Día de Nelson Mandela: ONU invita a la población a hacer la diferencia en sus comunidades

. PARTICIPACIÓN DEMOCRATICA.

Un artículo del Centro de Noticias ONU

El Día Internacional de Nelson Mandela es una exhortación para que todas las personas del mundo hagan la diferencia en sus comunidades mediante actividades de servicio.

mandela
Foto Naciones Unidas/Pernaca Sudhakaran

Este año, el lema de la jornada que cada 18 de julio recuerda al líder sudafricano es “Emprende una acción, inspira un cambio”, y se refiere a la importancia de que la sociedad trabaje unida para construir un mundo pacífico, sostenible y equitativo.

El Secretario General de la ONU recordó que Nelson Mandela dedicó 67 años de su vida a luchar por los derechos humanos y la justicia social.

Por ello, Ban Ki-moon invitó a la gente a realizar una actividad de servicio a la comunidad durante 67 minutos para celebrar la fecha del nacimiento de Mandela, llamado cariñosamente Madiba.

Ban aseveró que Mandela encarnó los más altos valores de las Naciones Unidas y llamó a rendirle tributo en este 70º aniversario de la ONU.

Nelson Mandela fue un líder que actuó con una fe inequívoca en la justicia y la igualdad humana. Nosotros podemos tomar su ejemplo como inspiración para trabajar continuamente en la construcción de un mundo mejor para todos, apuntó Ban.

Este año la ONU entrega por primera vez el Premio Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, que reconocerá cada lustro a un hombre y una mujer por su dedicación, trabajo y compasión comunitarios.

(clickear aquí para la version inglês o aquí para la version francês )

Latest Discussion

What is the legacy of Nelson Mandela for us today?

Comment by Rama Singh posted: Dec. 31 2013

ON MANDELA’S LASTING LEGACY

In death, as in his life, Nelson Mandela has captured the imagination of the world. Mourning mixed with celebration has electrified crowds all over South Africa and elsewhere. His life’s achievements and his lasting legacy are the topics of discussions. He has been described as a great warrior, a great liberator, the last giant in the fight against colonialism, forgiver, peace maker, and in many other ways.

All this week, Mandela’s lasting legacy has been on my mind. We tend to capture the legacies of great men and women in a word or two. A scientist becomes famous for an important discovery, a writer for a famous book, a musician for a great composition, and so on.

People like Mandela fall in a different category. He is in the category of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King. They are known for their fights on behalf of oppressed people; they are known for their personal sacrifice, and for their moral authority. If we are to look for words to associate with these men, it will be “nonviolence” for Gandhi and “love’ (beloved community) for Dr. King. But what about Mandela- how will we describe his legacy?

What were the important transformational changes in Mandela’s life?

Mandela the great warrior: Mandela has been described as a great warrior, but he was no ordinary warrior. All legendary warriors, mythical or real, are known for the destruction of their enemies. Mandela was different; he did not seek annihilation of his enemy; he transformed his enemy into his collaborator.

Mandela the resilient sufferer: I know of no other person living or dead who was forcefully made to disappear from the scene for this long (incarceration for 27 years) and who survived and made his triumphatic return. Gandhi said there is no other way to show your love for the suffering of your loved ones than to suffer yourself with them, for them. Mandela suffered the longest because his work was the hardest.

Mandela the great liberator: Colonial rulers are known for their ruthless treatment and putting down of citizens but South Africa was not a typical colonial rule. The rulers were Afrikaners, citizen of South Africa. I know of no other country, outside of the United States, where the blacks were so harshly treated by another segment of their own country. It was a true liberation. Thanks to Mandela, sad songs of seeking freedom through death were transformed into freedom in life.
Mandela the magnanimous forgiver: Gandhi’s nonviolence is a complete philosophy of life and it includes love of your enemy and forgiveness. Nonviolence had to be tested to show that it works and that it’s not just a philosophy. Dr. King tested nonviolence with his own suffering and love for his people. His passion for his “beloved community” became the brand of his civil rights struggle for which he paid with his own life. As Gandhi said, the only two places of non-action for such fighters are prison or death. Mandela went to prison, suffered longer, and tested his resolve to forgive his “enemy”. We can only imagine the blood bath had he not done that.

