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SYDNEY

Australia

Children conduct service in House of Worship

Children conduct service in House of Worship SYDNEY, Australia — A devotional service conducted by children was held in the Baha'i House of Worship here to celebrate Universal Children's Day. The children, many of whom do not come from Baha'i families, read from the scriptures of the Baha'i Faith and other religions. An unaccompanied choir -- with members aged between five and twelve years old -- provided the music. All the children participating in the event regularly attend Baha'i classes conducted either in government schools or after school hours. About 6,000 primary school children in Australia are attending Baha'i classes in more than 300 state-run schools. Offered mainly to provide religious instruction to Baha'i children, the classes are also attracting many children from families who are not members of the Baha'i Faith. The annual service, now in its 16th year, was held on 23 October 2005. It attracted 800 people, who filled the Temple to capacity. Some traveled many kilometers for the occasion. "We believe that it is important that children participate in the service as much as possible," said one of the organizers of the service, Mrs. Pouneh Sedghi. "They feel honored to be contributing in this way and practise for weeks leading up to the service. We believe that all children have wonderful qualities latent within them." Angela and Gary Cowan of Gosford with their children during face-painting and other recreational activities held in the grounds of the National Baha'i Centre adjacent to the House of Worship after the children's service.Positive comments came from many parents, including those who are not members of the Baha'i community, such as Jack Smoot and Alan Dickinson. "The focus on the children was excellent," said Mr. Smoot, the father of Morgan, a Year Four (fourth year of primary school) pupil who was one of the readers. Mr. Dickinson, the father of Daniel, a classmate of Morgan's, praised the inclusion of scriptures from all the world religions. "I think the thing we probably need most in this world is religious tolerance," Mr. Dickinson said. "All religions are supported and honored. I think that's the right way to go." Angela and Gary Cowan traveled with their three young children from Gosford, a town just north of Sydney. After attending the service last year, they were keen to come back again. "I think it's really special for my children to see other children taking the service," said Mrs. Cowan, a Baha'i. Her husband, Gary, who is not a Baha'i, said he is encouraged by the development of his seven-year-old son since he started attending Baha'i classes. "I think that since he has been participating, he has become such a level-headed kid -- it's amazing," Mr. Cowan said. "He is just really enjoying [being] part of the Baha'i culture and religion." In the grounds of the National Baha'i Centre adjacent to the House of Worship after the service there was a variety of activities including performances by dance and music groups, face painting, story telling, and a display of children's art on the theme of respect for the environment, and for people of different races, cultures, and religions. "This day is an opportunity for children to show their capacity and to feel the love and encouragement of the community around them." said Mrs. Sedghi. "So we organized activities which the entire family can enjoy." (Report by Yvonne Perkins.) (All photos, except of the House of Worship, by Saba Rouhani.) (For a story on Baha'i classes in state-run schools in Australia see see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=361)

-33.8548157

151.2164539

WASHINGTON

D.C.

United States

Professor and prince participate in seminar

Professor and prince participate in seminar WASHINGTON, United States — Suheil Bushrui, the holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, participated in a seminar on "Faith and Social Responsibility" with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales last month. Held at Georgetown University on 3 November 2005, the seminar brought together 40 senior religious leaders and scholars from various faiths. The purpose of the event was for faith leaders to discuss best practices on faith-based practical initiatives on employment, education, and community regeneration. The seminar featured a round table discussion in the presence of Prince Charles, who was visiting the United States. Seminar moderators were Dr. Jane McAuliffe, Dean of Georgetown College, and Professor John Esposito of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. During the exchange of ideas, Professor Bushrui said that although beliefs and social ordinances differ among faith traditions, all the religions are fundamentally united. "Many spiritual practices, regardless of the particular religion, are categorically similar -- such as prayer, contemplation, meditation, and the recitation of scripture," Prof. Bushrui said. "In fact, all the religions are united in the central role they ascribe to universal virtues such as love, empathy, humility, truthfulness, compassion, mercy, altruism, wisdom, justice, honesty, detachment, forgiveness, sincerity, righteousness, and doing good," he said. Professor Suheil Bushrui. Photo courtesy of Courosh Mehanian"The teaching that we should treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated, an ethic enshrined in every world religion, clearly demonstrates the standard by which all interactions among the religions and their followers should be guided." From within a framework of unity in diversity, Professor Bushrui likened the religions to different spiritual paths representing an outward expression of an underlying unity. He also emphasized that faith is more than just belief; it also entails a way of life that includes social responsibility and action in the world. "There is no true faith without a sense of responsibility toward others," he said. Prof. Bushrui further noted that believers of all faiths have a duty to lay aside theology and ideology in favor of developing a unity of vision and a spirit of cooperation. Only in this way can religion and faith serve the best interests of humanity as a whole. "In the Baha'i Faith, social responsibility can best be understood as service to humanity," he said. "In fact, within the Baha'i Faith such service is viewed as worship." Participants had been invited to attend by the Prince of Wales, who is the heir to the British throne, or by one of the following institutions: the British Embassy, the Dean of the Georgetown College, the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University, the Office of the President at Georgetown University. In addition to Prof. Bushrui as a Baha'i representative, seminar participants represented a broad spectrum of religious faiths and traditions, including Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and many others. Additionally, broad geographical representation on a national level was attained thanks to the fact that the participants hailed from many different regions of the United States. Prof. Bushrui has held the Baha'i Chair for World Peace since 1992, when the Chair was founded. He will retire on 31 December 2005. John Grayzel, an international development specialist, has been selected to become the next holder of the Chair, in January 2006. Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in America, was founded in 1789 by Archbishop John Carroll. (For a story on Professor Bushrui, see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=282)

38.8950368

-77.0365427

UNITED NATIONS

United States

UN calls on Iran to stop persecution of Baha'is

UN calls on Iran to stop persecution of Baha'is UNITED NATIONS, United States — For the 18th time since 1985, the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution expressing "serious concern" over the human rights situation in Iran, also making specific mention of the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community there. The resolution, which had been put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 46 countries including Australia, the European Union, and the United States, passed by a vote of 75 to 50 on 16 December 2005. Among other things, it called on Iran to "eliminate, in law or in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against minorities, including Arabs, Kurds, Baluchi, Christians, Jews, Sunni Muslims and the Baha'i...." The resolution quite specifically takes note of the upsurge in persecution against Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, noting the "escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against the Baha'i, including cases of arbitrary arrest and detention, the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs, the disregard of property rights, the destruction of sites of religious importance, the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits...." The resolution also encourages various agencies of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to continue to work to improve the human rights situation in Iran, and at the same time it calls on the government of Iran to cooperate with these agencies. Ms. Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said the worldwide Baha'i community is thankful for the support of the international community in expressing its concern about human rights in Iran. "It has been a year when human rights violations against Baha'i and other groups in Iran have strikingly worsened, and the scrutiny and support of the international community remains virtually the only tool for the protection of innocent people in Iran," said Ms. Dugal. "For Baha'is, who are persecuted solely for their religious beliefs, it has been a very difficult year in Iran," said Ms. Dugal. "At least 59 Baha'is have been subject to various forms of arbitrary arrests, detention and imprisonment, and Baha'i young people have once again been denied the chance to attend college and university." Ms. Dugal said that although the majority of those Baha'is who have been arrested were released, nine remained in prison as of late October. As well, said Ms. Dugal, "Baha'is face a wide and growing range of severely oppressive measures, including continued restrictions on religious assembly, the confiscation and destruction of holy sites, the denial of admission to Baha'i students into university, and various economic restrictions." "Not only do the revolving door arrests and imprisonments seek to intimidate the Baha'i community, but the stringent economic and educational restrictions are part of Iran's stated policy clearly aimed at eliminating Iran's Baha'i community as a viable entity in society," said Ms. Dugal.

NEW YORK

United States

Wrongly imprisoned Baha'i dies in Iranian jail

Wrongly imprisoned Baha'i dies in Iranian jail NEW YORK, United States — A Baha'i who was wrongly jailed in Iran for 10 years died in his prison cell of unknown causes on Thursday, 15 December 2005, the Baha'i International Community has learned. Mr. Dhabihu'llah Mahrami, 59, was held in a government prison in Yazd under harsh physical conditions at the time of his death. His death comes amidst ominous signs that a new wave of persecutions of Baha'is has begun. This year so far, at least 59 Baha'is have been arrested, detained or imprisoned, a figure up sharply from the last several years. Arrested in 1995 in Yazd on charges of apostasy, Mr. Mahrami was initially sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after an international outcry and widespread media attention. "The worldwide Baha'i community mourns deeply the passing of Mr. Mahrami, who was unjustly held for a decade on trumped-up charges that manifestly violated his right to freedom of religion and belief," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "While the cause of his death is not known, Mr. Mahrami had no known health concerns," said Ms. Dugal. "We also know that Mr. Mahrami was forced to perform arduous physical labor and that he had received death threats on a number of occasions. "In this light, there should be no doubt that the Iranian authorities bear manifest responsibility for the death of this innocent man, whose only crime was his belief in the Baha'i Faith," said Ms. Dugal. "In our mourning, we nevertheless hope that Mr. Mahrami's unexplained passing will not go unnoticed by the world at large and, indeed, that his case might become a cause for further action towards the emancipation of the Baha'i community of Iran as a whole," said Ms. Dugal. Born in 1946, Mr. Mahrami served in the civil service but at the time of his arrest was making a living installing venetian blinds, having been summarily fired from his job like thousands of other Baha'is in the years following the 1979 Iranian revolution. Although Iranian officials have asserted that Mr. Mahrami was guilty of spying for Israel, court records clearly indicate that he was tried and sentenced solely on charge of being an "apostate," a crime which is punishable by death under traditional Islamic law. Although Mr. Mahrami was a lifelong Baha'i, the apostasy charge apparently came about because a civil service colleague, in an effort to prevent Mr. Mahrami from losing his job, submitted to a newspaper an article stating that he had converted to Islam. When it later became clear to Iranian authorities that Mr. Mahrami remained a member of the Baha'i community, they arrested him and charged him with apostasy for allegedly converting from Islam to the Baha'i Faith. On 2 January 1996, he was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court, a conviction that was later upheld by the Iranian Supreme Court. The death sentence against Mr. Mahrami stirred an international outcry. The European Parliament, for example, passed a resolution on human rights abuses in Iran, making reference to Mr. Mahrami's case. The governments of Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States also registered objections. There was also significant media coverage of the case, in Le Monde and Liberation in France, as well as reports by the BBC, Reuters and Agence France Presse. Although the authorities did not publicly bow to international pressure calling for Mr. Mahrami's release, in December 1999 they took the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad to declare an amnesty and commuted his sentence to life imprisonment. Since 1978, more than 200 Iranian Baha'i have been killed, hundreds more have been imprisoned, and thousands have been deprived of jobs, pensions and education as part of a widespread and systemic religious persecution by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As of October, Mr. Mahrami was one of nine Baha'is being held in Iranian prisons. However, all of the others had been arrested in 2005. Mr. Mahrami is survived by his aged mother, his wife, his four children, and his grandchildren. Mr. Mahrami's funeral was held on Friday, 16 December 2005, the same day that the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution expressing "serious concern" over the human rights situation in Iran, making specific mention of the ongoing persecution of the Baha'i community there. (See https://news.bahai.org/story/413)

40.7127281

-74.0060152

STRATFORD

ONTARIO

Canada

Prolific author hailed for his penetrating insights

Prolific author hailed for his penetrating insights STRATFORD, ONTARIO, Canada — The internationally eminent scholar, William S. Hatcher, who passed away last month, has been described as "one of the brightest minds" of the worldwide Baha'i community. In a message of condolence, the Universal House of Justice said that Dr. Hatcher will long be remembered for his "stalwart faith, forceful exposition, and penetrating insights which characterized nearly half a century of ceaseless service to the Baha'i Faith." "The Baha'i world has lost one of its brightest minds, one of its most prolific pens," the Universal House of Justice said. Dr. Hatcher, 70, died of an illness on 27 November 2005, having made substantial contributions in mathematics, logic, philosophy, religion, and ethics. His popular and scholarly writings and talks were infused with a characteristic clarity of expression, wit, and warmth. Dr. Hatcher enrolled in the Baha'i Faith in 1957. He spent the decades that followed in dedicated service to the Baha'i community and its administrative development, at the local and national level, in the United States, Switzerland, Russia, and Canada. He served on National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada (1983-91) as well as on the inaugural National Spiritual Assemblies of Switzerland (1962-65) and the Russian Federation (1996). He lived in Russia from 1993 to 1998. Dr. Hatcher traveled extensively to teach the religion in Central and West Africa and Russia, and he played a vital role in the founding of the Association for Baha'i Studies in North America. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dr. Hatcher received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and his doctorate in mathematical logic from the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland. Dr. Hatcher settled with his wife, Judith, in Canada in 1968, serving as professor of mathematics at the Universite Laval in Quebec City until 1995. He wrote 50 articles, books, and monographs, including "The Logical Foundations of Mathematics" (1982), and "Logic and Logos: Essays on Science, Religion and Philosophy" (1990). Among his major publications are "Love, Power, and Justice: The Dynamics of Authentic Morality" (1998), in which he argues for the existence of an authentic and universal moral standard. "The Baha'i Faith: The Emerging Global Religion" (1985), co-authored with Douglas Martin, was named by Encyclopedia Britannica in 1986 as book of the year in religion. One of his most acclaimed essays, "A Logical Proof of the Existence of God," was the subject of his popular speaking tour of Canadian university campuses in the late 1990s. In 2003, his book "Minimalism: A Bridge Between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation" was published to critical acclaim for its innovative philosophical approach, and the development of his logical proof for the existence of God. Dr. Hatcher is one of the eight Platonist philosophers listed in the section devoted to the latter half of the 20th century in the Encylopedie Philosophique Universelle. William Hatcher is survived by his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren. (The Canadian Baha'i News Service contributed to this report). For a review of Dr. Hatcher's book "Minimalism: A Bridge Between Classical Philosophy and the Baha'i Revelation," see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=226

43.3700899

-80.9818016

HAIFA

Israel

Counsellors meet to discuss plans

Counsellors meet to discuss plans HAIFA, Israel — Pictured at the Baha'i World Centre are members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors together with members of the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Centre, and, at front, centre, the Hand of the Cause of God Dr Ali-Muhammad Varqa. The Continental Boards of Counsellors, an institution charged with promoting the propagation and protection of the Baha'i Faith, meet in Haifa every five years to discuss development plans for the worldwide Baha'i community. There are 81 Counsellors worldwide. The conference (December 27 - 31) is being followed by five days of meetings of the individual boards from the various continents.

32.8191218

34.9983856

BANJUL

The Gambia

Free computer courses lead to jobs

Free computer courses lead to jobs BANJUL, The Gambia — A graduation ceremony last month has boosted the number of computer graduates from classes offered free by the local Baha'i community to more than 900. Since 1998, the Baha'is have arranged the classes to help people who cannot otherwise obtain computer skills to get a job. Students have ranged from teenagers to the middle-aged, and include both men and women, said local Baha'i spokesman Faramarz Shams. Many graduates use their newly-gained skills in jobs that they have obtained after completing the courses, Mr. Shams said. Computer classes at basic and advanced levels are held at the Baha'i center in Banjul, the capital city of The Gambia."The students come from the Islamic, Christian, and Baha'i communities and include teachers, students, and business people," he said. The courses, offered at basic and advanced levels, usually involve two sessions of two hours per week for three months. The teachers are Gambian Baha'is and Baha'i youth volunteers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. The country's only television station and both its major newspapers regularly cover the graduation ceremonies. On 18 December 2005, 56 students received their graduation certificates. In a speech at the ceremony, one of the graduates, Fatou Cham, 24, expressed her gratitude for the courses. "I would like to thank the entire Baha'i community for their tireless efforts to disseminate knowledge in The Gambia at no cost," said Ms. Cham, a Muslim. "I can remember back in 2000 when I attended the basic Baha'i computer training I could not even move a mouse, but after the course I built up a lot of interest in computing," she said. "I hope that other institutions will emulate (the Baha'i) efforts and empower people with more 'IT' knowledge." The computers used in the training were donated by Baha'is of The Gambia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Classes were initially held in a rental property but they have moved to a specially designed room in the new national Baha'i centre, which opened last year. (For another story about the Baha'is of Gambia see https://news.bahai.org/story/346)

13.4410165

-16.56275092072591

LONDON

United Kingdom

Baha'is honor champion of human rights

Baha'is honor champion of human rights LONDON, England — A former British parliamentarian, Sydney Chapman, received the inaugural Blomfield Award for Human Rights at a ceremony organized by the United Kingdom Baha'i community's national governing council and the Barnet Baha'i community. The Baha'is of the United Kingdom have established the Blomfield Award -- named after Lady Blomfield, a prominent early British Baha'i -- to present to individuals in British public life who have offered consistent and exceptional support towards the defence of Baha'is in countries where they are persecuted for their religious faith, notably in Iran. At the ceremony held in Barnet, North London, on 6 December 2005, Baha'i spokesman, the Hon. Barney Leith, praised the efforts of Sir Sydney to speak out for the Baha'is in Iran. "Sir Sydney repeatedly defended the human rights of the Baha'is by tabling Parliamentary questions and motions and speaking in debates," said Mr. Leith, secretary for external affairs of the United Kingdom Baha'i community. Sir Sydney Chapman (fourth from left) and Barnet Deputy Mayor Victor Lyon and Mrs. Lyon (fifth and seventh from left) with others at the award ceremony.In reply, Sir Sydney spoke of his admiration for the Baha'i community. "I should like to thank the Baha'is, not only the 6,000 here in the UK, but the five to six million Baha'is around the world, for all that you do to promote human unity," he said. Sir Sydney said that he attached great importance to the struggle for human rights and to efforts to reduce the damage to the earth's natural environment. Sir Sydney admired the artistic design of the award itself, which was conceived and crafted by Switzerland-based artist Myriam Bargetze. Ms. Bargetze used a quotation from the Baha'i writings as her inspiration for the alabaster and turquoise piece: "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value." Barnet Deputy Mayor, Victor Lyon, and the Deputy Mayoress attended the ceremony, representing the borough. A musical group, Gye Nyame, performed a Baha'i prayer set to their own choral melodies. Sir Sydney retired from Parliament in 2005 having served the people of Barnet since 1979. Members of the Barnet Baha'i community also honoured Sir Sidney, presenting him with a commemorative certificate to mark his retirement from public life. Closing the ceremony Dr. Kishan Manocha, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, said the Baha'is had gathered to acknowledge Sir Sydney's contribution and to honor him. "There should be no doubt that Sir Sydney's distinguished record of defending the Iranian Baha'is is of great value in the ongoing efforts to emancipate that community," Dr. Manocha said.

51.5073219

-0.1276474

GROESBEEK

Netherlands

Global governance needed to counter terrorism

Global governance needed to counter terrorism GROESBEEK, Netherlands — The challenges that terrorism throws at governments can only be countered by global governance deeply grounded in unity, a keynote speaker told the European Baha'i Conference on Law. Dr. Wendi Momen said that the challenges to the law that terrorism poses are not only in the area of balancing safety with human liberty but in the creation of new law to fit a new system of governance that is better adapted to the present globalized world. "While the terrorist fires are burning, states and governments around the world are struggling with 19th century legal frameworks and notions of state sovereignty that prevent them from turning on the water hose -- this has to change, and quickly," Dr. Momen said. Dr. Momen, who holds a doctorate in international relations from the London School of Economics, is an editor and author, and the former chair of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom. Dr. Momen was delivering the Dr. Aziz Navidi Memorial Lecture, which is named after a prominent Baha'i lawyer renowned for his courage and skill in the area of human rights. The conference, held 1-4 December 2005, attracted participants from seven countries and was organized by the Law Association of the Tahirih Institute, an educational institute of the Dutch Baha'i community. Joachim Monkelbaan at the European Baha'i Conference on Law.In her address, Dr Momen said new responses are needed at the international level that enable, and even require, governments to work together, the strengthening of international bonds, and steps towards an international federal government. Among other papers delivered at the conference were: "Consultation in a Multilateral Setting," by Joachim Monkelbaan; "Human Cloning -- Current Legal and Ethical Considerations seen from a Baha'i perspective," by Tinia Tober; "The Ethical Consciousness," by Eltjo Poort; "Some Thoughts on the Future of Crime and Punishment implied in the Baha'i Writings," by Shirin Milani-Ansinger. Other presentations were made by Dr. Nicola Towfigh, Dr. Frank Dignum, and Dr. Virginia Dignum. Workshop topics included "The denial of the right to education for Baha'is in Iran," "Freedom of Speech," and "Jury versus Judge."

51.7741022

5.9305385

HAIFA

Israel

New film on Baha'i pilgrimage debuts

New film on Baha'i pilgrimage debuts HAIFA, Israel — A new film about Baha'i pilgrimage to the Holy Land is now available as a DVD. Commissioned by the Universal House of Justice, "Pilgrimage -- A Sacred Experience" is intended to stimulate increasing numbers of Baha'is to make their nine-day pilgrimage to the Shrines of Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha. The film gives glimpses of the different experiences of pilgrims through personal testimonies by Baha'is from a wide range of countries, including Australia, Bolivia, Ethiopia, France, Jamaica, Mauritius, Russia, and the United States. Filmed mainly in the gardens in the vicinity of the Shrines of Baha'u'llah and the Bab, the 28-minute film is available in English, French, and Spanish. Due to the demand for the limited places for pilgrims, Baha'is apply by writing to the Baha'i World Centre. Currently there is a waiting list of several years but plans are under way to reduce that period while at the same time boosting the number of pilgrims. To see a two-minute clip of the movie and to order a DVD,click here.

32.8191218

34.9983856

ORLANDO

FLORIDA

United States

Orlando conference focuses on service to humanity

Orlando conference focuses on service to humanity ORLANDO, FLORIDA, United States — Baha'is responded quickly and efficiently to Hurricane Katrina because of the decentralized structure of Baha'i communities, and the Faith's emphasis on individual initiative, a keynote speaker said here this month. Individual Baha'is and Baha'i institutions, on the spur of the moment and without pre-planning, undertook a variety of relief activities, said William Davis at the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas held 15-18 December 2005. The address by Mr. Davis exemplified the theme for the conference, which this year was "Make a Beginning: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Service." The Baha'is did not become a relief agency during the hurricane disaster in August 2005, said Mr. Davis, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. "We're not equipped to do that. We don't have the resources to do that. But we became a community responding to the human needs that we saw." Baha'is and Baha'i institutions organized the delivery of truckloads of supplies to the disaster area, provided temporary housing to displaced survivors, and established communications centers or informational websites, Mr. Davis said. These initiatives were of a small scale, and in no way matched those of traditional disaster relief agencies, such as the Red Cross, he said. William Davis speaks about the Baha'i response to Hurricane Katrina at the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development for the Americas, held 15-18 December 2005. Mr. Davis is chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha?is of the United States.Nevertheless, local Baha'i institutions like the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Orleans and the Baha'i Regional Council of the South were able to contribute. "The Baha'is responded in a remarkable way," said Mr. Davis. "No one asked, 'how many of us are we?' and 'can we can do this?' They simply said, 'this is a need, we must do it, that's who we are as Baha'is, we respond to the human needs.'" Other speakers similarly emphasized the possibilities for individual and collective action in the service of humankind. Dorothy W. Nelson, a judge with the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, said she used the principles of Baha'i consultation in her work as a law school dean and later in the founding of the Western Justice Center Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of conflict among young people in schools and in the courts. Eloy Anello, president of Nur University in Bolivia, told the conference that individual initiative is the "key that unlocks the potential of the Baha'i teachings to transform the world." Mr. Anello related how a group of indigenous Baha'is in the Bolivian village of Puka Puka had, through principle-driven individual action, gradually established a primary school, and then a high school, for their children. Other speakers provided case studies for successful development projects and also led discussions of development theory aimed at helping Baha'is and Baha'i institutions launch new projects. Randie Gottlieb presented a session entitled "Raising Up Indigenous Teachers and Schools in Rural Panama." Dr. Gottlieb discussed the efforts of Baha'is among the Ngobe-Bugle people that have led to the establishment of a cultural center, community radio station, a rural school system serving hundreds of students, a government-accredited teacher training program, and a solar-powered computer laboratory. Dan Vaillancourt of Canada spoke about the Maxwell International Baha'i School in British Columbia, which has been in operation for almost 17 years. His workshop session explored the growth and development of the school, examining the nine guiding principles used to make decisions about curriculum, instruction, and administration. More than 700 people from some 25 countries registered for the Conference, said Doug Paik, program director and a trustee of the Orlando-based Rabbani Trust, which has organized the event for the last 13 years. The Conference was preceded by three pre-conference seminars designed to afford more in-depth study of select topics. The Baha'i Justice Society conducted a 40-hour training session on Mediation, Consultation, and Conflict Resolution and the Baha'i Business Forum for the Americas sponsored a seminar on Spiritual Ethics Training. The International Environment Forum and Educators for Social and Economic Development, with support from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, offered a 2-day workshop on Education for Sustainable Development.

28.5421109

-81.3790304

BRASILIA

Brazil

Journalists win awards for human rights

Journalists win awards for human rights BRASILIA, Brazil — Six prominent Brazilian journalists and three media organizations received "world citizenship awards" at a Baha'i-sponsored event here. The awards for media coverage promoting human rights were presented at a ceremony at the Ministry of Justice in the federal capital on 13 December 2005. Baha'i spokesman,Washington Araujo said the jury selected the award winners from among hundreds of candidates. The purpose of this year's theme was to acknowledge the media that paid close attention to vulnerable sectors of society and who highlighted the challenges facing civil society, said Mr. Araujo. Among those attending the ceremony were representatives of the Brazilian National Federation of Journalists, the Brazilian Press Association, the Ambassadors of Guyana, Israel, and the Philippines, members of civil society organizations, and representatives of the Baha'i community of Brazil. In his acceptance speech, award recipient Marcelo Canellas of TV Globa, Brazil's biggest broadcaster, said that receiving the award reinforced for him the importance of the humane side of journalism "It confirms for me that journalism is a vocation," Mr. Canellas said. Another award winner, Gilberto Dimenstein, a columnist for the newspaper "Folha de Sao Paulo," said that the award showed that the media's role is much more than just reporting bad news. The president of the Brazilian government news agency, Radiobras, said in his acceptance speech that the media should deliver to the public information that will help to create solutions that have yet to be imagined. The nine-person jury comprised representatives of human rights and legal groups and two members of the Baha'i community of Brazil. The winners were presented with a sculpture created by Yone Di Alerigi. The journalists who won the awards were Angela Bastos of the newspaper "Diario Catarinense"; Eugenio Bucci, present of Radiobras, the Brazilian government news agency; Marcelo Canellas of TV Globa, Brazil; Gilberto Dimenstein, columnist for the newspaper "Folha de Sao Paulo"; Alberto Dines, director and newscaster of the "Press Observatory," an organization that discusses the role of the media in Brazil; and Ziraldo, a cartoonist and writer. The media organizations to win the awards were "Educativa de Sao Paulo," a State educational television channel; "Rede de Direitos Humanos e Cultura - DHNet," a Web site portal for human rights organizations; and "Viracao," a Brazilian magazine produced by young people. The Brazilian Baha'i community instituted the world citizenship awards in 1994.

-10.3333333

-53.2

NEW YORK

United States

Two Baha'i musicians receive Grammy nominations

Two Baha'i musicians receive Grammy nominations NEW YORK, United States — Two Baha'i musicians have received separate nominations for a 2006 Grammy Award, the music industry's best known and most prestigious awards. Singer songwriter Red Grammer received a nomination for "best musical album for children" for his 2005 album, BeBop Your Best. Jazz singer Tierney Sutton received a nomination in the "jazz vocal album" category for her 2005 album I'm With the Band. The nominations were announced in New York on 8 December 2005. Winners in each category will be announced at the 48th annual Grammy Awards live television ceremony, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles on Wednesday, 8 February 2006. The cover to Tierney Sutton's Grammy nominated album, I'm With the Band.BeBop Your Best is Mr. Grammer's sixth album for children. Its songs focus on the development of moral character, with titles like "Truthfulness," "Responsibility," "Kindness," and "Integrity." The songs on the album were co-written with veteran song writer Pamela Phillips Oland. "One of the really cool things about getting a Grammy nomination for an album like this is that it is all about character, which is somewhat unusual for a popular album," said Mr. Grammer, who has been a Baha'i for 33 years. Mr. Grammer said the nomination was also personally significant because "it reflects recognition of excellence by the music industry." "It isn't a nomination by your listeners," he said. "It is a nomination by your colleagues." Long known for his upbeat and inspiring songs for young people, Mr. Grammer has won considerable recognition for his previous albums, many of which also touch on Baha'i themes, such as the need to treat all people with equality. His album Teaching Peace was recognized as one of the "top five" children's recordings of all time by the "All Music Guide." Ms. Sutton's I'm With the Band album was recorded live in March 2005 at Birdland in New York. Produced by Elaine Martone, I'm With the Band is Ms. Sutton's first live recording and her sixth album. Ms. Sutton, who has been a Baha'i since 1981, said she was deeply gratified to be nominated for the award. "The way we arrange our music is based on the principle of consultation, and our band is very much run on Baha'i principles," said Ms. Sutton. "So there is very much a sense with everybody in the band that what we do is essentially a spiritual thing." In June 2005, Tierney won JazzWeek's Vocalist of the Year Award. An active educator, she has taught in the Jazz Studies Department at the University of Southern California. The Grammy Awards are the music industry's best known and most prestigious award. They are granted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc., an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals, who each year choose the nominees and final award winners.

40.7127281

-74.0060152

DAKAR

Senegal

Government officials visit Baha'i book display in Senegal

Government officials visit Baha'i book display in Senegal DAKAR, Senegal — The Minister of Culture and Historical Heritage visited a display by the Baha'i community of Senegal at an international book fair, held in the West African capital city of Dakar in December 2005. His Excellency Mame Birame Diouf, head of the Ministere de la Culture et du Patrimoine Historique Classe, represented Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade at the fair. Minister Diouf accepted a gift of Baha'i books. Other government visitors to the display included three officials from the Department of Books and Reading of the Ministry of Culture (Direction du Livre et de la Lecture). The book department bought 30 copies of the book, Baha'u'llah and the New Era, in order to place them in public libraries throughout the country, said Shahnaz R. Ardekani, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Senegal. Ms. Ardekani said the Baha'i display was visited by many of the publishers, authors, librarians, students, intellectuals and others interested in publishing, who came from many countries to attend the fair, which was held 6-11 December 2005. "The Baha'is manning the stall met a wide variety of people including school pupils, university students, teachers, government officials, artists, members of different religious orders, writers, and business people," Ms. Ardekani said. Several of those who visited the Baha'i display attended a subsequent public meeting at the Baha'i Centre where the topic "Unity of the human race -- utopia or reality?" was discussed. Baha'is reside in 382 localities in Senegal, and there are 34 Local Spiritual Assemblies. Social and economic development projects include classes for junior youth. The Baha'is of Senegal, along with the other National Baha'i communities of former French West Africa, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2003. [see https://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=283]

14.693425

-17.447938

EDINBURGH

Scotland

"Time for Reflection" in Scottish Parliament

"Time for Reflection" in Scottish Parliament EDINBURGH, Scotland — Representatives of the Baha'i Faith were invited recently to address Scotland's Parliament as part of the body's weekly proceeding that allows people from different faiths to share their perspectives on the challenges facing the country. It was the first time an invitation had come from a Member of Parliament. Carrie Varjavandi, a Baha'i from Dundee, addressed the body on 18 January 2006 during its "Time for Reflection." Ms. Varjavandi invited Parliament members to consider the current world situation. "The world today faces apparently intractable problems, which governments and peoples are striving courageously to solve: climate change, poverty and religious fanaticism to name but a few," she said. She then suggested that the spiritual teachings of Baha'u'llah not only identified disunity as the underlying cause of these problems, but also offered a solution. "'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established'" she said, quoting Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. Ms. Varjavandi also said that Baha'u'llah's story was one of "the great untold stories of our time." "Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, was born into a noble family in Iran more than 180 years ago," said Ms. Varjavandi. "He forsook his life of wealth and comfort for one of imprisonment, torture and exile in order to share his unique insights into the condition of the world with those around him. His life and teachings are the inspiration for the 5 million Baha'is in the world today." Commenting on Ms. Varjavandi's address, Presiding Officer George Reid MSP (Member Scottish Parliament) made a direct connection between the fundamental principles of the Baha'i Faith and the words of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796). "The Baha'i belief in the unity of mankind matches our commitment to build an inclusive society in Scotland," said MSP Reid. "It recalls the words of Robert Burns (which were quoted) at the Opening of the Parliament in 1999: 'That man to man, the wor'l ower shall brithers be...'" The invitation to contribute to the "Time for Reflection" came from a member of the Green Party, Chris Balance, MSP. The reading by Ms. Varjavandi is historic in that it marks the first time a Baha'i has been specifically asked by a Member of the Scottish Parliament to deliver the "Time for Reflection," said Allan Forsyth, the chair of the Baha'i Council of Scotland. In May 2001, Baha'i Alex Reid was invited to give the "Time for Reflection," at the behest of a group of religious leaders who usually organize the event. "Also at the time, the Parliament was in a temporary location and not in its magnificent new building," said Mr. Forsyth. "It is hoped that the success of this occasion will lead to further invitations and a strengthening of the contribution that the Baha'i community can make to the inclusiveness of the Scottish Community," Mr. Forsyth added. The Time for Reflection is a weekly event, lasting four minutes, when speakers are invited to share their thoughts with the members of Parliament. When the Scottish Parliament began in 1999, members voted to make it inclusive of all faiths. The majority of speakers have been Christian, but Jews, Muslims, and others have also taken part. In the closing section of her reading, Mrs. Varjavandi said Scotland "has always been an outward-looking nation with a great tradition of helping others; our contribution to the world is far out of proportion to our size. "I hope that reflection on these words will help us all to continue this practice in ways that will help the world's people transform our lives on this planet," Ms. Varjavandi said. A video of the presentation in the Parliament is available until about 15 February 2006 on the internet at: http://www.holyrood.tv/library.asp?title=Time%20For%20Reflection&section=29

55.9533456

-3.1883749

GEORGETOWN

Guyana

Guyana youth try to "move the world"

Guyana youth try to "move the world" GEORGETOWN, Guyana — With an empty Coke bottle for a pint of rum and a white plastic chair the only other prop, the skit performed by five young men and women during a recent meeting of the Future Club here told a story that is unfortunately all too familiar in this vibrant South American country. A husband drinks too much and beats his wife, shouting and swearing at her for failing to have dinner ready on time. Crying and inconsolably depressed after many such episodes, she decides to take her own life. However, as performed before an audience of several dozen other young people from every section of this gritty coastal capital one recent day, the young woman's friends intervene, pleading with her not to take her life. And so the heroine, played by 16-year-old Rayana Jaundoo, triumphantly throws the poison aside. "I have learned I don't care what other people do and what other people say," she says, breaking character and addressing the audience directly. "I can live a positive life." Although a little overplayed, it is a happy ending, just the sort encouraged by the young facilitators of an innovative and highly successful youth leadership training program here, known as Youth Can Move the World (YCMTW), which often uses skits, songs and other types of media to drive home its message. The program focuses on the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. Since its founding in 1997, YCMTW has offered more than 7,000 Guyanese young people strategies aimed at helping them cope with and avoid such problems. Its success at reaching youth on the margins has been widely recognized, not only by other youth-oriented NGOs but also by the government-run national university, which has given support to YCMTW. Much of its funding has come from international development agencies and, most recently, researchers at the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland have launched a three-year study on the project's methods and accomplishments. "The project in Guyana is quite innovative," said Roy McConkey, a professor in the health promotion group at the Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster, who is heading up the study. "They manage to do a remarkable amount of work with very little resources." Established by the Varqa Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired non-governmental organization based here, YCMTW also emphasizes in its training the importance of -- and the possibilities for -- personal and community transformation. To do that, the project uses a program of spiritual and moral education produced by the Ruhi Institute of Colombia, which draws quite directly on the Baha'i writings for its motive power. "From the very beginning of the project, we saw that the only way that genuine change could come about was through community and personal transformation," said Brian O'Toole, director of YCMTW and chairman of the Varqa Foundation. "We saw that these Baha'i materials were successful around the world." At the Future Club, Youth Can Move the World facilitators lead two dozen participants through a discussion on suicide prevention, which ended with the performance of various skits to illustrate what had been learned. At center is Rayana Jaundoo, pretending to drink Paraquat herbicide only to have her friends snatch the bottle away.Observers say the emphasis on spirituality is an important part of the program. "The approach of integrating spiritual values, including positive community values, makes it a program with a difference," said Samuel A. Small, director of the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education at the University of Guyana, which provides end-of-training certification to YCMTW graduates. "In the [other] youth programs that I know of and have participated in, spiritual values are never part of the core of the curriculum, and personally I believe that because of the tremendous problems that are being brought upon young people today, every effort should be made to help them to see that spiritual values are not taught separately in churches, mosques, temples and so on, but that they are really part and parcel of our every day life skills," said Mr. Small. The social problems addressed by the project are by no means unique to Guyana -- but they are nevertheless serious concerns in this beautiful tropical country situated on the southern edge of the Caribbean basin. After Haiti, Guyana has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the Caribbean, which is the world's second-most afflicted region after Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Health Organization. AIDS has become the leading cause of death for people aged 25-44 in Guyana, according to the WHO. Domestic violence, unemployment, alcohol and drug abuse are also major problems here. The program, which has received funding from UNICEF, the European Union, and the InterAmerican Development Bank among other agencies, seeks to fight these problems mainly by educating young people about the risks associated with each behavior. The facilitators' manual, for example, discusses the short and long term effects of alcohol, ranging from poor judgment and lowered inhibitions to cirrhosis of the liver and dependency. It explains clearly how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and discusses a range of protective measures, from less risky types of sex to condom use to abstinence. The curriculum also promotes the development of social action -- such as the protection of the environment -- and positive moral values. The section on domestic violence, for example, explains ways in which qualities like honesty, compromise, and forgiveness can improve a relationship. Spiritual ideas, such as the Golden Rule, are also emphasized, underpinned by quotations from the major world religions. "It comes out of a Baha'i framework, but we have enriched it with spiritual insights from Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism," said Dr. O'Toole, who came to Guyana with his wife, Pamela, 27 years ago from the United Kingdom. The incorporation of religious quotations has resonated particularly well in Guyana, said Dr. O'Toole, owing to the distinctive religious diversity of Guyanese society, which is about 50 percent Christian, 35 percent Hindu, and 10 percent Muslim. The remaining five percent belong to other religions, including the Baha'i Faith. Young people who have participated in YCMTW training say the discussion of spirituality is an important part of the program. Susan Coocharan, 17, said the program's balance between practical education and the holy writings of various religions has given her new tools to avoid risky behaviors. "I used to think that guys were the only thing in life that matters," said Ms. Coocharan, a Christian from Essequibo in the western part of the country, who participated in an intensive two-month YCMTW training program in July and August 2005. "But when I came to this program it helped me to develop spiritual qualities and it made me see that guys are not the only thing in life." Dhanpaul Jairam, 31, has been involved in YCMTW since March 2005, when he received training to become a facilitator. A Hindu, he has since established a YCMTW subgroup in his home village of Bath Settlement in the Berbice region of Guyana, where he has reached out to young people from every religious background. At first, he said, the Hindus didn't want to mix with the others. "But I talked about all of the religions," said Mr. Jairam, who works as a radio telephone operator for the Guyana Sugar Corporation. "I do have a Bible and a Qur'an. And Hindu writings." Because of the emphasis on all religions, Mr. Jairam said, young people of all backgrounds were willing to participate. "That is why I think YCMTW is doing a great job of encouraging youth of all walks of life to make of themselves somebody," said Mr. Jairam. Another key feature of the project is its use of youth, themselves, as agents of change. By encouraging young volunteers to establish YCMTW groups in their own villages and neighborhoods, it has grown organically as young people themselves involve their friends and acquaintances. Troy Benjamin, 19, started a 17-member YCMTW group in his village in the remote North Rupunui Region after attending the intensive training program last summer. "I was very much interested, because some of the topics mentioned were dealing with alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and such," said Mr. Benjamin, who is himself of Native American -- or "Amerindian" background -- as are most of the other 500 residents of his village. "And I knew that those problems were kind of arising, and I was facing it in my community as a whole." Prof. McConkey of the University of Ulster said using young people themselves to deliver health promotion messages is one of the key innovations of the project. "In affluent countries like the United States and Great Britain, we rely on professional educators, who may well have a special training or special expertise," said Prof. McConkey. "But they may lack a relationship with young people. Hence we sometimes wonder why our health promotion messages don't come through. "The model that they are using, in which local groups are built up, in which [young] people in those groups have knowledge about each other and their own behaviors," said Prof. McConkey. "I think in that setting people are more likely to be open about what they actually do."

