United Religions Initiative North American - Briefings

URI supporter Beverley Britton writes, “May we of URI all come together to actualize the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ‘a living document for the common future of humanity.’ After a very long process of advocacy and debate, especially including agreeing on LANGUAGING, the Declaration was finally adopted on Sept. 13,2007 at 11:30AM EDT. Note that Oct.8 is Indigenous Peoples Day. Sept. 28 in Native American Day.” Read on for more information about this occurrence, which offers an excellent opportunity for CCs to learn more about the modern issues of indigenous rights in the U.S., Canada, and around the world.

“Would you be interested?” A chance question in a phone call led nine CCs to take the initiative to gather a year later in a beautiful little valley in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia for a “family reunion.” URI CCs blossomed in the Carolinas and Tennessee with the inspiration and guidance of Mary Page and Bennett Simms, and had gotten to know each other through quarterly meetings. So when Mary Page said “let us gather and meet our northern brethren,” gather they did, joined by CCs from Virginia, Baltimore, Washington DC, and Margi Ness and Sally Mahe.

The Orange County Interfaith Coalition for the Environment (OCICE) is the newest Cooperation Circle member of the URI in North America. The group has been operating for fifteen years, with over one thousand people on their contact list in Southern California. Their membership includes Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Baha’is, Sikhs, and Jews, all embracing the notion of “cultures of peace, justice, and healing for the Earth…”

After too much delay, I’m finally posting a story on a recent trip to Iowa City (read on below). Also available: PDF file of the presentation given at the University of Iowa.

North America’s latest Cooperation Circle member of the United Religions Initiative is the Culver City Area Interfaith Alliance, from Culver City, CA (near Los Angeles). Founded in 1998, the Alliance has been a local leader in interfaith dialogue and worked with other Los Angeles-area groups, such as fellow-CC Unity-and-Diversity World Council and the City of Culver City, in putting together larger events. Their purpose and a more general description of activities follows. Welcome!

The URI Global Council Trustees representing our URI grassroots network has declared support for a remarkable project that everyone in the world can do together. We invite you to participate in the UN Environmental Program campaign to plant a billion trees in 2007, inspired by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai.

From the Interfaith Council of Washington's (state) website: Join ICW Faith Advisory Leaders Rabbi Ted Falcon, Brother Jamal Rahman, and Pastor Don Mackenzie each Monday from 5:00-6:00 PM. In Seattle, tune in on KKNW, 1150 AM. Or listen to live audio streaming from anywhere by clicking "Listen Live" on the KKNW website (http://www.newschannel1150.com).

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council has long been holding intercultural and interreligious events in Los Angeles, California. Their biggest activity of the year is "Peace Sunday," which is held each December. Rev. Leland P. Stewart writes, "It is intentionally held during the Holy Day Season, a season for all faiths and all peoples to celebrate the most powerful season of the year. We are called to look for inspiration and the sense of fulfillment in our lives, as well as to find cooperative ways to meet the challenges that lie before us…"

Dear friends,

Greetings of love and peace.

With appreciation to the N.America team for participation in the selection process, URI is pleased to announce the appointment of Margi Ness as co-coordinator with Stephen Fuqua in the North America region. Please read the Letter of Introduction (below) to learn more about Margi.

Best wishes,
Sally Mahé

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council (UDC) is continuing its Peace Sunday tradition on December 10th at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center, from 3:00 till 6:00 PM. UDC is a Cooperation Circle whose history goes well beyond that of the URI, having been on the LA-area interfaith scene for several decades now. The theme for this year’s event is “Creating a World That Works for Everyone.”