Saya kutip dari tulisan dib awah... "Saya tidak melihat kemacetan lalu lintas di Bangkok, juga di saat-saat sibuk dipagi hari atau pada sore hari . Ditahun 1980-an kalau orang bicara tentang Bangkok lalu orang akan bicara tentang kemacetan lalu lintas dikota itu . Mungkin Bangkok sudah berhasil mengatasi kemacetan lalu lintas karena sudah membangun jaringan kereta api layang yang terbentang diatas kota itu ."
Dan saya kirimkan link ini untuk dibandingkan: http://www.examiner.com/article/bangkok-s-terrible-traffic-to-worsen-2012-more-pollution-traffic-jams-worse --- In [email protected], "Sunny" <ambon@...> wrote: > > Religions for Peace > > From: Theophilus Bela > Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2012 3:01 PM > To: Pater Bollen Heinrich SVD ; Pater Dr.Norbert Betan SVD ; Pater Dr.Paulus > Budi Kleden SVD Ledalero ; Pater Dr.Philipus Tule SVD ; Romanus Woga ; Simply > Juvenalis Maumere ; Pater Eman J. Embu SVD Maumere Flores ; Pater Jose > Carbonell-Llopis SDB Salesian Don Bosco Sumba ; Pater Peter Bataona SVD > Kupang > Cc: Arkhimandrit Gereja Orthodox Indonesia ; Nina Nayoan GMKI ; Saut > Christianus Manulu SH ; Mathias Hariyadi ; Sunny Swedia ; Suster Helena SOSFS > Roma ; Helena Rijoly Ambon ; Suster Teresia Frida Roma-Flores ; Suster Densi > ; Suster Francinetti JMJ Kedutaan Vatikan ; Fr Michael E. D'Cruz Singapore ; > Reverend Hillard ; Olvi Prihutami Hongkong ; Ibu Suzie ; redaksi@... ; > redaksi@... ; Katolik Liberal ISKA ; Ibu Dr.Musdah Mulia ICRP ; Elga Sarapung > Interfidei ; Indah ICRP ; Red Cross ; Justin Djogo MA ; Jopie Lasut ; Basis > Jogyakarta ; Irine Kristanti JK LPK di Indonesia ; Jhon Simamora ; Amnesty > International ; Iqbal ; Sidney Jones Crisis Group International ; Sidney > Jones ; Dr.Iman Santoso INTERLINK ; Andrew Hidayat Haggai Indonesia ; > Keuskupan Sibolga Frater Frans R. Zai OFMCap ; MENJEMAAT Keuskupan Agung > Medan ; Harald Meyer Deutschland > Subject: Laporan dari Indonesian Committee on Religions for Peace (IComRP) > > > > > > > > Dear all, > > > dengan senang hati berikut ini kami laporkan tentang kegiatan-kegiatan > Indonesian Committee on Religions for Peace (IComRP) baru-baru ini . Atas > undangan Venerable Master Chin Kung AM, Presiden dari sebuah organisasi umat > Buddha yang bernama Pure Land Learning College Association Inc. di Toowoomba, > dekat Brisbane Australia saya bersama beberapa tokoh agama Indonesia telah > menghadiri sebuah acara besar yang diorganisir oleh World Fellowship of > Buddhists di Bangkok, Thailand dari tanggal 21 sampai dengan tanggal 25 Mei > 2012 yang lalu . Dua hari pertama acara tersebut telah dirayakan dalam rangka > memperingati Ulang Tahun ke-2600 Pencerahan Sang Hyang Buddha Gautama yang > juga disebut Perayaan Jayanti Buddha ke-2600 . Acara Besar tersebut digabung > juga dengan Perayaan Besar Memperingati Hari Ulang Tahun ke-85 Sri Baginda > Raja Bhumibhol Adulyadej dan Ulang Tahun ke-80 Sri Baginda Ratu Sirikit serta > Ulang Tahun ke-60 Pangeran Putra Mahkota Maha Vajiralongkorn dari Thailand . > > > Pada hari pertama acara besar dimulai dikomplek Sekolah Menengah Elite yang > bernama Sekolah Menengah Vajiravudh yang mengambil nama dari Raja Vajiravudh > atau Raja Rama VI yang telah mendirikan sekolah tersebut . > > Bagian kedua acara dilanjutkan di Ruang Teater Aksra yang terletak di Gedung > King Power Building . Disana acara dibuka dengan pemukulan gong serta > nyanyian puji-pujian oleh para bhiksu Mahayana dan Theravada serta Vajrayana > . > Acara diteruskan dengan sambutan-sambutan penuh khidmat oleh para bhiksu > terkemuka dari World Buddhist Assembly termasuk Venerable Master Chin Kung AM > sendiri . > > Acara ditutup dengan sandiwara mengenang kehidupan Sang Hyang Buddha Gautama > sejak masa muda hingga saat beliau mencapai pencerahan . Sebelum rombongan > meninggalkan tempat upacara terdahulu menghadiri acara santap malam di > Ramayana Restaurant yang terletak disamping Ruang Teater Aksra . > > Acara hari kedua lebih terpusat pada acara audiensi dengan Sri Baginda Ratu > Sirikit di Istana Raja Thailand . Ini merupakan puncak acara dan semua > peserta yang hadir diminta untuk mengenakan pakaian resmi upacara . > > Terkesan sekali bahwa masyarakat bangsa Thailand amat mencintai Raja dan Ratu > mereka . > > > Selanjutnya dari tanggal 23 sampai dengan tanggal 25 Mei diadakan acara > Dialog Agama dengan tema Interfaith Summit dengan sub tema Achieving World > Peace Through Religious Harmony and Conflict Resolution yang digelar di hotel > Imperial Queen's Park, Bangkok .Para pembicara yang mengisi acara tersebut > mewakili agama Buddha, Hindu, Shikh, Islam, Kristen, Katolik, Baha'i, > Zoroaster serta agama penduduk asli Australia . Sungguh tiga hari acara > seminar dialog agama yang padat dan menarik . > > Delegasi Indonesia yang diundang keacara umat Buddha tersebut terdiri atas 8 > orang dipimpin oleh Prof. Dr. Nazaruddin Umar, Wakil Menteri Agama RI serta > nama-nama para anggota delegasi yang lain adalah sebagai berikut : > > -Prof. Dr. Mohamad Nurcholis Setiawan dari Kementerian Agama RI dan > Universitas Islam Negeri Yogyakarta > -Dr. Abdul Rahim Yunus, Ketua FKUB Sulawesi Selatan, Makassar > -Bingky Irawan Poo, Wakil Agama Konghucu > -Agus Indra Udayana, Wakil Agama Hindu > > -Prof. Dr. Albertus Boedisoesanto, SY dari Universitas Sanata