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HAMILTON

New Zealand

New Maori prayer book connects hearts with the divine

HAMILTON, New Zealand — While translating Baha’i writings into his native Maori language, Tom Roa encountered a conundrum. This deeply spiritual indigenous language has a word for spirit but not for soul. “In the Bible this word, wairua, means soul and spirit. But in The Hidden Words they are two distinct ideas. So, we had to make a distinction,” explains Dr. Roa, professor of Maori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato, referring to efforts to translate one of Baha’u’llah’s most well-known works. The resulting word for soul, wairua-ora, is a combination of the word for “spirit” and a word meaning “living” — living spirit. This was one of the many complexities of translating Baha’i writings to the language of the indigenous people of New Zealand. A 14-year effort, during which two other major translations of Baha’i works were published in Maori, culminated in the release this month of the first substantial Baha’i prayer book in that language. Providing access to prayers in Maori was a key motivation for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of New Zealand when it undertook the process in 2004. A small team of Baha’is worked with Dr. Roa, who has translated other spiritual texts into the Maori language, including the Bible and the Quran. Baha’i prayers translated into the Maori language were read at the event commemorating the release of the newly published Baha’i prayer book. Here, Huti Watson reads a prayer.The translation work began first with The Hidden Words, Baha’u’llah’s preeminent ethical work, and Baha’u’llah and the New Era, an introduction to the Faith written by J. E. Esslemont. “The prayer book was the jewel,” says James Lau, a member of the translation team. “All our efforts were crowned with the jewel.” Mr. Lau explains that the translation process was not simply a technical task. The team became very unified over the years, exploring profound spiritual themes through their efforts to understand and translate spiritual concepts into the Maori language. “The Baha’is were committed to the idea that there should be a Maori prayer book, and I am happy to have been part of that process,” Dr. Roa says. “The Maori-speaking Baha’is are thankful that they can talk to God using their language.” As with many of the world’s indigenous cultures, the Maori culture has many deeply spiritual concepts and ideals. “In the ancient prayers of the Maori, there is a phrase Matangi i Reia,” explains Huti Watson, who is Maori and a member of New Zealand’s National Spiritual Assembly. “It describes a place in the heavens and means ‘the perfumed gardens.’ This is a concept that Baha’u’llah also talks about. Having prayers in Maori links us more to the reality of these words.” Mrs. Watson said she recently noticed a Baha’i prayer translated into Maori being circulated on Facebook. The prayer, written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha about children, was being posted by mothers. “People would say, ‘Wow this is beautiful. This is exactly what I want,’” Mrs. Watson notes. This endeavor comes amid broader efforts to revive the Maori language. Dr. Roa, who has been at the forefront of these efforts, says that Maori speakers are a declining share of New Zealand’s population. Maori people make up only 15 percent of New Zealand’s population, and only a fifth of them can have a conversation in Maori, Dr. Roa notes. However, there is a growing interest in learning the language: “In the first half of the 20th century, many of our elders spoke of being punished physically for speaking Maori in school. Now we have schools crying out for teachers of Maori.”

-37.7878809

175.281788

COLLEGE PARK

MARYLAND

United States

Baha'i Chair explores overcoming racism

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — This year's annual lecture of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace focused on the subject of race. Held on 20 September at the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park, the lecture is part of an ongoing focus on structural racism and the root causes of prejudice. "To date, we have held 11 separate lectures or symposia bringing 22 of the most prominent, leading scholars in questions of race to present their findings," explains the holder of the Chair, Hoda Mahmoudi. "The Baha'i writings explain that until America makes major advances in race relations and in removing structural injustices, the country will not achieve stability, true prosperity, and happiness." This year's keynote speaker, Jabari Mahiri believes that it is time to re-examine the terms on which race is discussed and racial justice pursued. Dr. Mahiri is Professor of Education and the William and Mary Jane Brinton Family Chair in Urban Teaching at the University of California, Berkeley. Hoda Mahmoudi, the current holder of the Baha'i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College ParkIn his lecture, titled "Deconstructing Race/Reconstructing Difference: Beyond the U.S. Paradigm," he proposed that, although race has no basis in scientific fact, it has been one of the most powerful constructs used to divide people, create social hierarchies, and propagate injustice. Speaking before an audience of 370 faculty, administrators, students, and guests, he argued that it is time to transcend the "black-white binary" and to break out of what he calls "the color bind." Race artificially and falsely categorizes people and compels them to "perform" according to their race group, he explained. These categories create a hierarchy of status based on race and reinforced by social forces and institutions, allowing injustice and oppression to persist. Describing numerous ethnographic interviews, Dr. Mahiri explored how transcending the standard categorization of people by race would liberate people to construct identities that are rooted in science and their authentic selves, or their "micro-cultural identities," which he regards as genuine, fluid, and complex. Dr. Mahiri also emphasized the universal human identity that binds all people and is scientific fact. Recognizing the oneness of humanity allows for true diversity to flourish. Reflecting on the event, Dr. Mahmoudi says that the lecture was well received by the audience and stimulated many thought-provoking questions. "We have seen how this series on structural racism and the roots of prejudice has resonated with the aspirations of so many students on campus who want a more just and unified society," explains Dr. Mahmoudi. "More and more students are expressing their interest in contributing to the work of the Chair." The Baha'i Chair will continue exploring the theme of structural racism and the roots of prejudice and to bring leading scholars in the field to share their findings and insights. It will host a major panel discussion in November where several of the leading scholars in this area will explore solutions to structural racism.

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BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Baha'i news publications seek to elevate thought, inspire action

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — One hundred years ago, near the final days of the First World War, the Baha'i world awaited news of the safety of 'Abdu'l-Baha given the extension of the theater of war to Haifa. The Baha'i community was still young but already deeply united despite being scattered across most of the planet. Among the instruments that kept it connected and informed were the nascent news services that had begun to take shape in those early decades of the 20th century. The news of 'Abdu'l-Baha's safety reached that global community through Star of the West, one of the first of the international Baha'i news publications. It was originally published in 1910 under the name Bahá'í News. In 1911, however, it took on its iconic title, Star of the West, and in some 20 pages of its first volume under that title covered historic developments in the construction of the Baha'i House of Worship in the United States, published messages from 'Abdu'l-Baha, and shared reports from around the world. Star of the West would go on to become one of the first news publications to gain widespread distribution in the then-nascent Baha'i world community. Since that time, international Baha'i news has connected an increasingly global and organically united community, keeping readers abreast of major developments and serving as a valuable instrument for the sharing of new insights and knowledge. Over the years, these publications developed in sophistication and reach, addressing wide audiences and exploring a broad array of topics. And throughout, these publications have striven to embody the values contained in the sacred writings of the Faith. In one of His well-known works, Baha'u'llah described "the pages of swiftly appearing newspapers" as "the mirror of the world" and "an amazing and potent phenomenon," reflecting "the deeds and the pursuits of diverse peoples and kindreds." In The Secret of Divine Civilization, initially published anonymously in 1875, 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote that it was "urgent that beneficial articles and books be written, clearly and definitely establishing what the present-day requirements of the people are, and what will conduce to the happiness and advancement of society." He stated that "These should be published and spread throughout the nation, so that at least the leaders among the people should become, to some degree, awakened, and arise to exert themselves along those lines which will lead to their abiding honor." World Order magazine was first published in 1935. It made available essays, poems, personal recollections, and historical pieces. The periodical brought together into one volume works by scholars, poets, artists, and practitioners from various fields of endeavor. The first volume also included excerpts from a letter by Shoghi Effendi titled “The Goal of a New World Order.”In the first issue of Star of the West, editors Albert R Windust and Gertrue Buikema explained that they adopted the name from a phrase used by 'Abdul-Baha. Encouraging their efforts, 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote: "thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious, and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide..." Not only was Star of the West a vital source of information for Baha'is around the world, but it was also often the first place of widespread publication of writings from 'Abdu'l-Baha, and, later, Shoghi Effendi. Star of the West began after an earlier publication, New York Baha'i Bulletin. Believed to be the first English-language Baha'i news publication, New York Baha'i Bulletin had only five issues from September 1908 to May 1909. These early periodicals emerged during a time when the printed word was still the main source of news — radio news would not begin until a decade later. They were developed in contrast to, and in the context of, an evolving media landscape, where, especially in the United States, many editors were printing sensational stories intended to appeal to mass audiences - an approach referred to as "yellow journalism." In the following years, other Baha'i communities started their own news publications. In 1917 in Ishqabad, Turkistan, where the world's first Baha'i House of Worship had recently been built, the Baha'is started Khurshid-i khavar, a news magazine whose name means Sun of the East. In India, a journal called Bahai News started publishing in English and Persian in 1921. That same year in Germany, two publications began, Sonne der Wahrheit, meaning Sun of Truth, and Wirklichkeit, meaning Reality. Then, Akhbar-i-Amri, a publication from Iran whose name means News of the Cause, was first published in 1922. A year later, The Dawn began publishing in Burma, in Burmese, English, and Persian. Herald of the South was a journal for Baha'is in Australia and New Zealand, beginning in 1925. This growth in Baha'i periodicals continued as the Faith spread around the world. During his ministry as Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi encouraged the publication of national and local newsletters, writing in 1925 that they should aim to report on "matters that are strictly Baha'i in character, as well as ... topics of a humanitarian, ethical and religious nature." The publication of The Baha'i World in 1926 marked a new stage in the capacity of the Baha'i community to provide reports and statistics, capture experience from diverse countries, and disseminate important insights and analyses. Each edition covered the progress of the international Baha'i community over a defined period. In 1935, the first volume of World Order magazine was published, including essays, poems, personal recollections, and historical pieces. The periodical brought together into one volume works by scholars, poets, artists, and practitioners from various fields of endeavor. The first volume also included excerpts from a letter by Shoghi Effendi titled "The Goal of a New World Order." "A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity," envisioned Shoghi Effendi in that letter, one of a series written by him between 1929 and 1936. Today, there has been a proliferation of regional and national Baha'i publications. At the international level, the Baha'i World News Service (BWNS) reports on developments of the worldwide community, and the Baha'i International Community (BIC) covers news relating to efforts at the United Nations and other international forums as well as providing major updates on the persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran and Yemen. The Baha'i World News Service began publishing online in 2000, picking up the reins of the former Baha'i International News Service which was a biweekly printed newsletter. BWNS now also provides podcasts. In the coming months, in addition to English and Persian, stories will be made available in Spanish and French. In recent years, BWNS has sought not only to inform readers of developments in the Baha'i world but to explore new insights emerging from Baha'i practice-whether at the grassroots level in such areas as social and economic development or in participation in the prevalent discourses of society, through which Baha'i communities are striving to contribute to the advancement of society at the level of thought. At the heart of these efforts has been the exploration of themes central to humanity's well-being and progress: the equality of women and men, the environment and climate change, the role of religion in society, and migration and integration, to name a few. Stories about social transformation are gathered from communities around the world and at many different levels of society. While seeking to capture the diversity of the human experience and the particular efforts of a population, the News Service also aims to draw out universal principles and lessons that are applicable and relevant to every society. As the mechanism of communication envisioned by Shoghi Effendi has been realized, a growing community has increasingly found itself able to connect, remain informed, and draw lessons generated from earnest and sincere efforts of people around the world to apply the teachings of Baha'u'llah for the betterment of their societies. These efforts to make available news to a global community call to mind the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha in 1875: "The publication of high thoughts is the dynamic power in the arteries of life; it is the very soul of the world. Thoughts are a boundless sea, and the effects and varying conditions of existence are as the separate forms and individual limits of the waves; not until the sea boils up will the waves rise and scatter their pearls of knowledge on the shore of life."

ASTANA

Kazakhstan

Overcoming prejudice and intolerance essential for a safer world

ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Faith communities can contribute to a safer world by combating religious prejudice and intolerance. This message was at the heart of the Baha’i contribution to the 6th Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held on 10 and 11 October in Kazakhstan’s capital city. “There has not been a time when humanity has needed greater unity and cooperation,” explains Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, a representative of the Baha’i community at the Congress. “It is very timely for a forum that seeks to promote the unity of religions and orients a dialogue between religious leaders toward the betterment of the world.” “The Baha’i contribution here focused on one of the major causes of division in the world today—religious prejudice.” (from left) Joshua Lincoln, Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community; representative Lyazzat Yangaliyeva from the Baha’i community of Kazakhstan; Guldara Assylbekova of the International Center of Cultures and Religions; and Serik Tokbolat, also representing the Baha’i community of KazakhstanIn his presentation at a panel on religion and globalization, Baha’i International Community Secretary-General Joshua Lincoln called to mind the current challenges facing humanity. “As any glance at the news will confirm, the nature and future of globalization are uncertain. This week alone, we have received dire warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Monetary Fund about the ecological and financial future of the planet.” Overcoming barriers to cooperation is essential for progress, he asserted. “The Baha’i writings warn of the dangers of religious fanaticism and hatred. Religious beliefs should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among people.” “Two concepts that are essential for addressing religious prejudice are dialogue and moral education,” explains Ms. Yangaliyeva. The Baha’i contribution at the Congress focused on these two themes. “The root cause of religious prejudice is ignorance,” she continues. “We emphasized how ignorance is addressed through education that raises moral standards, eliminates prejudice, empowers young people to assume their rights and responsibilities in society, promotes a patriotism that recognizes the oneness of humanity, and finally, focuses on service to family, community, and humanity.” In the panel presentation, Dr. Lincoln spoke about how dialogue must go beyond present patterns of protest and negotiation. “Oppositional debate, propaganda, and systems of partisanship that have long existed are all fundamentally harmful to the task of searching for the truth of a given situation and for the wisest choice of action. The individual participants must instead aim to rise above their respective points of view, to function as members of a body,” he explained. The conference included two plenary sessions and several panel discussions. Also, in their capacity as religious leaders, the attendees signed on to a 23-point commitment. The four-person Baha’i delegation included two other representatives of Kazakhstan’s Baha’i community, Askhat Yangaliyev and Serik Tokbolat. “It has been uplifting for the Baha’i community of Kazakhstan to be able to participate for the second time in this Congress,” reflected Ms. Yangaliyeva afterward. “We noted with appreciation how each faith community was treated with dignity and respect and interacted in a spirit of harmony and fellowship.” The triennial Congress, organized by Kazakhstan’s government and hosted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev, was attended this year by 82 delegations from 46 countries, representing a diverse range of religions and nationalities. Kazakhstan Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the proceedings. The next congress will be held in 2021.

51.1282205

71.4306682

COLLEGE PARK

MARYLAND

United States

Toward global peace: Baha’i Chair assembles leading specialists

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — The pursuit of global peace and security requires a transformation in the systems of global governance and the power dynamics that define them today. It demands the participation of all segments of humanity. These conclusions were voiced across a wide range of presentations at the Baha’i Chair for World Peace conference about global peace and security—held on 16 and 17 October at the University of Maryland, College Park. “The pursuit of peace must be sustained indefinitely because the barriers are big and complex,” says Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Baha’i Chair. “We have to bring new thinking into this process. We have to raise consciousness about this complex endeavor. We have to bring more like-minded people together to explore the ideas and essential strategies.” “As the third decade of the tumultuous, rapidly-changing 21st century approaches,” Dr. Mahmoudi adds, “promoting a deeper understanding of peace is imperative.” Through talks and panel discussions, videos of which are available online, the conference focused on five themes considered by the Chair to be critical to understanding the challenge of global peace and security: leadership and governance, peace and technology, gender equality, human nature, and structural inequalities. “To end violence from war we have to change the way we view and build peace,” stated Severine Autesserre, a political science professor at Columbia University. She focused on success stories of peace building in countries that suffered from prolonged conflict, drawing particular attention to the characteristics of effective outside intervention, such as humility, flexibility, a learning attitude, and true respect for the local population. The Baha’i Chair for World Peace held a conference about the challenge of global peace and security on 16 and 17 October at the University of Maryland, College Park. Margarita Quihuis, co-director of the Peace Innovation Lab at Stanford University, spoke about the importance of the values behind technology in one of the conference’s keynote addresses.“Ultimately, many successful examples of peace building in recent years have involved innovative grassroots initiatives led by local people and at times supported by foreigners,” Dr. Autesserre said. Valentine Moghadam pointed to the work of womanstats.org, a research project that highlights the relationship between the status of women and the security and stability of a state. Improving the status of women, Dr. Moghadam argued, is essential to attaining a peaceful world. “The degree of equality of women within countries is the best predictor of how peaceful or conflict-ridden those countries are,” stated Dr. Moghadam, a professor of sociology and international affairs at Northeastern University. “Increasing gender equality is expected to have cascading effects on security, stability, and resilience within a country as well as internationally.” A number of talks also stressed the need for structural changes to the global system in the process of building a peaceful world civilization. W. Andy Knight, from the University of Alberta, described how decisions and institutions governing the global order have been “frozen in time” since the middle of the 20th century. “Today, many of these institutions created after the Post-World War II period are proving to be defective, inefficient, ineffective, and largely irrelevant. Especially when it comes to maintaining peace and security, many of these organizations are top-down without very much input from the bottom-up,” noted Dr. Knight, a professor of political science. “So it’s time for new thinking about global governance, particularly in this era of turbulence and disorder.” A related point was raised by Craig Murphy, a professor of political science at Wellesley College, who spoke on the need for greater equality and “deep cooperation” to address global problems. “Our global governance tools aren’t fit for purpose,” Dr. Murphy argued. “We face a set of global problems which cannot be solved without transnational cooperation, deep cooperation.” A major challenge, he proposed, is that the current system of global governance is rooted in a patriarchal foundation that runs back to the earliest civilizations, in which war and plunder are central. The system, therefore, has inherent limitations. “If we really want to solve this problem, which all of us need to solve,” Dr. Murphy stated, “we need to have a politics of broad, complex solidarity across all of the lines of inequality. And this is something that is for all of us.”"The pursuit of peace must be sustained indefinitely because the barriers are big and complex. We have to bring new thinking into this process."—Hoda MahmoudiTransformation was also a theme in the talk from Sheryl Lightfoot, an associate professor of both First Nations and Indigenous studies as well as political science at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Lightfoot highlighted how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007, was a significant global achievement that fundamentally challenges the global human rights system. “Recognizing and accommodating for Indigenous rights is a pathway to peace and justice and better understanding in society. It’s not the states that are at issue. It’s not the societies that are at issue. It’s the old colonial doctrines and practices and discourses and the ways of doing business that have to be eradicated and redesigned,” explained Dr. Lightfoot. Many attendees commented on the depth of the exploration of the highlighted themes, as well as their acute relevance to the state of the world today. Dr. Mahmoudi expressed hope that conference attendees and those who watch its videos online gain insights about peace: “Knowledge is so important as a catalyst toward transforming the individual, society, and ultimately the world.” The Baha’i Chair, established in 1993, studies and contributes to the global conversation around peace. Over the past year, the Chair hosted a series of lectures focused on structural racism and the root causes of prejudice. This series continues on 6 November with a panel discussion organized to explore solutions to systemic racism.

