Commemoration Celebration of Holy Events National Interfaith Week Nov. 18th
- 34. Supported Star Foundation Youth Awards Nov. 9th 2009
- 35. Immigrants Contribution to the UK Nov. 24th 2009
- 36. Immigrants Contribution to the UK Nov. 24th 2009
- 38. Bristol Showcases UPFOct. 2009
- 39. Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke ‘Beacons of the Light’ Book Launch October 16th 2009
- 40. Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke ‘Beacons of the Light’ Book Launch October 16th 2009 Link
- 41. Guided Meditation Karen Szulakowska
- 43. ‘Forgiveness and Reconciliation Conference’ Friends Meeting House October 4th 2009
- 45. ‘Inter-Civilizational Dialogue Baku, Azerbaijan Organisation of Islamic Conference and Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
- 46. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Karen Szulakowska
- 47. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Mrs. Haadia Saad
- 48. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Major (Ret) SuryaparsadUpadhya
- 49. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Mr Mohammed Khokhar
- 50. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Dr HojjattRamzy
Editor's Notes
- Lord Dholakia commemorating the non-violent approach of Sat Guru Ram Singh in opposition to the British rule of India. This was a joint event with the Hindu Council UK and UPF.Hero of Non Violence Remembered:‘Wisdom comes from the east and we say a chill wind usually comes from the west,’ said Mr. Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh while referring to days of the British Empire in India. He added, diplomatically ‘but we in the east have a hot temper and need a cool breeze from time to time.’ On Thursday 26th of February Amarjeet-Singh Bhamra organised an event in the House of Lords to promote the non-violent example of Sat Guru Ram Singh whose opposition to British rule of India inspired others such as the great Mahatma Ghandi.It was the third meeting that he has held to commemorate the anniversary of Sat Guru Ram Singh’s birth. UPF has been a co-host of the events along with the Hindu Council UK. (For the previous event report on the Hindu Council website click here) Lord King was the gracious host and Lord Dholakia was similarly gracious in his words and advice. There was a discussion during the meeting about how to honour the memory of Sat Guru Ram Singh and the non-violent principles he espoused. For more: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/187/
- Tony Kempster gave a presentation on ‘Disarmament for Development’. His subtitle was ‘Will be make it for the next 100 years?’For more information: http://bit.ly/bYemJGTony Kempster is the Vice President of the International Peace Bureau in Geneva which is a Nobel Laureate organisation. He is also the Chair of the ‘Abolition of War’. He is a Geneticist by trade and holds the position of General Secretary of Anglican Church Pacifist Organisation.For More Information: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/disarmament-for-development-will-we-make-it-for-the-next-100-years/
- Inter-religious Cooperation Beyond Dialogue: Sikh – Hindu Reconciliation EffortsOn Saturday 28th February the UPF Interfaith Committee continued their series of events showcasing models of Inter-religious Cooperation Beyond Dialogue. Mr Sukhbir Singh, the London representative of the Guru Nanak NishkamSewakJatha, explained how the Sikh community in Birmingham supported the Hindu community during the Ram Katha Vedic Festival in the Birmingham NEC in 2001. After telling the story from the perspective of the Sikh community, Mr Singh was followed by the director of the festival, Mr DineshChauhan, in sharing the perspective of the Hindu community. After a description of langar, the holy and humble sharing of food which is essential to the Sikh faith, Mr Singh described the scale of support being offered to the festival: A marquee was to be erected in the NEC car park where food for 10,000 people would be prepared daily. Both communities had encountered episodes of obstacles, which frequently threatened to jeopardise the entire festival. After some miraculous breakthroughs, the 9-day event was executed successfully. There were no emergencies, no health and safety issues. The event was highly praised by the then Birmingham Lord Mayor. The stories were so touching that many had tears in their eyes.
- Campaigning with other groups who have a similar vision during the G20 Summit and at the time of the Global Peace Tour.Carrying a banner together with Nick Dearden, President of Jubilee Debt Campaign.
