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62 | 2000-09-08 | UNITED NATIONS | [] | Baha'i United Nations Representative addresses world leaders at Millennium Summit | Baha'i United Nations Representative addresses world leaders at Millennium Summit UNITED NATIONS — Speaking in his capacity as the Co-Chair of the Millennium Forum, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations today addressed world leaders gathered at the Millennium Summit, urging them to join in a global partnership with civil society to create a peaceful and more prosperous world.
"This historic Summit may well be remembered as having opened the door to a long-awaited era of peace, justice and prosperity for all humanity," said Techeste Ahderom, who led the Millennium Forum, which brought together some 1,350 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations last May to consult about humanity's future in anticipation of this week's Millennium Summit of world leaders.
"This new era will, of course, require concrete deeds and not just words," Mr. Ahderom continued. "We in civil society stand ready to work with you and your governments, side by side, in a strong new partnership to create this new world. At the same time, civil society also stands ready to hold you to your commitments if you do not deliver on your words."
In his capacity as Co-Chair of the Millennium Forum, Mr. Ahderom was the only Summit speaker who represented civil society at large. The Summit drew more than 150 world leaders, making it the largest gathering of heads of state and government ever held.
In his address, Mr. Ahderom said that the Millennium Forum, which was organized by non-governmental organizations and held 22-26 May 2000 at the United Nations, was one of the most diverse and significant gatherings of civil society ever held.
"The Forum was significant for its attempt to accelerate the process among NGOs of networking and coalition building across issue areas that has proved to be such a powerful force for change and social action in today's world," said Mr. Ahderom. "The Forum's focus was on six main issues: peace and security, the eradication of poverty, human rights, sustainable development and the environment, the challenges of globalization, and "strengthening and democratizing the United Nations."
Mr. Ahderom asked Summit leaders to carefully review the Millennium Forum Declaration and Agenda for Action, a document that was drafted and adopted by NGOs and civil society organizations gathered at the Forum last May, who came from some 115 countries including a large number from the developing world.
The Forum's Declaration, he said, "offers a bold vision for humanity's future and outlines a series of concrete steps that the United Nations, governments, and members of civil society themselves can take to address the global problems facing humanity today."
In particular, Mr. Ahderom told world leaders, the Forum's Declaration condemns global poverty as a "violation of human rights," urges the immediate cancellation of Third World debt, calls for a "strengthened and democratized United Nations" with a reformed Security Council, invigorated through an enlarged membership, more democratic procedures, and eventual elimination of the veto.
Mr. Ahderom also explained that the Forum's Declaration states that while globalization offers "significant opportunities for people to connect, share and learn from each other," in its currently unregulated form it increases "inequities between and within countries, undermines local traditions and cultures, and escalates disparities between rich and poor, thereby marginalizing large numbers of people in urban and rural areas."
The Declaration, Mr. Ahderom said, urges governments to make serious "commitments to restructure the global financial architecture based on principles of equity, transparency, accountability, and democracy," stating clearly that the United Nations should be the preeminent international organization, overseeing the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO.
Mr. Aherdom was selected as the Co-Chair of the Forum early last year after heading up an interim planning committee that emerged from the Task Force on UN Reform of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO). In his position as Co-Chair of the Forum, he headed up the Forum's Executive Committee and directed the work of its Secretariat, all in the capacity of an unpaid volunteer.
As the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, Mr. Ahderom is mainly responsible for the Community's work on human rights issues at the United Nations.
The Baha'i International Community was recognized as an international non-governmental organization at the United Nations in 1948. It represents the worldwide membership of the Baha'i Faith at the United Nations and in other fora. The Baha'i Faith has some five million members and has established communities in more than 235 countries and territories. In addressing the Millennium Summit, Mr. Ahderom sought to tell world leaders about the Millennium Forum and its results, emphasizing the important role civil society has played in promoting positive social change. "Throughout history, from the abolition of slavery to the recognition of the equality of women and men, most great social movements have begun not with governments but with ordinary people," Mr. Ahderom said. "In 1945, civil society again played an important role in shaping many of the key articles found in the Charter of the United Nations, especially in the area of human rights."
"More recently," he said, "NGOs have played a leading role in shaping and supporting an International Criminal Court, in the movement for debt cancellation, and in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines."
Mr. Ahderom called on world leaders to grant NGOs and civil society groups increased access to the UN General Assembly as a first step towards an invigorated partnership for the new century.
Speakers at the Summit were limited to heads of state and government, foreign ministers, along with a few leaders of international, intergovernmental organizations, such as the League of Arab States and the Commission of the European Community. A few international organizations with observer status at the United Nations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, also spoke. Mr. Ahderom, however, was the only representative to speak who represented a wide association of civil society and non-governmental organizations around the world. | ||||
63 | 2000-09-17 | UNITED NATIONS | [] | Baha'is around the world host interfaith prayers for peace | Baha'is around the world host interfaith prayers for peace UNITED NATIONS — Baha'is around the world -- from Cote d'Ivoire to Uruguay, from Thailand to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands -- hosted interfaith prayer gatherings in their homes, schools and community centers to mark the opening of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, which was held at the United Nations 28-29 August 2000.
The prayers came in response to a call, issued on 3 August 2000, for people everywhere to observe a Day of Prayer for World Peace on the Summit's opening day.
The Summit brought together more than 1,000 spiritual and religious leaders representing every major world religion in an effort to "forge a partnership of peace."
Among the local and national events hosted by Baha'is in support of the Summit were:
-- The Baha'is of Dominica hosted a prayer gathering in an auditorium at the University of West Indies Centre in Roseau. Prayers from 13 of the religions represented at the Summit were read, and the program closed with a quotation from "The Promise of World Peace," a statement to the peoples of the world issued in 1985 by the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Baha'i Faith.
-- In Mauritius, the National Spiritual Assembly invited representatives of the Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu communities to a prayer gathering at the Baha'i Institute in Belle Rose. The event was covered by the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation radio and television services. "Some 50 persons fervently joined in with their prayers in a spiritual surge for the establishment of world peace," the Assembly reported.
-- In Ireland, representatives of several of the world's major faiths gathered at the Baha'i Centre in Dublin, Ireland, on 28 August to participate in a devotional program of extracts from Baha'i, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, Zoroastrian and Sikh sacred texts. Each guest was presented with a flower blossom on arrival. After devotions and music, tea was served and the representatives of the various religions learned about each other's faiths and traditions in an atmosphere of goodwill. Irish Baha'is sponsored similar events in Cavan, Fingal (a suburb of Dublin), Co. Sligo, Shannon and Waterford. Mr. Patrick Dawson (Baha’i), Dr. D. N. Puri (Sikh), Professor A. N. Pandeya (Hindu), and Ms. Janice Johnston (Religious Society of Friends) at an interfaith devotional in the Baha’i Centre in Dublin, Ireland to mark the opening of the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders in New York on 28 August 2000.-- In Cote d'Ivoire, the Baha'is of Abidjan and Dabou invited Animist, Jewish, Catholic and Muslim representatives to pray for peace at the Cocody Baha'i Center on 28 August 2000. The Ministry of Communication sent a representative. The invitation to the event was broadcast on the national radio, on the national television evening news, and in four articles in the main national newspapers. There were readings from the Old Testament, the Bible, the Koran and the Baha'i scriptures, followed by statements on world peace by the various religious representatives. Two major newspapers sent journalists to the event, and the following day the national radio broadcast an interview with the Baha'i, Christian and Muslim representatives. Similar events were held in Danan, in Bouak, where two Imams came and the local television filmed the meeting, and in Ferke, where the Baha'is arranged a one-hour program on the local radio.
-- In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Baha'is held a devotional gathering at the Baha'i community center in Port Blair, and invited representatives of the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities to chant and recite prayers for world peace. About 60 people attended, and the event was covered by local newspapers and announced on the local bulletin of All India Radio.
-- In Thailand, the Santitham School, a Baha'i-run primary school in Yasothon, held a gathering of about 250 students, teachers and staff to pray for world peace on 31 August 2000. Three Buddhist monks, two Muslim representatives and three Catholic nuns were invited to share their prayers with the students. The Provincial Education Officer and the director of the District Education Office also attended. The Buddhist monks prayed in Bali for compassion toward all mankind and all living beings, and the Catholic nuns prayed that all mankind be safeguarded by the love of God. Several students recited Baha'i prayers for the unity of mankind. Local radio and television stations covered the event.
-- In India, the State Baha'i Council of Sikkim organised a prayer gathering at the Hotel Rendezvous in Gangtok on August 28. Although they had only four days to organise the event, the Baha'is sent out more than 100 invitations to dignitaries and religious leaders. Nearly everyone agreed to participate. The Governor of Sikkim, Choudhary Randhir Singh, attended along with representatives of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh, and Jain communities. News of the gathering was carried on the Sikkim cable television and several local and regional newspapers.
Other prayer gatherings were held at the Baha'i House of Worship in Panama City, Panama, at the Baha'i Centre in Luanda, Angola, and at the Baha'i Center in Montevideo, Uruguay. | ||||
64 | 2000-08-29 | OTAVALO | Ecuador | [] | Youth Congress in Ecuador dedicated to service and transformation | Youth Congress in Ecuador dedicated to service and transformation OTAVALO, Ecuador — More than 500 young people from South and Central America gathered here from 9 to 14 August for a Baha'i Youth Movement Congress dedicated to "Service and Transformation: The Challenge of this Generation."
It was the latest in a series of large youth gatherings that have taken place this year throughout the Americas, beginning in Paraguay in January and in El Salvador, Dominican Republic and Canada in July. Their focus has been to galvanize the youth to become catalysts for the spiritual transformation needed to break through the protracted social conflicts that afflict the continent, such as race and class prejudice, corruption, violence, poverty, and social injustice.
In a letter addressed to the youth of Latin America in January, the Universal House of Justice, supreme governing body of the Baha'i Faith, called on them to become "invincible champions of justice."
"Be not dismayed if your endeavors are dismissed as utopian by the voices that would oppose any suggestion of fundamental change. Trust in the capacity of this generation to disentangle itself from the embroilments of a divided society," the letter stated.
The Baha'i youth movement is a global social movement that draws inspiration from the heroes and martyrs in the early history of the Baha'i Faith, many of whom were in their teens and twenties and who consecrated their lives to the spiritual regeneration of mankind. In the century and a half since the Faith was established, each generation of youth has drawn strength from their example to strive for moral excellence, good character, and service to humanity.
The first day of the Congress focused on how to accelerate the transformation of Latin American society by drawing on this rich spiritual heritage.
"We had a wonderful talk from Eloy Anello in which he called on us to become the 'living martyrs' of the West, to follow in the steps of our 'spiritual forebears' …and perform heroic acts," Paola Dumet, a member of the National Youth Committee of Ecuador, reported. Mr. Anello is a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas. The talk was followed with drama and other artistic presentations that called to remembrance the lives and deeds of the early martyrs of the Faith.
The second day of the Congress focused on individual transformation and the establishment of a distinctive Baha'i way of life. Workshops were held on such themes as courtship and marriage, service and family life, striving for excellence in studies and professional life, and freedom from vices and addictions. The underlying message of these workshops was that Baha'i youth can best become catalysts for social change and influence their peers by exemplifying the highest standards of moral excellence in their own lives. As stated in the Baha'i writings, such things as "chastity, politeness, friendliness, hospitality, joyous optimism about the ultimate future happiness and well-being of mankind, should distinguish them and win over to them the love and admiration of their fellow youth."
The remainder of the Congress focused on the many practical lines of action open to the youth in their individual or collective efforts. The youth of the Ruhi Institute of Colombia presented a workshop on the training process that has been used in rural areas for large-scale development of human resources and moral capacity. Workshops were presented on the use of the arts, study circles, year of service opportunities (where youth offer one or two years of full-time volunteer service), and pioneering (the practice of settling in another country to assist in the development of the Baha'i community). An exposition was held for representatives of each country to present information about their activities.
"One of the objectives of the Congress was to share the experiences of the other countries and widen our vision of the Baha'i youth movement and understand that what we were doing in each country is part of the Movement," Ms. Dumet said. "We were able to feel as part of a single great movement in all of the Americas."
A group of youth representing all the countries present met to draft a congress declaration that was symbolically ratified on the final evening as all the youth rose to their feet. The youth were named "Spiritual Chasquis" after the term used in the Andes for the messengers who ran from one city to another carrying messages for the Inca.
"In this way we all pledged to carry the message of the Baha'i Youth Movement and share it with all our generation," Ms. Dumet reported.
The next morning a closing festival was held to celebrate the unity in diversity of the Latin American youth. Some of the local authorities were present, including the mayor of Otavalo who is the first indigenous elected official in Otavalo. "[The mayor] was attracted by the great diversity of the youth and the artistic presentations of young indigenous Baha'is from Ecuador and Peru," Ms. Dumet reported. As the youth bade their farewells, groups were organized for post-congress outreach campaigns throughout the country.
"I think for all of us, this historic event for the future of the Baha'i Youth Movement of the Americas was something unforgettable and affected the hearts of all the participants; and most importantly we all left inspired and with energy to take concrete action in our communities," she said.
The youth movement has made extensive use of the Internet for organizing and exchanging information. The Congress Web site at http://come.to/congreso-ecuador contains the Congress declaration, workshop materials, and other links and follow-up materials. Other youth movement portals include www.ibyc2000.org, www.mjb.cl, www.bahaiyouth.org, and www.bahaiyouth.com. | 0.22276364999999998 | -78.24542744351957 |
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65 | 2000-09-08 | ACCRA | Ghana | [] | Radio project to reach more than 1 million in Ghana's Volta region | Radio project to reach more than 1 million in Ghana's Volta region ACCRA, Ghana — A radio project to introduce people in Ghana's Volta region to the history and teachings of the Baha'i Faith is expected to reach an audience of more than 1 million over the course of three months.
The project, which began last year in the Greater Accra region and then moved to the Central region, has now moved to the Volta region with programs airing on the Volta Star FM station since late July.
"This phase of the project, like the second one held in the Central region, features 12 topics on the history, teachings and principles of the Faith," said Mr. Micah Yeahwon, coordinator of the project.
"The scripts have been translated into one of the local languages, Ewe, and are being presented by a member of the National Teaching Committee who resides in the region," he said. As part of the program, a phone-in talk show will be aired in late September.
The organizers of the project have seen positive reactions to the broadcasts in Hohoe, one of the larger cities in the region, and surrounding villages.
"In Hohoe recently, many people who listened to our programs were seen stopping the Baha'i van to inquire more about what they had heard on the radio," Mr. Yeahwon said. "A resident of Hohoe who heard the program followed up to inquire about the Faith and has since declared his belief in Baha'u'llah. Some residents of a village called Lolobe, about 12 kilometers from Hohoe, have requested the friends of Hohoe to take the Faith to their village."
A Baha'i residing in Alavanyo, another town 16 kilometers away from Hohoe, wrote to request assistance in answering all the questions he had received from inquirers.
The radio programs can also be heard in parts of the Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions. "Our information is that we have an audience in neighboring Togo, mainly on the border towns of Aflao and Lome," Mr. Yeahwon said. "It is our hope that by the end of the three-month period, the name of Baha'u'llah or the Baha'i Faith will have been heard by over one million people with some declarations of faith." | 5.5571096 | -0.2012376 |
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66 | 2000-09-15 | HAY RIVER | Canada | [] | Canadian Baha'is offer sacred words as gift to Native peoples | Canadian Baha'is offer sacred words as gift to Native peoples HAY RIVER, Canada — On September 9 the Baha'is of Hay River hosted a feast to mark the release of a compact disk with selections of Baha'i sacred writings, set to music and translated into six languages spoken by the Dene peoples in Canada's Northwest Territories.
The release of the CD was the latest phase of a project launched four years ago by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada to enable Native Canadians to listen to the Baha'i scriptures in their own languages. A CD in the languages of the Canadian Inuit was produced two years ago.
The feast was held at K'atl'odeeche, the Hay River Dene Band Reserve, and opened with a drum prayer offered by the K'atl'odeeche drummers and a traditional feeding of the fire ceremony. Ms. Susan Lyons, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada, present a copy of the CD on behalf of the Baha'is of Canada to Chief Pat Martel of the Hay River Dene Band.
Chief Martel received the gift and addressed the gathering at length, and with obvious emotion, in his own language. He spoke from the heart about the universal power of prayer, regardless of what source it comes from.
"When people are in pain you can help them by being kind," he said. "You can pray for people. It doesn't matter who says the prayer."
One of the selections on the CD was a Baha'i prayer for the departed. As it softly played in the background, one of the readers and translators who worked on the CD recited the names of friends who had passed from the community over the years.
The Hay River Baha'is then served a meal of moose and caribou stew, bannock, whitefish, salads and desserts. During the meal other guests received a copy of the CD. Then tables and chairs were folded and put away for a drum dance by the K'atl'odeeche drummers. About 100 people from the reserve came to the feast over the course of the evening.
"It was a spiritually charged evening with many questions asked and answered and hearts touched," a participant reported. "Listening to prayers in any language stirs one's soul, but when we hear them in our own language it increases our knowledge and comprehension of God." | 60.8155874 | -115.7866099 |
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67 | 2000-09-18 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Reception Center opens for Baha'i pilgrims to the Holy Land | Reception Center opens for Baha'i pilgrims to the Holy Land HAIFA, Israel — A new Pilgrim Reception Centre has opened here to receive Baha'i pilgrims and visitors to the Baha'i holy places in Haifa and Acre and the Faith's world administrative headquarters on Mount Carmel.
Every two weeks from October through July, about 150 Baha'is arrive in Haifa to participate in the nine-day pilgrimage program. Pilgrims pray and meditate at the resting-places of the Founders of the Faith and visit other sites associated with Their lives. Baha'is around the world consider pilgrimage to the Baha'i Holy Places a sacred obligation, which they strive to fulfil at least once in their lives.