6.8137426

-58.1624465

UNITED NATIONS

United States

A global presence on women's issues at the UN

A global presence on women's issues at the UN UNITED NATIONS, United States — Mary Caetana Aune has long been a champion of human rights. She has worked in her native Brazil with UNICEF and the Geledes Instituto da Mulher Negra, a minority women's advocacy group, to launch a "unity in diversity" website for educators there, and she also serves as an external affairs officer for the Baha'i community of Brazil. But after spending a week here at the UN's annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), she has returned to Brazil with a new energy and perspective. Inspired by the global participation of women and the unity of effort she witnessed at her first Commission meeting, she plans this year to encourage Brazilian Baha'i women to participate more actively in a national campaign against gender violence, among other things. "We usually just support the campaign in Brazil, which is very beautifully conducted by other women's groups around the country," she said, referring to the "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence" campaign, an international effort observed each fall. "This year we will probably do something more concrete." Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Commission has become something of a global rallying point for women and men who care about the advancement of women. Held this year from 27 February -- 10 March, the Commission drew some 1,500 representatives from more than 400 organizations -- including 21 Baha'is representing the Baha'i International Community and some 10 national Baha'i communities. Like Ms. Aune, most members of the Baha'i delegation are very involved in women's activities in their own countries. They came to the Commission both to give input -- and to take away inspiration. Mehri Afsahi represented not only the National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden but also the Swedish UNIFEM Committee and the Swedish Women's Lobby. And, like Ms. Aune, she has plans for more activity upon her return home. "We are already planning for many seminars about the conference," said Ms. Afsahi, who funded her own travel to and from New York. "On my return home, UNIFEM had a one day program for the celebration of International Women's Day. Over 200 people participated." Ms. Afsahi said her experiences at the Commission helped prepare her for the subsequent event in Sweden, which she chaired. "Our guest speakers were the Minister for Democracy, Metropolitan Affairs, Integration and Gender Equality, the Vice Prime Minister and the Swedish Ambassador from Brazil." Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, left, with South African First Lady Zanele Mbeki during a luncheon on 28 February 2006 at the Baha'i International Community offices in New York. More than 25 people attended, including representatives of the Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, the Mission of India to the United Nations, and various NGOs. Mrs. Mbeki spoke about a new program she has founded, South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID).The 21-member Baha'i delegation to the CSW at the UN in New York came from countries in five continents, representing-in addition to Brazil and Sweden-Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Togo, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Baha'i International Community delegation was composed of four people. Baha'i participation in the Commission provided opportunities for other related activities aimed at cementing important contacts with government representatives and collaborating with other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). On 28 February, for example, the Baha'i International Community hosted a luncheon for South African First Lady Zanele Mbeki at its offices in New York. More than 25 people attended, including representatives of the Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, the Indian Counsul General in New York, and various NGOs. Mrs. Mbeki spoke about a new program she has founded called South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID). This year the Commission focused on two themes: the "enhanced participation of women in development" and promoting the "equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels." Baha'is sought to address these themes in various ways. Zarin Hainsworth, who represents the National Alliance of Women's Organizations, a British NGO, as well as the Baha'is of the United Kingdom, facilitated three NGO workshops during the Commission meeting. One addressed the decision-making theme by exploring positive values learned from influential women, a second examined women and development by looking at how issues of international trade affect women, and the third addressed the plight of widows. "I think the CSW is improving over time as it becomes more inclusive of civil society," said Ms. Hainsworth, who has participated in Commission meetings for the last several years. For representatives of the Baha'i community of Canada, also seasoned Commission participants, the theme of equal participation in decision-making is an important one. "I always return with a renewed desire to see if more men couldn't get involved in this work," said Gerald Filson, director of external affairs for the Baha'i community of Canada and one of a growing number of men who attend the Commission each year. "The necessity of keeping this theme in high profile has underscored the importance of our building new and useful information tools in Canada, a regular bulletin or publication for the community at large, more advancement of women news on our website, and more local projects focused on these issues," said Mr. Filson. His colleague, Elizabeth Wright, director of the Office for the Advancement of Women of the Baha'i Community of Canada, likewise sees her focus in "continuing the work on partnership between women and men, in the Baha'i community and in society, using pilot projects of equality workshops." "Even though the integration of men in the women's movement is still considered with fear or prudence by many feminists, it is clear that at the government level, many are ready to go in this direction," said Ms. Wright. Kit Bigelow, director of external affairs for the Baha'i community of the United States, has been attending the Commission for more than two decades. "Our purpose in participating in the conference was to obtain useful knowledge and information to inform our advocacy work on the advancement of women in the United States," said Ms. Bigelow. One focus for the US Baha'i delegation is to promote ratification in the United States of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). "The role of the CEDAW in promoting both of these goals was underscored throughout the Commission, which assists our work in promoting the treaty's ratification in the United States," said Ms. Bigelow. "In addition, the knowledge shared on methods to promote women's participation in development will aid our work in advocating for full gender integration into government-based international development agencies in the United States." Added Sharona Shuster, Ms. Bigelow's colleague and the US Baha'i representative for women's issues: "Baha'is see the achievement of gender equality in policy and in families as a prerequisite for the great peace that all religions refer to." -- By Veronica Shoffstall

UNITED NATIONS

United States

UN Religious Freedom Official expresses fears for Baha'is in Iran

UN Religious Freedom Official expresses fears for Baha'is in Iran UNITED NATIONS, United States — Representatives of the Baha'i International Community reacted with alarm today to a United Nations official's statement about actions of the Iranian government against the Baha'is in Iran. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir, stated that she was highly concerned and expressed her apprehensions in a press release posted today about "a confidential letter sent on 29 October 2005 by the Chairman of the Command Headquarters of the Armed Forces in Iran to a number of governmental agencies." "The letter," she said, "which is addressed to the Ministry of Information, the Revolutionary Guard and the Police Force, states that the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, had instructed the Command Headquarters to identify persons who adhere to the Baha'i faith and monitor their activities. The letter goes on to request the recipients to, in a highly confidential manner, collect any and all information about members of the Baha'i faith." "We are grateful that Ms. Jahangir has brought this activity to light," said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the UN. "We share her concern for the welfare of the Baha'is and shudder to think what this might mean. Because of the unprecedented character of the government's action, we are addressing a request to the Ambassador of Iran for an explanation." Ms. Jahangir also "considers that such monitoring constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of members of religious minorities." "The Special Rapporteur's concern that such information could be 'used as a basis for the increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i faith' is clearly well-founded," said Ms. Dugal. Such actions come in the wake of mounting media attacks on the Baha'is, the nature of which in the past have preceded government-led assaults on the Baha'is in Iran. "Kayhan," the official Tehran daily newspaper has carried more than 30 articles about the Baha'is and their religion in recent weeks, all defamatory in ways that are meant to create provocation. Radio and television programs have joined in as well with broadcasts condemning the Baha'is and their beliefs. In addition, the rise in influence in Iranian governmental circles of the Anti-Baha'i Society, Hojjatieh, an organization committed to the destruction of the Baha'i Faith, can only heighten the fears for that beleaguered community. "We well know what hateful propaganda can lead to; recent history offers too many examples of its horrific consequences. We make an urgent appeal to all nations and peoples on behalf of our Iranian coreligionists that they not allow a peace-loving, law-abiding people to face the extremes to which blind hate can lead," said Ms. Dugal. "The ghastly deeds that grew out of similar circumstances in the past should not now be allowed to happen. Not again." Statement by Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, in the wake of the announcement of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief concerning treatment of followers of the Baha'i Faith in Iran 20 March 2006 New York City The statement of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief about recent actions taken by the Government of Iran concerning the Baha'is arouses grave apprehension in the Baha'i International Community about their fate. The Baha'is have been the victims of an unrelenting persecution ever since the revolution of 1979, and one hesitates to think of what horrors could be implied by the combined effort of intelligence, military and police agencies to identify Baha'is and monitor their activities, as has been ordered by the Chairman of the Command Headquarters of the Armed Forces at the direction of the Head of State. We are dreadfully afraid for the lives of our fellow Baha'is in Iran. Because of the unprecedented character of the Government's action, we are addressing a request to the Ambassador of Iran for an explanation. Such actions come in the midst of mounting media attacks on the Baha'is, the nature of which in the past have preceded government-led assaults on them. "Kayhan," the official Tehran daily newspaper, has carried more than 30 articles about the Baha'is and their religion in recent weeks, all defamatory in ways that are meant to create provocation. Radio and television programs have joined in as well with broadcasts condemning the Baha'is and their beliefs. We know what hateful propaganda can lead to; recent history offers too many examples of its horrific consequences. We make an urgent plea to all nations and peoples on behalf of our Iranian coreligionists that they not allow a peace-loving, law-abiding people to face the extremes to which blind hate can lead. The ghastly deeds that grew out of similar circumstances in the past should not now be allowed to happen. Not again. Background Recent media attacks on the Baha'is in Iran In recent months, Iranian newspapers and radio stations have been conducting an intensive anti-Baha'i campaign. From September through November 2005 alone, the influential, state-run "Kayhan" newspaper ran nearly three dozen articles defaming the Baha'i Faith with the clear intention of arousing in readers feelings of suspicion, distrust and hatred for the Iranian Baha'i community. The articles engage in a deliberate distortion of history, make use of fake historical documents, and falsely describe Baha'i moral principles in a manner that would be offensive to Muslims. Before the onset of previous government campaigns of persecution against Baha'is, such as in 1955 and 1979, similarly defamatory articles and radio programs were run against the Baha'is, stirring up animosity and prejudice, apparently to prepare the public for what was to come. For more information, including copies of the "Kayhan" articles in Persian and summaries in English, please click here. The Anti-Baha'i Hojjatieh Society Founded in 1953 as a specifically anti-Baha'i organization by a charismatic Shiite Muslim cleric, the Hojjatieh Society has today reemerged in Iran as an influential if secretive faction that has been linked in news articles and Web blogs with the current Iranian administration. During the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Society played an important role in stirring animosity against Baha'is. However, in part because of differences in theology -- among other things the Hojjatieh believe a truly Islamic state cannot be established until the return of the 12th Imam -- the Society fell into disfavor and was banned by the regime in 1984. Outside observers have connected the Society's reemergence with the return of hardliners to positions of power in the government, including the president who has frequently stated his expectation that the 12th Imam will return soon. For more information on the Hojjatieh, please click here.

LONDON

United Kingdom

British politicians commend Baha'is on Naw-Ruz

British politicians commend Baha'is on Naw-Ruz LONDON, England — Prime Minister Tony Blair and other top British politicians have sent greetings to the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom on Naw-Ruz, the Baha'i New Year. In their messages, Mr. Blair and the others took note of Baha'i efforts to promote social cohesion and human rights. "I warmly commend all that the Baha'i community does for social cohesion and better inter-faith relations, which makes such a valuable contribution to our society," wrote Mr. Blair in his message, which was read on 21 March 2006 at a reception in the House of Commons. "Your commitment to tackling discrimination and promoting our shared humanity is particularly important," said Mr. Blair. "I hope that this work will become increasingly well-known." About 90 people attended the Naw-Ruz reception, which was organized by the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'i community of the UK and held on the terrace of the House of Commons. While Mr. Blair was not in attendance, many prominent people were, including several Members of Parliament, a Peer, and officials from a number of government departments, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, and No. 10 Downing Street. Left to right: Dr Wendi Momen of the Baha'i community; Eileen Fry, Director of the Multifaith Centre at Derby University; William Chapman, Prime Minister's Appointments Secretary at 10 Downing Street.Also joining the celebration were members of all of the major faith communities in the UK: Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians. Member of Parliament David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, also sent a message, which was also read out at the reception. "There is no doubt that your faith's belief in the breaking down of barriers that separate people is a lesson to us all, as we face the national and international challenges of our day," said Mr. Cameron. "The importance you place on principles such as social justice, and the need to tackle prejudice, has stood the test of time. These principles are as vital today as they were a century and a half ago. " In his message, Member of Parliament Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, took note of Baha'i efforts to promote human rights. "I have enormous respect and admiration for both the philosophy and culture which the Baha'i faith embraces and represents," said Sir Campbell in his message. "Particularly, I am proud of the work you do in conjunction with my fellow Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians regarding human rights abroad. "I know that in Iran there is much to do before the Baha'i faith can live without fear of intimidation or persecution. However, I am confident that this end will be achieved through our collective effort." Member of Parliament Lembit Opik, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is, welcomed guests to the reception. He praised the Baha'is for their solidarity and optimism and said that being with Baha'is reminded him of why he was in politics -- to try to make the world a better place. Barney Leith, secretary for external affairs of the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom, welcomed the guests and explained that the festival of Naw-Ruz is a time of celebration for the Baha'i community. Mr. Leith noted that the festival of Naw-Ruz is shared with the Zoroastrians. Mr. Leith added, however, that while the Baha'is in the UK were free to celebrate, the Baha'is in Iran were suffering ever greater levels of persecution. He warmly thanked Her Majesty's Government, and particularly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for its steadfast support and excellent work in defending the human rights of the Baha'is in Iran. Mr. Leith also thanked the All Party Friends of the Baha'is for their continuing support. While Prime Minister Blair has sent Naw-Ruz greetings to the Baha'i community previously, this was the first time the UK Baha'i community had received New Year's greetings from the leaders of all three main political parties. Gye Nyami, a London-based Baha'i musical ensemble closed the formal programme by performing three pieces with texts taken from Baha'i, Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. "There can be no doubt that this was the best of the successive Naw-Ruz receptions held over many years in the House of Commons," said Mr. Leith. "There was a warm spirit of welcome for all who attended. The presence of so many MPs and government officials clearly confirms the respect in which the Faith is held at quite senior levels in government."

51.5073219

-0.1276474

WASHINGTON

D.C.

United States

White House spokesman expresses President's concern over worsening situation of the Baha'is in Iran

White House spokesman expresses President's concern over worsening situation of the Baha'is in Iran WASHINGTON, United States — At the 28 March 2006 White House press briefing, Spokesman Scott McClellan said President George Bush is concerned over last week's announcement by a UN official that government persecution of the Baha'is in Iran is intensifying. In response to a reporter's question, Mr. McClellan called on the Iranian regime to respect the religious freedom of all of its citizens and indicated the President would continue to monitor the situation of the Baha'is very closely. He also said the United States would continue to speak out and urge other countries in the region and the United Nations to defend the rights of the Baha'is and other religious minorities in Iran. Following is the transcript of the two questions on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran: Q: Scott, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief has said that she's highly concerned that the government of Iran is about to increase its persecution of the 300,000 members of the Baha'i faith in that country. What is the President's message to the government of Iran on this issue? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, as you pointed out, she has expressed her concern that the situation with regard to religious minorities in Iran, the Baha'i, is, in fact, worsening. We share those concerns. We call on the regime in Iran to respect the religious freedom of all its minorities, and to ensure that these minorities are free to practice their religious beliefs without discrimination or fear. And we will continue to monitor the situation of the Baha'i -- the Baha'is in Iran very closely, and to speak out when their rights are denied. Q: What pressure would you urge, perhaps, other countries to put on Iran? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think we will talk with ambassadors of other countries in the region and raise this issue with them, and with their governments. We will continue to speak out and to raise this issue, the treatment of the Baha'is, in the United Nations and other organizations, and to ask all those who have any sort of influence in Tehran to continue to defend the rights of the Baha'i and other religious minorities. The full transcript of the March 28 White House press briefing is available at www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings. -- U.S. Baha'i News

38.8950368

-77.0365427

DALLAS

TEXAS

United States

A banner year for Baha'i communicators

A banner year for Baha'i communicators DALLAS, TEXAS, United States — Eleven professional Baha'i communicators have won 12 awards from the Religion Communicators Council for excellence and merit in the production of various informational materials last year. In addition, Baha'i filmmakers Suzanne Kay and Mark Bamford won a major Council award for their feature-length theatrical film "Cape of Good Hope." The awards for professional religion communicators were presented at a dinner on 30 March 2006 as part of the annual Council national convention. Known as the DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards, they are presented to members of the Council who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations, and are given in a wide variety of categories, from writing to website design. The award to filmmakers Kay and Bamford was presented on 1 April 2006 in a ceremony meant to honor work in the secular media that highlights moral or religious themes. Known as Wilbur Awards, they are reserved for nonmembers of the Council, also known by its acronym, the RCC. Set in South Africa, "Cape of Good Hope" interweaves a number of story lines, all revolving around a Cape Town animal rescue shelter. It has won numerous other awards around the world, including a jury prize for best film from the Starz Denver Pan African film festival. Baha'i professional religion communicators won seven DeRose-Hinkhouse "Awards of Excellence" for the production of magazines, booklets, books, special issue publications, CD illustration, and website design. Five secondary-level "Awards of Merit" were given to Baha'is for editorial writing, video documentary, and other forms of presentation. "Without doubt, this was a banner year for Baha'i professional religion communicators, who won more awards in more categories in this annual competition than ever before," said Brad Pokorny, the editor of "One Country," the newsletter of the Baha'i International Community. A group photograph of the Baha'is who attended the national Religion Communicators Council convention in Dallas, Texas, USA, this year. Shown left to right are: Anne Gordon Perry, Aaron Kreader, Ellen Price, Tiffany Walters, Mandy Morgan, Patricia Tomarelli, Joyce Litoff, Amethel Parel-Sewell, Susan Engle, Amy Renshaw, and Urla Morgan.Mr. Pokorny, who has also been a member of the RCC since 1988, won two awards this year. He won an Award of Excellence in the category for "public relations materials, booklets" for The Baha'i Question, a booklet about the human rights situation of the Baha'is in Iran, which was published by the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community. He also won a Certificate of Merit for an editorial in "One Country" titled "The Challenge of Extreme Poverty." Other DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards of Excellence went to the following Baha'is: -- Amethel Parel-Sewell, editor of "Brilliant Star" magazine, published by the United States Baha'i community, for excellence in the national magazines category. -- Betty J. Fisher, editor, "World Order" magazine, published by the United States Baha'i community, in the national magazines single issue category, for Vol. 36, No. 3 of World Order. -- Patricia Tomarelli for "Sarah Farmer's Dream of Peace" in the "public relations materials" category, for special-issue publications. This work also won "best of class" citation in the public relations category, and Ms. Tomarelli gave a brief speech at the awards ceremony. -- Anne Gordon Perry for "Green Acre on the Piscataqua" of the Baha'i Publishing Trust, in the books category. -- Patricia Tomarelli for graphic design on the album cover of "From Exile to Exaltation: Our offering to Baha'u'llah" in the video/CD/DVD category. -- Glen Fullmer, director, U.S. Baha'i Office of Communications, and his colleagues Ellen Price, Deborah Wood, and Jeffrey Dalton, for the U.S. Baha'i website in the website category. Of note, Dr. Perry was also invited to be the keynote speaker for the convention. Speaking on the topic of "Where Art Intersects Faith," Dr. Perry examined the convergence of art and religion in the past and anticipated future intersections. "Art can enhance our experience of worship and bring new meaning to our sense and acts of faith," said Dr. Perry. "Art and religion, both potent forces in civilization, can be seen as having a profound, eternal partnership, capable of producing things beyond our current imaginings." Dr. Betty J. Fisher, managing editor of "World Order," said she was delighted to have won an award from the RCC. Her award was for a special issue devoted to the life and writings of the famous African-American philosopher Alain Locke -- who was not only a Rhodes Scholar and the Dean of the Harlem Renaissance but also a Baha'i. "Since 1966, 'World Order' has been publishing on issues of broad social concern from a Baha'i perspective and has tried to stimulate, inspire, and serve those trying to understand the relationship between contemporary life and contemporary religious teachings and philosophy," said Dr. Fisher. Founded in 1929, the RCC is an international interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and in public relations. The DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards are named to honor the late Victor DeRose and the late Paul M. Hinkhouse, leading lithographers in New York City and longtime friends of the RCC. Both men shared a strong interest in, and concern for, excellence in communications. "These awards validate the imagination and originality so plentiful in our RCC family," said Victoria Goff, chair of the DeRose-Hinkhouse awards and executive with National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA in Valley Forge. "They demonstrate the high quality of work that institutions receive from our RCC members." As noted, five De-Rose Hinkhouse "Certificates of Merit" were also given to Baha'is. In addition to the certificate given to Brad Pokorny for "One Country," Kari Carlson and Tiffany Walters of Baha'i Media Services won a Certificate of Merit for their Baha'i newsreel story "Being Rich." Dr. Perry won three Certificates of Merit for a PowerPoint presentation on the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, for the annual ABS Arts Journal, and for a newspaper feature on her portrayal of Sarah Farmer in the New Hampshire Chautauqua festival. The entire list of RCC award winners can be found at: www.religioncommunicators.org/derose_hinkhouse/dh2006excellence.html and www.religioncommunicators.org/wilbur/2006newsrelease.html

32.7762719

-96.7968559

HAIFA

Israel

Annual 'Baha'i World' volume examines the science of morality, concept of progress, and global activities

Annual 'Baha'i World' volume examines the science of morality, concept of progress, and global activities HAIFA, Israel — An examination of the science of morality, a look at the opportunities and challenges presented by human "progress," and a report on a small but inspiring educational project in Mali are among the articles in the latest volume of "The Baha'i World." An annual record of Baha'i activities and perspectives, "The Baha'i World 2004-2005" also includes reports on the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions, an historic restoration of the prison cell where Baha'u'llah was held in the late 1800s, and the use of arts in Baha'i community life. Now available from the U.S. Baha'i Distribution Service, the book is the 13th volume in an annual series aimed both at Baha'i readers and the general public. "One of our main goals in the production of these volumes is to document the activities and thinking of the worldwide Baha'i community in a way that will be of interest to any serious researcher," said Ann Boyles, editor of "The Baha'i World." "However, we also believe that the general reader will find the topics -- which explicitly analyze current trends in our global society from a Baha'i point of view -- to be of relevance." The article on "Science and Morality" by Graham Walker discusses some of the latest scientific findings in neuroscience relating to brain capacity and the evolution of altruism, addresses the probability that life in the universe was created by chance, and examines the role of genetics in the development of human character. The latest volume of The Baha'i World offers researchers, academics, and the general public a glimpse of Baha'i activities around the world during the past year. Shown here is a study circle at the Baha'i center in Suva, Fiji, in March 2005.Like many of the other articles in the new volume, Dr. Walker's essay also approaches its subject from a practical standpoint. "As cities become increasingly multiracial, cultural moral relativity is causing problems," writes Dr. Walker. "For example, imbibing alcohol is seen as immoral hedonism by one but as a harmless pleasure-almost a rite of passage-to another; the thigh-high skirt and bare midriff are wanton to some but an innocent fashion to others..." The article about an effort by the Nosrat Foundation to establish village-level primary schools in Mali likewise offers practical lessons on the subject of how to promote community involvement in education, especially in an underdeveloped country. "The schools that Nosrat has established are owned by the community," reports the article. "The villagers themselves provide many of the construction materials for the buildings, which generally consist of three classrooms and latrines. Parents make mud bricks and do the actual construction, while Nosrat provides what is difficult to find or provide locally, such as cement and iron to cover and protect the walls and sustain the long-term roofing..." A "World Watch" essay on some current views of the opportunities and challenges presented by "progress," written by Dr. Boyles herself, offers not only a survey of current literature on the subject, but also a distinctive viewpoint of how Baha'is approach the idea of human progress. "As one writer has observed, 'progress in the Western sense has become a virtually universal aspiration'," writes Dr. Boyles, "even though its achievement may still be a distant dream for the vast majority of the world's peoples. But is it, in fact, an entirely desirable or sustainable aspiration, or do we perhaps need to reconsider our view of progress and the criteria we use to measure it?" Dr. Boyles concludes that the "experience of the Baha'i community offers compelling evidence 'that humanity can live as one global society, equal to whatever challenges its coming of age may entail.'" Further, she writes, "the Baha'i community is working with some urgency to promote an understanding of 'progress' that encompasses both the spiritual and the material aspects of life." Other articles in the volume include: -- An omnibus report on the celebrations by Baha'i communities around the world of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ten Year Crusade, with numerous color photographs. -- An update on the human rights situation of the Baha'is in Iran and Arab countries. -- The publication of several recent major statements by the Baha'i International Community, including the Community's response to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's "In Larger Freedom" report, as well as a statement entitled "Freedom of Religion," which is the Community's response to the United Nations Development Programme 2004 Human Development Report. The volume also includes a selection of Baha'i Sacred Writings on the theme of science and progress, highlights from messages of the Universal House of Justice written during 2004-2005, and the "Year in Review," which chronicles the worldwide activities of the Baha'i community from 21 April 2004 to 21 April 2005. The volume also contains obituaries, statistics, an index, and a directory of Baha'i agencies and selected new publications in English. At 333 pages, in hardcover format with a cloth cover, "The Baha'i World 2004-2005" is available at a retail cost of US$19. It can be ordered from http://www.bahaibookstore.com

32.8191218

34.9983856

SINGAPORE

Singapore

Folding paper flowers for religious harmony

Folding paper flowers for religious harmony SINGAPORE, Singapore — Young members of the Baha'i community here recently gave support to a national interfaith project aimed at bringing Singaporeans of all races and religions together. About 40 youth gathered at the Singapore Baha'i Center on 15 April 2006 to fold paper lotuses as part of the Project Million Lotus 2006, which is sponsored by the Singapore Buddhist Federation. The effort aims to have young people of all races and religions make a million paper lotuses as symbols of purity and harmony. "The idea of folding a paper lotus is taken from the symbolic meaning of a lotus that grows in muddy water and yet emerges into a pure and beautiful flower," said Lynette Thomas, Secretary of The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Singapore. "Every lotus folded is like a wish for harmony that unites all people in Singapore," said Ms. Thomas. "Each of the nine major religions has been invited to open up their centers for one Saturday to host youth from other communities to come and fold paper lotuses." Ms. Thomas said in addition to the 15 April event, Baha'i study circles in the city have also folded lotuses for the project. She said about 4,000 lotuses have been contributed so far by Baha'is. The 40 young people who gathered at the Singapore Baha'i Center included many from Chung Cheng High School who are not Baha'is. About 40 youth gathered at the Singapore Baha'i Center on 15 April 2006 to fold paper lotuses as part of the Project Million Lotus 2006. Shown here are six secondary school students from Chung Cheng High School with Baha'i Sabrina Han (center) in the blue shirt."Regarding the million Lotus project, I think it is a very meaningful one," said Sabrina Han, one of the Baha'i youths who participated on 15 April, saying it brings "many youths from different religions together." Anita Kuppusamy, another of the Bahai youths who participated on 15 April, said she found that the effort lead to meeting many new friends. "Though I had a hard time folding the lotuses at first, I got better at it after folding a few," she said. "The center was filled with energetic youths and I was glad to be one of them." The project has received support from Singaporean President S.R. Nathan, as well as from the Central Singapore Community Development Council, Trust Central, the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) of Singapore, and several Singapore corporations. The lotuses were scheduled to be displayed at the Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on 6-7 May 2006 as the highlight of the "Growing Compassion, Harvesting Harmony," Singapore celebration of the Vesak Festival. "The National Assembly is delighted by the initiative shown by the Baha'i youth to be part of this event to foster inter-religious harmony," said Ms. Thomas. "It has provided them with a great opportunity to learn more about the peace-loving religion of Buddhism and to interact with the Buddhist youth."

1.357107

103.8194992

MARQUETTE

MICHIGAN

United States

Collecting "e-waste" is an interfaith effort

Collecting "e-waste" is an interfaith effort MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN, United States — Just nine years old, Eve McCowen was dwarfed by the huge piles of unwanted electronic equipment that quickly accumulated in the parking lot of the Messiah Lutheran Church on Earth Day 2006. But she was nevertheless one of the first to run up to an arriving car that needed to be unloaded as residents brought old stereos, defunct computers, and broken television sets for recycling. "Recycling is good for the environment because when you throw stuff away it can get in the earth's soil and water and that isn't good for the earth," said Eve, the daughter of Dennis and Lisa McCowen of Marquette. Eve is also a Baha'i, as are her parents, and they were among the nine Baha'is from Marquette who participated in the second annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep on 22 April 2006, which is designated as Earth Day in the United States and many other countries. The effort collected more than 300 tons of "e-waste" -- electronic equipment like television sets, computers, VCRs, and the like that are not otherwise easily recycled -- from various sites in across Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a sparsely populated region north of Lake Michigan. The Earth Keeper event also showed how faith communities can collaborate on local and regional projects for the common good. In this case, more than 350 volunteers from some 120 churches, temples, and faith communities across the Upper Peninsula participated. Represented were: Baha'is, Buddhists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Jews, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists and Unitarian Universalists. All totaled, the faith groups represented have some 130,000 members in the region. "This is historic and I hope it is a model that can be duplicated throughout the country and the world," said Rodney Clarken, a Baha'i and one of the original signers of the Earth Keeper Covenant. "We often see faith communities arguing and even killing one another -- we have here an example of spiritual leaders and their communities uniting." Dr. Rodney Clarken, a Baha'i and one of the original signers of the Earth Keeper Covenant, at left, looks on as "e-waste" is collected in a recycling bin in Marquette, Michigan. Also shown are Jean Soderberg (background, center) and Dennis McCowen (in red). All are Baha'is and all were participating in the Earth Keeper Clean Sweep on 22 April 2006. (Photo by Greg Peterson.)"I believe the overwhelming response to the local initiatives to collect hazardous wastes last year and electronic wastes this year has largely been the result of all the faith communities uniting to support this endeavor," said Dr. Clarken, who is a professor of education and director of field experiences at Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette. "Without the force of religion to sustain and inspire moral action, little can be accomplished," Dr. Clarken said. Carl Lindquist, director of the Central Lake Superior Community Partnership and the event's organizer, said Baha'is were a "key partner" in the event. "They were very enthusiastic, and very well informed about the issues," said Mr. Lindquist, adding that faith groups in general were critical players in raising public awareness about the event, and then motivating people to take action. "As the director of a non-profit environmental organization, who has also worked at the state and federal levels, we have been trying to do public education and efforts like this over the years -- and I've never seen anything more effective than this, ever," he said. With faith groups, Mr. Lindquist said, "when you send the word out, they listen and they respond." The annual clean sweep is sponsored by the Central Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and the various faith communities that participated. Last year's Clean Sweep collected about 46 tons of household poisons like pesticides, herbicides, mercury, car batteries and lead-based paints. More such household hazardous waste was collected in three hours than the Upper Penninsula's landfills normally see in two years. Dr. Clarken and other Baha'is who participated said they hope that similar projects will be started by Baha'is around the world. Dr. Clarken said that such projects can help "break down the artificial barriers we have constructed between religions, nations, cultures, and the world in which we live. "May these efforts reinforce a hundredfold our work toward creating a world in which all people can live in peace and prosperity," said Dr. Clarken. Rehema Clarken, a 27-year-old NMU graduate student and the daughter of Dr. Clarken, said the project offers an important lesson because "so many people from so many different faiths pulled together to complete a project that really benefits our community." "Whatever differences we might have in our religious beliefs, we have become united in service," said Ms. Clarken. Vicki Lockwood of Marquette said the Earth Keeper event helped her to understand better various Baha'i principles, such as the importance of service and the concept of unity in diversity. "This instills the concept of unity, and unless you center on your commonalities you won't accomplish much," said Ms. Lockwood. "We were all working with the concept of keeping these products out of the landfills and keeping pollution off the ground and out of the air." Jean Soderberg, a nurse and a Baha'i since 1993, agreed that the chance to work with other faith groups offered an important model. "Protecting the environment is the responsibility of everyone on the planet if we are to continue to enjoy the bounties God gives us," said Ms. Soderberg. "Doing this through a faith-based organization is an even more rewarding opportunity." -- Reported by Greg Peterson

46.4481521

-87.6305899

NEW YORK

United States

54 Baha'is arrested in Iran

54 Baha'is arrested in Iran NEW YORK, United States — Iranian officials have arrested 54 Baha'is in the city of Shiraz, the Baha'i International Community has learned. They are mostly youth and were all engaged in humanitarian service when they were arrested. It is one of the largest number of Baha'is taken at once since the 1980s. The specific charges are not clear, though in the past, Baha'is have been arrested summarily on false charges. The arrests occurred on Friday, 19 May, while the Baha'is, along with several other volunteers who were not Baha'is, were teaching classes to underprivileged children in a school as part of a community service activity conducted by a local nongovernmental organization. At the time of the arrests, they had in their possession a letter of permission from the Islamic Council of Shiraz. They also carried the letter of permission in each of their classes. The nature of the charges against the Baha'is is unknown at this time. The day following the arrests, a judge told family members that the detainees would be freed soon. As of today, it appears that all of the non-Baha'is and one Baha'i junior youth have been released without having to post bail. The arrests coincided with raids on six Baha'i homes during which notebooks, computers, books, and other documents were confiscated. In the last 14 months, 72 Baha'is across Iran have been arrested and held for up to several weeks. "These new arrests in Shiraz, coming after more than a year of 'revolving door' detentions, bring the total number of Baha'is who have been arrested without cause to more than 125 since the beginning of 2005," said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "Taken all together, this pattern of arbitrary arrests and detentions amount to the purest form of religious persecution and reflect nothing less than a calculated effort by the Iranian government to keep the Baha'i community utterly off balance and in a state of terror," Ms. Dugal said. The arrests come against a backdrop of increasing concern by international human rights monitors that the Iranian Government is escalating its 25-year-long campaign of persecution against the 300,000-member Baha'i community of Iran, the largest religious minority in that country. In March, the UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief released news of a secret 29 October 2005 letter from the Iranian military high command ordering police and Revolutionary Guard units to "identify" and "monitor" members of the Baha'i community of Iran, saying the existence of such a letter made her "highly concerned." Moreover, since late 2005, more than 30 mostly negative and often defamatory articles about the Baha'is and their religion have appeared in "Kayhan," the official Tehran daily newspaper. Radio and television broadcasts have likewise increasingly condemned the Baha'is and their beliefs. Since January, in addition to the 54 arrested in Shiraz last Friday, seven Baha'is have been arrested and held for periods of up to one month in Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Tehran. Among those arrested in January was Mrs. Roya Habibi of Kermanshah, who has reported that she was interrogated for eight hours, with questions focused on her role as coordinator of a program to provide religious instruction in the Baha'i Faith. In the court document that sets out the charges against her, Mrs. Habibi, who is currently out on bail, "is charged with teaching the Bahaism sect and acting in an insulting manner towards all that is holy in Islam." "While it is often difficult to get details on the charges against Baha'is, there is no doubt that most of them – like the case against Mrs. Habibi – are motivated purely by religious intolerance and prejudice," said Ms. Dugal. Last year, some 65 Baha'is were arrested and held for periods of time ranging from a few days to more than a month. While most were held less than a week, others were jailed for up to three months. Some of the prisoners last year were held incommunicado, in unknown locations, while their families desperately searched for them. Last year also, government agents conducted prolonged searches of many of their homes, confiscating documents, books, computers, copiers and other belongings. In the 1980s, some 200 Baha'is were killed or executed. Thousands were arrested and hundreds were imprisoned, many for long periods. In recent years, in the face of international monitoring, the executions and long-term imprisonments have stopped. (Correction: In this 24 May 2006 story on the arrests of Baha'is in Shiraz, we reported that they were teaching classes to underprivileged children in a school as part of a UNICEF community service activity conducted by a local nongovernmental organization when they were arrested. We have learned that the project was one of local initiative, in which participants modeled their efforts after a UNICEF project. It was not, however, directly associated with UNICEF. We apologize if this caused any misunderstanding.)