38.99203005

-76.94610290199051

OXFORD

United Kingdom

Man of the Trees: Pioneering environmentalist remembered

OXFORD, United Kingdom — The International Tree Foundation is in the midst of an ambitious plan—plant 20 million trees in and around Kenya’s highland forests by 2024, the organization’s centenary. That goal is one of the many living expressions of the ideals espoused by Richard St. Barbe Baker (1889-1982), founder of the organization. Mr. Baker, who was best known as St. Barbe, was a pioneering environmentalist and early British Baha’i who had a far-reaching vision and initiated practices that have become common and widespread today. A re-evaluation of this influential environmental pioneer is now under way, thanks to the work of the International Tree Foundation and the publication of a new biography. The recent attention comes at a time that the consequences of global climate change are increasingly apparent to humanity. “Long before the science of climate change was understood, he had warned of the impact of forest loss on climate,” writes Britain’s Prince Charles, in the foreword of the new biography about St. Barbe. “He raised the alarm and prescribed a solution: one third of every nation should be tree covered. He practiced permaculture and agro-ecology in Nigeria before those terms existed and was among the founding figures of organic farming in England.” Having embraced the Baha’i Faith as a young man in 1924, throughout his adventurous life, St. Barbe found in the teachings of Baha’u’llah the embodiment of his highest aspirations for the world. His deep faith was expressed in a love for all forms of life and in his dedication to the natural environment. “He talks about the inspiration he received from the Faith and from the writings of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha,” explains Paul Hanley, the author of a new biography about St. Barbe—Man of the Trees: Richard St. Barbe Baker, the First Global Conservationist. “St. Barbe had a world embracing vision at a time when that wasn’t really common. His frame of reference was the whole world.” St. Barbe noted this connection with Baha’u’llah’s vision of the oneness of humanity when he went on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Baha’u’llah. At age 91, St. Barbe participates in a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney, Australia.“(H)ere at Bahji (Baha’u’llah) must have spent his happiest days. He was a planter of trees and loved all growing things. When his devotees tried to bring him presents from Persia the only tokens of their esteem that he would accept were seeds or plants for his gardens,” St. Barbe later wrote in his diary, quoted in Mr. Hanley’s book. St. Barbe then recalled a passage from Baha’u’llah’s writings: “‘Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind.’ Yes, I thought, humankind, humanity as a whole. Was it not this for which I had been striving to reclaim the waste places of the earth? These were the words of a planter of trees, a lover of men and of trees.” St. Barbe also maintained a sustained contact with Shoghi Effendi, who encouraged him in dozens of letters and sought his advice when selecting trees for Baha’i Holy Places in Akka and Haifa. St. Barbe described how the inscribed copy of The Dawn-Breakers that Shoghi Effendi sent him became his “most treasured possession.” “I would read it again and again, and each time capture the thrill that must come with the discovery of a New Manifestation,” St. Barbe wrote. St. Barbe stands in front of his vehicle during his the Green Front Against the Desert expedition in 1952. (Credit: University of Saskatchewan Library, University Archives & Special Collections, Richard St. Barbe Baker Fonds)The International Tree Foundation, which St. Barbe originally named Men of the Trees, is just one of many organizations he established in his lifetime. It is estimated that, as a result of his efforts, the organizations he founded, and those he assisted, some 26 billion trees have been planted globally. He was so dedicated to tree planting, in fact, that he took an international trip at age 92 to plant a tree in memory of a close personal friend, a former prime minister of Canada. St. Barbe died a few days after accomplishing the purpose of that trip. “I think people should know about Richard St. Barbe Baker because his legacy still lives on,” says the Foundation’s chief executive, Andy Egan. “Today we try to walk in St. Barbe’s footsteps,” adds Paul Laird, the Foundation’s programs manager. “We have a sustainable community forestry program, which reaches out and tries to work particularly with groups and local community-based organizations that are close to the real situation—the people themselves doing things for themselves, who understand the threats of land degradation and forest loss, and what that actually means for them.” From early childhood in England, St. Barbe was attracted to gardening, botany, and forestry. He would run among his family’s trees, saluting them as if they were toy soldiers. Later, as a young man awaiting the start of his university classes in 1912, he took a job as a logger where he lived in Saskatchewan, Canada. He could no longer treat the trees as his friends. “This area had been virgin forest and one evening, as I surveyed the mass of stricken trees littering the ground, I wondered what would happen when all these fine trees had gone,” St. Barbe wrote at the time. “The felling was wasteful, and I felt sick at heart.” That experience would be a defining one for St. Barbe. He decided to study forestry at Cambridge University, beginning a lifetime dedicated to global reforestation. Afterward, he moved to British-ruled Kenya, where he set up a tree nursery. While there, he witnessed the effects of centuries of land mismanagement."He saw that fundamentally these forests belonged to the people of Kenya and you needed to work with the people to conserve the forests."—Paul Laird, International Tree FoundationWorking as a colonial forester, St. Barbe was expected to employ top-down forest management practices. This went against the practices of the indigenous Kikuyu people, who used a traditional method of farming where they burned down trees to create rich soil. St. Barbe wanted to encourage a form of agriculture that promotes the growth of a forest conducive to farming while also protecting the soil from erosion and respecting the culture and wisdom of the local population. The tribal leaders were not open to the planting of new trees, calling this “God’s business.” To honor the traditions of the Kikuyu people and promote an awareness of their significant role in tree planting and conservation, St. Barbe looked to one of their long-held traditional practices—holding dances to commemorate significant moments. From this integration of cultural values and environmental stewardship was born the Dance of the Trees in 1922. “So instead of trying to push them and force them into tree planting, he said let’s make this consistent with the culture. So he approached the elders there, discussed it with them and they had this Dance of the Trees which led to the formation of the Men of the Trees,” says Mr. Hanley. Along with the Men of the Trees’ co-founder, Chief Josiah Njonjo, St. Barbe developed a deeper understanding of the important ecological, social, and economic roles of trees in the life of humanity. “Behind St. Barbe Baker's prescience was his deep spiritual conviction about the unity of life,” Charles, the Prince of Wales, writes. “He had listened intently to the indigenous people with whom he worked.” St. Barbe’s ventures into what is now called social forestry were looked upon with some skepticism. As a colonial forester, he was expected to protect forests that belonged to governments. “He was extraordinary in that he broke through that,” says Mr. Laird. “He saw that fundamentally these forests belonged to the people of Kenya and you needed to work with the people to conserve the forests.” This community-led approach remains core to the work of the International Tree Foundation. “His caring nature for all life is something that really shines through,” says Mr. Egan. “He very much helped to give birth to this idea that it wasn’t just a professional thing about planting trees. It was something that ordinary people in communities could and should be doing. In a way they’re in the best place to actually protect the forests…so their role should be very much recognized and supported and celebrated.” In researching St. Barbe’s biography, Mr. Hanley discovered that the forester “was definitely very advanced in his thinking. And his whole philosophy of the integration and unity of human society, but also of the natural world, were fairly radical concepts at the time.”"I was enthralled by the sublimity of the language. Here was beauty personified."—Richard St. Barbe BakerWhen St. Barbe first encountered the teachings of Baha’u’llah in 1924, he found his ideas of nature and humanity confirmed. A Christian with a deep respect for indigenous religious traditions, St. Barbe recognized the truth in Baha’u’llah’s teachings about oneness—the oneness of religion, the oneness of humankind, and the interconnectedness of all life. The Faith’s writings also employ imagery from nature to help convey spiritual truths. “I began to read some translations from the Persian,” St. Barbe wrote, reflecting on his pilgrimage to the Shrine of Baha’u’llah. “‘In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love.’ I was enthralled by the sublimity of the language. Here was beauty personified.” In 1929, while on a mission to establish a branch of the Men of the Trees in the Holy Land, St. Barbe traveled to Haifa to visit Baha’i sacred sites. Pulling up in his car outside of the home of Shoghi Effendi, St. Barbe was surprised to see the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith coming out to welcome him and handing him an envelope. It contained a subscription to join the Men of the Trees, making Shoghi Effendi the organization’s first life member. “He talks about the meeting with the Guardian as the most significant moment in his life, and it really…galvanized him,” says Mr. Hanley. Through a continued correspondence, Shoghi Effendi encouraged St. Barbe’s efforts. For 12 consecutive years, he sent a message to the World Forestry Charter gatherings, another of St. Barbe’s initiatives, which were attended by ambassadors and dignitaries from scores of countries. St. Barbe’s work took him to many countries. He was appointed Assistant Conservator of Forests for the southern provinces of Nigeria from 1925 to 1929. He also planned forests on the Gold Coast. In the United States, he launched a “Save The Redwoods” campaign and worked with President Franklin D. Roosevelt to establish the American Civilian Conservation Corps which involved some 6 million young people. After World War II, St. Barbe launched the Green Front Against the Desert to promote reforestation worldwide. One expedition in 1952 and 1953 saw him trek 25,000 miles around the Sahara, leading to a project to reclaim the desert through strategic tree planting. In his late 80s, St. Barbe traveled to Iran to promote a tree planting program. He stopped in Shiraz, the birthplace of the Baha’i Faith, where he was asked to inspect an ailing citrus tree at the House of the Bab, a place of pilgrimage for Baha’is. The Men of the Trees grew into the first international non-governmental organization working with the environment. By the late 1930s, it had 5,000 members in 108 countries, and its own journal for members, titled Trees. “Originally it was created because it seemed that St. Barbe just got so many letters and invites and correspondence,” says Nicola Lee Doyle, who today compiles the annual journal. “He was telling people constantly where he was going to be and what he was going to be talking about. So they needed a way to just give everybody the information, and that’s how it started—but then it developed.” Today, Trees is the world’s longest-running environmental journal. St. Barbe, facing left, shakes hands with a friend at a reunion of the original founders of Men of the Trees in the 1950s. Men of the Trees was founded in 1924 after St. Barbe’s work in Kenya.Successive generations of environmentalists have credited St. Barbe as igniting their passion for their work. “Sometimes it was the little things he did—like writing an article, or doing a radio interview—that would connect with some youth in some distant country,” says Mr. Hanley. “And several of these people went on to become very significant figures in the environment movement.” “His legacy is probably related to the fact that he was indefatigable,” Mr. Hanley adds. “It was quite incredible—thousands of interviews, thousands of radio broadcasts, trying to alert people to this idea, and it really did have an impact on the lives of many people who have gone out and protected and planted trees.” St. Barbe’s pioneering thinking can be particularly valuable now as humanity grapples with the challenges presented by climate change. Indeed, one of humanity’s most pressing challenges is how a growing, rapidly developing, and not yet united global population can live in harmony with the planet and its resources. “It is now clear that had we heeded the warnings of St. Barbe Baker and other visionaries, we might have avoided a good deal of the environmental crises we face today,” Prince Charles writes. “Richard St. Barbe Baker’s message is as relevant today as it was ninety years ago and I very much hope that it will be heeded.”

51.7520131

-1.2578499

MADRID

Spain

Probing violent radicalization

MADRID — The rise of violent radicalization has sparked a sense of urgency in and across many societies. In Spain, where radicalization has become a growing concern, the Baha’i community has sought to contribute meaningfully to the prevalent thinking about this vexing issue. In addition to approaches that seek to address radicalization at the level of policies, security measures, and technological interventions, there is a need for a deeper, evolving understanding of religion and its constructive role in society today. Representatives of Spain’s Baha’i community underscored this point in a recent high-level exploration of the causes of and responses to violent radicalization. At the core of faith, they argued, is the recognition of our profound oneness. Co-organized by Spain's Baha’i community, a conference on 26 October brought together some 70 people—among them officials from Spain’s military and intelligence agencies, other government representatives, academics, journalists, and activists—in a dynamic exploration of this topical subject. More than 70 people attended a daylong seminar about radicalization, organized by the Baha’i community of Spain in collaboration with several other organizations. The seminar was held on 26 October at the Center of University Studies associated with the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid.The discussions touched on concepts vital to responding to radicalization: the need for widespread consultative processes that build common understanding among the diverse segments of society; a due regard for the insights of both science and humanity’s great spiritual traditions; the delegitimization of violence as a response to oppression; the effective integration of newcomers; the liberating power of education; and the opportunity for all people to participate in the life of society. “These are fundamental elements in efforts to overcome violent radicalization, especially when it is religiously motivated,” noted Sergio Garcia, the director of the Spanish Baha’i community’s Office of Public Affairs. Central to efforts to eradicate radicalization is an understanding of religion that allows for its constructive powers to be realized, he argued. Spain’s Baha’i community has been participating in a growing discourse on the role of religion in society, in which radicalization has been an important topic. The daylong seminar at the Center of University Studies associated with the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid was the first in a series aiming to advance understanding about the causes of and responses to religious radicalization. In the seminar, speakers noted how radicalization is a gradual process that manifests both in a person’s thoughts and actions. Religion has often been misused as a powerful force for directing motivation toward destructive ends, speakers noted. “In exploring the connection between religion and violent radicalization, it is important to look honestly and objectively at the way religion has been manipulated to give impetus to this phenomenon,” said Leila Sant from the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in Spain. Ms. Sant highlighted the need for a more robust conversation about religion. “Despite the abuse of religion today and throughout history, there is no other phenomenon that reaches into such depths of motivation and inspires human beings to dedicate themselves to a higher cause,” said Dr. Garcia. “It is ultimately the power latent in religion that can transform anger and hatred into love and respect for the inherent dignity of others. The Baha’i writings teach that religion has an essential role in overcoming religious fanaticism, which is described as ‘a world-devouring fire.’” “Once the religious dimension of radicalization is understood,” explained Dr. Garcia, “then it can be addressed from other social, political, and economic angles such as identity, strategy, political aims, and nationality.” According to Ms. Sant, the event was a success not only because of the rich ideas that were shared. “This was not a space where people came, gave speeches, and then left. It was a space where a dialogue unfolded and everyone’s understanding advanced together.”

40.4167047

-3.7035825

MANILA

Philippines

Baha’i Most Holy Book published in Cebuano

MANILA, Philippines — Gil Tabucanon remembers being a boy, sitting beside his grandmother and listening to her read the Bible in their native Cebuano language. “I loved the music of the Cebuano Bible. It was ingrained in me as a little boy. The melodies were in me,” Dr. Tabucanon says, describing the tonality of his mother tongue, spoken by about 20 million people in the central Philippines. “I wanted to do that for the Kitab-i-Aqdas.” After more than a decade of effort, Dr. Tabucanon completed his translation of the Most Holy Book of the Baha’i Faith, which was published last month by the Philippines Baha’i Publishing Trust. This translation makes available to an entire population Baha’u’llah’s book of laws, first penned in Arabic about 1873 while He was still imprisoned within the city of ‘Akka. The Kitab-i-Aqdas was also translated into the Philippines’ most widely spoken language, Tagalog, in 2003. “Reading or hearing the Word of God in one's mother tongue touches heartstrings that are only accessible in that language,” explains Adore Newman, the Secretary of the Philippines’ National Spiritual Assembly. “This is another bounty of a beautiful translation, to be connected to the Manifestation of God on such a profoundly heartfelt level.” The Universal House of Justice has written in the introduction to the Kitab-i-Aqdas: “Of the more than one hundred volumes comprising the sacred Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Kitab-i-Aqdas is of unique importance. ‘To build anew the whole world’ is the claim and challenge of His Message, and the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the Charter of the future world civilization that Bahá’u’lláh has come to raise up.” Baha’u’llah revealed the Kitab-i-Aqdas in this room in the house of Udi Khammar, where He was confined in 'Akka about 1873. This photo shows the room during the 1990s.Although Baha’u’llah’s writings are in both Arabic and Persian, Baha’u’llah used Arabic in those texts where precise meaning was required for the articulation of principles and laws. Baha’u’llah also employed in the Most Holy Book a beautiful prose with elements of poetry, such as rhythm, metaphor, and personification. Shoghi Effendi rendered about a third of the text into English, providing a model for the final English publication. The House of Justice explains that the translation of the remaining text strove for three qualities: “accuracy of meaning, beauty of English, and conformity of style with that used by Shoghi Effendi.”"(T)he Kitáb-i-Aqdas is the Charter of the future world civilization that Bahá’u’lláh has come to raise up."—The Universal House of JusticeIn 1992, the first authorized translation of the Kitab-i-Aqdas was published, making it available in English. Writing shortly afterward, Suheil Bushrui explained in his book The style of the Kitab-i-Aqdas: Aspects of the Sublime: “It is now the task of translators in different countries around the world to render the Kitab-i-Aqdas into their own native tongues, basing their renderings upon the authorized English translation but referring as needed to the text of the original. The special difficulties encountered by the English translators are no less likely to pose a challenge to these other translators. Their daunting task is to convey in a foreign language the unique qualities of a book concerned not only with mapping out a new way of life for the individual and society, but with bringing about a future state of ‘true understanding in a spirit of love and tolerance’ throughout the world.” Dr. Tabucanon was a young man when he embraced the teachings of Baha’u’llah. A lawyer by profession, he began translating the Baha’i sacred texts into Cebuano with a small book of prayers before working on The Hidden Words, Baha’u’llah’s principal ethical text. In 1999, he translated a compilation of prayers and writings used for the Nineteen Day Feast. He completed the Kitab-i-Aqdas after three attempts, starting from the beginning each time: first in 2004, then in 2009, and finally in 2014. Translating from English, Dr. Tabucanon found it challenging to ensure the text utilizes the tonality and onomatopoeic nature of Cebuano. “Translation is not about a one-to-one correspondence from English to Cebuano. There has to be both faithfulness to the original language and the musicality of the vernacular,” he notes. “I learned that as a boy, from my grandmother.”

14.5948914

120.9782618

UNITED NATIONS

UN resolution calls for end to Iran’s rights violations against Baha’is

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly’s Third Committee called on Iranian authorities to end ongoing human rights violations against the Baha’is in Iran. A resolution, adopted Thursday by a vote of 85 to 30, with 68 abstentions, expressed “serious concern regarding ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.” The international community noted in the resolution Iran’s attacks on Baha’i places of worship and cemeteries and “other human rights violations, including harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, denial of access to education and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities.” Tens of thousands of Baha’is experience educational, economic, and cultural persecution on a daily basis for merely practicing their faith. At present, more than 70 Baha’is remain imprisoned in Iran for their beliefs. Baha’is in Iran also experience incitement to hatred and attacks. This photo shows a graffiti marking from a cemetery in Hamadan saying, “death with most severe torture.”“It is hoped that this resolution sends a strong message to the Iranian authorities that ongoing violations against the Baha'i community will not go unnoticed,” said Bani Dugal, the Principal Representative of the Baha'i International Community’s United Nations Office. “Any form of discrimination against religious minorities for merely practicing their faith is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” The resolution also calls on the Iranian government to release from prison Afif Naeimi, a member of the former group known as the Yaran, which tended to the basic spiritual and material needs of the Iranian Baha’i community. The other six members of the former ad-hoc group were released over the past year after serving 10-year prison sentences given through a legal procedure that lacked any semblance of due process. The resolution was sponsored by Canada and had 34 co-sponsors. The long history of the state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is in Iran is well documented. The Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, photos, and videos revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution. The October 2016 report "The Baha’i Question Revisited: Persecution and Resilience in Iran" also describes the Iranian government’s systematic persecution of the Baha’is.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Shapoor Monadjem, 1933-2018

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Shapoor Monadjem, a former Counsellor member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away on Thursday in Maringá, Brazil. He was 85 years old. The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies on Friday.*  *  *The passing of Shapoor Monadjem, distinguished and greatly loved servant of the Blessed Beauty, has brought much sadness to our hearts.  We call to mind, at this moment, his immense dedication to the teaching work, knowledge of the Faith, and insight into the application of its principles.  These qualities were much in evidence when he was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil and during the decade he served as a Continental Counsellor in the Americas.  As a member of the International Teaching Centre, his talents and energies were determinedly focused upon the worldwide propagation and protection of the Faith.  The wide-ranging services he undertook in his lifetime also included the promotion of the Right of God as a Deputy Trustee of Ḥuqúqu’lláh.  A kindly and gentle soul, good-humoured and brimming with creative inspiration, he was also blessed with considerable administrative abilities, honed in many different settings, which he deployed with great effect in service to the Cause of God. To his dear wife, Bahareh, and to his children and grandchildren we extend our condolences and an assurance of our supplications in the Holy Shrines for his soul’s blissful passage into the realms of the eternal.  We also ask that memorial gatherings be convened in his honour in all Houses of Worship and in Bahá’í communities across the world. The Universal House of Justice

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Remembering ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s call for unity, a century after World War I