- New Vision Amid the Economic Crisis: House of Commons April 2nd 2009. This event was held as part of the UPF Global Peace Tour. While the G20 Summit was meeting in the Excel Centre and violent demonstrations were disturbing the City of London’s banking sector, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) was holding a conference with civil society and faith-based groups in the House of Parliament’s largest committee room, entitled, ‘New Vision Amid the Economic Crisis’. This contrasted the moral vision promoted by civil society and faith based groups with the pragmatic approach of the G20 Nations’ Summit. Many in the session echoed the ‘Put People First’ demonstration theme that this was a time for a new perspective and not just a return to ‘business as usual’. In the lead up to the G20 UPF had issued a Statement emphasising the need for ethical change: UPF Recommendations for the G-20 Summit April 2nd – LondonWhen the leaders of the G-20 convened in Washington DC last November, they committed themselves to “lay the foundation for reform to help ensure that a global crisis…does not happen again.” If there is to be lasting change, the G-20 must acknowledge that the current financial crisis did not happen by accident, and it was by no means inevitable. The root cause of the problem has as much to do with moral, indeed spiritual failure, as governmental or financial mismanagement. For this reason, improved fiscal, economic and trade policies alone are not enough. The attitudes and behaviour of people, institutions and even entire nations must change. The social sphere that comprises business, trade, and finance is embedded in a wider culture and ethos that, during the best of times in human history, provide the moral and spiritual framework within which we, as human beings, live day to day. Thus, the G-20 must engage in deeper reflection on the moral and spiritual infrastructure that forms the foundation of life in the world. We take an enormous risk when we either ignore or de-value that reality. Therefore, as the G-20 gathers in London, we offer the following recommendations: Ethical Reform: In addition to consideration of critical factors such as energy, security and climate change, food security, the rule of law, and the fight against terrorism, poverty and disease, an even greater need is for ethical reform. This call for ethical reform should be accompanied by greater transparency and fairness whether in financial markets, trade or ‘tax havens’ or in standards of good governance both in developing and developed nations. The Importance of Social Institutions: Wealth, prosperity and human security are dependent not only on the proper functioning of governments, banks and markets, but also the proper functioning of families, communities, schools, and faith-based institutions, where character is shaped and our core values are learned. Sustainable Growth: We call on the G-20 to promote sustainable growth for developed and developing nations. Marriage and Family: Strong, stable, loving families are profoundly relevant to the quality of economic life. The G-20 should give consideration to the relevance of family life to wider economic realities. Character Education: Character education, not only in the family or faith-based institution, but also in our schools, will help assure a thriving moral culture that is necessary for a robust and stable economy. Hard work, thrift, honesty, responsibility, empathy are moral virtues that are essential to a good business and a good economy. Unselfishness: At the heart of many of the world’s greatest religious and moral worldviews is an emphasis on the universal value of unselfishness, and the control of self-centeredness. While traditionally, free markets are guided by a profit incentive, that human inclination must be balanced by higher principles such as altruism and service to others. We call upon the G-20 nations to dedicate 0.7% of Gross National Income at least by 2013 (agreed upon by developed nations in 1970 by UN General Assembly Resolution and reaffirmed on several occasions since) to support overseas development assistance and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals. We would encourage developed nations to forgive debts of the poorest nations of the world especially those accumulated by despotic regimes and that are now shackling succeeding democracies. This altruism demonstrates ‘living for the sake of others’ within the human family. We are All Members of One Human Family: Humanity is one universal family. Despite the diversity of race, nationality, ethnicity and religion, we are all human and we all derive from a common source or origin, known by many as God, Allah, Jehovah, Brahman, the ultimate reality. We call for increased emphasis upon interfaith and intercultural dialogue between and beyond the nations of the G20 to promote understanding of our common root. Let us never forget that we are one family under God. http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/new-vision-amid-the-economic-crisis-2nd-april-2009-2/
- Ruth Tanner is the Policy Officer of War on Want. This is a large NGO campaigning for action to help the poor all around the world. http://bit.ly/95BllM