40.7127281

-74.0060152

NEW YORK

United States

Update on arrests in Iran

Update on arrests in Iran NEW YORK, United States — After their arrests on 19 May in Shiraz, Iran, three Baha'is remain in jail while 51 others have been released on bail. No indication has been given as to when the three will be released. None of those who had been released, nor the three who are still being detained, have been formally charged. On the day of the arrests, one Baha'i, under the age of 15, was released without having to post bail. At that same time, several other young people who are not Baha'is and who had been arrested with the Baha'is, were also released without bail. On Wednesday 24 May, five days after their summary arrests, 14 of the Baha'is were released, each having been required to provide deeds of property to the value of ten million tumans (approximately US$11,000) as collateral for release. The following day, Thursday 25 May, 36 Baha'is were released on the strength of either personal guarantees or the deposit of work licenses with the court as surety that they will appear when summoned to court. For more information on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran , please go here: http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran

40.7127281

-74.0060152

NEW YORK

United States

Correction

Correction NEW YORK, United States — In the 24 May 2006 story on the arrests of Baha'is in Shiraz, we reported that they were teaching classes to underprivileged children in a school as part of a UNICEF community service activity conducted by a local non-governmental organization when they were arrested. We have learned since that the project was one of local initiative, in which participants modeled their efforts after a UNICEF project. It was not, however, directly associated with UNICEF. We apologize if this caused any misunderstanding. Please go here to view the corrected story: https://news.bahai.org/story/450

40.7127281

-74.0060152

WINNIPEG

MANITOBA

Canada

Low-key approach to virtues training pays big dividends

Low-key approach to virtues training pays big dividends WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, Canada — When city health officials make their morning rounds to pick up used syringes, the neighborhood of Lord Selkirk Park in Winnipeg's north end is often their first stop. It's a measure of the problems afflicting the district, which has the lowest per capita income, the lowest level of education, and the highest percentage of single parent families among all neighborhoods in this central Canadian city. A ray of hope shines here every Sunday morning during the school year, however, when dozens of children from the area stream into the Turtle Island Neighborhood Center for breakfast, crafts, friendship, and a chance to bring out the virtues in each other. Begun as a volunteer service by Winnipeg Baha'is in 2001, the Family Virtues Breakfast this year attracted as many as 80 children and parents each week. It has become "a Sunday morning tradition," according to Nicole Richard, a mother who has been coming with her four children for about two years. While many families were initially drawn by the prospect of free food -- the menu usually features pancakes, French toast, hash browns, ham or sausage, and juice -- the program's continuing attraction has become its emphasis on helping children build positive moral capacities. The virtues component of the program comes without any lecturing or structured lessons. Rather, project volunteers take an interactive approach to teaching virtues, involving crafts, drawing, and reading, and games like skipping and tag. During such activities, project volunteers strive to foster virtuous behavior by modeling it themselves. They also seek to provide positive reinforcement when the children behave well. On the ready are specially marked cards that identify virtues like courtesy, joyfulness, or truthfulness. When a child displays such a virtue, they are handed a card. "Mostly our goal is for children and adults to experience the virtues," said Stephanie Bloodworth, a long-standing Baha'i volunteer with the program. "We want it to be interactive." Those who have watched the program from the outside agree that the project's low-key approach has been effective. "I know that it is hard for any organization to put together a program that attracts families as a unit," said Shon Haynes, who was program coordinator at the Turtle Island center until April. "I understand they get 70 to 80 families coming to the breakfast program, which kind of blows my mind. It is so hard to get families to do anything together." Some of the children and parents who attend the Family Virtues Breakfast posed recently in the gym of the community center where the program takes place.Mr. Haynes added that the idea of modeling virtues, instead of lecturing about them, has been an important innovation. "One of the reasons why workshops or community meetings have failed in that area is because you have an individual coming and standing up in front of the room and saying 'This is how things should be done.' But they don't do that and for that reason it is effective, and appreciated by the community." Other social service groups have begun to enquire about the project's approach. The project has also started to receive outside funding and donations. In 2003, for example, the Winnipeg Foundation donated C$3,000 for food, craft supplies, and equipment. The Winnipeg Harvest food bank also gives weekly donations of food stuffs when they are available. This year, as well, the project received C$1,684 for crafts from the North End Community Renewal Corporation. Organizers said the project's innovative approach has evolved through a process of action and reflection -- and a dose of Baha'i consultation. "At the end of every morning, we sit down with all the volunteers and debrief," said Sheila Pinkerton, a volunteer since 2001, who is also the liaison with the local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Winnipeg, which oversees the project. "We ask each other: what is needed, how can we respond better, and how can we do it differently," said Ms. Pinkerton. "So it is an on-going process of evaluation and adjustment." Currently, about 12 Baha'is -- and up to half-dozen non-Baha'is -- form the core group that volunteers every Sunday during the school year, when the project is active, said Ms. Pinkerton. The project began, however, as an individual initiative, started by two Baha'is. The two, who have since moved on to other activities, went to Turtle Island in the summer of 2001, offering to provide whatever services they could offer. The pair met with local parents and the Turtle Island board, who agreed that the most useful service they could provide was a program for the children. Built in the 1980s, with meeting rooms, a small library, and a gymnasium, the Turtle Island center sits in the middle of a subsidized housing development. The breakfast was launched, and the pair enlisted the help of other Baha'is in the community, including Ms. Bloodworth and Ms. Pinkerton. The early breakfasts were preceded by a brief group discussion of a particular virtue, and toys were brought in to occupy the children for the remainder of the morning. About 20 kids came each week during that first year. The local Baha'i community defrayed most of the costs associated with the program, and some of the food that the local food bank was providing to the center was diverted to the breakfast. That first year was difficult. The children largely ignored the volunteers and often disobeyed the ground rules that had been laid out, said Ms. Pinkerton. "What we found was that the kids interacted with the toys," said Ms. Pinkerton. "There wasn't a way for us to interact with them, apart from sitting down with them at breakfast and cutting their pancakes and trying to talk to them. That would be our golden moment. But apart from that we were just maintaining order. And these kids treated us like a wall. It was like, 'You're not there. I'm talking to you -- I don't hear you.'" The team also found that the toys were disappearing from week to week. So they consulted together and retooled. Games were gradually replaced by crafts that participants could work on at the center and take home afterwards. Parents were actively invited to participate in the program with their kids. And the virtues component became less formalized and more integrated into the rest of the morning's activities. Attendance grew year by year, peaking last year when as many as 140 children and adults showed up on a given Sunday. The team has had to limit numbers to about 80 this year to make it manageable. Ms. Bloodworth believes the process of action and reflection, rather than any professional expertise, is what has kept the program relevant to the needs of the children and their parents. "On some level, we recognize that this is a lifeline for some of the people who come," said Ms. Bloodworth. Dan Trottier, program coordinator of the Lord Selkirk Aboriginal Women's Group, which also runs programs in Lord Selkirk Park, agrees that the program has been a benefit for the community. "It fills the weekend void," said Mr. Trottier. "It helps the families come together. You have activities going for different age groups. There's not enough of that. Usually the parents are not involved. "It's a great program," he added, "a much needed program." -- Canadian Baha'i News Service

49.8955367

-97.1384584

CAIRO

Egypt

Egyptian Government challenges Baha'is' civil rights on appeal -- Court hearing set for Monday, 19 June, in Cairo

Egyptian Government challenges Baha'is' civil rights on appeal -- Court hearing set for Monday, 19 June, in Cairo CAIRO, Egypt — Proponents of religious freedom around the world are expected to watch closely the appeal by the government of a case on which an Egyptian court will hold a hearing next Monday. The case concerns an administrative court's ruling in April in favor of an Egyptian Baha'i couple who sought not to have their religion falsely identified on government documents, such as ID cards, without which most rights of citizenship are unobtainable. Under pressure from conservative elements of Egyptian society, the government has appealed that decision, taking it before the Supreme Administrative Court. The initial ruling and the appeal have drawn extensive media attention in Egypt and the Arab world as the implications go far beyond the Baha'is who are directly involved, explained Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), an independent Egyptian human rights organization. "This case is important not only for Baha'is but for all Egyptians as it will set an important precedent in terms of citizenship, equality, and freedom of religion," said Mr. Bahgat. "There is a huge interest in this case." "The human rights community, the legal community and the media are closely following it," he said. "We have at least a hundred press clippings from May alone." The attention came after a lower administrative court ruled in favor of the Baha'is on 4 April 2006, ordering the government to issue identity cards and birth certificates that correctly state their professed religion as members of the Baha'i Faith. Elements of society here, particularly Al Azhar University and the Muslim Brotherhood, raised an outcry in the wake of the decision, objecting to any kind of recognition of the Baha'i Faith as a religious belief. That reaction, in turn, triggered a wholesale debate in newspapers and blogs throughout the Arab world over the right to freedom of religion and belief. "People on both sides of the case are mobilized," said Mr. Bahgat. "There are people who are in support of the Baha'is, and people who see this as a threat to society or Islam." In early May, the government appealed the lower court's ruling, and the hearing next Monday will focus on procedural issues concerning the case, which could go on in the courts for some time, said Mr. Bahgat. The emotions stirred by the case were evident at the initial hearing on the government's appeal of the case by the Supreme Administrative Court, held 15 May. A description of that hearing was posted by the EIPR to its website last month. "Lawyers and other individuals seated in the courthouse interrupted and heckled defense counsel each time they tried to address the court and yelled insults at them, calling them 'infidels' and threatening them with physical violence during the hearing," said the EIPR in the statement issued on 15 May and posted on its website. "Unable to impose order in the courtroom, the Court briefly adjourned the hearing before resuming the proceedings in camera," the EIPR statement continued. "When the hearing was adjourned, courthouse security officers refused to protect lawyers who were surrounded by members of the crowd, verbally threatened, pushed, shoved and not allowed to walk away from the area." Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said she hoped next Monday's hearing would not be marked by similar kinds of abuse and threats. "We believe that such actions, if allowed by the Court, are prejudicial to the case," said Ms. Dugal. "Further, our hope is that the Court will not allow the emotions that have arisen regarding this case to cloud their judgment on what is an otherwise clear-cut matter concerning the right of individuals simply to profess their own beliefs -- a right that is firmly upheld in both international and Egyptian law. "The Baha'is represented in the case, and by extension the entire Baha'i community of Egypt, only ask that they be given the same rights as other Egyptian citizens, which in this case concerns the right not to have one's religion falsely identified in government documents. Such false reporting, in addition to being fraudulent, is for the Baha'is a denial of their Faith." One reason the issue rose to prominence after the initial court ruling in April is because Egypt officially recognizes only three religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. And even though the lower court acknowledged that Islamic jurisprudence does not recognize the Baha'i Faith for "open practice," it ruled nevertheless that the religion of Baha'is should be acknowledged in official documents, rather than falsely identified as Muslim or one of the other religions, which government agencies currently insist upon. "This is not about forcing the Egyptian government or anyone to accept or recognize the divine origin of the Baha'i Faith," said Ms. Dugal. "It is simply that Baha'is, like all other Egyptian citizens, are legally required to obtain government-issued ID cards. And without such documents, Egyptian Baha'is are unable to gain legal access to employment, education, and medical and financial services, and are deprived of freedom of movement." Ms. Dugal said human rights organizations in Egypt and elsewhere will closely watch the appeal process. "For Baha'is, the issue is simply a matter of obtaining the same rights granted to every other Egyptian citizen, and being allowed to live their lives in peace," said Ms. Dugal. "But there is little doubt that the issue has taken on a wider significance in Egyptian and Arab society, as evidenced by the intense discussion on issues of religious freedom and tolerance that this simple case has stimulated." For more information, click here.

30.0443879

31.2357257

HAIFA

Israel

Baha'i Media Bank launched

Baha'i Media Bank launched HAIFA, Israel — The Baha'i International Community has launched a new Web site containing more than 2,500 high-quality photographs on Baha'i-related themes. "The purpose of the site is to provide institutions and individuals alike with easy access to a large collection of Baha'i images," said Douglas Moore, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information. "We hope it will prove to be of great utility to all kinds of publishers, journalists, and other media producers," he added. Called the "Baha'i Media Bank," the site is at: http://media.bahai.org It will be regularly updated with new additions and will eventually include video and audio material. Visitors to the Web site will be able to browse through the high resolution images, categorized by community activities, people and institutions, buildings and places, and history and events. Then, by creating a free account, users will be able to download images for use in publications, websites, and media presentations. The site also offers such services as a "My Downloads" holding area, where up to 20 images can be collected and then downloaded all at the same time in a single ZIP file. The account keeps track of the user's download history so that previous collections can be retrieved or shared with other users of the Media Bank.

32.8191218

34.9983856

CAIRO

Egypt

Egypt's Court postpones hearing

Egypt's Court postpones hearing CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court has postponed until 16 September its hearing on a government appeal of a ruling in favor of a Baha'i couple. The couple has been seeking not to have their religion incorrectly identified on government documents. A lower administrative court ruled in favor of the couple in April this year, and the case has since gained international attention from human rights groups. The court ordered the government to issue members of the Baha'i Faith with identification cards, birth certificates and death certificates that accurately identify their religion. Without such documents, Baha'is are unable to gain legal access to basic citizenship rights, including employment, education, medical and financial services. The government appealed the lower court's ruling in early May, and a court hearing was set for 19 June. However, the Court commissioner's advisory report was not submitted in time for the hearing, resulting in the delay. For more information click here.

30.0443879

31.2357257

NEW YORK

United States

Pattern of arrest and release continues in Iran

Pattern of arrest and release continues in Iran NEW YORK, United States — Baha'is arrested and imprisoned in recent weeks without charge in Shiraz and Hamadan, Iran, have been released, most on the basis of some collateral, the Baha'i International Community has learned. Trial dates for nearly 130 Baha'is across Iran have yet to be announced. "We are concerned that this pattern of arrest and release is being used increasingly as another form of harassment of the Baha'is," said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations. "Holding on to the assets of people who have not been charged with any crime and whose trial date is unknown are part of the larger strategy of intimidation to deny the community's rights and opportunities." In Hamadan, meanwhile, three other Baha'is were arrested on 18 June, jailed for three days and released. They were arrested after government officials searched their homes and confiscated computers, books and Baha'i documents. Earlier, the last three of the group of 54 Baha'is, mostly young people arrested on 19 May in Shiraz, were released on 14 June. The group was the largest number of Baha'is arrested at one time since the 1980's. Although the judge originally demanded a bond equivalent to $54,000, the three in Shiraz were released without bail on the promise that they would return for a later court appearance. No formal charges have been made against them. However, in most cases, some form of bail, such as deeds of property, were demanded before release. Currently, two Baha'is, arrested in Tehran and Sanandaj, still remain in prison. For more information on the situation of the Baha'is in Iran , please go here: http://www.bahai.org/persecution/iran

40.7127281

-74.0060152

MOSCOW

Russia

Russian professor receives award for contributions to discourse on science and spirituality

Russian professor receives award for contributions to discourse on science and spirituality MOSCOW, Russia — Despite what might be expected from a scientist, for Dr. Gudrat Seyfi, faith plays a key role in his understanding of science. "For me faith implies wisdom that gives answers to the question to which science has not found answers yet," he explains. "The principle of the interaction of science and religion allows a scientist to advance a more complete cognition and understanding of the world as a whole." Dr. Seyfi's creative and innovative approach in understanding the sciences from a spiritual perspective and his contribution to the discourse of science and religion were formally recognized at a special session of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences this March. The author of several books and numerous articles on faith and science, spirituality and comparative religion, Dr. Seyfi, the vice-director of the Scientific Centre, "Eurasia," of the Russian Academy of the Natural Sciences, was awarded a diploma with the highly merited status of "Academician" by the Academy. He recognizes, however, that his perspective, once considered radical, is becoming more widespread. "Scientists have different approaches," he explained. "Extreme ones are convinced that faith impedes scientific knowledge because faith is blind. Others think that science and religion have to emerge separately, that belief is a very intimate matter. But nowadays, the tendency is gradually changing. Scientists are beginning to think more and more that this issue is a subtle one and there is no unambiguous answer." A member of the Baha'i Community of Moscow, Dr. Seyfi describes his own approach to science as being deeply connected to his understanding of the spiritual evolution of humanity. Dr. Gudrat Seyfi, recipient of diploma with status of "Academician" by the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences"Outside of the organic interrelation of science and religion it is hardly possible for a human being to understand the fundamental questions: the place of a human being in the world, his attitude to nature, and his fellow beings and so on," said Dr. Seyfi. "It is reflected in the statement of Baha'u'llah that science and religion are the wings of one bird and that without their interaction the flight of thought and cognition of the world is not possible." He describes science and religion as being both complementary and interdependent in nature, and emphasizes the need to create a culture of dialogue between the different religions, recognizing them as being all from the same Source and progressive in nature. In acknowledgment of his achievement, the elected governing body of the Baha'is in Russia, the National Spiritual Assembly, sent a message of congratulations, stating that: This event is a high evaluation of your contribution to the development of science in general and especially in the field of transcultural and interfaith dialogue between people of different nationalities and creeds. Your innovative approach to the problems of development of humanity from the point of view of spirituality allows to open new horizons of the purpose of human life and helps the understanding of the oneness of humanity. "It was quite unexpected but pleasant for me," Dr. Seyfi said, referring to the award. "I have never had such a goal. Of course, it is gratifying but I do not have any kind of euphoria, because the highest value of a human being is his spirituality." "Despite the difficult and complex processes in the world," he said, speaking of his vision of the future, "I believe that humanity will overcome its spiritual crisis and come to a mutual understanding between world religions, religious figures and governments for the betterment of mankind on our small planet." "The fundamental concept of Baha'u'llah, that we are fruits of one tree, directly knock at the heart and soul of every human being. In my life, I am trying to bring this idea to the consciousness of people."

55.7504461

37.6174943

GENEVA

Switzerland

Iran confiscates Baha'is' properties, says UN

Iran confiscates Baha'is' properties, says UN GENEVA, Switzerland — Baha'is in Iran face discriminatory housing policies, including "the abusive use of property confiscation," said a United Nations report released at a news conference last week. At least 640 Baha'i properties have been seized since 1980, according to Miloon Kothari, the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, who wrote the report and presented it to the news media on 29 June 2006. "The properties listed included houses and agricultural land, but also Baha'i sacred places such as cemeteries and shrines," said Mr. Kothari. "The affected owners have allegedly not been given an opportunity to participate or receive prior information related to ongoing confiscation procedures." He said, for example, many of the confiscations were made by Iranian Revolutionary Courts, and that some of the verdicts he examined declared that "the confiscation of the property of 'the evil sect of the Baha'i' (were) legally and religiously justifiable." In rural areas, he said, such confiscations were often accompanied by threats and physical violence before and during related forced evictions. Mr. Kothari said he was "concerned at the clear evidence of discriminatory conduct with respect to Baha'i property, including housing." At the news conference, Mr. Kothari said he continues to receive reports about Baha'is who have had their land confiscated. "In the last two years, there has been an increase in the number of Baha'i leaders or prominent people who have been arrested without any charge and then released with very high bail," Mr. Kothari said, according to the Voice of America. "And, the only way in which they can post this bail is to put their property as a guarantee. This seems to be another method of expropriation." The annual report, which was written as part of a six-year mandate to consider housing policies around the world in relation to the right to an adequate standard of living, focused this year on issues of discrimination in housing, and drew extensively on visits by Mr. Kothari in 2005 to Iran and Cambodia. The report was set to be released in March, during the Commission on Human Rights, but in the changeover to the new Human Rights Council, its official release by Kothari to the public was delayed until last week. Diane Alai, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, said the report served to confirm that property confiscations have been used as part of Iran's systematic persecution of Baha'is in Iran. "Unfortunately, what Mr. Kothari has been able to document has been an on-going problem for Iranian Baha'is," said Ms. Alai. "Property confiscation, along with a ban on access to higher education, discrimination in the workplace, and the outright ban on organized religious activity by Baha'is, reflect the Iranian government's wholesale campaign to slowly strangle the Baha'i community in Iran while seeking to evade international condemnation." Click here for the Special Rapporteur's report. To learn more about the situation of the Baha'is in Iran click here

46.2017559

6.1466014

TAIPA

Macau

School of the Nations, Macau, receives land grant from government

School of the Nations, Macau, receives land grant from government TAIPA, Macau — It may seem to a passerby that the plot of land between the Hyatt tennis court and the car park of the Buddhist Temple in Taipa, Macau, is just another vacant lot. But in the mind of Saba Payman, director of the Baha'i-inspired School of the Nations, he can already see the wide open space as the long awaited extension to the school, with numerous art and science laboratories, a 400-seat auditorium and a gymnasium. It was this same vision that saw beyond the original five pupils who enrolled in the kindergarten in 1988 to the 220 students currently attending the kindergarten, primary and secondary school, coming from countries all over the world. In a territory where land is scarce, it is a sign of respect and recognition that this valuable 2,500 square meter plot has been given to the school by the Education Department of Macau, which is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. Diagram of the new school building."The government has seen what we have been doing and are trying to do," said Mr. Payman, who was awarded earlier this year by the government with the honorific title "Prestige" for service to Macau. "They see our integrity and our spirit of service and so have been very positive in their attempts to assist us to get land and advance the school." While most schools in Macau focus on the intellectual aspects of education, the School of the Nations is considered a pioneer in developing the moral and character component of the School curriculum, the Character Development Program. In 1998, for instance, the school's Character Development Program received awards, both locally and internationally, for innovative curriculum development. "People choose to come to our school because we put emphasis on the development of the person as a whole," explained Mr. Payman. "Our main concern is for the students to develop the desire and habit of extending themselves beyond their own personal concerns and becoming involved with the needs and problems others face on a daily basis." The Character Development Program focuses on developing capabilities, and putting what is learned into action. Concepts such as responsibilities and contributions as a family member, unity in diversity, world citizenship, and consultation are taught within the classroom. Skills, attitudes and habits are developed and these are simultaneously put into practice in various acts of service to the wider community. With time, the aim is that these acts of service become a way of life, according to Mr. Payman. "This attitude of service is not only essential for the development of the individual's potential but is, at the same time, an essential force required for the betterment of society," he said. In a courtesy visit recently made to Mr. Sou Chio Fai, the Director of Education and Youth Services in Macau, Mr. Sou emphasized that he regarded the Education Department and the School of the Nations as "partners," and that the government of the Macau SAR is committed to supporting the school and that includes substantial financial support for the construction of the multi-million dollar project. The development of the school has not always been easy, however. "Initially," Mr Payman said, "the fact that the school was Baha'i-inspired was a real challenge. People were somewhat uncomfortable with the idea. Now the school is highly regarded and respected. People are seeing the impact that the school is having on developing the characters of young people." "The motto for the eleventh graders comes from the Baha'i Writings, "Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones." A couple of years ago, two graduates, who were not Baha'is came back to do a year of voluntary service at the School. Because they were a part of the (school's) culture, the manner in which they served was fantastic, and people could see this. They were outstanding." "Public education in Macau is for free," he added. "However, despite the fact that we have limited financial resources and our facilities leave a lot to be desired and despite there being tough competition from other schools, people still continue to pay for their children to attend the School." The School of the Nations is one out of three schools in Macau that charges school fees and yet has filled 90 percent of its student capacity. "We ultimately hope to become an example of what the Baha'i Faith is striving to do," said Mr. Payman. "We are very much hoping to be seen as a beacon of light in promoting both academic and spiritual education."

22.1573804

113.5601035

NUKUʻALOFA

Tonga

Ocean of Light School celebrates 10th anniversary

Ocean of Light School celebrates 10th anniversary NUKU''ALOFA, Tonga — The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga praised the Ocean of Light School for its distinctive educational philosophy, which integrates academics and spiritual virtues, at the school's 10th anniversary celebration held earlier this month. "The school has grown very rapidly, not only in size but also in the standard of education it is providing," said the Honorable Dr. Fred Sevele. "The school's philosophy, (that) true education is a means whereby children should develop academically, physically and spiritually, has enhanced the development of the school." The 1 July 2006 commemoration was marked by a devotional program and performances by each class that celebrated the cultural diversity of the school. Present were members of the diplomatic corps, including the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, along with other guests, parents, staff and students. The school was established in 1996 as a social and economic development project of the Baha'i community of Tonga in response to the needs of the community and a desire to offer the Tongan population an international standard of education. "This school tries to provide a sound academic education but aspires to instill in the students the idea and desire to be model citizens by polishing the gems within them," said Soyhela Bolouri, on behalf of the school's board, in her opening remarks. High school students performing the Ma'ulu'ulu traditional dance."These valuable gems that can shine and illumine the world by its luster and brightness," said Ms. Bolorui, who is also a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia. "Gems such as truthfulness, honesty, love, kindness, helpfulness and so forth, which are the building blocks of the character of each child." Starting with only nine pupils, the school expanded to a current student population of over 300 and with staff from various countries such as Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Tonga, and the United States. In his address, Prime Minister Sevele also congratulated the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tonga, the school's board and the wider Baha'i community for "their achievements in such short 10 years," adding that "the school has reached to a stage that is highly regarded in Tonga."

-21.1343401

-175.201808

NEW YORK

United States

New Baha'i representative at the United Nations

New Baha'i representative at the United Nations NEW YORK, United States — Bringing wide-ranging experience in women's issues, civil society organization, and international development, Fulya Vekiloglu has joined the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community in New York as a representative to the United Nations. A native of Turkey, Ms. Vekiloglu arrived in New York in June 2006. She will work alongside Bani Dugal, who is the Community's principal representative to the United Nations. Ms. Vekiloglu's focus will be on issues related to the advancement of women and social development. "We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Ms. Vekiloglu on our team at the United Nations," said Ms. Dugal. "She brings with her a wealth of experience in some of the issues that concern the Community the most, specifically in the areas of women and children, as well as in social and international development, and civil society." Before coming to New York, Ms. Vekiloglu worked as a project manager for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan, where she managed an institutional capacity building program in the Ministry of Women's Affairs for three and a half years. In that project, she provided direct support to the Ministry and trained more than 700 civil servants and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 10 provinces in Afghanistan on gender issues. In 2001 and 2002, Ms. Vekiloglu worked as a consultant for the UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a project to survey civil society development in Eastern Bosnia. She also worked in Bosnia for an international project promoting conflict resolution and peace education. Prior that, Ms. Vekiloglu worked extensively with civil society and women's organizations in Turkey. From 1999 to 2000, Ms. Vekiloglu served as the coordinator of a women's NGO networking project in Ankara, Turkey. During the lead-up to and during the 1996 UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Ms. Vekiloglu was a member of the National NGO Host Committee of Turkey. In that role, she also served as a member of the national Habitat II report committee for Turkey. She was also the founder and facilitator of the Habitat Women's Caucus (1997-1999) in Ankara for the follow-up on the Habitat Agenda. A lifelong Baha'i, Ms. Vekiloglu also has an extensive record of service to Baha'i institutions. She served in the Baha'i community of Turkey's external affairs office from 1992 to 1995, and also directed the Habitat II Baha'i Office from 1995-1998. Ms. Vekiloglu, 40, has a Master of Science degree in Gender and Women's Studies from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Product Design from Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul. "Although I have had many incredible experiences working in the field, this new position at the Baha'i International Community is really exciting because it offers an opportunity to work on issues at the global level, directly at the United Nations," said Ms. Vekiloglu. "I have lived in different communities with diverse religious and cultural backgrounds and have seen up close the lives, dimensions and experiences of women at the grassroots level," Ms. Vekiloglu added. "Yet I have seen that they all speak with the same voice and thirst for a common equality, endeavoring as women and mothers to create better lives for their children and their communities. "So often, people are pessimistic about the progress that is being made around the world," said Ms. Vekiloglu. "My hope is to be able to bring a positive outlook, based on these experiences, to our work at the United Nations and with other civil society organizations."

40.7127281

-74.0060152

HAIFA

Israel

A New volume of Baha'i sacred writings is published

A New volume of Baha'i sacred writings is published HAIFA, Israel — A new volume of selected writings by Baha'u'llah, entitled "The Tabernacle of Unity," has been recently translated and published in English. This latest publication of the Baha'i World Centre contains five "tablets" - letters - written by Baha'u'llah to individuals of Zoroastrian background in the 1800s. As such, these tablets provide important insights into the interrelatedness of religion. The first two tablets presented in this book are based on questions posed to Baha'u'llah by a Manikchi Sahib, a diplomat representing the Parsees of India in Persia. Manikchi Sahib had become an admirer of Baha'u'llah and therefore decided to pose certain questions that he had concerning issues of religion. The last three tablets contained in this book are addressed to other early Baha'is of Zoroastrian background that had similar questions. Though all of these tablets were addressed to individuals who had Zoroastrian roots, Baha'u'llah's responses to these inquiries are not limited to a Zoroastrian perspective. "The nominal thread that unites these five Tablets is that they were all revealed over a century ago to individuals of Zoroastrian background," said Steven Phelps, a translator working in the Research Department of the Baha'i World Centre. "However, too much of a focus on this angle might make the volume seem backward-looking and irrelevant when in fact its message is very much for the here and now. "While restating some of the central tenets of the Faith, such as the organic unity of the human race, the progressive character of divine revelation, and the world-embracing nature of Baha'u'llah's prophetic claim, the volume also opens new vistas on the Baha'i writings with its discussion of the boundary between the absolute and the relative in religious truth. "Perhaps most importantly of all, the volume speaks eloquently to the urgent need for religion to reclaim its place as a world-unifying, world-transforming force," said Dr. Phelps. While portions of these tablets have been previously translated, the volume represents the first time they have been presented in English in full. For example, the well-known quotation, "Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch," comes from the second tablet of the book which was addressed to Mirza Abu'l-Fadl, a famous early Baha'i scholar. The translation of this book was prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, which works from original documents. This English rendering combines the efforts of a number of translators, who strive to follow the pattern established by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baha'i Faith and its authorized interpreter from 1921 until his death in 1957. Although the documents identified as Baha'u'llah's primary works have been the focus of translation work so far, they represent only a small portion of His writings during His 40-year ministry. The book can be ordered through the US Baha'i Distribution Service and a number of other Baha'i publishing trusts worldwide.

32.8191218

34.9983856

THE JASZSAG REGION

Hungary

Empowering Roma mothers to break the cycle of illiteracy

Empowering Roma mothers to break the cycle of illiteracy THE JASZSAG REGION, Hungary — Before she started studying with the Mesed Project, Agi Racz was ashamed of the fact that she could not read -- and afraid to try to learn how. "At first I had doubts, fears," said Ms. Racz, a mother of four and a member of the Roma ethnic minority. But with the encouragement of the Mesed literacy project volunteers and other participants, she overcame her anxieties. "I felt good with my friends, and it helped me to get over my feelings of shame," she said. "If someone couldn't read she got encouragement from the others. They said, 'Never mind, go on.' I realized that I can do it, that they won't laugh at me." Ms. Racz is one of some 40 participants in the Mesed project, which was started by the Baha'i community of Hungary in 2003 with the goal of teaching reading and writing to disadvantaged Roma women. Currently operating in eight towns and cities, the project is distinctive for its use of storytelling in the teaching of reading and writing. The word Mesed is an acronym for "Meselo Edes Anyak," which means "storytelling mothers." The project aims to help Roma mothers to overcome their fears of reading by encouraging them to read and tell stories to their children -- thereby not only giving them encouragement in the path to literacy, but also to create a culture of reading at home -- and so help break the cycle of illiteracy between generations. "Many of the Roma women lack basic skills in reading and/or the confidence to read aloud," said Furugh Switzer, the director of the project. "They usually become mothers at an early age and the distance between them and book learning increases. "They tend to develop feelings of inferiority which, in turn, affects their view of life and of their own self. They are not in a position to help their children with school work, neither are they able to transfer enthusiasm and appreciation for books and book learning, and a cycle of illiteracy is perpetuated," said Ms. Switzer. Hajnal Racz, a participant of the project and a mother of three, described how initial feelings of shame and embarrassment were replaced by a sense of confidence. "In the beginning it was strange that we had to read," said Hajnal Racz, who is not related to Agi Racz -- Racz being a common surname among the Roma. "We tried not to make mistakes, but being anxious we made more mistakes. But, after a while, we realized that we don't need to be ashamed. Halfway through the project our reading improved a lot and by the end of the project we could read quite well." Graduation ceremony held in Torokszentmiklos in 2003.In 2003, Mesed was selected as one of the five projects that were presented at the European Parliament as a supporting program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World. The project has also drawn notice from local officials. Leko Belane Malika, the deputy mayor of Jakohalma -- one of the villages in the region of Jaszsag where a large population of Roma reside and one of Mesed's main areas of focus -- recently described the facilitators as "dedicated professionals who take it to their heart to bring about equality which is a key question in today's world." "I think this is a pioneering effort in this field," said Mr. Malika. "And I would like to express my gratitude for this work." The Roma, which constitute roughly six percent of Hungary's population, are considered to be the most disadvantaged and most discriminated against minority group in the country. Literacy rates for the Roma are distinctly lower than for the Hungarian population at large, according to the United Nations Development program. This is especially for people over 45. While 97 percent of that age group are literate in Hungary as a whole, just 77 percent of Roma men and women are. What matters more, perhaps, are the statistics on educational attainment for Roma children. According to Balazs Wizner, writing in the Hungarian Quarterly last year, about 36 percent of Roma children failed to complete elementary school in 2000, versus 5 percent for other Hungarian children. That gets worse as they move up the educational ladder. In 2001, approximately 20 percent of the Roma entered secondary school, versus 73 percent nationwide. By stressing the literacy among mothers -- and focusing on reading at an early age -- Mesed hopes to break that cycle by providing a course of free weekly literacy classes. "At a basic level it empowers women," Ms. Switzer said. "It affects the mother's relationship with books and learning by creating a positive association which, in turn, and naturally, will be passed on to her children. Women begin to see themselves as active agents of change." Participant Andrea Racz said the course had indeed helped her see the importance of motherhood. "The role of a mother is very important in a family," she said. "If in a family the mother feels good, then that family is a happy family because a mother not only thinks about the day to day life of a family, but she also prepares them for life. We are mothers, but we raise future mothers and fathers." One of the main goals of the project is to create a forum where Roma mothers can feel safe and comfortable to express their feelings, grievances and hopes. "The most important thing," said Andrea Racz, "was that we had found a new family because the atmosphere was very warm." Ms. Switzer described the process of bonding and sharing that took place between the mothers. "The mothers started by sharing experiences from the childhood," she said. "Having found an accepting, loving and secure milieu -- an experience otherwise unprecedented in their life within a deeply prejudiced society -- they poured out their hearts and shared their past experiences." The first phase of the project focuses on the development of basic literacy skills through the reading of children's books -- and the teaching of moral virtues as contained in them. Each week the mothers receive and practice with a new children's book, which they then take home and read to their children every night during the week. In this way, skills that are learned are immediately put into practice. "Our task in this was that when we went home we read the story to our children," said Andrea Racz. "Every night we read to them. They eagerly waited every night to see what story they would get." In all, the mothers read 15 books, which are given to them as gifts, and which ultimately becomes a small library for the family in each home. "Research shows that the more children are read to before they go to school," said Ms. Switzer, "the more likely they are to be academically successful. Thus the Roma children will become the mutual beneficiaries for this project. They will enter school mentally more equipped for the written word and will have a positive association with books and reading. "They are also more likely to be supported by their mothers at home who, by now, have gained a sense of pride in their ability to read and are more equipped to help track the progress of their children at school," said Ms. Switzer. Julika Kovacs, a mother of three, described her children's enthusiastic response to reading. "They always waited for me to arrive every week asking what new story book I brought. They always read, all three of them, and fought with each other to be the first one to read." The emphasis on educating children in virtues is directly linked to the books. The mothers are taught to use the stories they read in their day-to-day life to teach children moral and spiritual qualities, such as honestly, trustworthiness, kindness and generosity. "When there were behavioral problems with my little son or he didn't understand something," said Andrea Racz, "I read a story to him and talked about the main characters in the story and we discussed how they behaved and whether it was proper behavior or not. There were situations where all I had to say was, you know 'Franklin Helps' [the name of the book] and he knew what I meant." Participant Marika Farkas said the act of coming together to read has a positive effect on her whole family. "Every week...the whole family sits together to read. It brings the whole family together. Mother, father and the children sit together and read and in this way the home becomes a warmer place because of these stories." So far ten groups of mothers throughout Hungary have completed the first phase of the project, which was funded by the Baha'i community of Hungary. The Mesed project plans to expand, and the next step is to organize trainings for facilitators who will then act as coordinators for the Mesed meetings. Once a core number of women have been trained, the project will start experimenting with phase two: the development of writing skills. "By all means I recommend the course," said Andrea Racz. "Roma and Hungarian mothers alike, get to know each other, and think together, and they will see how nice it is to think together, and from this they will see that not only is it possible to live together, but we must. "Let us all be proud that we are mothers, that we make every effort for the benefit of our children," she said. "For the children the only task should be learning, learning, learning."

KINGSTON

Jamaica

Jamaicans celebrate 4th National Baha'i Day

Jamaicans celebrate 4th National Baha'i Day KINGSTON, Jamaica — When the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Howard Cooke, proclaimed a National Baha'i Day for this tropical Caribbean island nation three years ago, Baha'is here had no idea it would become an annual event. Established in 2003 as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Faith in Jamaica, Baha'is discovered in 2004 that once a proclamation has been made, it becomes a permanent feature of the island. "Thus, we began to have observations for 'Baha'i Day' on July 25 each year," said Linda Roche, secretary of the Baha'i community of Jamaica. The event has become a celebration not only for the 21 local Baha'i communities on the island, but they have been joined by other religious leaders and Jamaican politicians. This year the Baha'i Day events included a Baha'i Day Breakfast sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly. It was attended by representatives of the various religions from the Interfaith Council, including Moslems, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus, as well as the mayor of Kingston and representatives of the news media. Celebrations were also held in the Kingston, Montego Bay and Port Antonio communities. Port Antonio held a 4 day exhibition at the public library on the history of the Faith in Jamaica. The mayor with Ms. Aisha Mulende (left) from the Buddhist community, and Ms. Whyte.The highlight of the national observance was the speech by the mayor, Desmond McKenzie, who praised the Baha'i community of Jamaica for its message of spirituality and unity at a time when many are losing faith in politics and traditional religions. "We have always depended on the traditional churches to create the foundation for moral respect and social tolerance," said Mr. McKenzie. "However, we are concerned that the traditional churches seem to have lost their voices lately when it comes to the issue of morality," said Mr. McKenzie, who is not a Baha'i. "And since the politicians are not considered to have the moral authority, it is the newer churches and religions like the Baha'is, and their refreshingly new view of morality, to which we must turn. "Baha'u'llah's divine mission was to bring about spiritual rebirth and the unity of mankind leading to a permanent world peace and the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth," said Mr. McKenzie. "The city of Kingston welcomes the Baha'is with open arms because we share your zest for unity and peace." Baha'i communities throughout Jamaica sponsor a wide range of activities, including children's classes, study circles and devotional meetings. The Baha'i Faith was introduced in Jamaica in the 1930s. In 1942, Dr. Malcolm King, a Jamaican Baha'i who had been residing in the United States, returned to Jamaica and taught the Faith to Marion Lord Maxwell, the first Jamaican to become a Baha'i in Jamaica. By April 1943, the Baha'i community in Kingston had grown to a sufficient size to elect the first Local Spiritual Assembly on the island. This marked the establishment of the Baha'i Faith in Jamaica. "For the past 60 years the Baha'is have applied their Faith to many of our social problems, including social prejudices, economic deprivation and physical disadvantages, and, in so doing, they have contributed immensely to reducing tensions in these areas," said Mr. McKenzie at the interfaith breakfast. Ms. Roche said that the Baha'is have sought to address social problems mainly by stressing the importance of tolerance and harmony. "In terms of promoting social tolerance, probably our most significant activity is being among the founding members of the Interfaith Council in 1992," said Ms. Roche. "It has held activities over the years, recently met with the new Governor General, and has been called upon by the new Prime Minister to help organize a National Interfaith Prayer Service. "This is a fundamental change because although Jamaica is overall a highly tolerant society, very little attention has historically been paid to religions outside of Christianity," said Ms. Roche, "And involving other religions in the organization of national religious events is a positive step forward." For the past few months the Baha'i Centre has been the home of Sir Howard Cooke's Thursday Group, a group of civic minded persons from different religions who are exploring the possibilities of engaging in remedial work in an inner city community. "I strongly believe in the ability of religion to heal wounds and create the basis for moral upliftment and national unity," said Mr. McKenzie. "My administration looks forward to cooperating with you in your efforts to sow the seeds of unity and peace across the city and we wish you every success and blessing as you celebrate another milestone and march on to another landmark," said Mr. McKenzie.