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Today, Baha’is commemorate the Day of the Covenant, a day dedicated to the remembrance of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s unique station in Baha’i history. A century after the end of World War I—the bloodiest conflict humanity had ever known until then—today’s remembrance also harks back to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s urgent efforts to promote peace in the years preceding the war, His critical actions to ease suffering during the crisis, and the relevance of His call for peace today. During His tour of Europe and North America from 1911 to 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Baha often described Europe as on the brink of war. “The time is two years hence, when only a spark will set aflame the whole of Europe,” He said in an October 1912 talk. “By 1917 kingdoms will fall and cataclysms will rock the earth.” Newspaper reports of His talks highlighted His warnings to humanity of an impending war and the urgent need to unify: “The Time Has Come, He Says, for Humanity to Hoist the Standard of the Oneness of the Human World…” –The New York Times, 21 April 1912 “APOSTLE OF PEACE HERE, PREDICTS AN APPALLING WAR IN THE OLD WORLD” –The Montreal Daily Star, 31 August 1912 “PERSIAN PEACE APOSTLE PREDICTS WAR IN EUROPE” –Buffalo Courier, 11 September 1912 “Abdul Baha Urges World Peace” –The San Francisco Examiner, 25 September 1912 In July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the Great War began. An article in The New York Times on 21 April 1912 describes the talks ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave while visiting the city.Noting the significance that ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave to the issue of peace, Century of Light, a publication commissioned in 2001 by the Universal House of Justice, states: “From the beginning, ‘Abdu’l Bahá took keen interest in efforts to bring into existence a new international order. It is significant, for example, that His early public references in North America to the purpose of His visit there placed particular emphasis on the invitation of the organizing committee of the Lake Mohonk Peace Conference for Him to address this international gathering.... Beyond this, the list of influential persons with whom the Master spent patient hours in both North America and Europe—particularly individuals struggling to promote the goal of world peace and humanitarianism—reflects His awareness of the responsibility the Cause has to humanity at large.” Having raised the warning and urged the world to work for peace, ‘Abdu’l-Baha returned on 5 December 1913 to Haifa, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Aware of the coming war, He took steps to protect the Baha’i community under His stewardship and to avert a famine in the region. One of His first decisions upon returning to the Holy Land was to send home all the Baha’is who were visiting from abroad. Less than a year later, war broke out in Europe. As the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary, the Allied Powers—including France, Britain, and eventually the United States—formed a strict blockade around Haifa. Communication and travel in and out of the area were almost impossible. Haifa and Akka were swept into the hysteria of war. To protect the resident Baha’is of Haifa and Akka from danger, ‘Abdu’l-Baha decided to move them to a nearby Druze village called Abu-Sinan, while He remained in Akka with only one other Baha’i. However, bombardment by the Allied forces necessitated that He eventually join the other Baha’is in the village; at one point, a shell landed, but did not explode, in the Ridvan Garden near Akka. ‘Abdu’l Baha had the Baha’is in Abu-Sinan establish a dispensary and a small school for the area’s children. ‘Abdu’l-Baha also intensified efforts to protect the surrounding populations. He directed Baha’i farmers in the Jordan River Valley to increase their harvest yields and store extra grain in anticipation of a future shortage. After the war broke out and food supplies became scarce, He ensured that wheat would be distributed throughout the region. In July 1917, for example, He visited one farm in Adasiyyih, in present-day Jordan, for 15 days during the wheat and barley harvest. He had the surplus carried by camel to the famine-stricken Akka-Haifa area.“Agony filled (‘Abdu’l-Baha’s) soul at the spectacle of human slaughter precipitated through humanity’s failure to respond to the summons He had issued, or to heed the warnings He had given.”—Shoghi EffendiThroughout His ministry as the head of the Baha’i Faith, from Baha’u’llah’s ascension in 1892 to His own passing in 1921, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was in constant correspondence with Baha’is around the world. But during the war, His contacts with those outside the Holy Land were severely restricted. Still, during this time, ‘Abdu’l-Baha took on two of His well-known works: Memorials of the Faithful and Tablets of the Divine Plan. The first was the publication of a series of talks He delivered during the war, eulogizing 79 heroic Baha’is. The latter was a series of letters, written in 1916 and 1917, that laid the foundation for the global spread of the Baha’i Faith. Eventually, during the war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha resumed weekly gatherings in His home, warmly greeting visitors and meeting with people from all segments of society, including Ottoman, British, German, and other military and government figures. “Agony filled His soul at the spectacle of human slaughter precipitated through humanity’s failure to respond to the summons He had issued, or to heed the warnings He had given,” Shoghi Effendi later wrote about ‘Abdu’l-Baha during this time in God Passes By. Indian lancers march through Haifa after it was captured from the Ottomans in September 1918 (Credit: British War Museum, accessed through Wikimedia Commons).Following Haifa’s liberation on 23 September 1918, the city was in a frenzy. ‘Abdu’l-Baha maintained an atmosphere of calm and dignity as He received a continual flow of visitors including generals, officials, soldiers, and civilians. News of His safety gave relief to Baha’is around the world. With the end of the war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha would soon meet many more Baha’is and other visitors from abroad as the doors to that sacred land were open again. While Europe was jubilant with the end of the Great War and a world-embracing institution was taking form in the League of Nations, ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote in January 1920: “The ills from which the world now suffers will multiply; the gloom which envelops it will deepen. The Balkans will remain discontented. Its restlessness will increase. The vanquished Powers will continue to agitate. They will resort to every measure that may rekindle the flame of war.” Conscious of the threat of yet another war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha showed great interest in movements working for peace. In 1919, for example, He corresponded with the Central Organization for a Durable Peace at The Hague, which had written to Him three years earlier. In a message, referred to as the Tablet to The Hague, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, while praising the organization, was also candid in stating that peace would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah. “At present Universal Peace is a matter of great importance, but unity of conscience is essential, so that the foundation of this matter may become secure, its establishment firm and its edifice strong,” ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote in that letter. “Today nothing but the power of the Word of God which encompasses the realities of things can bring the thoughts, the minds, the hearts and the spirits under the shade of one Tree.” In His will, Baha’u’llah appointed His oldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, as the authorized interpreter of His teachings and head of the Baha’i Faith. Upholding unity as the fundamental principle of His teachings, Baha’u’llah established a Covenant through which His religion would not split into sects after His passing. Thus, Baha’u’llah instructed His followers to turn to ‘Abdu’l-Baha not only as the authorized interpreter of the Baha’i writings but also as the perfect exemplar of the Faith’s spirit and teachings.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Contributing to social transformation—reflections on Baha’i participation in discourses

Representatives of a number of national Baha’i communities recently gathered at the Baha’i World Centre to reflect on the past several years of experience learning about participation in the discourses of society. The Baha’i World News Service took the opportunity to interview groups of representatives about the experiences and insights they have gained in this area of endeavor. Listen to one of these conversations in this week’s story. The next report, to be published later this month, will include an interview about one specific discourse that is becoming more prevalent in countries around the world: the role of religion in society. BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In recent years, national Baha’i institutions and regional agencies have been systematically participating in the discourses of society, such as migration and integration, social cohesion, race unity, the role of religion in society, and climate change, to name a few. The phrase “participation in the discourses of society” is being used more and more to describe the involvement of the Baha’i community in the broad conversations focused on social betterment. Discourses take place at different levels. Individuals can contribute to discourses in their professions or fields of study. Many individuals and communities are drawn into discourses on issues vital to their neighborhoods and villages. Non-governmental organizations inspired by the Baha’i teachings—for example, in the area of social and economic development—contribute to discourses related to their efforts. The Baha’i community’s formal involvement in discourses related to the well-being and progress of society is facilitated at the national and international levels by offices of external affairs and the Baha’i International Community, respectively. “There are conversations that are happening all around society in which different people are participating,” Vahid Vahdat, from Brazil, explains in the podcast. “You have government officials, you have the media, you have religious communities, you have local organizations, national organizations, NGOs, and they are all concerned with certain subjects. How does our society advance the equality of men and women? How do we deal with prejudice? How do we bring about united societies? So as a Baha’i community we are taking part in these conversations.” No matter the setting, Baha’is are learning to contribute insights and experiences that are relevant to the profound challenges facing humanity today. In so doing, they strive to adopt a posture of humility, engage in genuine conversation, generously contribute relevant Baha’i principles, and learn with and from other like-minded individuals and groups. “It's not just about the Baha’is contributing ideas; it’s about everybody in the wider society trying to advance this thinking and change the trajectory of humanity's ultimate development just a little bit, incrementally over time,” notes Ida Walker, from Australia. This conception of participating in discourses is about cooperation, collaboration, and inclusivity. “It requires the participation of every member of society,” adds Saba Detweiler, from Germany. “And by engaging in conversations with different people, with different organizations, our common understanding will find expression in action. And action can take different forms.” Ida Walker (second from right), who works with the Office of External Affairs in Australia, speaks in a seminar about social cohesion with participants from around the country. The gathering was held last week on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney.Baha’i efforts to contribute to the advancement of thought find their origins in the very beginnings of the Faith’s history. Baha’u’llah, while a prisoner and exile in Edirne and later in Akka, addressed the rulers of His time. He put forth far-reaching spiritual principles and wrote on a range of topics including issues of great concern to world leaders at the time, for example, calling for the establishment of international peace and disarmament and the abolition of slavery, praising the benefits of representative government, and challenging rulers to give due regard to the rights and dignity of the poor. Another example is ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s penetrating analysis of Persian society in a widely disseminated treatise to the people of Iran, penned in 1875, about the conditions that would conduce to the progress and prosperity of the nation. Since its establishment in 1948, the Baha’i International Community (BIC) has consistently sought to contribute constructively to international discourses at the United Nations. From its earliest days, the BIC promoted the advancement of women and the education of the girl child, the latter becoming a major topic of discourse in development circles starting in the 1980s and a strategic focus of development efforts since. World citizenship education is another such topic that was advanced by the BIC and has also become a widely recognized element in the UN’s efforts to promote education. Today, the BIC participates in numerous discourses including the equality of women and men, human rights, and sustainable development. In this podcast, Ms. Detweiler from Germany interviews a group of Baha’i representatives about the experience of the Baha’i community in contributing to discourses on the national and international stages: Rachel Bayani from the BIC Brussels Office, Mr. Vahdat from Brazil, and Karl Wightman from the United Kingdom.

CAIRO

Egypt

BIC joins Arab leaders to advance sustainable development goals

CAIRO — Amid growing concerns in the region about serious challenges—hunger, armed conflict, environmental degradation, human rights, and more—Arab leaders gathered in Egypt’s capital city last month to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It was the first time the Baha’i community had an official presence at a space convened by the Arab League, a regional organization of about 20 nations in North Africa and the Middle East. The second annual Arab Sustainable Development Week, held from 19 to 22 November, focused on the Arab region’s efforts to reach the 17 targets in the global Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030. “The participants in this meeting took ownership of the question of sustainable development as their agenda, and there was a conscious effort to make sure all took part,” said Solomon Belay, a Baha’i International Community (BIC) representative who attended the meeting. Dr. Belay, from the BIC Addis Ababa Office, was joined by Shahnaz Jaberi from Bahrain and Hatem El-Hady from Egypt. “It was significant that the Baha’i community participated in such a forum where leaders of Arab states and regional spokespersons were coalescing around the critical issue of sustainable development,” explains Mr. El-Hady. The BIC representatives noted the participants’ heightened consciousness and insights about the SDGs as they related to the specific challenges in the region. The statement, Summoning Our Common Will: A Baha’i Contribution to the United Nations Global Development Agenda, was distributed at the event. Recognizing that the summit was a great step forward in the region, Ms. Jaberi highlighted the need to broaden the conversation: “It seems that the focus needs to go beyond technological and economic advancement. We underscored the importance of moral values and spiritual insights in our conversations throughout the event.” The Baha’i representatives also noted that the conference strengthened relations among fellow regional actors. More than 120 diplomats, government officials, representatives of regional and international organizations, businesses, and academics attended the event. Speakers included Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, among a number of other leaders in the Arab region.

30.0443879

31.2357257

UNITED NATIONS

UN resolution calls for end to Iran’s persecution of Baha’is

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations General Assembly has condemned Iran’s ongoing human rights violations against Baha’is and others facing severe restrictions on the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief. On Monday, the General Assembly approved a resolution passed by its Third Committee last month that calls upon the Iranian government to “release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a recognized or unrecognized minority religious group, including the remaining imprisoned member of the Baha’i leadership.” The international community also noted in the resolution Iran’s attacks on Baha’i places of worship and cemeteries as well as “other human rights violations, including harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, denial of access to education and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against” Baha’is and other religious minorities. The vote was 84 to 30, with 67 abstentions. Read more about the resolution from the Baha’i International Community.

MARRAKECH

Morocco

On migration, BIC sees need for cooperation, focuses on root causes

MARRAKECH, Morocco — More than a quarter billion people have left their home countries—many compelled by war, economic deprivation, or environmental degradation—in search of a better future elsewhere. To address this growing movement of populations, world leaders gathered last week at a historic conference where 164 nations adopted the first-ever United Nations global agreement on a common approach to international migration. Called the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the non-binding pact aims to foster a cooperative international approach to migration and reduce the risks and challenges for people on the move. “Understanding the deeper causes of international migration is forcing us all to look at how the affairs of an increasingly global society are organized,” says Baha’i International Community (BIC) representative Simin Fahandej, who participated in the conference held on 10 and 11 December in Marrakech, Morocco. “This agreement has brought the countries of the world into a global conversation about an issue that has mostly been dealt with at the national or regional level.” Over the past five years, the Baha’i community has been engaged in national and international forums focused on migration. It has been working with diverse social actors to better understand the deeper causes of forced migration, its impact on societies, and insights that can help humanity to move forward in addressing this issue through consultation and collaboration. “It seems inevitable that movements resulting from inhumane and intolerable circumstances will continue to increase unless there is a broad and concerted effort to address the underlying causes,” explains Ms. Fahandej. “The Global Compact for Migration highlights the willingness of many in the international community to look fundamentally at some of those causes and to begin to ask searching questions: What about current structures, systems, and attitudes is perpetuating the conditions causing millions of people to leave their homelands? How can we expect substantial change in the movement of populations if the structures that propel inequality and war do not change?” The BIC representatives also noted the acknowledgment by leaders that, although global challenges must be addressed collectively, the precise nature of the questions facing the different regions of the world vary. “This led to a discussion about the responsibilities of different regions,” adds Rachel Bayani, who attended the conference on behalf of the BIC Brussels Office. “Some would need to reflect on how their policies—for instance, on trade, on investment, on the environment—inadvertently affect the socio-economic conditions in the countries of origin. Others would need to explore how they could address the conditions within their own countries that are forcing people to leave.” Migrants are depicted in artwork at the main entrance of the venue of the UN conference to adopt the Global Compact for Migration, held on 10 and 11 December in Marrakech, Morocco. (UN Photo/Sebastien Di Silvesto)A BIC statement issued ahead of the conference reiterates the need for a global focus on migration and “a long-term approach” that “calls for a far-reaching, multi-dimensional, dispassionate and informed conversation around the issue of migration.” “That conversation cannot fall short of examining social, political and economic structures, systems and attitudes that underpin and perpetuate the current order,” the statement asserts. “It needs to include a genuine reflection on how this order can be redesigned to ensure an adequate response to the needs of masses of the world’s population living in situations of war, poverty and oppression. Most importantly, it needs to be based on the understanding of the indisputable interconnectedness of our societies, and the reality that humanity’s collective life suffers when any one group thinks of its own well-being in isolation from that of its neighbours.” The conference was conceived in September 2016 when the UN General Assembly unanimously agreed to prepare a global migration agreement and to meet this month to adopt its text. The process has not been without challenges; nearly 30 UN member states have since backed out of the agreement. The 34-page global compact is a non-binding declaration that aims to ensure a life of safety and dignity for migrants and to better manage the movement of populations. The agreement includes 23 objectives for “safe, orderly, and regular migration,” including: minimizing the adverse drivers and structural factors that compel people to leave their home country, managing international borders, eliminating all forms of discrimination and promoting evidence-based public discourse to shape perceptions of migration, and strengthening international cooperation.“Most importantly, (the conversation) needs to be based on the understanding of the indisputable interconnectedness of our societies, and the reality that humanity’s collective life suffers when any one group thinks of its own well-being in isolation from that of its neighbours.” —The Baha’i International CommunityThroughout the event, many government leaders noted the need for an international solution to the challenges placed on nations by migration. “We must equally address the drivers and outcomes of irregular migration,” explained Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio. German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the compact’s focus on “the foundations of international cooperation.” She added that “globalization, if we want to give it a human face, can only be shaped in such a humane way when all countries on this planet have fair and equal opportunities to develop.” About 3,200 people attended the conference, including representatives of more than 150 countries. Read more from the BIC about its statement at the UN conference. (Editor’s note: On 19 December, to more accurately reflect the text of the Global Compact, the first paragraph of this story was modified and a second added.)

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BIC GENEVA

Last member of former Yaran ends prison term, persecution continues

BIC GENEVA — The last imprisoned member of the former leadership body of the Baha’i community in Iran was released from prison today after serving an unjust 10-year prison sentence for merely practicing his faith. Iran’s Baha’is, however, continue to face daily, pervasive persecution. Afif Naeimi, 56, was arrested on 14 May 2008 and charged with, among other false claims, espionage, propaganda against Iran, and the establishment of an illegal administration. Mr. Naeimi and the other six former members of the Yaran—an ad-hoc body tasked with tending to the spiritual and material needs of the religious community—faced those charges more than a year after their arrest in a sham trial without any semblance of legal process. Authorities sentenced Mr. Naeimi and the other former members of the Yaran to 10 years in prison. While detained, Mr. Naeimi experienced severe health problems, often receiving inadequate treatment. Authorities made a cruel determination that the brief time Mr. Naeimi, a father of two from Tehran, spent in a hospital recovering would not be counted as part of his sentence. “We are of course happy that Mr. Naeimi has been released. However, this should by no means be seen as an improvement of the situation of Iranian Baha’is as a whole,” said Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “The stark reality is that scores of Baha’is still remain imprisoned in Iran because of their beliefs and tens of thousands more face intense persecution including denial of access of higher education, shop closures, and harassment.” Afif Naeimi and his wife in Tehran earlier todayIran’s pervasive and systematic persecution of the Baha’i community—including revolving arrests, arbitrary court sentences, and shop closures—has been condemned in recent months by the United Nations General Assembly, the European Parliament and United States House of Representatives, as well as the Australian, and Swedish parliamentarians. Furthermore, an increasing number of Iranians within and outside Iran have denounced the persecution. Just last month, a group of Iranian Muslim intellectuals condemned the “systematic and deeply rooted violation of Baha’i citizens’ rights” and described it as “being inhumane and contrary to religious and moral obligations.” The long history of Iran’s state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is is well documented. The Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, photos, and videos revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution, including the killing or execution of more than 200 Baha’is since the Iranian revolution in 1979. The October 2016 report “The Baha’i Question Revisited: Persecution and Resilience in Iran” also describes the Iranian government’s systematic persecution of the Baha’is.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Why religion is in the spotlight again

Representatives of a number of national Baha’i communities recently gathered at the Baha’i World Centre to reflect on the past several years of experience learning about participation in the discourses of society. The Baha’i World News Service took the opportunity to interview groups of representatives about the experiences and insights they have gained in this area of endeavor. Listen to the second of these conversations in this week’s story. Part one is available here. BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The accelerating movement of populations across borders, increasing religious diversity, growing interreligious tensions, sectarian violence, youth discontent and vulnerability to radicalization: these and other factors are combining to bring religion to the forefront of discourse in virtually every region of the world and on the international stage. Conscious of the forces of change sweeping across their societies, societal leaders are pursuing constructive ways to address humanity’s most pressing challenges. In this context, some governments, scholars, prominent thinkers, and civil society actors have sought to better understand the positive contributions that religion and faith communities can make to society. “There was a time in Canada when it was assumed that religion would fade away,” Geoffrey Cameron says in the podcast. “Notwithstanding the relative degrees of prosperity and progress in the world, our societies face immense social, political, and cultural challenges. And it's hard to think that those challenges can be overcome without honestly engaging the insights that exist within religion. We have to look for new ways to talk about religion, not only as it contributes to our own personal lives but also how it relates to the social transformation of our communities.” “We need to gain this unifying vision of the role of religion in society,” explains Lyazzat Yangaliyeva, from Kazakhstan. A generation ago, that country emerged out of the former Soviet Union and its government-mandated scientific atheism. As a multi-faith nation today, Kazakhstan is trying to draw on religion’s constructive powers for the betterment of society. “We are exploring what an important role religion can play in, for example, strengthening morality among youth or in coping with the different social challenges that our country now faces, such as corruption.” Reflecting on the current reality in India, Arash Fazli adds: “In the past decade or so, to some extent, the question of religion has been tied to the question of social cohesion and unity. And partly this is because of the increasingly loud and brazen voices from within extreme religious fundamentalist groups who have become more and more dominant in the public domain.” “So, when we started to think about how to have a meaningful engagement with other social actors on the role of religion in society, we found the most ready theme that needed to be addressed was this question: how can we dispel the various misconceptions about religion that cause disunity between religious communities and how can we, in a sense, put out there a conception of religion that is actually unifying?” In this podcast episode, Dr. Cameron, Ms. Yangaliyeva, and Dr. Fazli are interviewed by Rachel Bayani, who also draws on her experience as the representative of the Baha’i International Community Brussels Office.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