Dharma, > Yogyakarta > -Pdt. Dr. Tjahjadi Nugroho Damaris, MA, Ketua Umum Asosiasi Pendeta Indonesia > (API) > -Theophilus Bela, M.A., Sekjen Indonesian Committee on Religions for Peace > (IComRP) dan Ketua Umum Forum Komunikasi > > Kristiani Jakarta (FKKJ) > > > Juga perlu disebut nama Ibu Isabel Hsu, anggota Pure Land Learning College > Association Inc. yang telah banyak membantu rombongan dari Indonesia selama > acara besar di Bangkok tersebut . > > Saya tidak melihat kemacetan lalu lintas di Bangkok, juga di saat-saat sibuk > dipagi hari atau pada sore hari . Ditahun 1980-an kalau orang bicara tentang > Bangkok lalu orang akan bicara tentang kemacetan lalu lintas dikota itu . > Mungkin Bangkok sudah berhasil mengatasi kemacetan lalu lintas karena sudah > membangun jaringan kereta api layang yang terbentang diatas kota itu . > > > Acara besar kedua yang ingin kami laporkan ialah Acara Pertemuan Tahunan Para > Anggota Dewan Pengurus dari Konperensi Agama-Agama se-Asia untuk Perdamaian > (Asian Conference on Religions for Peace disingkat ACRP) yang telah > berlangsung di Korea Selatan dari tanggal 11 sampai dengan 15 Juni 2012 yang > lalu . Dari Indonesia hadir dalam acara tersebut ialah Prof. Dr. Din > Syamsuddin, Ketua Umum PP Muhammadiyah yang juga President/Moderator ACRP, > Romo Johannes Hariyanto, SY dari Indonesian Conference on Religions for > Peace dan Theophilus Bela, Sekjen Indonesian Committee on Religions for Peace > dan Ketua Umum Forum Komunikasi Kristiani Jakarta (FKKJ) . Ada dua lagi > anggota delegasi Indonesia yang tak bisa hadir karena berhalangan . > > Pada hari pertama diadakan acara perjamuan selamat datang untuk para anggota > delegasi dari 12 negara Asia termasuk Australia yang diadakan di Best Western > Premier Incheon Airport Hotel yang terletak tak jauh jauh dari bandara > internasional Seoul yang baru . Berbagai macam ragam santapan Korea > disuguhkan dalam acara tersebut . Keesokan harinya rombongan mengadakan > perjalanan darat dengan bis selama 4 jam menuju lokasi petemuan di Hanwha > Resort Jeonnam, semacam tempat peristirahatan Puncak dekat Bogor dikita . > Dalam perjalanan ini yang boleh dikatakan menelusuri jazirah Korea dari kota > Seoul di Utara menuju Jeonnam yang terletak diujung Selatan jazirah negeri > tersebut . Kami telah melalui jalan tol yang mulus-mulus bebas macet negeri > ginseng tersebut dan dimana-mana kami lihat jaringan tegangan tinggi listrik > yang menyediakan energi berlimpah bagi pembangunan negeri tersebut . > > Sesampai ditempat tujuan kami langsung bersiap-siap untuk menghadiri sebuah > acara besar umat Buddha berupa Kongres ke-26 dari World Fellowship of > Buddhists yang akan berlangsung dikota pantai Samudera Pasifik yang bernama > Yeosu . Acara besar umat Buddha tersebut telah diisi dengan sambutan-sambutan > meriah dari Presiden Asosiasi Awam Umat Buddha Korea dari Wihara Jogye serta > tokoh-tokoh Buddha lainnya . Juga Presiden Korea Selatan Lee Myung-bak dan > Sekjen ACRP Dr. Sunggon Kim, yang juga anggota DPR negeri tersebut turut > memberi sambutan dalam acara meriah tersebut . > Acara pertemuan tahunan ACRP sendiri baru diadakan pada hari ke-3 yaitu pada > tanggal 13 Juni ditempat penginapan kami ditempat peristirahatan Hanwha di > Jeonnam, yang berjarak sekitar satu jam perjalanan dengan bis dari kota > pelabuhan Yeosu . Dalam rapat tersebut didengarkan laporan dari negara-negara > anggota termasuk dari Indonesia dan juga dibahas mata anggaran organisasi > serta mata acara kedepan ACRP . Karena kongres atau General Aseembly ACRP > yang lalu di Filipina jatuh pada tahun 2008 maka kongres berikut mestinya > diadakan tahun 2013 yang akan datang . Namun karena tahun 2013 akan diadakan > General Assembly dari World Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP) maka > terpaksa kongres ACRP yang berikut ditunda hingga tahun 2014 . > > Karena banyak negara menyatakan tak mampu menjadi tuan rumah kongres ACRP > maka ada usul untuk menyelenggarakan kongres ACRP yang berikut di Indonesia . > Memang ada kesan bahwa kawan-kawan dari negara-negara lain itu ingin sekali > berkunjung ke Indonesia tentu saja dengan maksud untuk menikmati wisata > dinegeri kita . Namun mengingat bahwa Indonesia baru saja menjadi tuan rumah > kongres ACRP yaitu tahun 2002 maka diusulkan negara-negara lain untuk menjadi > tuan rumah General Assembly berikutnya . Rapat memutuskan agar Sekjen ACRP > mempelajari kemungkinan untuk mengadakan kongres berikut di Pakistan atau > negara lain yang belum pernah menjadi tuan rumah kongres ACRP . > Juga ada wakil dari World Conference on Religions for Peace atau sekarang > lebih dikenal dengan sebutan Religions for Peace International (disingkat > RfP International) dari New York yang mengabarkan tentang rencana kongres > WCRP yang akan datang . Wakil dari RfP yang hadir ialah Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, > yang sudah menjadi Deputy Secretary General RfP menjelaskan kepada sidang > bahwa Kongres WCRP yang sedianya akan berlangsung tahun 2012 ini ditunda ke > pertengahan pertama tahun 2013 . Tempat kongres WCRP ialah sebuah negara di > Timur Tengah dan yang disebut-sebut ialah Qatar . Dalam waktu yang tidak lama > lagi pihak RfP New York akan mengumumkan kepastian mengenai waktu dan tempat > kongres WCRP yang akan datang . > > Dalam Newsletter yang