October 7th, 2009
Update from Global Youth CC - inspirational stories and images....
Dear friends,
During the month of August, Indigenous people worldwide pay respect to the Pachamama through ceremony and celebration. One of our young leaders, Francisco Morales, from the Community of Indigenous Students based in Argentina, wrote:
"This month August is the PACHAMAMA's month, where in the spiritual tradition of my people we organize a festival for the fertility of life. The last Saturday, the community of young Indigenous people met for the festival and ate and drank with the environment and other people. How to share and support community were the topics [of our discussions]."
In honor of this sacred time, we hosted a live chat at the beginning of September in solidarity with Indigenous peoples worldwide, attended by young people from Pakistan, Jordan, Argentina and the United States. It was enlightening to hear our young leaders share about the different Indigenous communities in their countries. According to the UN, there are more than 370,000,000 Indigenous people in 170 countries. There is so much more to be done to educate the world about the issues facing Indigenous people and how they are linked to the preservation of biodiversity and cultural heritages around the world. We will schedule another chat soon so that we can bring in more voices to carry on this important conversation.
Looking ahead to this month's focus on peacebuilding, we are delighted to present a perspective on the topic from Steering Committee member Atefeh Sadeghi, fresh from her peacebuilding training in Austria. Also in this newsletter, read about some of the actions being organized this year for the International Day of Peace on September 21st, by young people in Nepal, Argentina, and Palestine. And read more about how URI young leaders recently participated in the Korea Interreligious Youth Camp and Indian National Assembly.
Feature Story: Report from Korea Interreligious Youth Camp
"From the sights to the sounds, to the friendships built and the memories...everything in Korea was just sarangheyo or beautiful. Last July 10-15, 2009, eight foreign delegates from different regions of the URI were selected to be part of the Youth Camp, in South Korea.
Aptly themed, Beyond Differences for Peace Making, the group (comprised of foreign delegates and local Korean youth) traversed the province of South Korea to discover various places of worship and learning about the different religions as well.
It was also here that many of the delegates were exposed to the work of the URI, particularly of the Young Leaders Program. A brief introduction was given on the previous youth camp held at Mayapur, India and linkages across nations were established.
The morning walks and meditations were of a contemplative nature and the travels on the bus were both informative and enlightening. We also got to enjoy the time we spent together by trying out some traditional Korean practices, such as the tea ceremony, and bonding over music and dance.
One very significant line, which was uttered by one of the participants was 'Language, no, but communication okay.' It was truly amazing how close all the delegates got in such a short time and the amount of love we were all able to feel for each other even through the language barriers. This camp led to fruitful results of coming up with a Commitment for Peace, which the youth are now determined more than ever to pursue.
The participants would once again like to express their heartfelt thanks to the organizers, the sponsors, and URI who helped bring about such a wonderful experience that we will truly never forget!" - Contributed by Sharon Vaswani, a Hindu young woman from Youth 4 Unity, a youth group of the Peacemakers' Circle CC in the Philippines.
Peace Studies and Interfaith Activities - a Young Leader Perspective
"Having been involved in interfaith and intercultural activities for the past seven years, I always wanted to get more skilled and gain more academic knowledge to help me improve my activities in a more productive way. Looking into it, I came to know about a very good option through a friend: taking an MA course in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation. Taking this course by itself is a transformation for me as my previous major is Pharmacology. Nothing related or maybe a little? Well, health is another aspect of being in peace! So one of the best options I found was taking this course at the Innsbruck University (Austria) which is the UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies. And here I am now learning about peace making in a very diverse, international and interfaith complex.
In fact, the course is a mix of online and on-campus studies where the students share knowledge, personal and academic thoughts as well as course works in a very vibrant and lively manner. As a person very much into interfaith activities, I feel this is what I need to do now. How could I learn interfaith tolerance and understanding better than living with an interfaith group for some months? How could I learn non-violent communication better than practicing it within a very diverse group? And how could I learn conflict transformation better than being put into a conflict situation and having to transform it?
From my perspective, these are all the necessary elements for any interfaith initiative that aims in creating peace. And for us, the peace students, we do not have one peace but many 'peaces'! It is a very interesting angle to explore the ways through which peace can be prevailed everywhere. I have once again came to know that there cannot be only one version of peace in such a world of diverse religions, ethnic groups, spiritualities, cultures, traditions and rituals.
As well as being taught about different concepts of peace whether religious, cultural, international or other perspectives, throughout the course we are well trained for different peacemaking roles that we can undertake including being in conflict areas. Peacemakers have to be ready for any challenge that comes ahead. The first step is defining yourself and your perspectives so you can work on them and with them. If you do not attain personal peace, how can you help in creating it for others? And if you do not accept the diversity and the plurality, how can you even be at peace with yourself and others? Religion these days is one of the most intervening elements in life where many people tend to relate many issues to religion. And it is so often misused for the sake of meeting one's benefits. When learning about the factors that can help you create peace, being open to the idea of "no certainty" in life can give one an open mind to accept others of different backgrounds.