Mandela the peace maker: Gandhi, Dr. King and Mandela, together, constitute a shining trinity of peace and their contributions, respectively, nonviolence, love, and forgiveness provide a prescription for peace if the humankind needs to survive. Truth and Reconciliation will remain one of Mandela’s brilliant and innovative contributions for healing wounds between warring people, warring nations. Gandhi, King and Mandela, all tested nonviolence in their own way and they all came out with the same result: The path of peace and liberation goes through love, suffering, and forgiveness.
Mandela the spiritual father: We go through life with two sets of parents. Our own parents, of course, who brought us in this world, whom we owe our life, body and brain, whom we remain eternally grateful for their sacrifice and care to help us grow and to teach us how to live.

There are another set of parents, for a lack of a better word we can call them our “spiritual parents”. These are men and women whom the whole humanity owes gratitude because it is their discoveries, contributions and, teachings that we like fill our brain with, they make us human- kinder, gentler, and humane.

We call ourselves human because we made a pledge with destiny that we will become humane. It has been a long and arduous journey. With his love, suffering and forgiveness, Mandela has brought us further on the path and has warned we still have a long way to go.

Gandhi-King-Mandela, or Mohan, Martin and Matiba, are angels of peace. We are their descendents, the keepers of their dreams.

Rama Singh, is a professor in the department of biology, and member, Coordinating Council, Centre for Peace Studies, McMaster University.

This appreciation was originally published in the Hamilton Spectator in Canada.

Uncategorized

On Mandela Day, UN joins call to promote community service and inspire change

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article from the UN News Centre

The 70th anniversary of the United Nations’ founding provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on the life and work of Nelson Mandela with a call to action for helping others, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon affirmed today as he joined the world gathers in marking Nelson Mandela International Day [18 Jully].

mandela
Photo United Nations/Pernaca Sudhakaran

“Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual call to action for people around the world to make a difference in the communities where they live and work by taking time to serve others,” the Secretary-General stated in his message for the Day.

“Nelson Mandela gave 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and social justice,” Mr. Ban continued. “The United Nations joins the Mandela Foundation in asking people around the world to devote at least 67 minutes of their time on 18 July – Madiba’s birthday – to a community service activity.”

The UN General Assembly declared 18 July ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’ in 2009 in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to democracy, justice and reconciliation and to mark his birthday. Mr. Mandela passed away in December 2013 in Johannesburg at the age of 95.

The overall campaign slogan – Take Action, Inspire Change – seeks to inspire people around the world to take 67 minutes of time devoted to helping others and, in so doing, empower entire communities and build a global movement for good.

In the past, volunteers have helped to rebuild homes destroyed by hurricane Sandy in the New York, offered school supplies to children, prepared meals for the elderly, helped out in orphanages, cleaned up parks, and delivered computer literacy workshops.

This year’s commemoration comes a week before the UN is set to bestow its first-ever Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize to two individuals – a man and a woman – for their service to humanity.

Dr. Helena Ndume, of Namibia, and Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio, of Portugal, will receive the award at a ceremony to take place on 24 July 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York.

(Click here for the French version of this article or click here for the Spanish version.)

Latest Discussion

What is the legacy of Nelson Mandela for us today?

Comment by Rama Singh posted: Dec. 31 2013

ON MANDELA’S LASTING LEGACY

In death, as in his life, Nelson Mandela has captured the imagination of the world. Mourning mixed with celebration has electrified crowds all over South Africa and elsewhere. His life’s achievements and his lasting legacy are the topics of discussions. He has been described as a great warrior, a great liberator, the last giant in the fight against colonialism, forgiver, peace maker, and in many other ways.