The Pilgrim Reception Centre is located near the Shrine of the Bab, the resting-place of the Herald of the Faith, and opposite the Monument Gardens, where members of the family of Baha'u'llah are interred. The Centre is housed in two historic buildings that formerly served as a clinic. The larger one was built during the time of the British Mandate and the smaller structure has a more Middle Eastern appearance, with patterned ceramic floors and stone arches.
Remodeling of these buildings began in July 1998. The exteriors were restored and the interiors were completely remodeled to create large, functional spaces. A pedestrian walkway was built to connect the two buildings into one complex with a total floor area of 1,069 square meters. The complex contains a reception lounge, kitchen and dining facilities, and an auditorium with seating capacity for more than 300 and booths for translators.
The first Baha'i Pilgrim House in Haifa was built near the Shrine of the Bab by a Persian believer in 1909 and continued to serve as the primary gathering place for pilgrims until the new facility was completed. The Founder of the Faith, Baha'u'llah, was banished to Acre, then a prison city under Ottoman rule, in 1868 and lived in the vicinity of Acre until He passed away in 1892. He visited Haifa on several occasions and ordained that the spiritual and administrative centers of the Baha'i Faith be established on Mount Carmel. He also indicated the precise spot on Mount Carmel where the remains of the Bab should be interred. | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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68 | 2000-10-01 | NEW YORK | United States | [] | President of Ethiopia's Unity College Named "Global Young Entrepreneur" | President of Ethiopia's Unity College Named "Global Young Entrepreneur" NEW YORK — Dr. Fisseha Eshetu, the President of Unity College and a member of the Ethiopian Baha'i community, received a "Global Young Entrepreneur" award at the 7th World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs, held at the World Trade Center from 28 August to 1 September 2000.
Dr. Eshetu was one of four young entrepreneurs recognized at the summit for the growth and creativity of their enterprises and the shared prosperity they have generated.
Unity College, officially inaugurated in March 1998, was the first private college to be accredited by the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. In only two years, it grew to become the largest private college in Ethiopia and the second-largest institute of higher education in the country, after Addis Ababa University. It now has an enrollment of more than 8,000 and offers courses in accounting, business administration, marketing, personnel management, hotel management and hospitality, and language training in Amharic, English and Arabic.
"Ethiopia was a country where there was no hope for thousands of young people to pursue their education at the tertiary level," said Dr. Eshetu. "Unity College came into existence in response to this huge need for education. Our mission is training, research and community service."
The World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs was sponsored by the Institute for Leadership Development (ILD), a United Nations global partnership institute involving governments, multinational corporations, and United Nations agencies. It was co-sponsored by United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). More than 350 young entrepreneurs attended from 97 countries.
The Summit was held on the eve of the United Nations Millennium Summit as a complement to Secretary-General Kofi Annan's "global compact," ILD Executive Director Sujit Chowdhury said at a UN press briefing on August 29. One of the goals of the Summit was to offer the young entrepreneurs opportunities for access to venture capital, global markets, and international joint ventures, in the belief that developing the private sector is a key component for achieving social progress and equitable globalization.
Mr. Eshetu said the college is already self-sustaining and that he plans to upgrade it to a full-fledged university by 2004. He is committed to providing scholarships to 10,000 women from poor families, and already has partial commitments from donor organizations. In September 2000 the college launched a daily, non-political newspaper with a circulation of 10,000 that focuses on social development. About two months ago the college also launched an educational radio program that airs for 20 minutes six days a week. | 40.7127281 | -74.0060152 |
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69 | 2000-10-06 | NEW DELHI | India | [] | Jodhpur Lancers' "Haifa Day" commemorated at Baha'i House of Worship in India | Jodhpur Lancers' "Haifa Day" commemorated at Baha'i House of Worship in India NEW DELHI — Every year on 23 September the Indian Army commemorates Haifa Day, when two Indian cavalry brigades fighting under British General Edmund Allenby during World War I helped liberate Haifa, Israel, from Turkish-German forces in 1918.
The courageous uphill assault by the Jodhpur Lancers, which took by surprise the German and Turkish artillery and machine gun emplacements on top of Mount Carmel, is also commemorated by the Haifa Monument that stands at one of New Delhi's busiest intersections.
This year, for the first time, a Haifa Day commemorative event was held at the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, highlighting a little-known connection between the bravery of the Indian fighters and the early history of the Baha'i Faith.
One of the residents of Haifa in 1918 was 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith and designated by Him as His successor. The commander of the Turkish forces in Syria and Palestine, Jamal Pasha, had threatened to crucify 'Abdu'l-Baha and destroy the Baha'i holy places in Haifa and nearby Acre. With the liberation of Haifa, the threat to 'Abdu'l-Baha's life was lifted.
This link between the Jodhpur Lancers and the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha first came to light in February 2000 when the architect of the Baha'i House of Worship, Fariborz Sahba, met with Union Minister for External Affairs, the Honorable Jaswant Singh. Mr. Singh's father was a member of the Jodhpur Lancers and fought under General Allenby.
The event on 23 September was attended by the Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani; the Union Minister for Disinvestments and Planning, Mr. Aroun Shourie; the Ambassador of Israel, Mr. David Aphek; the Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Mr. T. McCann; the Ambassador of the European Commission, Mr. Caillouet; and other high-ranking army personnel, diplomats, and heads of nongovernmental organizations. The rulers of the princely states of Jodhpur, Mysore and Hyderabad, whose cavalries have now combined to form the Indian Army's 61st Cavalry, were also invited.
"The Jodhpur Lancers distinguished themselves with their equestrian and fighting skills and sheer courage ... and the day is a very important one in our annals," wrote the Maharaja Gajsingh of Jodhpur in response to the invitation. "The link between the Haifa Charge of 1918 and the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha is indeed interesting and adds a new dimension to the whole story of Haifa for us here at Jodhpur."
The evening program consisted of a choir service in the Prayer Hall of the House of Worship and a gathering on the illuminated lawn surrounding the temple. Zena Sorabjee, a member of the Asian Continental Board of Counselors, spoke about 'Abdu'l-Baha's life of service and the spirit of service embodied by the 61st Cavalry. | 28.6138954 | 77.2090057 |
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70 | 2000-10-18 | APIA | Samoa | [] | Humor key ingredient in Samoan healthy cooking TV series | Humor key ingredient in Samoan healthy cooking TV series APIA, Samoa — "O le Kuka Samoa," Samoa's first television series dedicated to a healthy diet, was launched on 16 October 2000, World Food Day, at the residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner. Well-known Samoan comedian Sumeo, alias "O le King Kuka," will star as a master chef in the television cooking program, to be aired weekly on TV-Samoa starting 19 October.
The show is produced by the Samoan Baha'i Charitable Trust for Social and Economic Development in collaboration with the Samoan Nutrition Centre. Other partners include the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa, New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the FAO Pacific Regional Office, UNICEF, the Samoan Government's Health Department, and Television Samoa Corporation.
"Promoting greater use of nutritious locally grown fruits and vegetables to improve the diet of children in Samoa is the essential aim," said a spokesman for the Baha'i Charitable Trust, "but the key ingredient to getting the message across is the humor masterfully ladled out by Sumeo. The show is also in the Samoan language and features interviews with local celebrities and sportspeople."
A companion cookbook produced with the assistance of FAO and NZODA and featuring the recipes used in the show was also released at the launching ceremony. "The special guest for the evening was none other than King Kuka himself who demonstrated how to make two new recipes with laughter," said the organizers. | -13.8343691 | -171.7692793 |
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71 | 2000-10-25 | PORT VILA | Vanuatu | [] | Baha'is of Vanuatu celebrate fifth annual Bertha Dobbins Day | Baha'is of Vanuatu celebrate fifth annual Bertha Dobbins Day PORT VILA, Vanuatu — In recognition of their contributions toward the creation of a culture of peace and the promotion of religious tolerance, five grassroots level leaders were recognized by the Baha'i community of Vanuatu in its annual Bertha Dobbins Day commemoration.
In ceremonies on 17 October 2000 at the National Baha'i Center in Port Vila, a local chief, several local ministers and a local community leader were presented awards for their "grassroots leadership" before an audience of some 200 people. Those recognized were:
-- Mr William Sumbwe, from Malo, who has helped several local families to consult together and resolve problems
-- Chief Peter Poilapa, of Mele village, who has worked tirelessly to solve disputes between families and villages on the island of Efate
-- Pastor Dorothy Regenvanu, the only practicing woman pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, who "through her patience and respect for others of different beliefs" has exemplified a "culture of peace."
Also recognized were a group of trainee pastors and their teachers from the island of Santo, who have decided to promote better understanding between different religious groups by visiting them and joining them in worship.
The occasion marked the 47th anniversary of the arrival in Vanuatu of Bertha Dobbins, who founded a well-known elementary school and played a key role in the establishment of the Baha'i community of Vanuatu. Baha'i youth from Erakor village dancing at the fifth annual celebration of Bertha Dobbins Day, Port Vila, Vanuatu.Mrs. Dobbins was a 58-year-old elementary school teacher in Medindie, South Australia, when she responded to a call for volunteers to travel abroad to help spread the Baha'i teachings. She set sail for the New Hebrides, as Vanuatu was then known, arriving in Port Vila in October 1953. As the first Baha'i there, she founded an elementary school, "Nur School," in 1955 and taught there until 1971. She remained in the New Hebrides until 1977, when she was 82 and the local Baha'i community elected its first National Spiritual Assembly, the national level governing body for Baha'i communities.
In memory of her services to the people of Vanuatu, the Baha'i community here gives a series of awards each year in her name to people and organizations in the country who have rendered significant service to others.
This year, the event was hosted by the Baha'i community of Mele village, who designed the program, constructed a temporary shelter to house the guests, and issued hundreds of invitations. They prepared of large quantities of island food and an exhibit depicting the life of Bertha Dobbins and the early days of the Faith in Vanuatu.
After a brief welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, Saki Poilapa, and prayers in English, French and Bislama, Chief Willie Bongmatour, representing the chiefs of Vanuatu, expressed his gratitude to the Baha'is for recognising the role of the chiefs in fostering peace at a local level. Merelyn Tahi spoke of the advancement of women as a key element of peace-making. Payman Rowhani-Farid, representing the Baha'i community of Vanuatu, said that the peace process begins with individuals and families, and that the education of children is particularly important. Baha'i youth gave choral renderings of prayers and sacred scriptures between the presentations.
The Awards were presented by Peter Kaltoli, the one of the first Baha'is in Vanuatu, and Charles Pierce, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Vanuatu.
Mrs. Dobbins was one of the Baha'is who, beginning in the early 1950s, responded to a call to settle in areas where no Baha'is had lived before. As a result of their efforts, more than 100 countries and territories were opened to the Faith within the span of a few years.
Following further musical selections and the closing prayers, a feast was set out for the guests in the Nur Institute Building, which formerly housed the Nur School, and the youth and children from the Baha'i communities on Efate performed a continuous stream of songs, dances and sketches.
The event received coverage on Radio Vanuatu and the national television news. | -17.7414972 | 168.3150163 |
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72 | 2000-11-14 | NEW DELHI | India | [] | President of Iceland visits Baha'i Temple in New Delhi | President of Iceland visits Baha'i Temple in New Delhi NEW DELHI — The President of the Republic of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, and his family visited the Baha'i House of Worship here on 29 October. He was the first head of state to visit the famous "Lotus Temple," as the House of Worship is popularly known, during an official state visit.
The President was accompanied by a delegation of about 30 Icelandic dignitaries, including the Foreign Minister, Haldor Asgrimmson, and his wife. They were met by the Secretary-General of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India, Ramnik Shah, the General Manager of the House of Worship, Shahin Javid, and a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia, Zena Sorabjee.
The Icelandic delegation included a member of the Baha'i Faith, Vilhjalmur Gudmundsson, who is Director for Market Development for the Trade Council of Iceland. Mr. Gudmundsson was on the advance team that visited India at the beginning of September to prepare for the President's visit. The President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, tours the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi during an official state visit to India. He is accompanied by Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Asia."I really made a great effort in a very tight schedule to come to the Baha'i House of Worship and I was able to convince my partners, one from the Foreign Ministry and the other from the President's Office, to come along," Mr. Gudmundsson said. "When I came I was quite impressed and very much touched over the beauty of it. I mentioned to my partners that the President would appreciate to see this House of Worship, and that we had to find time in his very tight schedule to do so."
The Indian Government has often included the House of Worship in the itinerary of visiting dignitaries, but this was the first time it was included in an official state visit by a head of state.
The President's visit began with a briefing in the library on Baha'i social and economic development efforts in India, with an emphasis on recent efforts to contribute to a moral education curriculum for Indian schools. The delegation then visited the House of Worship's main hall for a brief prayer service. The entire visit lasted about 40 minutes. President Grimsson was presented with "Forever in Bloom," a book of photographs about the House of Worship.
Completed in 1986, the Baha'i House of Worship has become one of the most visited buildings in the world, with an average of 3.5 million visitors each year. It's distinctive lotus-shaped design, with concrete "petals" sheathed in marble, has won numerous architectural and engineering awards. | 28.6138954 | 77.2090057 |
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73 | 2000-11-24 | NEW DELHI | India | [] | New approach to development combines science and religion | New approach to development combines science and religion NEW DELHI — Noting the shortcoming of international development efforts to fully realize their goals of ending poverty and achieving social justice, speakers at a ground-breaking gathering of non-governmental, academic and religious organizations called for a new model of development that would emphasize spiritual and religious values as the missing ingredients in stimulating positive social change.
Called the "Colloquium on Science, Religion and Development," the event was held 21-24 November 2000 at the India International Center, with opening day ceremonies at the Baha'i House of Worship.
"Although there has been considerable evolution in development thinking over the past several decades, serious questions remain concerning present approaches and assumptions," said Bani Dugal Gujral of the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office in an opening address on Tuesday. "The great majority of the world's peoples do not view themselves simply as material beings... but rather as social and moral beings concerned with spiritual awareness and purpose."
"It has thus become evident that the mainly economic and material criteria now guiding development activity must be broadened to include those spiritual aspirations that animate human nature," Ms. Gujral continued. "True prosperity -- a well-being founded on peace, cooperation, altruism, dignity, rectitude of conduct, and justice -- requires both the 'light' of spiritual virtues and the 'lamp' of material resources."
Co-sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Development Research Centre of Canada, Decentralised Training for Urban Development Projects, the Department of Secondary Education and Higher Education of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, the World Health Organization (WHO) and The Textile Association (India), the Colloquium was organized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, an agency of the Baha'i International Community.
Participants included representatives from a wide range of NGOs, academic institutions and religious groups involved in development work, mainly from India but also from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Bolivia. The Colloquium also featured participation by representatives of the World Bank, UNICEF, WHO, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
"Development practitioners have for a long time been looking for a missing link, to explain the shortcomings of the current model," said Dr. Behnam Ta'i, the Regional Representative for South Asia of the Netherlands-based Institute for Housing and Urban Studies, who participated in the Colloquium. "For a long time, we thought it was the environment. Now there is a perception that spirituality is the link and the key idea for changing the attitudes for decision-making in the processes of development." The Colloquium on Science, Religion and Development featured a panel session exploring the relationship between justice and development.| The panel members were (left to right seated at table) Mr. Soli Sorabjee, Attorney General of India; Dr. Erma Manoncourt, Deputy Director, UNICEF, India; and Mr. Miloon Kothari, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. Ms. Bani Dugal-Gugral (standing), Director, Office for the Advancement of Women, Baha'i International Community moderated the session.Katherine Marshall of the World Bank said religious organizations have long played a "special role" in both understanding and helping the poor. "Yet their insights and their work are too little known in many development circles," she said.
Ms. Marshall, who oversees the Bank's recently launched collaboration with religious organizations, known as the World Faiths Development Dialogue, urged a new partnership between religious groups and development specialists. "The idea should be to engage in a process that opens new windows of understanding, raises the bar of objectives, offers new insights and new visions, on all sides," said Ms. Marshall in an address on Tuesday.
The Colloquium featured a mix of plenary sessions and workshops, and allowed for a wide range of discussion and consultation. One specific focus was on how capacity building in the four areas of governance, education, technology and economic activity can be assisted through the introduction of spiritual perspectives and values.
In some respects, participants indicated, it raised as many questions as it answered. There was a wide-ranging discussion, for example, of what exactly constitutes "spirituality," "values," "religion," and "faith." Participants came from virtually every religious background, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, the Baha'i Faith -- as well as non-religious backgrounds.
But in the end, participants agreed on the importance of a number of principles and points, which will be compiled in a final statement of findings to be issued by the Colloquium's secretariat in the future.
Among the main points of agreement were: the importance of building new partnerships between religious organizations, NGOs, aid agencies and government offices concerned with development; the necessity of introducing moral or "values-based" curriculum in all educational endeavors; the significance of the principle of equality between women and men in all aspects of development; and the need to promote principles of good governance.
One frequently stressed theme was the essential harmony of science and religion.
"The formidable power of science and technology can benefit humankind only if we know how to temper it with humanism and spirituality," said M.S. Swaminathan, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Ecotechnology, in a talk on Wednesday at India International Centre, where the Colloquium was held.
Likewise, Haleh Arbab Correa of the Colombia-based Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences (FUNDAEC), said development specialists must begin to see "science and religion as two complementary sources of knowledge."
"The two systems are not as dissimilar as they are presented to be," said Dr. Arbab Correa. "Objective observation, induction, the elaboration of hypotheses, and the testing of predictions are important components of scientific methods. But they are also present in religious pursuits, albeit in different configurations and at different levels of rigor.
"Similarly, faith does not belong exclusively to religion," Dr. Arbab Correa continued. "Science, too, is built on elements of faith, particularly faith in the order of the world and the ability of the human mind to explain the workings of that order."
The centrality of justice to the development enterprise was also examined. "Creating a culture of justice," said the Attorney General of India, Mr. Soli Sorabjee, "is intimately bound up with a process of moral and spiritual development."