2018 in review: progress and insights

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — For the Baha’i world, 2018 was marked by a wide range of developments. Through its podcast and written articles, the Baha’i World News Service sought to capture some of these developments and to explore new insights emerging from Baha’i endeavor. Stories in the past year, which began in the afterglow of the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth, covered a diversity of topics. Twelfth International Baha’i Convention Held every five years, the International Baha’i Convention is a moment for representatives of every national Baha’i community to consult about the progress of the Faith in their lands and to vote for the members of the international governing body, the Universal House of Justice. More than 1,500 ballots were cast in the election of the Universal House of Justice on 29 April. In a rarefied and spiritual environment, this delegate from Alaska was the first to cast a ballot.Representing 166 countries, more than 1,000 delegates attended the convention in Haifa. Delegates were shown a new documentary film about community building efforts around the Baha’i world. The occasion was also a time to make available a new section of the website for the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth. A new documentary film, A Widening Embrace, was produced through a creative, grassroots process in which local teams documented the efforts of their own communities to effect social change.Houses of Worship The Baha’i world in 2018 witnessed the dedication of the second local Baha’i House of Worship. In July, more than 1,000 people attended a special dedication ceremony for the Temple in the Norte del Cauca region of Colombia. Participants enter the Colombia Temple for their first visit during the 22 July inauguration ceremony. Five groups of about 220 people each filled the Temple for a devotional program, which included prayers and readings from the Baha’i writings.The Temple’s dedication marked a new stage in the unfoldment of the Baha’i Faith in the region, where the Faith has had roots for more than four decades. The inauguration included a first visit to the Temple with great reverence, led by a representative of the House of Justice. The sharing of music, dance, and other artistic expression helped to create a joyful atmosphere for the occasion. Residents from nearby communities continued to visit the Temple for a series of special visits on the four Sundays following the 22 July ceremony. During the Colombia Temple’s inauguration ceremony on 22 July, dancers perform the song “La Cumbia del Jardinero,” which uses a metaphor of a gardener to describe the process of spiritual education.Designs for Baha’i Temples in Papua New Guinea and Kenya were also unveiled in 2018. The design of the national House of Worship in Papua New Guinea was unveiled in a joyous event on 21 March in the country’s capital city of Port Moresby.In New Delhi, an educational facility was added to the Baha’i Lotus Temple, which continues to be a vibrant center of life for the city and beyond. The continental House of Worship first opened in 1986 and has had more than 100 million visitors. In Santiago, the Temple for South America has not only earned international recognition for its innovative architecture but is also a point of attraction and inspiration for people in Santiago and beyond. Arts and Social Transformation From collective expressions of music and drama at the grassroots to performances at prestigious venues, the Baha’i world continued to explore the nature of the connection between the arts and social transformation. The Baha’i World News Service wrote about a few examples of artistic expression from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, and Zambia. Inspired by the life of Tahirih—an important figure in early Baha’i history—Azerbaijani journalist Kamale Selim Muslimgizi produced the play Daughter of the Sun. The stage performance highlighted Tahirih’s unmatched courage throughout her life as an influential poet, scholar, and champion of women’s emancipation. This scene from the play Daughter of the Sun depicts when Nasiri’d-Din Shah, the king of Persia, met with Tahirih, offering to marry her if she recanted her faith. Tahirih turned down the offer with poetry: “Kingdom, wealth, and power for thee / Beggary, exile, and loss for me / If the former be good, it’s thine / If the latter is hard, it’s mine.”At Edinburgh’s world-famous Fringe Festival, a new stage musical, Henry Box Brown, vividly brought to the life the story of a man who escaped slavery by shipping himself in a box out of the southern United States to freedom. Drawing on the arts as a powerful medium for raising consciousness, the show stimulates constructive conversation and inspires action and social change. Members of the cast of Henry Box Brown act out a scene from the musical, which was staged at the world-famous Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland.And in northwestern Zambia, where collective singing is an integral part of daily life, the Lunda people have been drawing inspiration from the Baha’i teachings to channel the power of music to unite. A Lunda singing group in Mwinilunga, Zambia, sings “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers.” Participation in the discourses of society Efforts of the Baha’i community to contribute to the betterment of society at the level of thought are one of the themes followed by the Baha’i World News Service. Listen to parts 1 and 2 of a series of podcasts about the involvement of the Baha’i community in broad conversations focused on social betterment. This year, the Baha’i International Community participated in forums focused on poverty, the equality of women and men, the role of youth in society, and international migration. National Baha’i communities also contributed to discourses on a range of themes, such as preventing radicalization in Spain, interreligious dialogue in Kazakhstan, the role of media in fostering social harmony in India, and reconciliation in Canada. In the United States, the Baha’i Chair for World Peace organized seminars on the themes of global peace and overcoming racism. The Baha'i community of Spain co-organized a conference on 26 October on the subject of radicalization.An article also explored the efforts of the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity, a Baha’i-inspired educational and research organization that holds seminars to help young adults reflect on their part in the emergence of a peaceful and just global civilization. The Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity holds a series of seminars for university students to help them see their education as integral to their efforts to contribute to the transformation of society. Seminars for university students were held in more than 40 countries this year. These participants gathered at a seminar in Brazil.Social and economic development Various examples were reported this year of Baha’is engaging in social and economic development endeavors. A new edition of For the Betterment of the World detailed many examples of Baha’i contributions in this area. A new edition of For the Betterment of the World was published in April. The publication illustrates the Baha’i community’s ongoing process of learning in action in the field of social and economic development.Groups of Continental Counsellors discussed Baha’i-inspired educational endeavors in Africa. In the Caribbean island nation of Dominica, a hopeful community united to rebuild after a devastating hurricane. And on the other side of the globe in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia, a conference reflected on the role of spiritual education in the development of peaceful and prosperous communities. In the months following September 2017, when Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean island of Dominica, the community united in reconstruction efforts. Here, youth and adults work together to build a greenhouse in the island’s Kalinago territory.And in its 9 November message to the Baha’is of the world, the Universal House of Justice announced the establishment of a new global institution to “promote and coordinate the efforts of the worldwide community in social and economic development.” The development of Baha’i communities at the grassroots The profound impact Baha’u’llah’s teachings are having in communities around the world formed the basis of a number of other reports by the News Service. In January, an article featured how some villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are learning to transcend the longstanding barriers that divide people. Residents in the village of Ditalala, which means peace, have witnessed a profound transformation in their community, inspired by the teachings of Baha’u’llah.In a series of podcast episodes, the News Service interviewed groups of Continental Counsellors about insights emerging from community building efforts around the world.Finally, the new film A Widening Embrace, which was released in April and mentioned above, tells the story of transformation unfolding in 24 communities representing different realities and contexts. A trio of short films accompanying the documentary was released in September, describing more about the process of social change being seeing in communities around the world. Access to the Holy Writings This year also saw the publication of new translations of the Baha’i writings as well as the implementation of a new feature of the Baha’i Reference Library. In its Ridvan message, the Universal House of Justice stated that the “feature will allow previously untranslated and unpublished passages or Tablets from the Holy Writings to be released online over time.” A collection of more than 100 previously unpublished and untranslated selections from the Baha’i writings was published on 5 September on the Baha’i Reference Library, which was also updated with new site enhancements.In New Zealand, the first substantial book of Baha’i prayers was published in the indigenous Maori language, while in the Philippines, the Kitab-i-Aqdas was rendered into the widely-spoken Cebuano language. In September, a Baha’i prayer book in the Maori language was published, the first substantial collection of Baha’i prayers in the indigenous language. This photo shows a celebratory event announcing the publication at a local Maori community meeting grounds near Hamilton, New Zealand.A year of historic anniversaries A century and a half after Baha’u’llah’s arrival to the Holy Land, the Baha’i World News Service produced a special series of podcasts about that significant period in history. The 3-part series explored the context into which Baha’u’llah was arriving in Akka on 31 August 1868, the events surrounding the day of His arrival, and the series of extraordinary writings He penned, addressing the kings and rulers of the time. This year was also the centenary of the end of World War I, one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. In the years preceding the war, ‘Abdu’l-Baha made urgent efforts to promote peace. Once the conflict broke out, He took critical actions to ease suffering in the region. His call for peace, stating that it would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah, perhaps has even greater relevance today. This 1920 photo shows ‘Abdu’l-Baha walking from His house on Haparsim Street in Haifa. He worked tirelessly to promote peace and to tend to the safety and well-being of the people of Akka and Haifa.Persecution of Iran’s and Yemen’s Baha’i communities continues unabated The Baha’i communities in Iran and Yemen continue to face persecution. In Iran, the last four imprisoned members of the former leadership group, the Yaran, were released from prison this year. Still, as the seven former members of the Yaran have now completed their unjust 10-year prison sentences, the country’s Baha’i community continues to suffer under the weight of state-sponsored systematic persecution. Earlier this month, the United Nations condemned the country’s ongoing human rights violations against Baha’is. In January 2018, the Baha’i International Community launched the Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website, prompting 25 prominent intellectuals and specialists in human rights law to call on Iran’s top human rights official to acknowledge his country’s long-standing state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is. Iranians within and outside Iran have continued to denounce the persecution. Just last month, a group of Iranian Muslim intellectuals condemned the “systematic and deeply rooted violation of Baha’i citizens’ rights” and described it as “being inhumane and contrary to religious and moral obligations.” In Yemen, a Baha’i who has been imprisoned unjustly for his religious beliefs since December 2013 was sentenced to death in January. The man, Hamed bin Haydara, remains in a prison in Sana’a, Yemen. In September, the country’s Iranian-backed Houthi authorities also targeted some 20 Baha’is with a string of baseless charges, including espionage and apostasy. In January, the Baha’i International Community launched the Archives of Baha’i Persecution in Iran website. The website compiles thousands of official documents, reports, testimonials, photos, and videos revealing irrefutable proof of relentless persecution. It was created in response to rising interest within and outside Iran to understand the depth and breadth of the persecution of Iran’s Baha’is. The release prompted 25 prominent intellectuals and specialists in human rights law to call on Iran's top human rights official to acknowledge his country’s long-standing state-sponsored persecution of the Baha’is.

MACAU

Material and spiritual education: 30 years of School of the Nations

MACAU — A Baha’i-inspired international school in Macau is marking its 30th anniversary this academic year. School of the Nations has become an educational institution highly regarded for its academic rigor and its integrated approach to the moral and intellectual development of its students. “The school’s founders saw the need for an educational approach that develops students’ intellectual powers together with the moral and spiritual foundations that will guide them throughout life,” says Victor Ali, Executive Director of the Badi Foundation, the school’s parent organization. “The school had very humble beginnings. It started in an apartment. And there were more teachers than students,” adds Vivek Nair, the school’s director. School of the Nations opened in 1988 with five students and seven teachers. It grew rapidly, attracting nearly 100 students in its second year and nearly 200 in its third year. Eventually, the Macau government donated land where a 7-story facility was opened in 2008. That new building includes a library that is also accessible to the public throughout the week. Today, School of the Nations has 600 students from kindergarten through high school and 100 teachers. “We see ourselves as exploring what it means to be a Baha’i-inspired school,” adds Mr. Nair. Drawing inspiration on principles such as the harmony of science and religion, the oneness of humankind, and the independent investigation of truth, the school takes innovative approaches in refining and offering its curriculum in a manner that builds on sound educational approaches. In its early years, School of the Nations operated out of different apartment buildings in Macau.While garnering international recognition for its high academic standards, the school places a particular emphasis on students contributing to the well-being and progress of their society. Service projects are part of the curriculum, and students see the improvement of the material and social conditions in their communities as an essential aspect of their development. The school also serves Macau in other ways. For instance, educators throughout Macau use teacher-training materials developed by School of the Nations. A local university sends students for a year-long internship program at the school, where they learn about the school’s educational methods. School of the Nations is one of more than 800 Baha’i-inspired educational institutions around the world. Rather than providing programs for religious instruction or indoctrination, these endeavors have as their primary objective the development of capacity in generation after generation to contribute meaningfully to the betterment of society. They are among the many social and economic development efforts of varying degrees of complexity that Baha’is are carrying out, which operate on the principle that populations should be the protagonists of their own material, spiritual, and intellectual advancement, not just recipients or mere participants. The school is a high performer in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and was the first in Macau to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education, the two most widely recognized international qualifications accepted by the majority of universities in the world. Graduating students often attend highly regarded universities in East Asia, Europe, and North America. The school also has a strong special education program for students with special needs. The moral education component began in the form of classes supplementary to the core curriculum of English, Mandarin Chinese, history, math, science, and other subjects. But increasingly, the school has been learning about the integration of this dimension into every subject. “One area of learning for us is how to integrate moral education into all subjects,” Mr. Nair says. For students in grades six to eight, for example, the school uses a moral empowerment program, offered by the Badi Foundation. The program engages young people in the study of educational texts to learn to identify local needs and engage in service projects and activities to improve the social and material reality of their communities. The program also helps young people to understand the application of moral principles, such as kindness toward others, service to one’s community, honesty and generosity, and unity and harmony among one’s family, friends, and neighbors. The emphasis on moral principles aims to inspire youth to be dedicated to the progress of their society.“We see ourselves as exploring what it means to be a Baha’i-inspired school.”—Vivek Nair, School of the Nations DirectorThe school has a mid-year project where groups of students work together to try to understand a current social problem. “This year’s project is about wealth inequality,” Mr. Nair explains. “So, they will study different countries and begin to understand some of the causes of the extremes of wealth and poverty and try to gain insights about how to begin to address these challenges,” he adds. Their efforts to work in a learning mode—characterized by the process of action, reflection, consultation, and study—have been central to the school’s growth over three decades. This allows challenges to be examined, lessons to be learned, and modifications to be made. School administrators and teachers meet regularly to not only consult on operational matters, but also to deepen their understanding of the sort of education they are offering, Mr. Nair says. Today, about 80 percent of the students and nearly half of the teachers are local to Macau, deeply rooting the school in the community. When teachers and students consult on service projects, for example, they have an intimate understanding of the community they have lived in their whole lives and deep connections with other people who can help. For more information on Baha’i education endeavors, read For the Betterment of the World.

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113.5514142

OSLO

Norway

The evolving Baha’i perspective on interfaith dialogue

This is part three in a series of stories about the Baha’i community’s participation in the discourses of society. Read part 1 here and part 2 here. OSLO, Norway — Recent international interfaith gatherings highlight a growing awareness in the world. Many social actors are seeing in interreligious dialogue a new potential to channel the constructive powers of faith for the betterment of society. “If we all have humility instead of insisting on the exclusivity of our own perspectives, then we begin to learn from each other,” says Britt Strandlie Thoresen, who heads Norway’s national interfaith organization. As a Baha’i, her commitment to interreligious dialogue springs from a belief in the power of fellowship to foster unity. “We are striving to find a common path together—a path to building a better world with each other.” Today, the interfaith movement can reflect on more than a century of experience cultivating dialogue between people of different faiths. At the end of the 19th century, the burgeoning movement seemed to hold great promise for ushering in a recognition of the oneness of religion. The 20th century painted a very different picture. Two world wars, a seemingly intractable rise of sectarian violence, religious fundamentalism, and radicalization have left many disenchanted with religion and wary of the value of the movement. The interfaith movement, however, has made impressive contributions toward promoting unity among the world’s religious communities. Increasingly, people are conscious of how the movement can go even further in helping humanity to attain higher degrees of unity in addressing its most weighty challenges. For Baha’is, a century of participation in interfaith activities worldwide has sparked a deep reflection in recent years. What is the potential of the spaces opened up in the name of interfaith dialogue? What are its aims and hopes today? How can we participate in a discourse that draws on the insights of religion but goes further to explore their relevance to a world in disarray? “One way of looking at religion is as a phenomenon that transcends any one faith or sect,” explains Venus Khalessi, who represented the Baha’i community at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last September. One of the aims of participation in interfaith dialogue, she explains, is to draw out universal principles and learn from each other’s experiences applying them. The point is to work toward a more peaceful and just world. “In this sense, religion can be seen as a system of knowledge and practice that is evolving and offers insights and values that can help society advance.” Britt Strandlie Thoresen (second from right), chair of the Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities in Norway, speaks among five panelists at a major annual national meeting in the town of Arendal. The event brings together government leaders, civil society, and faith communities to discuss major issues affecting the country. Here, Mrs. Thoresen speaks at a panel on the environment. The event was called “The Cathedral of Hope,” held on the water to highlight pollution of the oceans and other environmental issues.The view that religion has a vital and constructive role to play in the life of humanity was shared by representatives of many religious groups at the G20 Forum. The conference’s concept paper describes religion’s prominent role in many societal issues. “Acknowledged or unacknowledged, around the world religion addresses the challenging problems societies and nations face as well as broader societal well-being,” the paper states. “Without the investment of time and resources that religiously-motivated organizations and individuals provide, the United Nations’ SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) are unattainable.” In November, more than 8,000 people from around the world gathered in Toronto, Canada, for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, another major forum for the global interfaith movement. Baha’is organized sessions on relevant themes such as the empowerment of youth, the relationship between religion and citizenship, the principle of oneness, the equality of women and men, race unity, and more. In all, more than 60 presentations were offered by Baha’is, often in collaboration with people of different faiths. Mrs. Thoresen sees great value in continuing to invest time in interfaith activities. “We are learning step by step. We are learning to listen, reflect, and communicate with one another in a way that builds common understanding.” “In this setting, it is important not to dwell on differences but to try to build on what we all have in common, and that is a lot actually,” she continues. The Council for Religious and Life Stance Communities in Norway, which Mrs. Thoresen chairs, not only holds regular interfaith gatherings in Oslo but also promotes interreligious dialogue in local communities throughout the country.“We need a kind of dialogue that can harness the power of religion to help humanity tackle its most challenging problems.” —Gerald FilsonInterfaith activities vary widely. Some groups primarily seek fellowship; others are oriented toward social change. Since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, for example, the country has been increasingly conscious of its religious diversity and has been seeking to cultivate a pluralistic society. Interfaith dialogue has played a critical role in building a common vision for the future. And more broadly in the Arab region, the United Nations Development Programme organized a conference in December, bringing together religious representatives, including Baha’is, for a review of how faith communities are enhancing social cohesion and tolerance. In addition to the evolving landscape of interfaith activities, some Baha’i communities are observing a new frontier: moving beyond traditional interreligious dialogue to include a wider sweep of society. “We need a kind of dialogue that can harness the power of religion to help humanity tackle its most challenging problems,” explains Gerald Filson, a Baha’i who used to head the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, the country’s preeminent interreligious organization. “In Canada, we are finding that secular and religious actors can work together in pursuit of the common good. Opening spaces for this sort of collaboration has helped the discourse advance and new possibilities to open up.” The Baha’i community there has co-organized several major national conferences about religion in the public sphere, bringing together civil society and faith-based organizations, academics, and government representatives. In Spain, a recent seminar focused on confronting violent radicalization, bringing together a high-level panel of security specialists, policymakers, and scholars to better understand and address a growing problem in Europe. “We have to keep moving forward together—widening the circle to include all people. Only through transcending divides and working side by side for our common destiny can we begin to address the real problems of the world in a way that actually uplifts and brings people together in an understanding beyond rhetoric,” Dr. Filson says. In their participation in discourses related to religious coexistence, the role of religion in society, and interfaith dialogue, growing numbers of people and groups are learning to draw out religion’s constructive contributions to society, and the Baha’i community is striving to contribute its share to this vital cause. In its efforts, it is finding inspiration in the Universal House of Justice’s April 2002 letter to the world’s religious leaders.