17.9712148

-76.7928128

LONDON

United Kingdom

UK Parliamentary seminar examines religious freedom

UK Parliamentary seminar examines religious freedom LONDON, England — Although recognized as a fundamental human right by nearly every nation, the freedom of religion or belief is woefully under-enforced by many governments and accordingly deserves more attention. That was among the conclusions that emerged from a seminar on the issue of religious freedom that was held in Parliament here on 24 July 2006. Sponsored by the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is and the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom, the two-hour seminar featured a discussion by three human rights experts on the topic of freedom of religion or belief. "The persecution of religious believers is shamefully widespread," said Kevin Boyle, a professor at the Human Rights Centre of Essex University, the first panellist. The problem exists despite a strong international legal framework for the right to freedom of religion or belief, as outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said Prof. Boyle. "There is no dispute in international law as to what rights are recognized, the problems lie with the failure of states to live by international standards," said Prof. Boyle. Prof. Boyle said nations have a positive duty to protect diversity of belief and to remain neutral regarding diverse beliefs. If one faith has a privileged position, however, it is hard for that state to promote religious equality, he said. Nevertheless, state neutrality on religion need not equate to secularism. The right to freedom of religion and belief cannot be seen in isolation, Professor Boyle concluded. It has to be seen in tandem with other rights, such as freedom of expression, freedom of association and in a democratic culture. Panellist Samantha Knights said one of the most difficult areas for states to uphold freedom of religion or belief is when religious practices conflict with the wider culture. A barrister at Matrix Chambers who has studied and worked on cases of freedom of religion or belief in the United Kingdom and the United States, Ms. Knights said the case of high school student Shabina Begum, who claimed she had the right to wear the jilbab [full Islamic dress for women] at school, illustrates the complexity in this area. Were her rights interfered with or was she just inconvenienced, asked Ms. Knights, noting that such questions are extremely difficult for the courts to decide upon. "When faced with issues of freedom of religion, courts need to ask if practices or beliefs are necessary to a religion or merely incidental," said Ms. Knights, saying that there is a need to balance the rights of individuals and the need to protect others. Nazila Ghanea, the third panellist, said freedom of religion or belief is insufficiently protected in part because it has become divorced from other human rights in mainstream thinking. Dr. Ghanea, a specialist in human rights at the University of London Institute of Commonwealth Studies who has recently been appointed to a post at the University of Oxford, said when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, the right to freedom of religion or belief as spelled out in Article 18 was held to be equal with the other rights in the Declaration. Over time, however, the international system has shifted its focus to questions relating to race, torture, and other rights. "There has been a divorce whereby the right to freedom of religion and belief has been separated from protection for minorities defined by race, language, etc." said Dr. Ghanea, who is a Baha'i. Part of the problem, she suggested, is that upholding religious freedom can be a problem for states that have a patrimonial system that favors one particular religion. "Protection for religious freedom needs to be understood as a right that is for everyone," said Dr. Ghanea. "This is currently lacking and contrasts with, for example, the provisions against torture, which are recognized as universal." The discussion topic was introduced by Member of Parliament Ian Stewart, who said that the aim of the seminar was to promote freedom of religion and belief as a matter of principle. "This event is not about the Baha'is, but about the challenges we all share -- and these are not the property of any one group," said MP Stewart. In attendance were representatives of a wide variety of organizations, including the Minority Rights Group, Forum 18, Three Faiths Forum, the Jain Samaj, and the British Humanist Association, as well as the Baha'i community of the United Kingdom and Members of Parliament. The seminar was followed by an animated discussion involving many members of the audience. "The success of this event confirms our belief that the time is ripe for a debate in civil society about this area of human rights," said Barney Leith, Secretary for External Affairs of the Baha'i community of the UK.

51.5073219

-0.1276474

PANCHGANI

India

Baha'i Academy enters training agreement with top Indian University

Baha'i Academy enters training agreement with top Indian University PANCHGANI, India — The Baha'i Academy has entered into a formal agreement with one of India's top-ranked universities to offer specialized training in education for moral development to its students, faculty, and staff. The University of Pune signed an agreement, called a memorandum of understanding with the Academy on 15 July 2006 that will formalize and expand an existing collaboration between the two institutions regarding a program of "Education in Universal Human Values" that was developed by the Academy. The University of Pune is one of India's leading centers for research and teaching, with over 380,000 students from both India and abroad, according to the University's website. The agreement was signed during a faculty retreat for University department heads at the Academy, which is located in this quiet hill town about 100 kilometers southwest of the city of Pune. "I'm happy that we are opening a new chapter, so let's look forward to this fruitful coordination, cooperation and collaboration between these two very important organizations," said Ratnakar Gaikwad, the University's Vice-Chancellor before the signing of the agreement Signing ceremony.The Baha'i Academy, which was founded in 1982, has developed the Education in Universal Human Values program as a means to provide institutions of higher learning, such as the University of Pune, with socially relevant training in moral values. "It consists of four modules to empower the participants to develop their personal capacities and qualities, and to acquire necessary skills, insights and attitudes to contribute their share for the betterment of the society, peace and harmony" said Lesan Azadi, director of the Academy. The course instructs participants in issues such as rectitude of conduct, promoting environments of unity built on diversity, fostering initiative, and attraction to beauty, said Mr. Azadi. The course includes also uses participatory, cooperative and experiential learning, as well as performing arts and service learning activities. It is designed to assist university-level faculty members to develop new approaches and ways of thinking about traditional academic subjects in a way that fosters social progress "This is a significant breakthrough in our relationship with the University of Pune," said Mr. Azadi. The Academy has provided some courses already at the University over the course of the last year. Sanjay D. Chakane, National Service Scheme program coordinator of the University of Pune, said faculty members have already begun to draw on points presented in the program for their courses. "The method of participatory and cooperative learning is a great choice in itself," said Dr. Chakane. "Two of our teachers have started teaching physics by this method to first year Bachelor of Science students. The students' response is amazing and encouraging us to go further in this regard." "Learning and getting trained at Baha'i Academy, especially about Universal Human Value Education, has been a wonderful experience," said Dr. Chakane. "All our teachers are really happy in getting training at the Academy."

17.9239543

73.7992681

LANGENHAIN

Germany

Sommerfest in Germany hits international high notes

Sommerfest in Germany hits international high notes LANGENHAIN, Germany — The presence of automobile number plates from every region of Germany and many neighboring countries was but one of the signs of success at this year's Baha'i Sommerfest, which drew more than 2,500 people in June for a full day program of music, dance, food, and devotions. Held each year since 1995 on the grounds of the Baha'i House of Worship here, the Sommerfest, organized by the Baha'i community of Germany, aims to create an atmosphere of unity and fellowship, celebrating diversity and bringing together people from all over Europe. "People who attend (the festival) feel spiritually uplifted. The National Spiritual Assembly is ever so glad about this festival and so grateful to the friends who put so much effort to its preparation each year because it provides a large forum for social and spiritual encounters under the shadow of the House of Worship," said Foad Kazemzadeh, secretary general of the Baha'i community of Germany. The program for the 25 June 2006 event included performances by a bluegrass band, a rap group, and the People's Theatre. In the afternoon there were devotional programs in the House of Worship featuring readings from the sacred scriptures of the world's religions. A highlight of the day was a performance by the 100-member local choir, "Stimmen Bahas," or "Voices of Baha." Another highlight of the festival, which one participant described as a "gigantic picnic," were food stands offering cuisine from around the world, including Persian kebabs, Chinese vegetable dishes and, of course, local bratwurst sausage.

50.9029533

10.5218165

CAIRO

Egypt

Egypt hearing highlights ID card discrimination for Baha'is

Egypt hearing highlights ID card discrimination for Baha'is CAIRO, Egypt — The Egyptian government's controversial policy that requires citizens to list their religion on national identification cards, while also limiting the choice to one of just three official religions, was the focus of a major symposium here in August. The event drew considerable attention to the plight of the Baha'is in Egypt, who endure discrimination under the policy. It forces them to either lie about their religion and illegally falsify their religious affiliation -- or go without ID cards, which are necessary to access virtually all rights of citizenship here. Held on 8 August 2006 by National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), a state-funded, advisory body to the government on human rights issues, the symposium heard testimony from a wide variety of civil society groups, official governmental agencies and ministries, as well as the Baha'i community of Egypt. "Baha'is face a daily struggle now," said Dr. Basma Moussa, the Baha'i representative, explaining that without valid ID cards Baha'is cannot register for school, attend university, address questions on military service, apply for jobs, process banking transactions, or properly receive salaries. Dr. Moussa said both international agreements and Egyptian law, however, guarantee freedom of religion or belief, and that the administrative issues surrounding the ID card limitations could easily be solved by adopting alternatives, such as leaving the section blank or simply allowing a fourth choice of "other" in the religion identification field. Some 160 people were present at the symposium, representing not only some 57 civil society and non-governmental organizations, but also prominent thinkers and various representatives from the government, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and the Egyptian Parliament. Eighty participants presented testimony. The event was introduced by former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who is currently president of the NCHR, and it drew wide publicity in Egyptian news media. "The purpose of the event was basically to put the issue on the agenda, and in this sense it was successful," said Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), an independent Egyptian human rights organization. "It is a highly symbolic gesture, and a positive development." In April, the issue of religious affiliation on identification cards became the focus of increasing controversy when an administrative court ruled that Baha'is should also be allowed to state their religion on government documents. Fundamentalist Islamic groups decried the April ruling, while human rights organizations praised it. The Supreme Administrative Court is now set to hold a hearing on the government's appeal of the Baha'i case in September. At present, government policy allows only the listing of Islam, Christianity and Judaism, the three officially recognized religions, on ID cards and other documents. The NCHR symposium sought to address this limitation -- and it was also marked by an airing of all sides of the issue. Representatives of fundamentalist Islamic groups urged the government to keep its current policy, saying "public order" might be adversely affected if other religions were allowed to be listed or the listing was abolished entirely. Among the concerns expressed by Islamic groups was a fear that any change would affect various issues relating to marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which are governed by each religious community here. Other groups, including representatives of the Coptic Christians and various national human rights organizations, urged a change in the policy, saying the current policy is at odds with international law -- and moral conscience -- relating to the freedom of religion or belief. Dr. Gamal el-Banna, an Islamic thinker and scholar, said for example that "the case of religious belief is a personal matter, which has no connection to public order, and that no one should interfere with it. "We should be examining the standards of ignorance and prejudice, as well as the publications that darken our lives," he said, according to published accounts. "Omitting religion from ID cards would neither lead to progress nor regress." Dr. Boutros-Ghali, in an opening statement, noted that "the three major religions represent less than 50 percent of world religions, but other religions account for 51 percent of recognized religions." "In the upcoming years Egypt will face further conflicts in religious relations, and newer religions will require recognition as they appear, so we should either approve and recognize all religions or eliminate religious classification from ID cards," said Dr. Boutros-Ghali, according to published accounts. The recent introduction of a computerized card system that locks out any religious identification other than the three officially recognized religions has made the problem worse for Baha'is, who were previously able to find clerks who might at least leave the religion field blank in old style paper ID cards. Not only are Baha'is prohibited by their beliefs from lying, but it is a crime to provide false information on any official document here. Thus, unable to morally or legally list one of the three recognized religions, Baha'is are now prevented from obtaining new cards, and they are as a community gradually being deprived of nearly all the rights of citizenship. In her presentation of the Baha'i view, Dr. Moussa, an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Cairo University, read six pages of testimony before the Council. Read Dr. Moussa's testimony in Arabic Her testimony focused on the degree to which international law and the Egyptian constitution uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief. In particular, she said, Articles 40 and 46 of the Egyptian constitution both grant the freedom of religious practice and belief, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Egypt has signed. In view of these laws, Dr. Moussa said, "it is obvious that limiting the religions on the ID card to the three (official religions) interferes with the freedom of those who believe in religions other than those. "In these cases, it is as if you are forcing a religion on the ID card holder, which is counter to what the law and the constitution state, and it goes against international human rights." Dr. Moussa also said there have been cases in other official documents, such as birth and death certificates, where Baha'is have been identified as Baha'is -- or where the field has simply been left blank. "These alternatives prove to us that it can be done." She added that in other countries where Muslims are not in the majority, "they expect, and rightfully so, that their rights will be fully provided for. This, and no more, is what Baha'is are asking for." "We are asking that, on official papers, you either list 'Baha'i,' or 'other,' or a 'dash' -- or just leave it blank," said Dr. Moussa. "This is actually all that we have asked of governmental agencies over the last few years."

30.0443879

31.2357257

NEW YORK

United States

Text of secret Iran letter ordering "monitoring" of Baha'is made public

Text of secret Iran letter ordering "monitoring" of Baha'is made public NEW YORK, United States — The text of a secret letter from Iranian military headquarters instructing commanders of various state intelligence services, police units, and the Revolutionary Guard to "identify" and "monitor" Baha'is has now been obtained and made available to the public. The letter, dated 29 October 2005 and signed by the Chairman of Command Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces, first came to public attention in March when its existence was announced by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir. Ms. Jahangir, who said the letter's contents made her "highly concerned," did not release the text of the letter. However, on 24 July, Amnesty International announced they had obtained it and were making it available. The full text of the letter in English, as well as a facsimile of the original letter in Persian, can be viewed at these links: Text of 29 October 2005 letter in English Facsimile of 29 October 2005 letter in Persian In March, in a statement announcing her discovery of the letter, Ms. Jahangir said, "[S] ch monitoring constitutes an impermissible and unacceptable interference with the rights of members of religious minorities." She further expressed concern that "the information gained as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith." Human rights experts have noted that the list of recipients -- which also includes the paramilitary Basij Resistance Forces -- gives an especially ominous tone to the letter, since it indicates the continuation of a policy established by the government of Iran that systematically seeks to destroy the Baha'i community as a viable entity. For more on Iran's long standing policy against Baha'is, go to http://question.bahai.org/002.php After learning of the letter, a number of governments and human rights groups expressed alarm at the threat it implied, over and above the continuing pattern of arbitrary arrests, attacks in the official news media, and other forms of harassment and persecution faced by Iranian Baha'is. International and national news media reported widely on the increased danger to the Baha'is. A spokesman for the President of the United States, in a White House briefing on 28 March 2006, stated that the United States government shares the concerns of Ms. Jahangir. "We call on the regime in Iran to respect the religious freedom of all its minorities, and to ensure that these minorities are free to practice their religious beliefs without discrimination or fear," said Scott McClellan, White House press secretary. "And we will continue to monitor the situation of the Baha'is -- the Baha'is in Iran -- very closely, and to speak out when their rights are denied." In Europe, the Council of Europe expressed "deep concern" over the human rights situation in Iran in a 15 May resolution, noting restrictions on freedom of expression and religion, and specifically mentioning the situation of the Baha'is in Iran. In France, Foreign Affairs Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said in an April interview that "[w] are deeply worried about the harassment of the Baha'i and Sufi minorities who are highly discriminated against." The Spanish House of Representatives passed a strongly worded resolution decrying the persecution of Iran's Baha'is, expressing its concern about the order of Ayatollah Khamenei "to identify and monitor the Baha'is, as stated by the Special Rapporteur." The House of Representatives of the Philippines likewise adopted a resolution "appealing to the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to safeguard and protect the fundamental human rights of the Baha'is and other religious minorities in said country" in view of the apprehensions that had been expressed by the United Nations' Special Rapporteur. In India, member of Parliament Karan Singh wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, calling attention to the Special Rapporteur's statement and urging him to "take up this matter" with Iranian authorities. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in a statement on 5 April 2006, said it "fears that the identification and monitoring of the Baha'is combined with the current hatred propaganda in the media could lead to increased discrimination in their regards and calls upon the Iranian authorities to abide by their international human rights commitments." News organizations have also reported on the letter and its alarming nature. Agence France Presse and Reuters both carried news of Ms. Jahangir's statement when it was released. Other news organizations -- The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Toronto Star, The Indian Express, and The Times of India, among others -- followed up with other stories in the spring of 2006 on the threat facing Iranian Baha'is. The implementation of the government's orders is evident at the local level. The Baha'i International Community, for example, recently obtained a copy of a 2 May 2006 letter to the Iranian Union of Battery Manufacturers asking it to provide to the Trades, Production and Technical Services Society of Kermanshah a list of members of "the Baha'i sect." The full text of the 2 May 2006 letter in English, as well as a facsimile of the original letter in Persian, can be viewed at these links: Text of 2 May 2006 letter in English Facsimile of 2 May 2006 letter in Persian

40.7127281

-74.0060152

SAN FRANCISCO

United States

Baha'i studies conference attracts 1,100

Baha'i studies conference attracts 1,100 SAN FRANCISCO, United States — The impact of religion on the evolution of consciousness was explored during the 30th annual Association for Baha'i Studies (ABS) conference, held here 10-13 August 2006. About 1,100 participants attended, examining a wide variety of scholarly interests in relation to the Baha'i Faith, including history, biography, spirituality and the arts, law and governance, race and intercultural issues, alternative health and healing, bioethics, and peace and conflict resolution. In all, there were 77 presentations, of which about 20 were made by presenters enrolled in undergraduate or graduate university programs. The theme of religion and the evolution of human consciousness was emphasized in many of these presentations. "Religion awakens the soul to potentialities that are otherwise unimaginable," said Hoda Mahmoudi, in a session that compared contemporary sociological and Baha'i perspectives on modernity. Dr. Mahmoudi, head of the Research Department at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, said in this way the messengers of God have always provided the "requisites for the rise of civilization." "The Baha'i Faith views social change as both a necessary and essential attribute," said Dr. Mahmoudi. This concept of modernity is especially important in an era of globalization, she added, where the "cohesion of the nation-state has changed significantly, and globalization has eliminated the autonomy of the nation-state." Roshan Danesh, a Canadian lawyer and legal scholar, discussed how legal systems have been influenced by religion. "Any legal system depends on the legal emotions through recognizing some sense of the transcendent," said Dr. Danesh, saying that modern discourse about church and state rests on a framework created by the 11th century shift in power from the princely to the priestly class. Dr. Peter Khan, member of the Universal House of Justice, addresses the 30th annual Association for Baha'i Studies conference in San Francisco, held 10-13 August 2006. (Photo by Courosh Mehanian)Today, said Dr. Danesh, we must look at the phenomenon of religion and the law differently, since 21st century reality is complex, global, and interconnected. In this context, he said, the relationships of church and state will involve changing social meaning. Such a change, he said, is likely to fit well into the Baha'i emphasis on an evolutionary application of Baha'i law, which seeks to guide "mankind in a spirit of love and tolerance." The centerpiece Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture this year was delivered by Janet Khan, who has served in the Research Department at the Baha'i World Centre in Haifa, Israel, since 1983. Dr. Khan's lecture focused on the life of Bahiyyih Khanum, the daughter of Baha'u'llah. It examined her role as a Baha'i leader in the early part of the 20th century and how that role reflects distinctive Baha'i concepts of rank and station. Bahiyyih Khanum possessed a unique combination of humility, intellect, sacrifice, and wisdom, Dr. Khan observed. These qualities, coupled with her lineage, gave her a high rank and station in the Faith - and yet one that she did not overstep in any undue assertion of authority. "Bahiyyih Khanum possessed an unaffected simplicity of manner and accessibility that made her available to all," said Dr. Khan, adding that she did not take advantage of her high rank to impose her will upon others. In her actions, Dr. Khan explained, Bahiyyih Khanum also exemplified collaboration and trust. While placing a high value on the promotion of unity, she did not retreat from principle. As well, Dr. Khan noted, Bahiyyih Khanum's life demonstrates that it is possible to avoid the superiority and the traditional abuses of power that frequently characterize the behavior of elites. Rather, she said, one can serve as an agent of change, based on respect for the widely disparate elements of society. Such an example is important in a religion like the Baha'i Faith where there is no priesthood or clergy, said Dr. Khan. "There are no figures exercising individual authority and enjoying unwarranted rights and privileges not accorded the general population," said Dr. Khan. "Each believer is expected to assume responsibility for his or her spiritual development." Other well-attended sessions this year included a lecture by Duane Herrmann on the experience of the Baha'i community in Germany under the Nazi regime, John Grayzel's presentation on Unity of Conscience, and Omid Ghaemaghammi's presentation on the station and function of the Shiite Imams. Mr. Herrmann's session was so popular that it was moved to a large ballroom to accommodate the 300 or so conference attendees who came to learn more about this little-known aspect of Baha'i history in Europe. Mr. Herrmann explained why the small band of some 200-300 Baha'is in Germany in the 1930s were persecuted by the Nazi regime, to which it could hardly have been a threat. In 1937, the Nazi regime banned the Baha'i Faith and its institutions. Mr. Herrmann suggested this was in part because of the community's steadfast refusal to accept the idea of a "master race," believing instead in the oneness of all peoples and the need for a world federation. Another convention highlight was a plenary address by Dr. Peter Khan, member of the elected international governing council of the worldwide Baha'i community, the Universal House of Justice. He emphasized the importance of scholarship and education for all Baha'is, noting the Faith's teachings on the high value of learning and the acquisition of knowledge. For Baha'is, Dr. Khan said, such learning should include the development of spiritual attitudes, practices and manners. He also said that those engaged in scholarly pursuits should also not hesitate to participate in core activities related to the development of the Baha'i community - such as study circles, devotional meetings, and children's classes. Such activities seek to break down patterns of passivity among the members of society at large, he said, and thereby promote widespread and active involvement in decision-making and social action. Artistic presentations showcased theatre, instrumental, and vocal performances. Among those who performed were Red Grammar and John Davey-Hatcher. A special breakout session on the Neuroscience of Consciousness featured Don Hoffman, professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine, and Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, head of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Unit at University College London. The session explored the connection between mind and brain, examining how neuroscience is tackling complex questions that impinge on the realm of the spiritual. -- Reported by Sandra Bean

37.7790262

-122.419906

NEW YORK

United States

Canadian lawyer joins United Nations Office

Canadian lawyer joins United Nations Office NEW YORK, United States — Tahirih Naylor, a lawyer from Canada, has joined the Baha'i International Community as a representative to the United Nations. Ms. Naylor, 28, will work closely with Bani Dugal, the Community's principal representative to the United Nations, on human rights issues. She will also handle issues relating to sustainable development and social development at the United Nations. "We are very pleased to have Ms. Naylor join our office," said Ms. Dugal. "She has a strong background in law, and she has had formative experiences working with the Canadian Baha'i community's Office of Governmental Relations and also with Baha'i-inspired development projects. She is a young woman with maturity beyond her years, who has already brought new ideas and a fresh perspective to our work." Ms. Naylor joined the Community's United Nations Office in July. Her coming follows the arrival Ms. Fulya Vekiloglu, who joined the Office in June, also as a representative to the United Nations. Before coming to the Community, Ms. Naylor worked as a representative in the Office of Governmental Relations of the Baha'i community of Canada. Her duties there included presenting the Baha'i community's point of view to government officials and non-governmental organizations, as well as work on projects concerning human rights and immigration. She worked for the government of Ontario in the Family Responsibility Office before that, handling various legal duties, including representation, research, and the writing of various motions and memoranda. Ms. Naylor received her law degree from Osgood Hall Law School in 2003. Her undergraduate education was at the University of Western Ontario, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2000 with the highest grade point average in her class. Service to the community at large in the arena of development and social justice has also been a consistent feature in Ms. Naylor's experience, work she had often done internationally. She currently serves as treasurer for the Breakwell Education Association, an NGO that oversees the development of two educational institutions in Stratford, Ontario, the Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute and the Stratford College of Liberal Arts. She worked for an NGO in Guelph, Ontario, as an English as a second language (ESL) teacher, served as the coordinator of Canadian volunteers for the Youth Can Move the World literacy and youth empowerment program in Guyana, and trained young people to address social issues through the arts for the Baha'i communities of Samoa, Tonga, and the Bahamas. In 1997, she served as the program coordinator and a dancer for the Diversity Dance Theatre in Europe, which offers educational performances and workshops on issues of multiculturalism and world citizenship. During that time, she toured 13 countries in Eastern and Western Europe. She has done similar arts-based projects in China and Papua New Guinea. "I feel quite honored to have been invited to join the United Nations Office of the Baha'i International Community," said Ms. Naylor. "My ambition in life has long been to address social problems, such as issues relating to poverty and the environment. "One of the reasons I went to law school was to get skills that I felt could be used to assist people and communities in a practical way, especially in terms of promoting social justice. "In my experience, approaches to social and sustainable development often neglect the understanding and application of spiritual principles in favor of a purely materialistic perspective. "My hope is that my background in law and community development can be useful in our outreach to the United Nations and its partners in civil society in bringing the Community's distinctive spiritual perspective to this effort."

40.7127281

-74.0060152

UNITED NATIONS

United States

At the UN, Baha'is host panel on violence against women

At the UN, Baha'is host panel on violence against women UNITED NATIONS, United States — Stemming the global tide of violence against women will require changes in deeply rooted attitudes that for the most part transcend culture and national borders. That was the consensus of an 8 September 2006 panel discussion here on "Beyond Violence Prevention: Creating a Culture to Enable Women's Security and Development." Hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the International Presentation Association, the discussion was held as part of the 59th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization conference. The panelists agreed that violence against women remains a severe problem in almost every nation and culture. "We all know that at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime," said Letty Chiwara, a program specialist with the Africa section of the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM). In some places, such as rural Ethiopia, some 71 percent of women are abused, said Ms. Chiwara. "Harmful traditional practices -- female genital mutilation, dowry murder, the so-called honor killings, and early marriage -- bring death, disability and psychological dysfunction for millions of women," said Ms. Chiwara. "Beyond Violence Prevention: Creating a Culture to Enable Women's Security and Development," a panel discussion at the United Nations on 8 September 2006, was hosted by the Baha'i International Community and the International Presentation Association. It was held as part of the 59th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non-Governmental Organization conference. Closest to the camera is Letty Chiwara, a program specialist with the Africa section of the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM). To her left is Joan Burke. Fulya Vekiloglu of the Community, leaning forward, was the panel's moderator.Charlotte Bunch, executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership at Rutgers University, warned against a tendency to see violence against women as strictly a cultural problem. "We are not just talking about the remnants of cultural practices in a few southern countries," said Ms. Bunch. "It is structurally central to all of the western world, as well as the rest of the world. Violence in general and violence against women is culturally accepted on a lot of levels." Despite advances in legislation against violence against women, Ms. Bunch said, a lot of people seem to feel that "a little violence against women is no big deal." Fulya Vekiloglu, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, said broad international frameworks designed to protect and advance women, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, must be bolstered by a new global social climate. "It is evident that there is still major barrier between legal and cultural practices," said Ms. Vekiloglu, who moderated the discussion. "The challenge before the international community is how to create the social material and structural conditions that will foster the spiritual and physical development of women. "Such efforts will not only involve deliberate attempts to change the legal political and economic structures of society but equally important the transformation of individuals in society," said Ms. Vekiloglu. Joan Burke, a Catholic nun who lived and worked in various countries in Africa for 20 years, said she believes that long-standing cultural practices that harm women -- such as female genital mutilation -- can be changed if underlying values are addressed. "Many such practices are in fact being perpetuated by pressure of women themselves, on other women, in the name of 'cultural values,'" said Sr. Burke. "The holders of those values -- in many case both men and women -- are beginning to re-examine and question them in the light of other deeply held values. I would expect that genuine change will only happen when there is a sufficient level of awareness, which eventually is shared across the larger group." Layli Miller-Muro, a lawyer and the founder of the Tahirih Justice Center, a Baha'i-inspired women's advocacy organization in Virginia, said that often laws are not enough to address deep-seated attitudes. She described the case of a 12-year-old girl who was raped by her step-father in retaliation for turning him in to the police for brutally beating her mother. All the proper laws were in place, the girl had free lawyers, and she was surrounded by a sympathetic and trained police force, but none of these things could prevent the abuse of this child, said Ms. Miller-Muro. "We had a system that worked on its face, but that cannot prevent someone from unleashing their own violent tendencies behind closed doors," she said. Ms. Miller-Muro said that such attitudes can only be addressed by a spiritual transformation, both for societies as well as individuals. "Religion has the capacity for good, to inspire, to motivate, to transform human behavior," said Ms. Miller Muro. "People are willing to change their behavior for a higher power, not for a World Bank loan." -- by Veronica Shoffstall

BUJUMBURA

Burundi

Youth conference in Burundi focuses on social transformation

Youth conference in Burundi focuses on social transformation BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Young people from four Central African countries – nations that have in recent years been the scene of intense conflicts – gathered here in August for a five-day conference to discuss how youth can provide the means for peaceful social action and transformation. Some 149 Baha'i youth from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda assembled at the National Baha'i Center here between 17-21 August 2006. It was a "conference focused on the potential of youth to contribute to the positive transformation of their societies," said Catie Honeyman, a Baha'i youth living in Rwanda. "Speaking different languages, with different nationalities, diverse life experiences, and remarkably distinct cultural traditions," she said, "it might be difficult to understand how we so quickly became friends." Conference participants join in a discussion during a plenary session.Yet, Ms. Honeyman said, there was great joy among "a collection of young people whom the outside world would normally consider to be complete strangers, and perhaps even enemies." Among the specific topics discussed were: how youth can help change the world, service projects, the importance of education, and guidelines for a successful marriage. A number of sessions also focused on spirituality and the importance of helping others learn about the Baha'i Faith. The conference was honored with a visit by Silvestre Bwatemba, director general of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, who promised to support the Baha'i youth in their goal of becoming "luminaries" in the effort to change the world. Two radio journalists also did interviews with participants in five languages, French, Swahili, English, Kirndi, and Kinyarwanda. The conference was characterized by prayers, songs, dances, skits and poems. Additionally the youth were encouraged to learn and practice their French, English, and their own local language.

-3.3638125

29.3675028

KINGCOME INLET

Canada

First Nations and Baha'i youth bond through soccer

First Nations and Baha'i youth bond through soccer KINGCOME INLET, Canada — It's not often the players on opposite sides of a soccer team huddle together for prayers before a game. But neither is it common for outsiders to play in a soccer league that is otherwise composed entirely of Native Canadians. The Twin Arrows soccer team, made up of young Baha'is from the cities of Victoria, Nanaimo, and Vancouver in British Columbia on Canada's West Coast recently wrapped up its fifth season playing in a regional soccer league here, which is otherwise made up entirely of First Nations peoples -- one of the indigenous communities here. Established in 1958, the league is composed of teams representing various tribal communities in and around Queen Charlotte Strait, on the northern end of Vancouver Island and also on the mainland. The Baha'is were invited to join the league in 2002 and since then have managed to fit in well into a league that is as much about community fellowship as it is about high-energy soccer. "The purpose for our participation is really to build bridges between our two communities," said Sebastian Titone, 25, a Baha'i from Nanaimo, who is the team captain and head coach of the Twin Arrows. "In Canada, you generally find the native communities on one side and the white/European communities on the other. "But as Baha'is, we talk about all of us being one people. So we try to be part of cultural events and to make exchanges of friendship. And soccer is really a big part of First Nations community life, and it is one way to engage in community bridging," said Mr. Titone. Both teams in prayer before the beginning of the game.The weekend of 12-13 August 2006 saw the conclusion of a home-and-home series between the Baha'is and the Musgamagw First Nations. Dubbed the "Musgamagw Cup," this mini-tournament was initiated by the Baha'is to honour the friendships that have developed over the years between the Baha'is and many of the Musgamagw families living in Kingcome Inlet and Gilford Island, which lie opposite Vancouver Island. Aside from the soccer game, the Baha'is were treated to a feast with the Musgamagw families and then participated in a ceremony in the big house, where they were invited to speak for 20 minutes, a rare privilege for visitors. The game itself began, as the last few have, with players from both sides huddling together to say prayers. The Baha'is offered a prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah on the theme of healing. "It was really neat to see the two teams with their arms around each other, circling in the middle of the field to have a moment of prayer before they began," says Evelyn Voyageur, a Musgamagw from Kingcome Inlet. "We have had [in the past] moments of silence for so-and-so, but this was never done. I think that says a lot about how we feel about the Baha'is being in our community. They've been really well accepted," Ms. Voyageur said. The relationship between the Baha'is and the First Nations communities precedes the establishment of the soccer team. Baha'is from the Vancouver area had been going up to serve at potlatches of the Namgis First Nations in nearby Alert Bay since the late 1990s. In 2001, Sonny Voyageur, who is Ms. Voyageur's son and a Baha'i, had the idea of establishing a Baha'i team. The Baha'is were invited to join that year. "The game of soccer is an institution in many of the native communities," said Mr. Voyageur, noting that during the early years of the last century, soccer was the only way tribes could legally congregate under now-repealed laws that sought to ban traditional ceremonies and activities. About 15 Baha'is played that first year, including Mr. Titone, who had then recently moved to Canada from his native France. "Even though we were losing, they were still cheering," said Mr. Titone, speaking of the family and friends who came out to support the Baha'is. "It showed that it's not just about winning, but about being there and being together." The league was by then already long established, and it was the relationship the Baha'is had with the Musgamagw community that persuaded organizers to extend the invitation. Before and since then, no other non-aboriginal community has been invited. In April of this year about 80 Musgamagw players, their family members, and their friends came to Maxwell International School, a Baha'i school in Shawnigan Lake for the first game of the season. The visiting team designed special jerseys for the occasion that read "Musgamagw-Baha'i 2006." The relationship between the two teams reached another milestone this year when Baha'i women got the chance to play in the league. Seven Baha'i women were invited to join ten aboriginal women from Alert Bay and Kingcome Inlet. That team now plays regularly in women's tournaments. The name of the men's team, Twin Arrows, is a reference to the Bab and Baha'u'llah, the Founders of the Babi and Baha'i religions respectively, who are sometimes referred to as "Twin Manifestations of God." The other teams, though, often just affectionately refer to them as "the Baha'is." -- Canadian Baha'i News Service

50.89590805

-126.57588557076144

CAIRO

Egypt

Egyptian court again postpones Baha'i case hearing

Egyptian court again postpones Baha'i case hearing CAIRO, Egypt — The Supreme Administrative Court here has again postponed its hearing on the government appeal of a lower court's ruling upholding the right of a Baha'i couple to have their religion properly identified on government documents. In a brief hearing on Saturday, 16 September 2006, the Court continued the case until 20 November in order to await the completion of an advisory report from the State Commissioner's Authority on the case. In April, a lower administrative court ruled that the couple should be identified as Baha'is on official documents, a decision that if upheld will essentially overturn the government's policy of allowing people to choose from only the three officially recognized religions -- Islam, Christianity and Judaism -- on state documents. The lower court's ruling provoked an outcry among fundamentalist elements in Egyptian society and the case has since gained international attention in the news media and from human rights groups. Because they are unwilling to lie about their religion on government documents, Baha'is in Egypt are increasingly unable to gain legal access to basic citizenship rights, including employment, education, medical and financial services. The government appealed the lower court's ruling in early May, and a court hearing was set for 19 June. However, the Court commissioner's advisory report was not submitted in time for the hearing, resulting in the delay to September 16, and now until November 20.

30.0443879

31.2357257

OTTAWA

Canada

Romeo Dallaire, expert on genocide, expresses concern for Baha'i community in Iran

Romeo Dallaire, expert on genocide, expresses concern for Baha'i community in Iran OTTAWA, Canada — Romeo Dallaire, a Canadian senator and retired general who commanded the UN peacekeeping mission to Rwanda at the height of the genocide there, has issued a statement saying that the international community should be prepared to act to protect Iranian Baha'is from possible atrocities. "In Iran, as in other areas like Darfur where evil is at work, the international community must be ready to act before civilians are harmed," said General Dallaire, in a statement issued on 26 September 2006. "Although punishing evil-doers after the fact is critical, it is a sadly insufficient international response to ethnic cleansing or other crimes against humanity," he said. "Too often since the Holocaust in World War II have governments repeated the phrase 'never again.' Yet atrocities continue to occur," said General Dallaire. General Dallaire pointed to the recent discovery of a secret letter from the Iranian military command headquarters to intelligence services, the army, police and the Revolutionary Guard, ordering them to draw up lists of Iranian Baha'is and put them under surveillance, as a key reason for his concern. "This inventorying and targeting of citizens, based on their religious beliefs or racial heritage, is the first ugly step toward systematic violence and crimes against humanity," said General Dallaire. General Dallaire also expressed concern over a government-sponsored media campaign against Baha'is in Iran. "My experience in Rwanda and with other conflicts tells me that the world had better pay close attention whenever a country's media begin to spread hate propaganda against one particular group," he said. He also noted that there has been a rise in the arrest and arbitrary detention of Baha'is in Iran. "I am deeply concerned that Iran's Baha'is are now being specifically targeted by a regime that has the means to carry out the most despicable of intentions," General Dallaire said As a brigadier-general in the Canadian army, General Dallaire commanded the 1994 United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda during the period when 800,000 men, women and children were murdered in 100 days. Appalled at the world's unwillingness to step in and stop the Rwandan genocide, General Dallaire has since devoted much of his time to conflict resolution and promoting adherence to the rule of law. Retired from the military with the rank of lieutenant-general, General Dallaire was appointed in 2005 to the Canadian Senate, representing Quebec. General Dallaire is also the author of a book recounting his experiences in Rwanda, Shake Hands with the Devil. He was also recently appointed to the United Nations Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention.