As well, participants stressed the importance of the acceptance of religious diversity. Toward that end, many suggested that interfaith activities should be encouraged and increased as a means of promoting a wider understanding of the common basis of all religions.
Participants ended the event by calling for more research on a number of these areas, including ways to create a set of development indicators that might assess the impact of a values-based approach to development and on identifying "best practices" of religiously inspired development efforts.
"Our goal was to bring together a diversity of organizations and practitioners in the field of development to explore how scientific methods and religious values can work together to bring about a new, integrated pattern of development," said Matthew Weinberg, Director of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, one of the Colloquium's organizers.
"In many ways, this event was an experiment and a learning endeavor, since an integrated discourse on these three topics has really only recently begun to take shape in the world at large," said Mr. Weinberg, noting the efforts of the World Bank through its World Faiths Development Dialogue to promote a similar discussion. "The emphasis of this event was to involve national and grassroots level organizations in this dialogue. And we were pleased that a number of key points and possible lines of action were identified by the participants here for future consideration."
For more information, contact: Farida Vahedi / Deepali Jones / Han Ju Kim-Farley in New Delhi at: (91) 11 3070513 or (mobile) (91) 98 11040575. | 28.6138954 | 77.2090057 |
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74 | 2000-11-05 | HANOVER | Germany | [] | 500,000 people visit Baha'i exhibit at the Hanover Expo 2000 | 500,000 people visit Baha'i exhibit at the Hanover Expo 2000 HANOVER, Germany — An estimated 500,000 people visited the Baha'i pavilion at the Hanover Expo 2000 from its opening in June 2000 to its closing last month.
The 170 square-meter Baha'i exhibit, hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany, featured development projects in Colombia, Kenya and Eastern Europe that illustrate the importance of grassroots capacity-building, the advancement of women, and moral and spiritual values in the process of social and economic development.
The exhibit was designed to resemble a lotus flower, with 3-meter-high acrylic glass "petals" in a semi-circular arrangement around a central space for reflection and contemplation. It was located opposite the entrance of the "Global House" -- an area designated as a forum and meeting place for organizations and policy-makers interested in sustainable development and the Agenda 21 process.
Over the past months, several of the Baha'i development projects have been the subject of in-depth presentations in the Seminar Room of the Global House. On 9 September Shamil Fattakhov, a Russian TV journalist, presented "Stop and Act," a form of interactive theatre that he developed into a successful television program in Russia. The program features short sketches that present the audience with a conflict and a moral dilemma. As the conflict is about to erupt into violence, the presenter calls out "Stop!" and begins a discussion with the audience on the ways of resolving the situation. Through the collective exploration of the relevant moral principles, the audience arrives at a solution, which is then acted out.
The program has been adapted to many audiences and media, including radio, theatre and schools, throughout Eastern Europe. Under the sponsorship of the Royamount Process, which was initiated by the European Union to "promote stability and good neighborliness" among the nations of Southeastern Europe, the show has been offered to governments in the region as a creative approach to conflict resolution and moral education.
September 9 was also a "Global House Day," organized jointly by all the exhibitors in the hall, which attracted 11,000 visitors to the Baha'i pavilion alone. Ranzie Mensah, a Baha'i artist from Ghana and a princess of the Fanti tribe, gave a stunning musical performance as part of an on-going cultural program presented by the Baha'is in the Global House's One World Cafe. In the evening the Baha'i International Community hosted a reception for the commissioners of the Expo's national pavilions and other exhibitors and dignitaries to mark the release of the German translation of "Who is Writing the Future," a reflection on the 20th century and humanity's prospects for the future issued by the Baha'i International Community.
Another seminar on 29 September focused on the role of traditional women's groups as catalysts for grassroots development and the power of combining self-directed village initiatives with the support of development organizations. These principles were illustrated through the Kalimani and Matinyani Women's Projects in Kenya's semi-arid Kitui District, which were selected as a "Worldwide Expo 2000 Project." The women in these villages consulted together, set realistic goals for village development, and enlisted the support of outside development organizations. They have managed a number of projects, including dam construction, a health center, a mango-drying scheme using solar energy, and a rug-weaving project to generate income.
The presenter was Geraldine Robarts, a Baha'i artist living in Kenya who has supported the women of Kalimani and Matinyani with training in the arts. Ms. Robarts was also the designer of 20 outsize sails, each up to 15 meters high, that decorated the Hanover Expo's Africa Pavilion. Artists from all over Africa had been invited to submit their design for the pavilion in an open competition.
The third development project highlighted in the Baha'i Pavilion was the University for Integral Development, established in Colombia by FUNDAEC, a Baha'i-inspired development agency that was also named a "Worldwide Expo 2000 Project." The University has a network of 40,000 students in Colombia's rural areas who receive systematic training through a distance learning system in the areas of agriculture, education, appropriate technology, economic enterprise and institutional development.
Drawing on the tools and insights of both science and religion, the University strives to impart a twofold moral purpose: to take charge of one's own intellectual and spiritual growth, and to make significant contributions to the transformation of society.
More than 250 Baha'i volunteers from around Europe received specialized training to staff the exhibit and answer questions from the public during the Expo's five months of operation.
More information about Baha'i participation in the Hanover Expo is available on-line at www.bahai-expo2000.de. | 52.3744779 | 9.7385532 |
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75 | 2000-11-07 | LONDON | United Kingdom | [] | Baha'i Day held at London Millennium Dome | Baha'i Day held at London Millennium Dome LONDON — London's Millennium Dome hosted a "Baha'i Day" on 21 October, as more than 2,000 Baha'is from around the United Kingdom came to the dome to commemorate a Baha'i holy day. About 30,000 people visited the Dome throughout the day.
Baha'is were celebrating the Birth of the Bab, a festive occasion marking the birth of the Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith. They presented a diverse program of artistic performances and entertainment, both on the main stage and in the dome's entrance hall, including juggling, clog dancing, a string quartet, singers, a Ceilidh band, dancers and a steel band. They also hosted an exhibit about the Faith just inside the main entrance, an Arts and Crafts area for children, and a Tranquillity Zone for prayer and meditation.
The Management of the Dome placed a large banner announcing the Baha'i holy day behind the main stage and gave the Baha'is 1,500 badges to wear on which was written "Celebrating a Baha'i Holy Day."
"Baha'is had traveled from all parts of the United Kingdom," said Iain Palin of the United Kingdom Baha'i Information Office. "They had been asked to bring flowers, and they brought so many flowers that the Management of the Dome had to send out for more pots to put them in. It was a magnificent turnout and a great spirit was in evidence throughout the day," he said.
In the Faith Zone, one of the Dome's permanent exhibits, excerpts from the Baha'i scriptures are depicted on tall pillars along with those of other faiths co-existing in Britain, such as the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian faiths. | 51.5073219 | -0.1276474 |
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76 | 2000-11-10 | JINJA | Uganda | [] | Baha'is take part in Uganda's national UN Day celebration | Baha'is take part in Uganda's national UN Day celebration JINJA, Uganda — The Baha'is of Uganda showcased their achievements and activities in the areas of education, family health, moral training for children, publishing, and collaboration with other nongovernmental organizations at a national United Nations Day celebration held on 24 October 2000 at the Muguluka Primary School.
The school's grounds, located 15 miles from Jinja on the Jinja-Kamuli road, were transformed into a festive fairground, with booths and tents representing a large variety of United Nations, government, and civil society organizations. The Baha'is erected a large white tent with a banner proclaiming "The earth is one country and mankind its citizens."
Throughout the day hundreds of people toured the five information tables in the Baha'i tent, many lingering for extensive discussions and requesting follow-up contact. The Chief Guest for the day was Uganda's Minister of Information, Basoga Nsadhu, accompanied by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Dauda Toure. They were escorted through the Baha'i exhibits by George Olinga, Director of the Baha'i Office of External Affairs. Uganda's Minister of Information, Basoga Nsadhu, is escorted to the Baha'i exhibit at Uganda's national United Nations Day commemoration by Mr. George Olinga, director of the Baha'i Office of External Affairs.The Uganda Baha'i Institute for Development displayed curriculum guides and training materials for teachers and parents in the areas of health education and moral development. The Baha'i Publishing Trust displayed a wide range of Baha'i literature, including translations of Baha'i scripture into several indigenous languages.
Another table handled nominations for a peace prize to honor individuals, groups or institutions for their contributions to a culture of peace in Uganda. The Baha'is are co-sponsoring the prize along with the government and several NGOs as part of the observance of the International Year for a Culture of Peace.
Earlier in the week, on 22 October, the Baha'is held an observance of United Nations Day at the Baha'i National Center in Kampala that opened with a devotional program at the Baha'i House of Worship. The keynote speaker was A. M. Qureshi, representative in Uganda of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association. | 0.5465468 | 33.224816860928684 |
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77 | 2000-11-25 | CANBERRA | Australia | [] | Art on Fijian bark cloth reflects unity in diversity | Art on Fijian bark cloth reflects unity in diversity CANBERRA, Australia — Artists Robin White of New Zealand and Leba Toki of Fiji recently opened an exhibit at the Helen Maxwell Gallery here of collaborative works on tapa (bark cloth) that won widespread admiration for their uniqueness and harmonious blending of Western and Fijian artistic traditions.
Ms. White and Ms. Toki are both highly regarded artists and members of the Baha'i Faith. Their collaboration was "not just a way of experiencing new forms of artistic expression," said Ms. White, "but also a way of demonstrating the potential for people from very different cultural backgrounds to work together in harmony, in a positive and creative manner."
The opening of the month-long exhibit on October 20 was attended by the High Commissioner of New Zealand, Simon Murdoch, and the Counsellor of the Fijian High Commission, Akuila Waradi. Mr. Waradi spoke during the brief formal portion of the opening, and he expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to view art work that was the product of collaboration and said the work was "very different and very beautiful."
The three works, each approximately two meters by two and a half meters revolve around "tea" as a symbol of people coming together in a convivial atmosphere, a symbol which is common to English and Indian culture and has been incorporated into Fijian culture as well. The designs, integrating European and Indian imagery with traditional Fijian patterns, are based on the packaging of three well-known products: Punja's Tea and Rewa Milk, which are very commonly used in Fiji, and Chelsea Sugar, which is produced and sold in New Zealand from sugar grown in Fiji.
"While for some, tea, milk and sugar might seem like a rather superficial expression of togetherness, we were interested in taking the idea of having a cup of tea as a means for conveying a deeper significance and investigating a broader theme, that is the possibility of different cultures being able to come together harmoniously, to honor and celebrate their diversity and to share in the pleasures and benefits of this world," said Ms. White. "The work is about the process involved in exploring the interface between cultures and arriving at a visual metaphor for the concept of unity in diversity."
Tapa was chosen as the medium because it is inseparably associated with indigenous Fijian culture and other indigenous Pacific Island cultures.
"By using tapa to convey designs that include recognizable Indian and European elements, we aimed at suggesting the possibility of one culture embracing, in a positive way, features of other cultures, and that this process generates change without necessarily compromising the essential values that form the basis of a secure sense of identity and belief," said Ms. White. "Leba and I wanted to produce a work that could not have been done by either of us on our own, something that sits at a fine balance between what is familiar and traditional and what is unexpected and new. In recognition of this goal, the set of three tapa have been titled 'Cakacakavata,' which means 'working together.'" Leba Toki and Robin White apply decorative elements to the tapa cloth in Robin's studio in Masterton, New Zealand.The project came about when Ms. White was visiting Ms. Toki at her home in Fiji about three years ago.
"I questioned her about some samples of tapa that she had in her home. Leba explained that she had made them herself and that she came from the island of Moce, one of only two islands in Fiji where tapa is made," said Ms. White. "For some time I had been attracted by the particular aesthetic quality of Fijian tapa and had a long-held desire to experience the making of it. This prompted me to ask Leba if she would be interested in entering into a collaborative art project with me and she readily agreed."
The set of three tapa has been purchased by the National Gallery of Australia. | -35.2975906 | 149.1012676 |
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78 | 2000-11-15 | UNITED NATIONS | [] | UN agency's partnership helps Baha'i in quest to bridge the digital divide | UN agency's partnership helps Baha'i in quest to bridge the digital divide UNITED NATIONS — While heads of state were meeting at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) announced a partnership with an organization founded by a young Baha'i to help people in developing countries make greater use of the Internet.
At a New York press conference 7 September 2000, UNOPS announced the launch of the Digital Service Corps, a private-sector partnership with the nonprofit Global Technology Organization (GTO), whose founder and president is Neysan Rassekh. Digital Service Corps will send volunteers to developing countries and countries in transition, to conduct intensive training programs in the use of the Internet as a community development tool.
Reinhart Helmke, executive director of UNOPS, introduced Mr. Rassekh as a "young social entrepreneur of the dot-com generation" who is bridging two "gaps" through the Digital Service Corps - the generation gap at the United Nations and the digital divide in the developing world.
Now in his twenties, Mr. Rassekh was born in Portland, Oregon. His family left the United States when he was four years old to settle in West Africa, where they helped to strengthen the Baha'i communities in Senegal, the Gambia and Mali. He later attended Maxwell Baha'i School in Canada. Mr. Rassekh holds a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of Business and a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on the use of technology for development in Africa. President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali speaks to the press in New York with Neysan Rassekh, President of GTO, on 8 September 2000 following a round-table discussion on public-private partnerships convened by UNOPS."My generation of Americans grew up taking computers for granted. By the time we got to college, most of us were regularly doing research on the Internet," Mr. Rassekh said.
"To work in development at the grassroots, my family lives in Mali, one of the poorest countries on the planet. I have seen first hand how extreme the digital divide really is. I know there are thousands of people like me who would gladly give four to six weeks of their time to personally contribute to closing that gap. That is why I am sure that GTO's Digital Service Corps will be a success."
UNOPS reported that in May, GTO completed a successful pilot project in Mali. A team of three professors and 30 students from the University of Pennsylvania, armed with refurbished computer equipment and the accessories needed to connect to the Internet, spent four weeks in Mali and trained 120 carefully selected professors, primary- and secondary-school teachers, students and teacher trainers. The team established four computer centers, now operated by the Victory Foundation, a Mali-based organization whose mission is to promote innovation in public education.
The day after the press conference, Mr. Rassekh introduced President Alpha Oumar Konare of Mali at a roundtable discussion on public-private partnerships convened by UNOPS and Global Leaders for Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum. At a news conference after the roundtable, the president thanked the Global Technology Organization for its efforts and the impact it had in his country.
Moreover, contacts at the United Nations Millennium Assembly and the State of the World Forum, which was also taking place in New York that week, afforded Mr. Rassekh the opportunity to meet with several heads of state and foreign ministers. Five of them invited Mr. Rassekh to look at implementing GTO projects in their countries in the coming months. | ||||
79 | 2000-11-30 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Reshaping "God's holy mountain" to create a vision of peace and beauty for all humanity | Reshaping "God's holy mountain" to create a vision of peace and beauty for all humanity HAIFA, Israel — Many of the visitors who will soon wander the nearly completed gardens and terraces that extend almost a kilometer up the side of Mount Carmel are perhaps unlikely to notice what sort of stones lie at the bottom of the fountains.
But the fact that the color of the stones in a series of cascade pools almost perfectly matches the beige stonework of the surrounding ornaments reflects the enormous attention to detail surrounding the completion of a project that some say is destined to become a much visited wonder of the modern world.
In their shape and size, the stones are almost perfectly ovoid in contour and slightly larger than a human heart -- aspects which further harmonize with the style and scheme of the project, a succession of 19 majestic terraces and associated gardens that have virtually reshaped the north slope of what has been known since ancient times as the "Mountain of the Lord."
It took some eight months of searching to find the stones, a quest that took place in three countries and ended on a remote beach in Cyprus.
"I wanted stones that had the same color and natural characteristics of the other elements of this project," said Fariborz Sahba, the architect behind the project. "This is an example of the simple things that make the difference."
Yet the attention to such details is but one sign of the great importance given to this project by the Baha'is of the world, who have sacrificially contributed some US$250 million to build it over the last decade.
Scheduled to be opened to the world during public ceremonies in May 2001, the terraces and gardens are being offered to the world as a reflection of the Baha'i standard of beauty, peace and harmony. Those who have had an advance look say the project will undoubtedly take its place alongside the other great spiritual monuments constructed throughout history.
"You can go on a spiritual journey just looking at the gardens [on Mount Carmel] which are the equivalent of any great icon, great tantra, or any other of the great recognized works of religious art or architecture," said Martin Palmer, the author of several books on comparative religion, the most recent of which is entitled Sacred Gardens. "The Baha'is have created a vision, literally, of what it means to understand the Baha'i Faith in both its historic setting and its contemplative spiritual message."
Spiritual and Administrative Center
Collectively known as the Mount Carmel Projects, the effort involves not only the construction of the 19 garden terraces on Mount Carmel -- terraces that bracket the Shrine of the Bab, the second-most holy spot in the world for Baha'is after the Shrine of Baha'u'llah -- but the completion of two majestic new administrative buildings, which are also set high on the face of the mountainside.
These two buildings, known as the Center for the Study of the Texts and the International Teaching Center, have been built alongside the International Archives building, which houses relics, writings and artifacts associated with the lives of the Faith's central figures, and the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the headquarters of the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith.
For Baha'is, the completion of the Mount Carmel Projects is the realization of a century-long dream to create a spiritual and administrative center, commensurate with the beauty of the Baha'i teachings, that will fully and fittingly represent the Faith's position as an independent world religion, now the second-most widespread geographically after Christianity.
"Architecture is a language, and these projects carry a message," said Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community. "As a worldwide community, we believe we are the bearers of a very important message. And these gardens and new buildings offer an enduring testimony to the importance of this message -- which, in its most fundamental form, is that God has sent a new Revelation aimed at addressing the problems of the modern age and ushering in an era of peace and justice for all humanity."