All this week, Mandela’s lasting legacy has been on my mind. We tend to capture the legacies of great men and women in a word or two. A scientist becomes famous for an important discovery, a writer for a famous book, a musician for a great composition, and so on.

People like Mandela fall in a different category. He is in the category of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King. They are known for their fights on behalf of oppressed people; they are known for their personal sacrifice, and for their moral authority. If we are to look for words to associate with these men, it will be “nonviolence” for Gandhi and “love’ (beloved community) for Dr. King. But what about Mandela- how will we describe his legacy?

What were the important transformational changes in Mandela’s life?

Mandela the great warrior: Mandela has been described as a great warrior, but he was no ordinary warrior. All legendary warriors, mythical or real, are known for the destruction of their enemies. Mandela was different; he did not seek annihilation of his enemy; he transformed his enemy into his collaborator.

Mandela the resilient sufferer: I know of no other person living or dead who was forcefully made to disappear from the scene for this long (incarceration for 27 years) and who survived and made his triumphatic return. Gandhi said there is no other way to show your love for the suffering of your loved ones than to suffer yourself with them, for them. Mandela suffered the longest because his work was the hardest.

Mandela the great liberator: Colonial rulers are known for their ruthless treatment and putting down of citizens but South Africa was not a typical colonial rule. The rulers were Afrikaners, citizen of South Africa. I know of no other country, outside of the United States, where the blacks were so harshly treated by another segment of their own country. It was a true liberation. Thanks to Mandela, sad songs of seeking freedom through death were transformed into freedom in life.
Mandela the magnanimous forgiver: Gandhi’s nonviolence is a complete philosophy of life and it includes love of your enemy and forgiveness. Nonviolence had to be tested to show that it works and that it’s not just a philosophy. Dr. King tested nonviolence with his own suffering and love for his people. His passion for his “beloved community” became the brand of his civil rights struggle for which he paid with his own life. As Gandhi said, the only two places of non-action for such fighters are prison or death. Mandela went to prison, suffered longer, and tested his resolve to forgive his “enemy”. We can only imagine the blood bath had he not done that.

Mandela the peace maker: Gandhi, Dr. King and Mandela, together, constitute a shining trinity of peace and their contributions, respectively, nonviolence, love, and forgiveness provide a prescription for peace if the humankind needs to survive. Truth and Reconciliation will remain one of Mandela’s brilliant and innovative contributions for healing wounds between warring people, warring nations. Gandhi, King and Mandela, all tested nonviolence in their own way and they all came out with the same result: The path of peace and liberation goes through love, suffering, and forgiveness.
Mandela the spiritual father: We go through life with two sets of parents. Our own parents, of course, who brought us in this world, whom we owe our life, body and brain, whom we remain eternally grateful for their sacrifice and care to help us grow and to teach us how to live.

There are another set of parents, for a lack of a better word we can call them our “spiritual parents”. These are men and women whom the whole humanity owes gratitude because it is their discoveries, contributions and, teachings that we like fill our brain with, they make us human- kinder, gentler, and humane.

We call ourselves human because we made a pledge with destiny that we will become humane. It has been a long and arduous journey. With his love, suffering and forgiveness, Mandela has brought us further on the path and has warned we still have a long way to go.

Gandhi-King-Mandela, or Mohan, Martin and Matiba, are angels of peace. We are their descendents, the keepers of their dreams.

Rama Singh, is a professor in the department of biology, and member, Coordinating Council, Centre for Peace Studies, McMaster University.

This appreciation was originally published in the Hamilton Spectator in Canada.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, global, United Nations,

Egypt: Women’s Voices Initiative for the Local Councils

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

Press release from Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights

The local councils are the cornerstone of political life, as they are directly responsible for all the services and the living conditions of citizens. Given the importance of the local councils, the 2014 Constitution granted new powers and parliamentary monitoring tools, so that the members of the local councils can effectively monitor the executive authority and ensure their accountability.