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10.7389701

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Interfaith gathering of senior representatives followed by visit to Shrine of the Bab

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In a pronounced show of interreligious unity, 10 representatives of the Christian, Druze, Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i faiths, were joined by 17 Roman Catholic bishops and their advisers from abroad for a special interfaith discussion on religious coexistence on 14 January. After, the diverse group visited the Shrine of the Bab. The panelists, who represented each of the participating religious communities, focused on how their coreligionists can not only nurture a spirit of mutual tolerance and coexistence but also collaborate on efforts to build unity. A number of speakers noted that the principles of dialogue, tolerance, respect, coexistence, and love for one another are highlighted throughout their sacred scriptures. And in order to create bonds of unity among people of different religions and dispel indifference and prejudice, it is important for people to communicate with and know each other, several of the panelists explained. Following the discussion at the Baha’i World Centre, prayers were recited in Arabic, English, and Hebrew. The 50 participants then walked to the nearby Shrine of the Bab, a domed building on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel, where the sacred remains of the Herald of the Baha’i Faith are entombed. Father Yousef Yakoub (left) recited the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi in Arabic, English, and Hebrew as audience members and fellow panelists (from left) Emir Muhammad Sharif Odeh, Baha’i International Community Deputy Secretary-General Shervin Setareh, Rabbi Naama Dafni-Kelen, Bishop Michel Dubost, Sheikh Jaber Mansour, Rabbi David Metzger, and Sheikh Rashad Abo Alhigaa stood in reverence.The Catholic clerics were visiting the Holy Land on behalf of the Pope and the Church for an annual meeting to show support to the Christian community; they hailed from a dozen different countries, mostly in Europe and North America. Father Yousef Yakoub, the leader of Haifa’s Maronite Christian community, who co-organized the event, recited the stirring Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Baha’i International Development Organization board of directors meets

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The board of directors of the Baha’i International Development Organization has convened for the first time. The establishment of the new institution was announced by the Universal House of Justice in its 9 November message to the Baha’is of the World. A five-member board of directors, appointed in November for a five-year term, met at the Baha’i World Centre and began consulting on the Development Organization’s aims and work. Regarding the new institution’s mandate, the House of Justice writes that its “primary purpose will be to facilitate learning about development by fostering and supporting action, reflection on action, study, consultation, the gathering and systematization of experience, conceptualization, and training—all carried out in the light of the Teachings of the Faith.” Rapid advances in Baha’i communities have helped make possible the establishment of the Development Organization, representing a new stage in the work of social and economic development in the Baha’i world. Since the Faith’s early years, Baha’is have striven to apply Baha’u’llah’s teachings to improve the material and spiritual aspects of their societies. In 1983, the House of Justice created the Office of Social and Economic Development (OSED) to assist it in promoting and coordinating the Baha’i community’s social and economic development efforts. OSED has now evolved into the Baha'i International Development Organization. Over 35 years, Baha’i endeavors in this field have strengthened markedly, and a framework for social action has taken shape. Worldwide, there are scores of nongovernmental Baha’i-inspired social and economic development organizations as well as tens of thousands of development activities and projects undertaken by Baha’is and other collaborators. These efforts fall along a spectrum of complexity and address an array of challenges in areas related to education, literacy, health, the environment, support for refugees, the advancement of women, empowerment of junior youth, elimination of racial prejudice, agriculture, local economies, and village development. The Development Organization will carry forward this work on an expanding scale and at higher levels of complexity. The board of directors will draw on the newly inaugurated Baha’i Development Fund, to which Baha’is may contribute, to assist both long-standing and emerging development efforts worldwide. The 9 November message announcing the Development Organization’s establishment coincided with the 199th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. The House of Justice announced the establishment of OSED 35 years earlier, also on the anniversary of the Bab’s birth.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

A collection of Baha’u’llah’s mystical writings published

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new volume of Baha’u’llah’s mystical works is now available online and in print. The Call of the Divine Beloved has five newly published selections from Baha’u’llah’s writings, including a poem revealed during His time in the Black Pit of Tehran. The book also contains revised translations of two of Baha’u’llah’s well-known works, the Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys. For the first time, an authorized English translation of one of Baha’u’llah’s most renowned poetic works, Rashh-i-‘Ama, or The Clouds of the Realms Above, is made available. Perhaps the earliest fruit of Baha’u’llah’s pen, Rashh-i-‘Ama is one of the few writings He authored in His native land of Persia. The work, composed in 1852 during His four-month imprisonment in the Black Pit, is a poetic reflection on His first intimations of His station as a Manifestation of God. The remaining six of the publication’s seven works were revealed by Baha’u’llah during His time in Iraq, from 1853 to 1863. After being released from His cruel and unjust imprisonment in Tehran, Baha’u’llah and His family were banished to Baghdad in a perilous journey through the dead of winter. For three months they traversed the snowy mountains of Western Iran, inadequately equipped for the conditions and Baha’u’llah Himself physically frail from His months of imprisonment in abhorrent conditions. In Baghdad, a small and dejected band of Babis, whose Leader had been executed by firing squad nearly three years earlier, had fallen into a state of disarray and disunity. Baha’u’llah withdrew Himself from the turmoil of the community to the mountains of Kurdistan, where He lived a life of solitude, in near-constant prayer and meditation for two years—a period reminiscent of Moses’ withdrawal to Mount Sinai, Christ’s 40 days and nights in the wilderness, and Muhammad’s retreat to the cave on Mount Hira. Assuming the identity of a dervish and clad in humble garb, Baha’u’llah was at first unknown to the people of the region. Stories soon spread of a man of extraordinary wisdom and eloquence found in the mountains. Numerous religious leaders and mystics were drawn to Baha’u’llah, often traveling long distances to visit Him. Two years after His withdrawal, Baha’u’llah, at ‘Abdu’l-Baha's request, returned to Baghdad, a moment Shoghi Effendi has described as “a turning point of the utmost significance in the history of the first Bahá’í century.” Baha’u’llah’s return revived and animated the Babi community. The subsequent period, Shoghi Effendi wrote, saw an “enormous expansion in the scope and volume of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings…”. The Sufis and clerics who had come to revere Baha’u’llah while He was in the mountains of Kurdistan were now flocking to Baghdad to visit Him. It was during those years when He penned some of His most renowned works, including the Seven Valleys. The Call of the Divine Beloved is available on the Baha’i Reference Library; the book can be ordered through the United States Baha’i Publishing Trust.

WASHINGTON

D.C.

United States

Advancing a discourse on race unity in the U.S.

WASHINGTON — From its earliest days, the United States Baha’i community has been dedicated to the cause of race unity. This strong sense of mission in the American Baha’is was ignited by ‘Abdu’l-Baha during His visit to North America in 1912 when He often admonished them to see no difference between black and white, to accept that all belong to one human race. Today, the Baha’i community has been reflecting on how it can best contribute to the cause of race unity amid a growing awareness in the country about the entrenched nature of prejudice and structural injustice. “The discourse on race in America has re-surged into the national consciousness,” P.J. Andrews explains in the most recent Baha’i World News Service podcast episode. “So, it is really unavoidable to have a conversation about race in America. And we feel there is a lot to contribute from the Baha’i perspective.” A renewed sense of purpose is discernible in the Baha’i community’s longstanding dedication to race unity. One of the ways American Baha’is have been working for this cause is through involvement in public discourse. Participation in discourses occurs in scores of community-building efforts at the grassroots, in hundreds of projects and activities for social action, in the involvement of thousands of individuals at the professional level and in other public settings, and in the official efforts of the Baha’i community on the national stage. At the national level, the U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs is leading the charge. In the latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode, two of its staff members, Mr. Andrews and May Lample, discuss the Office’s efforts to participate in constructive social spaces exploring racial justice and unity. The Baha’i Office of Public Affairs has long been engaged in prevalent discourses in the U.S., such as sustainable development, the advancement of women, human rights, and, in more recent years, race. The Office has spent the past two years attending forums on race throughout the country, meeting with some of the leading thinkers on the subject, and learning with and from like-minded social actors. It has also been bringing into the discourse important insights from the Baha’i teachings. In its efforts to promote unity and contribute to discussions focused on societal betterment, the Office has interacted with lawmakers and government officials and collaborated with civil society organizations and media actors. One of the questions the Office is asking is what role faith plays in overcoming ingrained prejudice and structural injustice. Religious communities in the U.S. have had a complicated relationship with race. Religion has inspired great acts of sacrifice and heroism for the greater good, but it has also been used to justify oppression and reinforce otherness. Conscious of the complex and multifaceted nature of religion’s contribution to societal unity, Mr. Andrews and Ms. Lample reflect in the podcast episode on a nascent initiative undertaken by the Office—a series of national level conversations called the Faith and Race Dialogues. These gatherings bring social actors in the U.S. capital together in pursuit of overcoming and transcending racial prejudice. They are one of the many ways the U.S. Baha’i community is striving to heal the wounds of racism and explore a unifying path forward. A participant in the Faith and Race Dialogue in September speaks during the gathering.The Faith and Race Dialogues focus on concepts and ideas that underlie action, Mr. Andrews and Ms. Lample explain in the interview. The dialogues aim to elevate discussions above the acrimony and contention that often prevent the discourse on race in the U.S. from advancing. The Baha’i community is not naïve about the magnitude of the challenge facing society. The Faith and Race Dialogues, Mr. Andrews and Ms. Lample say, are one modest example among the many ways that Baha’is in the U.S. are engaged in the discourse on race unity. And these initiatives across the country will need to expand and intensify in the coming years. These efforts build on a long legacy within the Bahá’í community. Since the community’s earliest days, Baha’is in the country have been trying to address the problem of racial prejudice, which Shoghi Effendi has described as “the most vital and challenging issue confronting the (American) Bahá’í community…”. ‘Abdu’l-Baha inspired the American Baha’is to initiate a series of race amity conferences in the early 20th century, and He patiently guided a racially diverse community to struggle against the forces of prejudice and disunity. During His visit to North America, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke on race unity in spaces such as the renowned Howard University, a historically black college, as well as the annual meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s preeminent civil rights organization. The NAACP’s co-founder, writer and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, was in correspondence with ‘Abdu’l-Baha and published His talk as well as His photo in the organization’s magazine, The Crisis. In a talk at the Hull Settlement House in Chicago on 30 April 1912, speaking to some of the country’s most progressive social actors of that time, ‘Abdu’l-Baha underscored the importance of religion in overcoming racial prejudice. Despite the numerous commonalities between human beings, He explained, racial prejudice would be insurmountable without tapping the deepest wells of human potential: “(T)here is need of a superior power to overcome human prejudices, a power which nothing in the world of mankind can withstand and which will overshadow the effect of all other forces at work in human conditions. That irresistible power is the love of God. It is my hope and prayer that it may destroy the prejudice of this one point of distinction between you and unite you all permanently under its hallowed protection.”

38.8950368

-77.0365427

ROME

Italy

In President’s call for unity, Italian Baha’i community sees common aim

ROME — The Italian president’s call for unity and coexistence in a widely-viewed speech has prompted a discussion about the importance of unity amid an increasingly polarized public discourse. Seeing common ground with themes of President Sergio Mattarella’s annual New Year’s Eve speech, the Italian Baha’i community decided to write to him. Its letter expressed appreciation for the president’s earnest call to unity and highlighted some concepts underlying the efforts of Baha’is working for the betterment of their country. “We too feel, Mr. President, in our daily life, in our relationship with colleagues, friends, family and acquaintances a growing desire for unity. Some questions seem to be recurring,” the Baha’i community wrote in its 18 January letter to the president. “What is the destiny of our people? What values, principles, rights and duties should guide our community? What contribution can every individual, youth, and adult, rich or poor, man or woman, Italian or immigrant, give in building a more just and united society, conscious of its high aim?” The president sent a reply on 4 February to the Baha’i community’s letter, expressing gratitude for its comments. The president’s 14-minute New Year’s Eve speech, broadcast on the Internet and major Italian television stations, was watched live by more than 10 million people. “It was notable for its call to unity amid a divisive political environment in Italy,” explains Guido Morisco, from the Italian Baha’i community’s external affairs office. “To feel like a community means to share values, perspectives, rights, and duties,” President Mattarella said in his speech. “It means envisioning ourselves in a shared future, to be built together. It means responsibility, because each of us is, to a greater or lesser extent, a protagonist of the future of our country.” President Mattarella also candidly assessed some of his country’s challenges—particularly unemployment and high public debt—and greeted the country’s 5 million immigrants. “We’ve been very happy to hear our president talk with such a positive attitude and hope for the future,” says Denise Cumella, also from the Baha’i office. This is the first Baha’i institution in Italy, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Rome, in 1948. Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery is standing on the far right and was a member of that body.While this is the first time the president has corresponded with the Baha’is, the community has long engaged with its government. “This conversation with the institutions of our society started in the 1950s when the first Baha’is arrived in Italy. It is an expression of the constant love and respect for our nation and its institutions,” notes Alessandro Benedetti, also with Italy’s Baha’i external affairs office. In October 2017, a special commemoration for the bicentenary of Baha’u’llah’s birth was organized in the Italian Chamber of Deputies. Italian lawmakers, religious leaders, and civil servants met in the Parliament’s Sala del Refettorio, where records and laws of the Italian legislature are kept and special events are occasionally held. “The Baha’is of Italy are committed to giving expression to a vision of unity in their activities all over the country,” Mr. Morisco adds.

41.8933203

12.4829321

SYDNEY

Australia

Australia, diversity, and the pursuit of social cohesion

SYDNEY — Vital to participation in the discourses of society is the Baha’i principle of consultation. In the latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode, two representatives of Australia’s Baha’i community discuss what they are learning about consultation's power to build greater unity of thought and action in society. Ida Walker and Venus Khalessi, from Australia’s Baha’i external affairs office, have been representing the Baha’i community in one of the most pressing discourses in Australian society—the discourse on social cohesion. Like many other countries, Australia is grappling with the question of how to foster harmony and cohesion among a population that is increasingly diverse in its ethnic, religious, and cultural makeup. As the government, civil society organizations, and the media have sought to understand this issue better, the Office of External Affairs has been present in the social spaces where social cohesion is being discussed on the national stage. “We’re really trying in these conversations with others to find language that can help the conversation tip in a direction, which fosters unity and frees us from false dichotomies or assumptions about one another,” Ms. Walker explains. Participants in the September 2017 Religious Leaders Forum prepare for their discussion on social cohesion, hosted on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney. The Baha’i community has participated in these forums for several years.“We drew on the principles of consultation so that we could have a collective inquiry into certain realities, where everyone’s input is owned by the whole, to really examine how to build social cohesion more closely. Then we were able to contribute to a growing body of knowledge for the benefit of all participants,” Ms. Khalessi adds.

-33.8548157

151.2164539

MWINILUNGA

Zambia

Milestones in Zambia: two new educational facilities seek to uplift through knowledge

MWINILUNGA, Zambia — Traditional chiefs and government officials attended two special ceremonies in recent weeks to dedicate new educational facilities—marking milestones in educational developments in Zambia. More than 250 people attended the dedication of educational buildings in Mwinilunga on 22 February while another 130 attended the opening of a community agricultural center in Kabwe on 1 March. At the heart of the process of social transformation under way in Zambia is a conviction that every population has the right and responsibility to mark out the path of its own progress. Education and training are viewed as means for unlocking people’s latent capacities for contributing to the development and progress of their communities and society at large. In Mwinilunga, in the country’s northwest, the new facilities will support a preschool, gatherings for women, educational programs, and youth gatherings for the region’s people, explained Kennedy Chanda, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Zambia.“The official opening of these facilities in the presence of the chief, headmen, and government officials shows that they belong to the people,” Mr. Chanda added. The opening of the new preschool and offices for Baha’i and Baha’i-inspired educational programs based in Mwinilunga comes amid a period of profound developments in the region. Since the Baha’i teachings were introduced to the Lunda people in 1962, many have identified with Baha’u’llah’s teachings and sought to apply them for the material and spiritual progress of their people. “Development is meaningful when the local people develop capacity to take responsibility, and this institute focuses on capacity building,” District Commissioner Mwiya Thurani Ryan said at the opening ceremony.Also addressing the audience, Senior Chief Kanongesha acknowledged the Baha’i community’s efforts to ensure the education of girls and promote equality in society, encouraging the Baha’is to do more. The facilities are utilized by the Eric Manton Baha’i Institute, which has long provided vital educational programs and meeting spaces for the community. The first building was opened in October 1998 to provide space for educational activities organized by the Baha’i community, which had only a large meeting hall since 1968. The Institute is named after a Baha’i from the United Kingdom who moved to Zambia in 1952 to introduce the teachings of Baha’u’llah to people there. A Baha’i choir sings during the dedication ceremony of the new facilities at the Eric Manton Baha’i Institute in Mwinilunga, Zambia, on 22 February.About 500 kilometers to Mwinilunga’s southeast in Kabwe, the capital city of the country’s Central Province, another community gathered to witness the opening of the Ngungu Center for Community Agriculture. The community agriculture center in the city’s Ngungu township opened after a decade of work in the region by the Baha’i-inspired Inshindo Foundation. “Inshindo Foundation believes that knowledge lies at the center of social progress,” the organization’s national coordinator, Mubanga Malitonga, said in a speech at the 1 March opening. “The Ngungu Center for Community Agriculture is meant to be a community-based center through which knowledge related to sustainable food production can be generated and shared among community members.” The agricultural center will be staffed by local residents closely connected to the area’s food production systems. The staff will work with participants of Inshindo’s educational programs to learn about the application of sustainable systems of food production on small experimental plots of land. These insights will then be shared with local farmers who themselves are involved in the work of the agricultural center by contributing their own farming methods, Ms. Malitonga explained. Provincial Minister Sydney Mushanga, also a member of parliament, attended the 1 March opening of the Ngungu Center for Community Agriculture.The opening in Kabwe was attended by Provincial Minister Sydney Mushanga, who also addressed the attendees. “This center holds great promise for further advancement of the learning processes at the grassroots in the area of sustainable food production. I am pleased that you have regarded it as a place where knowledge about agriculture will not only be shared to community members, but will also be generated,” said Mr. Mushanga, a member of parliament.

-11.7314645

24.4260264

BIC NEW YORK

At UN Commission on the Status of Women, BIC highlights principles of oneness, equality

BIC NEW YORK — The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women begins today, with more than 9,000 people expected to attend the international body’s preeminent forum on gender equality. In its statement to this year’s Commission, the Baha’i International Community (BIC) highlighted the need for effective models of governance, education, and economics based on new principles. “A theme as weighty as providing social protection to all, particularly the most vulnerable—the majority of whom are women and children—must be considered in the light of a greater truth: that all of humanity is one, and all of humanity must benefit from the plentiful resources of our shared homeland,” the BIC statement reads. The Commission’s 63rd session, taking place at the U.N. headquarters in New York City through 22 March, focuses on social protection systems, access to public services, and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The BIC statement, Creating the World Anew: Leaving No One Behind, draws in part on the experience of the Baha’i community in the field of education, connecting it to advancing the status and participation of women in all spheres of society. The Baha’i International Community addressed a statement to the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women. A printable PDF version is available here.“While quality education does depend, to some degree, on a flow of material resources, the experience of many Baha’i communities at the grassroots suggests that even in the most remote and poverty-stricken areas of the world, there is a wealth of human resources that with time, attention, and the wise channeling of material means, can flourish,” the statement explains. The worldwide Baha’i community’s experience has shown that initiating an educational process that develops intellectual and moral capabilities does not need to wait until physical infrastructure is in place, the statement continues. “A quality education requires attention to the entire educational process—the training of the teachers, the selection or development of appropriate curricula, the creation of an environment that is conducive to learning, and the engagement of the community within which the learning process unfolds. These different dimensions can be supplemented and strengthened by material resources, to a degree. Yet, even more crucial is ensuring that teachers and students be involved in a process of capacity building that releases the powers of the human spirit.” The BIC statement also probes the inadequacy of contemporary social structures to bring about the equality of women and men and all that it implies for the progress of society: “Given that many of the systems and structures of society were designed precisely to reinforce domination and inequality, significant resources must also be channeled towards learning about effective models of governance, education, and economics structured around an entirely new set of principles: that human beings are one, that women and men are equal, that the emergent powers of the collective can be released through cooperation and reciprocity, and that humanity’s progress will be greatly bolstered by the full participation of all people in creating the world anew.” Baha’i International Community delegates prepare for the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which begins today.The BIC will host a panel discussion on Thursday about role of education in advancing gender equality. The discussion will offer perspectives on addressing some of the social forces that entrench inequalities disadvantaging women and girls, economic arrangements that promote equality, and holistic quality education for girls and boys. Read the panel’s concept note here. The event will be covered live on the BIC’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. For more information, visit BIC.org.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Baha’i World News Service becomes available in Spanish and French

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i World News Service is now available in French and Spanish. A language-switching icon on the service’s English-language homepage allows users to view translated versions of the website. French and Spanish translations of articles will typically be available within a few days of their publication in English. An archive of dozens of previously published stories is available on both the French and Spanish sites. Efforts are underway to translate older stories to fill the archive.The Baha’i World News Service, established in 2000, publishes thought-provoking and inspiring stories about developments in the global Baha’i community. In 2017, the News Service began producing a podcast and launched a smartphone app (available on Android and iOS). The News Service can also be found on Instagram and Twitter, and is available through an email subscription as well. The Baha’i World News Service is part of the Bahai.org family of websites, which includes the main Bahai.org site, the Baha’i Reference Library, the Baha’i Media Bank, and the special site made in commemoration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah. Together with the Persian-language version of the news site, the Baha’i World News Service is now available in four languages. Plans are in place to make it eventually available in all of the languages of Bahai.org, which is in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Mandarin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

New year heralds second bicentenary period

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Sunset today marks the Baha’i new year, Naw-Ruz, which is being celebrated around the world, heralding an eagerly anticipated second historic bicentenary. October 2019 will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the forerunner and herald of the Baha’i Faith, the Bab, whose dramatic ministry paved the way for the appearance of Baha’u’llah. On 29 and 30 October, Baha’is, together with their neighbors, families, and friends, will commemorate the births of these Twin Luminaries. In the coming months, a new website will be launched as part of the Bahai.org family of sites to honor this bicentenary. The site, like the one launched a month before the first bicentenary in 2017, will unfold in stages, eventually including a film specially commissioned for the occasion as well as regular updates from celebrations around the Baha’i world. In preparation for the coming bicentenary, a collection of 43 images associated with the life and mission of the Bab has been published online for the first time. Five aerial videos of the Shrine of the Bab and its vicinity were also published online. The collection can be found on the Baha’i Media Bank. The photos were added to sections about the Bab and His sacred Shrine. Also, three graphics for the coming bicentenary were added to a section about Baha’i Holy Day celebrations. This image of the Shrine of the Bab at sunrise is among those added to the Baha'i Media Bank.