Certainly, for the world at large, the completion of the Mount Carmel Projects offers a glimpse of the type of world that Baha'is are working for: one that expresses in its harmonious blend of architectural and horticultural styles the principle of unity in diversity, emphasizes in its beauty the precedence of spiritual values over materialism, and, in its open invitation to all, embraces all peoples and cultures.
"I think it is really becoming a landmark, not only in Haifa, but also one of the spots in Israel that is a must-see," said Mirko Stefanovic, Yugoslavia's ambassador to Israel, who has visited the Baha'i World Center many times. "It is something of an oasis in the desert. As everyone knows, the Middle East is a hectic place, full of contrasts and conflict. The Baha"i gardens are kind of like an island of tranquility and peace."
Ma'ariv, Israel's second-largest newspaper, reports that the project has earned the appellation "the eighth wonder of the world."
The Significance of Mount Carmel
As far back as 1600 BC, Mount Carmel was mentioned as a "holy mountain" in Egyptian records. In the Bible, it is the site of Elijah's confrontation with the worshippers of Baal. It was also sacred to the early Christians and is where the Carmelite Roman Catholic monastic order was founded in 1150.
"Mount Carmel and Elijah have a very important place in both the Christian and Jewish traditions," said Moshe Sharon, a professor of Middle East Studies who holds the Chair of Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Elijah is supposed to come before the Messiah, and there are hundreds of traditions and stories connected with Mount Carmel, which give it a unique place in more than one religious tradition."
For Baha'is, the mountain was given supreme significance when Baha'u'llah visited it in the early 1890s and revealed an important tablet designating Mount Carmel as the site of the Faith's spiritual and administrative center.
The development of the Baha'i World Center, as the complex of buildings, gardens and holy places here is officially known, has proceeded slowly over the last century. Significant events include the construction of the Shrine of the Bab and the interment of the Bab's sacred remains in its mausoleum in 1909; the completion of the golden-domed superstructure of the Shrine in 1953; the erection of the International Archives building in 1957; and the completion of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice in 1983.
With the construction of the gardens and terraces that now surround the Shrine of the Bab, along with the other administrative buildings on Mount Carmel, Baha'is believe a major goal of their Faith has been fulfilled.
"Our scriptures tell us that the very construction of these facilities for housing these institutions will coincide with several other processes in the world," said Douglas Samimi-Moore, director of the Baha"i International Community"s Office of Public Information. "One of these processes is the maturation of local and national Baha'i institutions. The other is the establishment of processes leading to political peace for humanity, and we feel this synchronicity is obvious if you look broadly at the way things are going in the world."
Baha'is believe the completion of the terraces and gardens and new administrative buildings on Mount Carmel offers a reflection of the spiritual principles that must be applied to world problems if humanity is to create a truly peaceful world.
"Baha'is have gone about building these structures from a spiritual motivation, stemming from an underlying belief in the benefits to the world at large that they think will come from them," said Mr. Samimi-Moore. "They believe these new structures will contribute to the unification of the planet."
Gardens and Terraces
Without doubt, the most striking feature of the new projects is the series of terraces and associated gardens that now run from the foot to the crest of Mount Carmel, entirely reshaping its countenance. In all, the gardens cover some 200,000 square meters of land. After May 2001, they will be open to people of all religious beliefs, background and nationalities, like other Baha'i holy places.
Since the 1950s, the golden dome and gleaming white marble superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab, located almost exactly halfway up the north slope of Mount Carmel, has been a familiar landmark in Haifa, Israel's third largest city.
The 19 terraces -- one on the same level as the Shrine of the Bab, nine extending above it and nine extending below it -- form a grand series of brackets, which accentuate the Shrine's position in the heart of the mountainside.
Architect Sahba compared the new structures to the setting for a precious jewel. "If a diamond is not set properly, its value does not show," said Mr. Sahba. "The terraces provide both physical and spiritual setting for the Shrine. Everything directs your eyes towards the Shrine."
The terraces are designed with a series of stairs running from the base of Mount Carmel almost to its summit. The staircase, made of beige-colored local stone, is flanked by two streams of running water, forming a man-made brook that gently cascades down the mountainside, pausing in shallow pools -- containing the ovoid stones mentioned above. Mr. Sahba said he had teams search in Israel, Italy and India, before finding stones in Cyprus that met his vision for that particular detail.
"It has not been our aim just to build beautiful architecture, or merely beautiful, landscaped gardens," said Mr. Sahba, who also designed the widely recognized lotus shaped Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India. "There are so many beautiful gardens in the world. The whole aim was to create beautiful, spiritual gardens; gardens that touch the spirit, so that a visitor may pause and think, "This place is different, there is something special about it."
Mr. Sahba said he sought to express a sense of spirit through the interplay of light, water and color. "At night, it is as if waves of light are emanating from the Shrine, which is the center of illumination," Mr. Sahba said. "During the day these movements are created by sunlight filtering through the lines of cypress trees, and reflecting on the curved parallel surfaces of the emerald green lawns.
"Another element is water," he continued. "As you walk down the terraces, water accompanies you. The oasis of water attracts birds, and in harmony with the song of the birds creates the best camouflage for the noise of the city, gives the space the tranquility that one needs to be separated from the day to day reality of life."
The terraces, which feature decorative stone balustrades, fountains, benches and statues, are intensively cultivated. The gardens on each terrace feature plants and flowers indigenous to Israel.
"If one wants to imagine what the Hanging Gardens of Babylon must have looked like, come to Mount Carmel and you will see something more nearly than anything else on earth to what we understand they were like," said Mr. Palmer, who is also secretary general of the Alliance on Religion and Conservation.
The formality of the design of the gardens merges into the mountain's natural environment on either side of the central axis defined by the staircase.
"Nature is very ordered near the center of the path -- but the further you move away from it, it becomes more wild, more natural," said Mr. Palmer. "So you have this fascinating model of bringing order out of chaos. There is also a sense that the wilderness is a place where you can find God, so as you move away from the center, you find larger trees and bushes and you can lose yourself spiritually."
Many of the terraces are cut into the mountainside in such a way that, when one is standing on one, the other terraces -- as well as the buildings on either side -- cannot be seen. For the most part, the only visible reference points are the sky, the blue waters of the Bay of Haifa below, the surrounding gardens, and the Shrine itself.
"It is an amazing use of perspective," said Mr. Palmer. "Everything else is cut out. You don't see the streets above or below. You are in a sense caught up in the seventh heaven. It is as though you have left earth and been transported to paradise."
Mr. Palmer also noted that the gentle sound of the water gurgling down the two sides of the central staircase drowns out the sounds of the outside world.
"For me, this is symbolic," said Mr. Palmer, who is a Christian. "To quote from my Scriptures: you need to hear the 'still small quiet voice' of God, which is what Elijah himself heard on Mount Carmel. And with the trickling water, gently drowning out the urban hubbub all around, hearing that voice becomes possible."
For Baha'is, the whole design is evocative and symbolic.
"When you ascend the terraces from the bottom, the Shrine of the Bab, which is your goal, is always visible, right in your line of sight, at the center of your devotion," said Lasse Thoresen, a renowned Norwegian composer who has spent much time in the gardens as part of a commission to write a symphony for the opening ceremonies. "This is a beautiful kind of contemplative feature."
"At the same time, for me, the waters coming down from the top of the mountain symbolize the living water that is the grace of God, that is God's vitalizing energy, spoken of in the Baha'i writings and in the Bible and other scriptures, that descend from Heaven," said Dr. Thoresen.
Suheil Bushrui, who has visited Haifa off and on since his childhood and who currently holds the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, USA, said he believes the gardens and terraces offer a new model for sustainable development.
"These projects on Mount Carmel provide an example of man's shaping of the physical environment in accord with a religious teaching that emphasizes the importance of the natural world and upholds the value of beauty and the virtue of excellence," said Prof. Bushrui. "They show a glimmer of the extent to which material and spiritual elements can complement each other, to the mutual benefit of each, and with favorable consequences for the environment."
New Administrative Buildings
While the terraces are without doubt the most visible feature of the new developments on Mount Carmel, the completion of two new nearby administrative buildings are for Baha'is of equal significance, inasmuch as they signalize the formal emergence of two important institutions designed to assist the Universal House of Justice in providing guidance and governance for the rapidly growing worldwide Baha'i community.
Together with the Seat of the Universal House of Justice and the International Archives building, the International Teaching Center and the Center for the Study of the Texts form an arc on the face of the mountainside. As one faces the mountain, that arc sits slightly to the left of the axis defined by the central stairway of the terraces.
The Center for the Study of the Texts building will house an institution of scholars, whose role is to study the Baha'i sacred writings. "The Baha'i writings are extensive, encompassing more than 100,000 documents," said Mr. Samimi-Moore. "The Center stands to serve the needs of the Universal House of Justice by researching the sacred writings, historical documents and other related materials. It will also translate texts, prepare compilations, and draft commentaries as required."
The International Teaching Center building will house a body of appointed individuals who function collectively to assist the Universal House of Justice and also to provide guidance to the worldwide Baha'i community through a network of fellow "Counsellors" who reside around the world. "They promote the ideas of the Faith, which include unity and education," said architect Hossein Amanat, who designed the two new buildings, as well as the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.
Like the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the two new buildings were designed in a classic Greek style that harmonizes with the design chosen roughly 50 years ago for the International Archives building.
"Originally, I thought there might be a kind of contemporary style which could fit into the environment there," said Mr. Amanat, who started designing the Seat of the Universal House of Justice in 1972 at age 30 after winning a design competition for a major monument and associated complex in his native Iran. He noted, however, that Shoghi Effendi, who headed the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957, had chosen classic Greek style because it had proved enduringly beautiful through the ages.
"I saw how nicely the classic style fits into this surrounding of serene gardens," continued Mr. Amanat. "The reason is this: in our modern life, we are rushing everywhere. And there is no time for looking at the details of a classic building. But the classic style is meant for a society that is more relaxed, that is taking time to meditate and pray. Modern buildings evolved after the industrial revolution, which is when the material life took over from the spiritual. But we Baha'is think beauty is an important factor in design, because beauty is so important to the human soul."
Although both of the new buildings rise some three stories above ground level, much of their structure is tucked into the mountain slope. "The idea is that the buildings are pavilions adorning this garden," said Mr. Amanat. "They should not impose on it."
The total floor area of the two new buildings combined is some 35,000 square meters, reflecting their importance as administrative centers for the more than five million Baha'is around the world.
"Essentially, the people who will work in these buildings have the goal of serving a growing worldwide community," said Mr. Samimi-Moore.
The funds for the completion of the two new buildings, the terraces and all of the other structures on Mount Carmel came entirely from members of the Baha'i Faith.
"No money has come from outside," said Secretary General Lincoln. "And we are not a community that is rich. The funds for these projects have come from donations by thousands upon thousands of individuals, who have given sacrificially over many years.
"Three-quarters of the worldwide Baha'i population resides in the third world," added Dr. Lincoln. "It is not unusual to visit a mud hut in an African village and find a photograph of this project on the wall, along with a receipt for some small contribution."
-- END OF MAIN STORY --
ACCOMPANYING STORY:
The Baha'i Faith and its Connection to Israel
Founded in Iran, the Baha'i Faith today has its spiritual and administrative center in Israel because of historic forces that led to the exile of its Founder, Baha'u'llah, to the city of Acre, located across the bay from Haifa.
After a series of banishments from His native Iran, Baha'u'llah, along with His family and a small group of followers, was sent in 1868 to Acre, then a bleak penal colony under Ottoman rule.
Although prisoners, the Baha'is eventually came to be regarded as a respected religious community in Acre. Over time, Baha'u'llah was granted limited freedom and, during a visit to Haifa in 1891, He designated Mount Carmel as the site for the world headquarters of His Faith. Baha'u'llah also directed that the remains of the Bab, the Faith's Herald and a Prophet in His own right, be buried on Mount Carmel.
With Baha'u'llah's passing and burial in the vicinity of Acre in 1892, the location of the spiritual center of the Baha'i Faith was likewise fixed. Baha'u'llah's burial place at Bahji, north of Haifa near the city of Acre, is the holiest place on earth for Baha'is.
In 1909, the Bab's remains were interred in a stone mausoleum on the side of Mount Carmel. In 1953, the golden-domed, white marble superstructure was erected over the mausoleum, completing the Shrine that is the second holiest place for Baha'is.
Over the years, Baha'is have built a series of gardens, encompassing other holy monuments, as well as other administrative buildings in the Haifa/Acre area. All are funded entirely by contributions from the worldwide Baha'i community.
Today, more than 800 Baha'is serve as volunteers at the Baha'i World Center. They come from all over the world, serving for specified periods of time, and are engaged solely in the care of the Baha'i Holy places and the internal administration of the Baha'i world community.
The city of Haifa and the government of Israel have welcomed the Baha'i presence and the new construction. The Mayor of Haifa, Amram Mitzna, recently wrote that the nearly completed Gardens and Terraces for the Shrine of the Bab offer "unforgettably stunning panorama" for the "appreciation of all beauty lovers." | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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80 | 2000-11-29 | BURYATIA | Russia | [] | In Buryatia, a struggle against AIDS and substance abuse | In Buryatia, a struggle against AIDS and substance abuse BURYATIA, Russia — In response to rising rates of alcoholism, drug use and AIDS among youth in this Siberian republic, Baha'is here have created a "Youth Center for Social Initiatives" to promote a healthy lifestyle among youth and teenagers and to train teachers and other specialists to do prevention work with youth. Deaths from AIDS have increased 33-fold in Buryatia since the beginning of the year, a symptom of the general moral crisis afflicting much of the region.
"No prevention work is effective without the development of a sustainable system of moral values among the youth and offering them channels for individual growth and self-fulfillment through community service," said Oxanna Dorzhieva, director of the Youth Centre. "Our principal tasks are the development of young people's awareness of their personal dignity and the need for spiritual independence, development of a volunteer movement for prevention work, training of teachers and other specialists in prevention education, and cultivation of a positive lifestyle among youth and teenagers."
The Youth Center is an outgrowth of a Baha'i project for youth in Ulan-Ude known as the "Young Lions" social project, which provided alternative youth activities, training in moral leadership, and popular social activities for the youth of the Ulan-Ude region.
"Many prevention projects organized by Young Lions, such as "Youth Against Drugs," "Be Sober in the New Millennium," "Our City," and seminars on AIDS, have won serious attention from the government of Buryatia and popularity among youth in Ulan-Ude and neighboring communities," said Ms. Dorzhieva.
The local administration of Ivolga, a region with the highest rates of drug use among youth and of alcohol and drug-related crime in recent years, approached the Young Lions for assistance in organizing prevention activities for the whole region.
"We wanted to extend our work with this key segment of the population and assist them in addressing these problems through the creation of the Youth Center for Social Initiatives," said Ms. Dorzhieva. "We are trying to build a network together with teachers and other specialists, parents, administration, the police, media and possibly other institutions, to protect youth from alcohol and drug use. The experience gained from this project will start spreading all over the Republic within a year."
The Youth Centre also works to develop regional, national and international collaboration in prevention work, and courses, seminars and workshops on moral leadership and prevention of AIDS and substance abuse. The Centre is working with specialists from the AIDS Centre of Buryatia to create a youth and teen prevention program that will include materials on moral education. The program will be submitted to the Ministry of Education of Buryatia for inclusion in the school curriculum for children aged 12 to 15. | 52.7182426 | 109.492143 |
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81 | 2000-11-22 | NEW DELHI | India | [] | Amjad Ali Khan, master of classical Indian music, performs at the Baha'i Lotus Temple | Amjad Ali Khan, master of classical Indian music, performs at the Baha'i Lotus Temple NEW DELHI — Earlier this year the Baha'i House of Worship received a letter from the eminent master of the sarod, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, expressing his desire to perform on the premises of the Temple. "I have had a dream for sometime now, which I want to share with you," he wrote. "I have wished to perform, most humbly, with the Baha'i Temple in the background."
Amjad Ali Khan's dream was fulfilled yesterday when he performed with his two sons, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, with the lotus-shaped House of Worship glimmering in the moonlight behind him. They played the sarod, a classical Indian instrument resembling the lute, with an ensemble of traditional Indian musicians. The concert was held as part of the opening ceremony for the international "Colloquium on Science, Religion and Development" organized by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of India and the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (see related story).
When asked about the significance of playing, as a devout Muslim, at a Baha'i House of Worship, Amjad Ali Khan said, "I feel connected to every religion of the world. Water, air, fire, flowers and music have no religion, but their beauty is universally acknowledged. I feel drawn to any religion that is not fanatical in its approach but teaches love of other humans."
The concert was the tenth in a series of performances given by Amjad Ali Khan under the title "Sarod for Harmony." | 28.6138954 | 77.2090057 |
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82 | 2000-12-06 | UNITED NATIONS | [] | UN General Assembly expresses concern over treatment of Baha'is in Iran | UN General Assembly expresses concern over treatment of Baha'is in Iran UNITED NATIONS — For the 15th time in 16 years, the United Nations General Assembly has expressed "concern" over human rights violations in Iran, once again specifically mentioning the "unabated pattern of persecution" against the Baha'i community of Iran, that country's largest religious minority, and calling for its complete emancipation.
In a resolution passed on 4 December 2000, the Assembly called on Iran to "eliminate all forms of discrimination based on religious grounds or against persons belonging to religious minorities" and decided to continue its examination of the human rights situation in Iran for another year.
Approved by a vote of 67 to 54, with 46 abstentions, the resolution followed release of a UN report that stated that some 11 members of the Baha'i community of Iran currently face death sentences because of their religious belief and that the community as a whole continues to experience discrimination in areas education, employment, travel, housing and the enjoyment of cultural activities.
That report, issued on 8 September 2000 by Maurice Copithorne, the Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said there had been recent reports of "situations of discrimination and persecution" against Baha'is, including "acts of intimidation carried out in order to prevent Baha'is from participating in religious gatherings or educational activities."
