October 10th, 2007 by sfuqua
Margi Ness writes: I just received this and thought I'd pass it on. I’m trying to get a list of UN events like this for all of 2008 so you will have more time to work on things of interest. However, just individual moments of silence would be good for this if your CC can’t do anything.
October 5th, 2007 by sfuqua
Sally Mahe writes: The International Convention on Human Rights invites members of CCs everywhere to engage in developing a global document enforceable in courts of law called the International Convention for Human Rights. Please consider using the Dialogue Idea below and going to the www.humanrights.berkeley.edu to add your voice!
September 30th, 2007 by sfuqua
Here’s a great model for URI CCs to look toward. The Interfaith Center at the Presidio sponsors a group called Friends in Faith, which “is an emerging group of Interfaith young adults, youth, and like minded supporters interested in spreading peace and understanding through the sharing of stories.” Read on for to see how they are going about inviting these young people to their upcoming events.
September 17th, 2007 by sfuqua
The International Day of Peace is on Friday, Sept 21. Thank you to all CCs who are planing to observe the day. I am including a copy of the statement from the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for the International Day of Peace. You may use his statement as a reading at an event you are doing and to publicize the day in your area.
Please join us in a Minute of Silence at 12 noon your time to be part of the wave of prayer embracing the Earth to call for peace, justice and ceasefires. Your prayers are especially needed this year as the Secretary-General will be holding high level talks for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine, and Darfur over the International Day of Peace weekend.
I encourage all of us to keep in mind the quote of Native American Elder, Grandfather Harry Bird. ed. His quote is a guiding force for the Prayer Vigil for the Earth and an inspiration for the IDP. "A heartfelt prayer is more powerful than an atom bomb." May our prayers assist the high level talks for peace and show the impact of people praying together around the world for peace on the International Day of Peace and throughout the following weekend.
The URI as an organization has used the IDP as a shared time to promote prayers, meditations and actions for peace around the world. May we all be linked together this week in this shared intention.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
Love, Monica Willard
URI NGO Representative to the United Nations
September 14th, 2007 by sfuqua
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.
September 11th, 2007 by sfuqua
Share your International Day of Peace stories on the radio with the Think Peace Hour.
August 16th, 2007 by sfuqua
On June 20, 2006, The Global Council Trustees, on behalf of the members of the UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE (URI) throughout the world, issued a Peace Proclamation, joining with the United Nations in proclaiming September 21 as The International Day of Peace (IDP). We urge all our members to encourage all citizens of this world to work together to create peace, justice and healing for the Earth and for all living beings.
August 12th, 2007 by sfuqua
“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.
August 6th, 2007 by sfuqua
The latest issue of the URI North American Regional Update is now available at http://www.uri-na.org/wp/newsletters/regional-update-issue-10/. While all of the articles therein are already included in this website, the newsletter provides a beautiful and easily-downloadable way of reading and sharing regional URI news.
July 24th, 2007 by sfuqua
In February 2007, Global Council Trustees, P.K. McCary and Kathy Sandoval participated in a dialogue introduced by the URI at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery in Northern California. The purpose of the dialogue was to reflect upon religious experiences leading to interfaith work and to discuss the future of URI. Part 2: P.K. McCary.
These interviews with Kathy Sandoval, P.K. McCary, Rev. Heng Sure, and Stephen Fuqua, can be watched in two installments on YouTube: Reflections on Faithful Experiences Leading to Interfaith Work and Reflections on Strengths and Hopes of the United Religions Initiative.