Egypt
Press conference by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights, Cairo, March 20, 2015

The 2014 Constitution allocates that 25% of the local councils’ seats for women and 25% of seats for young people (young men and women) under the age of 35. This means women are allocated 13,000 seats, which is almost one third of the local councils. Therefore, it is necessary to unite the efforts of all societal organizations, including political parties, civil society organizations and initiatives to build the capacities and support women to become members of the local councils.

From this perspective, ECWR launches an initiative titled “Women Voices for the Local Councils.” This initiative seeks building the capacities and coordinating the efforts of active young women in the society in order to prepare a generation of young women leaders.

The initiative aims to:

Build the capacities of 1000 young women leaders from all Egypt’s 27 governorates to become members of the local councils.

Raise the awareness on the importance of the local councils.

Raise the awareness on the importance of women’s participation in the local councils

Female candidates would be selected according to the following criteria:

The age between 21 to 35

Young women active in public work through either being a member of a political party, NGO, youth initiative and are clearly active in their governorates.

To be provided with a Training of Trainers (TOT)

Each village, city, and governorate will be represented during the selection process

Educational attainment of the women should be a minimum of a diploma

Thereby, ECWR welcomes any nominations from political parties, civil society organizations, or initiatives for women with the aforementioned criteria.

Question related to this article:
Mideast, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Book review: Culture of Peace, A Utopia that is Possible

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

A book review by Ericka Montaño Garfias in La Jornada (translated by CPNN)

Although violence has become a household word and the word peace is only an isolated reference in the media, since war is an invention of the human being, then we are capable of inventing a culture of peace. This is proposed by the American essayist David Adams in his book Culture of Peace: a Utopia that is Possible, published in Spanish by the Herder publishing house.

review
From left to right: Roberto Mercadillo, Institute of Neurobiology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, editor and translator of the book; Norman Bardavid, Director of Culture and Arts of Comnapaz Mexico; David Adams, author of the book; Arturo Vallejo Casanova, Rector of the Technological University of Corregidora; and Hiram Valdez, President of the National Peace Commission of Comnapaz Mexico

Culture of Peace: a possible utopia brings together three books into a single volume: The History of the Culture of War, World Peace through the Town hall: A Strategy for the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace; and I Have Seen the Promised Land: A Utopian Novella.

(Review continued in right column)

( Click here for the original version in Spanish.)

Question for this article:

What are the most important books about the culture of peace?

(Review continued from left column)

Adams, also a neurobiologist, is coordinator of Culture of Peace News Network (cpnn-world.org) and he participated in several programs and declarations of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in favor of peace such as the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace as well as the International Year for the Culture of Peace that resulted in the 2000 Manifesto with 75 million signatories worldwide promising to promote a culture of peace in everyday life.

David Adams’s approach is that if humans invented war and violence, then humans are able to invent and build peace.

According to the editor and translator, Roberto Emmanuele Mercadillo: “This work pursues a simple and basic idea: if war and violence are a creation, a cerebral and cultural construction, man can also invent and build peace in a rational and intentional way, even if it is necessary to internalize the concept of ‘other’ based on equality. The adage ‘I am the other’ should be the goal of family, school and institutional teaching to enhance the human right to peace, proposed by Unesco in 1997.”

Going beyond the responsibility of each individual, Adams also analyzes the role of civil society in creating and practicing a culture of peace through movements for peace and disarmament, ecology, human rights, democracy, women’s equality, and the free flow of information, in addition to raising the role of local governments.

Although the novel tells of a utopia, Adams is not a dreamer, or at least not entirely: he knows that the culture of peace should be understood as a process, in the original sense of the word culture. We will not just wake up one morning and discover that we have constructed a culture of peace.

(Editor’s note: The book is available from Herder in Mexico, from Herder in Spain and from Amazon in Spain.)

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Cultura de paz: una utopía posible – una reseña del libro

. . EDUCACIÓN PARA LA PAZ . .