- News Information from the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church Date: Friday 3 April 2009 Moral values critical for building an equitable and sustainable global economy say Church leaders Leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church have welcomed the communiqué from the G20 Summit. They expressed hope that this might represent the start of a process of reordering global economic relationships based on more just and sustainable principles. Commenting on the moral values underpinning this statement, the Revd Stephen Poxon, President of the Methodist Conference said, “We welcome the commitment to the principle of solidarity reflected in pledges to meet the Millennium Development Goals and increase development assistance. However, unless there is greater commitment from G20 leaders to the principle of sustainability this recovery package is likely to mortgage our children’s future.” The Revd John Marsh, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church said that the global economic crisis presented a kairos moment to reflect on some of the underlying causes of this crisis as faith communities. “As we journey towards Easter, we are reminded of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem in humility and weeping over a city which failed to recognise the time of their visitation from God and the things that make for peace. May this Easter be a time of hopeful reflection on the richness which is related to sufficiency and God’s peace and justice for the poor.” The Revd Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain added that the global economic crisis was a reflection of a deeper moral and spiritual crisis which required an active response from faith communities. “We need to demystify economics and engage in the on-going debate on the reorienting of our economic relationships towards the common good. We therefore welcome the offer extended to faith communities by the UK Government to engage with them on the moral values that must undergird the global recovery plan agreed at the London Summit.” The three denominations were signatories to a submission by UK Churches’ ahead of the London Summit on a sustainable and equitable reordering of global economic relationships. ENDS For further information contact Frank Kantor, Secretary for Church and Society, United Reformed Church tel. 020 7916 8632 or frank.kantor@urc.org.uk The Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) is the Baptist family in England and Wales (there is also the Baptist Union of Wales). It is made up of churches, regional associations, the national resource centre and Baptist colleges. The Union works with others in mission locally, regionally and internationally. It is a diverse union with small and large congregations, different nationalities and differing styles of worship yet united by core values and a common purpose of changing lives and transforming communities with the message and love of Jesus Christ. There are some 140,000 members of 2000 Baptist churches associated with the Baptist Union of Great Britain. www.baptist.org.uk The Methodist Church has about 265,000 members and 800,000 people are connected with the Church. It has about 5,800 churches in Great Britain, and also maintains links with other Methodist churches totalling a worldwide membership of 70 million. www.methodist.org.uk The United Reformed Church comprises one hundred thousand people in 1600 congregations. It has brought together English Presbyterians, English, Welsh and Scottish Congregationalists and members of the Churches of Christ. Worldwide, more than 70 million Christians are members of the Reformed family of churches, the largest Protestant tradition. The name ‘Reformed’ is used because the churches began to emerge with reform movements in the sixteenth century. www.urc.org.uk The Joint Public Issues Team combines the expertise of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church in the area of public issues. Through close collaboration, the churches aim to increase the effectiveness of their engagement in public life and parliamentary affairs. For more information about the Joint Public Issues Team, visit www.jointpublicissues.org.uk Chris HallWriter/Editor, CommunicationsBaptist Union of Great Britain, Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8RTTel. 01235 517756 chall@baptist.org.uk
- G20 Recommendations: Anil Bhanot, General Secretary, Hindu Council – UKPosted by peacedevelopmentnetwork on April 10, 2009Interfaith Meeting HOC committee room 14 on G20 – 2 April 09 I would like to just focus on the need to reorganise our financial structures and institutions and offer some practical suggestions. We are all now aware how the banks were allowed to become so powerful that political power or the democratic rule of governance dwarfed in comparison. The financial institutions led the politicians and by how much ever the politicians tried to bail the banking system out of crisis it seemed never enough. Only a few weeks ago the Governor of the Bank of England warned the Government not to extend their borrowings to a far bigger level than the size of our economy so that the country itself will find itself in the sorry situation that it won’t be able to pay back its borrowing, just as some of the banks could no longer afford to pay back their depositors. So this power of money that can make the world go round cannot be underestimated. It is actually a positive power that