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Universal Peace Federation - UK 2009
- 1. Universal Peace Federation – UKActivities 2009
- 2. Commemorating Sat Guru Ram Singh: Non-Violent Opposition to Oppression Co-Hosted With Hindu Council - UK
- 3. Tony Kempster International Peace Bureau, Geneva
- 4. G20: Put People First Demo, March 29th Nick Deaden: Jubilee Debt Campaign
- 5. UPF UK Global Peace Tour War on Want: Ruth Tanner House of Commons April 2nd 2009
- 6. UPF UK Global Peace Tour Former Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem Rt. Rev’dRiah Abu El-Assal House of Commons April 2nd 2009
- 7. UPF Global Peace Tour Imam UmerIlyasi All India Imams and Mosques Organisation April 2nd 2009
- 8. UPF Global Peace Tour Frank Kantor on G20 URC Church and Society Secretary & Joint Public Issues Team April 2nd 2009
- 9. UPF Global Peace Tour Anil Bhanot General Secretary Hindu Council – UK April 2nd 2009
- 10. UPF UK Global Peace Tour House of Commons April 2nd 2009
- 11. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th 2009
- 12. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th 2009
- 13. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14thEdwin Shuker: Vice President of Sephardic Congress
- 14. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th Dr Shadrach Ofsuware, South London Temple: Easter
- 15. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th 2009
- 16. Joint Celebration: Three Abrahamic Faiths April 14th 2009
- 17. UPF UK Prof. Ursula King Book Launch ‘The Search for Spirituality’ June 11th 2009
- 18. UPF UK House of Lords Lord King - July 13th 2009 Global Economic and Financial Meltdown and the Need for a Paradigm Shift’
- 19. UPF UK House of Lords Lord Ahmed - July 13th 2009 ‘Global Economic and Financial Meltdown and the Need for a Paradigm Shift’
- 20. UPF UK Peace Council - July 4th 2009 Lord King UPF Patron
- 21. UPF UK Peace Council July 4th 2009 Community Cohesion Committee
- 22. UPF UK Peace Council July 4th 2009 Gene Alcantara: Mindanao Peace Initiative -UK
- 23. UPF UK Peace Council: Dr MariosGerogiakas Environment Chapter - July 4th 2009
- 24. UN International Day of Families May 15th 2009 Marriage and Family Committee
- 25. Food, Water and the Energy CrisisDr YacobMulugetta
- 26. World Culture Association‘An Oriental Experience’
- 27. Sakura Club Artists for Peace
- 28. Lawrence Bloom, Dr MariosGerogiakas and Murad Qureshi July 4th 2009
- 29. Mindanao Peace Initiative – UKPhilippines Embassy, Oct. 24th, 2009
- 30. Mindanao Peace Initiative – UKPhilippines Embassy October 24th 2009
- 31. Dr. L M Singhvi Commemoration Celebration of Holy Events National Interfaith Week Nov. 18th
- 32. Dr. L M Singhvi Commemoration Celebration of Holy Events National Interfaith Week Nov. 18th
- 33. Supported Star Foundation Youth Awards Nov. 9th 2009
- 34. Immigrants Contribution to the UK Nov. 24th 2009
- 35. Immigrants Contribution to the UK Nov. 24th 2009
- 37. Bristol Showcases UPFOct. 2009
- 38. Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke ‘Beacons of the Light’ Book Launch October 16th 2009
- 39. Rev. Dr. Marcus Braybrooke ‘Beacons of the Light’ Book Launch October 16th 2009 Report Link
- 40. Guided Meditation Karen Szulakowska
- 42. ‘Forgiveness and Reconciliation Conference’ Friends Meeting House October 4th 2009
- 44. ‘Inter-Civilizational Dialogue Baku, Azerbaijan Organisation of Islamic Conference and Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
- 45. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Karen Szulakowska
- 46. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Mrs. Haadia Saad
- 47. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Major (Ret) SuryaparsadUpadhya
- 48. Ambassador for Peace 2009 Mr Mohammed Khokhar
- 49. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- ‘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’ .
- Lord King of West Bromwich 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.
- 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/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/