Notes from a recent interview with Marsha Pilgeram of the Utah URI CC
In their pursuit of breaking down the barriers of interfaith dialogue, Utah (USA) URI CC has engaged itself in a variety of communication building activities:
Once again the URI Global Council is asking all Cooperation Circles to
consider planning or participating in activities in commemoration of the
International Day of Peace, held each year on September 21. This day has
been designated International Day of Peace (IDP) by the United Nations.
Events might be held on the 21st or on another day around that time. By
participating in IDP activities, you will be acting in solidarity with
URI Circles, UN supporters, and others around the world. Read on for more information and the URI Peace Proclamation.
Chicago - April 25, 2006 - This past weekend, in over 30 communities worldwide, 4,000 young leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i, Jain and Sikh traditions came together to organize and participate in events of interfaith dialogue and cooperative service. They were taking part in the third annual National Days of Interfaith Youth Service, coordinated by the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC). IFYC is a Chicago-based international non-profit that seeks to build a movement, which encourages religious young people to strengthen their religious identities, foster interreligious understanding and serve the common good.
Here’s a great idea for local CC work — the URI of Henderson County (North Carolina, USA) is hosting a course in Nonviolent Communication, a tool created by Marshall Rosenberg:
The purpose of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is to strengthen our ability to communicate from the heart and to connect with ourselves and others in a way that inspires compassion. NVC guides us to reframe how we express ourselves and hear others by focusing our consciousness on what we are observing, feeling, needing and requesting. As we learn how to hear ourselves and others in terms of feelings and needs we realize that everything anyone does is in order to meet needs. Through its emphasis on deep listening to ourselves as well as others, NVC fosters respect, attentiveness and empathy, and engenders a mutual desire to give from the heart.. The form is simple, yet powerfully transformative.
It’s our great pleasure to announce that Charles began writing a weekly
column for the United Press International (UPI) Religion and
Spirituality Forum today (http://www.religionandspiritualityforum.com). Titled “a Global Hope,” this series is an
excellent opportunity for the voice of Charles Gibbs and the URI to be
heard on the internet on a regular basis.
From Sally Mahe:
Within moments of last week’s deadly earthquake, messages of hope and
healing began pouring into Pakistan through URI’s global network of
Cooperation Circles. This outpouring of compassion from URI brothers and
sisters around the world has been gratefully received by our URI CCs in
Pakistan.
Beginning today, you may also use the URI community to send monetary
donations for the relief effort in Pakistan.
The destruction caused by a class 4 hurricane hitting New Orleans was not
unanticipated. For many of us though, the inability to provide immediate
rescue and relief operations to the victims of Hurricane Katrina has come as
a shocking surprise. How is it that the most powerful nation on Earth cannot
get adequate shelter and food to the people of southern Louisiana? The future
will, I hope, bring soul-searching answers and honest reflection on the lack
of preparedness and the wisdom of rebuilding across New Orleans.
But for now, all Americans must step forth into the arena of giving
— of money, of resources; of time, of prayer. If you can, please give
money directly to a reputable relief agency, such as the American Red Cross
(http://www.redcross.org; for more
agencies, see
http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes).
Tens of thousands of souls — perhaps hundreds — will be sheltered
in coming months in stadiums and anywhere else governments can find. They
will need food, water, and other necessities. It is time for a collective
belt tightening in America — it is time for sacrificial individual
giving.
Even so, the world can ill afford for us to pull back from humanitarian
aid abroad. We must not let this tragedy detract from public and private
foreign aid, from the momentum for reform of international institutions, for
debt relief, for sustainable development. Please look deep in your hearts and
wallets, giving as you can to insure both adequate long-term relief for the
refugees of Hurricane Katrina and continued support for disaster recovery and
development assistance worldwide.
The URI Global Council voted in Korea to actively support and promote The International Day of Peace, September 21. This date was set by United Nations General Assembly Resolution and calls for the day to be observed with global ceasefires, nonviolence and peace education by nations, organizations, communities and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.uri.org/United_Nations.html.