kami terima dari RfP dibawah ini Anda akan mendapat > informasi lebih lanjut tentang acara kongres WCRP tersebut . > > Hari terakhir pertemuan di Korea Selatan diisi dengan kunjungan ke MARIN EXPO > 2012 dikota pelabuhan Yeosu, yang juga merupakan kota asal dan daerah > pemilihan Dr. Sunggon Kim, Sekjen ACRP yang telah 4 kali terpilih menjadi > Anggota DPR negerinya . > Pihak panitia sudah menyiapkan acara yang padat dan rapi serta menyenangkan > rombongan kami untuk mengunjungi MARIN EXPO 2012 yang akan berlangsung hingga > bulan Agustus nanti . > > Pada malam harinya Uskup Agung Yeosu, Mgr. Kim Heejoong, yang juga adalah > Ketua Umum Korean Religons for Peace mengadakan jamuan perpisahan bagi > rombongan kami . Kepada saya Mgr. Kim mengatakan bahwa beliau mengenal Mgr. > Ignatius Suharyo, Uskup Agung Jakarta . > > Sebelum meninggalkan Seoul pada hari Sabtu tanggal 16 Juni saya sempat > menginap semalam di Wisma KBRI dan untuk itu saya ucapkan banyak terima kasih > untuk Bapak Dr. A.M. Fachir, Dirjen Informasi dan Diplomasi Publik > Kementerian Luar Negeri di Jakarta dan Bapak Duta Besar kita di Seoul Bapak > Tandi Nicolas Dammen serta segenap staf KBRI disana . Saya terpaksa menginap > semalam di Wisma KBRI karena pada hari Jumat tanggal 15 Juni saat bis yang > membawa kami dari Jeonnam tiba di bandara internasional Incheon, Seoul pukul > 13.30 siang pesawat Garuda yang terbang ke Jakarta sudah take off pukul 10.30 > sebelumnya . Tapi staf bagian protokol KBRI sungguh baik hati menantikan > saya di airport Incheon . Untuk itu sekali lagi saya ucapkan banyak terima > kasih . > > Dibawah ini ada Newsletter dari Religions for Peace International New York > dalam bahasa Inggris . Didalamnya ada laporan tentang kegiatan RfP di Eropa > dan juga tentang acara yang telah disponsori Tokoh Muslim Bosnia-Herzegowina > yang bernama Mufti Agung Dr. Mustafa Cerik . Disebutkan bahwa tema utama > kongres World Confernce on Religions for Peace/WCRP yang akan datang berjudul > : Welcoming the Other : Action for Human Dignity, Citizenship and Shared > Wellbeing artinya Mari Kita Bergotong Royong Menjunjung Tinggi Harkat dan > Martabat Manusia serta Persamaan Hukum Semua Warga Negara dalam Menikmati > Kesejahteraan Bersama . > > Juga ada berita tentang para Tokoh Muda Agama yang Mengatakan TIDAK pada > Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan . > > Juga ada berita menarik tentang kegiatan dialog agama Indonesia-Italia di > Jakarta dalam bulan April yang lalu yang mengatakan dialog agama harus menuju > perdamaian . Bapak Menteri Luar Negeri Marty Natalegawa menekankan bahwa > membangun saling pengertian adalah jalan terbaik untuk mencapai perdamaian > dunia . Juga dalam kesempatan itu Uskup Agung Jakarta, Mgr. Ignatius Suharyo > mengatakan tidak cukup kalau kita hanya mengadakan diskusi-diskusi, seminar > atau pidato-pidato saja tapi kita harus aktip mendukung penuh setiap usaha > untuk saling pengertian . Hadir juga dalam acara tersebut Prof. Din > Syamsuddin, Ketua Umum PP Muhammadiyah yang bersama Ketua Umum Komunitas > Sant'Egidio Prof. Marco Impagliazzo menanda-tangani sebuah nota kesepakatan > untuk bekerja-sama guna perdamaian dan pembangunan sosial . Komunitas > Sant'Egidio ialah sebuah organisasi besar kaum awam Katolik dari Italia yang > telah berkiprah dimanca negara dibidang sosial dan perdamaian . > > Juga ada laporan dari Sri Langka, Afrika serta negara-negara lain disluruh > dunia . > > Terima kasih banyak untuk perhatian Anda sekalian dan bersama ini saya > ucapkan kepada Anda semua > > salam hormat > > Theophilus Bela > Sekjen Indonesian Committee on Religions for Peace (IComRP) > Ketua Umum Forum Komunikasi Kristianai Jakarta (FKKJ) > > > ----- Pesan yang Diteruskan ----- > Dari: Dr. William F. Vendley <wvendley@...> > Kepada: theo_bela@... > Dikirim: Kamis, 28 Juni 2012 0:37 > Judul: Religions for Peace Newsletter April-May 2012 > > > Having trouble viewing this message? Click Here > share > EMAIL TO A FRIEND DONATE LEARN MORE > Allow us to share news about Religions for Peace and its religious > leaders as they continue to provide leadership related to our mission in > their own communities. The content and opinions expressed in IN THE NEWS > section do not necessarily reflect the views of, nor are they endorsed by, > Religions for Peace. These stories appear as printed in their original > independent sources. > > > In the Network > President of Bosnia-Herzegovina Addresses the European Council of > Religious Leaders-Religions for Peace Annual Meeting > Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 8 May > The European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL)-Religions for > Peace (RfP) held its two-day annual meeting in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina > on Tuesday 8 May. During the opening ceremony, the Council heard addresses > from the President of Bosnia-Herzegovina, H.E. Bakir Izobegovic, the Catholic > Archbishop of Sarajevo and President of the Interreligious Council in > Bosnia-Herzegovina, H.E. Vinko Cardinal Puljic [an Honorary President of > RfP], and the Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina Dr. Mustafa Ceric, [a > Co-President of RfP]. > The Council of Europe Secretary General, Mr. Torbjørn Jagland, > was also present and underscored in his keynote address