45.4211435

-75.6900574

OXFORD

United Kingdom

Oxford conference on climate change stresses global collective action

Oxford conference on climate change stresses global collective action OXFORD, England — The challenges posed by global warming will require a far higher level of collective action and international cooperation than is currently practiced. That was among the conclusions at a conference at Balliol College here 15-17 September 2006 that sought to explore the relationship between "Science, Faith and Climate Change." Climate change is "testing mankind's ability to deal with a collective challenge," said Halldor Thorgeirsson, deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC). "The solution itself will fundamentally change how governments cooperate." In an address titled "The international community's response to climate change," Dr. Thorgeirsson said the role of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in global warming is now well established scientifically and "sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action." "When it comes to climate change it will not be solved by any one actor on its own," said Dr. Thorgeirsson. The conference was organised by the Baha'i Agency for Social and Economic Development (BASED-UK) and the International Environment Forum (IEF), a Baha'i-inspired organization. More than 60 people from seven countries attended, while another 115 signed up for online participation via the Internet. The event featured specialists from a variety of disciplines, including natural science, economics, political science and psychology, both from within and outside the Baha'i community, who sought to explore issues surrounding climate change from an interdisciplinary perspective. IEF President Arthur Dahl said the purpose of the conference was "to unify these perspectives, relate them to each other" and to "engage the Baha'i community in the process of applying spiritual principles to the practical problems of the world." Dr. Dahl, a former deputy assistant executive director of the United Nation Environment Program, delivered the keynote presentation on "scientific and faith perspectives" on climate change, saying that most scientists have now concluded that there will be significant warming in the coming years. Poppy Villiers-Stuart, a training officer specializing in sustainable development at the University of Brighton, gives a presentation about community empowerment at the "Science, Faith and Climate Change" at Oxford, 15-17 September 2006. (Photograph by Gemma Parsons)"Climate change is going to force humanity to recognize its oneness," said Dr. Dahl. "Whole ecosystems will shift over long distances, if they can move fast enough." "We are looking at a scale of change this planet has not seen before," said Dr. Dahl. "Sea level has been going up and the scenarios show the trend to continue. It will bring other impacts: food insecurity, water shortages." Such changes, said Dr. Dahl, will require more than technical solutions. Rather, he said, they will require the application of ethical and spiritual principles so as to create "new value-based economic models" that seek to create a "dynamic, just and thriving social order." Religion, said Dr. Dahl, can play a key role in strengthening the ethical framework for action on climate change by educating people "about values and global responsibility," creating "motivation for change," and encouraging the sacrifices that will be needed to create sustainable development. Other presentations focused on specific aspects of climate change, such as its likely effects on various regions and sectors of society, and how mitigating global warming will require various transformations in society and individual actions, such as in energy production and use. Lars Friberg, a research fellow at the University of Potsdam, addressed the impact of climate change on developing countries. "Africa will be worst hit by climate change," said Mr. Friberg. "One model shows warming of 1.8 to 2.6 degrees will lead to a precipitation decrease by 40 percent in Africa." Minu Hemmati, a clinical psychologist, addressed how women around the world are likely to be affected by climate change. She noted that some 60 to 75 percent of the world's poor are women. "Poor people are more affected by climate change," said Dr. Hemmati. "Therefore women will be mostly affected." However, she said, women are "more risk sensitive and that applies to their perception of climate change. They will be more ready to consider that we have to change our lifestyle." Peter Luff, who works for Action for a Global Climate Community, discussed the need for more cooperation between the north and the south. "Europe understands collective action," said Mr Luff. "The question is: Can Europe link up to countries in the south?" Augusto Lopez-Claros, the chief economist and director of the Global Competitiveness Program at the World Economic Forum (WEF), gave a presentation entitled "What economic systems and policies are compatible with protection of the environment?" Drawing on data from studies he has done for the WEF, Dr. Lopez-Claros noted that the top 20 countries in terms of environmentally responsible polices are also among the top countries in terms of global economic success. "There is a positive correlation between environmental and social responsibility and economic competitiveness," said Dr. Lopez-Claros. George Marshall, who works for the Climate Outreach Information Network, addressed ways to help get people more engaged with the issue. Mr. Marshall said it is not enough to give people information about climate change as "people disconnect information from action." Rather, he said, "if we can get people to take action, they will start to engage with the issue." Poppy Villiers-Stuart, a training officer specializing in sustainable development at the University of Brighton, gave a presentation about "community empowerment" and said that "these issues of climate change need to be integrated into the grassroots dialogue of the Baha'i community." "The pivot of the Baha'i teachings is oneness," said Ms. Villiers-Stuart. "Every part of the universe is connected. If we could explore the teachings of the faith to value the role of the earth in our spiritual development, this will naturally make us want to love and be connected to it, which will help sustainable development." One way to "inspire this kind of connection" in young people, Ms. Villiers-Stuart suggested, is through the "junior youth animator course," a spiritual empowerment course for 11-15 year olds. Young people, she suggested, are "most idealistic and have the energy to make change. It is young people who will be able to embody these ideals." -- Reported by Jody Koomen

51.7520131

-1.2578499

UNITED NATIONS

United States

UN forum sees interfaith dialogue as essential to peace

UN forum sees interfaith dialogue as essential to peace UNITED NATIONS, United States — Last month some 33 governments sent delegations to a special conference here on how religions and governments can work together for peace. "The High-Level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace" was sponsored by a unique coalition of governments, United Nations agencies and religious non-governmental organizations, including Baha'i representatives. Participants said the 21 September event drew a wide range of participation at the UN, reflecting rising concern about the spread of religious intolerance and the need to promote religious dialogue and tolerance as a remedy. "What was most significant was that perhaps the best represented sector was governments, particularly from the developing world," said Jeffery Huffines, a member of the Committee of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the UN who served on the planning committee for the Conference. "Many of these countries are suffering from the consequences of religious conflict. They were the ones at the table, wanting to learn, wanting to share their perspective on the importance of promoting religious dialogue and cooperation," said Mr. Huffines, who is also a representative of the Baha'i community of the United States to the UN. In addition to some 33 government representatives, participants included a number of UN agency officials and leaders from various religious groups and civil society organizations. The event was organized by the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, formed in 2005. Alberto Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Philippines and the chair of the Forum, said the event reflected an "unprecedented level" of participation by governments, religions and UN agencies. "Some of the atrocities, violence and problems which the world encounters rest squarely at the doors of proponents of varied religious orientations," said Secretary Romulo, stressing the need for new levels of dialogue and cooperation. John Grayzel, holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, addresses the High-Level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace on 21 September 2006 at the United Nations.Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for the event, which focused on the theme of "Contributing to Peace-building and Development." "Interfaith dialogue has become an urgent necessity," said President Wade, adding that the world is currently fighting "the demons of suspicion, ignorance and contempt for people of other cultures." Intolerance and extremism fly in the face of the sacredness of true religious purpose, said President Wade, suggesting instead that people should examine the common roots of religions and recognize that they all come from a source that "prescribes good and encourages forgiveness and love." President Wade, who is a Muslim, said there is no justification for violence in the name of the Qu'ran. "The real message has always been rapprochement and harmony." Haya Rashid Al Khalifa, ambassador to the UN from Bahrain and president of the 61st General Assembly said the initiative was "a necessity for our time." "To think that any one of us can become secure while others are not is purely an illusion," said Ambassador Al Khalifa. "Everyone must be engaged in this process to fight misperception. "In this era of interdependence and globalization, it's time for people to reach out and live together in harmony and peace as we all belong to one large human family," she said. Religious leaders at the conference - which was held also to coincide with the UN International Day of Peace, celebrated each year on 21 September - echoed similar themes. Bishop Joseph Humper, United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone, and chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission spoke about what religions have in common. The ultimate goal of dialogue is to reach a better understanding about the different and the new. "This dialogue must be seen as means of eliminating violence, hatred and bigotry." Rabbi Arthur Schneier, president of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, said: "We cannot permit God to be hijacked and religion to be misused." Dr. John Grayzel, holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, said religious leaders have an obligation to promote tolerance and, even, unity among religions, in recognition of "a common source of moral authority which takes precedent over baser determinants of daily action and response." "Religious leadership holds the power to set the tone for acceptance, tolerance, respect, and mutual collaboration for the common good of humanity," said Dr. Grayzel. "If the religious organizations of the world were to unite they could initiate a new global response group on ready alert to step forward at the first appearance of contention, conflict, or misunderstanding. "This group could bring to the conscience of all, regardless of any disagreements and apparent divergence of interest, a level of reflection that recognizes humanity's common origin and, fundamentally, common faith," said. Dr. Grayzel. Also addressing the conference were representatives of various United Nations agencies and offices, including UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP and the UN-NGLS. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, said there is a growing body of evidence that ethnic violence is considerably less likely to erupt in cities where interfaith organizations are present. "The notion of partnership is absolutely integral if we are to ever find world peace," said Ms. Coomaraswamy, saying that religious groups can play an important role in issues such as the recruitment of child soldiers or by intervening at the outbreak of war. For the future, said Mr. Huffines, the Forum hopes to see the UN General Assembly pass a resolution promoting further steps to promote interfaith dialogue and peace sponsored by the United Nations, including the holding of a one-day, informational interactive hearing with civil society on interfaith cooperation and peace.

ADDIS ABABA

Ethiopia

Raising a new generation

Raising a new generation ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Although the sub-city of Nefas Silk Lafto on the western edge of Addis Ababa is home to numerous foreign embassies and international development offices, it has its share of poverty and unemployment. Most of the residents, if they have jobs at all, are manual laborers or domestic workers -- construction workers, cooks, maids, and clothes washers. HIV/AIDS is a challenge that has created many single- or no-parent families. On most days, is not uncommon to find children working on the streets, helping provide the evening meal by polishing shoes, selling fruits and vegetables, or simply begging. On Saturdays, however, the scene is somewhat different. Many of these same children can be found gathered at the home of a Baha'i family, attentively studying, among other things, the importance of common virtues like honesty, trustworthiness, and nobility of self. Although the classes were started in March, just eight months ago, they now regularly draw more than 100 children each week. The Nefas Silk Lafto Baha'i community has organized the classes by age and manages them with the help of seven local Baha'i volunteers. Parents say they are pleased with the Saturday offering. "Ever since my child joined this class, I see some positive behavioral changes," said Ejigayehu Gemeda, a Nefas Silk Lafto mother whose child participates in the weekly class. "I have no doubt in my mind that my baby will completely change his life if this class continues and he gets more education." The effort in Nefas Silk Lafto reflects part of a global initiative by the worldwide Baha'i community to offer local-level training for children in moral education and spiritual fundamentals. According to the Baha'i International Community, there are more than 10,000 such children's classes taking place around the world, with more than 90,000 participants. The Baha'i writings stress the importance of children's education, emphasizing especially the need for training in virtues and spirituality. Although adapted to local conditions and needs, Baha'i children's classes everywhere focus on moral education, aiming to provide something that is sometimes overlooked in secular education. "Baha'i children's classes fill the academic gap," said Ahadu Abaineh, director of the Sabri Development Institute, which coordinates Baha'i children's classes in Ethiopia. "They enable children to develop their inner potentials of imagination, thinking, and creativity so as to become active agents of positive change once they reach the age of maturity." In Ethiopia, there are about 45 such local children's classes being offered by Baha'i communities here, according to the Institute. Of the 13 such classes currently being offered in Addis Ababa, three stand out as interesting examples, showcasing the grassroots approach undertaken by the Baha'i community in this effort -- as well as the positive reception given to the classes by the community at large. Deep social needs Like in Nefas Silk Lafto, classes in the localities of Kirkos and Yeka are similarly bounded by the difficult social problems that are endemic to this part of the world: poverty, under-education, and the ravages of HIV/AIDS. Each community, as well, faces its own distinctive dynamic. The children practice a song they plan to perform for their parents.Kirkos, for example, is located in an urban area of Addis Ababa. Youth there are troubled by high levels of drug and alcohol abuse, pollution, and crowding as ever more rural youth migrate in search of jobs. This was the setting for a children's class that started five years ago in 2002 by Lennie Ketsela, a Baha'i mother who wanted to start a class for the spiritual development of her two children. "Kirkos is a difficult place to live," said Ms. Ketsela. "The population is very high. There is lots of unemployment. The living standard is very low. Most people here are day workers." After starting small, the class grew rapidly as children found out about it. "Six months after starting the class with two children we had about 12 children participating," said Ms. Ketsela, adding that it grew to around 100 participants after children told their friends about a Baha'i holy day celebration they participated in. The growth necessitated a move to larger facilities at the Fresh and Green Baha'i school, a primary school that is owned and operated by the Baha'i community of Ethiopia. Parents say the classes in Kirkos have benefited their children, who might otherwise go without moral and spiritual education. "I do not have time to be with my child because of my work," said Ms. Gelam Awol, a day laborer and the parent of one of the children in the Kirkos class. "I am a Muslim, so spiritual education is very important to me. It is good to see my child talk about the fear of God and say prayers. This is why I like these classes for my child." Tayework Lemma, another parent, said her daughter is praying more often now. "She will say prayers when she wakes up, before she eats, when she goes to school," said Ms. Lemma. "She is also very worried about being clean now. Even the neighbors say that they have seen she has changed." As the children have grown into youth, some have stayed on to volunteer to help the younger ones, evidence of the lasting effect of the classes. "They have understood what it means to serve," said Ms. Ketsela. In Yeka, a district in the northern part of Addis Abba with roughly 300,000 to 400,000 residents, a new Baha'i class for children was started earlier this year and now has more than 80 participants. "I noticed that there were a number of children in the neighborhood who did not have much to do," said Metkneh Getachew-Bagashaw, a Baha'i in the district. "So I decided to start a Baha'i children's class." As with the class in Nefas Silk Lafto, parents here are already seeing changes in the behavior of their children. "Really, really my children have changed," said Azed Badi, a mother of two children in this class. "Sometimes when I am tired and shouting they remind me that we must be kind to each other. It surprises me because this is a big change from the way things used to be." Worketalu Mersa said her seven-year-old daughter began to cry one weekend when she learned she would not be able to attend the class. "One weekend I took Nardos with me to my sister's house," said Ms. Mersa. "Then the child began to cry. My sister and I were confused because she used to love going to my sister's house. She said that she was crying because she didn't want to miss her class. She told us that she liked learning prayers and singing songs and she did not want to miss it. My sister said that it sounded important and she should not miss the class. So we came back to home." Universal themes Mr. Abaineh of the Sabri Development Institute said the virtues taught in the classes are universal in all religions. These include trust in God, unity, kindness, justice, love, service to humanity, truthfulness, trustworthiness, nobility of self, humility, honesty, use of courteous language, generosity, sociability and patience. "These classes are kept alive with songs, games, arts, memorization, story telling and plays that the children with the help of their teachers write and perform," said Mr. Abaineh. The classes are conducted in small groups in the homes of families who open their homes, often volunteering to teach themselves. "One of the important elements of Baha'i children classes is that they are conducted on a purely voluntary basis," said Mr. Abaineh. "All children's class teachers are volunteers and these classes are done with much devotion and a sense of responsibility. This sense of service is something that distinguishes these classes in that hundreds of children learn while there is no teacher remuneration." The classes in Nefas Silk Lafto provide a concrete example of this process at work. Like Yeka and Kirkos, Nefas Silk Lafto is a hard place to live. Many of the children who participate in Baha'i children's classes here have lost either one or both parents to AIDS. The classes are hosted at the home of Kurt and Marcia Henne, who moved to Nefas Silk Lafto in mid-2005 after Mr. Henne took a position as country director for Project Concern International, an international non-governmental organization focused on community health and sustainable development. "Our two older children, 11 and 9 years old respectively, did not make friends quickly, because of the language barrier," said Mr. Henne, noting that no one in the family speaks Amharic. "For this reason, we started inviting neighborhood children to play football with our kids in our driveway. "Before long there were easily 10 to 15 children running in and out of the house. My wife and I thought that this provided the perfect opportunity for us to start a Baha'i children's class and did," said Mr. Henne, who has been a Baha'i since 1987. The class grew rapidly from its original size to between 50 to 100 children in a little over a month. The Hennes turned to the Addis Ababa Baha'i community for help. They knew that Baha'i communities around the world had in recent years been focusing on children's classes. Tewodros Sikru is one of the seven volunteers from the Addis Ababa Baha'i community that decided to help with these classes. He said that these classes grew because there was very little structured activity for children in these neighborhoods. With the help of trained teachers like Mr. Sikru, who speaks the local language, the Saturday morning class has become increasingly popular. The number of children attending is now between 100 to 200 each week. After seeing the positive development in the character of their children, some of the parents were invited to ask for more information. This led to parenting workshops. "Their questions turned from those of what we were doing with their children to what they could be doing with their children," said Mr. Henne. "Most of these parents had children as children. This has meant that they were not prepared for the trials of parenthood." Since the parenting workshops have begun, older children have also taken an interest in the activities. "Now on Thursday evenings they have an arts program that they are involved in," said Mr. Henne.

9.0107934

38.7612525

DAR ES SALAAM

Tanzania

Families and youth identified as keys to reducing poverty

Families and youth identified as keys to reducing poverty DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Strengthening families and empowering youth are two key factors in poverty reduction, said experts at a one-day symposium held here on 21 October 2006. Organized by the Dar es Salaam Union Student Organisation (DARUSO) and the Baha'i community of Tanzania, the symposium examined the theme "The Role of Family and Youth in Establishing Brighter Communities." The event, held on United Nations Day, focused on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a series of targets in the fight against poverty, which were adopted by the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. "Basically everybody comes from the family," said Stella M. Manyanya, a member of Parliament. "It is at the family whereby the true reflection of the MDGs achievement can be observed in individual basis instead of generalization." Youth, especially, will provide new ideas and are a potential labor resource, said Ms. Manyanya. Shalli Tumaini of DARUSO said the MDGs "are a recognition that over half a century after the end of WW II, the world remains very far from the ideals of harmony, prosperity and peace inspired by the end of the war. "For Africa, particularly, the MDGs provide an impetus to reverse deterioration in human development," said Ms. Tumaini. One of the conference participants gives comments on the panelists' presentations.Other panelists included Adeline Kimambo of Christian Social Security Council; J. Abunuwasi Mwami, senior lecturer of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Dar es Salaam; and Killian Nango of the Youth of United Nations Association of Tanzania (YUNA). "Family is the foundation of society," said Mr. Nango, echoing the theme of the symposium. "Having strong families means that you will have strong leaders." Elieshi Lema, another panelist and author of the book "Parched Earth," presented a paper that outlined some of the problems facing families and youth in the region. Those challenges include rural-to-urban migration for jobs, increased drug abuse, domestic violence, and the lack of entrepreneurship, she said. However, strong families can help overcome these problems by promoting integrity, education, and effective interpersonal leadership, she said. "Families have to join up and improve societal undertakings like educational, social economic, environmental, cultural, healthy even religious undertakings in their society or community for a bright future of communities," Ms. Lema said. More than 100 people attended, including representatives from the academic and diplomatic communities, nongovernmental organizations, and faith-based groups. Sohaila Loftus, a representative of the Baha'i community of Tanzania, stressed the importance of the education of women in achieving the goals of reducing poverty, improving health, and promoting education. It is, she said, "essential for the child to interact face-to-face with an educated, intelligent, loving, caring mother who will give this child the moral and spiritual grounding it needs in order to grow into an effective adult." Ms. Loftus also stressed the importance of religion and spirituality as the keys to creating a strong family. "Families should strive to raise children who will choose education and good-will," she said. "Children should be brought up to bend their wills to the service of the human race, seeing their roles as contributors to communities. These are faith-based concepts." Both the participants and the organizers felt that the symposium was rewarding. "There was a high level of thought-provoking discussion and commentary from members of the audience, particularly the university students," said Bryan Tribble, a member of the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'i community of Tanzania. One outcome of the event was the formation of a team of some two dozen students, young professionals, journalists, and NGO representatives, who pledged to join in an effort led by the Baha'i s of Tanzania and DARUSO to achieve the Millennium goals. "They will continue the dialogue, refine ideas about the contributions that youth and families can make and present their findings to the government," Mr. Tribble said. Mitra Deliri, director of the Office of External Affairs of the Baha'i community of Tanzania added: "The gathering brought together various organizations who realized that the only way to achieve a meaningful development and fight poverty is to unite and combine efforts by different groups. And that this unity will strengthen the community and society at large."

-6.8160837

39.2803583

NEW YORK

United States

Iran steps up secret monitoring of Baha'is

Iran steps up secret monitoring of Baha'is NEW YORK, United States — In an ominous move, Iran's Ministry of Interior has ordered officials throughout the country to step up the surveillance of Iranian Baha'is focusing in particular on their community activities. The Ministry has requested provincial officials to complete a detailed questionnaire about the circumstances and activities of local Baha'is, including their "financial status," "social interactions," and "association with foreign assemblies," among other things. The Ministry's order came in a letter dated 19 August 2006 and addressed to provincial deputies of the Department of Politics and Security in Offices of the Governors' General throughout Iran. The 19 August letter, which was recently obtained by the Baha'i International Community, asks these deputies to order "relevant offices to cautiously and sensitively monitor and supervise" all Baha'i social activities. The letter is the latest in a series of threatening documents that outline a secret national effort to identify and monitor Baha'is in Iran. "The emergence of this new letter highlights the gravity of the situation facing Iranian Baha'is," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "This letter further confirms that Iran's government has targeted the Baha'is for covert surveillance," said Ms. Dugal. "It also reveals for the first time the type of information the government strives to collect on both individuals and the Baha'i community as a whole -- information that in most societies would be considered private and highly sensitive. "The letter also contains elements of misinformation. For example, the letter asks for information on the 'socio-political activities' of Baha'is -- even though it is well known to authorities that Baha'is are entirely non-political in their activities, inasmuch as the Baha'i sacred writings stress the importance of non-involvement in politics, as well as non-violence.(MB1) The 19 August letter follows the release earlier this year of a secret 29 October 2005 letter from the Iranian military headquarters to various Revolutionary Guard and police forces instructing them to "identify" and "monitor" Baha'is around the country. News of the 29 October letter, first publicized by Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in March 2006, stirred alarm among international human rights groups. Ms. Jahangir herself expressed concern that "the information gained as a result of such monitoring will be used as a basis for the increased persecution of, and discrimination against, members of the Baha'i Faith." Another letter, dated 2 May 2006, showed the degree to which the government has sought to implement such surveillance at the local level. That letter, from the Trades, Production, and Technical Services Society of Kermanshah to the Iranian Union of Battery Manufacturers, asked the Union to provide a list of members of "the Baha'i sect" in their membership. Some observers have compared the government's effort to identify and monitor Baha'is to the situation facing Jews at the beginning of the Nazi era. In April, for example, the Anti-Defamation League said the orders issued in the 29 October letter were "reminiscent of the steps taken against Jews in Europe and a dangerous step toward the institution of Nuremberg-type laws." Iranian authorities have continued to arrest and detain Baha'is throughout Iran in recent months, subjecting them to a "revolving door" sequence of imprisonment and release that is apparently designed to harass and oppress the Baha'i community. Over the last two years, at least 129 Baha'is have been arrested, released on bail, and are now awaiting trial throughout the country. The bail demands have been high, in most cases requiring the Baha'is to hand over considerable sums of money, deeds to property, business or work licenses. [To read the full text of the 19 August 2006 letter in an English translation, along with a link to the original letter in Persian, go to http://bahai.org/persecution/iran/19-08-06]

40.7127281

-74.0060152

GROESBEEK

Netherlands

Looking beyond short-term profits

Looking beyond short-term profits GROESBEEK, Netherlands — Participants from 28 countries gathered in this small Dutch town in September to consider how businesses can look beyond short term profits towards moral and spiritual practices that can create meaningful wealth for all. The 16th annual conference of the European Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF), held 21-24 September 2006, focused on "The Purpose of Business, from Vision to Action." The program addressed a wide range of topics on that theme. Presentations included "Competing in the New Capitalism," "Redefining Success: Applying Spiritual Values in the Workplace," and the "Ramifications of Global Interdependence." "The conference was attended by people of different cultures and beliefs with a common interest, and often a passion for the universal values of the Baha'i Faith," said Daniel Truran, Secretary General of EBBF. Mr. Truran said the presentations made at the conference reflected the efforts of EBBF members to translate those "values" into "tools" that can be used to improve business practices around the world. He cited, for example, the work of Larry Miller, who gave a presentation on "Competing in the New Capitalism," which is based on his 2006 book of the same title. Mr. Miller was one of 25 other presenters who offered their views on how businesses can move beyond broad visions to specific actions -- especially as they relate to the ethics of business in the modern context -- that can be implemented Monday morning in the workplace. Conference participants engaged in a session at the EBBF 16th Annual Conference, which took place at the DePoort Conference Center in the Netherlands.Other speakers included Jan Willem Kirpestein, co-founder of the Encounter of World Views foundation; Beppe Robiati, CEO of SCAC Italy; Augusto Lopez-Claros, Chief Economist of the World Economic Forum; and Parag Gupta, of the Schwab Foundation The conference was characterized by a determined spirit of seeking new and innovative strategies to create wealth for all. Mr. Gupta, for example, made a presentation highlighting different ways in which the business world can help to effect social change, titled, "Innovative Strategies from Social Entrepreneurs." He defined social entrepreneurship as business with a heart, (explaning) that social enterprise employs innovative business methods that aim at maximizing social value rather than financial value. "There are around 3 billion people out there that have not been reached by capital markets," said Mr. Gupta. "Social entrepreneurs are proving capable of penetrating these groups." "They are doing this by harmonizing issues like 'consumers versus profit.' They take risks in unproven markets and create services and goods for this population that has not been reached yet. Microfinance is an example of this," said Mr. Gupta. In his presentation, Mr. Miller explained how Baha'i principles offer insights into ethical issues in the workplace. By focusing on spiritual principles, he said, it would be possible to create systems with "just rules to govern behavior." "The perceived 'evil' of capitalism may be the imbalanced focus on financial capital and ignoring a more holistic understanding of wealth," said Mr. Miller. Dr. Lopez-Claros explored how more "corporate social responsibility" -- a recognized set of ethical business principles -- can contribute to better competitiveness of increasing global integration. "Corporate social responsibility makes business sense as it can be an important aid to recruitment and retention," said Dr. Lopez-Claros. "It helps to build reputations that take decades to build up. In crowded marketplaces it provides companies with that 'X Factor' which can separate them from the competition in the minds of consumers." Many of the participants said that they learned much at the conference. "This is the fourth annual EBBF conference that I have attended, and it was the best one yet," said Douglas Henck, retired President of Sun Life Financial Asia. Mr. Henck said that these EBBF meetings are a means for the world to identify a real way for the business sector to contribute meaningfully to progress. "EBBF is often challenged from both ends of the spectrum;" said Mr. Henck. "From business executives who feel EBBF is too idealistic and non-business professionals who assume business is permanently tainted with evil intentions. Gary Hogenson, a senior financial officer at the Baha'i World Center, said the annual event reaffirms his view that business is an important part of the progress of world culture. "Increasingly after attending this conference each year, I walk away with the feeling that I can take pride in calling myself a 'business person.' Meeting with like-minded individuals gives me renewed hope that we as business men and women have a great deal to offer society; and through ethical commerce, avenues of global understanding and the universal advancement of mankind can evolve," said Mr. Hogenson.

51.7741022

5.9305385

MOM VILLAGE

Papua New Guinea

Village women work to establish medical post

Village women work to establish medical post MOM VILLAGE, Papua New Guinea — On this remote island some 30 kilometers off Papua New Guinea's northern coast, a group of villagers have begun taking their destiny into their own hands. Inspired by the teachings of the Baha'i Faith on women's equality and community participation, a circle of mothers in Mom Village on Karkar Island have successfully initiated the construction of their own village medical aid post. "The Baha'is of Mom Village decided to arise and do something for their community because the government infrastructures like medical aid posts, schools and roads have deteriorated or have been completely closed due to lack of funds for maintenance," said Abegul Bodick, a frequent visitor to the island. The project was initiated in 2002, said Mr. Bodick, when the villagers launched a fund-raising campaign, which resulted in the dedication of a new aid post in July 2006. "Now the entire community of Mom can benefit from this service initiated by the Baha'is -- especially the Baha'i women who have taken the leading role in the establishment of the aid post," said Mr. Bodick. Home to about 50,000 people, Karkar Island has few of the services available on the mainland. Residents have to walk long distances to collect water from human-powered groundwater pumps. Electricity is a luxury, typically coming from expensive solar panels or gasoline-powered generators. Medical services are also scarce. Although Mom Village is the third largest town on the island, with about 3,500 residents, residents nevertheless had to travel more than 10 kilometers -- usually on foot -- to reach the nearest aid station before the new post was built. The children of Mom village, photographed here, will be among the main beneficiaries of the establishment of the medical aid post they are standing in front of.It was this need for access to medical care that spurred the group of Baha'i mothers here to initiate the aid post project four years ago. "Both the Baha'is and the members of a wider community within Mom village realized that there was a need to create a medical aid post that was accessible to the community," said Mr. Bodick. The Baha'i women in the village were inspired by teachings on women's equality and participation to address the problem, said Mr. Bodick, who is an auxiliary board member, a Baha'i with a special responsibility for educating, motivating and encouraging Baha'i communities and individuals at the regional and local level. "Baha'i teachings brought new values," he said, explaining that the women realized they could take a bigger role in decision-making. The idea of constructing an aid post was brought up by the women to the Local Spiritual Assembly, the elected governing council for the Baha'i community here. An action plan was conceived, said Mr. Bodick, and the women began a fund-raising drive. "In fact, the Baha'i women put forward ideas of fund-raising by way of 'bring and buy,' as well as a practice known as 'exchange basket,' meaning that they would ask the women from other villages to come with a certain amount of money and other gifts while the women in Mom provide the feast," said Mr. Bodick. "This is a common reciprocal activity throughout Papua New Guinea." He said Baha'is also established a special fund for the aid post, and donations were collected at Baha'i feasts and holy days. "From the start of the project Baha'is of Mom recognized the importance of being united in thoughts and followed by unity in action seen to be a force to driving them achieve what they wanted to achieve," said Mr. Bodick. He said the women continued this activity for four years and raised 3,048 PNG Kina, the equivalent of more than US$1,000. In January 2006 they decided they had enough money to start building their medical aid post. Since completion of the aid post, the government's district health office has allocated a trained nurse to work there. The villagers were proud of their accomplishment. "If Christian churches can establish aid posts and schools to serve the general public, why should we not do the same as Baha'is?" said Nang Kubulan, an elder in the community. "Although they get support from their mother churches in Europe or America, we have the support of each other, and can start from scraps if we work together," she said. During a meeting with some Baha'is from Port Moresby, the circle of women who initiated the aid post project announced that they are now working on their next goal: They have decided to create a water supply system for the village. (Editor's note: Alterations were made to the article and headline on 9 September 2008.)

UNITED NATIONS

United States

UN expresses "serious concern" over human rights in Iran, including the situation of Baha'is

UN expresses "serious concern" over human rights in Iran, including the situation of Baha'is UNITED NATIONS, United States — A committee of the United Nations General Assembly yesterday passed a resolution expressing "serious concern" over the human rights situation in Iran, including the escalation of violations against Iranian Baha'is. The resolution passed the Assembly's Third Committee by a vote of 70 to 48 on 21 November 2006. It will now go to the General Assembly plenary for vote, in December. The Third Committee considers human rights issues for the Assembly. Put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 43 countries, the resolution calls on Iran to "eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, including Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims." The resolution takes particular note of the worsening situation facing Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, noting "reports of plans by the state to identify and monitor Baha'is," "an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention," and "the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs." The resolution also expresses concern over the "destruction of sites of religious importance" to Baha'is and "the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits" for Baha'is. "We are extremely grateful to the international community for this significant show of support for the Baha'is of Iran," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Community to the United Nations. "The level of persecution and discrimination facing the Baha'i community of Iran has steadily worsened over the past year. The Government has stepped up its covert monitoring of Baha'is, and at present more than 129 Baha'is are awaiting trial on false charges, targeted solely because of their religion. "The General Assembly and its Third Committee deserve special praise for stepping into the gap created by the slow start of the new UN Human Rights Council, which has not yet made fully operational its mission of upholding the international human rights regime," said Ms. Dugal. If approved by the General Assembly, which is likely given yesterday's vote, the resolution will be the nineteenth expressing concern over human rights in Iran since 1985. All of these resolutions have taken particular note of Iran's systematic persecution of the Baha'i community. Over the last two years, Baha'is have been arrested, released on bail, and are now awaiting trial throughout the country. The bail demands have been high, in most cases requiring the Baha'is to hand over considerable sums of money, deeds to property, business or work licenses. As well, evidence has emerged over the last year that the Government has established a program to monitor and identify Baha'is. That program, documented in secret government memoranda that have been made public by human rights defenders, has been the focus of considerable outcry. Earlier this month, for example, the Baha'i International Community obtained a letter from Iran's Ministry of Interior that ordered officials throughout the country to step up the surveillance of Iranian Baha'is. The 19 August 2006 letter requested provincial officials to complete a detailed questionnaire about the circumstances and activities of local Baha'is, including their "financial status," "social interactions," and "association with foreign assemblies," among other things. It specifically asked "relevant offices to cautiously and sensitively monitor and supervise" all Baha'i social activities.

CAIRO

Egypt

Egypt court sets date for full hearing on Baha'i case

Egypt court sets date for full hearing on Baha'i case CAIRO, Egypt — The date for a full hearing on a closely watched court case over the right of a Baha'i couple here to have their religion properly identified on state identification cards has now been set. At a procedural hearing on 20 November, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court continued the case to 2 December 2006, when it is now scheduled to be heard by the entire three-member court in a plenary session. The decision comes a few days after the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a press release urging the Egyptian government to end its current policy on identification cards, which requires citizens to list one of three officially recognized religions, even if they are members of a minority religion like the Baha'i Faith or another belief system. "Current Egyptian policy essentially turns Baha'is into non-citizens because without an identity card they cannot gain access to government services like education and employment, or engage in basic financial transactions, such as opening a bank account or obtaining a driver's license," said Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer in a press release issued on 16 November. "It is even illegal to be in public without a card. "This policy is highly discriminatory and is incompatible with international standards. The current court case provides the Egyptian government with an opportunity to change its policy and omit mention of religious affiliation from identity documents or to make optional any mention of religious affiliation," said Ms. Gaer. In April, a lower administrative court ruled that the Baha'i couple should be identified as Baha'is on official documents, a decision that if upheld will essentially overturn the government's policy of allowing people to choose from only from Islam, Christianity or Judaism on state documents. The lower court's ruling provoked an outcry among fundamentalist elements in Egyptian society and the case has since gained international attention in the news media and from human rights groups. Because they are unwilling to lie about their religion on government documents, Baha'is in Egypt are increasingly unable to gain legal access to basic citizenship rights, including employment, education, medical and financial services. The government appealed the lower court's ruling in early May, and a court hearing was set for 19 June. Subsequent postponements were made to 16 September, 20 November, and now to 2 December.

30.0443879

31.2357257

CAIRO

Egypt

Egyptian Baha'i case final arguments heard; judgment due in two weeks

Egyptian Baha'i case final arguments heard; judgment due in two weeks CAIRO, Egypt — Lawyers representing a Baha'i couple seeking to have their religious affiliation properly identified on state documents presented arguments yesterday at a full hearing before the Supreme Administrative Court here in a case that has become the focus of a national debate on religious freedom. The hearing was short, and the court adjourned until 16 December, when it is expected to render a judgment in the case, which is being closely watched by international human rights groups. The case stems from a lawsuit filed by a married couple, Husam Izzat Musa and Ranya Enayat Rushdy, who had their identification cards and passports confiscated after they applied to have their daughters added to their passports, which listed the Baha'i Faith as their religion. In Egypt, all citizens must list their religious affiliation on state ID cards and other documents, and current policy requires that they choose from one of the three officially recognized religions -- Islam, Christianity or Judaism. As such, Baha'is are being forced to go without ID cards, which are the key to accessing most rights of citizenship, such as education, financial services, and even medical care. In April, a lower administrative court ruled in favor of the couple, saying the state must issue them ID cards that properly identified their religion. The ruling said that even if the government did not recognize the Baha'i Faith, adherents should still have their religious status properly stated on official documents. That ruling provoked an outcry among fundamentalist elements in Egyptian society, who objected to any official mention of a religion other than the three mentioned in the Qur'an, opening a vigorous debate over issues of religious freedom and tolerance here. Since April, more than 400 articles have appeared in the Egyptian and Arabic news media about the case or its fallout. The government appealed the lower court's ruling in May, which brought the case before the Supreme Administrative Court.