is going to unite us more by making the world go round but only if and when we can harness it’s power properly. Free market economies are necessary to help create wealth but things go wrong when that freedom comes on the expense of the weaker or the poorer elements in society. Then that freedom is actually stealing and it is stealing through legal means. This is how the financial institutions became above the law and therefore more powerful than our governments. We have heard a lot about One God form various speakers and Hindus too have only one God, Brahm. But due to its antiquity we have several incarnations and various aspects of God, not least the female. We have the Goddess of wealth, Luxmi, whom we pray for prosperity and comforts but ancient Hindus quite cleverly, I think, ordained that when Luxmi is pleased with you she sends the fortune riding on the back of an owl. The interesting thing is that an owl is a nocturnal animal, which cannot see in the day light, meaning that money can blind you if you are not careful.Of course this is where morals come into play, our business ethics. But these only work with those of us who have learnt to “own” these ethics or morals as part and parcel of our way of life. For the vast majority of people the temptation to make easy money, legally even though it may be on the expense of others, is too blinding for them to keep up to these morals. If our education, our training, was sufficient to give us all a sense of responsibility for our fellow beings to the extent that we all would question the fairness of our earnings then clearly there won’t be any problem But that will never happen. The ancient Hindu wisdom of money coming over the back of an owl is an eternal enigma we have to find solutions for.For More:http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/04/10/g20-recommendations-anil-bhanot-general-secretary-hindu-council-uk/
- Joint Celebration of the Holy Events of Three Faiths14th April, 2009The Joint Celebration of the Holy Events of the Three Faiths was inspired by a very successful Jewish – Muslim Celebration evening on October 21st 2006 following the 2nd Lebanese war. Yael Lindenboim had suggested that event because the Jewish High Holy Days and Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan occurred at roughly the same time that year. Yael was acknowledged at the start of this evening by Dr Raheem Khan who had been one of the leading members of the Community Cohesion and Interfaith committees organising this event. The evening began with messages from those who had been aware of the evening but could not be there. Canon Andrew White, the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’, had prepared a message that was presented by Sharon Booth his Personal Assistant and Project Manager of Foundation for the Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. The Rt. Rev’d. Riah Abu El-Assal, the former Bishop of Jerusalem, also sent a message that was read by Vanessa Edwards.Each of the three faiths representatives were to present scriptural readings about the holy event in their calendar and to explain both the significance and some of the traditions included in the celebration. There followed also some younger representatives presentations, cultural performances and food from each religious heritage.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/joint-celebration-of-the-holy-events-of-three-faiths/
- Message fromCanon Andrew White delivered by his Personal Assistant, Sharon Booth:Canon Andrew White ‘Greetings from Baghdad, I am so sorry that I am unable to be with you today especially as my great friend and member of my board Dr Raheem Kahn is behind this event.Today you come together as members of the three great monotheistic faiths, Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Together we have one great thing in common we all believe that G-d is one. We all believe that G-d is part of our life and we believe interfaith activity does not make us weak in our faith it should makes us stronger and indeed more orthodox in what we believe and practice. Unlike many in the West I do not live and work with those who do not believe much. Most people believe firmly in their faith. Yet they are serious about engaging with the other.At the same time we all realise that when religion goes wrong it goes very wrong. We do not deny that religion is at the core of so many of the problems in the world today, but if religion is part of the problem it must also be part of the solution. The solution begins with you; you have come together as one not two or three. You must hear each other’s story and you will soon discover that you are friends not enemies. It was the American poet Longfellow who said “Who is my enemy; it is the person whose story I have not heard”.May the Lord, Hashem, Allah and the Almighty G-d be with you all forever.’Canon Andrew WhiteVicar of St Georges, BaghdadPresident, Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East
- Edwin Shuker: Vice President of the Sephardic Congress explaining the significance of Passover.
- Imam Dr Abduljalil Sajid explains the significance of Mawlid An-Nabi during the Joint Celebrations. This can be viewed on Youtube from this link: http://bit.ly/cqTcUYImam Sajid presented a copy of the Holy Quran to UPF translated by Muhammad MarmadukePickthall.