Una reseña del libro de Ericka Montaño Garfias en La Jornada

Cuando la violencia se ha convertido en palabra cotidiana y el vocablo paz es apenas referencia aislada en los medios de comunicación, si la guerra es un invento del ser humano, entonces éste es capaz de inventar una cultura de paz. Así lo plantea el ensayista estadunidense David Adams en su libro Cultura de paz: una utopía posible, publicado en castellano por el sello Herder.

review
De izquierda a derecha: Roberto Emmanuele Mercadillo, Instituto de Neurobiologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, el editor y traductor del libro; Norman Bardavid, director de cultura y artes de Comnapaz México; David Adams, el autor del libro, Arturo Vallejo Casanova, Rector de la Universidad Tecnologica de Corregidora; y Hiram Valdez, Presidente de la Comision Nacional de Cultura de Paz de Comnapaz México

Cultura de paz: una utopía posible reúne en un sólo tomo Historia de la cultura de guerra (The History of the Culture of War), La paz mundial a través de la democracia participativa: una estrategia para el movimiento global por una cultura de paz (World Peace through the Town hall: A Strategy for the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace) y He visto la tierra prometida: una novela utópica (I Have Seen the Promised land: A Utopian Novella).

Adams, también neurobiólogo, es coordinador de Culture of Peace News Network (cpnn-world.org) y participó en varios programas y declaraciones de la Organización de Naciones Unidas para la Ciencia, la Educación y la Cultura (Unesco) en favor de la paz, como el Programa de la Cultura de la Paz, la Declaración y Programa de Acción sobre una Cultura de Paz y de la iniciativa de la Unidad para el Año Internacional de la Cultura de la Paz que dio como resultado el Manifiesto 2000, en el que los firmantes (75 millones de personas en el mundo) se comprometieron a construir una cultura de paz en la vida diaria.

El planteamiento de David Adams es que si el ser humano inventó la guerra y la violencia, entonces es capaz de inventar y construir la paz.

“En esta obra se percibe y se persigue una idea básica: si la guerra y la violencia son una creación, una construcción cerebral y cultural, el hombre puede inventar y construir la paz de manera racional e intencional, aunque para ello sea necesario que la mente interiorice el concepto del ‘otro’ basado en igualdad y aprendido por cotidianidad. El adagio ‘el otro soy yo’ debería ser la meta de la enseñanza familiar, escolar e institucional para reforzar el derecho humano a la paz, propuesto por la Unesco en 1997”, escribió el editor y traductor de la obra Roberto Emmanuele Mercadillo en la nota inicial.

Más allá de que la responsabilidad sea individual, Adams también hace un análisis del papel de la sociedad civil en la creación y práctica de esa cultura a través de movimientos por la paz y el desarme, ecologistas, de derechos humanos, por la democracia, de la mujer, y por el libre flujo de información, además de plantear el papel de los gobiernos locales.

Aunque su novela habla de una utopía, Adams no es un soñador, o al menos no totalmente: sabe que la cultura de paz debe ser entendida como un proceso, en el sentido original de la palabra cultura. No vamos a despertar una mañana y descubrir que hemos construido una cultura de paz.

(Nota del editor: El libro está disponible de Herder México , de Herder España y de Amazon España.)

( Clickear aquí para una traducción inglês.)

Question for this article:
Uncategorized

ICLEI Leaders and Members to strengthen Pope Francis’ efforts on climate, modern slavery and sustainability

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability

On 21-22 July, a delegation of more than 60 Mayors from around the world will meet Pope Francis in the Vatican for a two-day event on climate change, human trafficking and sustainable development. ICLEI has mobilized its leadership and membership to show full support to the groundbreaking work of Pope Francis on these timely issues.

iclei
Park Won Soon, ICLEI President and Mayor of Seoul, South Korea

“The current wide-ranging crisis has brought us close to a point of no return and has the potential to nullify the social and economic progress achieved so far, thus posing a threat to the future existence of humankind,” remarked ICLEI President Won Soon Park. “We believe that the timely efforts of Pope Francis will help lead to bolder climate action and the birth of an inclusive and ambitious global climate regime”.