In its resolution, the Assembly expressed concern that Iran has failed "to comply fully with international standards in the administration of justice, the absence of guarantees of due process of law, and the absence of respect for internationally recognized legal safeguards with respect to persons belonging to religious minorities."
"We are pleased that the United Nations most representative body, the General Assembly, has once again taken note of the ongoing persecution of our co-religionists in Iran," said Techeste Ahderom, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.
"Like the United Nations, we remain concerned at a wide range of human rights violations directed against the Baha'is of Iran by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Mr. Ahderom. "As we have stated numerous times, the Baha'i community of Iran is entirely non-partisan in its nature and poses no threat to the Government. The Baha'is in Iran only wish to be allowed to practice their religion fully, in accordance with the numerous international human rights covenants that Iran is a party to."
Since 1979, when the Islamic Republic of Iran was formed, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed or executed, hundreds have been imprisoned, and thousands of been deprived of jobs, education or property.
Background information on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran may be found at www.bahai.org/article-1-8-3-6.html. | ||||
83 | 2000-12-15 | UNITED NATIONS | [] | Human Rights Day program at the United Nations focuses on upcoming World Conference Against Racism | Human Rights Day program at the United Nations focuses on upcoming World Conference Against Racism UNITED NATIONS — Featuring a nine-city videoconference that gave it global reach, a commemoration of Human Rights Day held here on 7 December focused on preparations for next year's World Conference Against Racism, with speakers stressing the worldwide nature of racism and intolerance and the need to find new approaches that will promote the acceptance of human diversity.
Speakers included Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Jyoti Singh, Executive Coordinator of the UN World Conference Against Racism; Techeste Ahderom, Chairman of the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Committee on Human Rights and a Baha'i International Community representative to the United Nations; and Pitso Montwedi, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN.
"My central message for the World Conference is that we are all one human family, regardless of race, color, descent, ethnic or social origin, and that for too long diversity has been regarded as a threat rather than a gift," said Ms. Robinson, who spoke from Santiago, Chile, where she was taking part in a regional preparatory meeting for the upcoming World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which is scheduled to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 31 August to 7 September 2001.
"It is time that we refocus our understanding and allow diversity to be a potential for mutual enrichment and benefit," continued Ms. Robinson, who is also Secretary-General of the Racism Conference. "I believe, therefore, there is a need to generate a constructive, positive, forward-looking approach to the possible outcome of the World Conference against Racism, the first of its kind to be organized by the United Nations in the post-cold war and post-apartheid era."
Pitso Montwedi of South Africa, also speaking from Santiago, expressed his hopes for next year's conference and for the efficacy of the outcome document, which will be known as the Durban Declaration and Platform of Action.
"We, as the hosts of the World Conference, believe that racism is a global problem," said Mr. Montwedi. "We would like to see the widest possible participation from governments, NGOs and civil society because everyone has a stake in this issue."
Mr. Ahderom, speaking in New York, addressed the concerns of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the upcoming World Conference. "NGOs are already going to the substance of the issues to be presented at the Conference," said Mr. Ahderom, noting that NGOs have been extensively involved in preparatory meetings for the Conference. "There is an effort to try to pass from the mere articulation of the problems to true implementation of a solution.
"Racism is a stubborn foe with roots that run deep in the human psyche," Mr. Ahderom added. "Racism is very tenacious because it is not confined to its political manifestation. It is enduring because it takes place in the hearts and minds of individual people."
The videoconference linked participants in Bogota, Chicago, Geneva, Mexico City, New York, Rome, San Francisco, Santiago and Vienna. It also enabled participants in those cities and on the Internet to ask questions and join in the discussion.
In that discussion, participants expressed concern about a wide range of issues related to racism and intolerance, from the exploitation of indigenous peoples, migrant workers, the mentally ill, and refugees to the concerns of specific groups like the Dalits in India.
Renata Bloom, a participant in Geneva, asked, for example: "How do we go beyond the naming of the issues to the real matter of seeing diversity as a gift?"
Addressing this question, Mary Robinson said there was a need for a positive approach to teach the acceptance of the value of diversity and stressed the need for education at the primary school level. "Racism is a value system that is learned," she said. Schools should get involved by sponsoring essay contests and other such competitions to engender greater tolerance and appreciation of cultural and ethnic differences.
"Racial hatreds are the fruits of ignorance," added Mr. Ahderom. "In the absence of spiritual values, people have a need to elevate one group over another."
Like Ms. Robinson, Mr. Ahderom called for a far-reaching educational campaign as the answer to racial intolerance, and said that NGOs and civil society should be in the forefront of such an effort, building on the "beautiful consensus" they have already achieved in many respects.
The provisional agenda of the World Conference Against Racism is grouped around five themes: (1) sources, causes, forms and contemporary manifestations of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance; (2) victims of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance; (3) measures of prevention, education and protection aimed at the eradication of racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance at the national, regional and international levels; (4) provision for effective remedies, recourses, redress, and other measures at the national, regional and international levels; and (5) strategies to achieve full and effective equality, including international co-operation and enhancement of the United Nations and other international mechanisms in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia. | ||||
84 | 2001-01-18 | JERUSALEM | [] | Baha'i Chair at Hebrew University hosts conference on modern religions | Baha'i Chair at Hebrew University hosts conference on modern religions JERUSALEM — Some 54 scholars of religion -- Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Mormon and Baha'i-- gathered in December at the Hebrew University to discuss the impact of modernism on their traditions. The conference, co-sponsored by the Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University's Faculty of Humanities and Landegg Academy, has advanced Baha'i studies as an independent field of academic study and enriched the dialogue on the core values common to the monotheistic faiths.
The First International Conference on Modern Religions and Religious Movements in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the Babi and Baha'i Faiths, was held from 17 to 21 December 2000 and focused on common approaches within Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i Faith toward the philosophical, social and psychological challenges of modernity.
"Religious studies often deal with the origins or history of religions. For example we study the origins of Islam or medieval Judaism," said Yair Zakovitch, Dean of the Hebrew University's Faculty of Humanities. "But the study of religion in modern times is so relevant, so important to the lives of people. It was very significant that these scholars, despite the delicate political situation, were able to gather in Jerusalem to discuss their commonalities and appreciate their differences. People are generally suspicious, and the walls of suspicion collapsed."
The President of the Hebrew University, Menachem Magidor, described to the conference participants his vision of making the Hebrew University into a preeminent center for the study of religion, with research centers devoted to each of the monotheistic faiths. "The Chair in Baha'i Studies is the first link in this chain," he said.
Moshe Sharon, the holder of the Chair in Baha'i Studies and co-convenor of the conference, said that the field of Baha'i studies is emerging as an independent area of academic inquiry and that this was the first conference convened by a major international university for the study of the Baha'i Faith and its relationship to its sister faiths.
"Through this conference," said Dr. Sharon, "the Hebrew University has declared its interest in Baha'i studies and its recognition of the importance of this field alongside Jewish, Christian and Islamic studies."
The other co-convenor of the conference was Hossain Danesh, the Rector of Landegg Academy, a Baha'i-sponsored institution of higher education in Switzerland. Dr. Hossain Danesh, Rector of Landegg Academy, and Dr. Moshe Sharon, holder of the Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University, convenors of the conference on modern religions held at the Hebrew University on 17-21 December 2000."The conference focused on fundamental issues that are common to religions, held in a city and at a time when religious conflict in political terms was considerable," Dr. Danesh said.
In his keynote address Dr. Danesh reviewed the common elements of the monotheistic religions that have made them cornerstones of civilizations, as well as some of the teachings and principles of the Baha'i Faith that address challenges unique to the modern age. He presented President Magidor with a volume of fine pen and ink drawings of Baha'i holy places in the Old City of Acre by the Persian architect and draftsman Hushang Seyhoun.
Other presentations and panel discussions were grouped around themes such as "Religion in Modern Times: Philosophical, Social and Psychological Reflections," "Mysticism and Messianism," "Eschatology and Ethics," "Tradition, Renewal and Reform," and "Religion and the Realm of Science." Most of the panelists spoke on aspects of Judaism or the Baha'i Faith, but there were also contributions on Sufism, the Wahhabi movement, modern Islam, and Mormonism.
The participants came mainly from the United States and Israel, but also from Canada, Denmark, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Prof. Degui Cai from China's Shandong University gave a presentation on the fundamental principles of the Baha'i Faith and their relevance to Chinese society.
The final panel discussion, on "Contemporary Meeting of Ultimate Differences," featured presentations about African Christians in Israel and about the Baha'i Faith, Christianity and indigenous religions in the Pacific islands. The panel closed with a presentation by Dr. Amnon Netzer of the Hebrew University on "The Jews and the Baha'i Faith." A Jew of Iranian background, Prof. Netzer spoke about the conditions that led as many as ten percent of Iran's Jews to convert to the Baha'i Faith.
"The courteous talk, in which Dr. Netzer showed great respect for those who converted, created an atmosphere of interfaith reconciliation for the audience, which included several Israeli Jews with Baha'i relatives," said Robert Stockman, Coordinator of the Institute for Baha'i Studies in Wilmette, Illinois.
Another significant element of the conference was the participation of many young scholars alongside well-known and outstanding professors and scholars in the field of religious studies.
"The juxtaposition of youth and experience was very insightful and promising for the future of religious studies. It demonstrated that there are fine minds coming up, and this augurs well for the emergence of new insights into the role of religion in the development of civilization," said Dr. Danesh.
The conference also featured a number of cultural activities. The opening day closed with a program of classical music by the King David String Ensemble, one of the foremost chamber music groups in Israel. Among the selections they performed was a piece well known to Baha'is, "Dastam Bigir Abdu'l-Baha," which the composer had arranged especially for the occasion.
Kiu Haghighi, a Persian Baha'i and master of the santour, closed the conference with a virtuoso performance of an original piece he composed for the event.
On the final day of the conference, 21 December, the participants made a special trip to the Baha'i World Center in Haifa and Acre. They visited the Shrine of the Bab and toured the nearly completed garden terraces stretching above and below the Shrine on the slopes of Mount Carmel. After a luncheon at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, they visited the Shrine of Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i holy places in Acre.
A compilation of articles based on the proceedings of the conference will be published during the coming year, and many of the papers will be made available through the Landegg Academy Web site, www.landegg.org.
The Hebrew University and Landegg Academy have agreed to sponsor annual conferences of this nature, with the venue alternating between Jerusalem and the Landegg campus in Wienacht, Switzerland. The overarching theme of this series of conferences will be "Religion and Science." The next conference is planned for late January 2002 at Landegg.
The Chair in Baha'i Studies at the Hebrew University was established in 1999 as the first academic chair in the world devoted to the study of the Baha'i Faith. Other academic centers and programs, most notably the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland's Center for International Development and Conflict Management, have been established to study Baha'i perspectives on and contributions to other academic disciplines.
"The systematic study of Baha'i religion, history and literature was introduced into the Hebrew University in the 1990s," wrote Prof. Sharon in the published proceedings of the dedication ceremonies for the Baha'i Chair, held at Mount Scopus and at the Baha'i World Center in Haifa in June 1999.
"The magnitude of the material involved, and the vast scope of research which has already been done in the field persuaded the University of the necessity of creating a proper framework for research and teaching designed to accommodate the future development of the field within the academic vision of the University of forming a cluster of research centers dedicated to the study of the major religions of the world." | 31.79592425 | 35.21198075969497 |
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85 | 2000-09-19 | RIO DE JANEIRO | Brazil | [] | Peace Monument in Brazil receives final earth samples | Peace Monument in Brazil receives final earth samples RIO DE JANEIRO — Nearly a decade after being inaugurated, an hourglass-shaped monument in Rio de Janeiro now contains soil samples from nearly 150 countries, a symbolic representation of the oneness of humanity and the global cooperation needed to achieve lasting peace.
In a ceremony on 19 September 2000, the final earth samples from 26 nations were deposited in the Peace Monument, which was built by the Baha’i International Community and the Baha’i Community of Brazil in 1992 for the 1992 Earth Summit.
"Peace is the paramount need of humanity today," said Bani Dugal-Gujral, a Baha’i International Community representative to the United Nations, who was the keynote speaker at the ceremony. "The soils that have been contributed by some 150 nations are at the heart of the monument. Each of these soils came with a testimony for peace."
Also in attendance were representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO), several diplomatic missions in Brazil, local authorities, members of several Brazilian NGOs, as well as representatives of the Baha’i Community of Brazil.
To deposit the final 26 soils, a human chain was formed and each of the samples of soil was passed from hand to hand to the top of the monument, where a street child, who happened to be passing by at that moment, placed it in the monument. The street child was the only youth present, and he brought a very special symbolic effect to the ceremony. A "human Chain" is formed to deposit earth samples from 26 nations in the Peace Monument in Rio de Janeiro, bringing the total number of nations represented to nearly 150.Designed by the renowned Brazilian sculptor Siron Franco, the five-meter concrete and ceramic monument is located near the entrance to the Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro, just north of Flamengo Park and the site of the 1992 Global Forum, the parallel conference of non-governmental organizations held during the 1992 Earth Summit, which was formally known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
The monument is composed of two pyramids, one inverted on top of the other, creating an hourglass shape that serves as a reminder that time is running out for humanity to unite in a spirit of global cooperation. Etched in four languages on the four sides of the upper pyramid is a quote from Baha’u’llah, who wrote more than a century ago: "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens." The quote is displayed in English, Portuguese, Chinese and Terena, an indigenous language of Brazil.
The soil of 42 nations was deposited in the monument at its inauguration on 14 June 1992, held as one of the closing ceremonies of the Earth Summit and Global Forum. The Baha’i International Community had requested the soil samples from the government delegations attending the Earth Summit, and many of the samples were taken from sacred or historic sites.
Soil from Iceland, for example, was taken from the site of Iceland's first parliament, considered the country's most sacred and historic spot. In the years since then, Baha’is have continued to solicit soil samples from other nations and have held several ceremonies to deposit the samples in the monument.
Ms. Dugal-Gujral said the monument serves as an enduring symbol of the spirit of global understanding and world citizenship that is characterized by the Earth Summit and the Global Forum.
"The Earth Summit fundamentally changed the world's understanding of and approach to social and economic development, linking it inextricably with environmental presentation," said Ms. Dugal-Gujral. "The monument's symmetry indicates that sustainable development requires a balanced approach to the challenges of conservation and development. This symmetry also suggests that men and women must, as equals and in partnership, work to bring about peace, justice and sustainable development." | -22.9110137 | -43.2093727 |
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87 | 2000-12-27 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Israel Postal Authority to issue commemorative stamp for the opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab | Israel Postal Authority to issue commemorative stamp for the opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab HAIFA, Israel — The Philatelic Service Department of the Israel Postal Authority will issue a commemorative stamp to mark the completion of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab. The nine-centimetre-long stamp will be released in April 2001, shortly before the official opening of the Terraces in May.
The Terraces, stretching above and below the Shrine of the Bab on the north slope of Mount Carmel in Haifa, have been built as a majestic path of approach to one of the holiest sites of pilgrimage for members of the Baha'i Faith (see related story).
A souvenir leaf containing the stamp and a description of the Shrine of the Bab and the Terraces will be released by the Philatelic Service Department on the day of the official opening of the Terraces. As collectors' items, the souvenir leaves will be printed only once. | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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88 | 2000-12-24 | BETHESDA | United States | [] | New Book from University Press of Maryland Explores Baha'i Views of Governance and Globalization | New Book from University Press of Maryland Explores Baha'i Views of Governance and Globalization BETHESDA, United States — A new book from the University Press of Maryland by sociologist Nader Saiedi examines the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the concepts of world order and governance found in the writings of Baha'u'llah.
In "Logos and Civilization: Spirit, History, and Order in the Writings of Baha'u'llah," Dr. Saiedi argues that Baha'u'llah's writings, despite the great diversity of their styles and the topics they address, are animated by the common purpose of establishing the oneness of humanity in all spheres, whether spiritual, ethical, legal, or social.
"There has been a tendency among some scholars to perceive the writings of Baha'u'llah as a chaotic phenomena with internal contradictions and no overall unity," said Dr. Saiedi during a recent interview. "The book is structured to show the overall harmony of Baha'u'llah's writings, which were revealed in roughly three stages, addressed first to the mystics, then the divines and religious leaders, and finally to the kings and rulers of His day. He used different languages: the language of the mystic, the truth-seeker or the law-giver - but in all stages, the animating purpose was the same."
More than a century ago, Baha'u'llah wrote about the appearance of a new social order of global dimensions. "The world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order," He wrote. "Mankind's ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System, the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed."
Dr. Saiedi examines Baha'u'llah's conception of the three component terms of the phrase 'new world order,' arguing that they correspond to the three stages in which Baha'u'llah revealed his major works.
"Baha'u'llah's early ethical and mystical works contain His idea of the necessary conditions for the possibility of order," said Dr. Saiedi. "The term 'new' reflects the historical consciousness found in His later hermeneutic and theological writings. The fundamental characteristic of 'newness' in our age is the global nature of the challenges facing humanity. Therefore the term 'world' defines Baha'u'llah's basic position toward history and present day society and corresponds to the final phase of His revelation when he revealed laws of personal and social conduct."
Dr. Saiedi discusses the philosophical premises of Baha'u'llah's concept of globalization, emphasizing its qualitative difference from both Middle Eastern and Western political philosophy and showing that it represents a new conception of civil society and state.
"The solution to any problem in our age has to be global," said Dr. Saiedi. "Take for example the question of citizenship. This has been largely ignored in discussions of social injustice, which have focused instead on questions of race, class or gender. Yet today one's national citizenship is one of the greatest determinants of one's access to social justice. This accident of birth determines one's entitlements and perpetuates a system of global inequality."