- Pastor Shadrach: http://bit.ly/cu9vTc
- ‘The Search for Spirituality: Our Global Quest for Meaning and Fulfillment’ by Professor Ursula King.The Interfaith Committee and the British Academy for World Peace, (UK’s Professors for World Peace Academy) held a joint event on the 11th of June to launch a book by Professor Ursula King. Imam Dr MahmadouBocoum is responding to her book in this photograph. Jay Lakhani, the Hindu Council – UK Education Director, is waiting to respond to Professor Ursula King’s book.
- UPF in partnership with Global Vision 2000 – an economic values think tank - ‘Global Economic and Financial Meltdown and the Need for a Paradigm Shift’ . http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/global-financial-and-economic-meltdown/
- Lord King of West Bromwich, as a Patron, has been a strong supporter of UPF. He opened the Peace Council and stayed throughout the day. The Peace Council allowed us to bring together all the Committees and the Branches of UPF to plan future activities.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/universal-peace-federation-peace-council/
- Cllr. Margaret Ali, Saleha Jaffer and Cllr. Janet Baddeley have been largely responsible for UPF’s many Community Cohesion activities in the UK. For more information please see: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/category/community-cohesion/
- Gene Alcantara, who is a Philippinejournalist settled in the UK, announced to the Peace Council and then to his community in the UK that they should support the Mindanao Peace Initiative. This has been widely supported within the community. He wrote to them saying:‘You will know that the conflict in Mindanao continues to cause pain and suffering, dislocation and costs in terms of the economy, loss of human life, increased poverty and destruction of localities. As we have also seen recently the situation allows kidnap-for-ransom activities which create fear and deflect tourism and investment in the region.I am writing to tell you that a Mindanao Peace Initiative was launched during the Global Peace Festival Mindanao in September 2008. The event was co-sponsored by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), the Philippine Government at national and local levels, and non governmental organisations. Enclosed herewith please find the Declaration of the Inauguration of the Mindanao Peace Initiative (MinPI).In our desire to get involved in the pursuit of peace in Mindanao and help our compatriots there, we have set up a UK Committee to support and seek funding for the MinPI. I hope you will be able to join us and contribute to the peace efforts.A couple of projects we will be supporting this year are the Lanao Del Norte (LDN) Peace School Model, and the First Mindanao Hiphop Convention to be held in August 2009. With Service For Peace we are also exploring the possibility of advocating volunteerism and service in LDN and Davao City, as well as implementing micro financing and soft loans for young entrepreneurs and women.The MinPI UK Committee will be overseen by UPF and its partners, particularly in the Filipino community. Administration and handling of contributions/sponsorships will be provided by International Relief Friendship Foundation, Inc. (IRFF), a UK charity organization [http://www.irff.org/]. Execution on the ground in Mindanao will be the responsibility of Service For Peace [www.serviceforpeace.org] and partner Filipino NGOs. I would be grateful if you could please forward this to friends and kababayans who might be interested in getting involved or to contribute financial and other help. If anybody wishes to provide any financial help, please go directly to http://www.irff.org/ to do so, specifying your contribution is for the Mindanao Peace Initiative UK.’
- Dr MariosGerogiakas has been promoting an Environment Awareness Chapter in the UK. There have been several meetings in 2008 and in 2009. Insert is a recent event with Dr YacobMulugetta of Surrey University entitled ‘Food, Water and the Energy Crisis’
- The Marriage and Family committee has had a number of events during the last two years. This was a recent event on the UN International Day of Families another was held jointly with the Women’s Federation for World Peace.