The ICLEI Leaders and Members attending the events in Vatican include: ICLEI President Park Wonsoon (Mayor of Seoul, participating via video message), ICLEI Vice President Miguel Angel Mancera ( Mayor of Mexico City), members of Global Executive Committee and Council namely Gustavo Petro (Mayor of Bogota), Parks Tau (Mayor of Johannesburg), Matthew Appelbaum (Mayor of Boulder), Estaella Marino (Deputy Mayor of Rome) and a number of ICLEI Members including George Ferguson (Mayor of Bristol), Anne Hidalgo (Mayor of Paris), Marcio Lacerda (Mayor of Belo Horizonte), Bill de Blasio (Mayor of New York City), Mayor Eduardo Paes (Mayor of Rio de Janeiro), José Fortunati (Mayor of Porto Alegre), Gustavo Fruet (Curitiba, Brazil), Jarosław Jóźwiak (Deputy-Mayor of Warsaw), Virginio Merola (Mayor of Bologna), Gregor Robertson (Mayor of Vancouver), Milan Bandić (Mayor of Zagreb), Stian Berger Rosland (Mayor of Oslo) and Karin Wanngard (Mayor of Stockholm). ICLEI Deputy Secretary General Monika Zimmermann and ICLEI Head of Policy and Advocacy Yunus Arikan will also participate in the meetings.

The meetings mark the first time that the Vatican has approached Mayors to work together and discuss how cities can help tackle the crucial issues facing humanity. From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has taken a firm stand against modern slavery, calling all communities to reject all systematic deprivation of individual freedom for the purposes of personal and commercial exploitation. In his well-received encyclical Laudato Si, the Pope has highlighted the connection between natural and human environment, emphasizing that global warming is one of the causes of poverty and forced migration and calling for all actors to work together in shaping a sustainable future.

(Article continued in the right column)

Question for this article:

Despite the vested interests of companies and governments, Can we make progress toward sustainable development?

(Article continued from the left column)

As the world’s leading cities’ network on sustainability, ICLEI has been at the forefront of tackling issues related to climate change and sustainability in cities and regions worldwide. In both the global and local stages, ICLEI has been actively promoting and advocating for sustainable cities and regions, which are low-carbon, resilient, smart, ecomobile, biodiverse, resource-efficient and productive, and healthy and happy.

“We are happy to observe an active and committed engagement of ICLEI Leaders and Members in the Vatican on 21 and 22 July. It is no surprise to us that Pope Francis has received a strong support from local and subnational leaders worldwide whose ambitious actions could help spur a global transformation to a sustainable urban future. This spirit and gathering in the Vatican will send clear signals to the global community and citizens of the world which will hopefully help ensure tangible and ambitious outcomes in the post2015 development agenda, climate negotiations and HABITAT III processes,” said ICLEI Deputy Secretary General Monika Zimmermann.

See original article for videos, advocacy documents, social media links and program information.

global, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Elders welcome Iranian nuclear agreement as boost to Middle East peace

DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY .

A press release by The Elders

14 July 2015: The Elders warmly congratulate all the parties to the nuclear talks on the successful conclusion of these marathon negotiations.

The delegations and their political leaders have shown determination and tenacity to overcome the many obstacles in their path and arrive at an agreement which, if implemented in full and in good faith, could lead to a significant improvement in regional stability and security.

elders

Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders, said:

“The people and the countries of the world can be grateful for the courage, commitment and persistence shown by the negotiators and their governments, and for the hope that this agreement has brought.”

“It is vital that tangible and early progress is now made on implementation, in particular on watertight verification mechanisms and the lifting of sanctions on Iran.”

The Elders call on all those who continue to resist or work against this ground-breaking agreement to put aside ideological preconceptions, historical grievances and narrow political interests, and see it as a chance to further the wider aims of peace.