The book's initial chapters sketch the background context, in Islamic Sufism, of Baha'u'llah's early mystical works and explore the structure of Baha'u'llah's mystical treatises, the Four Valleys and the Seven Valleys, which describe the stages in the spiritual journey of the human soul. Later chapters discuss the Kitab-i-Iqan (The Book of Certitude), Baha'u'llah's principal hermeneutical work, and the Kitab-i-Badi (The Most Wondrous Book), which reaffirms the foundational principles of the Kitab-i-Iqan and is largely unknown to Western audiences. The final chapters investigate the structure and constitutive principles of the Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), regarded as the charter or book of laws for a global civilization.
Dr. Saiedi received his M.S. degree in economics from Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran, and his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin. | 38.98127255 | -77.12335871396549 |
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89 | 2000-12-05 | NEW DELHI | India | [] | Baha'i Temple in India continues to receive awards and recognitions | Baha'i Temple in India continues to receive awards and recognitions NEW DELHI — The Baha'i House of Worship here, long recognized as an architectural triumph and one of India's most visited sites, has received several more popular and professional recognitions and awards in recent months.
In China, the House of Worship, which is also known as the Lotus Temple due to its distinctive lotus-shaped design, was recognized by the Architectural Society of China as one of 100 canonical works of the 20th century in the recently published "World Architecture 1900-2000: A Critical Mosaic, Volume Eight, South Asia."
The book is one of a series of ten volumes organised by the Society and endorsed by the International Union of Architects, in co-ordination with the XX World Architects Congress convened in June 1999 in Beijing, China. According to the editor, Mr. Rahul Mehrotra, the book is intended to "reflect and document architectural achievements in a multicultural world background, as represented by 100 canonical works of this century."
The selections, based on a process of nominations by architects from around the world, include works by master architects such as Le Corbusier, Edwin Lutyens and Louis I. Khan. The House of Worship, which appears as the book's cover illustration, is described as "a powerful icon of great beauty that goes beyond its pure function of serving as a congregation space to become an important architectural symbol of the city." Mr. Fariborz Sahba, architect of the Lotus Temple in India, and Dr. Hans Kung, a Catholic theologian known for his work on a "global ethic," receive the GlobArt Academy 2000 award at a ceremony in the Pernegg cloister, Austria.| From left to right: Dr. Angerer, resident Abbot of Pernegg Church; Mr. Sahba; Dr. Kung; and Mr. Bijan Khadem-Missagh, well-known violinist and president of GlobArt Academy.In Austria, the GlobArt Academy in Vienna presented its "GlobArt Academy 2000" awards to the architect of the Lotus Temple, Fariborz Sahba, and to Catholic theologian Hans Kung for their work in overcoming religious barriers. The awards were presented on 3 September 2000 at a ceremony in the church of Pernegg cloister attended by ambassadors and cultural attaches of Canada, Germany, Switzerland and India as well as representatives of the Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Baha'i communities of Austria.
Mr. Sahba received the award in recognition of "the magnitude of the service of [this] Taj Mahal of the 20th century in promoting the unity and harmony of people of all nations, religions and social strata, to an extent unsurpassed by any other architectural monument worldwide." A model of the Temple, brought specially for the occasion from the museum of the World Center for Peace in Verdun, France, was on public display for one month in the nearby town of Horn.
In France, the magazine "Actualite des Religions" published a four-page article on the Lotus Temple in the fall of 2000 in a special edition called "Les religions et leurs chef-d'Ouvres" (Religions and Their Masterpieces).
In Spain, the Centro Andaluz de Fotografia published "Arquitectos de Unidad," a coffee table book featuring photographs of the House of Worship.
In India, national newspapers recently carried a 2-page advertisement for IndiaTimes with an image of the Lotus Temple and the legend: "One of the most visited sites in India. The Baha'i Temple, an architectural landmark. Through these gates millions of people enter, and find what they are looking for."
The House of Worship was dedicated to public worship in 1986 and has since become one of the most visited buildings in the world, with an average of 3 million visitors each year. In the first few years of its existence, the House of Worship won numerous architectural and engineering awards, including a "special award" from the Institution of Structural Engineers of the U.K. in 1987; the "Excellence in Religious Art and Architecture 1987" First Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects; and an award in 1990 from the American Concrete Institute recognizing it as one of the finest concrete structures of the world. | 28.6138954 | 77.2090057 |
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90 | 2000-12-18 | OSLO | Norway | [] | Interfaith dialogue participants meet with King of Norway | Interfaith dialogue participants meet with King of Norway OSLO, Norway — Participants in a national interfaith dialogue project met privately with King Harald V of Norway on 11 December 2000 to present the results of the year-long project and discuss their commitment to extending and broadening the dialogue into the future.
Last year, the King was the guest of honor at the launching of the interfaith dialogue project, held at the University Aula with Professor Hans Kung and the Bishop of Oslo, Mr. Gunnar Stalsett, as the keynote speakers. Six dialogue groups - on the issues of religious freedom; family life; cohabitation, sexuality and equality; environmental issues; violence and non-violence; and religious and values education - were formed at the event and have continued to meet throughout the year.
"The personal interest shown by His Majesty in interfaith dialogue was deeply appreciated by all the participants and has lent weight to the project," said Mrs. Britt Strandlie Thoresen, who represented the Baha'i Faith at the meeting. "In the year since we launched this effort, we have formed bonds of fellowship and understanding among Norway's various faith communities, which we hope will contribute to an atmosphere that welcomes diversity in our increasingly multicultural country."
The interfaith dialogue project was sponsored by Norway's Commission on Human Values and the Cooperation Council on Religious and Life-stance Communities, one of Norway's principal interfaith organizations. According to a government press release, the Commission on Human Values was appointed in January 1998 with a three-year mandate to "contribute to a broad mobilization for human values and socio-ethics," to "enhance positive joint values, and strengthen the responsibility for the environment and community" and "to work against indifference, and promote personal responsibility, participation and democracy."
The representatives who met with the King were Mr. Dag Hareide, member of the Values Commission and main initiator of the project; Mr. Egil Lothe, head of the Buddhist organization in Norway; Mr. Inge Eidsvag, member of the board of the Values Commission; Mrs. Nazim Riaz of the Islamic Council of Norway; Rev. Ornulf Steen of the Church of Norway; Mrs. Barbro Sveen, coordinator of the Cooperation Council for Religions and Life-stance Communities; and Mrs. Thoresen, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Norway.
The half-hour meeting with the King took place at the Royal Castle in Oslo. Mr. Hareide gave an overview of the work of the six dialogue groups in the year since the opening event at the University Aula.
"This led to a broad conversation about the importance of interfaith dialogue, its possibilities and limits, and its importance as a step toward the removal of prejudices, toward mutual respect and deep tolerance, leading in the end to a peace-building process," Mrs. Thoresen reported.
"His Majesty told us about his school days and preparation for religious confirmation and said that he had been given broad information about other religions as early as in 1953. He found this very valuable, he said, because Norway is now a multicultural and multi-religious country and he represents all inhabitants of Norway. The King stated the importance of listening to each other, and not using the dialogue project as a platform for persisting in one's own viewpoints."
Because the mandate of Values Commission expires at the end of December 2000, the Cooperation Council on Religious and Life-stance Communities will take on the task of carrying forward the dialogues. | 59.9133301 | 10.7389701 |
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91 | 2001-02-05 | PERTH | Australia | [] | Full-length feature film, inspired by the Baha'i writings, premieres in Australia | Full-length feature film, inspired by the Baha'i writings, premieres in Australia PERTH, Australia — A tale of love and oppression, set in Australia's Outback in the 1890s and focusing on the story of an Aboriginal girl and a group of Lutheran missionaries, had its world premiere at the Perth International Arts Festival today.
The full-length feature film, entitled "Serenades," was written and directed by Mojgan Khadem, an Iranian-born Baha'i from Adelaide, South Australia. The film received a glowing review ahead of its release in an industry publication, Screen International, where critic Frank Hatherley described it as an international gem."
"Sandra Levy's production is a small miracle, with exquisite landscape cinematography by Russell Boyd and a moving cross-ethnic soundtrack," Mr. Hatherley wrote.
Shot on location in the South Australian outback, Serenades is Ms. Khadem's first feature film. It stars Alice Haines and Aden Young. Producer Sandra Levy and director of photography Russell Boyd both have a long list of major films to their credit.
"Serenades" is set in the 1890s when German Lutheran missionaries were trying to bring Christianity to South Australia's Aboriginal people. It tells the story of a young woman who has an Afghan father and an Aboriginal mother.
"The film does have a love story at the very center of it," said Ms. Khadem. "It's basically a journey of one woman through very diverse cultures and religions. And it's a journey where she is desperately searching for identity, for a sense of love."
Ms. Khadem said she found her inspiration for the story in the Baha'i writings.
"One day when I was reading the Book of Certitude, I came across a quote from Baha'u'llah, which made it very clear what my film needed to be about. It needed to be about oppression, and what that oppression meant," she explained.
"At the centre of that idea was an Aboriginal girl who felt this grave oppression that Baha'u'llah speaks about, where she looks everywhere for God, but she can't find Him," Ms. Khadem said.
The passage that inspired her was this: "What 'oppression' is greater than that which hath been recounted? What 'oppression' is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied."
Ms. Khadem's family left Iran in 1978, and settled in Spain as refugees before migrating to Australia three years later.
Her interest in film developed from a passion for theatre and, later, photography. She graduated from the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1991.
The film cost $3.7 million Australian dollars to make. More than half the funding came from Australian government's Film Finance Corporation. The rest came from the private Southern Star company and the South Australian Film Corporation. Palace Films has purchased the Australian distribution rights.
After screening for two weeks at the Perth Festival, the film is expected to open across Australia in April.
-- Reported by Susan Couhbor | -31.9527121 | 115.8604796 |
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92 | 2001-03-21 | GENEVA | Switzerland | [] | Baha'is release statement on racial tolerance | Baha'is release statement on racial tolerance GENEVA — In observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed 21 March each year, the Baha'i International Community released the following statement, which was presented to Mary Robinson, the High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"The coming together of the peoples of the world in a harmonious and creative relationship is the crucial need of the present hour. In the wake of advances in human knowledge which have deepened bonds of interdependence and contracted the planet, the central task now before all its inhabitants is laying the foundations of a global society that can reflect the oneness of human nature. Creating such a universal culture of collaboration and conciliation will require a return to spiritual awareness and responsibility.
"More than a century ago, Baha'u'llah declared that humankind was entering a new era in its history when accelerating processes of unification would soon compel recognition that humanity is a single people with a common destiny. In appealing to humanity to accept the central truth of its oneness, and to set aside the barriers of race, religion and nationality which have been the principal causes of conflict throughout history, Baha'u'llah urges, 'regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.' There is, He said, no possibility of achieving world peace until the fundamental principle of unity has been accepted and given practical effect in the organization of society: 'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.' And: 'Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship...So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.'
"The unity that must underpin a peaceful and just social order is a unity which embraces and honors diversity. Oneness and diversity are complementary and inseparable. That human consciousness necessarily operates through an infinite diversity of individual minds and motivations detracts in no way from its essential unity. Indeed, it is precisely an inhering diversity that distinguishes unity from homogeneity or uniformity. Acceptance of the concept of unity in diversity, therefore, implies the development of a global consciousness, a sense of world citizenship, and a love for all of humanity. It induces every individual to realize that, since the body of humankind is one and indivisible, each member of the human race is born into the world as a trust of the whole. It further suggests that if a peaceful international community is to emerge, then the complex and varied cultural expressions of humanity must be allowed to develop and flourish, as well as to interact with one another in ever-changing patterns of civilization. 'The diversity in the human family,' the Baha'i writings emphasize, 'should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.'
"From this basic principle of the unity of the earth's peoples is derived virtually all concepts concerning human liberty and well-being. If the human race is one, any notion that a particular racial, ethnic, or national group is in some way superior to the rest of humanity must be dismissed; society must reorganize its life to give practical expression to the principle of equality for all its members regardless of color, creed or gender; and all individuals must be given the opportunity to realize their inherent potential and thereby contribute to 'an ever-advancing civilization.'
"For too much of history, the evil of racism has violated human dignity. Its influence has retarded the development of its victims, corrupted its perpetrators and blighted human progress. Overcoming its devastating effects will thus require conscious, deliberate and sustained effort. Indeed, nothing short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility and prayerful reflection will succeed in effacing its pernicious stain from human affairs. 'Close your eyes to racial differences,' is Baha'u'llah's counsel, 'and welcome all with the light of oneness.'
"Clearly, the promotion of tolerance and mutual understanding among the diverse segments of the human race cannot be a passive or rhetorical exercise. All forms of provincialism, all insularities and prejudices must be directly confronted. The implementation of appropriate legal measures that safeguard the rights and opportunities of all and the adoption of educational initiatives that foster human solidarity and global citizenship should be among the first practical steps taken by all nations.
"The moral leadership provided by religious communities must undoubtedly be a key component of any such effort. To ensure a constructive role for religion, however, the followers of all faiths must acknowledge the strife and suffering caused by those who have appropriated the symbols and instruments of religion for their own selfish purposes. Fanaticism and conflict poison the wells of tolerance and represent corrupt expressions of true religious values. The challenge facing all religious leaders is to contemplate, with hearts filled with the spirit of compassion and a desire for truth, the plight of humanity, and to ask themselves whether they cannot, in humility before their Almighty Creator, submerge their theological differences in a great spirit of mutual forbearance that will enable them to work together for the advancement of social justice and peace. In His exhortation 'to observe tolerance and righteousness,' Baha'u'llah affirms that it is possible to both believe in God and to be tolerant.
"The path of unity and reconciliation is the only path available to the human family. A world in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united is not a utopian vision but an inevitable and vital necessity. 'Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice,' Baha'u'llah warns. 'Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.' " | 46.2017559 | 6.1466014 |
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93 | 2001-04-19 | UNITED NATIONS | [] | Baha'i International Community issues statement on the spiritual dimension of sustainable development | Baha'i International Community issues statement on the spiritual dimension of sustainable development UNITED NATIONS — The Baha'i International Community today issued a statement, entitled "Sustainable Development: the Spiritual Dimension," for the first session of the United Nations Preparatory Committee of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Scheduled to be held 30 April-2 May at the United Nations in New York, the Preparatory Committee meeting will provide direction for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which is scheduled to be held next year in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Summit will focus on reviewing environmental progress made worldwide since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Here follows the complete text of the statement, which was issued by the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community:
Some nine years ago, over the course of the Earth Summit process, the governments of the world, with significant contributions from global civil society, crafted Agenda 21, a remarkably forward-looking strategy for the achievement of sustainable development worldwide.
Some nine years later, the work of determining the next steps in the evolution of Agenda 21 has been placed upon the shoulders of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Summit has been called to "identify major constraints hindering the implementation of Agenda 21" and to "address new challenges and opportunities that have emerged since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development." It is in identifying these major constraints, challenges and opportunities that the Summit's Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) must necessarily come face to face with spiritual issues.
"No matter how far the material world advances," the Baha'i Writings state, "it cannot establish the happiness of mankind. Only when material and spiritual civilization are linked and coordinated will happiness be assured... for in material civilization good and evil advance together and maintain the same pace."
The Baha'i International Community is convinced that unless and until spiritual issues become central to the development process, the establishment of a sustainable global civilization will prove impossible. For the vast majority of the world's people the idea that human nature is fundamentally spiritual is an incontrovertible truth. Indeed, this perception of reality is the defining cultural experience for most of the world's people and is inseparable from how they perceive themselves and the world around them. It is, therefore, only by bringing a focus on the spiritual dimension of human reality that development policies and programs can truly reflect the experiences, conditions and aspirations of the planet's inhabitants and elicit their heartfelt support and active participation.
On the one hand, the governments of the world have, collectively, begun to acknowledge a spiritual dimension to development. This can be seen in the global action plans that emerged from the great world conferences held in the 1990's by the United Nations. Agenda 21, for example, calls for "social, economic and spiritual development," recognizing that "individuals should be allowed to develop their full potential, including healthy physical, mental and spiritual development." Subsequent declarations and action plans have reinforced this call and gone further. For example, in the Copenhagen Declaration the governments of the world unambiguously affirm that "our societies must respond more effectively to the material and spiritual needs of individuals, their families and the communities in which they live... not only as a matter of urgency but also as a matter of sustained and unshakeable commitment through the years ahead." In the Beijing Platform for Action they agree that "[r] ligion, spirituality and belief play a central role in the lives of millions of women and men, in the way they live and in the aspirations they have for the future." And in the Habitat Agenda, the world's governments commit to "achieving a world of greater stability and peace, built on ethical and spiritual vision."
On the other hand, beyond such general statements and commitments, these global agreements offer little understanding of what the terms "spirituality," "spiritual vision," and "spiritual development" mean in principle or in practice. If, indeed, spirituality is as crucial to sustainable development as these global action plans have avowed, then it is time to move beyond generalities, to explore, in depth, the spiritual principles at the heart of development and to consider fully their ramifications for all stages of the development process.
This exploration of spiritual principles is completely in line with the PrepCom's mandate to "identify major constraints hindering the implementation of Agenda 21" and to "address new challenges and opportunities that have emerged" since the Earth Summit. Any strategies for overcoming such constraints and challenges as war, poverty, social disintegration, extreme nationalism, greed, corruption and apathy, which do not take into account spiritual principles will prove ephemeral, at best. In considering new opportunities for overcoming these constraints and challenges, the PrepCom should look to the remarkable development of interfaith relations and the expansion of interfaith initiatives. Religious and spiritual traditions are increasingly coming together to foster friendliness, fellowship and understanding among their diverse communities. They are also increasingly working together on policies, programs and initiatives with secular bodies ranging from private enterprises and organizations of civil society, to governments and international institutions. In such work, religious and spiritual value systems are viewed not as separate from "real world concerns," but as vital sources of knowledge and motivation, as wellsprings of values, insights, and energy without which social cohesion and collective action are difficult, if not impossible, to achieve.