MATUNDA

Kenya

Groundbreaking reflects unifying spirit of Kenya temple

MATUNDA, Kenya — A vibrant community in this rural part of Kenya gathered Saturday to witness the groundbreaking of the first local Baha’i House of Worship in Africa. The site of the future Baha’i temple sits about 4 kilometers west of the town of Matunda, in an area surrounded by maize and other farms. Home to some of the earliest Baha’i communities of Kenya, the area known as Matunda Soy has seen a remarkable process of spiritual transformation take root in recent decades. “The development of the first House of Worship in Kenya arises out of the hard work and sacrifice made in the path of service by the friends of the Matunda Soy cluster,” said Christopher Songok, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa. Participants in Saturday’s celebrations highlighted the unifying effect of the temple’s coming construction. “I am excited that people from all religions are welcome to worship at the temple,” said Alice Juma from the nearby community of Lwanda. “This ceremony is a truly spiritual event. I see this huge multitude—the young, the old, men and women all brought together in peace and obedience to almighty God,” expressed Peter Webonya of Matunda. This rendering shows the design for the Kenya temple, which broke ground today in Matunda, Kenya.The joyous and unifying groundbreaking was held just two days after the Baha’i new year, Naw-Ruz, on a warm day. Attendees included local dignitaries, religious leaders, and visitors from around Kenya as well as Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. People began arriving Friday night, some by foot, others on motorcycles, cars, and buses, continuing throughout this morning, greeting each other with warm embraces and songs. At the midday ceremony, a hushed crowd of about 1,200 people listened reverently to opening prayers. Then, Ruth Vuyiya, a much-loved Baha’i known affectionately as Mama Ruth, set the temple’s cornerstone on the red soil. Ms. Vuyiya was joined by her daughter, members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya, construction contractors and the temple’s architect Neda Samimi. After the ceremonial groundbreaking, attendees celebrated the moment in song and ululations. This aerial photo shows the site of the local Baha’i House of Worship in Matunda Soy, Kenya during Saturday’s groundbreaking.“The House of Worship has extraordinary significance in the community. It is the spot where noble souls offer supplication. It is a visible manifestation of the Lord,” Townshend Lihanda, another member of the Board of Counsellors in Africa, said. The House of Worship will be embedded in the vibrant and dynamic community-building efforts, involving not only Baha’is but also embracing the greater community in the Matunda Soy area. “Baha’i community-building activities in a locality are an invitation to young and old, women and men, to recognize the importance of their spiritual life and to work towards nurturing it by acquiring qualities that help not only their individual growth but are conducive, too, to the development of the community as a whole,” explained Japheth Kokal, a member of Kenya’s National Spiritual Assembly. The choir of the hosting Lwanda community sings during the groundbreaking of the Matunda Soy temple.The groundbreaking took place almost one year after its elegant and simple design, inspired by the region’s traditional huts, was unveiled at the same site. The design incorporates an intricate and expressive pattern that uses the diamond shape, a familiar motif in Kenyan culture. Exposed roof beams punctuating the nine sides of the edifice will be drawn together at an apex skylight. Inside, the skylight will sit atop a Greatest Name symbol, and 250 people can be seated. The temple will be built from local materials. In 2012, the Universal House of Justice announced plans for the construction of seven Houses of Worship. Two have already been built, the first in Battambang, Cambodia and the second in Norte del Cauca, Colombia. In addition to this temple in Kenya, two other local Houses of Worship and two national Houses of Worship are also in progress.

0.82795955

35.12127738390197

MADRID

Spain

A frank look at the news and its social impact

MADRID — A group of prominent Spanish journalists met recently to grapple with the news media’s impact on social cohesion and the rise of radicalization. The setting was a roundtable discussion on 15 March, organized by Spain’s Baha’i Office of Public Affairs at the King Juan Carlos University Center for University Studies. “The function of journalism is to make objective information known to the public for the common good,” argued Rafael Fraguas, co-founder of the major daily newspaper El Pais. “Today information is conflated with opinion. The compromising of objectivity—the highest form of honesty—in the news media is leading to ignorance, and it is clear today where ignorance is taking society.” The event involved a roundtable discussion among five individuals who work with some of Spain’s major media organizations: Mr. Fraguas; Jesús Bastante, the editor in chief of the online publication Religión Digital; Beatriz de Vincete de Castro, a lawyer and media personality; Francisco Castañón, director of the online magazine Entreletras; and Juana Pérez, an editor with the international news agency Pressenza. The discussion took place before an audience of some forty students and faculty. Participants explored the conflicting forces that are shaping news coverage today. Immediacy and cutbacks in funding have restrained the ability of journalists to pursue in-depth analyses. These same forces incentivize sensationalized and superficial stories that often seek to appeal to emotions of anger and mistrust. Yet, many journalists are deeply aware of these trends and want to pursue more profound stories that explore the complexities of a situation affecting society and to help build understanding. “In society, there are processes of disintegration and hopelessness that attract large audiences and processes of integration that instill hope but are not always covered. Therefore, journalists have to choose between putting on a show and making judgements, and informing in a trustworthy manner that fosters hope,” Ms. Pérez explained in the discussion. A roundtable discussion held at the Center of University Studies associated with the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid on 15 March focused on the role of media in fostering unity in society.Layla Sant from the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs explained the aims of the event. “Media has an impact on how society sees and perceives reality,” she said. “This dialogue is an early and necessary step in building conversation in our society about the values and framework that can enable the media to fulfill its role and responsibility for the betterment of society.” The roundtable emerged from a seminar co-organized by the Baha'i community in October on the prevention of violent radicalization. “We found an important theme to explore further is the place of the news media in the positive and negative forces playing out in society today,” said Dunia Donaires, also of the Office of Public Affairs. “So we decided to organize a series of discussions for journalists to analyze elements that initiate radicalization, such as polarizing and conflictual coverage, and explore how the media might counter these.” The Office of Public Affairs is planning future roundtables. It aspires to give momentum to a growing conversation in the country about the values and responsibilities of the media and ultimately to lead to further actions that can foster social harmony. The Office is also working with the Autonomous University of Madrid to teach a three-day summer school course about the prevention of violent radicalization.

40.4167047

-3.7035825

CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand

Following tragedy, New Zealand’s Baha’is work for unity, healing

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — In the weeks after a deadly terror attack, the people of New Zealand, still in mourning and shock, are responding with a newfound resolve and dedication to eradicate prejudice and hatred from their society. Public expressions of solidarity—including a nationally-broadcast memorial gathering Friday afternoon in Christchurch’s Hagley Park—highlight the spiritual qualities of the people, such as unity, tolerance, and kindness. Amid the country’s outpouring of both grief and support for the 50 victims killed and 50 injured, the Baha’i community has joined its fellow citizens in efforts to promote mutual respect and social harmony. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of New Zealand released a public statement condemning the attacks, expressing its profound sorrow, and conveying its hope that the tragedy will catalyze efforts to work toward peace, unity, and social inclusion. The National Assembly also encouraged the Baha’is “not to despair, but work steadily and show love to all,” in a letter dated 16 March. “We wanted to encourage the Baha’i community, and indeed the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, to see through their deep shock to glimmerings of hope and to rally their energies towards drawing upon sources of spiritual strength to work towards a more united country where such a terrible act could never again occur,” explained Suzanne Mahon, the Secretary of the National Assembly. This photo shows some of the hopeful and loving messages in the street art.In Christchurch, some 20 individuals involved in Baha’i community-building activities in a neighborhood where some of the victims lived met the day after the attacks to consult on how to offer meaningful support. First, they decided to visit their neighboring families who had been struck by the tragedy to offer condolences and support. Also, adults, youth, and children in the neighborhood collectively initiated a street art project, writing hopeful and loving messages on sidewalks, using chalk. Their creative expression quickly caught on as others throughout the city were inspired to contribute to the sidewalk art. Messages included, “We are flowers of one garden” and statements about the importance of unity. “This simple action that children, youth, and adults were able to take part in was an expression of love and solidarity and provided a wide range of people an outlet to express themselves in a meaningful way,” added Vahid Qualls, who assists with the neighborhood’s activities and is a member of the National Assembly. Two days after the attack, the local Baha’i community of Christchurch dedicated its Sunday morning devotional gathering to those lost in the tragedy, their families, and communities. The Baha’i community’s annual Race Unity Speech Awards, co-organized with the national police and other partners since 2001, will come at a crucial time this year. “We knew before that racial and religious prejudice can lead to hate and tragic violence, and that the work of promoting unity is serious and vital. But never before has it seemed so urgent,” said Aidan MacLeod, one of the event organizers. Students perform a haka, a dance traditional to the Maori people of New Zealand, during the 2017 Race Unity Speech Awards.“People in New Zealand are now talking frankly about racial prejudice and the need for unity. People are saying that we have been too complacent. There’s a desire for both reflection and decisive action,” Mr. MacLeod added. The annual event includes a special program in which high school students give speeches about race unity. This year, there will also be two conferences for youth throughout the country to discuss their efforts to work toward a more just and peaceful society. The New Zealand Baha’i community co-organizes a conference for youth alongside its annual Race Unity Speech Awards. Here, participants in last year’s conference consult during a small group session. (Credit: Tom Mackintosh)Among many other developments, 16 religious leaders in New Zealand, including a Baha’i representative, sent a message of love and support to the Muslim community on Friday. “Under such an onslaught we religious leaders are keenly aware of our need ... to draw upon the deepest resources of our diverse spiritualities and traditions. In this, the targeted Muslim people have themselves given noble and generous examples,” the religious representatives wrote. Baha’is in New Zealand are also seeing at this time the power of devotional gatherings. The National Assembly encouraged the Baha’is to see devotional gatherings as “sources of spiritual strength over the coming weeks and months for thousands of New Zealanders.” Devotional gatherings offer a space to make the profound connection between prayer and selfless deeds that promote the betterment of humanity.

-43.530955

172.6366455

COLLEGE PARK

MARYLAND

United States

Cities, technology, and happiness: a look at the future

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — Does city life make for happy citizens? What does a prosperous city look like? And what will be the values shaping cities in the future? “In The Secret of Divine Civilization, ‘Abdu’l-Baha repeatedly uses ‘happiness’ to make a point about how leaders should develop political, economic, social, and cultural structures in order to advance the spiritual, material, and physical well-being of their citizens, to whom they are responsible,” says Hoda Mahmoudi, the current Holder of the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College Park. “Our most recent event brought to light how important happiness is to all aspects of human development and offered evidence-based results regarding the many factors that help to promote the happiness of people and society.” Held on 4 and 5 April, the Baha’i Chair’s two-day conference brought together leading scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines to better understand the dynamics of urban life. More than half the world’s population lives in urban areas, and the United Nations projects that this proportion will reach more than two-thirds by 2050. Concerned with the implications of this trend, speakers explored how urban infrastructure—from its physical elements such as buildings, highways, or power lines, to intangible ones such as social support, community organizations, or spirituality—affects the future of humanity. Carrie Exton from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) argued that researchers and journalists interested in trying to gauge the prosperity of societies focus too much on gross domestic product, a measure of a country’s economic output, rather than on indicators of happiness and well-being.One of the topics explored by presenters was whether happiness can be measured, and, if so, how. Speaking to the conference’s attendees, Dr. Mahmoudi proposed that the concept of happiness is not merely an individualistic aim or a personal goal but a collective enrichment indicated by greater equity, inclusivity, access, health, security, and overall well-being. The subsequent talks looked at various dimensions of this broader conception of happiness.“Any view of (the relationship between) infrastructure and happiness must contend with inequality in its myriad forms.”—Carol Ryff, the Director of the Institute on Aging and a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-MadisonFor instance, Carrie Exton from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) argued that researchers and journalists interested in trying to gauge the prosperity of societies focus too much on gross domestic product, a measure of a country’s economic output, rather than on indicators of happiness and well-being. Dr. Exton’s work at the OECD has been to monitor happiness and progress in the 36 member countries as a way of determining societal well-being. Carol Ryff, the Director of the Institute on Aging and a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, heads a major longitudinal study on health and well-being in which she studies 12,000 people in the United States. In her comments, Dr. Ryff noted the impact of the stark inequalities in American society today, arguing that greater attention needs to be given to this urgent matter. “Any view of (the relationship between) infrastructure and happiness must contend with inequality in its myriad forms. We must attend to the differential access to quality housing, schools, jobs, food, neighborhoods, and green space.” Houssam Elokda, the Director of Operations and Masterplanning Lead with the Vancouver-based company Happy City, focused on how urban inequalities can be reinforced by a city’s transportation infrastructure. “When driving a car is the only mode of commute—the only option to access all the opportunities (of a city)—then you are telling those who can’t drive, … maybe they’re too poor, they’re too young, too old, or they have a disability, you are telling them that this city is not for them, that they are not meant to access these opportunities,” Mr. Elokda said. Mr. Elokda also explained: research confirms that commuting by walking or riding a bicycle leads to greater happiness than commuting by car. To make this possible, however, cities need to invest to make these modes of transportation safer and more accessible to all residents, for instance, by building proper sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, and other relevant infrastructure. Dubai is a rapidly developing city in the desert of the United Arab Emirates. Cities face complex and unprecedented questions that have deep implications for humanity's future. Who determines the direction of cities' development? What values underpin decision-making processes? Will inequality continue to worsen? How will technology impact happiness and well-being? Both the physical infrastructure of a city, such as buildings and highways, and intangible elements, such as social support, community organizations, or spirituality, can have a bearing on the well-being of humanity.Evidence was also shown that cities, in part because of their infrastructure, can either restrict or facilitate residents’ participation in decision-making processes in their community. This can happen, for example, through “soft infrastructure,” such as laws, norms, and customs, explained Lok Sang Ho, the Dean of Business at Chu Hai College of Higher Education in Hong Kong. “We need to think about how to improve our institutions and cultural heritage so that they can be inclusive and positive in cultivating the values of love, fortitude, and engagement so that we all accumulate the spiritual capital that unites us,” Dr. Ho said. Technology’s role in cities also featured prominently in the conference. For example, speakers explored how, as cities become filled with more digital technologies—from wireless Internet to self-driving cars to the ubiquitous presence of surveillance cameras—it will be important to think critically about the values underlying these technologies and whether they promote or restrict people’s agency. “You can actually encode values in the way you design the technology,” noted Ricardo Alvarez, a researcher with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Senseable City Lab. “This is important because when you look at the large-scale systems that we’re putting together, it actually falls on us as society to frame the constraints and limits of a technology.” The conference helped to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the questions facing cities today. In reflecting on the interconnectedness of the planet, Dr. Mahmoudi later commented that the revolutionary changes affecting society must be seen through the lens of the oneness of humankind. “This vital principal is ‘not only applicable to the individual,’” she said, drawing on a well-known passage by Shoghi Effendi, “but is concerned primarily with the ‘nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society.’” Recordings of the talks can be found on the Baha’i Chair’s YouTube channel.

38.99203005

-76.94610290199051

OTTAWA

ONTARIO

Canada

Canadian Parliament explores Internet, social media, and hate speech

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Canada — As societies have woken up to the reality that the Internet can be a platform for hate speech that leads to violence, a Canadian Parliament committee is studying this phenomenon and gleaning insights from several faith communities, including the Baha’is. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights recently began its study of online hate speech, bringing together for a hearing on 11 April representatives of several religious and other civil society organizations to discuss ways of combating the issue. “Young people need access to education that teaches them from the earliest years that humanity is one family,” explained Geoffrey Cameron, representing the Baha’i Community of Canada’s Office of Public Affairs. “They require education and mentorship that goes beyond a simplistic condemnation of hatred or a set of dos and don’ts regarding their online activity.” The widespread proliferation of social media has given hate speech a larger audience online. This has led to the glorification of violence and hateful actions, several speakers at the committee hearing said. For example, the first of the two Christchurch mosque terrorist attacks was livestreamed on Facebook for 17 minutes, and many violent extremists have been inspired by online discussion forums and social media posts, speakers noted. Dr. Cameron highlighted the need for educational processes that help young people navigate a polarized and deceptive information environment online: “Youth need help to develop a strong moral framework within which they can make decisions about their online activities, like which content they choose to share and consume, and how they use their powers of expression when communicating with friends and strangers online.” Geoffrey Cameron of the Canadian Baha’i community’s Office of Public Affairs attended a Canadian Parliament committee hearing about combatting online hate speech. Dr. Cameron was among representatives of nine religious and other civil society organizations discussing the issue.The significance of education, central to the Baha’i contribution at the hearing, was noted by others, including the committee’s vice chair, Member of Parliament Tracey Ramsey. “I think a core piece of what we’re looking at here is (for) people (to) understand how to identify what is a legitimate piece of media and what is something that is sharing perhaps hateful messages on the Internet and how to distinguish between those things,” Ms. Ramsey said. The discussion also explored the tension between respecting freedom of expression and regulating hate speech online as well as the prospect of technical solutions to reporting and monitoring hate speech or designating legitimate news sources. The hearing brought to light a growing awareness that governments and citizens cannot be naive about online technologies and their impacts on society. Questions about the value systems embedded in different online technologies, about privacy, misinformation, and hate speech, and about social isolation and increased risk to vulnerable populations, are among many concerns being explored by a wide range of social actors such as governments, educators, civil society, and individuals. Amid this complex landscape, helping young people to develop a moral framework to navigate online content and their contributions is an important dimension that should not be overlooked, Dr. Cameron added. Updated, 21 June 2019: The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights published a report earlier this week on its study of only hate speech. The report quotes the testimony of the Canadian Baha’i community, as well as other speakers at the panel in April, and makes recommendations for how the Canadian government could "better mitigate the incitement of hatred through online platforms."

45.4211435

-75.6900574

DONDO

Mozambique

In Mozambique, community mobilizes after cyclone

DONDO, Mozambique — Mud homes had melted, crops flooded, and electricity and phone connections were out. Cyclone Idai had devastated this largely rural region known as the Beira Corridor on 15 March. After days of deluge, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Dondo gathered on the morning of 19 March to take stock of the community’s needs. Convening the meeting was a challenge; telephone lines were down, and the only way to reach each other was by going to each other’s homes. The cyclone, one of the worst ever recorded in the southern hemisphere, first made landfall as it tore through the port city of Beira with sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour. Idai made its way 30 kilometers inland to the town of Dondo and by nighttime was in Zimbabwe, weakened but still dumping torrential rain. After the cyclone dissipated, heavy rain continued for days, flooding the region’s waterways and turning them into an “inland ocean,” as described by a United Nations official. More than 1,000 people have died in the storm and its aftermath; thousands more remain displaced in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Health officials are working to stem an outbreak of cholera, a disease transmitted through dirty water. As of Monday, 6,596 cholera cases and eight deaths have been reported, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In Dondo, the Baha’i community relied on its experience organizing community-wide activities to contribute to the area’s recovery. Devotional gatherings and an emphasis on moral and spiritual education have fostered a sense of communal solidarity that extends beyond the interests of any one group to the whole community. Ultimately, a rising spirit of service has found expression in a growing desire to put others ahead of self and an emphasis on consultation and collective action. Two young Baha’is Frederico Coutinho (top center) and Elisha Antonio (left) traveled from other communities in the Beira Corridor of Mozambique to assist the Dondo’s recovery from Cyclone Idai. Here they join other young people in rebuilding the home for a resident of Dondo.In the immediate aftermath of the storm, before outside help could arrive, Dondo’s Assembly decided to take action. It identified two priorities: ensuring people had a roof over their heads and combatting price gouging. “We realized we have a team of young people who can help,” explained Erick Mhiriri, a member of Dondo’s Assembly and the country’s National Spiritual Assembly. Young adults participating in different educational activities have been helping to repair and rebuild homes damaged by the cyclone. “They work together. They eat lunch together. They pray together,” Mr. Mhiriri said. “And after their work, they reflect and plan what they do the next day.” So far, they have rebuilt three homes and repaired two. The young people continue to work on homes destroyed by the cyclone, now seeing this effort as a part of their service to the community, Mr. Mhiriri added. This home was among the many destroyed when the rain softened the dry mud and melted it off the stick structure.Anticipating post-disaster price gouging, just after the storm, the Assembly of Dondo, drawing principally on its own resources, bought food and soap at lower wholesale prices and prepared small food kits for families in need. The Assembly carefully identified the most vulnerable families—typically those with young children or the elderly—and gave them about a week’s supply of food. “People see that it is a privilege to be able to help others who lost more than we did,” said Arild Drivdal, the Secretary of Mozambique’s National Spiritual Assembly, who also visited Dondo shortly after the cyclone hit. “The Assembly of Dondo took on a strong role. They didn’t use a fixed formula. They assisted families on a case-by-case basis depending on their needs.” The country’s National Spiritual Assembly received help from the worldwide Baha’i community, which provided financial and logistical assistance as well as guidance based on the lessons learned in this area of action by other communities that recovered from natural disasters. With support from the Baha’i International Community, the prayers of Baha’is around the world, and the devoted efforts of the local population here, the people of Dondo are reminded of that fact that they are not alone. They are part of an interconnected global community contributing to the betterment of humanity, Mr. Mhiriri said. A month after Idai, people in Dondo, an area that relies largely on communal farming, are resilient, carrying on with their daily responsibilities, according to Mr. Mhiriri. Yet, the community has to navigate dangers ahead, such as the spread of infectious diseases. The government and aid agencies have also been responding to needs throughout Mozambique, including in Dondo. The United Nations allocated $20 million in emergency funds days after the cyclone hit, the Mozambique Red Cross and partners are distributing shelter kits to people in need, and international aid organizations have been vaccinating against and treating cholera in the weeks following the cyclone. The international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders reported on 15 April that cholera cases in Dondo are contained and being addressed, and the UN reports that the number of new reported cases continue to decline.