the importance of > human rights, saying that if human rights are not for all â" they will not > be for anyone. > The ECRL Moderator, Bishop Gunnar StÃ¥lsett, reminded the Council > that one of the most serious challenges to cohesion in Europe today is > extremism in all forms. âReligiously motivated terrorism is a threat in > many parts of the world. Multiculturalism has unfortunately become an > ambiguous term even provoking social and political crises in several > countries in Europe. Read more>> > > The Revd Bishop Thomas Wipf Elected as the New Moderator of the > ECRL-RfP > Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 10 May > > Revd Bishop Thomas Wipf, Pastor in the Swiss Church and President > of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe since 2006, was elected as > the new Moderator of the ECRL-RfP, succeeding Bishop Gunnar StÃ¥lsett of > Norway, who has served in that position since the Council launched in 2002. > Revd Wipf stated âLiving together as members of different faith > communities in Europe can be challenging. The ECRL-RfP is a witness of > fruitful cooperation among religions. It is with gratitude I accept the > position as the second Moderator. It is my hope that ECRL-RfP will be further > strengthened as the most representative interreligious platform in Europe.â > Mr. Stein Villumstad [General Secretary of the ECRL-RfP] > expressed the deep appreciation felt by all for the groundbreaking work > carried out by Bishop StÃ¥lsett. He observed at the same time that the > election marked a new chapter in the life of the ECRL-RfP. âI wish Thomas > Wipf a hearty welcome as the new Moderator, and I am confident that his > leadership will further develop ECRLâs viability and relevance for European > religious communities and in the European public discourse.â Read more>> > > The ECRL-RfP Pre Assembly Concludes with Focus on Inclusive > Citizenship > Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 10 May > Over 40 participants from 21 European countries and 10 religious > traditions gathered in Sarajevo for the European Pre-Assembly to prepare for > the global RfP IXth World Assembly under the theme: Welcoming the Other: > Action for Human Dignity, Citizens and Shared Wellbeing. Religious leaders, > academics, youth and grass root activists discussed how religions can play a > positive part in our joint future. > The Council meeting was generously hosted by the Grand Mufti of > Bosnia-Herzegovina Dr. Mustafa Ceric, [a Co-President of RfP], and the > Islamic Community of Bosnia-Herzegovina. > In his remarks Dr. William Vendley [RFP Secretary General], > shared that from its origin in 1970 RfP has gathered itself every five or six > years in World Assemblies for religious communities to further clarify their > shared moral concerns and mount major action initiatives. Next year, RfP > representatives from over 90 countries will convene to discern major global > challenges and further equip themselves for collaborative action. Read more>> > > Living Together in Diversity and Harmony > Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; 10 May > The ECRL-RfP concluded its annual Council meeting by issuing the > Sarajevo Declaration: Ten Years of Living Together in Diversity and Harmony, > which also reflected the meetingâs main theme. The Council shared in eight > points its vision of a wholesome society in which the diversity of people are > able to live and flourish together. > You may read the full Sarajevo Declaration here and the > accompanying Communiqué here. > The Council also issued a statement on Restoring Dignity: A > Commitment to End Violence against Women underlining that violence against > women is wrong and that religions must support the dignity and full human > rights of women, particularly in helping to stop violence and discrimination > against women. > The religious leaders committed themselves to engage religious > communities to prevent acts of violence against women and mobilise the > compassion of religious communities to help, care for and heal survivors of > violence. They further committed themselves to engage men and boys in the > prevention of violence against women, and advocate for changes in public > policy and opinion that contribute to violence against women. > You may view the full text of the statement Restoring Dignity: A > Commitment to End Violence against Women here. > > Religious Youth say No to Violence against Women > Please like the ongoing Restoring Dignity Campaign on Facebook at > www.facebook.com/restoringdignity and follow this campaign on twitter > @restoringdignity to learn more about this campaign led by youth from the > world's religions, with the goal of preventing violence against women and > girls. > > > Bishop Gunnar J. StÃ¥lsett Re-Elected to Nobel Peace Prize > Committee > Oslo, Norway > Bishop Gunnar StÃ¥lsett, [Moderator Emeritus of the ECRL-RfP], > Bishop Emeritus of Oslo, Church of Norway, has been re-elected as one of five > members to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. > Bishop StÃ¥lsett served on the Committee from 1985-90 and from > 1994-2002. > The Nobel Peace Prize Committee members are appointed by the > Norwegian Parliament. According to the rules laid down by the Parliament, > election to the Committee is for a six-year term, and members can be > re-elected. Although this is not a requirement, all committee members have > been Norwegian nationals. > > V. Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky Leads Discussion on Religious > Minorities in Russia > New York, New York; 23 May > V. Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky [Moderator of RfP], Director of > External Affairs and Interchurch Relations for the Orthodox Church in > America, will lead a conversation on the relationship between the Russian > Orthodox Church and the Kremlin, and the standing of religious minorities in > Russia. > This event, which will take place on 23 May, is part of Religion > and Foreign Policy series, sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, of > which Rev. Kishkovsky is a member. > > Religion, Security & Violence Prevention > New York, New York; 23 April > The RfP Global Women of Faith Network convened its second seminar > on âReligion, Women and Peacebuilding,â with a focus on security and > violence prevention. The seminar, attended by high-level representatives of > the United Nations Secretariat, Member States, religious leaders, and the > United Nations NGO community was designed to harvest and animate good > practices of women of faith in peacebuilding around the world and linked to > women of faith peacebuilding efforts on the ground. > H.E. Ambassador Josephine Ojiambo, the Deputy Representative of > Kenya to the United Nations, emphasized that women of faith are already > taking on leadership roles that have built a roadmap for future peace and > security. > Dr. Henia Dakkak, Technical Advisor for the Humanitarian Response > Branch of the United Nations Population Fund, challenged the participants to > think about violence against women as a war crime, and be critical of the > foundations of the crime, including a plethora of social influences at home, > in religious communities and in society. > Ms. Jackie Ogega [Director of the Womenâs Program at RfP] > called on participants to examine the things that drive them most in pursuing > peace and security, and draw inspiration and passion to take action, rather > than just pursue dialogue. > Dr. William Vendley [Secretary General of RfP] said that violence > against women is a threat to shared securityâ"a concept that denotes > security based on shared wellbeing, a security that benefits everyone with a > fundamental reciprocity that exists at every level of human experience. > The Seminar was convened in collaboration with United Nations > Women, Princeton University Office for Religious Life, Norwegian Ministry of > Foreign Affairs, Ford Foundation, The Salvation Army International Social > Justice Commission, the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations and > the Institute for Global Engagement. The next seminar will be convened in > the fall of 2012. Read More>> > > Leading Lights and Child Rights Defenders Expected at the Global > Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Fourth Forum > Rev. Keishi Miyamoto [an International Trustee of RfP], President > of Arigatou International, will lead a group of distinguished presenters and > participants from around the world at the GNRC Fourth Forum in Dar es Salaam, > Tanzania in June. > Participants from 65 countries will attend the Forum, including > Dr. Graca Machel, H.E. Ofelia Ortega, H.E. Dr. Sam Kobia, His Grace Bishop > Dr. Method Kilaini, H.E. Amb. Stephen Lewis, H.E. Joachim Chissano, Prof. > P.L.O. Lumumba, Dr. Marta Pais Dos Santo, Prof. Anis Ahmad, Prof. Anna > Tibaijuka and Father Leonidas Ortisâ" > The GNRC Fourth Forum comes in the backdrop of mixed progress > made in the MDG process, with a significant number of countries remaining > off-track in their quest to achieve some of the targets by 2015. At the > Forum, new partnerships that specifically address child poverty will be > discussed and existing ones will be looked at with the intention of scaling > them up. Read More>> > > Mr. Steve Killelea Launches 2012 United States Peace Index > Washington, D.C., USA; 25 April > Mr. Steve Killelea [an International Trustee of RfP], Executive > Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace, launched the 2012 U.S. > Peace Index on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C, with a panel discussion > focusing on the implications of the Index on the economy and budget. > The 2012 United States Peace Index has found that the U.S. is > more peaceful now than at any other time over the last twenty years. > The Index provides a comprehensive measure of U.S. peacefulness > at the state and city levels and an analysis of the socio-economic measures > that are associated with peace. The Index includes an analysis of the > economic costs related to a lack of peace in the United States, and finds > that a reduction in violence and crime would result in hundreds of billions > of dollars of savings for government at the federal and state level and > additional economic activity. Read More>> > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > In the News > > Catholics and Jews United to Heal the Current Economic Crisis > 2 April > Rabbi David Rosen [a Co-President of RfP], International Director > of Interreligious Affairs of American Jewish Committee, participated in the > meeting of the