The trainings in this course varied from a one-week training in the Austrian army where we learned the aspects of civil-military coordination within international peace support missions to a Native Spirit Challenge week where we work on spirituality, survival and just feeling in peace in nature and with nature! Other activities included learning about Media in which we produced a PeaceRadio one-hour show, a short video on conflict transformation and non-violent communication story and a magazine 'Peace Times,' the first issue of which we focused on immigrants' issues ranging from integration into societies to being at peace with differences.
For more information about this course, you can visit: http://www.uibk.ac.at/peacestudies/ma-program/
And here is a link to our peace radio show: http://www.jugend.woergl.at/peaceradio/
- Contributed by Atefeh Sadeghi, a Shi'a Muslim young woman from Iran who is serving on the URI YLP Steering Committee.
Noteworthy Youth Action Projects
Youth Participate in URI 2nd National Assembly in India at Cochin, Kerala!
"The scene was an ashram in a jungle-like environment with a few separate buildings and beautiful surrounding gardens, which made the atmosphere very pleasant and peaceful. At least half of the Assembly was comprised of youth, including young school children from the Salwan school. A film crew was also there who were making a film about these pupils for the URI, due to their great involvement in interfaith and peacebuilding.
I was asked to present some projects of the "Youth of URI" during the Youth section of the assembly due to my involvement in the Young Leaders Program and related subsequent engagements. I shared about the intergenerational mentorship program, in which I am participating, and spoke of the empowerment that comes when energetic youth receive the guidance and counsel of the elders who can share their experience and wisdom. This can be of great help in our personal development and can guide us along projects which we may attempt to pursue or are already engaged in. The President's Council Leadership training Satellite was next presented, which is working to offer more training to young leaders and others in the URI in all regions, building core teams and initiate further training programs, in this way extending the program throughout the networks. Further, the idea was shared to conduct more youth assemblies in connection with the regional assemblies, which for example, are being planned for the European gathering in October 2012 in Turkey.
Last but not least, I presented an initiative of the new CC, the Shri Ramanuja Mission Trust (SRMT), to create a peace tour for youth in India via bus travel, to conduct an interfaith health survey and to connect with media, institutes and sociopolitical leaders of India to make URI and its partners more visible to mainstream society. Participants would be asked to keep diaries, and in this way produce valuable data for the Interfaith Peace mission. Some URI youth came to me afterwards and showed interest and we are now doing more concrete planning towards this tour with the Indian chapter.
In this way this assembly was a gathering of sharing, inspiration and strengthening of partnerships and relations with the perspective of much cooperation ahead of us, to further the goals of the URI to create more peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings."
-Contributed by Patrick Nickisch, a Hindu Vaisnavite youth participant from the Young Leaders Program in Mayapur, India (pictured right, above), and a member of the European Executive Committee.
Cross-Cultural Youth Encounter in the Philippines: A Borderless World - Peace Across the Boundaries of Space
"Cultural integration maintains unity and balance in society. With the sharing of beliefs and values, cultural integration help keeps a society together and reduces conflict.
The Philippines is increasingly culturally diverse and the whole world is recognized as a global village. Take a square mile, and you will find a microcosm of the world! Such was the case on the afternoon of August 22nd at the Peacemakers' Circle Foundation, Inc., (PCFI), Quezon City, where around 20 youths from the Archdiocese of Hamburg, along with their guardians and Filipino hosts from the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) youth desk, had an interfaith encounter with 11 members of the Y4U (Youth for Unity) youth arm of PCFI.
With people of different ethnicities sharing both national and individual personalities, a rich dialogue ensued from both Filipino and German youth who had come together for an exchange.
It was an exchange of sorts as the youths got to interact with one another and learn more about the different situations in both their and a foreign land. It was a melting pot of ideas and thoughts on the plight of our Muslim brothers and sisters in both countries.
We all took inspiration from the work of the Peacemakers' Circle through the interfaith dialogues and other conflict-prevention initiatives they are doing which are being held not only in the war-torn areas of Mindanao but also in the very places where displaced Muslims have settled - but are not exactly welcome.
The very telling and inspiring documentary 'In the Light of the Crescent Moon' which talks 'about the plight of Muslims in Metro Manila' and 'gives voice to the Muslims in the metropolis whose voices are not often heard' painted a clearer picture of the prejudice and various scenarios of how Muslims live out their day to day life in a vastly Christian nation.
Aside from that, this served as an excellent springboard to let the youth know of the various programs that the Peacemakers' Circle has taken as well as inspire them to come up with their own in their respective areas around the globe.
Such is the nature of today's world. It is borderless indeed with the various connections and friendships that we have formed. However, this does not preclude the idea of a home. It isn't about geography nor is it about boundaries. It is about going beyond the limits of one's personal space and giving back and helping to nurture the community one lives in - and that is what each youth took home from that fruitful afternoon last August 22nd."
- Contributed by Sharon Danisha M. Vaswani, Youth 4 Unity, Peacemakers' Circle CC
For more information about the Peacemakers' Circle (a URI Cooperation Circle), you can visit: http://www.peacemakerscircle.blogspot.com/
Plans for the International Day of Peace - September 21st!