The Elders urge the parties to the agreement and other regional powers to seize this opportunity to build on the goodwill and progress achieved to help tackle the religious extremism and deep sectarian divisions, which are creating enormous human suffering and massive devastation throughout the Middle East.

Question related to this article:

How can a culture of peace be established in the Middle East?

Readers’ comments are invited on this article and question. See comments box below.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Mideast

Dakar to host July conference on Islam, peace

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from Star Africa Copyright APA

Dakar will from July 28 to 29 host a conference on ‘Islam and Peace’ that will bring together 500 delegates including eminent guests from around the world, the chairman of the organizing committee Babacar Abdoulaye Ibrahim Niasse announced in the Senegalese capital Tuesday.

dakar
Photo by Dakar Actu

“The conference aims to promote exchanges around the issue of global peace, contributions of women and youngsters in the advent of global peace. It will also identify and define the roles and responsibilities of communities to promote the culture of peace, share good practices of living together,” Niasse told a press conference.

Organized at Medina Baye Peace Initiative through the Senegal Jamhiyatu Ansaarud-Din association (JAD), the conference is supported by President Macky Sall.

The 500 expected participants will include erudite scholars from different religions, academics and researchers, religious leaders, policymakers and members of civil society.

According to Cheikh Mouhamadou Khouraichi Niasse, JAD’s chairman, the conference offers “a great opportunity to restore the image of Islam that is unrelated to the one that some so-called followers or critics give.”

Participants will discuss solidarity, the role of Islam in development, interfaith dialogue, extremism and terrorism.

(Click here for an article in French on this subject.)

Other articles related to this one:
Africa, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Conférence internationale sur la paix : Médina Baye Peace initiative lance « une contribution de l’islam à l’avènement d’une paix mondiale durable »

. TOLÉRANCE & SOLIDARITÉ .

Un article de Dakar Actu

Les 28 et 29 juillet prochains, 500 délégués sont attendus à Dakar, dont de hautes personnalités venus du monde entier, pour un dialogue multiconfessionnel et multiculturel sur la paix.

dakar
Photo de Dakar Actu

Cette conférence internationale sur « islam et paix » a pour but de promouvoir les échanges autour de la problématique de la paix dans le monde, de favoriser les contributions des femmes et des jeunes dans l’avènement d’une paix mondiale durable. Elle vise aussi à identifier et à définir les rôles et responsabilités autour de la promotion de la culture de paix, de partager les bonnes pratiques du vivre ensemble.

L’événement est organisé par le programme initiative de Médina Baye pour la paix, à travers l’association Jamhiyatu Ansaarud-Din du Sénégal (JAD), avec le soutien actif du gouvernement sénégalais. Son Excellence Macky Sall, président de la République du Sénégal, est d’ailleurs le parrain officiel de la conférence et sera présent à l’événement.

Parmi les 500 participants attendus à Dakar figurent des savants et érudits de différentes religions, des universitaires et chercheurs, des chefs religieux et guides spirituels, des décideurs politiques et des membres de la société civile, des représentants d’organisations internationales, des militants et acteurs de la paix dans le monde ainsi que des partenaires techniques et financiers.

« Il s’agit d’une formidable occasion de rétablir l’image de l’Islam qui est sans rapport avec celle qu’en donnent certains de ses soi-disant adeptes, ni avec celle que ses détracteurs s’évertuent à en donner », a tenu à souligner Cheikh Mouhamd Khouraichi Ibrahim Niass, président de la section sénégalaise de la JamhiyatuAnsaarud-Din.

« Grace à la réflexion, au dialogue entre les communautés, nous allons démontrer comment l’Islam peut contribuer à l’avènement d’une paix mondiale durable », a-t-il ajouté.

(Cliquez ici pour un article en anglais concernant ce sujet.)