This blossoming of interfaith work can be seen in such initiatives as the World Faiths Development Dialogue; the World Conference on Religion and Peace; the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC); the Parliament of the World's Religions; and the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders. It can be read in the numerous joint declarations and agreements in which the religions have articulated a common vision of humanity's future based on such universal principles as love, justice, compassion, moderation, humility, sharing, service, peace and the oneness of the human family.
In seeking to incorporate spiritual principles into its deliberations, the PrepCom should take advantage of this new stage in the relations among the world's religions. It might do so by making the topic "Sustainable Development: the Spiritual Dimension" one of the "main themes for the Summit." It could then initiate a major review of international agreements, proclamations and statements which focus on religious and spiritual values, particularly as they relate to and impact the development process. This review should begin with the global action plans of the world conferences of the 1990's, since it was here that the governments of the world publicly acknowledged the importance of spiritual values in development. It should then be expanded to include major interfaith declarations and agreements and other relevant initiatives.
While this review is being conducted, the PrepCom could facilitate a series of consultations involving both representatives and leaders of various religious and spiritual traditions. These consultations, which might be held before the next PrepCom, should focus on spiritual principles as they relate to Agenda 21 and sustainable development. A series of regional consultations followed by an international consultation might be held, or, if that is not feasible, then, at the very least, an international consultation should be organized. The results of these consultations and of the "documents review" should be issued as a UN document for use by the PrepCom in its deliberations.
Although these proposed efforts are modest, the world's governments would, by supporting them, be sending a clear message that they are serious about their previous commitments to incorporate spiritual considerations into the development process. More important, however, the "documents review" and the global consultations would undoubtedly produce innovative ideas and approaches and might possibly generate a powerful vision based on spiritual principles - principles which, because they resonate with the human soul, have the power to motivate the sacrifices and changes that will be needed if humanity is to overcome the seemingly intractable problems it faces.
Ultimately, the creation of a peaceful and just global civilization, in which the diverse peoples of the world live in harmony with one another and with the natural world, will require a significant reorientation of individual and collective goals and a profound transformation in attitudes and behaviors. Such far-reaching changes will come about only by addressing the non-material dimension of reality and drawing on humanity's vast spiritual resources.
end -
To read the statement with footnotes, go to:
http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/01-0430.htm | ||||
94 | 2001-04-15 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Opening of Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel to be available live around the world by satellite | Opening of Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel to be available live around the world by satellite HAIFA, Israel — Coverage of ceremonies inaugurating a series of majestic terrace gardens extending nearly one kilometer up the side of Mount Carmel will be available live by satellite around the world on 22 and 23 May 2001.
More than 3,000 Baha'is from some 170 countries are expected to attend the outdoor event on the evening of 22 May, which will feature an original oratorio, performed by a symphony orchestra and choir assembled at the base of the terraces. At the height of the ceremony, the kilometer-long terraces will be dramatically illuminated. They extend from the base to the crest of a mountain that has been considered holy throughout recorded history.
The ceremonies will mark the end of a 10-year, US$250 million project to complete key elements of the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha'i Faith. Two major administrative buildings have also been completed on Mount Carmel during the project.
On 23 May, following concert and inauguration, indigenous performers will lead a devotional program, and the thousands of celebrants, many in colorful national dress, will ascend the terraces for the first time. This event will also be carried live by satellite.
"Given the universal character of the Faith and its vision for global unity and peace, it makes sense that coverage of these events is available worldwide, " said Douglas Samimi-Moore, director of the Office of Public Information at the Baha'i World Centre. "This celebration tells a story of sacrifice, of transformation from deprivation and darkness into beauty and light. That such a diverse and widespread community could complete these tasks and share them with the people of the world should give us all confidence for the future."
The celebration of the opening of the gardens will last through the week. The festivities precede the opening of the gardens to the public in June, when visitors and tourists of all backgrounds and beliefs will be able to enjoy the gardens, everyday, free of charge.
Satlink Communications Ltd will be transmitting the events from 13.30 – 17.30 GMT on 22 May, and from 05.30 – 08.30 GMT on 23 May. Inside Israel, the events can be seen on the EUTELSAT W1 and on television channel 9. Outside Israel, coverage will be on EUTELSAT-W1 (Israel, Europe and the Middle East), INTELSAT 604- (Africa Coverage), ASIASAT 2 (Asia Coverage), TELSTAR 6 (North America), NSS 806 (South America), and NSS 803 (USA).
The Israel Broadcasting Authority is also preparing a full-length live radio broadcast of the May 22 event on its flagship music station, Kol Israel (Voice of Israel), with narration. The IBA will also act as the sponsoring station to carry the program to the European Broadcast Union and thereby to national radio outlets in many member countries.
More information about the satellite up-link of the opening of the Terraces is available at http://terraces.bahai.org/satellite.en.html. | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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96 | 2001-05-02 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Live web cast of opening ceremonies of Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel | Live web cast of opening ceremonies of Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel HAIFA, Israel — The opening ceremonies of the Baha'i terraces on Mount Carmel will be carried on a live, on-demand Web cast on 22 May 2001 at 15:00 GMT.
The Web cast will enable the public and many of the world's five million Baha'is to watch the proceedings from their homes.
The ceremonies will mark the end of a 10-year, US$250 million project to complete key elements of the spiritual and administrative center of the Baha'i Faith. The majestic garden terraces now stretch one kilometer from the crest of the mountain to the base, and surround the gold-domed Shrine of the Bab, a well-known symbol of the city of Haifa.
More than 3,000 Baha'is from 170 countries are expected to attend the open-air event on the evening of 22 May, which will feature specially commissioned music by contemporary composers from Norway and Tajikistan. At the height of the ceremony, the terraces will be dramatically illuminated.
The free Web cast will be accessible on the Baha'i World News Service at www.bahaiworldnews.org in Real Media format and will be archived for future access. Other Web sites are free to establish links to this site for the Web cast.
The Web cast is copyrighted and may not be used for commercial purposes. An official set of VHS tapes will be available for sale at a later date. | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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115 | 2001-05-15 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | High excitement and lofty expectations for Baha'is heading to Israel for terraces inauguration ceremony | High excitement and lofty expectations for Baha'is heading to Israel for terraces inauguration ceremony HAIFA, Israel — When Henrietta Josias arrives here at the end of the week, it will be her first time in Israel -- and only the second time in her life to travel outside of her native South Africa.
Like an estimated 3,000 other Baha'is who will be coming for the inauguration of a majestic series of garden terraces on Mount Carmel here on 22 May, Ms. Josias comes with high excitement and lofty expectations for what she believes will be one of the highlights of her life.
"To me, it is a phenomenal thing that is happening to me," said the 45-year-old mother and flea market sales lady from Cape Town. "Prior to becoming a Baha'i, I would never have had any idea about traveling to Israel, or anywhere else for that matter, coming from a very disadvantaged community in South Africa.
"But being a Baha'i opens your vision to the world around you," said Ms. Josias, who became a Baha'i nine years ago. "I feel I'm part of this great process where people are trying to become citizens of this whole wide world and so that we see one another as brothers and sisters."
That sentiment -- to help foster the processes of world peace and human unity -- indeed underlies the construction of the kilometer-long terraces on Mount Carmel, which is sacred not only to Baha'is but also to Christians, Jews and Muslims. Built over 10 years at a cost of some US$250 million, the terraces and two new adjacent administrative buildings are designed in part to offer to humanity at large a vision of peace and harmony.
Dedication ceremonies will begin at dusk on 22 May 2001 with an open-air world premiere concert, which will be available live worldwide by satellite and Internet webcast. On 23 May, indigenous musicians will perform and the thousands of celebrants, many in colorful national dress, will ascend the terraces for the first time.
The diversity of the gathering will itself reflect the ideals of the Baha'i Faith, which aims to enlist people everywhere, from all races, religions and nationalities, in a common endeavor to build a just, peaceful and ever-advancing civilization. There are about five million Baha'is and the Faith is the second-most widespread independent religion after Christianity, with communities in more than 200 countries and territories.
"It will be like a 'preview' of how the world will become in the future, showing a cross-section of humankind coming together in unity," said Nogol Rahbin, a 20-year-old medical student, who will be among the delegation from Sweden. "To me, this will be a chance to experience the vision that the founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah, gave to humanity about 150 years ago."
Baha'i communities from more than 170 countries are planning to send delegations. And the list of delegates likewise spans the gamut of professions, social and economic class, and racial and religious backgrounds.
Attendees range from a New York investment banker to a young woman from the Fulnio people in northeastern Brazil; from a Nepalese journalist to an architectural student from Belarus.
"To me, this event will show how a great many people, from all different locations and backgrounds, can come together in unity, to help create something as close to perfection as I can think of," said Alexandar Sawka, a 17-year-old student from St. Johns, Antigua, West Indies. "The completion of a project of this magnitude is a great step forward for any religion."
The delegates were chosen by various means to represent their countries at the inauguration ceremonies by their National Spiritual Assemblies, the nation-level governing bodies in the Baha'i Faith. Limited to 19 delegates each, National Spiritual Assemblies around the world used different methods to choose their delegations. Some Assemblies gave weight to individuals who had given exemplary service over the years while others simply held a lottery.
Sara Nobre, like other members of the delegation from Portugal, was chosen by lot. The 24-year-old staffing manager from Lisbon feels incredibly lucky.
"The event is the end result of many years of hard work from Baha'is everywhere," said Ms. Nobre, who, like millions of other Baha'is, contributed funds to the project, which was built entirely with donations from Baha'is around the world. "It is the fruit of perseverance and love."
Jean Scales, one of the delegates from the United States of America, feels honored to have been selected. "I couldn't believe it at first," said Jean Scales, a 71-year-old retired English professor who now lives in Durham, North Carolina. "I have no idea why I've been chosen. I guess it is because I've been active over the years."
Dr. Scales has served the Faith on a number of levels since becoming a Baha'i in 1960. Last year, for example, she toured South Africa and Swaziland with her husband, Jay, to promote the Faith's ideals.
Like others selected to travel to Haifa, she views the inauguration of the terraces as a once-in-a-lifetime event, one that she believes will likewise showcase the Faith's message and teachings.
"The construction of these gardens is a reason for humanity to have hope," said Dr. Scales. "So many people just don't see any hope in the world today, between wars and rumors of wars. But this shows that humankind can come together."
Dr. Scales believes that the beauty of the gardens -- she has seen numerous photographs of them -- reflects the harmonious blend of spiritual and material attributes that Baha'is believe is needed in the world.
"Around the world, Baha'is are asked to engage in social and economic development projects to do things that will help their communities," she said. "They don't just pray. Rather, they seek to combine the material and the spiritual."
Dr. Scales and others also believe that the completion of the Baha'i projects on Mount Carmel, which include the construction of two new administrative buildings, also represent a significant fulfillment of prophecy, both for Baha'is and others.
"I do know that Mount Carmel is important in Christian and Jewish history, and that the Holy Land itself is important to many of the religions in the world," she said. "In the main Christian prayer, they speak of 'Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.' To me, this is a fulfillment of that prayer in that we Baha'is believe we are helping to build the Kingdom of God on earth." | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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117 | 2001-05-20 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Seeing Mount Carmel terraces for the first time, Baha'is feel as if they are in "paradise" | Seeing Mount Carmel terraces for the first time, Baha'is feel as if they are in "paradise" HAIFA, Israel — Like so many others among the some 3,000 Baha'is
arriving here today and seeing for the first time a series of magnificent gardened
terraces on Mount Carmel, Salomeea Romanescu of Romania could only compare her
experience to visiting "paradise on earth."
"The sound of the water is like a divine song," said the 37-year-old educator from
Bucharest. "Combined with the smell of the flowers and the harmony of the colors, all
these sensations, they give you a feeling of plentitude and peace.
"I was wanting all my life to feel such a feeling of peace and harmony and I am very
happy now to be able to come here and experience it," she added.
Arriving today for a week-long program of activities in celebration of the
inauguration of the terraces were Baha'i delegations representing more than 180
countries. They came with high hopes and great expectations, eager to get a look at a
project that, over the last ten years and at a cost of some $250 million, has
virtually reshaped Mount Carmel.
"It has been my dream to come here, and now my dreams have come true," said Jaipal
Bali Singh, a 42-year-old businessman from Srinagar, Kashmir, India, who has been a
Baha'i since 1986. "For me, this is the holiest place on earth."
Indeed, Mount Carmel, which is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims, also looms
large in Baha'i history and prophetic expectations. Baha'u'llah, the Faith's
Founder, chose Mount Carmel as the site of the spiritual and administrative center of
His cause in the 1890s when He was a prisoner here of the Ottoman Empire and the
mountain slope was covered with little more than rocks and shrubs. He prophesied much
greatness for Mount Carmel in the future.
Now, the fact that such extraordinary gardens, as well as two majestic new
administrative buildings, have arisen from those humble beginnings is a source of
great pride to Baha'is, who raised the funds for their completion entirely from among
themselves.
"When I arrived, I came here directly from the bus and tears just came to my eyes
because of the beauty and spirituality of these terraces," said Jean-Marie Nau, a
delegate from Luxembourg. "This is a fulfillment of the prophecies of our Faith, that
these structures would be built here."
The celebration of the completion of these projects begins on Monday with a
devotional visit by the 3,000 Baha'is assembled here to the resting place of
Baha'u'llah, at Bahji, located across Haifa Bay in the city of Acre.
On Tuesday, 22 May, the delegates will assemble for a concert at the base of Mount
Carmel to officially inaugurate the terraces, which extend nearly one kilometer up
the mountainside. The concert will feature the premier of two orchestral works
composed especially for the occasion. Hundreds of Baha'i communities in other
countries are expected to watch the concert and inaugural ceremony through a live
satellite feed and Webcast.
On Wednesday, the 3000 delegates will ascend the mountain as a group, climbing the
stairs towards the Shrine of the Bab, which is the focus of the terraces and the
second-most holy place to Baha'is after Bahji.
On Thursday and Friday, further cultural, informational and devotional programs will
be held on Mount Carmel and at the nearby Haifa Convention Centre.
"Over the course of the next few days, the Baha'is gathered here from around the
world will celebrate what we feel is a significant achievement in the creation of
these terraces," said Douglas Samimi-Moore, Program Coordinator for the inaugural
events. "One of the themes to the overall program will be a look back at the growth
and development of the Baha'i Faith in the 20th century -- and a look ahead at the
future.
"The people gathered here represent the kind of world we are working for as Baha'is,
a unified community of people from every nation, religion, race, ethnic group and
culture," said Mr. Samimi-Moore. "And they are people, by and large, who have been
working towards this goal, whether in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe or other
regions of the world."
Many of the participants arriving today indeed felt that the diversity of the
gathering itself is very much a fulfillment of Baha'u'llah's vision for humanity.
"To meet so many brothers and sisters, from different countries, speaking different
languages, it brings me great happiness," said Claudio Limachi, a member of the
Quechua people who is part of the delegation from Bolivia. "I feel like I am next to
God, with people of different colors, from different places, and that we are flowers
of one garden."
Peter Wathum Onega, a 48-year-old farmer from a remote village in northwestern
Uganda, also said that the combination of beautiful gardens and diverse people was
his idea of heaven.
"When you see this place, you see that peace can come in the world," said Mr. Onega.
"The beauty here, it can bring people together. It is, like the Bible says, the
Kingdom of God on earth." | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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118 | 2001-05-21 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Complex challenges for Baha'is in putting on an outdoor celebration for thousands | Complex challenges for Baha'is in putting on an outdoor celebration for thousands HAIFA, Israel — Gry Kvalheim worked behind the scenes on logistical arrangements for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and also the 1992 Baha'i World Congress, which brought some 30,000 Baha'is from around the world to New York.
She nevertheless counts the inauguration of a series of majestic garden terraces tomorrow on Mount Carmel as one of the most complex undertakings she's ever been involved with.
Among other things, the celebration this week entailed making travel and hotel arrangements for 3,000 Baha'is from more than 180 countries, the construction of a 4,000-seat temporary amphitheater, and the coordination of a musical program that brings together a symphony orchestra from Israel, a choir from Romania, and soloists from around the world. More than 60 buses have been hired just to shuttle participants around.
"This is one of the biggest events in Israel this year, and certainly one of the biggest in Haifa ever," said Ms. Kvalheim, who is Managing Director of the Inaugural Events Office, which has organized the celebration. "We've essentially had to book every hotel room in Haifa and in surrounding cities, from Nahariyya on the other side of Acre to Zichron Ya'acov in the south."
Ms. Kvalheim, who has been a Baha'i since 1959, also feels the assignment is the most significant she has ever undertaken.
"As a Baha'i, I don't think you can even fathom the importance of this event," she said, noting that the scriptures of the Baha'i Faith promise that such structures would one day grace the slope of Mount Carmel. "For us, it is prophecy fulfilled."
Built at a cost of some $250 million, the 19 garden terraces and two nearby administrative buildings are being offered up to the world this week as a demonstration of how diverse peoples can come together in peace and harmony.
The worldwide Baha'i community of some five million people from virtually every background and nation have sacrificed and labored in a spirit of love and unity over the last decade to fund and complete the project.
Today, in celebration of the project's completion, the 3,000 Baha'is gathered here visited the Shrine of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. Located in the city of Acre, across the bay from Haifa, the Shrine of Baha'u'llah is the most holy place in the world for Baha'is. The program featured prayers and devotional elements designed to spiritually prepare them for the week ahead.
On Tuesday, the terraces will be formally inaugurated with a world premiere concert of two orchestral works composed specifically for the occasion and the reading of a message from the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. The concert and ceremonies will be available worldwide by satellite and webcast. Dozens of representatives of the international media have expressed a desire to attend and cover the event.
Making logistical arrangements for the concert and inaugural ceremonies, which will continue until Friday, has been a huge undertaking, made more complex because the concert will be held outside, at the base of Mount Carmel.