30.0443879

31.2357257

JENJAROM

Malaysia

Award highlights moral education for junior youth

Award highlights moral education for junior youth JENJAROM, Malaysia — Before he became a vegetable seller in this down-and-out ethnic Chinese village about 55 kilometers southwest of Kuala Lumpur, Lim Jia Chin was a local gangster. "I used to be quite notorious," said Jia Chin, who is now in his late teens. "I was involved in cheating and fighting." But Jia Chin decided to give up on his life of crime after participating in a moral education program sponsored by the local Baha'i community here. "One day I was attending a Baha'i-inspired program with my friend and I saw that I can live differently," said Jia Chin. "I decided to join the classes. Now my life is different. I am happy and glad now because I have transformed." The moral education classes that made such a difference in Jia Chin's life were started here two years ago. And one of the main promoters of these classes has been a young Baha'i named Lim Soon Kam. Now 28 years old, Mr. Lim was recently honored for this work in a ceremony on 4 November 2006, when he was named the Young Outstanding Malaysian for Moral or Religious Leadership by the Junior Chamber Kuala Lumpur Mandarin, a community service organization affiliated with Junior Chamber International. The award, and Mr. Lim's record of volunteer service, offer a window on the efforts Baha'is are making to provide moral and spiritual education to junior youth populations. Such efforts are considered a "core" activity for local Baha'i communities around the world. In Malaysia, for example, Baha'i communities sponsor more than 150 moral education classes for young people aged 11-15, serving more than 1,000 junior youth. Most of these young people are not Baha'is, and the aim of the classes is youth empowerment and community transformation. The classes stress the importance of virtues like honesty, trustworthiness, courtesy, and service to the community at large. "We believe that each human being is endowed with the capacity to understand that they have the power to make moral and upright decisions and to use their skills and knowledge to promote social transformation in their society," said Mr. Lim, explaining that children and junior youth especially have the capacity to change for the good. Mr. Lim focused his efforts on Jenjarom, his home town, which has in recent years become infamous for various social ills, including gangsterism, gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking. Jenjarom is one among many of the so-called "new Chinese villages," which were created in the mid-1950s, when the country was a British colony. The original purpose for the rural relocation program was to segregate the villagers from Communist insurgents. Today many of these villages have deteriorated into slums or shanty towns. For young people, especially, unemployment is high in villages like Jenjarom, and opportunities for education are limited. In response, many youth have turned to crime and other vices as a means of survival. "A few of my childhood friends were killed in gang fights," said Mr. Lim. "Some indulged themselves in drugs. Many were school drop-outs who, in their pursuit for wealth and status, resorted to selling drugs and ecstasy pills, smuggling and gambling. Due to the disintegration of social and moral values, pre-marital sex was a common practice in the village and girls are being forced into marriages due to teen pregnancies." Unlike many of his peers, Mr. Lim did well academically in high school and college. He was the top student as an undergraduate at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). And he completed his master's degree at Queensland University of Technology in Australia six months early. In 2004, Mr. Lim returned home and started a junior youth program in Jenjarom, hoping to address the social problems that he had witnessed growing up. Since that time, more than 150 young people have completed the program, and many today say that their lives have been transformed by it, like Chin the vegetable seller. The Junior Chamber award recognizes young Malaysians between 18 and 40 "whose dedication to their profession or life undertakings has resulted in exceptional achievement, in the form of significant contributions to the progress or welfare of the community at large." The national administrative body of the Baha'i community of Malaysia, in nominating Mr. Lim for the Junior Chamber award, wrote this about him: "Growing up in one of the most notorious Chinese New Villages in the country, where the negative forces of society find its predominance, Soon Kam was undeterred by the destructive elements of his environment. "Instead, he rose up with a strong sense of dedication to contribute significantly to the social well-being of his community by holding on strongly to his belief that social transformation can take place when individuals realize they have the capacity to serve humanity and make the world a better place." Others, similarly, have praised Mr. Lim for his efforts to help children and youth. Omar Bin Munir, one of Mr. Lim's professors at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), said: "His constant and tireless focus on virtues and service oriented community development work has raised his group of young people to shine out with moral and academic excellence. This is highly noticeable in view of the unhealthy society in which they are living in. His concerted social work is truly remarkable and praiseworthy." Another professor, Razali Adul Hamid said that except for Mr. Lim, none of his students "has ever achieved to this high level of personal and social excellence, meaningfully contributing to the material and spiritual advancements in the society." Mr. Lim attributes the success he has had in organizing the moral education program to his practice of the Baha'i Faith. "My work is strongly based on a principle that Baha'u'llah states as, the betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds and through commendable and seemly conduct,'" said Mr. Lim. Mr. Lim said the Baha'i scriptures provide clear guidance for parents and communities on how to raise children in a nurturing and unambiguous environment. "Therefore," said Mr. Lim "this program encourages children and youth to develop a strong sense of purpose, empowering their own transformation and leading them to contribute to the advancement of society. Baha'is believe that people's spiritual capacity, as the basis for their own happiness and sense of well-being, is a powerful force for social change." Tony Liew Voon Fun, a program director at Taylor's College in Petaling Jaya, where Mr. Lim worked as a lecturer in the school of architecture, building and design after receiving his master's degree, agreed that it is the Baha'i Faith that has motivated Mr. Lim. "He seeks people's virtues, not their faults, as the common uniting factor, regardless of race, creed and religion," said Mr. Fun. "I strongly believe that his multi-cultural experience and his religious belief, the Baha'i Faith has molded him into a character that is humble, respectful of authority, able to embrace change and circumstances with a multi-ethnic outlook."

2.8766037

101.4988405

CAIRO

Egypt

Egyptian court rules against Baha'is, upholding government policy of discrimination

Egyptian court rules against Baha'is, upholding government policy of discrimination CAIRO, Egypt — In a closely watched case that has become the focus of a national debate on religious freedom, Egypt's Supreme Administrative Court today ruled against the right of Baha'is to be properly identified on government documents. The decision upholds current government policy, a policy which forces the Baha'is either to lie about their religious beliefs or give up their state identification cards. The policy effectively deprives Egyptian Baha'is of access to most rights of citizenship, including education, financial services, and even medical care. "We deplore the Court's ruling in this case, which violates an extensive body of international law on human rights and religious freedom to which Egypt has long been a party," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "Since this was the last avenue of appeal in this particular case, the Court's decision threatens to make non-citizens of an entire religious community, solely on the basis of religious belief," said Ms. Dugal. "Our hope now is that the public debate over this issue will cause the Egyptian government to rectify its discriminatory policies," said Ms. Dugal. "This could be accomplished either by allowing Baha'is to be listed on government documents, by abolishing the religious affiliation listing entirely or, simply, by allowing the word 'other' to be legally included on state identification forms." The case stems from a lawsuit filed against the government by a married couple, Husam Izzat Musa and Ranya Enayat Rushdy, who had their identification cards and passports confiscated after they applied to have their daughters added to their passports, which listed the Baha'i Faith as their religion. In Egypt, all citizens must list their religious affiliation on state ID cards and other documents, and current policy requires that they choose from one of the three officially recognized religions - Islam, Christianity or Judaism. In April, a lower administrative court ruled in favor of the couple, saying the state must issue them ID cards that properly identified their religion. The ruling said that even if the government did not recognize the Baha'i Faith, adherents should still have their religious status properly stated on official documents. That ruling provoked an outcry among extremist elements in Egyptian society, who objected to any official mention of a religion other than the three mentioned in the Qur'an, opening a vigorous debate over issues of religious freedom and tolerance here. Since April, more than 400 articles, stories, commentaries and programs have appeared in the Egyptian and Arabic news media about the case or its fallout. As well, independent human rights organizations here and abroad have closely followed the issue. In May, the government appealed the lower court's ruling, which brought the case before the Supreme Administrative Court. On 2 December, a final hearing was held on the case, at which Bahai lawyers argued for rejection of the government's appeal, on the basis that the lower court's ruling is fully supported by Egyptian law. The Court said at that time that it would release its final ruling today. To download this news release in Arabic click here.

30.0443879

31.2357257

PRAGUE

Czech Republic

UN Declaration on religious tolerance commemorated in Prague

UN Declaration on religious tolerance commemorated in Prague PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Although it was negotiated at the height of the Cold War, a 25-year-old international agreement on freedom of religion or belief remains as relevant today -- and perhaps even more so -- said speakers at a major United Nations-sanctioned observance here in late November. Some 350 participants representing more than 60 governments, UN agencies, and various international non-governmental organizations -- including the Baha'i International Community -- gathered on 25 November 2006 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. The commemoration was marked by speeches, workshops, and an end-of-the-conference statement. They echoed a common theme: that the 1981 Declaration remains a critical document for the protection of freedom of religion or belief, especially at a time when religious conflict seems on the rise. "These days, we live in a globalized world," said Piet de Klerk, Ambassador-at-Large of the Netherlands on Human Rights. "This means that different cultures, including different faiths, meet each other more frequently and in a more intense manner than during previous periods of time." Mr. de Klerk said that although it was initially negotiated at a time when issues of freedom of religion or belief concerned the ideological struggle between Communism and the West, the Declaration is nevertheless today helpful in addressing the challenges posed by global diversity because it is "based on the conviction of many that the freedom of religion or belief itself offers a way forward for fighting intolerance." Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said the principles of the Declaration remain "pivotal" in the current "polarized climate." "We all need to join our efforts to disseminate the principles contained in the 1981 Declaration among lawmakers, judges and civil servants but also among non-state actors," said Ms. Jahangir. "We need to eliminate the root causes of intolerance and discrimination and to remain vigilant with regard to freedom of religion or belief worldwide." Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, speaking at the evening plenary on 25 November 2006. Photograph by Hamid JahanpourMs. Felice Gaer, chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, also said the Declaration has become more important over time. "The right of everyone to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is universal, as the unanimous adoption of the Declaration on Religious Intolerance showed - even in 1981," said Ms. Gaer. "Regrettably, violations of this universal right continue to be committed across the globe. "The occasion of the 25th anniversary is a call to all governments to intensify their efforts to protect freedom of religion or belief at home and to advance respect for religious freedom abroad. The ability of people throughout the world to live in peace and freedom depends on it." Other speakers included Diane Alai, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva, who co-presented at a workshop on the right to "change" one's religion, along with Ms. Jahanghir. In that workshop, Ms. Jahanghir noted that although the Declaration does not specifically mention the word "change," it is clearly implied in an article that says everyone has the "freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice." As well, Ms. Jahangir said, other UN treaties and statements have clearly upheld this right. Ms. Alai said upholding the right to change one's religion is of "practical importance" overall in the regime of religious freedom, in that the denial of such a right also essentially denies all of the other rights guaranteed in the Declaration, as well as rights guaranteed in other international treaties, such as the right to freedom of association, the right to privacy, freedom of expression, and minority rights. Yet the right to change one's religions is not always upheld, said Ms. Alai, because some governments today want "to preserve the popularity stemming from a particular state-religion relationship" and so they restrict the right to change one's religion through particular laws and policies. This is of critical importance, said Ms. Alai, because there are some countries where the right to "change" one's religion is consider apostasy, which is punishable by death under some interpretations of religious law. Ms. Alai pointed specifically to the situation of the Baha'i communities of Iran and Egypt, which currently face persecution and discrimination over religious belief, and where Baha'is have indeed been labelled as apostates, a "crime" which is punishable by death in Iran. "People are known and respected for risking imprisonment, torture and even death because they uphold a certain political ideology, however, this is not yet fully recognized when it comes to a religious belief," said Ms. Alai. Other workshops at the commemoration considered issues relating to freedom of religion versus freedom of expression, freedom of religion for the individual versus society at large, and freedom of religion in the context of the propagation of religion. A final statement, titled the "Prague Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief," was announced by the gathering. "We consider it essential for governments and international organizations, such as the UN and various regional organizations, to give priority to the protection of the freedom of religion or belief and to the eradication of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief," said the Prague Declaration. Adopted by the United Nations on 25 November 1981, the 1981 Declaration spells out and delineates the right to freedom of religion or belief, which was initially recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The 1981 Declaration indicates, for example, that the right to freedom of religion or belief includes the right to "establish and maintain" places of worship; to "write, issue and disseminate" religious publications; to "observe days of rest and to celebrate holidays"; and to "establish and maintain communications with individuals and communities in matters of religion and belief at the national and international levels." The Prague commemoration was sanctioned as the official, international commemoration of the adoption of the 1981 Declaration by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. It was organized by Mr. Jan Ghanea Tabrizi of Tolerance 95, an NGO based in the Czech Republic, and Dr. Nazila Ghanea of the UK-based Centre for International Human Rights, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. Funding was provided by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

50.0596288

14.446459273258009

UNITED NATIONS

United States

UN General Assembly approves resolution expressing concern on human rights in Iran

UN General Assembly approves resolution expressing concern on human rights in Iran UNITED NATIONS, United States — The United Nations General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution expressing "serious concern" over the human rights situation in Iran, including the escalation of violations against Iranian Baha'is. The resolution, which had been initially approved on 21 November by a committee of the Assembly, passed on 19 December 2006 by a vote of 72 to 50, with 55 abstentions. Put forward by Canada and co-sponsored by 43 countries, the resolution calls on Iran to "eliminate, in law and in practice, all forms of discrimination based on religious, ethnic or linguistic grounds, and other human rights violations against persons belonging to minorities, including Arabs, Azeris, Baha'is, Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims." The resolution takes particular note of the worsening situation facing Iran's 300,000-member Baha'i community, noting "reports of plans by the state to identify and monitor Baha'is," "an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention," and "the denial of freedom of religion or of publicly carrying out communal affairs." The resolution also expresses concern over the "destruction of sites of religious importance" to Baha'is and "the suspension of social, educational and community-related activities and the denial of access to higher education, employment, pensions, adequate housing and other benefits" for Baha'is.

REYKJAVIK

Iceland

Baha'is help found Interfaith Forum in Iceland

Baha'is help found Interfaith Forum in Iceland REYKJAVIK, Iceland — The Baha'i community of Iceland joined with twelve other faith groups and collaborative partners here to form the country's first national interfaith forum last month. The Iceland Forum for Interfaith Dialogue was officially founded on 24 November 2006 in ceremonies at the Reykjavik City Hall. "The object of the Forum is to promote tolerance and respect between persons of different religions and religious organizations with differing outlooks on life as well as to protect religious freedom and other human rights," said Ingibjorg Danielsdottir, secretary of the Baha'i community of Iceland. This initiative was put together by the Intercultural Center in Reykjavik. The Center is a human rights advocacy organization based in Iceland. One of this organization's main areas of focus is in facilitating exchange between different cultures and groups. The Forum took some 18 months of patient negotiations to create. The president of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, was present at the City Hall ceremonies that launched the Forum, as were representatives of the thirteen founding faith and belief communities. The founding groups drafted and signed an "Interfaith Dialogue Policy Statement." The document calls for the building of understanding and respect, as well as the upholding of religious freedom between persons and religious organizations. "As Baha'is we feel that we have a unique perspective to offer this type of dialogue," said Bridget McEvoy, a member of the Baha'i community who worked closely on the Forum's creation. "A central feature in the Baha'i Faith is the unity of religion and we want to be involved in any activity that promotes this idea. "Understanding different cultures has become an important issue in Iceland during recent times," said Ms. McEvoy. "With the inclusion of Iceland into the European Economic Area and the European Single Market many people have chosen to move to Iceland to work. We have lots of cross border work opportunities, a good standard of living and have traditionally thought of ourselves as being an open society." Ms. McEvoy said that the creation of this Forum would help ensure that Iceland's traditional openness to different cultures would be maintained. "As Baha'is this process is important to us and we see a lot of value in it," said Ms. McEvoy. "Therefore we were very happy to have been invited to participate in the creation of the Forum for Inter Faith Dialogue." In addition to the Baha'i community of Iceland, founding members of the Forum are: The Cross, Reykjavik Free Church, The Buddhist Association of Iceland, The Lutheran State Church of Iceland, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, The Church of the Seventh Day Adventists, The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWU), The Muslim Association of Iceland, The Icelandic Asatru Society , The Parish of St. Nicholas of the Russian Orthodox Church, The Roman Catholic Church, and The Way Free Church.

64.145981

-21.9422367

HAIFA

Israel

Message to the Baha'is of Egypt from the Universal House of Justice

Message to the Baha'is of Egypt from the Universal House of Justice HAIFA, Israel — The Universal House of Justice, the highest governing body of the Baha'i Faith, has addressed a message to the Baha'is of Egypt in the wake of a 16 December Supreme Administrative Court decision in Cairo that upheld a discriminatory government policy regarding the Baha'is and their identification cards. The policy places the Baha'is in the untenable position of either having to make a false statement about their religious beliefs or give up their state identification cards. The cards are essential to accessing most rights of citizenship, including education, financial services, and even medical care. See the entire letter (will open in a new window): ENGLISH ARABIC

32.8191218

34.9983856

ORLANDO

United States

Systematic social development investigated

Systematic social development investigated ORLANDO, United States — In recent years, Baha'is around the world have been engaged in an increasingly systematic approach to community development through what they regard as "core activities" – classes for children and junior youth, study circles, and devotional meetings. At the annual Baha'i Conference on Social and Economic Development, participants sought to understand how these core activities also can lead to larger programs of social and economic development. "Providing spiritual education for children is a fundamental part of social development," said Rebequa Murphy, a Baha'i counselor. Her comments came in a talk titled "The Preservation of Human Honor," explaining how human progress will organically spring from core activities. Some 685 Baha'is and like-minded individuals from more than 20 countries gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the conference, which had the theme "Addressing the Challenges of a World at Risk." Workshop participant Susan Tower outlines the Heart of Humanity Gardening Game she has used at various events in the Columbus, Ohio, area.Held 20 to 23 December 2006, the conference was the 14th such event sponsored by the Rabbani Trust, a Baha'i-inspired foundation. "This conference is a demonstration of the strong desire on the part of a multitude of Baha'i believers to address the social and material ills of the world, effectively and sustainably as a means of alleviating the suffering of much of the world's population," said Douglas W. Paik, a member of the board of trustees of the Rabbani Trust. The gathering focused on how individual Baha'is, their communities, and Baha'i-inspired organizations can address the problems faced by humanity. Ms. Murphy, who is a member of the Baha'i Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas, which plays an international advisory role in Baha'i community development, said the primary development task at this time for Baha'is is to lay the foundation for world unity. "Baha'u'llah says the well being of mankind, its peace and security are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established," said Ms. Murphy. "So nothing we do, no amount of money, no amount of research is going to guarantee the security of mankind unless its unity is firmly established. So that's what our job is – to lay the foundation (for development), which is the unity of the world." William E. Davis, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, gave a talk titled "Key Values That Shape a Community for Growth and Development." He said Baha'is should place particular emphasis on work focused on assisting young people. "No activity is more vital ... than the spiritual education of children and junior youth," said Mr. Davis. In addition to plenary sessions, the conference featured two days of workshops that focused on specific topics such as racism and its relation to materialism, sustainable development, the importance of service to humanity, and the critical role of education in development. Also at the conference, a new Baha'i publication titled "In Service to the Common Good" was released. The 20-page monograph, subtitled "Aligning Development with the Forces of Progress," takes readers through a discussion of why traditional social and economic development projects have fallen short and why recognition of the oneness of humankind will help people act as partners in their own development.

28.5421109

-81.3790304

HLUBOKA NAD VLTAVOU

Czech Republic

Young adults seek spiritual enlightenment

Young adults seek spiritual enlightenment HLUBOKA, Czech Republic — Joseph Fradella is a civil engineer from the United States. Joanna Portillo is a recent college graduate from El Salvador. Ndiitah Nghipondoka is an agricultural development consultant from Namibia. From 25 to 31 December 2006, these three and 247 other young professionals from 33 countries chose to spend their precious December holiday in a sleepy medieval village in the Czech Republic. Their aim was to explore ways to pursue careers in a world dominated by material concerns and still have spiritual authenticity and balance in their lives. "I wanted to find a way to be a Baha'i in all that I do," said Ms. Nghipondoka. "There is no time to retreat into a cave to try and be spiritual. And there is no time to neglect my spirituality to find ways to meet the material demands of modern living. I had to find balance -- this is why I came." The village of Hluboka was the venue for the fifth year running of a conference called Changing Times. The gathering has become a highlight in the year for many young adults who are members of the Baha'i Faith. Organizers said the idea behind the conference is to provide interaction between up-and-coming professionals and people who are established in careers and still maintaining spiritually rewarding lives. Participants engage in conversation between sessions.Translating religious issues from theory to practice was a focus, said Ms. Nghipondoka - "real life issues like economics, practical emotional issues like how to have a healthy marriage and even issues like how one can use the Internet for the betterment of mankind." Ms. Portillo added: "The conference showed me how people can live spiritually powerful lives while doing everyday careers." Giuseppe Robiati, managing director of an industrial group based in Milan, Italy, who made a presentation at the gathering, said the event addresses a wide range of issues to help young people. "This year the participants were able to look into the relationships between spirituality, psychology and the modern economy," he said. A major goal was to empower participants to go back to their own communities and be of service to others. "I get so much inspiration from seeing the people that are successful because of their dedication to their Faith," said Ms. Nghipondoka. "And that encourages me to be as excellent as I can be -- both in my work and in the Faith. I have seen that it can be done and I know that I can do it, too. But to do it, means to do it. ...At the end of the day it comes down to me implementing these ideas in my own life." Participants also said they gained a better appreciation for their religion. "I feel that Changing Times helped me in my general understanding of spiritual truths - and in particular the Baha'i spiritual teachings of our time," said Mr. Fradella. "The conference helped me to gain a very broad understanding of how to apply Baha'i principles to activities as diverse as being a fine artist to working in a board room." Some of the speakers at the conference included: Mary K. Radpour, a licensed clinical social worker in private practice who said she believed most mental health problems could be resolved through taking care of one's spiritual needs. Fariborz Sahba, an architect who designed and built what CNN has called one of the most visited buildings in the world - the Baha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, India. In a presentation titled "The Architecture of Life," he compared life to water, saying that one can view water in different ways -- from something that simply takes the form of its container to something as lofty as a beautiful rainbow. He asked his listeners to look at life through their higher vision and see the rainbows that exist everywhere. Mark Bamford, an award-winning film writer and director whose first short film, "Hero," played at international film festivals and was sold worldwide for television use. He pointed out that people in the entertainment world often can offer lessons to those seeking to balance spiritual and material needs.

49.0522493

14.4342702

NEW HAVEN

CONNECTICUT

United States

Iranian Baha'is facing another "cycle of repression," says report

Iranian Baha'is facing another "cycle of repression," says report NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, United States — The Iranian government appears to be laying the foundation for a new cycle of persecution against Iranian Baha'is, said a human rights organization specializing on Iran. The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC) said in a report released last week that recent events in Iran, especially when viewed through the long history of religious persecution against Iranian Baha'is, is cause for alarm. "Given the Islamic Republic's history of implacable hostility towards the Baha'is, and the (Islamic Republic of Iran) leadership's personal animus towards the faith, the IHRDC is greatly concerned that the Baha'i community in Iran may soon face another cycle of repression and violence," states the report. The 60 page study, titled "A Faith Denied: The Persecution of the Baha'i of Iran," outlined a number of trends that bode ill for Iranian Baha'is. These trends include the "return of populist conservative politicians," "growing tensions between the Islamic Republic and the international community over Iran's nuclear program," the blatant collection of intelligence on Baha'is, and increased anti-Baha'i articles in the news media. Released on 15 January 2007, the report also catalogs the long history of persecution directed against Iranian Baha'is, seeking to show how recent events "are consistent with the decades of implacable hostility displayed by the clerical establishment prior to the Islamic Revolution and identifies many of these same clerics who today hold positions of political power," according to an IHRDR press release. The report also said that: -- The Shi'a clerical establishment in Iran has long regarded the Baha'i Faith as a heretical deviation from Islam. The Baha'i community has suffered most severely when the clerical influence in national affairs has been strongest. -- Earlier campaigns against Baha'is, such as in the 1950s and early 1980s, saw the use of propaganda to cultivate and justify social persecution, creating negative stereotypes. These stereotypes continue to have repercussions today. -- Despite its wide recognition outside Iran as an independent world religion, the Faith has been effectively criminalized in Iran, through efforts to categorize it as a political threat. This categorization has been reinforced by frequent accusations of espionage or other anti-revolutionary criminal activity. "Practicing members of the Baha'i faith are subjected in the Islamic Republic of Iran to a level of social exclusion and harassment that shocks the conscience," said Tom Parker, Executive Director of the IHRDC. "Community leaders have been murdered and sites of irreplaceable religious significance destroyed. "Ordinary Baha'is are refused access to education and employment opportunities and cannot openly worship. They have become third class citizens in the country in which their faith was born. It is difficult to imagine a more clear-cut case of religious persecution," said Mr. Parker. Established in March 2003 by an international group of human rights advocates, scholars, and lawyers, the IHRDC seeks to "objectively and systematically document human rights violations committed in the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 revolution," according to its website. The full report can be read there at http://www.iranhrdc.org.

41.3082138

-72.9250518

BRAZZAVILLE

Congo Republic

Congo Republic issues stamp for World Religion Day

Congo Republic issues stamp for World Religion Day BRAZZAVILLE, Congo Republic — The Congo Republic this month became the second country to issue a postage stamp for World Religion Day, an annual event commemorated in dozens of cities and towns around the globe. The stamp was presented here on 20 January 2007 at a World Religion Day program that drew more than 250 participants from eight religious communities. Agents were on hand to sell both the stamps and first-day covers. World Religion Day was first celebrated in 1950, when the national governing body of the Baha'i Faith in the United States established it to call attention to the essential oneness of the world's religions and to show that religion is the motivating force for world unity. The day is celebrated with interfaith discussions, conferences and other events that foster understanding among the followers of all religions. World Religion Day, which always falls on the third Sunday in January, is traditionally commemorated a day early in Brazzaville. The new stamp from the Congo pictures a globe surrounded by the symbols of 11 religions. Across the top it says, in French, "God is the source of all religions." Sri Lanka issued a World Religion Day stamp in 1985 that pictured symbols of eight religions. In 1999, Singapore issued a postage stamp that listed the names of nine major religions along with the words "Unity in Diversity" and a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Inter-Religious Organization of Singapore. The release of the stamp coincided with World Religion Day, although it did not actually carry those words. Sri Lanka stamp issued in 1985In Entebbe, Uganda, organizers of the World Religion Day commemoration there announced that they had requested their national postal service to issue a stamp for the occasion next year. At their celebration this year, hosted by the Entebbe Municipal Council, participating religious leaders signed a declaration to form the Entebbe Inter-Faith Coalition. The signers pledged to use "the unifying power of religion to instill in the hearts and minds of all people of faith the fundamental facts and spiritual standards that have been laid down by our Creator to bring them together as members of one family." Communities across Canada and the United States also held observances for this year's World Religion Day, as did Hong Kong and towns in Australia, Bulgaria, France, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and a number of other countries.

-4.27250705

15.28303990586435

ADDIS ABABA

Ethiopia

Ethiopian giraffe captures children's hearts

Ethiopian giraffe captures children's hearts ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The marriage of a local schoolteacher and an American software developer has resulted in the birth of a young giraffe that has captured the imagination of children in Ethiopia. Tsehai, a hand puppet and star of a new television show in the Amharic language, is the brain-child of Bruktawit and Shane Etzenhouser. Styled after classic children's programs like "Sesame Street," "Tsehai Loves Learning" is designed to help youngsters with reading and also develop other skills, including interacting responsibly with the environment. Indeed, the curious and adventurous Tsehai lives in a world of computer graphics fashioned to resemble the Ethiopian outdoors. "The show is performing well so far," said Seifu Seyoum, head of program services for ETV, the national TV station. "I myself have two children, and every morning they want to watch Tsehai. There are many children and parents who like this show." "Tsehai" is the first TV program in Ethiopia to use puppets and animation to teach letters, numbers and shapes, with all instruction in the dominant language of the country. The program also offers social and moral lessons, and introduces issues such as stress, the loss of a parent, even something as serious as the child slave trade in Africa. The show airs on weekends, with each eight- to 10-minute episode running for two weeks before a new show debuts. Children who want to see it more often can watch reruns on DVDs, which the Etzenhousers sell. For the couple, even the production of the show represents a love story. "We do it because we love the children of Ethiopia," Mr. Etzenhouser said. He and his wife, both members of the Baha'i Faith, met while teaching in Addis Ababa at the Two Wings Academy, a school inspired by Baha'i principles. Mr. Etzenhouser, 35, had studied multimedia in university and hoped to work in television. "I came to Ethiopia to volunteer at Two Wings and to explore avenues of making an Ethiopian children's TV show," he said. For his wife, who is 25, the idea of a television program was something new. Bruktawit and Shane Etzenhouser pose with puppets Tsehai, the yellow giraffe, and Tsehai's younger brother, Fikir."I have always wanted to do something big in education but never thought it would be a TV show," she said. "But when I met Shane I thought there was something great in this idea he had." The two were married in May 2004 and joke that Tsehai is their first child. "Tsehai really is what we feel for each other," Mrs. Etzenhouser said. "It is our personal love story. A lot of people ask us why we don't have kids. It's been more than two years, and in Ethiopia a lot of couples would have had a child by now. We say, 'We do. Look -- we have Tsehai!'" Ethiopia, a country of 74 million people, has a literacy rate of 41 percent among people over the age of 15, according to the United Nations Development Programme. The Etzenhousers hope "Tsehai Loves Learning" will contribute to improving reading among children. "Unless children are sent to private kindergartens, most will not receive the type of education they will need to become good students," Mrs. Etzenhouser said. "Without this attention being given to these children at an early stage of their development, most will suffer during the rest of their school careers." Shlomo Bachrach, an economic and educational adviser to the Ethiopian government who lives in Washington, D.C., recently discussed "Tsehai Loves Learning" with the Associated Press. "The show is perfectly pitched to the Ethiopian audience," Bachrach was quoted as saying. "In a culture where TV is still pretty much a novelty, it has a great impact. When kids watch it, they watch it with an intensity you wouldn't believe." Dagmawit Eshetu, the mother of children ages four and six, is among the many parents who have written letters to the Etzenhousers. "This program really engages them," she wrote. "They learn to think and participate in the program. We see a change of character in them, especially in applying simple but very important rules such as washing with soap and water before and after eating and the need to drink pure water." The Etzenhousers noted that the Baha'i teachings place great importance on the education of children. "My inspiration is from the Baha'i Faith," Mrs. Etzenhouser said. "It helps me remember that we are all connected and that it is important for us to care for each other." The couple did their homework before launching the program. "We did a lot of internet research," Mr. Etzenhouser said. "We got a lot of data from universities. We watched lots of shows like 'Sesame Street,' 'Blues Clues,' 'Oobi' and 'The Wiggles.' We tested the shows at local schools so we could see what material worked with the children." "Tsehai Loves Learning" is designed primarily for children aged three to six - children too young for government schools in Ethiopia. The couple felt their combined skills - his as a software developer and hers as a teacher of young children -- were right for the project. "The show addresses the needs of children at a critical age," Mrs. Etzenhouser said. "It helps them see the value in academic accomplishment. It also helps them to have a positive attitude and to see giving back to their communities as a good thing." Nine episodes of "Tsehai Loves Learning" have been aired since its premier last September. "We are working on our 10th episode right now," Mr. Etzenhouser said. "We are stepping up production and have hired three more people. We have created stories for the next four episodes and have outlined the stories for episodes 15 through 18." UNESCO provided a grant to help with the first four programs. A private company, Jolly Jus, provides support in the form of advertisements, and DVD sales also generate revenue. The couple said they hope to announce soon the details of a new grant from an international nongovernmental organization that will help keep their dream moving forward. "It's so cute to see the kids in our neighborhood being proud of us and saying 'We know them!'" Mrs. Etzenhouser said. "I just really want to keep it going. I can't imagine doing anything else." "To see it out there is super rewarding -- to see kids singing the songs," her husband added. "We go around town and people ask us what we do. When we tell them that we work on the show it feels as though parents and children change in the way they see us." But Mrs. Etzenhouser said much work remains. "We are still at the baby stage of 'Tsehai,'" she said. "We still need to get to the remote areas. We need to get it on radio. We are on the road though. We are watching our baby grow."

9.0107934

38.7612525

TORONTO

Canada

Fabrication begins on components for Baha'i temple in South America

Fabrication begins on components for Baha'i temple in South America TORONTO, Canada — After months of testing a key computer model for the unique Baha'i house of worship to be built in Chile, architects have announced that fabrication of components for the structure is now beginning. The milestone comes just as the design for the building received a coveted architectural award - a citation from Architect magazine in its annual Progressive Architecture competition. The awards, established in 1954, are among the most prestigious honors for projects that have not yet been built. The Baha'i temple in Chile is one of eight projects from around the world that received an award or citation in the program this year. "For architects, it's the award that recognizes designs that go in a new direction," said Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, the firm that designed the house of worship and is overseeing its construction. Representatives of the firm traveled to New York last month for the awards ceremony. Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto have two full-time teams, one in Canada and one in Chile, working on the temple project.Mr. Hariri describes the building as a "temple of light." The structure will be created by nine translucent alabaster and cast-glass "wings," which during the day will allow sunlight to filter through. At night the temple will emit a warm glow from the interior lighting. The huge segments that will form the sides and dome of the building are being fabricated in Toronto and then will be transported to Chile. "It's a little bit unorthodox, but it's the most cost effective way to do it," Mr. Hariri said of doing part of the work off-site. Five countries, including Chile, were considered for the fabrication, but the Canadian bid turned out to be the least expensive, he said. Extensive and detailed testing, now in its final stages, has proved that a key computer model for the temple "was 100 percent accurate," he said. This was exciting news to the architects because it means the project now proceeds to actual fabrication without significant adjustments, he said. Part of the testing involved fabrication of a one-sixth scale model of one of the steel frames that will form the sides of the temple. The engineering software used for the model is often employed in the aerospace industry but rarely has been used by architects, Mr. Hariri said. It will take two to three years to complete the pieces of the temple that are being fabricated in Canada. At the actual site in Chile, construction of the foundation is tentatively set to begin next October. The temple in Santiago will be the eighth such Baha'i house of worship. All have a dome and nine sides but otherwise differ greatly in appearance. The other temples are located in India, Germany, the United States, Australia, Panama, Uganda and Samoa. The house of worship in Chile, like the others, will be financed entirely by voluntary contributions from Baha'is around the world. The cost of the Chile project has been estimated at US$27 million. In the Baha'i scriptures Baha'u'llah designates the houses of worship as gathering places for prayer and meditation, which in the future are envisioned to be the center of a group of buildings housing social, humanitarian, educational and scientific institutions.

43.6534817

-79.3839347

NEW YORK

United States

Baha'i girls to bring a message of hope to UN meeting on women

Baha'i girls to bring a message of hope to UN meeting on women NEW YORK, United States — Among the hundreds of girls coming to the United Nations this week to discuss the problems facing girl children around the world will be a dozen with a distinctive viewpoint: their religion teaches that they are equal to boys. "For Baha'is, it is a basic element of their faith that we must establish equality between women and men, not to mention girls and boys," said Fulya Vekiloglu, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "In a world where religious traditions often stand at the heart of discriminatory practices, this is a rather unique perspective, and one that ought to be a pattern for the future," said Ms. Vekiloglu, who also directs the Community's Office for the Advancement of Women. "So we are hopeful that the 12 young Baha'i girls who are coming to New York for the Commission on the Status of Women next week can bring concrete examples of equality and empowerment in action." Girl delegates will be coming from Baha'i communities in Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Sweden, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States to the UN Commission on the Status of Women meeting, which this year will address as its priority theme: "The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child." Many of the delegates have experience helping other girls or in teaching principles of equality to their peers, added Ms. Vekiloglu, who is also a member of the Working Group on Girls of the NGO Committee of UNICEF. "In their own communities, young as they are, they have taken a leading role in advocating for equality and in teaching that concept to other young people," said Ms. Vekiloglu. Among those coming to New York are: -- Anisa Andrade de Araujo, 17, from Brazil. Born into a Baha'i family, Anisa has been engaged in teaching moral education classes for children in Brasilia. Among other things, these emphasize the equality of the sexes. "Kids are the ones who will lead humanity," Anisa said of her teaching efforts. "If you nourish in them some virtues and spiritual manners, for a significant number of people this world would be a decent place to live." -- Ahenliema Koijam, 16, of India. A Baha'i since 2001, Ahenliema has been working with children and youth groups in her native city of Imphal since 2003. She has also participated in a public hearing on human rights there, and is especially concerned about the rights of girls in the province of Manipur, which surrounds Imphal. "The children of Manipur are facing many forms of discrimination," said Ahenliema. "In most of the rural areas, children, especially girls, are not allowed to go to school. They are considered as private property and made to do all the household work. Many girl children come to sell vegetables in the market places right from the early morning and go back late in the afternoon." -- Holly May Smith, 13, from the United Kingdom. Born into a Baha'i family, Holly grew up in Zambia but has lived in the United Kingdom for the last two years, where she is part of a Baha'i youth group that meets every week to discuss topics on spiritual and moral principles, including the equality of women and men. "While I was in Zambia I noticed that a lot of women got a raw deal," said Holly. "I was surprised to come here [to the UK] and find that women here have it pretty bad too. Women here have to worry about what they wear, how they look, how much they weigh. That is not liberating! Here, women are exploited by advertising and the media. I think it is so unfair that a woman and a man can do the same job and the man will get more money." The Commission on the Status of Women meets this week, from 26 February to 9 March 2007. Baha'i girls will also participate in several important side events. On Wednesday, 28 February, they will participate in an event titled "Eliminating Violence Across Generations" at 1:15 to 2:45 pm at Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium in the UN Building. The event is sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and co-sponsored by the Baha'i International Community. On Thursday, 1 March, Ahenleima Koijam will participate in a panel discussion on the topic of "Gender-Based Violence: Consequences Across the Life Span," held 10 to 11:45 am at the UN Church Center, Boss Room, 8th floor.

40.7127281

-74.0060152

NEW YORK

United States

Iranian Baha'is face continuing discrimination in higher education

Iranian Baha'is face continuing discrimination in higher education NEW YORK, United States — A growing number of Baha'is admitted to Iranian universities this year have been expelled, powerful evidence that Baha'i students in Iran still face severe discrimination and limited access to higher education. After more than 25 years during which Iranian Baha'is were outright banned from attending public and private universities in Iran, some 178 Baha'i students were admitted last fall to various schools around the country after the government changed its policies and removed religious identification from entrance examination papers. As of mid-February, however, at least 70 students had been expelled after their universities became aware that they were Baha'is. "The high percentage of expulsions - which are all explicitly connected to the students' identities as Baha'is - suggests at best that the government is turning a blind eye to discrimination in higher education, and, at worst, is merely playing a game with Baha'i students," said Diane Ala'i, the Baha'i International Community's representative to the United Nations in Geneva. "While we are happy that for the first time since the early 1980s a significant number of Iranian Baha'i youth have been able to enter and attend the university of their choice, the government's long history of systematic persecution against Baha'is certainly calls into question the sincerity of the new policies," said Ms. Ala'i. She noted, for example, that another 191 Baha'i students, having successfully passed national college entrance examinations last summer, were unable to enter university this year, either because of the limited number of places for the course of their choice or for other reasons unknown to them. "International law provides that access to education is a basic human right, and Iranian universities have no excuse for denying students who have successfully passed their examinations the right to attend simply because they are Baha'is," added Ms. Ala'i. "As long as any Baha'i is unjustly denied access to higher education, we can say that the years of systematic persecution and discrimination against Baha'i students has not yet ended, and we must call for this injustice to be rectified," she said. The largest religious minority in Iran, Baha'is of all ages have faced systematic religious persecution since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. More than 200 Baha'is have been killed, hundreds have been imprisoned, and thousands have had property or businesses confiscated, been fired from jobs, and/or had pensions terminated. According to a secret 1991 government memorandum, Baha'is "must be expelled from universities, either in the admission process or during the course of their studies, once it becomes known that they are Baha'is." One of the chief means the government has used to enforce this policy was to require that everyone sitting for the national college entrance examination state their religion on the test registration forms. Test forms that listed "Baha'i," or that had no listing, were rejected. In 2004, apparently in response to continued pressure from the international community, the Iranian government removed the data field for religious affiliation. About 1,000 Baha'i students successfully sat for the examination that year and hundreds passed, many with very high scores. Later that same year, however, in an action that Baha'i International Community representatives characterize as a "ploy," exam results were sent back to Baha'is with the word "Muslim" written in, something that officials knew would be unacceptable to Baha'is, who as a matter of religious principle refuse to deny their beliefs. Government officials argued that since the Baha'is had opted to take the set of questions on Islam in the religious studies section of the test, they should be listed as Muslims. Baha'is contested the action and were rebuffed; no Baha'i students entered university that year. The same thing happened in 2005. Hundreds of Baha'i students took and passed the national examination, only to find that the government had listed them as Muslims. Baha'is again contested the action, but without successful redress, and no Baha'is matriculated in 2005. Last summer, again acting on good faith, hundreds of Baha'is took the national examination. This time, as indicated in the figures above, hundreds have passed, and some 178 were accepted into universities. Throughout the fall, reports came out of Iran indicating that many of those who had been accepted were being refused entry or expelled once the universities learned that they were Baha'is. As of February, the confirmed figure totaled 70 Baha'is expelled. "Accounts we have received from those who have been expelled or denied registration at the university of their choice clearly indicate the issue is their Baha'i identity," said Ms. Ala'i. "One student, for example, received a phone call from Payame Noor University on 18 October, asking whether he was a Baha'i. When he replied in the affirmative, he was told that he could not be enrolled. "Later, after visiting the university, the student was told that the university had received a circular from the National Educational Measurement and Evaluation Organization, which oversees the university entrance examination process, stating that while it would not prevent the Baha'is from going through the enrolment process, once enrolled, they were to be expelled. "Another Baha'i student at that same university was told that students who do not specify their religion on registration forms would be disqualified from continuing their education there," she said. Ms. Ala'i also said that the Baha'i International Community has learned that all universities in Iran except one still include a space for religion on their own registration forms. "This raises the grave concern that the 191 additional Baha'is who passed their examinations this year but were refused places may in fact be the subjects of discrimination," she said. "We call on the international community to continue to monitor this situation closely," said Ms. Ala'i. "We would also ask for the continued efforts of educators and university administrators around the world who have participated in a campaign to protest the treatment of Baha'i students in Iran."