Bilateral Commission of the Vatican and the Chief Rabbinate of > Israel that took place at the Casa Valdese in Rome from March 27-29. The > Commission ended its three day meeting discussing âReligious Perspectives > on the Current Financial Crisis: Vision for a Just Economic Order,â with > unanimous agreement on the contents of a joint statement hailing common > Jewish and Catholic moral, ethical values as guidelines for action. > The Chairman of the Jewish delegation, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, > opened the meeting giving thanks to God for the historic transformation in > Catholic-Jewish relations since the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) and the > historic visit of Pope John Paul II to Israel which led to the establishment > of the bilateral commission of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Holy See. > The Chairman of the Catholic delegation, Cardinal Peter Kodwo > Appiah Turkson [a former Honorary President of RfP], President of the > Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, paid tribute to his predecessor, > Cardinal Jorge Mejia, and to the members of the Bilateral Commission. He said > he welcomed his new responsibility. Having studied in Jerusalem in his youth, > Cardinal Turkson speaks fluent Hebrew. Read Full Statement here>> > > Interfaith Dialogue Must Foster Peace > 2 April > > The governments of Indonesia and Italy say they are committed to > taking interfaith dialogue to a higher level, with the aim of fostering > global peace and respect for minority groups. > This was the message from the foreign ministers of the two > countries at the opening of an interfaith forum yesterday in Jakarta. > Indonesiaâs Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa said that > building bridges of mutual understanding is the best way to foster a global > culture of peace. âMessage of peace in interfaith dialogue must echo > outside assembly halls,â he said. > Participants in yesterdayâs dialogue included Archbishop > Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta, Dr. Din Syamsuddin [a Co-President of RfP], > Chairman of Indonesiaâs largest Islamic group Muhammadiyah, and > SantâEgidio President Marco Impagliazzo. Read More>> > > Archbishop of Canterbury Issues Middle East Peace Call > 8 April > > The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams [a Co-President of > RfP], the spiritual leader of the world's Anglicans, used his Easter Sunday > address to urge religious leaders in Israel and Palestine to seek a "truly > shared future." > The 61-year-old church leader, who will leave the post he has > held for a decade in December, said Israel's right to exist must be respected > but that the "humiliation" of Palestinians was unacceptable. > "A visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, will > convince you why the state of Israel exists and must go on existing," said > Williams during the service at Canterbury Cathedral in south east England. > "We have to encourage the religious leadership in the Holy Land > on all sides to speak as if they believed in a God who acts, not only a God > who endorses their version of reality," added the outgoing cleric. Read More>> > > Writer Idanna Pucci vs. African Dictator > 13 April > > Mrs. Idanna Pucci [an RFP International Trustee] stood up to an > African dictator â" and her battle is not over. > When the Gramercy Park author found out that Republic of Congo > President Sassou Nguesso wanted to take her explorer ancestorâs remains and > put them in a $9 million mausoleum to boost his own image, she was > livid.âBuilding a multimillion-dollar monument with his people living in > poverty was unconscionable,â said Pucci, whose story is told in Clemente > Bicocchiâs brilliant documentary produced by Mr. Terrence Ward [an RFP > International Trustee] âBlack Africa White Marble.â Read More>> > > Archbishop Longley Invests International Sikh Leader a Knight of > St. Gregory in St Chadâs Cathedral > 23 April > > History was made in the Catholic Church during a special Mass and > Investiture at Metropolitan Cathedral and Basilica of St Chad, Birmingham, of > Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia [an International Trustee of RfP] > and Mr. William Ozanne, as Knights of the Pontifical Order of Pope St > Gregory the Great, on Sunday 22 April 2012. > The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, > invested the internationally known and respected Spiritual Leader and > Chairman of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, based in the Handsworth area of > Birmingham, with one of the highest Papal Awards. The Order of St Gregory is > normally bestowed on Catholics but in rare cases it is also conferred on > non-Catholics in recognition of meritorious service to the Catholic Church > and the exceptional example they have set in their communities and country. > The Archbishop continued: âI believe that it is the first time > that a Papal Honour has been bestowed in this way on a spiritual leader from > within the Sikh community. It represents the Holy Fatherâs recognition of > Bhai Sahib Bhaiâs deeply held desire for fruitful and lasting relations > between Sikhs and Catholics and opportunities to witness together. Read More>> > Read letter to Bhai Sahib Ji from Secretary General