-19.43929245

34.80933833352839

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Donald Rogers, 1935-2019

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Donald Rogers, a former member of the International Teaching Centre, passed away in the early hours of this morning in Canada. He was 83 years old. The Universal House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies today.*  *  *With deep sadness we mourn the passing of Donald Rogers, ardent teacher of the Faith whose attraction to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh as a young man shaped several decades lived in devoted service. He was a highly accomplished artist of international standing, and his work demonstrated a profound relationship to the sacred; his prodigious talents were often the means through which other souls became acquainted with the dawning of the new Day of God. The years he served as an Auxiliary Board member and then as a Continental Counsellor were followed by the decade he spent as a member of the International Teaching Centre. In his later years he continued his consecrated endeavours, including on the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada. Unstinting in his efforts to serve the Faith and with great accomplishments to his name, he remained a man of humility and selflessness, gracious and gentle. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his dear wife, Barbara, and to his children Klee, Sasha, and Julie, and we assure them of our supplications in the Holy Shrines for the progress of his illumined soul throughout the eternal realms. All Bahá’í communities are asked to hold memorial gatherings in his honour, including in every House of Worship. The Universal House of Justice

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

67 selections from Baha’i writings published online

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Sixty-seven selections from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha were published for the first time today on the Baha’i Reference Library, including His two well-known and historic Tablets to The Hague. The online publication of the works is a feature of the Reference Library. Launched in September, the feature enables the release of Baha’i writings that, in the course of the work at the Baha’i World Centre, are translated and prepared for publication. The selections—34 English translations and 33 Persian originals—include several tablets referencing communications with Leo Tolstoy, the renowned Russian writer and admirer of the Baha’i Faith, as well as Isabella Grinevskaya, also a Russian author and a Baha’i who wrote plays about the lives of Baha’u’llah and the Bab. The Tablets to The Hague were written in the aftermath of World War I to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague. The first Tablet, which is of substantial length, includes ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s analysis of the attainment of international peace within the context of the need for wider political, economic, and cultural change. About half of the first letter, penned on 17 December 1919, was translated and published in Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It is now being published in its entirety. An early translation of the second, shorter letter, written on 1 July 1920 in response to the Organization’s reply to the first Tablet, had been published in Star of the West in January 1921. When ‘Abdu’l-Baha wrote the two letters, the Paris Peace Conference was bringing together world leaders to discuss the terms of peace following the end of World War I. The conference led to the establishment of the League of Nations. While praising the League’s aims, ‘Abdu’l-Baha was candid in explaining that it was too restricted to realize peace. He explained that peace would require a profound transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to the spiritual truths enunciated by Baha’u’llah. In the first message, ‘Abdu’l-Baha also identifies many important Baha’i principles, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, the equality of women and men, that religion must be the cause of love, and others. In the second Tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Baha returns to the idea of the importance of religious faith to the establishment of peace, explaining that His “desire for peace is not derived merely from the intellect: It is a matter of religious belief and one of the eternal foundations of the Faith of God.” The Baha’i Reference Library has 67 newly published selections from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 34 of which are English translations and 33 are Persian originals.In His message to Isabella Grinevskaya, ‘Abdu’l-Baha praised her efforts to stage theatrical performances about the Bab and Baha’u’llah but cautioned her that people’s attention at that moment was focused on “war and revolution.” However, He added, “the time for staging it will come” and it will “have a considerable impact” in Europe. Ms. Grinevskaya’s play about the Bab was first staged in St. Petersburg in January 1904. Mr. Tolstoy read the play and wrote Ms. Grinevskaya to praise her and share his sympathy with the Baha’i teachings, according to an article by Martha Root in the 1934-1936 edition of The Baha’i World.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Universal House of Justice announces architect for Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The recent call of the Universal House of Justice for the construction of the permanent Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Akka has galvanized the Baha’i world. The selection of the edifice’s architect and the establishment of a fund to support the historic project were made known earlier today. In a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies, the House of Justice announced the appointment of Hossein Amanat as the Shrine’s architect. The distinguished Iranian-Canadian architect is best known for his designs of three of the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa as well as the Azadi Tower in Tehran. Plans for the construction of the Shrine were revealed by the House of Justice in its annual Ridvan message. “The Bahá’í world is being summoned to build the edifice which will forever embosom those sacred remains,” states the message. The Shrine will be built in the vicinity of the Ridvan Garden in Akka, a place Baha’u’llah visited on several occasions in the later years of His life. “It is our heartfelt desire that this sacred edifice will be raised up through the universal participation of the friends,” the House of Justice wrote today. The Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha will be constructed in the vicinity of the Ridvan Garden in Akka. Baha’u’llah visited the Ridvan Garden several times, which Shoghi Effendi described as one of His “favorite retreats.”The day after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s remains were placed in a vault within the sacred Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel, a temporary arrangement until such time that a separate shrine would be erected in His honor. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s funeral was unprecedented in the region for the number and diversity of those who participated. Some 10,000 people attended—more than a quarter of the city’s population—representing every class, religion, and race there. The Shrine will be “of a character befitting the unique station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” the House of Justice also wrote. Designated by Baha’u’llah as “Ridvan”, meaning paradise, the garden near which the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha will be built is a holy place visited on Baha’i pilgrimage. The garden lies about 2 kilometers outside the old city of Akka, where Baha’u’llah was held prisoner from 1868 to 1877, after which He lived in the countryside surrounding that historic fortress city. After the passing of Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha continued to live in Akka for most of the remaining years of His life. He eventually moved to Haifa from where He undertook His historic journeys to Egypt and the West. More than 10,000 people attended ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s funeral, held on 29 November 1921, the day after His passing. This photo shows the start of the funeral procession outside of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s home in Haifa at the bottom of Mount Carmel. His remains were temporarily laid to rest in a vault inside the Shrine of the Bab. The House of Justice announced the construction of a permanent Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

BRUSSELS

Belgium

Questioning current modes of thought and action: European Parliament looks to the future

BRUSSELS — The Baha’i International Community (BIC) is seeking a new kind of dialogue in the world, one that is more consultative, unifying, inclusive, one in which new approaches and new thinking can emerge. In spaces at the United Nations and numerous regional organizations, this pursuit is leading to promising developments. “It’s unrealistic to address the issues currently facing humanity and Europe without trying to overcome patterns of fragmented thought that often characterize public discourse. However difficult this seems, we will need to start forming a collective vision of the future of our society,” BIC Brussels Office representative Rachel Bayani said at an event co-organized by the BIC, the European Parliament, and the University of Groningen on Monday. “One of the areas of fragmentation in thinking today is the discourse on the role of religion, whether in Europe or in the world at large,” stated Mrs. Bayani in the opening remarks. “The challenge is to create a meaningful conversation where we all take the time to question our own paradigms, patterns of thought, and assumptions and to create a discourse on the role of religion in European society which is nuanced, informed, and dispassionate.” The roundtable discussion sought to stimulate an exploration of Europe’s changing religious landscape and a rethinking of religion’s role in helping European societies address their various contemporary challenges. Some 50 policymakers, practitioners, and academics attended. The roundtable discussion sought to stimulate an exploration of Europe’s changing religious landscape and a rethinking of religion’s role in helping European societies address their various contemporary challenges.The event was structured so that an academic’s presentation on a subject was followed by a response by a European policymaker, who would then explore the implications and challenges of that subject for policy. A rich discussion ensued between each presentation. The distinctive event was part of the Article 17 dialogue — the dialogue between the European Parliament and religious and philosophical organizations. It was organized under the patronage of First Vice-President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness. Fearghas O’Beara, Administrative Coordinator of the European Parliament’s Article 17 Dialogue, attended the forum. The concept of secularism was one of the major threads of the conversation. Benjamin Schewel, a lecturer from the University of Groningen, explored various definitions and understandings of secularism. For instance, secularism can mean the exclusion of all expressions of faith in the public sphere. Alternatively, it can also be a way to protect diversity of various religious and non-religious belief systems and their public expression. “The European Union is a secular political entity. But what precisely this secularity means is not fixed in stone,” Dr. Schewel, who is a Baha’i, stated. He evoked the metaphor of a road and its guardrails. “The guardrails do not tell us what direction in which to build the road,” he explained. “Similarly, secularism can provide certain limits and safeguards within European societies, but it cannot itself answer the deeper questions about where society is headed and what kind of society we want to build.” It was these deeper questions, he argued, to which religion can contribute insights and its community-building powers. Among other topics discussed was religious heritage and the evolving role of places of worship in Europe. With fluctuations in congregation sizes, religious communities are searching for new meanings and functions for historic churches and synagogues, explained Todd Weir, a professor from the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. Benjamin Schewel (right), from the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, speaks as his colleague Todd Weir listens.The event also explored the interconnection of religion and gender, allowing for a nuanced and thoughtful exploration. Brenda Bartelink, also a senior researcher from the University of Groningen, spoke about the critical need to foster a dialogue around religion and gender that is constructive and non-adversarial and that avoids dynamics of polarization. Liam Stephens, a Ph.D. candidate from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration and a Baha’i, discussed the role of religion in fostering resilience to radicalization. One contributor to radicalization is young people’s search for purpose, Mr. Stephens notes. Religion, he asserted, serves as a powerful source of a higher and altruistic purpose that motivates constructive action within individuals and communities. “For vast numbers of the world’s population,” he said, “religion offers a source of love, hope, meaning and solidarity, and helps to overcome apathy and despair.” The open, exploratory discussion freed participants from the pressure of making immediate policy decisions and opened a distinctive conversation which many expressed hope would be replicated. One idea appeared certain for all present—that all human groups are searching for meaning and for a vision of the future. “This common aspiration is a powerful point of unity,” the BIC reflected.

50.8465573

4.351697

AUCKLAND

New Zealand

Encouraged by Prime Minister Ardern, New Zealand’s youth press to end racism

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — For nearly two decades, New Zealand’s Baha’is have been promoting a discourse on race unity through an annual process that brings together high school students from across the country. This year, the culmination of that process occurred in the shadow of the Christchurch terrorist attacks that shook this nation. Praised by the country’s prime minister, about 100 youth and young adults gathered on Saturday to probe the critical issue of race unity. Initiated by the Baha’i community and sponsored by the national police, the Human Rights Commission, and others, the Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui have provided a national platform for high school students to express their ideas of how the country can improve race relations. This year, 180 students gave speeches at regional events throughout the country, and the six best speakers were chosen to speak again at last week’s national gathering in Auckland. Accompanying those speeches was a daylong conference where scores of youth from around the country examined this critical issue. “I would like to pass my warm wishes to everyone taking part in this year’s Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wrote in a letter dated 7 May. “Over the past eighteen years, the Race Unity Speech Awards have provided young people with a space to deepen their understanding of race relations issues, and share their views on how we can all help to promote unity in Aoteaora.” The young people’s speeches brought to light insights about race and the oneness of humanity. “Pigmentation should have nothing to do with how we treat one another. Unfortunately it does,” said David Faalau-Solia of Sacred Heart College in Auckland. “Now, some say God created different races and with that comes all these problems. However, God created one race, that is, the human race. Human beings created racism.” The conference was accompanied by an evening program where six high school students gave speeches on race unity. (Credit: Ben Parkinson)Initially started as a speech contest for high school students, the gathering’s organizers in 2005 decided to include a conference to enrich the conversation about race unity among young participants. This year, organizers called the conference by its Maori word hui. This year, in the aftermath of the March terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, the national conversation about racial and religious prejudice has intensified. “It shouldn’t take 50 lives for us to finally realize that racism still lives in New Zealand, and it shouldn’t take 50 lives for us to come together as one,” said Nina Gelashvili of Kuranui College in Wairarapa. The speech awards and hui have had an especially timely impact, Prime Minister Ardern said. The event has received widespread coverage in the country’s news media. Also, the country’s Minister for Youth, Peeni Henare, and seven other Members of Parliament attended the gathering. “I wish you all the best for this year’s Race Unity Speech Awards and Hui, and I am sure the event will inspire thoughtful, open and positive discussion. Allah-u-Abha,” Prime Minister Ardern concluded in her half-page message. The day-long conference, held at the Te Mahurehure Marae in Auckland, focused on the theme of speaking for justice and working for unity. “The hui is a unique space where you have mostly high school students but also Members of Parliament and leaders of significant NGOs in the country,” explained Tarn Austin, one of the organizers from the Baha’i community. “It’s a kind of space where there’s really a sense of connection between the youth and policymakers.”“Now, some say God created different races and with that comes all these problems. However, God created one race, that is, the human race.”—David Faalau-Solia of Sacred Heart College in AucklandIn addition to small group conversations, the conference included a panel discussion. The speakers—writer Lynda Chanwai Earle, Maori lawyer and activist Kingi Snelgar, and community leader Mehpara Khan—reflected the country’s diversity. Each speaker complemented and built on the comments of the others, enriching the day’s thoughtful exploration of the concepts of justice and unity. “Throughout the hui, participants repeatedly said that this is an incredible space where we interact with people who are different from us but have the same sense of purpose,” Mr. Austin said. “But people are also asking, ‘How can we bring this back to where we came from? How do we ensure that there is action that comes out of this and it’s not an isolated event?’” The young participants left with concrete plans to contribute to race unity and societal harmony. They are also drafting a collective statement on race relations. Organizers also held two regional conferences earlier this year: one in New Plymouth on 1 March and another in Wellington on 6 April, bringing together a total of about 60 participants. Videos from the 19th annual speech awards can be found online. The conference also included a panel discussion among writer Lynda Chanwai Earle, lawyer and Maori activist Kingi Snelgar, and community leader Mehpara Khan. (Credit: Ben Parkinson)

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174.7631803

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

In this bicentenary year, remembering the birth of a new Faith

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On 22 May 1844, 175 years ago, an eager scholar and seeker of truth approached the gates of Shiraz. Standing outside this historic city known for its roses, its cypress trees, and its long tradition of poetry, he was searching for a new messenger of God. His arrival would lead him to a profound discovery. It was in Shiraz on that evening that he first met the Bab. In the conversation that followed, the Bab made known that He was the Founder of a new religion that was to prepare the world for the coming of Baha’u’llah and presaged the latest stage in humanity’s social evolution. The events of this night are the origins of the global Baha’i community’s endeavors for the betterment of the world. From community building activities, to projects of social action, to involvement in public discourse, those seeking to put into practice Baha’u’llah’s teachings find the origin of their efforts in that first conversation. This October marks the bicentenary of the Bab’s birth. In this year, the Baha’i World News Service is examining some of the most salient moments in the life of the Bab. The latest podcast episode focuses on the night of His declaration. This year, it is being celebrated around the world from sundown Thursday to sundown Friday. The podcast episode explores how the heroism and sacrifice set in motion by the Bab’s declaration relates to the world today: “Though separated from our own time by two centuries, the society in which the Báb appeared resembles the present day world for the sense of oppression and for the longing of so many to find answers to slake the soul's thirst to know,” the Universal House of Justice wrote in its Ridvan 2018 message.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

The Baha’i World publication launches online

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i World publication was launched online today. The website makes available a selection of thoughtful essays and long-form articles on a range of subjects of interest to the wider public, conveying advancements in Baha’i thought and action and reflecting the Faith’s purpose in the world. The Baha’i World volumes were established under the direction of Shoghi Effendi shortly after the start of his ministry as Guardian in 1921. The first volume was released in 1926 under the title The Baha’i Yearbook, and new volumes were published until 2006. Over time, many of its original functions began to be fulfilled by official national websites and the family of sites associated with Bahai.org, including the Baha’i World News Service, as well as publications, such as The Five Year Plan, 2011-2016: Summary of Achievements and Learning and For the Betterment of the World. An archives section of the new website provides the historic first six volumes. Additional volumes and selected articles will be added over time. The site launches with articles that explore various themes that include technology, peace, rural development and agriculture, the emergence of Baha’i Houses of Worship, and humanitarian relief. Released in 1926 under the title The Baha’i Yearbook, printed editions of the The Baha’i World were published until 2006.

SOUTH TARAWA

Kiribati

Kiribati President attends annual Baha’i convention

SOUTH TARAWA, Kiribati — At the closing session of the Baha’i community’s national convention, held in a traditional island meeting house, this country’s president greeted the convention’s attendees. “Allah’u’Abha,” President Taneti Maamau said to the convention’s more than 200 attendees on 28 April. President Maamau said he was pleased with the presentations by the youth and children and offered a gift, a custom in Kiribati culture when attending a traditional community gathering. The President’s attendance reflects an effort in Kiribati and many other Baha’i communities to converse with their governments about their common aim of the betterment of their society. In Kiribati, a country of 33 far-flung islands and atolls, the Baha’i community has long invited the president to the national convention, an annual gathering held to elect the country’s National Spiritual Assembly and consult on issues of importance to the country. President Maamau attended for the first time in 2016. Last year, the vice president and about 30 other guests, including other government officials and traditional leaders, attended. The president, who often visits gatherings of the country’s religious communities, also attended the country’s celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah in October 2017 and wrote a message of congratulations to the Universal House of Justice. These interactions reflect a deep connection, based on a profound desire to work for the betterment of Kiribati, between the country’s Baha’i community and its government and other societal institutions, explained Angus Morrison, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. The endeavors of Baha’is on the island of South Tarawa were also featured in A Widening Embrace, a film released last year by the Universal House of Justice. The film shows how the Baha’i community works alongside government and schools to provide a Baha’i-inspired educational program in schools. In other countries, Baha’is are in conversations with their governments as well. Most recently, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wrote the country’s Baha’is on 7 May to encourage their longstanding efforts to promote race unity through organizing an annual dialogue among young people. In Rwanda, in addition, Justice Minister Johnston Busingye wrote on 10 April to the Baha’i community saying he commends its “commitment towards establishment of peace, unity and prosperity for the People of Rwanda, especially through cultivating conditions that are most conducive to the emergence of unity in any setting….” This was written in response to a letter sent by the country’s National Spiritual Assembly to national authorities expressing the Baha’i community’s sympathy on the 25th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi people. And, earlier this year in Italy, the Baha’i community decided to write to its country’s president after he called for unity and coexistence in a widely-viewed speech on New Year’s Eve. Its letter expressed appreciation for the president’s earnest call and highlighted some concepts underlying the efforts of the Italian Baha’is working for their society’s betterment. The country’s president replied, expressing gratitude for the community’s comments.

1.3490778

173.0386512

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Baha’i World article highlights centrality of agriculture

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In The Baha’i World, authors take a deep dive into contemporary questions, exploring insights from the Baha’i teachings and the experience of the Baha’i community. In his article Begin with the Village: The Baha'i Approach to Rural Development, Paul Hanley explores the topic of agriculture in an increasingly urbanizing world. In the article, published on 23 May, Mr. Hanley underscores the emphasis the Baha’i writings give to agriculture as a central feature of civilization, touching on four themes. First, a sustainable future, Mr. Hanley argues, requires a reevaluation of agriculture and the imperative to live in harmony with the environment at a time when humanity faces a growing ecological and climate crisis. His article next examines the implications for agriculture of the spiritual principle that material wealth is not an end in itself. Mr. Hanley explores how the Baha’i community is placing knowledge and learning, rather than wealth, at the center of development. Another important idea Mr. Hanley notes is how sustainable development of agriculture can help humanity to live in harmony with the natural environment. The fourth theme is the primacy of capacity building in every population to contribute to sustainable development in agriculture; in the current community building endeavors of Baha’is around the world, capacity can be built for the development of villages through the training institute, Mr. Hanley explains. This photo shows ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Holy Land in 1920. In his article, Mr. Hanley describes how ‘Abdu’l-Baha stimulated sustainable farming practices in the village of ‘Adasiyyih, a few kilometers southeast of the Sea of Galilee in present-day Jordan.Mr. Hanley also draws a thread from social action guided by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the early 20th century to the Baha’i world’s contemporary social and economic development endeavors. Referring to earlier research looking at ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s agricultural stewardship in the Levant, Mr. Hanley provides a compelling account of how ‘Abdu’l-Baha stimulated sustainable farming practices in the village of ‘Adasiyyih, a few kilometers southeast of the Sea of Galilee in present-day Jordan. The Baha’i World examines themes related to civilization building, periodically making available new articles. Other pieces on the recently launched website cover topics such as technology, peace, the emergence of Baha’i Houses of Worship, and humanitarian relief.