Question related to this article:

 

How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

This discussion question applies to the following articles:

Creating Harmony in the World: Working through Our Faiths in Dialogue
Alternate Focus: Balance in Media Coverage in Middle East
The Parliament of the World's Religions (Barcelona, Spain)
Asian Religious Leaders Urge Religions To Teach Peace
Living Faiths Together – Tool kit on inter-religious dialogue in youth work
Sharing the right to Jerusalem's past
The Doha Pre-Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations
Peace For Childrens in Primary Schools in Iraq
Dialogue in Nigeria — a new DVD teaching-tool for peacemakers
4th Annual International Conference on Religion, Conflict and Peace
First Religious Youth Service Project in Pakistan
World Harmony Day at the UN Highlights the Culture of Peace
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United Cypriot economy to focus on shipping, tourism, education

DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY .

An article from Daily Sabah

The economic vision after a solution to the Cyprus issue was officially announced as part of the ongoing comprehensive negotiations between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Greek Cyprus, and focuses on tourism, shipping and education. The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Greek Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEBE) held a joint event themed with their vision of the Cyprus economy after a solution. Representatives from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and Athens Chamber of Commerce attended the event as well. After the opening speeches, Turkish Cyprus President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades shared their visions about the Cyprus economy after a possible solution between two sides is reached.

cyprus
Greek Cypriot President Anastasiades (L) and Turkish Cypriot President Akıncı (R) shake hands at a meeting attended by representatives of the respective chambers of commerce.

Akıncı said in his speech that the Cyprus economy can provide for the welfare of its citizens, but this requires creating an economy that is resistant against crises and shocks, competitive and capable of being directed to different fields. “My vision of the Cyprus economy after a solution takes the welfare and prosperity of all Cypriots into account without looking at ethnic origin or background,” Akıncı emphasized.

Akıncı also touched on the economic benefits of the solution between the two sides. He stressed that Cyprus will have the potential to become a shipping center in the eastern Mediterranean and all Cypriot ships will be able to enter Turkish harbors after a solution is reached. He highlighted that a solution would provide endless opportunities for the tourism sector, which is a driving power of both economies on the island and they should devise a joint strategy of cooperation in this field.

One of the first steps to be taken in Cyprus is to establish a Federal Competition Board just like the one that exists in many European countries, Akıncı said. He added that they should invest in education at first to help foster a culture of peace and raise a new generation of children who can speak both Turkish and Greek as their mother tongues. Akıncı said that they were working to create a federation of two societies and two regions described in a joint declaration made on Feb. 11, 2014. “We have to transform our country and we need to do this with no delay. We have to cooperate to transform from the current situation to a Cyprus we want, but we have to work hard. We owe this to the younger generations,” Akıncı concluded.

Greek leader Nicos Anastasiades said the common future of the two societies is based on a united Cyprus as a EU member, which respects democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Anastasiades reiterated from the joint declaration that “the status quo is unacceptable and its prolongation will have negative consequences for the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.” He also mentioned the positive impacts of a settlement. “My vision is to reach a settlement that will end the anachronism related to the current situation and provide hope and the prospect of a better future for all Cypriots, in particular for the younger generations,” noted the Greek leader.

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Question related to this article:
 
Can Cyprus be reunited in peace?

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He said that a settlement would secure the full utilization of the great potential and prospect for economic growth, development and prosperity for all Cypriots. He also stated that a settlement between the two sides would provide a significant improvement to the investment climate and increase the attraction of large foreign investments and multinational companies. Stressing that it will be easier to access international finance and reach out to markets presently unexploited across the world, Anastasiades said the economic sectors that are now experiencing problems would be stimulated and this would have positive results on other sectors.

“We have committed ourselves to doing our utmost so this opportunity is not lost. We owe it to our children and the future generations of this country. We owe it to the people of Cyprus and their longing to live in a modern and thriving European country. And to this effort, the business community, as well as civil society, has an important role to play, and we call for your support and positive contribution towards this end,” Anastasiades concluded.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Europe