40.7127281

-74.0060152

HAIFA

Israel

Baha'is begin annual period of fasting

Baha'is begin annual period of fasting HAIFA, Israel — Venezuelan college student Oscar Ponte joined the Baha'i Faith last August and this month will observe its fasting period for the first time. When he told his mother about it, she was alarmed. After all, he is a young man of slight build, and she was worried his health would suffer. "But it's a privilege to do the fast!" he told her emphatically. "It's only once a year, and it's a commandment of God." His mother apparently understood, and, according to Mr. Ponte, she smiled her assent. Around the world, Baha'is age 15 to 70 begin their annual 19-day fast on 2 March, abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sundown each day. They do it in obedience to a law established by Baha'u'llah, the founder of their faith. There are exemptions for people who are sick, pregnant women, nursing mothers and a few other categories. "It's an evolution of the basic principle of fasting that has existed in previous religions," said Baharieh Rouhani Ma'ani, co-author of a book titled "Laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas." "Vestiges of the ordinance of fasting can be found in almost all living religions except Zoroastrianism, which affirmatively prohibits fasting," the book states. Oscar Ponte of Venezuela describes the fast as a time to try to know God better.Mrs. Ma'ani, who has taught classes about the laws of God, says she feels that Baha'u'llah has made the fast easier than in some of the other religions. For example, Jews fast only one day, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, but they abstain from food and drink for more than 24 hours at a single stretch, she explained. The Muslim tradition is similar to the Baha'i practice, except that each day Muslims fast from dawn to dusk – a longer period than from sunrise to sundown. Also, Muslims follow a lunar calendar, meaning that the fast sometimes falls during the summer when the days are long and can be very hot, Mrs. Ma'ani said. The Baha'i fast always comes just before the equinox in March so in most of the world there are only about 12 hours of abstention. In the few places where the days are appreciably longer, believers can go by the clock and fast about 12 hours rather than exactly from sun-up to sundown. "Baha'u'llah doesn't want us to suffer just for the sake of suffering," Mrs. Ma'ani said. Fasting is symbolic – "a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires," according to the Baha'i writings. "It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul," the writings say. Additionally, Baha'u'llah said fasting helps people become better aware of the sufferings of the poor. 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son and appointed successor of Baha'u'llah, described how the Prophets of God – including Moses, Jesus and Baha'u'llah – all fasted. Thus, he said, the Baha'i period of fasting allows believers to get closer to the founders of the great religions by experiencing the same thing. Duane L. Herrmann, compiler of a handbook about the Baha'i fast, notes that abstention from eating is not the real point. The point, he says, has to do with the "inner spirit of detachment, of which eating (is) merely a symbol or outward reflection." As Mr. Ponte in Venezuela summed up his own newfound understanding, "During the fast, we make an effort to know God better."

32.8191218

34.9983856

NEW YORK

United States

Official character of Baha'i expulsions in Iranian university revealed

Official character of Baha'i expulsions in Iranian university revealed NEW YORK, United States — The Baha'i International Community has obtained a document that appears to confirm double-dealing by Iran in its policy towards Baha'i students seeking higher education. The document, a 2 November 2006 letter from the headquarters of Payame Noor University to its regional branches, states that it is government policy that Baha'i students "cannot enroll" in Iranian universities and that if they are already enrolled, "they should be expelled." "This document provides proof of Iran's duplicitous behavior regarding Iranian Baha'i students," said Bani Dugal, the Baha'i International Community's principal representative to the United Nations. "In its public face, Iran claims that it has finally opened the doors to Baha'i students, after some 25 years of keeping them out of public and private universities in Iran," said Ms. Dugal. "But, as evidenced by this confidential memorandum from the Payame Noor central office, the real policy is apparently to simply expel Baha'is as soon as they can be identified." Indeed, the content of the letter sharply contradicts denials issued last week by an Iranian government spokesperson when asked to comment on figures released by the Baha'i International Community showing that a large number of Baha'i university students have been expelled so far this year, solely because of religious discrimination. According to a report by Reuters on 28 February 2007, a spokesperson for the Iranian mission to the United Nations, who had requested his name not be used, was asked about the high percentage of expelled students and replied: "No one in Iran because of their religion has been expelled from studying." Until two years ago, all Baha'i students were kept out of universities by the requirement that everyone list their religion on entrance examination forms. Baha'is were automatically rejected. After pressure from the international community and human rights organizations, Iran changed its policy and dropped the religious affiliation requirement. Last autumn, hundreds of Baha'is passed the examination and some 178 were admitted into the university of their choice. So far this school year, however, at least 70 Baha'i students have been expelled as universities have learned that they were Baha'is. The 2 November letter was issued on the letterhead of Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and goes out from Payame Noor's "Central Protection Office" to directors of the university's regional centers. "With respect, according to the ruling of the Cultural Revolutionary Council and the instructions of the Ministry of Information and the Head Protection Office of the Central Organization of Payame Noor University, Baha'is cannot enroll in universities and higher education centers," states the letter. "Therefore, such cases if encountered should be reported, their enrollment should be strictly avoided, and if they are already enrolled they should be expelled." Payame Noor University is "the largest state university in terms of student numbers and coverage," according to the university's website, with some 467,000 students in 74 degree programs at 257 study centers and units throughout the country. So far this year, at least 30 Baha'i students have been expelled from Payame Noor. **To view the document in English, click here. ** (.pdf will open in a new window) **To view the document in Persian click here. ** (.pdf will open in a new window) For more information about the expulsion of Baha'is from universities in Iran, click here.

40.7127281

-74.0060152

UNITED NATIONS

United States

Baha'i women and girls "active and dynamic" at UN women's meeting

Baha'i women and girls "active and dynamic" at UN women's meeting UNITED NATIONS, United States — Last autumn, Anisa Fadaei started a discussion group on women's issues at her high school. Meeting every two weeks at lunch, about a dozen girls discuss issues like domestic violence, unequal pay rates, and trafficking in girls. The topics were unfamiliar to most of the participants, which is the point. "Before we started, most of the others didn't have a clue about gender equality issues or violence against women," said Anisa, who is 17 and lives in the town of Stroud, in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. "We live in quite a nice area and so most of my friends didn't realize that such problems with inequality were going on around the world." Though young, Anisa is committed to raising awareness about gender issues. She is involved in the youth caucus of the UK National Alliance of Women's Organizations, and she has been the featured speaker at several school-wide assemblies on women's topics. She was recently profiled in a UNICEF newsletter that focuses on how young people can get involved with global issues. Anisa was one of at least 12 girls and 36 women and men from 27 countries who came to represent their national Baha'i communities at the 2007 UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which ended on 9 March. The group represented the largest delegation of Baha'is ever at the annual meeting of the Commission, which has in recent years become a global rallying point for activists on women's issues. An examination of the Baha'i delegation offers a snapshot of how Baha'is around the world are striving in their local and national communities to promote the equality of women and men, which is a basic principle of the Baha'i Faith. Among those attending the Commission this year, for example, were: -- Ahenleima Koijam, a 16-year-old student from Imphal, India, who has been working with children and youth groups since 2003, and has also participated in a public hearing on human rights, where she talked about problems facing girls in the province of Manipur. Forty-eight women, men, and girls from 27 countries composed the Baha'i delegation to the 2007 United Nation Commission on the Status of Women, the largest ever delegation of Baha'is to the annual meeting. This group photograph does not show the entire delegation.-- Mitra Deliri, a 48-year-old teacher who recently founded a school for underprivileged girls in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. The school, the Chipua Institute for Social Transformation, tutors some 70 girls in English, math, and science, and also vocational skills. -- Ruth Montgomery-Anderson, a 49-year-old midwife from Greenland, who has recently completed several films for the Ministry of Health on issues that touch the lives of women in Greenland. One film, for example, explores family life in Greenland, while another discusses issues of rape and sexual abuse. -- Jutta Bayani, a 52-year-old businesswoman from Mamer, Luxembourg, who was recently appointed by her city's mayor to a consultative commission on gender issues. "The appointment came, I believe, as a result of my longstanding involvement in women's activities, especially at the national level," said Ms. Bayani. "The United Nations is looking for models about how to implement its various programs, and in the case of these Baha'i women from around the world you have some concrete examples of effective activities at the local and national levels to promote the advancement of women," said Fulya Vekiloglu, director of the Baha'i International Community's Office for the Advancement of Women. This year's Commission meeting drew nearly 2,000 people, representing some 334 organizations. Among them were some 200 girls from around the world, a response to the theme of this year's Commission, which was "The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child." In addition to the main meeting by governments to discuss that theme and other issues, the UN, government missions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) sponsored more than 170 "parallel events" - panel discussions, workshops, briefings and other activities aimed at exploring issues facing women and girls around the globe. "The Baha'i delegation's participation in all aspects of the Commission was active and dynamic," said Ms. Vekiloglu, who is also one of the Community's representatives to the United Nations. "The delegates were observers in official meetings, speakers in panel discussions, and active members of various caucuses. They also made many interventions in workshops, presenting Baha'i perspectives and experiences at the grassroots level." Ahenleima Koijam, the girl from India, for example, was a featured panelist at a workshop titled "Gender-Based Violence: Consequences Across the Life Span," held on 1 March at the UN Church Center. Side by side with older women from around the world, many of them acknowledged experts, Ahenleima told the audience about the conditions faced by women and girls in rural areas outside Imphal. "Many girls are forced to get married at an early age," said Ahenleima, saying that girls face various forms of violence, both physical and psychological, even from before birth. "Early marriage often results in the birth of a low-weight child. Fifty-six percent of girls suffer from anemia, and 40 percent suffer from stunted growth." Ahenleima's answer to this and other problems was to increase support for education, especially for girls. "A girl's most important influence is on her family," noting that even when young girls have children, their role in raising the next generation is nevertheless powerful. "The mothers need to be educated properly, as they are the first line of educators." Other activities that featured specific involvement by Baha'is included a 2 March panel discussion on "Ethical Perspectives on Transitional Justice and the Girl Child," which was sponsored by the UN office of the Baha'i community of the United States; a 25 February workshop on CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Kinds of Discrimination Against Women) and the CRC (Child Rights Convention), which was moderated by Ms. Vekiloglu; and a 2 March "Girls' Perspective" meeting with Yakin Erturk, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, which was held at the Baha'i International Community's offices. "I think the meeting with Yakin Erturk, which gave her and other UN officials a chance to hear directly from girls, really captured the spirit of the Commission this year, with its focus on girls and their concerns," said Ms. Vekiloglu, noting that the meeting was co-sponsored by the Community and the NGO Committee on UNICEF's Working Group on Girls. Ms. Vekiloglu also said the Baha'i delegation held a one-day planning session during the Commission to discuss how Baha'is can further promote the advancement of women in their own countries. "We looked at what Baha'is are doing in their regions, and also what they can do in the future," said Ms. Vekiloglu. Anisa Fadaei, the Baha'i girl from Stroud, participated in a panel discussion on 1 March titled "Eliminating Violence across Generations." Held in the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium at the UN building, the discussion featured not only Anisa but also her mother, Zarin Hainsworth Fadaei, and her grandmother, Lois Hainsworth. The event was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN and the Baha'i International Community, and also featured a performance of the Children's Theater Company. In her presentation, Anisa stressed the need for young women to educate their male peers about the equality of women and men. "We need to tell more boys what is going on," said Anisa, when asked by someone in the audience about how to promote the kinds of social changes need to end violence against women and to promote their advancement. "For me, personally, we need to raise awareness."

ALEM

Netherlands

Golden tile from Baha'i shrine goes on display in museum

Golden tile from Baha'i shrine goes on display in museum ALEM, Netherlands — The Baha'i community of the Netherlands has given a golden tile from one of its sacred shrines to a museum that specializes in roof tiles. In a ceremony last month, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Netherlands gave the tile on permanent loan to the Dutch Roof Tile Museum in Alem, a small riverside village in the heart of Holland. Museum owner Huub Mombers said the tile - from the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel - is the only one among the 3,000 tiles in his collection that is gilded - covered with a glaze made with real gold. "I have never seen one like this before," Mr. Mombers said, explaining that most "gold" tiles are simply painted a gold color. The tile given to the museum was actually created more than 50 years ago, one of more than 12,000 golden tiles custom-made to cover the dome of the Baha'i shrine on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Mr. Mombers opened the museum two years ago to showcase a collection of tiles from around the world that he had amassed over 20 years. "We are familiar with gold roof tiles," he said, "but they are all paint. With this tile, it is pure gold. ... I have seen a factory in Germany that has made gold roof tiles for rich people in Saudi Arabia, but they are all paint." True gilded tiles are so unusual that the Baha'is had trouble finding a factory that would fill their order, wrote Ugo Giachery, a prominent Baha'i from Rome who in 1948 was given the task of locating such a company. He had already been turned away from factories in several European countries when he decided to try the Netherlands, known worldwide for its ceramics. "Our inquiries were either received with incredulity or were declined for technical reasons," wrote Dr. Giachery in his book titled "Shoghi Effendi: Recollections." But when he reached the last Dutch company on his list, he struck gold. It was a small factory called Westraven, near Utrecht. The tile business had been founded by two brothers named Ravesteyn in 1844 (although the firm's predecessor had roots in tile-making as far back as 1661). "At the time, Westraven was in a unique position," said Marcel Hermens, author of a history of the company. "They had a man in the factory who had been experimenting with glazes, especially golden glaze. They also had a manager who searched constantly for new markets and challenges." The manager, Robert de Brauw, was a chemical engineer by profession and was struggling to make a success of the factory. Mr. de Brauw told Dr. Giachery the factory had only made flat gilded tiles for vertical suspension, never curved tiles for a dome. "But we are willing to try," he said. Months of research Thus began months of research to determine the exact materials for the tiles and the glaze, as well as the optimum procedure for firing in the kiln. "Not only did the tiles and their golden coating have to be able to withstand all weather conditions, their shape and size also posed a problem," said Jelle de Vries, who researched the history of the Baha'i Faith in the Netherlands for his doctoral thesis. The Dutch Roof Tile Museum is located in an old church and contains several thousand roof tiles. Shown here are owner Huub Mombers, in center holding the gilded tile, and others present for the ceremony last month."Since it is not possible to saw glazed tiles once they have come out of the kiln, one has to calculate in advance what changes will occur during the firing process. And this had to be done not once, but 50 times since so many different shapes and sizes were needed to cover the surface of the dome." Dr. de Vries is the one who discovered the coincidence that Holland was home to both the factory that made the Baha'i tiles, and a museum that exhibits roof tiles. Thus it was arranged to bring a spare golden tile that had been in storage in Haifa to give to the museum, which is located in an old church in Alem. Mr. Mombers said his new exhibit, which includes a photo of the Baha'i shrine along with the tile, is displayed prominently in the center of the museum. "This tile is very special," he said. "I have seen gold on pottery but never on tiles. With pottery, you have a couple of pieces. With these tiles you had to do it with 13,000." The Westraven factory was rare, Mr. Mombers said, because even companies that might have had the technical know-how to make the tiles would have declined because the job was too risky financially. "Everyone was afraid to do this because it was gold," he said. "No one was willing to guarantee it. You can imagine that if you don't get the job right, working with gold you can be financially ruined." Mr. Mombers' tile collection includes specimens from many countries and regions - Europe, China, Nepal, Africa and more. But not one of his other tiles is gilded. "I know of a building in Athens with copper, but I have never seen a building with gold tiles," he said. The Westraven factory Encountering Robert de Brauw, director of Westraven Faience and Tile Making, was like "finding a ray of light on a dark sea of uncertainty," wrote Dr. Giachery, the Baha'i representative who had been searching for a tile maker. "From the very beginning of our conversation he won my confidence and trust, and relieved me of all my anxiety," Dr. Giachery wrote. "He was a chemical engineer by profession, a member of the nobility, and had taken on the management of this modest factory at the end of the war, and he was struggling to make it successful," Dr. Giachery stated. "That Mr. de Brauw had been trained as a chemist was a great asset to our project, because three of the four problems in the production of the Shrine's tiles were of a chemical nature: namely, the composition of the tiles, the golden coating, and the glazing. The fourth issue consisted of several material aspects which physics and engineering were to solve and in which Mr. de Brauw was also very proficient," Dr. Giachery wrote. Calculating the size and shape of each tile was a monumental task. The dome is a partial sphere -- with both horizontal and vertical curve - but it straightens to a drum toward the bottom. The size and shape of each tile depended on its position on the dome. Westraven had to come up with about 200 different sizes and shapes to properly cover the surface. The calculations had to take into account that tiles change slightly when fired -- and the beige clay tiles were baked three times, first with a clear glaze, then with the prime orange glaze and finally with a 15 percent gold solution. "It took months of experimentation and testing," said Mr. Hermens, the Westraven company historian. The contract for the work was signed in Utrecht in September 1952. Mr. de Brauw was willing to take on the project partly because he had a works manager named Karel Bazuine who had been experimenting with a golden glaze for use on outdoor surfaces, the historian said. When preparations were complete, the tiles were hand-formed out of clay, likely out of different plaster casts for the different sizes, Mr. Hermens said. They were "biscuit baked" in a big stone peat oven, and glazed in a special enameling oven. The tiles were shipped to Haifa in early 1953, and the first ceremonial tiles laid in April of that year. By August, the shrine was finished, complete with golden dome. More facts: -- The tiles do not overlap when laid. Each tile is tapered from a thickness of 20 millimeters at one end to 6 millimeters at the other. -- Records say that Westraven made more than 12,000 tiles for the Shrine of the Bab. About 10,500 full tiles were actually laid on the dome, along with a number of partial tiles. Extras are still in storage. -- On each of the 18 segments of the dome, there are approximately 600 tiles in 70 rows. -- The tiles at the bottom of the dome are 188 by 176 millimeters, the ones at the top 188 by 70 millimeters. The shrine itself The shrine is the resting place of the Bab, regarded by Baha'is as a Messenger of God and forerunner to Baha'u'llah. This building, and the resting place of Baha'u'llah located near Acre, north of Haifa, are considered by Baha'is to be the holiest spots on earth. The Bab was executed by the authorities in Persia, now Iran, in July 1850, and His remains hidden in that country until 1899 when they were brought to Acre. In March 1909, the remains were interred at their present site. For many years, the shrine consisted of a simple, four-sided building with nine rooms. In the early 1940s, Shoghi Effendi, the head of the Baha'i Faith, directed the design of an arcade around the shrine and a superstructure above it to be crowned with a golden dome. William Sutherland Maxwell was the architect. Construction began in the late 1940s. Shoghi Effendi's construction manager in Haifa was Leroy Ioas, who in turn worked with Ibraham Lahim, known as Abu Khalil, a local stone mason. Abu Khalil was credited with the difficult job of getting the gilded tiles placed quickly and correctly on the dome.

51.7879656

5.3444265

LONDON

United Kingdom

Baha'is celebrate new year

Baha'is celebrate new year LONDON, England — Baha'is around the world celebrated their new year this week, with those in Vietnam holding a special ceremony to mark the government's issuing a certificate of operation for their activities. In London, the All-Party Parliamentary Friends of the Baha'is hosted a reception at the House of Parliament. British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a message referring to the "unique contribution" of the Baha'i community. "The words of your founder, that 'the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,' have perhaps an even greater resonance in 2007 than ever before," Mr. Blair wrote. "The universal challenges of climate change, and its potentially disastrous impact on millions of people across the globe, remind us forcefully that we are all fellow citizens of the world, all sharing in its destiny. "As we confront these challenges I have no doubt that you, and your fellow Baha'is in other countries, have much to contribute to the debate and the pursuit of possible solutions, drawing on the tradition of working for social justice of which Baha'is can rightly be so proud," Mr. Blair wrote. Opposition leader David Cameron also sent a message, remembering that Baha'is in some countries face persecution because of their faith. "Freedom to worship and to hold religious belief is a fundamental right which we must always cherish," Mr. Cameron stated. In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, about 280 people attended a reception where the government Committee for Religious Affairs presented a certificate giving recognition to Baha'i activities. The state news agency announced the reception and quoted Ngo Yen Thi, head of the Committee for Religious Affairs, as saying, "The State policy on religion respects and ensures freedom of belief and religion for all Vietnamese citizens as stipulated in the country's first constitution in 1946 and in revised versions." In Singapore, members of the Baha'i Faith invited hundreds of guests to join them for food, music and cultural dance performances to celebrate the new year. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan was the guest of honor, according to an article in The Straits Times. The Baha'i new year - called Naw Ruz, literally "new day" in the Persian language - falls on March 21, and usually is celebrated that day or the evening before. The Baha'i calendar, now in year 164, has 19 months of 19 days each, with intercalary days added to reach the 365 days of the solar year. The Baha'i Faith originated in 1844. The Faith has about 5 million followers, who live in some 235 countries and territories.

51.5073219

-0.1276474

NEW YORK

United States

Baha'i schoolchildren in Iran increasingly harassed and abused by school authorities

Baha'i schoolchildren in Iran increasingly harassed and abused by school authorities NEW YORK, United States — Baha'i students in primary and secondary schools throughout Iran are increasingly being harassed, vilified, and held up to abuse, according to recent reports from inside the country. During a 30-day period from mid-January to mid-February, some 150 incidents of insults, mistreatment, and even physical violence by school authorities against Baha'i students were reported as occurring in at least 10 Iranian cities. "These new reports that the most vulnerable members of the Iranian Baha'i community -- children and junior youth -- are being harassed, degraded, and, in at least one case, blindfolded and beaten, is an extremely disturbing development," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "The increasing number of such incidents suggests a serious and shameful escalation in the ongoing persecution of Iranian Baha'is," said Ms. Dugal. "The fact that school-aged children are being targeted by those who should rightfully hold their trust -- teachers and school administrators -- only makes this latest trend even more ominous." Ms. Dugal said the Baha'i International Community has been aware of scattered reports of abuse directed at schoolchildren but has only recently learned that young Baha'is are now widely being forced to identify their religion -- and are also being insulted, degraded, threatened with expulsion, and, in some cases, summarily dismissed from school. "They are also being pressured to convert to Islam, required to endure slander of their faith by religious instructors, and being taught and tested on 'Iranian history' in authorized texts that denigrate, distort, and brazenly falsify their religious heritage," said Ms. Dugal. "They are also being repeatedly told that they are not to attempt to teach their religion." According to Ms. Dugal, one Baha'i has reported that the school-age children of a relative in Kermanshah were called to the front of the classroom, where they were required to listen to insults against the Faith. "Another student, accepted at an art institute, has been followed by the authorities and on three occasions seized, blindfolded, and beaten," said Ms. Dugal. "While a few of these may be isolated attacks, the extent and nature of this reprehensible activity has led the Baha'is in Iran to conclude that this is an organized effort," said Ms. Dugal. Of special concern, she added, was the fact that a high proportion of the attacks against high school students have been against girls. "While the attacks reported to have taken place in elementary and middle schools were leveled evenly against boys and girls, those at the high school level targeted girls to a far greater degree: of 76 incidents, 68 were against Baha'i girls," said Ms. Dugal. Ms. Dugal added that the ages of the children and junior youth affected are as follows: at the elementary school level, grades 1-5, students 6 to 11 years old; at the middle school level, grades 6-8, students 11 to 13 years old; and at the high school level, grades 9-12, students 14 to 17 years old. The reports of attacks on innocent Baha'i schoolchildren come at a time when a growing number of older Baha'i students seeking to enter Iranian universities have been expelled after being identified as Baha'is. So far this year, at least 94 college-age Baha'i students have been expelled from institutions of higher education. That figure is up from 70 as reported in late February. Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, the 300,000-member Iranian Baha'i community has faced ongoing and systematic persecution. In the early 1980s, more than 200 Baha'is were killed, hundreds were imprisoned, and thousands were deprived of jobs and education. At the present time, more than 120 Baha'is are out on bail and awaiting trial on false charges, solely because of their religious beliefs and activities. Over the last year, as well, international human rights groups have expressed concern at the Iranian government's efforts to step-up their covert monitoring and identification of Baha'is.

40.7127281

-74.0060152

PERTH

Australia

Combating peer pressure a focus of Baha'i program

Combating peer pressure a focus of Baha'i program PERTH, Australia — Like young teens everywhere, Jani Song often feels social pressure to conform – even when the things that are fashionable may also be harmful. "When you're in high school, you see the popular, or cool, group and they often take drugs," said Jani, who is 14 and in 10th grade. "You see people drinking or doing other sorts of stuff. And you kind of just want to do it because you want to follow the crowd." A program established by the Baha'i community here for youths aged 12 to 15 is helping Jani and others like her develop tools to resist such influences and establish their own values. Some 160 young people, about half of them members of the Baha'i Faith, belong to small groups that follow a specially developed curriculum, part of which involves learning to avoid harmful behavior. "When you do these classes, and you really know the reason why not to do it, your brain automatically tells you not to do it," Jani said. That kind of impact is one reason that about 20 of the Baha'i-sponsored groups – designed for youths aged 12 to 15 – have sprung up in Perth over the past three years. The program is designed to empower young people both spiritually and morally, said Shirin Reyhani, the coordinator for the state of Western Australia for what the Baha'is call "junior youth groups." "It gives them the tools needed to recognize the moral issues underlying the choices they make," Ms. Reyhani said of the program. "It also develops in the youth a power of expression." The curriculum is designed to achieve specific goals, including step-by-step problem-solving, nurturing virtues, and social awareness. Organizers say the activities also foster improvement in reading, writing, mathematics and science. One of the aims of the curriculum is to develop in young people their ability to express themselves well.The groups typically meet once a week, and participants play games, discuss issues, study literature and organize service projects. The sessions are facilitated by an older person, called an animator, who serves as a moderator rather than a teacher. Youths who have become involved say the gatherings are not only spiritually enriching but also fun. "It's a pretty good course," 14-year-old Calvin Martin said of the group he attends. "You get to learn lots of new stuff, and I've met lots of new people. ... It's pretty fun – lots of different activities to do." Yann Vissac, 14, agrees. "I come to these classes because they teach me things which are interesting. And my friends are here. A lot of people don't feel certain about themselves these days. They don't have much self-confidence. Maybe these classes can help those people." Jani Song said the classes are more effective at helping her see the value in good behaviors because the discussion points come from peers. "We get lectures in class about drugs, but what's the point?" she said. "I don't listen to that kind of stuff. I think that if you take this class you'll really understand why it's necessary not to do things [that are bad] " Parents say the program helps equip youngsters to make choices based on their own values rather than on what their peers are doing. "My main concern is that my son has a strong sense of self to know how to deal with the demands of his social environment and issues that he's up against. That's what I feel he gets from this course," said Vivian Vissac, the mother of Yann. "I like the emphasis on developing the wholeness of the students – their inner resources, their sense of self, their sense that they can do and contribute," she said. Gayle Corbauld has two daughters in the program and feels it has enhanced their best personal qualities. "They are reflective, and they have a sense of responsibility about what they are doing," she said of her girls. "They feel they have control of what they are able to manage in a social situation. Rather than just repeating behavior, they can improve and make things better for themselves and for others." The curriculum for the program was developed over the past decade at various Baha'i institutions around the world, and by one estimate, Baha'i communities worldwide now operate some 3,000 junior youth groups involving 25,000 people. The animators are volunteers who receive special training. Ms. Reyhani, 24, a schoolteacher as well as a junior youth coordinator, said that many of the animators in Perth are themselves alumni of an older junior youth program. "These groups work because they put young people in a group with their friends," Ms. Reyhani said. "They feel like they are in a safe environment." She said the learning that takes place in the groups is different from regular school. "The focus in the classroom is one of competition," she said. "Competition with yourself to do better than you did last time. Competition with your classmates to be the best in the class, that type of thing. In the junior youth groups we try to get the kids to focus on their own personal development rather than comparing themselves to others." Also, in regular school the teacher must be an authority figure that maintains discipline; in a junior youth class, the animator is more a friend, she said. "The children themselves love coming to the classes," added Mrs. Corbauld. "They like the interaction with other people. They like also to sound out some of the difficulties they might have had in school, or somewhere else during the week. They can bring them along to the group and they know they can open it up and discuss it."

-31.9527121

115.8604796

LIMASSOL

Cyprus

Cyprus Arts and Music Festival planned for June

Cyprus Arts and Music Festival planned for June LIMASSOL, Cyprus — The Cyprus Arts and Music Festival planned for June will feature Baha'i musicians, actors, visual artists and speakers at a venue on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The event -- which will include a film festival -- will be held from 23 to 29 June 2007 at a hotel in Limassol on the island nation of Cyprus. "The festival is a multidimensional cultural event focusing on the performing and graphic arts, music, films, literature and drama," said Khosrow Afkhampour, program director for the event. "It aims to provide a platform for the proclamation of Baha'i ideas through artistic expression." Performers will include violinist Bijan Khadem-Missagh, actress Beverly Evans, pianists Nancy Lee Harper and Alfredo Matera, and singers Ahdieh Bahiee and Ranzie Mensah, among others. Ariana Economous, artistic director of a modern dance company on Cyprus, will perform a solo act. Suheil Bushrui will present a session on the literary study of the Baha'i writings. Other literary topics will include the poetry of Rumi and the work of Kahlil Gibran, author of "The Prophet" who in 1912 met with 'Abdu'l-Baha, at that time the head of the Baha'i Faith. The festival will also feature arts workshops, planned in collaboration with the Baha'i Academy for Arts in the United Kingdom. Sarah Clive, Rob Weinberg, Aidan Mathews, and Shirin Maanian will be among the participants. The film festival, planned in collaboration with the Harmony Film Festival in Australia, will feature works produced or directed by Baha'i filmmakers from around the globe. Classical singer Ranzie Mensah will perform in Cyprus, accompanied by pianist Alfredo Matera.

34.6852901

33.0332657

HAIFA

Israel

New 'Baha'i World' volume published

New 'Baha'i World' volume published HAIFA, Israel — A new volume of "The Baha'i World" is now available, offering three new essays, a profile of an outstanding development project, and a wealth of information about the Baha'i Faith today. The book is the latest in a series of annual volumes that survey activities of the Baha'i community during the previous year. "It covers events throughout the world, digests major communications and statements from Baha'i institutions, provides up-to-date facts, figures and information, and showcases some of the exciting advances in the field of social and economic development," said Robert Weinberg, senior editor of the publication. The 288-page book contains three new essays, one of which questions whether Western liberal democracy can be a model for a future world order. Another focuses on climate change and its ethical challenges, while a third explores the concept of identity and how our own identity influences our attachments and loyalties. The new publication also includes: (1) a profile of Baha'i-inspired development programs in Cambodia; (2) a directory of major Baha'i websites; (3) an update on the situation of Baha'is in Iran and Egypt; (4) a description of new translations of Baha'u'llah's writings found in "The Tabernacle of Unity," as well as a list of new books in English; (5) obituaries; (6) basic Baha'i reading list and glossary. "I am particularly excited by the report on Cambodia," Mr. Weinberg said, referring to a chapter about grassroots tutorials and health and agricultural programs in that country. "The project really opened my mind up to the idea of civilization-building," he said. "Within the program are the seeds to raise up a new generation of people. You can see that the Baha'i community is creating a whole new way of living that is touching thousands of people." This year's "Baha'i World" includes photos and quotes at the beginning of each chapter.The book is ideal for presentation to libraries and organizations, and for communities to keep as a historical record for their own reference, Mr. Weinberg said. "It presents the Baha'i community and teachings in a way that is very relevant to the world and the current issues in society," he said. "The Baha'i World" can be ordered from the Baha'i Distribution Service in the United States and Australia and from Baha'i Books UK in the United Kingdom.

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HAIFA

Israel

Baha'is celebrate 'King of Festivals'

Baha'is celebrate 'King of Festivals' HAIFA, Israel — Baha'is around the world are celebrating the Festival of Ridvan, which marks the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's declaration in 1863 that He was a new messenger of God. Ridvan – 21 April to 2 May each year – commemorates the 12 days that Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith, camped on the banks of the Tigris River near Baghdad and, while there, proclaimed his mission to a small group of followers. Every year, on the first day of Ridvan, Baha'is in thousands of localities around the globe vote for their local governing councils. Also during the festival, national conventions are held in some 180 countries and territories, during which delegates vote for the national governing bodies of the Baha'i Faith. Baha'u'llah called Ridvan the "King of Festivals" and the "Festival of God," among other names. In Budapest, Hungary, people break into small groups to study a message from the Universal House of Justice about the nature of Baha'i elections. Participants then elected their local governing council for the coming year. (Photograph by Edit Kalman)In 1863, He was in Baghdad, already exiled from His native Iran for a decade, when authorities ordered Him to move to Constantinople (now called Istanbul). Before leaving, He spent 12 days by the Tigris in a garden which he called Ridvan (Arabic for "paradise") while preparations were made for the journey and farewells said to people in Iraq. "The thoroughfare to the riverside brimmed with people, men and women, young and old, from all walks of life, who had gathered to see Him go and bewail His departure," wrote H.M. Balyuzi in a biography of Baha'u'llah. It was during this time that Baha'u'llah announced to His companions that He was the promised one of God, foretold in the religions of the past. Today, in addition to electing local and national governing bodies, followers of Baha'u'llah often celebrate Ridvan with devotional meetings, artistic and musical presentations, or other types of gatherings, depending on the country.

32.8191218

34.9983856

GEORGETOWN

Guyana

Religion could help fight AIDS, says study

Religion could help fight AIDS, says study GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Strategies to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people could be more effective if they tapped into the power of religious belief and practice. That is the finding of researchers who studied the knowledge and attitudes of young people in relation to HIV/AIDS and sexual behavior. The study, sponsored by UNICEF and conducted by the Varqa Foundation here, found that young people who knew and followed the teaching of their religion were much less likely to have engaged in sexual intercourse than those who did not, by a rate of 18 percent to 45 percent respectively. "Prevention strategies for the spread of HIV/AIDS should harness religious belief and practice, especially in societies such as Guyana where religious affiliation remains strong," wrote the study's authors in an article published in the March 2007 issue of the International Journal of STD and AIDS. Guyana has the third highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, which is the second-most afflicted region in the world. "Many specialists working in international development are somewhat uncomfortable with faith-based efforts at personal and community transformation -- such as to prevent HIV-AIDS," said Brian O'Toole, the lead author in the study, in an interview. "But this study suggests that in a country like Guyana, where many people have strong faith-based beliefs, it might be possible to draw on spiritual inspiration to address some of the problems facing society," said Dr. O'Toole, who is also director of the Varqa Foundation, which is a Baha'i-inspired social and economic development agency based in Guyana. Other authors included Roy McConkey, a professor in the health promotion group at the Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster; Karen Casson, also of the University of Ulster; Debbie Goetz-Goldberg, a researcher with Health for Humanity, another Baha'i-inspired agency; and Arash Yazdani, a youth volunteer. Young people in Guyana involved in a program called Youth Can Move the World helped collect data to study the correlation between religious belief and the spread of HIV/AIDS.More than 2,000 people aged 12-20 were surveyed for the study. They completed anonymous, self-reporting questionnaires about sexual behavior, their understanding of HIV/AIDs and the way it spreads, and attitudes towards issues like virginity and condom use. Ninety-five percent of respondents were aware that HIV could be contracted from sexual contact with someone who was HIV positive. However, less than a third (29.5 percent) were able to state up to three other ways that HIV could spread and only 37 percent were able to name three ways of self-protection. The survey also found that in Guyana, nearly 25 percent of young people aged 12-14 were sexually active, a percentage that rose to more than 33 percent for those 15 and older. Nearly half of the males over the age of 15 were sexually active, according to the survey. Respondents were asked if they were aware of their religion's teaching on sexual matters and whether they followed it. Just over 35 percent of the young people said they did, with another 22 percent knowing the teaching but not following it. The authors also concluded that peer education should be another element in any strategy of HIV/AIDS prevention. "The content and delivery of educational inputs must be capable of being adapted to local contexts preferably by persons who are very familiar with those situations," wrote the authors. "In this respect, peer education would appear to offer some promise." Dr. O'Toole noted that the study was carried out by a network of young people who themselves had been inspired by a faith-based, peer-education leadership training program known as Youth Can Move the World (YCMTW), also sponsored by the Varqa Foundation. "Usually in this type of survey you get a couple of hundred responses," said Dr. O'Toole. "We were able to get several thousand because of the network of young people established by the Youth Can Move the World project." Founded by Varqa in 1997, the YCMTW program has used peer education methods to train more than 7,000 Guyanese young people in strategies to prevent alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence. Among other things, the program uses inspirational passages from the holy writings of the major religions in Guyana to help young people draw on their spiritual heritage in an effort to prevent risky behavior. In Guyana, about 50 percent of the population is Christian, 35 percent is Hindu, 10 percent is Muslim. The remaining five percent of the people belong to other religions, including the Baha'i Faith.