- Dr YacobMulugetta, University of Surrey, explained the dynamic of the ‘Perfect Storm’ of diminishing resources and growing human population and consumption by 2030. He emphasised that the highest happiness levels were found not in the richest nations with the greatest per capita gross national incomes but in the middle ranking nations.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/understanding-food-water-and-the-energy-crisis/
- An Oriental Experience – World Cultural Association - August 22nd Peter Graham. http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/world-cultural-associations-oriental-experience/
- Sakura Club have performed in many venues to promote UPF. They have joined together with others to form a cultural group called Artists for Peace.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/a-taste-of-japan-the-sakura-club/
- Lawrence Bloom and Murad Qureshi AM discussed the alternatives facing London as a city and the world as a whole due to climate change. Lawrence Bloom, is the Chair of the United Nations Environment Programme and the former chairman, current Council Member, of the World Economic Forum, Global Agenda Council on Urban Development, Davos. Murad Qureshi AM is the Chair of the Environment Committee of the Greater London Authority’s London Assembly.There were a number of notable contributions from the audience including Nicky Gavron AM who, as the former Deputy Mayor, was leading the climate change response on behalf of London during the Ken Livingston Mayoral administration.Murad Qureshi began by emphasising the role of big cities like London in working with environmental issues because 50 % of humanity lives in cities and towns. Nation states will meet in Copenhagen but there is a lot of capacity for cities to collaborate and make their own impetus. He acknowledged Nicky Gavron’s work with the C40 Cities. London made a goal of 60 % reduction from 1990 levels by 2025. There is a localised green economy initiative possible through city level leadership. Transport and housing sectors can be handled locally. He added that a Plan B could be a city level agreement if the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit fails.Lawrence Bloom said, ‘At first the Universal Peace Federation seems a strange convenor for this discussion but when I thought about the crisis facing us I felt this is an ideal venue for climate change discussion. Climate change is a subset of an unsustainable energy system. There is also a lack of sustainability in food, water and the economy. This is not a crisis of climate but of vision based on a lack of values. We in the west find esteem based on buying the newest car and happiness is based on Gross National Product. Correcting the climate will affect all levels. Hence the Universal Peace Federation is an ideal convenor for this discussion.’ For more information:http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/lawence-bloom-and-murad-qureshi-am-green-economy-initiative/
- For a series of reports http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/?s=Mindanao+Peace+Initiative+
- This was a programme held in the House of Lords commemorating the life of Dr LM Singhvi and marking also the first Interfaith Week in the Uk with an explanation of the Holy Events of several Faith Traditions.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/commemoration-of-dr-l-m-singhvi-joint-celebration-of-holy-events/
- Immigrant’s Contribution to the UKHouse of Commons, Committee Room 12November 24th, 2009Photo Link here‘I am described as the most hated man in England’ said Keith Best, the Chair of Immigration Advisory Service UK (IASUK), referring to a BNP website as an illustration of the controversy and confusion that surrounds the immigration debate. He compared the UK where 10% of the population were born overseas to 12% in the US, 14% in France, 20% in Canada and 25% in Australia adding that none of those nations are in danger of ‘immediate social disintegration’. Yet the UK has a higher level of negativity to immigration than those other nations. (IASUK Press Release link here.) YasminAlibhai – Brown commented that the media had surrendered the debate to the anti – immigration lobby and that the situation was as bad as the 1960’s with both the centre left and the centre right uniting against immigration. She pushed for serious research into the effects of immigration highlighting changes in the UK since the 1960’s.During a wide-ranging discussion on immigration chaired by Tom Brake MP and organised by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), there were also presentations from Prof. Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Mark Brann Secretary General of UPF Europe, Baroness Uddin and SejaMajeed. There were views also expressed from Pakistani, Afro-Caribbean and Philippine communities.Lord Parekh explored how to frame an effective discussion (full speech link) of the immigration issue targeting neither those vehemently for or against immigration but those who remained to be influenced by accurate and logical debate. He emphasised that the immigrants who came to the UK were mostly resourceful and industrious and added £3-4 bn to the UK economy and the vitality of its culture.For More Information: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/immigrants-contribution-to-the-uk-november-24th-2009/
- Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke signing a book for Dr NazninHirji.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/10/18/beacons-of-the-light-booklaunch-october-16th-2009/
- Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke introduces ‘Beacons of the Light’ with respondents Imam Dr MahmadouBocuom and Mr Vijay Metha. Cllr Margaret Ali was the MC for the Book Launch.