The International Day of Peace is only a week away! We have already heard from a number of our youth leaders who are organizing projects in their community for this United Nations annual observance of peace in solidarity with millions of people around the world. The objective of the IDP Vigil is: "To encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observations for peace and nonviolence on the International Day of Peace, 21 September in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world."
To register your project or peace vigil, please go to: www.idpvigil.com.
You can also join in with the Million Minutes of Peace Campaign and pledge a minute of your day to pray for peace at: http://live.faithstreams.com/site/prayer_pledges/register
Here are just a few projects that our youth are planning for the International Day of Peace:
- In Nepal, "Youth Society for Peace (YSP) CC Nepal is going to celebrate the International Day of Peace with various programs...as peace is not only to be silent but a realization that comes through a practice." They will be organizing an Interfaith Peace Prayer Program at the Shanti Sewa Ashram in Kathmandu on September 18th; a Youths' Peace Conference on September 10th for 100 youth from 15 schools, grades 8 - 10; a Peace Art Competition at the Helping Children Study Club; and an inter-school Peace Poetry Competition hosted at the Hindu-Vidyapeeth School.
- In Argentina, the Misiones Unidas CC is planning an inter-school gathering in Buenos Aires where they will plant trees with school children.
- In Palestine, the Volunteering for Peace CC is planning a meeting of "Palestinian and Israeli peace fighters" in a place near Jerusalem where they will have discussion, share food, celebrate, sing and dance together.
- In the UK, the Faith 2 Faith CC is organizing an art project with members of their CC as well as a kick-off event for Diwali.
- In the United States, the URI Global Staff Deepening the Journey CC is planning a gathering for peace at the Thoreau Center in San Francisco in collaboration with the Kites for Peace project, www.kitesforpeace.org . The event will begin with a Peace Pole Meditation followed by an art project, decorating kites with messages of good will and hope which will be sent to children in need in Pakistan and the West Bank.
We are collecting your reports on the International Day of Peace for the next youth newsletter! Please send high-quality photos of your events and a short report to Atefeh Sadeghi by September 30th,
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.
Taking the Initiative on the International Day of Peace!!!
Continuing our monthly program of live chats, open to any young people interested in interfaith dialogue, this month's chat will focus on peacebuilding projects our young leaders are organizing for the International Day of Peace, September 21st. The chat will take place on September 27th at 14:00 GMT / UTC. Save the Date! To find out what time this will be in your area of the world, you can go http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html and choose your location. To access the chat, go to: www.ga08youth.com/chat.aspx.
Come share your views with youth from around the world, and discuss what interfaith peacebuilding means to you. What projects are YOU organizing in your community or a different part of the world to celebrate the International Day of Peace? What is YOUR hope and vision of peace among all people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions?
To read the transcripts of past live chats this year, click here to visit the Resources section on our youth communications hub. Also in this section, you will find tools and presentations to use in your interfaith work, including a presentation on advocacy and lobbying developed by Anas Al-Abbadi, a URI youth organizer from Jordan, and a presentation on Non-Violent Communication developed by youth trainer Suzan Dababneh.
Upcoming Interfaith Conferences and Events
The URI Young Leaders Program aims to connect religiously and spiritually diverse young people from around the world, and to develop their capacity to be servant leaders in the areas of interfaith cooperation, peacebuilding, ecological imperatives, human rights, and sustainable just economics. We especially wish to encourage youth participation in regional interfaith conferences, workshops and trainings this year. Here are just a few of the upcoming conferences and other interfaith events this year:
- Disarmament Seminar at the United Nations to mark the International Day of Peace, "Raising Awareness for Tomorrow's Leaders in an Interfaith and Intercultural Environment," September 22nd, 2009, 15-18h, UN Palais des Nations, Room XII, Geneva. For more information on this free seminar, or to register, go to: www.giia.ch
- Interfaith Youth Core 6th Conference on Interfaith Youth Work "Leadership for a Religiously Diverse World," October 25-27, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA, www.ifyc.org/events/conference
- Parliament of the World's Religions, December 3-9, Melbourne, Australia, www.parliamentofreligions.org
The 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions is fast approaching and the Youth Program is moving full steam ahead. Featuring four elements, the Youth Program will include:
Five Daily Youth Sessions and Workshops exploring the environment, media, sport, the impact of displacement on indigenous people and generational issues;
Service Projects where you’ll be able to get involved in local Melbourne projects;
Youth Plenary to celebrate the achievements of young people;
After hours Coffee House where coffee, entertainment, fun and networking will be on the menu.
Imagine young people from all corners of the globe, from all kinds of faith traditions, with so many different stories to share, all together in one place for seven days. This will be the 2009 Parliament experience!
On behalf of the Young Leaders Program Steering Committee, I thank you all for your support and participation in building the interfaith youth movement!
In peace,
Sarah Talcott
Director of Youth Programs
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United Religions Initiative
P.O. Box 29242
San Francisco, CA 94129-0242
Tel: +1-415-561-2300 Fax: +1-415-561-2313>