Peace and Development
Universal Peace Federation (UPF) - UK Secretary General, Robin Marsh, was invited to address the UK launch of the World Minorities Alliance. It is a laudable initiative of Mr Julius Salik in Pakistan and supported by UPF Pakistan branch. The initiative shares much in common with UPF's vison of humankind being 'one family under God' in which all people have equal value irrespective of where they are born. Marsh emphasised the founding purpose of UPF to create an Inter-religious Council in the United Nations that would enhance inter-religious and inter-cultural understanding and peaceful relations. He also congratulated Pakistan for its wisdom in co-sponsoring the UN Resolution with the Philippines to establish a unit within the UN Secretariat to promote Interfaith Dialogue. Pakistan Times' UK Bureau article of event link here.
United
Nations International Day of Peace
September 21st, 2009
“We Must Disarm”
The UN International Day of Peace on September 21st at the UPF – UK
Peace Centre, supporting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's theme for
the day, “We Must Disarm”. The International Day of Peace is a global
call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year the Secretary-General is
calling on governments and citizens to focus on nuclear disarmament and
non-proliferation. Universal Peace Federation centres all around the
world were supporting this event and included a declaration for this day (UPF Statement link)
Professor Bhupendra Jasani spoke about nuclear disarmament verification techniques as confidence building measures. Verification
Prof Jasani 210909 - powerpoint
presentation.
By Dr. Robert Kittel, Director of Peace Education, UPF-Asia
Other Mindanao Peace Initiative Reports link
Sunday, September 27, 2009
“Indigenous Peoples Forging Partnerships for Unity and Peace of One Family of God”
Malaybalay, Philippines - In the first tribal summit in Mindanao, which brought together more than 40 tribal chieftains along with educators, politicians, representatives from international NGOs, and religious practitioners from Christian, Muslim, and indigenous peoples, there was a new focus. They did not discuss terrorism, politics, military strategies, or arms control. Instead, they directed their energies on children’s education. In a word: peace for the sake of others, for our precious children.
Dr. Estrella A. Babano, Chairwoman of the Mindanao Peace Initiative and Region 10 Director of Department of Education, declared before an audience of over 250 people, “We must focus on our children. They are the common concern we all share, and this must be the framework and platform for our peace initiative.” Babano went on to outline eight peace programs that highlight this youth-centered approach:
Glowing homage was paid to the Founder of the Freedom Movement of India, Satguru Ram Singh at an event held here at the House of Lords. Chaired by Lord King, the Holy Incarnation Celebration of Satguru Ram Singh was supported by Hindu Council UK on Monday 22nd March 2010. The speakers eulogised him for his political sagacity and dynamic personality. They recalled that Satguru Ram Singh laid the foundation of the freedom movement in 1857 upon which Gandhi based his political philosophy. An Ambassador for Peace Award was presented to Suba Tarsem Singh Bimbra of Namdhari Sangat UK. Parliamentarians including Baroness Sandip Verma, Virendra Sharma
MP and Barry Gardiner MP discussed the proposal to name a park after Satguru Ram Singh and install his statue. Photos (Report by Razia Sultan)
There was a Filipino evening in London last night at which Gene Alcantara introduced the Mindanao Peace Initiative – UK to the local Filipino community. There were several purposes for the evening:
- Launching the Mindanao Peace Initiative UK – an initiative that seeks to promote peace in Mindanao, through projects in education, youth service activities, and other initiatives to bring young and old from different communities together in this Philippine area of Christian-Muslim conflict, as well as awareness-raising in the UK. Although focussed on Mindanao, any progress we make will benefit the whole country as well as contribute to world peace.
- Introducing the Luzviminda Foundation, a new association aiming to connect Filipinos in the UK from all three main island groupings, and helping where it is needed. Many of the current Filipino organisations are already focussed on their own provinces, and Luzviminda hopes to supplement their role by not being restricted geographically. See Videos and Read more...
It has become our tradition to celebrate Gandhi’s birthday every year. The 3rd year celebration was organized mainly by Dr Krishna, one of our Ambassadors for Peace, sponsored by UPF Bristol. Dr Krishna was very happy to organize the event when we invited him to, as he thoroughly enjoyed organizing Father and Mothers Moon's birthday earlier this year.
Global Vision 2000 and the Universal Peace Federation jointly organised, on July 13th, an emergency seminar in a parliamentary Committee room to examine the underlying causes of the financial and economic crisis and the need for a fundamental paradigm shift to restore stability, prosperity, justice and peace. Photos Link
The seminar shed light on the terrifying nature of the death spiral of the global debt based financial and economic system and the ruinous path towards servitude and serfdom. There were parliamentary, interfaith, monetary and fiscal reform perspectives shared and brought to bear on terms of alternative radical holistic solutions offering suffering humanity hope and salvation. This event took place when Parliament is at it’s lowest ebb and it’s image has been tarnished. The event affirmed grassroot coalitions facing the urgent need for civic society to champion the values of public service and the common good and claim Westminster as the people’s shared political space. Read More... Report by Canon Peter Challen
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