- For more information: http://bit.ly/aAx7AO
- What can we learn about pilgrimages that are common to all religions? On September 3rd we heard about jumping queues and ‘culturally determined’ mind sets that are challenged when we join a pilgrimage. Swami Saradananda, who coordinates pilgrimages (www.flyingmountainyoga.org), talked of India as a place where Europeans or Americans had to relearn everything from how to eat, talk, sleep and go to the toilet. The happiest pilgrimage was often the one where everything went wrong! Imam MahmadouBocoum spoke of wearing the white clothes of the Haj and putting away things of the world. Yet he struggled when others jumped queues, pushed and shoved to fulfil their heavenly duties. Brother Tashi spoke of accumulating merit by pilgrimages as well as purifying our karma. He demonstrated the sequence of devotion when approaching the holy mountain in Tibet near Llhasa: the sequential prostration every two metres along the path.http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/pilgrimage-interfaith-perspectives/
- The morning session was rich with experience and knowledge about the topic of Forgiveness as expressed by the pool of wisdom emanating from distinguished speakers such as depicted above as well as Dr Ven Sumana Siri, Mr JehangirSarosh, Andrea Foulkes and Mr Jack Corley of UPF who gave concluding remarks. The general feeling about the morning conference was well expressed by the chair Dr Braybrooke who felt that during next year we should consider a one day conference with 3 sessions, one which could be a workshop in smaller groups perhaps, given the fact that there was so much to discuss, and such a wealth of experience amongst the speakers.The second session was held in Friends Meeting House including an Interfaith Water Ceremony and presentations by many faith and community leaders. Photo Link from the afternoon conference: For more information: http://bit.ly/1XJfE0Full report: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/n-forgiveness-report-edit-3.pdf
- Robin Marsh was invited to a conference on ‘Inter-Civilizational Dialogue’ held in Baku, Azerbaijan and co-sponsored by the Organisation of Islamic Conference and the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy.
- For More Information: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/universal-peace-federation-peace-council/
- Mr Mohammed Khokhar is the Community Liaison Officer of Muslim Aid For More Information: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/ambassador-for-peace-award-presented-to-mr-mohammed-khokhar/
- Since arriving in England over thirty years ago, Dr HojjatRamzy has dedicated his life to the propagation of knowledge and the provision of accurate and accessible information concerning Islam to the community of Oxfordshire, in which he is currently based, and far beyond, in order to further understanding and peaceful coexistence amongst faith in this ever developing, multi-cultural country.In September 2003, following the reorganisation of the state school system in Oxfordshire and the closure of the last single sex girls state school in the area, Dr Ramzy, who is now Proprietor, undertook the mammoth challenge of establishing the first Islamic School in this historic academic city, with the aim of providing the highest standard of education in the most conducive Islamic environment for the future generation of Muslims in order for them to enter the working world as informed and educated individuals, increasing the prospects for the integration and cohesion of these young Muslims into British society.This, however, is not Dr Ramzy’s only pursuit. In addition to the overseeing of this establishment, Dr Ramzy also pursues the goal of providing clear and accurate knowledge about Islam to the community of Oxfordshire at large through the running of the Oxford Islamic Information Centre. Through this organisation, Dr Ramzy runs a stand in Oxford’s busy city centre which provides reliable information, advice and literature on Islam to the public free of charge. Dr Ramzy firmly believes in supplying people with an accessible source of accurate information about the religion, and endeavours to answer all questions, whatever they may be and whoever they may be asked by. From police chiefs, to bishops, from students to MPs and your average Saturday shopper, Dr Ramzy has been approached by an incredibly diverse range of inquirers and hopes to have helped dispel some of their common misconceptions about the faith. As a result of these efforts, Dr Ramzy has facilitated over 200 shahadah declarations.Another facet of this enterprise is the provision of lessons and lectures specifically tailored to suit the needs of new Muslims, as well as the provision of Muslim wedding and divorce ceremonies in his capacity as an Islamic Judge and Registrar. In this respect, Dr Ramzy provides clear advice and support to these new Muslims as to how to retain their European identities at the same time as practising their Islamic faith.For More Information: http://peacedevelopmentnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/upf-get-together-december-21st-2009/