Dr. Vendley > here>> > > Bosnian Cardinal Laments Sarajevo's "Disappearing Christians" > 24 April > > The head of Bosnia's Roman Catholic Church has warned of the > "uncertain future" facing Christians in the capital, Sarajevo, after their > numbers dwindled by a third in the past decade. > "It isn't easy to say what has happened to Sarajevo, this ancient > town of mutual coexistence, built up over history by Christians, Jews and > Muslims," said Cardinal Vinko Puljic [an Honorary President of RfP]. > Puljic, 66, assessed the current condition of Sarajevo's faith > communities in a statement dated 6 April that commemorated the start of the > city's four-year siege by Bosnian Serb force two decades ago. Some 10,500 > residents of the city were killed. > "After such a violent and senseless war, it's hard to believe > Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Muslims and Jews can live together any > longer. With positions opposed between Croats, Serbs and Bosnians, the > reality by which diverse peoples lived together here has begun to splinter > and falter," Puljic said. Read More>> > > Holy Hill with His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan > 28 April > New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan [a Co-President of RfP] drew a > large crowd of Catholics and well-wishers to Holy Hill on Saturday for a > special Mass of Thanksgiving, some arriving as early as 4:30 a.m. to ensure a > spot in the historic Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of > Christians. > The enthusiastic throng filled the Basilica hours before Dolan > celebrated Mass there, and hundreds of others spilled into the Chapel on the > lower level, where they watched the service on big screens. He later greeted > those who had gathered in the lower chapel. > In his first visit to the Archdiocese since his elevation to > Cardinal in February, Dolan enjoyed standing ovations and called his > elevation to Cardinal a tribute to Catholics in southeastern Wisconsin. Watch > Video>> > > Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs Combine for White House > Conference on Social Justice > 30 April > Hindu American Seva Charities (HASC), a member community of RfP > USA, again made history, co-hosting with The White House Office of Public > Engagement and Intergovernmental Agencies and the White House Office of Faith > Based and Neighborhood Partnerships an historic conference, Community > Building in the 21st Century with Strengthened Dharmic Faith-Based > Institutions for the Dharmic Religious Leaders. > During a session with Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, United States > Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, concerns were raised > about the condition of religious minorities (particularly Hindu, Sikh, > Buddhist) in Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as the plight of Buddhists in > South-east Asia and Tibet. > Rev. Bud Heckman [Secretary General of RfP USA], said, âWe have > a United Nations, why canât we have a united front of religions working for > peace? Today, 76% of America is Christian â" by 2050 more than 50% the > American public will be non-Christian. So understanding the Dharmic community > is important.â Read More>> > > A Concert of Reconciliation > 1 May > In the wake of Jewish-Catholic Vatican Council reconciliation in > the 1960s, a new Catholic movement called The Neocatechumenal Way was founded > in Spain, in large part, to further Catholic spiritual renewal and solidify > the relationship with Jews. > The group, now with more than 80 seminaries around the world and > a major center in Israelâs Galilee, is presenting a free symphonic concert > in Lincoln Centerâs Avery Fisher Hall billed as a âmusical gift to the > Jewish people.â > After the performance of the symphony, Rabbi David Rosen [a > Co-President of RfP], the American Jewish Committeeâs director of > interreligious relations, is scheduled to lead a memorial prayer for the > victims of the Shoah, prior to a collective recitation of âShema.â Read > More>> > > Aram I launches UAE, Iran Visits > 2 May > Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Holiness Aram I [an > Honorary President of RfP] began his pastoral visit in the United Arab > Emirates. > He will preside over activities organized by the Armenian > Community in Sharja and Dubai, and in Abu Dhabi he will lay the corner-stone > to the Church and community centre on the land offered by Sheikh Hamad Bin > Hamdan Al Nahyan. Read More>> > > Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace elaborates on Religion > and Peace > 2 May > The Sri Lanka Council of Religions for Peace expressed their > views regarding the Dambulla mosque incident at a media briefing on Monday. > Prof. Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thera [Chairman Council of > Religions for Peace], stated: > âWe see this Dambulia incident as a private dispute that has > aggravated. It is unwise to transform religious issues in to political > issues. As the religious council, we believe that discussions should be held > regarding the matter and all those concerned should be involved in these > discussions.