The Inaugural Events Office has arranged for the construction of a massive 4,000-seat temporary amphitheater around the plaza that forms the first terrace on the mountainside, at the top of Ben Gurion Avenue. This has necessitated closing the intersection of Ben Gurion Avenue and Hagefen Street, one of the city busiest locations, to automobile traffic for two weeks. The Inaugural Events Office has collaborated closely with the City of Haifa throughout the project.
"We consider the gardens a gift to us," said Moshe Tzur, managing director of the Haifa Tourist Board. "We hope it will become one of the main tourist attractions in the world. And the people of Haifa, they understand and are more than happy about it."
Jack Lenz, music director for the event, said the holding of such a concert outside, in a temporary amphitheater, entailed numerous special musical concerns.
"We're not doing this with the natural acoustics of a hall, and the challenge is how do you make it sound good outside," said Mr. Lenz, who is himself a well-known composer, artist and producer in Canada.
One potential problem is excess wind, which could create unwanted noise. To counter that, wind socks will be put on all microphones.
"You plan and do what you can do and then you leave the rest up to God," said Mr. Lenz. "I'm assuming the weather will be great and the wind will be low."
As well, said Mr. Lenz, concerts held outside often lack the fullness of sound that is heard in a concert hall, where the sound waves are reflected off the walls and ceiling. To compensate, they will put individual microphones on each instrument in the orchestra, instead of at just a few locations, and then add reverberation or other effects at the mixing console.
Like Ms. Kvalheim, Mr. Lenz feels that an extraordinary sense of history and importance surrounding the inauguration.
"This is a unique event in the Baha'i dispensation," said Mr. Lenz. "The terraces will be here for hundreds of years. The mountain itself has been celebrated in the Judeo-Christian religious tradition for thousands of years. In the Bible, for example, Isaiah talks about songs of "everlasting joy" on Mount Carmel.
"More than 75 percent of the program on Tuesday night is music," added Mr. Lenz. "So that fits in with the whole prophetic vision of the mountain."
In addition to the participation of more than 3,000 Baha'is from around the world, several hundred dignitaries are expected to attend the concert tomorrow. The list of confirmed attendees includes a number of government ministers, several Israeli Supreme Court justices, ambassadors and members of the Israeli Knesset.
"The project and its completion has provoked an unexpectedly enthusiastic response within Israel," said Albert Lincoln, secretary general of the Baha'i International Community.
Dr. Lincoln said during Passover, for example, the number of Israeli visitors to the gardens that immediately surround the Shrine of the Bab, which have long been open to the public, exceeded 12,000 visitors on one day. Previously, he said, visits to those gardens ran from 1,000 to 2,000 on Jewish holy days.
"Likewise, the response to the invitations sent out for the opening ceremonies has been far beyond anything anticipated by professional events organizers or any previous experience we've had," said Dr. Lincoln.
In anticipation of the thousands more who will want to visit the terraces, which will be opened to the public on 4 June, a special computerized reservation system has been set up and a new group of tour guides have been trained. Ultimately, it is expected that more than a million people a year will visit the terraces. The tours will be offered at no charge. | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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119 | 2001-05-22 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Statement of the Universal House of Justice for the opening of the Terraces on Mount Carmel | Statement of the Universal House of Justice for the opening of the Terraces on Mount Carmel HAIFA, Israel — Statement of the Universal House Justice on the occasion of the official opening of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab, 22 May 2001
As delivered by Dr. Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community:
With joyful and thankful hearts, we welcome all who have come from near and far to join us on this auspicious occasion for the Baha'is of the world. We acknowledge with deep appreciation the presence of so many distinguished guests.
A century and a half have passed since that unspeakable tragedy in the northwest of Persia when the Bab faced the volley fired at Him from the rifles of 750 soldiers. The soldiers had followed the orders of the highest authorities in the land. The Bab's mangled body was then thrown on the side of a moat outside the city, abandoned to what His cold-blooded persecutors thought would be a dishonourable fate. They had hoped thus to put an end to the growing influence of His teachings on masses of people throughout the country. These masses had accepted, in the face of intense persecution, the Bab's claim to prophethood, and their lives were being transformed spiritually and morally as He prepared them for what He said was the dawn of a new age in which a world civilization would be born and flourish. The expectations that stirred countless hearts were heightened even more sublimely by the Bab's announcement that One greater than He would soon arise, One who would reveal the unparalleled character of the promised world civilization that would signify the coming of age of the entire human race.
We are met not to lament the tragedy of the Bab's martyrdom and the persecutions that followed; rather have we come to celebrate the culmination and acknowledge the meaning of an unprecedented project that had its beginning over a century ago. It was then that Baha'u'llah, Whom the Ottoman authorities had banished to Acre to serve out His days in confinement, visited Mount Carmel and selected the spot where the remains of His Herald would be interred. We humbly trust that the wondrous result achieved by the completion of the nineteen terraced gardens, at the heart of which rises the Shrine of the Bab, is a fitting fulfilment of the vision initiated by Baha'u'llah.
The sufferings sustained by the Bab so as to arouse humanity to the responsibilities of its coming age of maturity were themselves indications of the intensity of the struggle necessary for the world's people to pass through the age of humanity's collective adolescence. Paradoxical as it may seem, this is a source of hope. The turmoil and crises of our time underlie a momentous transition in human affairs. Simultaneous processes of disintegration and integration have clearly been accelerating throughout the planet since the Bab appeared in Persia. That our Earth has contracted into a neighbourhood, no one can seriously deny. The world is being made new. Death pangs are yielding to birth pangs. The pain shall pass when members of the human race act upon the common recognition of their essential oneness. There is a light at the end of this tunnel of change beckoning humanity to the goal destined for it according to the testimonies recorded in all the Holy Books.
The Shrine of the Bab stands as a symbol of the efficacy of that age-old promise, a sign of its urgency. It is, as well, a monument to the triumph of love over hate. The gardens which surround that structure, in their rich variety of colours and plants, are a reminder that the human race can live harmoniously in all its diversity. The light that shines from the central edifice is as a beacon of hope to the countless multitudes who yearn for a life that satisfies the soul as well as the body.
This inextinguishable hope stems from words such as these from the Pen of Baha'u'llah: "This is the Day in which God's most excellent favours have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace has been infused into all created things." May all who strive, often against great odds, to uphold principles of justice and concord be encouraged by these assurances.
In reflecting on the years of effort invested in this daunting project, we are moved to express to the people of Haifa the warmth of the feeling in our hearts. Their city will for all time be extolled by the Baha'is everywhere as the place in which the mortal remains of the youthful Prophet-Herald of their Faith finally found refuge, and this after half a century of having to be secretly moved for protection from one place to another in His native land. The patience and cordiality shown towards the Baha'is throughout the most difficult years of the construction work exemplify the spirit of goodwill in which so much of the world stands so greatly in need. Haifa is providentially situated on Mount Carmel, with its immortal associations with saintly visionaries, whose concern throughout the ages was largely focused on the promise of peace. May Haifa achieve wide renown not just as a place of natural beauty but more especially as the city of peace.
Let the word go forth, then, from this sacred spot, from this Mountain of the Lord, that the unity and peace of the world are not only possible but inevitable. Their time has come. | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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120 | 2001-05-22 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | With a dramatic flourish, Baha'is unveil majestic garden terraces on Mount Carmel | With a dramatic flourish, Baha'is unveil majestic garden terraces on Mount Carmel HAIFA, Israel — In an expressive and emotionally powerful ceremony featuring a symphony orchestra, a 70-voice choir, a specially built 4,000-seat amphitheater, and the setting sun, Baha'is from more than 180 countries and their guests celebrated today the inauguration of a majestic series of garden terraces on the face of Mount Carmel.
For Baha'is here, and for co-religionists around the world who watched via satellite and internet webcast, it was a momentous event, marking the completion of a complex of buildings and gardens on what throughout history has been called "the Mountain of the Lord."
The Universal House of Justice, in a statement read during the ceremony, offered the project, the celebration surrounding it, and the golden-domed Shrine it glorifies, as sources of hope against the "turmoil and crises of our time."
"That our Earth has contracted into a neighborhood, no one can seriously deny," said the statement of the Faith's international governing body, which oversaw the construction of the project. "The world is being made new. Death pangs are yielding to birth pangs. The pain shall pass when members of the human race act upon the common recognition of their essential oneness.
"There is a light at the end of this tunnel of change, beckoning humanity to the goal destined for it according to the testimonies recorded in all the Holy Books. The Shrine of the Bab stands as a symbol of the efficacy of that age-old promise, a sign of its urgency.
"It is, as well, a monument to the triumph of love over hate," continued the statement. "The gardens that surround that structure, in their rich variety of colors and plants, are a reminder that the human race can live harmoniously in all its diversity."
The temporary amphitheater here, erected over the last week at the base of Mount Carmel, was packed with more than 3,000 Baha'is, more than 650 dignitaries from Israel and international embassies, and at least 100 representatives of the news media from around the world. The Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab illuminated at the climax of the “Terraces of Light” oratorio.The dignitaries present for the ceremony included several Israeli Government ministers and deputy ministers, three Israeli Supreme Court justices, and more than 30 ambassadors to Israel from around the world. Members of the Israeli Knesset and local officials, including the Mayors of Haifa and Acre, were also present, as were local and regional religious leaders.
The ceremony featured two orchestral works composed especially for the occasion. Towards the end of the second composition, and just as dusk was falling, the lights on the 19 newly constructed terraces, which extend nearly a kilometer up the north face of Mount Carmel, were gradually turned on, illuminating the mountainside in a dramatic climax.
"For the Baha'is gathered here, this was a profound act, an inauguration ceremony for a set of sacred gardens and new administrative buildings that mark the completion of our world center, an event we have worked towards for years," said Douglas Samimi-Moore, Director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community.
"This in a sense represents the coming of age of the Baha'i world community, which is emerging around the planet with the aim of helping to reshape and revitalize the social and spiritual life of humanity," said Mr. Samimi-Moore.
The focus of the terraces, and today's celebration, is the Shrine of the Bab, a golden-domed, white marble structure that is the second-most holy place to Baha'is in the world. It is the final resting place of the Bab, the Herald of the Baha'i Faith, who was born in Iran in 1819 and executed in 1850 at the order of religious authorities, who were challenged by His claim to prophethood and the rapid growth of His followers.
Much of the program today celebrated the ultimate triumph of the Bab and His message, in that there are now some five million Baha'is around the world, forming a community capable of financing and constructing the US$250 million complex of terraces, gardens and two major new buildings that have virtually reshaped the north face of Mount Carmel.
"Today we commemorate a sacred history of unexampled love, supreme sacrifice and divine vision," said Matthew Weinberg, Director of Research for the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information, in a speech to participants before the ceremony. "It is a narrative prefigured in the pronouncements of the great Seers of the past.
"As we stand awestruck at the majestic structures and the 'tapestry of beauty' now defining the face of God's Holy Mountain, and ponder the mysterious processes responsible for the remarkable transformation of this once barren domain, the words of Isaiah echo on all sides: '...Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the splendor of our God,' " said Mr. Weinberg.
Both of the orchestral works composed for today's inauguration are deeply connected to this theme. The first piece of music in the program was "O Queen of Carmel!," a cantata in three movements, written by Tolib Shahidi, a composer from Tajikistan. The second piece, "Terraces of Light," was composed by Lasse Thoresen, who is one of Norway's best known classical composers.
Mr. Shahidi's piece is based on a eulogy by Shoghi Effendi, who led the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957, to "the Queen of Carmel," as Baha'is sometimes refer to the Shrine of the Bab. Lyrical and melodic, it made for a serene opening work.
Mr. Thoresen's composition is an oratorio in five movements, corresponding to the five paragraphs and essential themes found in the stirring Tablet of Carmel, a key piece of Baha'i scripture, which was written by Baha'u'llah about the role that Mount Carmel plays in religious history and as the world center of His Cause. Its modern rhythms and complex intensity were stirring.
Both pieces were performed by the Israel Northern Symphony Haifa, under the direction of Stanley Sperber, with support from three Canadian soloists -- mezzo-soprano Patricia Green, tenor Stuart Howe and baritone Brett Polegato. Also featured were Austrian violinists Bijan Khadem-Missagh, his son Vahid and daughter Martha, and the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir of Cluj, Romania.
The interplay of human voices and the orchestra, in an outdoor setting at the foot of Mount Carmel, with the audience facing upward toward the beautifully illuminated Shrine of the Bab, was a moving experience for many of the participants, most of whom had been selected by their national Baha'i governing bodies to represent their country at this event.
The musical climax of "Terraces of Light" was timed to occur just after the sun had set, and as the music reached its crescendo. The 19 terraces were lit up one-by-one in a brilliant flourish that will be remembered by participants for a lifetime.
"It was stunning," said Nancy Oloro, a delegate from Zambia. "I felt myself in a different world. In the Baha'i writings, it is said that music gives wings to the soul. And I felt that."
The terraces themselves were also designed to glorify the Shrine of the Bab, said architect Fariborz Sahba, who designed them and oversaw their construction.
"In principle, whatever we have done on this mountain aims to provide an approach to the Shrine, to complement it and pay tribute to it," said Mr. Sabha, who also designed the world renowned Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India. "Our intention has not been merely to build just a beautiful garden. Beautiful gardens are everywhere. But these gardens are spiritual gardens."
He explained that they were designed principally with Baha'i pilgrims in mind, so that as they walked up the terraces towards the Shrine, believers could detach themselves from the outside world and focus on their own relationship with the Creator.
"Baha'is have made a tremendous sacrifice to build these monuments," Mr. Sahba said, explaining that donations for their construction came entirely from Baha'is, "dollar by dollar."
On 4 June, the terraces will be opened to the public. Because of the overwhelming interest in the terraces, a computer reservation system is being set up to take requests for guided tours, which will be offered at no cost.
"This extraordinary work of art that we are seeing on the mountain is a visible expression of inspiration that comes only from the Creator," said Albert Lincoln, Secretary General of the Baha'i International Community. "It is the same spirit of faith that built the great cathedrals of Europe and the great mosques, monasteries and religious monuments of the East.
"We think the world should consider the great vitality of this force and consider setting aside some of the negative stereotypes which have in this modern era come to characterize religion," said Dr. Lincoln. "In other words, we see these terraces and this event as an opportunity to see the positive force of faith at work." | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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121 | 2001-05-23 | HAIFA | Israel | [] | Thousands of Baha'is climb Mount Carmel as new terraces are inaugurated | Thousands of Baha'is climb Mount Carmel as new terraces are inaugurated HAIFA, Israel — Thousands of Baha'is from every race, nation and religious background today streamed up the face of Mount Carmel in a prayerful ascent toward the Shrine of the Bab, the second-most holy place in the Baha'i world.
The climb, made up a stately stone stairway that runs through the heart of a series of recently completed garden terraces, was an act of deep spiritual significance to the participants here.
Coming this week from some 180 nations to celebrate the inauguration of the terraces, which extend nearly a kilometer up the mountainside, those who made the climb said they were moved and uplifted by the experience. They will count it as one of the most meaningful of their lives.
"It was really soul-stirring," said Samuel Benjamin Obura, a 65-year-old sugarcane farmer from Kenya. "First of all, there was the beauty of the gardens and the Shrine. It gave one to think of many things.
"I thought of the suffering of the Bab," Mr. Obura continued. "He was put in prison and He was mocked and He was martyred and everyone thought that was the end.
"But now we see the glory that surrounds His Shrine and the adoration people feel when they visit it," he added.
The event today was part of a week-long program to celebrate the completion of a $250 million complex of buildings, gardens and terraces at the Baha'i World Centre. The terraces were built over the last 10 years with voluntary donations from the five million member worldwide Baha'i community. Baha'is view completion of the project as marking a major stage in the emergence of the Baha'i Faith on the world scene. The Congo Baha'i Youth Choir singing at a devotional program at the base of the Terraces on Mount Carmel prior to the ascent of the Terraces by thousands of Baha'is from around the world."The significance of this event is that it represents a kind of culmination of the development of the Baha'i World Centre on this mountain," said Penny Walker, a member of the International Teaching Centre here, a key Baha'i institution that focuses on advising national Baha'i communities on their growth and development.
"At the same time, we see that the Baha'i Faith is established in every country and territory of the world, bringing together an incredible cross-section of the human race, who are all committed to bringing people everywhere into one human family," said Dr. Walker.
The diversity of the worldwide Baha'i community was evident today as delegates made their way up Mount Carmel in a spirit of devotion. Many wore traditional native costumes and the procession was a showcase of the human garden, resplendent in all its races and colors.
The climb led Galina Iefremova, a 23-year-old teacher from Belarus, to think about the human race at large and its desire for peace.
"The idea that more than 3,000 people can come together to do this, it is an example that can show the way the world can be, without any problems or prejudice," said Ms. Iefremova, who became a Baha'i in 1993. "All over the world, people are waiting for this."
Maria Pancham, a 41-year-old airline personnel officer from Suriname, thought of how she will rededicate her life to seeing the positive side of life in all things, and to serving humanity when she returns home.
"How to you put it in words?" she said when asked about her experience. "It is a feeling of peace and relief and joy. It makes you want to serve humanity.
"I can't say I'm transformed, because right now I feel I am in a different world," she added. "So all I can do is pray that I will be able to take these feelings back home and not fall into the routine."
Leslie Serrano, a 20-year-old student from Mexico, said she also thought about the need to serve humanity and to make sacrifices in life to do so.
"I felt climbing those stairs was a reflection of what life represents when you begin at the bottom and you gradually have to take steps upward," Ms. Serrano said. "Sometimes it is hard and it takes sacrifice to get you where you are going."
Her dominant thought, however, was about the Biblical prophesy of Isaiah.
"I thought of where it says, 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it,' " she said, reciting the passage from memory.
"And when I saw all those people from all these nations, climbing up Mount Carmel, I felt that was the fulfillment of that prophesy," said Ms. Serrano. "It is a privilege without words to be part of that." | 32.8191218 | 34.9983856 |
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