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BAD MERGENTHEIM

Germany

German town re-erects monument

German town re-erects monument BAD MERGNTHEIM, Germany — A Baha'i memorial removed when the Nazis were in power has been restored by municipal authorities in this resort town in southern Germany. The stone commemorates the visit in 1913 of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the successor of Baha'u'llah as head of the Baha'i Faith. The original memorial was erected in 1916 but removed in 1937 at a time when the Baha'i Faith was outlawed by the Nazis. 'Abdu'l-Baha took an extended trip to Europe, North America and back to Europe between 1911 and 1913 and took a side trip from Stuttgart to Bad Mergentheim - a small, quiet town known for its health spa - on April 7-8, 1913. He spent the night there at the invitation of Consul Albert Schwarz, a government official who was the owner of the hotel and mineral bath and also a member of the Baha'i community. The original monument in Bad Mergentheim, pictured here, was removed during the Nazi regime.The new memorial was unveiled earlier this month, on 7 April, by Mayor Lothar Barth accompanied by Bahman Solouki, a representative of the Baha'i community of Germany. "Bad Mergentheim can be proud that 'Abdu'l-Baha came here," the mayor said at the ceremony. "The Baha'i Faith is one of the six major world religions -- there is no other way to put it -- and this should be honoured accordingly." He continued: "I consider this a good sign. It shows that in Bad Mergentheim we are a tolerant society, that we integrate people of different faiths in our town and are cosmopolitan enough for that." Dr. Solouki noted that the German Baha'i community two years ago marked its 100th anniversary, and that 'Abdu'l-Baha's time in their country was a significant part of their history. "'Abdu'l-Baha's visit of 1913 was a milestone for us German Baha'is," he said. "We are greatly blessed by it. He was in Stuttgart; He was in Esslingen twice, each time for a week, and two days of that time He spent here in Bad Mergentheim." Sussan Rastani, a Baha'i who lives in Bad Mergentheim, thanked local authorities for putting up the monument. "In these times of religious intolerance and even religious fanatism, it is exemplary of the town authorities and the resort administration to re-erect this memorial stone in remembrance of 'Abdu'l-Baha, who served as an example of love and tolerance towards all religions and people," she said. -- German Baha'i News Service

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9.7730692

BRISBANE

Australia

Successful musical got its start at Baha'i conference

Successful musical got its start at Baha'i conference BRISBANE, Australia — Management consultant Dorothy Marcic always tried to make her seminars entertaining as well as informative. This time she outdid herself. She took a presentation about the equality of the sexes, filled it with Top 40 songs that reflect the status of women, and made a Broadway-type show out of it. The musical has played successfully in a half dozen U.S. cities - current runs in Boston, Detroit and Atlanta have been extended - and now it has made its international commercial debut in Australia. Some 600,000 people have seen it, and more are coming each day. "Respect: A Musical Journey of Women" traces the women's movement through the lyrics of songs - "I Will Follow Him," "Someone To Watch Over Me," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "I Am Woman," "I Will Survive," and dozens of others. The songs span more than a century and illustrate the modern history of women with startling accuracy, says Dr. Marcic, 57, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States. "The show is about the emerging equality of women," she explains. "At the beginning of the 20th century, the songs show women who are all pretty codependent." By the time the century ended, many songs were about strength and independence -- "Hero" by Mariah Carey, "Independent Woman" by Destiny's Child, "A Woman's Worth" by Alicia Keys. In between, Dr. Marcic says, came stages of anger and rebellion ("You Don't Own Me" by Leslie Gore, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" by Nancy Sinatra) and cynicism ("Material Girl" by Madonna). The lyrics of Top 40 hits accurately chronicle the women's movement, according to Dorothy Marcic, who wants audiences to have fun as they listen to all the songs she compiled.In the musical, Dr. Marcic makes it all fun, but she does have genuine academic credentials. A faculty member at Vanderbilt University before devoting herself full-time to the musical, she has written 11 books, including "Respect: Women and Popular Music." One reviewer called it a "highly creative book that uses the musical history of women throughout the past century as a springboard to synthesize cultural, political and world events, as well as business, psychology, and spirituality." Baha'i conference Dr. Marcic, whose doctorate is in organizational behavior and communication, is a member of the Baha'i Faith, a key principle of which is the equality of men and women. A presentation for a Baha'i conference in Florida in 1999 was the genesis of the musical. She was already experimenting with music in her seminars and decided to expand on the idea, putting the songs front and center for that appearance. The Florida audience "went crazy," she recounts. When people demanded a repeat performance, "I realized I was onto something." Over the next several years, Dr. Marcic developed what originally was a one-woman show - she was the woman - into a four-person musical with professional singers. Several producers purchased rights to the show for different U.S. cities, and when a top Australian producer saw a performance in Boston, he signed on, too. Dr. Marcic looks at "Respect: A Musical" as a means of communicating to many people one of her key religious beliefs - that women and men are equal in the sight of God. "It's kind of my way of bringing the spirit of the Baha'i Faith to a larger audience," she says. "Music is so powerful." Throughout her career she has tried to combine an appeal to the intellect with an appeal to the emotions. The musical, she says, does this. Reviewers agree. "A soaring message of strength and confidence shines through by the final moments, leaving the audience with a lasting smile and a connection to (the) characters - women of their past and potential role models for the future," wrote Stephanie Angelyn Casola in Detroit, where the director is Hinton Battle, winner of three Tony Awards including best actor for "Miss Saigon." Christine Howey of Cleveland Scene, wrote: "This time the You go, girl! shouts are being triggered by a musical march through the 20th century, tracing the travails and triumphs of women as they have clawed their way from second-class citizenship to empowerment. ... Imaginative staging and a relentlessly effusive cast make it all work disarmingly well." "Respect" is now more than half-way through its eight-week run in Brisbane, Australia, and tickets are being sold for performances elsewhere in Australia and in New Zealand. Future plans include Minneapolis and Green Bay in the U.S., England and possibly Ireland. Negotiations are under way for 20 more countries. People often ask Dr. Marcic if the show will ever make it to Broadway. She has sold the rights for New York City to a producer, but at the moment there are no particular plans. 'Respect' Down Under The Australian producer, Jim McPherson, who has some 400 previous shows to his credit, was enthusiastic about "Respect" from the moment he saw it. "I loved the music, I loved the treatment of the music, I loved the story," said Mr. McPherson, who with co-producer Michael Lasky and the production company GFOUR put up his own money for the Australian version. The songs in the show are well known in Australia, he said, but the narrative was altered to appeal to local audiences. "The music transcends boundaries," he said. He noted that Dr. Marcic's creation is family entertainment, unlike the risque - and hugely popular - "Menopause, the Musical," which he also brought to Australia. "'Respect' is definitely more powerful, more empowering, more respectful of women," Mr. McPherson said, explaining that it illustrates how over the past century, women have gone from being afraid of and subservient to men, to being equal and independent. "That interests me no end," said Mr. McPherson, who is the father of five - four of them daughters. On top of that, he said, the show is fun. "It's a joyous night in the theater," he said.

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BRISBANE

Australia

What 'Respect' says about women

What 'Respect' says about women BRISBANE, Australia — A hundred years ago, popular songs about women tended to reflect their dependence on men, Dr. Dorothy Marcic, a former university professor, says. And most of the time, women themselves didn't even do the singing -- men did. "It wasn't really until the 1920s that women sang in any numbers," she says, noting that this coincided with women getting the vote in the U.S. and other countries. The oldest song in her musical "Respect" is "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home," from 1902. The lyrics relate how Bill Bailey's wife threw him out of the house, apparently because he beat her, then "moans the whole day long" for him to come home. "I'll do the cookin', darlin', I'll pay the rent, I know I done you wrong," the song goes. The tune "I Wanna Be Loved by You" came out in 1928 and became famous as the song of animated superstar Betty Boop. "Basically it says that the only thing I want in life is to fulfill your desires," Dr. Marcic says, adding that the same idea appears in many songs, all the way through to the 1960s. "There was a blip in the 1940s when the men went off to war and women took over factory and office work. But after the war women lost their jobs when men returned and they were sent back to the kitchen." Feminine domesticity continued in the 1950s - "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" is one famous song from the time. But Dr. Marcic points out that this was also the decade of Rosa Parks' famous refusal to give up her seat in the front of an Alabama bus, and this event helped inspire a new feeling among women. The playbill cover."'You Don't Own Me' came out in 1964, and it was really the first song to push back," she says. Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman," with its famous declaration "I am strong, I am invincible," was No.1 in 1972. Then there was Janis Ian's "At Seventeen," the No.3 song in 1975, talking about the disappointments of love, and Madonna's "Material Girl" from 1985, when cynicism has taken over. A turning point came in the 1980s, Dr. Marcic says, with songs like Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All," referring to the love of oneself and the attendant responsibility for one's own successes and failures. Later came "Hero" by Mariah Carey, "Independent Woman" by Destiny's Child, and "Video" by India.Arie, all reflecting a stronger, more confident woman.

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153.0234991

UNITED NATIONS

United States

Climate change creates moral issues, says panel

Climate change creates moral issues, says panel UNITED NATIONS, United States — As the scientific consensus on global warming grows, it's time to look more closely at how to share the economic, social, and humanitarian burdens that climate change will likely bring. That was the main message of a panel discussion on "The Ethical Dimension of Climate Change," organized by the Baha'i International Community and held here on 30 April 2007 during this year's UN Commission on Sustainable Development. "If sea levels rise at the rates they are predicting, we may see hundreds of millions of refugees," said Arthur Lyon Dahl, president of the International Environment Forum, a Baha'i-inspired organization. "Where will they go? Who will take them in? What does it mean about immigration regulations?" asked Dr. Dahl, noting that these were only some of the moral and ethical questions that are being posed by the looming effects of climate change. Sponsored by the nations of Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, with assistance from the UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), the event became one of the most talked-about side events at the Commission this year, said Tahirih Naylor, a representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "The timing of the event on the opening day of the Commission really helped to bring attention to the ethical issues surrounding climate change, helping to frame discussions at the Commission, at least among nongovernmental organizations and major groups," said Ms. Naylor. The panelists included Enele Sopoaga, former Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the UN; Om Pradhan of the UN-OHRLLS; Don Brown, project coordinator of the Collaborate Program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change; Tony Barnston of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University; Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Fellowship Program Director of GreenFaith; and Dr. Dahl, who is a Baha'i and also the coordinator of the UN Environment Programme environmental diplomacy program at the University of Geneva. Dr. Brown, who is at the Rock Ethics Institute at Pennsylvania State University, said the moral and ethical issues that accompany rising sea levels or widespread crop failures will be matters of life and death for many people. "How much warming should we tolerate?" he asked. "What is the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases that the world should identify as a target? There is no more obvious moral and ethical issue than this issue. It will literally determine who lives and who dies, whether Tuvalu survives, whether the Marshall Islands survive." Such issues, Dr. Brown said, will force multilateral institutions like the United Nations to rethink international law and norms. Ambassador Sopoaga said the issues for nations like Tuvalu are particularly stark. "The future will be catastrophic for all communities, for all countries, but particularly for those who have already been identified as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change," he said, noting that some forecasts suggest that small island states will disappear entirely under the rising ocean. "It is a moral obligation, beyond political obligation or economic obligation, to help countries like Tuvalu and small island developing states, and of course the least developed countries," he said. "We have to do something urgently." Mr. Pradhan of the UN-OHRLLS said that the latest predictions indicate that small island nations would be "simply wiped out." "This is the time to remind the international community that ethics and morality do play a very important role in any human activity, especially when we have a situation where climate change is affecting such a large number, especially the poor and vulnerable," he said. All the panelists agreed the release of recent studies by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UK's Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change have established a high level of confidence that climate change is real and that the consequences will be great. "Some of the people against acceptance of global climate change demand something like at least 98 percent certainty," said Mr. Barnston. "We have somewhere around 90 percent or the low 90s. To me that's pretty high. It's not 75 percent like it was a decade ago." All of the panelists also agreed that preventing the most drastic consequences of climate change would require that many people change their behavior - such as by driving fuel-efficient cars, shifting to renewable energy, and the like. The question now, Mr. Barnston said, is how to motivate humans to change their behavior. "When we discover something inconvenient to our lifestyle, it takes years to adjust to it, years to accept it, to believe it, and then to do something about it," he said, giving as examples the discovery that smoking is harmful or sunburns are not healthy. "We have to shorten the time lag before all levels of society accept that climate change is a danger just like cigarette smoking is a danger." Dr. Dahl and Rabbi Troster both said that religious belief could be an important factor in providing the motivation for ethical behavior. "How do we create a willingness to make the sacrifices that are going to be necessary," asked Dr. Dahl. "How do we build a sense of global solidarity when we are all facing the same common challenges? "Religion is that dimension of society that has traditionally been responsible for morality and ethics," he answered. "We have to look at moderation. And all religions have taught about being content with very little." Rabbi Troster said religious communities believe that the attitude in which humanity views itself in relation to creation is fundamental in changing behavior. "This is central to the concept of moral action," he said. "If we change our attitudes, we will change our behavior."

BRATISLAVA

Slovakia

Government of Slovakia recognizes the Baha'i Faith

Government of Slovakia recognizes the Baha'i Faith BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — The government of Slovakia has officially registered the Baha'i Faith as a religious community, guaranteeing the group the right to own property, observe holy days, disseminate literature and engage in a host of other activities. The recognition was the result of an application submitted by the Baha'is which was supported by signatures of some 28,000 residents of the country. "The registration will enable us to more effectively help and serve all Slovak residents and make our programs more accessible to both children and adults," Jitka Spillerova, a spokeswoman for the Slovakian Baha'is, said. "The state guarantees registered churches and religious communities the legal status and possibility of functioning in public life." Recognition by the state also allows a religion to request government funds, but Mrs. Spillerova said the Baha'is will not request such money now or in the future because their activities are financed strictly through voluntary contributions of enrolled members. "We would like to thank the thousands of people who supported our registration," Mrs. Spillerova said. The law governing the recognition of a religious community bestows the right to become a legal corporation; for adherents to teach their faith to others, including as religious education in schools; to have their own schools and universities; to hold meetings without informing the authorities; to operate certain social or cultural establishments, including hospitals; to publish literature; and generally to carry out activities throughout the greater society. Jan Juran, part of the government office involved in reviewing applications for recognition, said factors include not only whether a religious group is law-abiding and promotes good health and morality but also whether the religion supports humanitarian principles and tolerance of others. Mrs. Spillerova noted that Baha'i belief includes respect for other religions and appreciation of diverse cultures. She said activities of the Slovakian Baha'i community include programs of moral education for children and youth, study courses for adults, and devotional meetings for people of every belief. "Our intention is to create an opportunity for people to pause in their daily rush and think about the timeless truths that are taught by all the world's religions and how people can apply these truths in their life," she said. The Baha'i Faith has had followers in what is now Slovakia since the early 20th century. It joins 17 other religious communities – the others are Christian or Jewish – currently recognized by the government.

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APIA

Samoa

Funeral and memorial service planned for Samoan head of state

Funeral and memorial service planned for Samoan head of state APIA, Samoa — A state funeral is planned for 18 May for the Samoan head of state, His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, to be followed on 20 May by a memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia. He passed away on the evening of 11 May in a hospital in Apia. A follower of the Baha'i Faith, he was one of the longest reigning monarchs in the world. He was 94 years old. "His service to the people of Samoa as Head of State was distinguished by the high principles, genuine compassion and personal humility that characterized the constancy of his concern for the welfare of all," the Universal House of Justice, the international Baha'i governing body, said in a statement to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Samoa. "As the first reigning sovereign to accept the Message of Baha'u'llah, he set a record that will forever illumine the annals of our Faith, one that future generations will increasingly extol," the House of Justice said. "His great interest for well-nigh four decades in the Faith's progress was reflected in the enthusiastic affirmation of his belief whenever the opportunity presented itself and in the abiding joy with which he regarded the construction in 1984 of the Mother Temple of the Pacific Islands in Samoa...." He himself participated in the dedication of that temple, one of only seven such Baha'i houses of worship in the world. The other six, located in Australia, India, Germany, Uganda, the United States, and Panama, will also hold services in his memory. He had been head of state since the country gained independence from New Zealand in 1962. The state funeral will be at 10 a.m. on 18 May in front of the Parliament Building, with a government-organized prayer service the day before. Entombment will be in the Malietoa Family crypt a few meters from the Parliament building. His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, center, head of state of Samoa, died on 11 May 2007. He is pictured at the dedication in 1984 of the Baha'i House of Worship in his country. At right is his wife, Lili Tunu, and at left, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani.The memorial service at the Baha'i House of Worship near Apia will be on 20 May, organized by the Baha'i assembly. Earlier, on 13 May, a prayer service was held, attended by more than 200 Baha'is, family, friends, government officials, and representatives of churches and the diplomatic community. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was one of the first to offer condolences. "Throughout his long reign as Head of State, Malietoa represented Samoa with wisdom, humor, and insight," she said in comments published in the New Zealand Herald. His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II was born on 4 January 1913. His wife, Lili Tunu, died in 1986. They have two sons and two daughters. Samoa comprises several islands in the South Pacific about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii. The population is about 200,000.

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-171.7692793

GIZO

Solomon Islands

Baha'is elect national assemblies

Baha'is elect national assemblies GIZO, Solomon Islands — Surrounded by a tent community of refugees from the recent earthquake and tsunami, the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands forged ahead with their annual convention where they elected the nine members of the national governing council of their faith. When the earthquake hit the South Pacific on April 2 and the resulting tsunami crashed into the Solomon Islands, a number of people from the area were at a meeting at the Baha'i center in Gizo, a small provincial capital. The Baha'i center there happens to be on a mountain -- the highest point on that particular island -- so no one at the meeting was hurt, but a number of participants returned home to find their villages destroyed. The young granddaughter of a Baha'i couple was among the 28 people who died. Since then, families have camped on the property of the Baha'i center -- which had already been designated the venue for the annual national Baha'i convention April 27-29. Delegates to the convention said that far from dampening the spirit of the meeting, the presence of the refugees created a warm and loving atmosphere for the gathering. "The friends have manifested nobility, patience, and radiant acquiescence in enduring their hardship," the delegates wrote in a message from the convention. The refugees -- who are receiving aid from their national Baha'i organization, from the government and from international relief agencies -- are now in the process of rebuilding their homes or looking to relocate. The newly elected governing council, called the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Solomon Islands, was one of 178 similar institutions formed in nations and territories around the world in recent weeks. Baha'i annual conventions are traditionally held in late April during the period known as Ridvan, commemorating Baha'u'llah's declaration of His mission in 1863. At national conventions in other countries: -- In Auckland, New Zealand, Baha'is marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their National Spiritual Assembly. At a special event held at the Auckland Museum, 600 people - including a number of international visitors and guests - heard congratulatory remarks by the governor general, Anand Satyanand, and a keynote address by a Baha'i speaker, Murray Smith. -- In Paraguay, special note was made that some of the elected delegates were very young; similarly, a message from the convention in Venezuela said their new National Assembly "shines for the diversity of the age and ethnicity of its members." -- Delegates at a number of the conventions sent messages conveying support for Baha'is in Iran and Egypt, where government persecution is resulting in the denial of education and other rights of citizenship to followers of the Baha'i Faith. At virtually all the conventions around the globe, participants read and consulted about the annual message from the Universal House of Justice, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith. Referred to as the Ridvan 2007 message, it stressed the importance of teaching the Baha'i Faith and of systematic grassroots programs that involve increasing numbers of people in study circles, devotional programs, and activities for children and young teenagers. Individuals in each country who this year were elected to their Baha'i National Assembly will serve next year as delegates to the International Convention, held every five years in Haifa, Israel, where the world headquarters of the Baha'i Faith is located. The purpose of that gathering is to elect the nine members of the Universal House of Justice and to consult on the affairs of the Baha'i Faith.

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156.8413618

HAIFA

Israel

Baha'is celebrate anniversary of their faith

Baha'is celebrate anniversary of their faith HAIFA, Israel — May 23 marks the anniversary of the night in 1844 when a young man in Persia named Siyyid Ali-Muhammad quietly announced that He was a Messenger of God, come to herald a new age for the world of humanity that would fulfill prophecy for Christians, Muslims, and followers of other religions. For the people who are now Baha'is, it was the birth of their religion. Baha'i communities around the world celebrate the anniversary with special devotional programs and gatherings on the evening of May 22. Believers suspend work, and children and youth take off from school. A 25-year-old merchant at the time of His declaration in 1844, Siyyid Ali-Muhammad became known as the Bab, which is Arabic for "gate." He said His mission was to prepare the way for a universal Messenger of God who would soon appear, as predicted in the scriptures of the world's major religions. One of the followers of the Bab, later known as Baha'u'llah, announced in 1863 that He was that Messenger. Baha'is consider both the Bab and Baha'u'llah to be founders of their faith. The Bab's declaration of His station was made in the city of Shiraz in what is now Iran. He almost immediately attracted a large following, which governmental and religious authorities found threatening. Some 20,000 of His followers were killed, and the Bab Himself was executed by firing squad in 1850 in the northern Iranian city of Tabriz. His remains are entombed in Haifa in a beautiful, golden-domed shrine surrounded by gardens on the side of Mount Carmel.

32.8191218

34.9983856

LOS ANGELES

United States

Rainn Wilson talks about Hollywood, his family and the Baha'i Faith

Rainn Wilson talks about Hollywood, his family and the Baha'i Faith LOS ANGELES, United States — Actor Rainn Wilson is used to talking to the media - he is part of the award-winning cast of the U.S. television series "The Office," and his recent role in the movie "The Last Mimzy" brought a flurry of new interviews. Time magazine, TV talk-show hosts and others came calling. A member of the Baha'i Faith, he seems just as comfortable discussing his spiritual beliefs as he does shooting the breeze about Dwight Schrute, the pompous assistant manager he plays on "The Office," the American version of a popular British TV show of the same name. His show, seen weekly by 8 million people in the U.S. alone, also airs in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, parts of continental Europe, Australia, Saudi Arabia, parts of Latin America, Singapore, and several other countries. His other acting credits include the character of Arthur Martin in the series "Six Feet Under" and a one-episode stint in "Entourage," both on the U.S. cable network HBO; guest hosting "Saturday Night Live" on U.S. television; and movie roles in "Almost Famous," "America's Sweethearts," "Galaxy Quest," "House of 1000 Corpses," "Sahara," and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend." In a recent interview with U.S. Baha'i News, he talked about Hollywood, his family, his life and his beliefs. Here is that interview, reprinted with permission: Q: Rainn, what was it like to grow up in the Baha'i Faith? A: When you grow up with a spiritual foundation that asks you to be conscious of the fact that all races are created equal, that men and women are equal and that all religions worship the same (God), it helps you see the world as one family and not get lost in the traps of political, social, and economic belief systems that can lead you astray. I always think of myself as a world citizen. It's a powerful thing. Q: You stepped away from the Baha'i Faith in your 20s and returned to it 10 years later. What happened in that decade? A: I was in New York City, going to acting school, and I was going through a rebellious phase. I didn't want anyone telling me what to do. I was disenchanted with things that were organized. It was a spiritual journey I was on. And this is reflected in and supported by one of the central tenets of the Baha'i Faith, which obliges every spiritual seeker to undertake an individual investigation of truth. Funnyman and Baha'i, Rainn Wilson.I started at ground zero. I decided I didn't know if there was even a God. I read religious books of the world. I asked myself, "If there is a God, how do we know what He wants us to do and what He wants for us? Do we read books? Do we buy crystals? Do we follow certain gurus? Do we sit under a tree? Because surely this omniscient creator has some kind of plan in store for mankind." Q: And that line of thinking led you back to the Baha'i Faith? A: Yes, it brought me back to the Baha'i way of viewing things. I came to realize I did believe in God. I couldn't conceive of a universe without someone overseeing it in a compassionate way. It just made the most sense to me that God gradually is unfolding a plan for humankind. That there is progressive revelation -- the Baha'i belief that God sends Messengers for each day and age. I re-read books about the Baha'i Faith. And I came back to believing that Baha'u'llah was the Promised One and Messenger for this day and age. My quest took me from age 21 to 31. I'm 41 now. Q: Your wife (author Holiday Reinhorn) recently became a Baha'i. How did that come about? A: She wasn't a Baha'i when we got married in a Baha'i ceremony almost 12 years ago. I never pressured her to join the faith. But she started attending Ruhi (a curriculum based on the Baha'i Writings) classes in the L.A. area and became interested. And the birth of our son, Walter, now 2 1/2, was such a miracle that she found herself saying prayers and spiritually connecting to the faith. She became a Baha'i in 2004. We pray with Walter every night before he goes to bed. Q: What is it like being a Baha'i in Hollywood? A: There's a predisposition to link corruption and Hollywood. ... Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. But that is just not the case. Only a certain percent of the population is like that. It's probably the same percentage as for doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers, any profession. Some of the most morally conscious, kindest, most compassionate people are in the entertainment industry, people who want to affect the world and make it a better place through telling human, heartfelt stories. Most people in Hollywood haven't heard of the Baha'i Faith, so they ask questions. I've had the opportunity to mention it in several articles and TV interviews, such as on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." For years Holly and I hosted a belief night -- a devotional gathering where we invited people of different religious beliefs to our home. We asked them to bring something to share about their spiritual path. Belief in God was not required. We had atheists, Christian Scientists, Buddhist monks. ... Recently I've been asked to speak a lot more about the Baha'i Faith. And I'll be working as a spokesperson with the Mona Foundation, a Baha'i-inspired not-for-profit organization that tries to provide quality education to all children, raise the status of women and girls, and build community. Q: How does the Baha'i Faith figure in your life now? A: My feeling about the faith is that it provides a practical guideline for living one's life. So much about religion has to do with rigid, sacrosanct preciousness. I don't live my life that way, and I don't feel that's what Baha'u'llah teaches. He wants us to live rich, full, loving lives in service to God's will and the human family. I like being a Baha'i who has an out-there sense of humor. God gives us talents and faculties, and making people laugh is one of mine. I don't have to be digging latrines in Honduras to serve humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha and Baha'u'llah talk a lot about using the arts to uplift people. When 'Abdu'l-Baha was with the early believers, nine times out of 10 he would make a joke. Q: Speaking of delicate sensibility: Have you had to turn down roles because they conflicted with what's taught in the Baha'i Faith? A: I've turned down many roles because they're morally repugnant. I have chosen to play spiritually lost characters, but only because I feel doing so served the greater good. In "My Super Ex-Girlfriend," my character was so preposterous and ludicrous in his sexism that it was clear the message was not about degrading women. In fact, the women characters are the most together, courageous and strong people in the movie. Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Baha'i Faith? A: I love how democratic the faith is, that it has no clergy, no people telling us how to interpret the word of God. In this day and age we see how corrupt clergy can lead mankind down so many bad roads. My favorite quote from the Baha'i Faith is from 'Abdu'l-Baha: "If religion be the cause of disunity, then irreligion is surely to be preferred." For the disenfranchised to know that 'Abdu'l-Baha is a proponent of having no religion if there's disunity. ... And for those who say they don't like "organized religion," don't worry: The Baha'i Faith is one of the most disorganized religions on the planet - NOT!

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-118.242766

HAIFA

Israel

Baha'is commemorate anniversary of the ascension of Baha'u'llah

Baha'is commemorate anniversary of the ascension of Baha'u'llah HAIFA, Israel — On May 29, Baha'is around the world will observe the 115th anniversary of the ascension of Baha'u'llah, the founder of their faith. Baha'is recognize Baha'u'llah as the divine educator who, as the one promised in the scriptures of all the world's religions, has come to inaugurate a new age of peace and justice for the entire human race. Edward Granville Browne, a prominent scholar from Cambridge University, was granted an audience with Baha'u'llah near Acre, Palestine, in 1890, two years before Baha'u'llah's passing, and recounted the meeting this way: "The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow.... No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!" Baha'u'llah passed away in the early morning of May 29, 1892, at the age of 74. Baha'i historian H.M. Balyuzi later wrote: "Many there were who came to mourn Him. They did not bear allegiance to Him, they could not see in Him the Redeemer of Mankind, yet they knew that a great Being had gone from their midst. "They were from diverse backgrounds and sects and faiths and nations - officials and leading figures and priests, learned men and poets and men of letters, rich and poor, Druses, Sunni and Shi'ih Muslims, Christians of diverse denominations, and Jews. From other cities renowned in the history of the world, such as Damascus and Aleppo and Cairo, they sent their eulogies and poems and panegyrics and tributes. "And Baha'u'llah, at the time of His ascension, was still a prisoner of the Turkish government." Baha'u'llah was laid to rest in the northernmost room of a house adjacent to where He had been living outside of Acre. The shrine is the holiest place in the world for Baha'is - the point to which they turn in prayer and visit on pilgrimage.

32.8191218

34.9983856

NEW YORK

United States

Attacks on Iranian Baha'is, from the elderly to young schoolchildren, continue unabated

Attacks on Iranian Baha'is, from the elderly to young schoolchildren, continue unabated NEW YORK, United States — Reports and documents filtering out of Iran over the last six months indicate a widespread and calculated effort by the government to maintain and gradually intensify the persecution of Iranian Baha'is. The evidence tells of continued efforts by the government to identify and monitor Baha'is; further incidents of abuse and discrimination directed at Baha'i students and children; stepped-up efforts to deprive Baha'is of their livelihood; and ongoing attacks on the Baha'i Faith in the official news media. "The cumulative trend is one of an exceedingly ominous nature, and something of grave concern to Baha'is around the world," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations. "The considered view is that these recent incidents are being provoked and often methodically planned by the Information Ministry, in order to create fear, make the Baha'is physically vulnerable, and instill in them social and occupational insecurity," said Ms. Dugal. "The clear intent is to separate Iranian Baha'is from their fellow citizens by generating suspicion, mistrust, and even hatred so that the social, economic, and cultural progress of this innocent religious minority continues to be blocked and its community life destabilized.' To read more about recent attacks on Iranian Baha'is: English Persian To read this news story in Persian, go to http://bahai.org/persian/persecution/newsreleases/07-06-07

40.7127281

-74.0060152

BLUMENAU

Brazil

In Brazil, positive spin spells TV success

In Brazil, positive spin spells TV success BLUMENAU, Brazil — The host of a long-running television talk show for women, Shideh Granfar, has a simple formula for success: "Keep it positive." She recalls the time a cockroach crawled out of some food on camera, threatening the reputation of a restaurant being featured on the program. She quickly turned things around by making a joke of the scene and then pointing the cameras at the not-so-tidy recesses of the studio, thus showing that the cockroach wasn't the restaurateur's fault. "I explained to the viewers that the food had been here for a long time and that studios are not the cleanest places," she recounts, "and I reassured them that the standards of cleanliness at the restaurant are really different. Then I took the cameraman on a tour of the studio, showing the viewers that even though the set looks beautiful, the studio is another story. "The episode was a hit, and everyone was talking about it," she continues. "The restaurant people were happy, too." Shideh - all the viewers call her by her first name - has hosted more than 500 weekly installments of "Mulheres" (Portuguese for "Women") for TV Galega, and this year she was cited by the local office of the Brazilian National Commercial Training Service for outstanding service by a woman in the field of communication and the arts. "Shideh is one of those people that we always want to have around us: for her laughter, for her sparkle, for her manner of assuming there is a solution to everything - that the hard way is simply the 'least easy' way," said Valther Ostermann, a prominent local newspaper columnist who spoke at the ceremony where she received the recent award. 'Everyone is looking for happiness,' says TV host Shideh Granfar.Indeed, Shideh - who is creator, producer, director and host of her program - is known for her infectious laugh and her ability to put a positive twist on whatever life puts in front of her. Her outlook on life, she explains, comes from her practice of the Baha'i Faith. "As Baha'is we believe in looking for the best in people. So when I have someone on the show I try to make them feel comfortable. I do not try and put them in a corner and make them look bad. We try to bring out the best of what people have to give. I think that the show serves as a model of positiveness, especially to women." Shideh says the subjects she addresses on the show bear a direct relation to her religious belief. "'Mulheres' relates to the Baha'i Faith through the various subjects we choose to address in the development and betterment of the quality of life for women," she says. "The Baha'i writings say a lot about this issue. We also have an editorial opening where we use thoughts, prayers, and material from the writings of the Faith which address the theme of the day." (See video). She sees the role of the show as providing an uplifting experience for viewers, given that she thinks people tend to be unhappy about many aspects of their lives. "When you show them good and positive things, people just love it.," she says. "They're so grateful and they tell me, 'You're always laughing!' But what they don't know is that giving them the opportunity to see good in life is what makes me happy." She believes it was this upbeat attitude - plus her views on the equality of women and men - that led TV Galega owner Altair Carlos Pimpao to hire her 10 years ago for the show in Blumenau, a city of 300,000 people in southern Brazil. Mr. Pimpao had watched her lead a Baha'i meeting and found her to be an articulate speaker and a natural host. Best of all, Mr. Pimpao realized, she and other Baha'is believe strongly in the advancement of women and equality of the sexes. He is not a Baha'i, but he understood their belief and thought this was just the kind of person he needed for the new show. Often the guests on the hourlong program are local experts in fields relating to education or health. Discussion centers on how the issues relate to women, although Shideh says surveys show that half her viewers are men. "They (men) are interested and curious about women's subjects," she notes. "Men try to understand the world of women, our dreams and goals in life so they can have better relationships with us. It is great to see how many men are interested. ... We get men calling us while we are on air and asking questions for their wives and friends. By doing this they contribute to the development of ideas and at the same time growth in their own lives and their relationships." "Mulheres" airs live on Tuesday evenings, and viewers may call in with questions and comments. A tape of each program is rebroadcast on Wednesdays and Sundays, and shows are available on the Internet at Jump TV. "It has been a rewarding experience," Shideh says of hosting the show. "It's funny. I can be having the worst day of my life, and as soon as I get into the studio I am happy and laughing." Shideh, who has been married for 26 years and has two children, travels frequently. She says that through her travels she has learned something that she tries to share on her show: "Humanity is humanity, everywhere you go," she says. "Everyone is looking for happiness."

-26.9195567

-49.0658025

HAWNIGAN LAKE

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Canada

Canadian school teaches 'we' instead of 'me'

Canadian school teaches 'we' instead of 'me' HAWNIGAN LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada — It's only three words - a total of six letters. But the "Me to We" slogan helps students understand what service is all about, says the principal of the Maxwell International School, located in the woods of Vancouver Island. "By adopting what Canadian youth activist Craig Kielberger calls the 'Me to We' philosophy, we help our students to be less 'me'-centered and more centered on the needs of others," said the principal, Dan Vaillancourt. "Through service to others, students develop empathy and understanding while being exposed to many of the social issues that plague society," he said. "Working with the elderly, the handicapped, the homeless, the sick, the less fortunate - both here and abroad - will reinforce in our children the belief that we are all responsible for creating a better world." Since its founding by the Baha'is of Canada nearly two decades ago, Maxwell International School - a college-preparatory institution, grades 7 to 12, with an enrollment of 150 students from some 25 countries - has placed heavy emphasis on service. Many schools around the world offer academic credit for service projects, but Maxwell does not. Involvement in the greater community is simply a part of who they are - and a key part of what comprises a Maxwell education. "It is all part of the learning at Maxwell," Mr. Vaillancourt said. Overall, programs at the school reflect a spiritual view of humanity; use of practical, integrative and theme-based projects; the encouragement of creative and artistic expression in all aspects of school life; and the use of service as a tool for learning. "Maxwell's aim is to encourage students to become servants to humanity, to see the world as an arena for community action, and to determine their active roles as transformers of society," the principal said. The students come up with projects on their own, through organized programs, with the assistance of faculty or staff, or at the request of outside parties. Maxwell students in grades 7 to 11 took part in the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, sorting their "catch" for recycling.Some of the more prominent service projects are: Emergency Response Team - Students are trained in first aid, search and rescue, response to fires and earthquakes, traffic control, and other procedures. They assist professional crews in the event of an emergency. Dance and theater workshops - Music, dance, and drama are used to convey social messages on contemporary issues such as racism, poverty, gender prejudice, substance abuse, peer pressure, justice, and gossip. Presentations are given at area elementary schools and community gatherings, and Maxwell students sometimes travel during their vacation periods for performances. Portland Island Marine Park Stewardship Program - For 15 years, Maxwell students have been working through the Ministry of Parks and Recreation to help control an invasive plant on Portland Island. Data collected by the students provide the ministry with the only long-term record available about the management and removal of this plant. Maxwell has received government recognition for its participation. Rotary International Interact Club - Students work with Rotary, a well-known service organization, on both local and international projects. One recent service project, called Sprouts, was started by students and involves educating the entire Maxwell community on environmental issues, said Sharon Welsh, director of development at the school. She said the school encourages students to tackle international projects. "In 2006 two Maxwell students traveled to Japan to provide leadership for a summer Dance Workshop program," she said. And this year, four students are going to Tanzania for a summer arts program. "These youth, three 14-year-olds and one 18-year-old, will join a Maxwell graduate who is on a year of service in Tanzania," Ms. Welsh said. "The project was identified and planned by the youth, who worked evenings and weekends throughout year to raise funds and prepare. ..." The school has devised mechanisms to make service projects more effective and also to help students understand the nature of service, especially as a way of life. A key component is students being divided into groups of 12 or so, of different ages and backgrounds, and assigned a teacher as an adviser. "The role of the adviser is to encourage, mentor, empower, and accompany the students on their journey of learning through service," said Mr. Vaillancourt. "Each Adviser Group chooses a service project of some kind to work on throughout the year. These service projects may be local, regional, national, or international in scope." Laura Veary, a former faculty member who managed the school's community service programs, said some students are reluctant at first to take part in service projects but most do learn the benefits of spending time to help others. "Students feel good about themselves as they see their accomplishments and the effect of their contributions," said Mrs. Veary. Most students, she said, become motivated to continue to be of service as adults. Katie Yurychuk, 17, graduates this month and was the student leader of the Maxwell Emergency Response Team. "The sense of service that Maxwell gives us helped me see myself as part of a world community," she said. "There is so much that we do here that helps us have a more holistic mindset instead of a self-centered mindset. I give 100 percent of that to Maxwell." Galen Humber, 16, is finishing 10th grade and has been the coordinator for his grade for the Portland Island Marine Park Stewardship program. He said being part of the international community at Maxwell is helping him and his classmates look beyond themselves. He illustrated his point with this story: "(One) day during home room we had a free period. Half of us decided to go and play dodge ball. When we came back we found the guys who didn't come writing letters to Baha'i communities around the world to encourage them to send their children to our school. We all thought this was a great idea."