â Read More>> > > The Need for Dialogue in Nigeria > 6 May > On the 20th of October, 2011, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the > President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, called an extra ordinary > meeting of the Nigerian Inter-religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja to appeal to > religious leaders to seek ways of using religion to restore peace and promote > peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. > This meeting revealed that Nigerian government is passionate > about dialogue to the extent of putting in place the NIREC to promote > dialogue and peaceful coexistence. Read More>> > > Liberia: IRCL Announces Visit of Major RfP Delegation > 8 May > > The Interreligious Council of Liberia (IRCL)-RfP says it is > tomorrow expecting a major delegation from RfP in Liberia. The delegation > will remain in Liberia from May 8 to May 12, 2012. > Religions for Peace is the worldâs largest multi-religious > organization, accredited to the United Nations and headquartered in New York. > The two-person delegation includes Rev. Kyoichi Sugino [Deputy > Secretary General of RfP], and Ms. Deepika Singh [Director of Programs]. The > two will have a special convening with the Executive Committee of the IRCL > and pay a courtesy visit to the ailing IRCL Stewarts, Archbishop Michael K. > Francis and Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Walker. > The four-day visit of the delegation to Liberia is a landmark > consolidation of the role of RfP IRCL in Liberiaâs Post-War Development, > specifically in the area of security and welfare of children and adolescents > with the zest to contribute towards a meaningful achievement of the > Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Read More>> > > WEA Leaders Meet with Chinese Government Minister and Church > Representatives during China Visit > 10 May > On May 10th, Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe[a Co-President of RfP], > Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), which represents > some 600 million Evangelical Pretestants, met in Beijing with Minister Wang > of the Chinese fovernment who is Director General of the State Administration > for Religious Affairs (SARA). > The two-hour meeting focused on issues of mutual concern to the > Chinese Government, the China Christian Council (CCC) and the WEA. Building > on previous visits, a small delegation from the WEA met to continue in > dialogue on matters of importance to Christians both in China and the world. > Read More>> > > Zambia Interfaith Networking Group on HIV/AIDS (ZINGO)â"RfP > Zambia Issues Interfaith Communiqué > âWe religious leaders representing the Bahaâi, Christian, > Hindu and Islam faiths gathered here today, the 26th of April, 2012; Sharing > in the optimism and hope of a better Zambia; Committed to supporting > progressive programmes of the Government; Determined to ensure that the > developmental hopes and aspirations harbored by our people are safeguarded; > Recognizing the significance of the rights-based approach to social > development and the fight against HIV and AIDS, equality of men and women in > the sight of God, their right to equal participation and respect, and > tolerance of each otherâs faith; wish to register our own concerns > regarding the moral degradation currently prevailing in our nation. > Gender Based Violence We have noticed with utter sadness > despicable cases of GBV within our communities. We find this disturbing > because love and compassion should be the bedrock of any social relationship. > Whilst acknowledging that differences are inevitable within any relationship, > there is no good reason that would morally justify the cruel violence > inflicted upon our vulnerable women in society. Perpetuating the type of > behavior we have been witnessing lately will only breed a future generation > that regards violence as a normal way of resolving conflict.â Read More>> > > In Memoriam: Mosharraf Hossain > 5 May > > Former State Minister for Religious Affairs of Bangladesh, the > Honourable Mosharraf Hossain Shahjahan [President Emeritus of the Asian > Conference of RfP and President Emeritus of RfP Bangladesh], died at > Gulshan's United Hospital in Dhaka on Saturday. He was 73. The veteran BNP > leader from Bhola had been admitted to the hospital on April 23 with chest > pain and he breathed his last around 9:00am, his relatives said. > Shahjahan, left behind a son, three daughters and a host of > relatives and well-wishers who mourn his death. Read More>> Read Dr. > Vendleyâs Letter here. > > > RELIGIONS FOR PEACEâ"the worldâs largest and most > representative multi-religious coalitionâ"advances common action among the > worldâs religious communities for peace. Religions for Peace works to > transform violent conflict, advance human development, promote just and > harmonious societies, and protect the earth. The global Religions for Peace > network comprises a World Council of senior religious leaders from all > regions of the world; six regional inter-religious bodies and more than > eighty national ones; and the Global Women of Faith Network and Global > Interfaith Youth Network. > SUBSCRIPTIONS UPDATE PROFILE > If you recieved this email from a friend, sign up to recieve > future emails. > Vist us at > > > > > nonprofit software > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! 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