NEW DELHI

India

Overcoming prejudice through education

NEW DELHI — The latest episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast explores how an educational process that seeks to release the potentialities of the human soul and mind can lead to profound social transformation, in this case overcoming long-held societal prejudices and superstitions about women. Women in India are overcoming sentiments and prejudices that prevent their full participation in society. A group of young women in a large neighborhood of New Delhi, India, has been determined to help its community develop a different attitude toward women who are in their menstrual cycle. Pooja Tiwari, who facilitates the group as part of the Preparation for Social Action (PSA) program, explains that women on their periods can be considered “impure” and are separated from aspects of community life. Though this cultural feature has no basis in reality—scientific or spiritual—it is entrenched in the consciousness of much of the local population. “While discussing this, a member of the group said, ‘During these days, we cannot go to the temple. We cannot touch anything. We cannot sleep on the bed but have to sleep on the floor,” explains Ms. Tiwari. The group decided to organize an awareness campaign to promote an understanding of menstruation that is grounded in science and also rooted in spiritual belief. After a study of the science behind the menstrual cycle, the group felt that it is critical to help people appreciate how a woman’s period “is an important element for the birth of a human being.” Ms. Tiwari explains, “The idea was brought up that during these days, we should respect women and that they require healthy and nutritious food.” PSA is a Baha’i-inspired program implemented in 17 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific. The program is organized to help young people develop a set of scientific and spiritual capabilities that enable them to become promoters of the well-being of their communities. The special gathering was held in the International Teaching Centre Building at the Baha’i World Centre in February.Ms. Tiwari is joined in the interview by Bhavna Anbarasan, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Asia. Ms. Tiwari and Ms. Anbarasan spoke with the News Service in February when they were at the Baha’i World Centre. They were among a group of 30 people, representing eight localities around the world where a robust Baha’i educational and community building process is engaging thousands or tens of thousands of people. At the heart of these efforts has been local populations building capacity to bring about social change through the application of fundamental Baha’i principles—such as the oneness of humankind, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of women and men—to their own social reality. The stimulating conversations at this gathering are connected to the decades-long process in which Baha’i communities at all levels, from the grassroots to the global, have been creating spaces for sharing experiences and insights arising out of community building efforts. The gathering demonstrated how people around the world are contributing profound insights relevant to the future of humanity. It also showed that, rather than being confined to a privileged elite, the advancement of knowledge is a right and responsibility of every human being.

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77.2090057

KINSHASA

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Faith as catalyst of social change: Perspectives from the Congo

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — When representatives of Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i communities first gathered at a Kinshasa juice shop in February, one question above all animated their conversation: How could they articulate to others the deep connection between religion and constructive social change? That first informal discussion in the Congolese capital city has since evolved into a vibrant dialogue about the power of faith to unify people and give impetus to peace. “We all had a common vision. We are convinced that religion is a source of unity, so let’s not just talk about it. Let’s take action,” explained Rachel Kakudji, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Baha’i Office of External Affairs. One of the steps the nascent group undertook was to organize a day-long forum highlighting how spiritual principles and concepts impact many aspects of society, such as economics, governance, law, health, education, the media, and art. For years, the Baha’is have been working alongside fellow religious communities in Kinshasa to give expression to this desire for unifying action. The recently formed interfaith group has been gathering regularly since its inception, calling its meetings the United in Diversity Social Space. This collaboration is yielding many fruits. For instance, the group has already organized a day-long seminar last month and prepared a short documentary film, featuring interviews with leaders of different faith communities discussing the importance of their collaboration. They explore themes such as how sustainable development contributes to peace and how education can awaken a sense of duty and service, among other topics. Yet, Ms. Kakudji explains that beyond these specific initiatives has been the unfoldment of a process in which people of diverse belief systems are working together, consulting through challenges, and relying on the process of action, reflection, and consultation to make systematic progress. Hundreds of people attended an interfaith march in Kinshasa last month.Bringing together religious, academic, and student speakers, the recent seminar focused on a diverse range of topics, for example how economics can promote collective well-being, how good health is a dimension of a culture of unity, and how education is central to development. Leaders of the faith communities organizing the space spoke about the centrality of spiritual principles to social progress. “To grow and develop, the world must draw strength from unity,” explained Alex Kabeya, a member of Congo’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. “It is encouraging to see religious leaders and their believers work together in good will, because the process of transformation then reflects the sincerity necessary to contribute to sustainable peace.” Leaders of some of the faith communities involved, including several Christian groups and the Muslim community, also reflected later on the interreligious collaboration. “In the holy Quran, unity is what God recommends to men. A true Muslim seeks peace with everyone,” noted Moussa Chirala, the coordinator of the National Confederation of the Muslim Youth of Congo. Willy Masaka, the national president of the Protestant Youth of Congo, emphasized how the principle of unity in diversity applies to work with all religions: “With this forum for peace, we want to open the voice of unity in diversity beyond ourselves with different religious denominations.” The seminar was preceded a week earlier by a march in downtown Kinshasa, attended by some 3,000 people. The participants ended their hour-long march at a stage where different presenters shared music and other artistic performances that touched on the importance of unity, caring for the environment, and other aims. Ms. Kakudji said they plan to screen the documentary film in the coming weeks on a local television channel as well as with their partners in the United in Diversity gatherings. Updated, 2 July 2019: The documentary was aired recently on local television. The 32-minute film can be seen on YouTube.

-4.3217055

15.3125974

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Momentous gathering focuses on Houses of Worship

BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — With the inauguration of three new Baha’i Houses of Worship over the past three years and more about to be constructed, the Baha’i world community has been engaged in an intensive process of learning about these sacred structures.Insights from Baha’i Houses of Worship: Part 1The Baha’i World News Service interviewed representatives of Houses of Worship in Chile, India, and Uganda, which can be heard in a two-part podcast. Part one of the podcast, which focuses on the spiritual experiences people are having at Temples, is being published with this article. Part two will be made available in the coming weeks.Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.RSS  |  iTunes  |  SoundCloud  |  Tunein  |  iHeart  |  StitcherThis month, a unique gathering brought together representatives from around the world to explore what is being learned about every one of the Houses of Worship. More than 30 people gathered for the consultations, coming from Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, Uganda, and the United States. “We’ve been discovering how a House of Worship reflects the spiritual aspirations of a people,” said Eduardo Rioseco, the director of the Temple in Santiago, Chile. Since its dedication in 2016, over a million people have visited the House of Worship, and it has become a central feature of life for the people of the surrounding community and an iconic symbol of unity for the city. “For many people visiting the Temple, it has been a discovery to connect with their own spiritual identity. So, in a way, to go to the House of Worship is to come back home,” Mr. Rioseco reflected. The consultations touched on a range of topics, from practical requirements of managing a Temple to its profound spiritual and social impacts on surrounding populations. How does the path to the central edifice reinforce visitors’ longing for mystical connection and spiritual meaning? What dynamics begin to emerge in a community as a House of Worship is built and becomes a collective center of worship open to all? What is being learned about the relationship between a growing devotional character in a community and a multiplication of acts of service for the betterment of society? Participants explored these questions and many more over the course of the three-day meeting. The Baha’i House of Worship in Langenhain, Germany, was dedicated in 1964.Some communities have experience with more sophisticated social and economic development endeavors, and these were also a subject of discussion. Of particular interest was the unifying influence Houses of Worship are having on surrounding populations. Administrators of Temples also presented various environmental initiatives. In New Delhi, India, for instance, wastewater is treated on-site and used to water the gardens, and solar panels provide a substantial portion of the Temple’s electricity usage. In Norte del Cauca, Colombia, the Temple is built alongside a native forestry project that is helping to restore indigenous plants. The native forest is reconnecting the local population to its natural environment, largely overtaken by monoculture farmland. At the heart of the conversation was one of the central themes associated with Baha’i Houses of Worship: they are sanctuary for all people. “The Temple doesn’t belong to the Baha’is, although Baha’is are the ones managing and taking care of it. The Temple belongs to each and every human being,” noted Santos Odhiambo, the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Uganda. In addition to the 10 Houses of Worship currently open, five more are in development: Construction began on a temple in Kenya in March; designs have been chosen for Temples in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu; work is also underway for temples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and India. The oldest of all 10 Baha’i Houses of Worship, the Temple in Wilmette, Illinois, United States, opened in 1953.The Baha’i World News Service interviewed representatives of Houses of Worship in Chile, India, and Uganda, which can be heard in a two-part podcast. Part one of the podcast, which focuses on the spiritual experiences people are having at Temples, is being published with this article. Part two will be made available in the coming weeks. An in depth exploration of Houses of Worship can be found in a newly published article on The Baha’i World website.

BRUSSELS

Belgium

Bringing the insights of religion into development

BRUSSELS — Last week, Europe’s foremost annual conference on social and economic development brought together more than 8,000 participants, among them societal leaders and non-governmental organizations, to tackle the issue of global inequalities. The conference, called European Development Days (EDD), reflected a shift that is occurring in development thinking. There is a growing recognition that social and economic development should not be viewed as an activity one group carries out for another. Nor is it any more viable to ignore the spiritual aspirations and convictions of a population and the vital contribution religion makes to development. “It is not acceptable to see the masses of humanity as passive recipients of aid,” explained Rachel Bayani, representative of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) and moderator of one of the EDD panel discussions called “What’s religion got to do with it?”, held on 18 June. “Whatever the nature of the support from outside, development activity should emerge from within a community and belong to the people and institutions that are implementing it.” Co-organized by World Vision International, ACT Alliance, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Brot für die Welt, EU-CORD Network, and the BIC, the panel explored how religious groups and faith-based organizations constitute a major component of local capacity in many settings. “Faith and religion are what motivate most people in the world, for good or for ill. It’s hard to see how a development activity can emerge and belong to the people on the ground if those essential elements are not part of the equation,” Mrs. Bayani asserted in her opening remarks. Six panelists from Europe, South America, and Asia, joined a packed room in a discussion that sought to move beyond simplistic conceptions of religion as either good or bad in the context of development. The discussion conveyed a more nuanced understanding, allowing for a genuine exploration of religion’s potential for constructive transformation. Rachel Bayani, the Representative of the Brussels Office of the Baha’i International Community moderated the discussed titled, “What’s religion got to do with it?”. (Credit: EDD Brussels)Rev. Christo Greyling of World Vision International described the importance of working with local faith communities to create development policies and practices together, taking into consideration the aspirations, hopes, and beliefs of the true stakeholders—local populations. “You need to start specifically with the universal principles of the values that they already agreed on, values such as the dignity of human being, the need to stand up for justice,” Rev. Greyling said. The importance of empowering local populations was echoed by other panelists, such as Henriette Geiger, with the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development: “Nothing can be imposed from the outside. You can only work with what you have locally.” Other speakers highlighted the need to decouple religion and tradition and to see that many prevalent beliefs and practices in a population do not originate from religious scripture. “We need to read and understand the texts with more progressive and open minds and think of what is real religion, which is about spiritual things … and not go into the trap of tradition that is presented as religion,” said Mohammad Abou Zeid, a senior judge from the Family Court of Saida, Lebanon. The space opened a rich discussion between religious actors and policymakers, bridging a historical divide that has proven unproductive and harmful for meaningful progress. More than 70 people attended the event. The panel discussion can be heard here.

50.8465573

4.351697

LANGENHAIN

Germany

As momentous bicentenary approaches, communities prepare

LANGENHAIN, Germany — After prayers in the Baha’i House of Worship, as sunlight passes through the dome’s diamond-shaped windows, a group walks down a geranium-lined path to the National Baha’i Center. Inside are sacred items related to the life of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith. The relics are part of an exhibition created by Germany’s Baha’i community to commemorate the upcoming bicentenary of the Bab’s birth. In 1844, the Bab brought a new Revelation to humanity, setting in motion a spiritual movement that rapidly spread across what was then Persia. Stories of the Bab’s Cause and the heroism of those who followed it spread to the East and the West. His life and teachings captured the imaginations of numerous Western writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Attendees of the exhibit were guided in small groups, starting first in the nearby Baha’i House of Worship for prayers. Many hundreds of people attended the exhibition, which was displayed during the 12 days of Ridvan.The 200th anniversary of the Bab’s birth occurs on 29 October, and around the world people are preparing for the momentous occasion. The new exhibition in Germany is just one example. The exhibit, held from 21 April to 2 May, displayed three original items from the German Baha’i community’s archives, each related to the life of the Bab: a lock of His hair, some fragments of His clothes, and a piece of the wall of the castle of Mah-Ku, where He was imprisoned for nine months. The exhibit also includes original items related to the life of Baha’u’llah, as well as a passage written by the Bab about Baha’u’llah and another by Baha’u’llah about the Bab. Many hundreds of people from around the country attended the exhibit, and many expressed profound emotions at being able to see items so closely connected to the lives of those two Sacred Figures. “The theme here was the Word of God and the remarkable connection between the Twin Manifestations of God,” explained Saba Khabirpour, the Secretary of Germany’s National Spiritual Assembly. Germany’s Baha’is have undertaken numerous other steps to prepare. In nearby Gauangelloch, a village of 2,300, organizers of a spiritual education program for children and youth have been holding regular service projects, involving about 80 people, in honor of the Twin Bicentenaries. Efforts began in 2017 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, and they are continuing throughout the period linking that historic anniversary with the forthcoming bicentenary. “Both celebrations are so intricately linked to the whole development of the community,” said Katrin, a Baha’i living in Gauangelloch. “It’s not just two big events that are separated by two years, but really they’re part of an ongoing process of community building.” A group of junior youth in Gauangelloch repaired and repainted park benches last year as part of a service project in honor of the twin bicentenaries.Amid the mounting joy and excitement, the bicentenary has especially animated young people, who are finding inspiration in the lives of the heroes and heroines of the Faith from the time of the Bab—individuals who courageously faced the dark forces of blind imitation, superstition, prejudice, and corruption. Many of them were youth and young adults, like the Bab Himself. In February, a three-day youth conference brought together some 500 young people from around the country. They shared the stories of those early heroes—such as Tahirih and Badi. Though separated by time, participants could see the profound connection between the heroism of the Bab and His followers and the selfless and courageous service of so many young people working for unity today. “The oneness of humanity was not a utopia or a dream for me anymore,” said one of the participants, reflecting on the impact of the conference. “The vision of Baha’u’llah became much more realistic to me to see how so many people were united.” Inspired by the gathering, participants re-dedicated themselves to serving their communities and made concrete plans for their return home. Seeing youth from a diversity of backgrounds studying, planning, and collaborating on how to be a source of positive change in their communities, participants at the conference explored practical ways to express the principles of the Baha’i Faith.“The idea was to have a spiritual impulse that would set the tone for this holy year,” explained Sahar, one of the organizers of the youth conference, held near Frankfurt. “The stories of these youth have inspired a lot of action and helped us to draw on spiritual concepts such as sacrifice, understanding your reality, service, teaching, and selflessness.” Samuel, another of the conference’s organizers, found that the conference not only inspired the participants but helped them to see that they are not alone. “Many youth attending the conference said they felt much more reassured knowing that there are so many others walking this path of service,” he explained. “Really, just at this conference, there are 500 other youth learning about this.” Other local communities around Germany are also preparing for the bicentenary, focusing on integrating the coming celebration into their community building efforts as well as visiting friends and family members to deepen connections and bonds of love. In Mannheim, for example, the community is organizing storytelling nights in different neighborhoods and plans to produce podcasts of the narratives being shared. In Muenster, a group formed a choir and is planning an artistic performance in honor of the bicentenary in October.

50.9029533

10.5218165

TRES CANTOS

Spain

In Spain, a dynamic conversation aims to prevent radicalization

TRES CANTOS, Spain — In Spain, academics, journalists, and government and military officials are grappling with violent radicalization, attempting to understand its root causes and to prevent its proliferation. A recent university course co-organized by the country’s Baha’i community brought to light some of the emerging and leading thoughts from a variety of perspectives. “The purpose of this course is to continue reflecting on the nature of radicalization and ways of addressing it, paying special attention to religion’s impact in society,” said Leila Sant, with the Spanish Baha’i community’s Office of Public Affairs. “In addition, the course tries to offer different perspectives on this phenomenon of radicalization in an effort to give a complete, unfragmented picture.” The class was offered through a university in Madrid (UAM) from 1 to 3 July. More than 20 specialists in various fields were involved in offering the course, which was organized around about a dozen roundtable discussions. Organized in collaboration with UAM Professor Ricardo Garcia, the course not only allowed students to benefit from the insights being shared, but also opened a dynamic space for contributors to deepen their own understanding of the complexity of violent radicalization. For several years the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs has been engaged in a discourse on the role of religion in society, which led to a focus on the causes of violent radicalization. The Baha’i writings teach that true religion has a central role in overcoming religious fanaticism, that the power latent in religion can transform anger and hatred into love and respect for the inherent dignity of others. The university course was a natural outcome of this long-term effort, Ms. Sant explained. The Office has recently organized related spaces, such as a day-long seminar on the same theme as well as a roundtable discussion with journalists about the social impact of news. The relationship between religion and radicalization featured prominently in the course. Prof. Garcia noted that religion can be regarded as both the cause and the solution of radicalization; combatting religious extremism requires understanding the logic of religion, giving due regard to its influence on the lives of many people, and learning to work with religious communities to build social harmony. (From left) Defense ministry official Amparo Valcarce, UAM Professor Ricardo Garcia, and members of Spain’s parliament Carlos Rojas and Miguel Gutiérrez all spoke on a panel about politics and radicalization. Ms. Valcarce, Mr. Rojas, and Mr. Gutiérrez are members of three of Spain’s four main political parties.The course went beyond simplistic ideas about radicalization to explore its many dimensions. “It is positive for society to be open to new ideas that are introduced through nonviolence, to listen to perspectives other than your own. That is healthy,” Ms. Sant explained in the course’s opening session. “However radicalization is characterized by seeing a group of people as other than your own, seeing things as black and white, seeing very absolute ideas. This can take you eventually toward othering and violence.” Course speakers also explored how partisan politics push people to have an us-and-them mentality about supporters of parties other than their own. In a saturated media environment that favors spectacle, only language that is divisive and extreme is heard, speakers explained. “It is very important not to trivialize politics and to remember that in essence all human beings are equal in dignity,” noted Esteban Ibarra, the president of the Movement Against Intolerance. Another theme that emerged was the importance of all people having an opportunity to benefit from and contribute to the progress of society. This is particularly vital for newcomers to the country. Speakers, including representatives of the national police and military, explained that social integration is promoted through mentorship and networks such as religious communities. “In spite of the fact that in Spain there are equal opportunities, some groups find themselves in more disadvantaged social positions,” said Oscar Prieto, a professor from the University of Girona who has pioneered mentorship programs to help young people at risk of social exclusion. “It is because of the lack of people who support them and who act as informal mentors to solve common difficulties in daily life that some people have less possibilities of social advancement.” Local and national media covered the course widely, as it featured prominent speakers such as the president of the country’s constitutional court, a leader in the country’s civil guard, and leading journalists. The organizers plan to publish a book with the discussions featured in the course and organize future courses through the university.

40.6065826

-3.7065333

BIC NEW YORK

In natural disasters, capacities of local communities vital

BIC NEW YORK — With a rising risk of natural disasters around the world, the relationship between local capacity and preparedness and international and national assistance was examined as part of a dynamic discussion hosted by the Baha’i International Community (BIC). “As we move from the global level to the regional, national, local, and community, the silos that sometimes divide us start to dissipate. We see at the community level, the community leader is also a neighbor, also a teacher. Everyone wears so many hats,” said Daniel Perell, a BIC representative. “That level of common enterprise that is so common at the neighborhood level needs to rise up to the international level.” International response to natural disasters is vital to bringing to stricken areas urgent humanitarian relief, material resources, and knowledge. But alongside aid, the role of local capacity and preparedness is a vital area of learning, speakers noted. For the Baha’i community, the power of unity and collective enterprise as well as the importance of certain capacities at the local level has been demonstrated in a number of cases natural disaster recovery in recent years. Dozens of participants, representing a diversity of non-governmental organizations with experience in natural disaster response and recovery, joined the discussion held on Friday alongside the United Nations’ High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The event was co-organized by the BIC, the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction. Mami Mizutori, the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, also attended and spoke. The Baha’i International Community’s delegation to the United Nations High Level Political ForumThe Forum, which began on 9 July and continues through Thursday, is an annual gathering for U.N. member states and NGOs to reflect on progress in the Sustainable Development Goals, 17 global targets that the international community aims to reach by 2030. Friday’s panel was one of three organized by the BIC, focusing on different target areas of the Development Goals. The other two panels, held on Thursday, focused on how education can empower youth to contribute to the progress of their societies and conceptualizing peace not merely as an absence of conflict but as a condition of collective thriving. In its statement to the Forum, the BIC commended the international community’s consensus around the Sustainable Development Goals, but cautioned that “translating those aspirations into lived reality will require a tremendous expansion of Agenda 2030’s ‘spirit of strengthened global solidarity’. Crucial in this regard will be ensuring that recognition of the interconnected nature of humanity is a principal consideration in both policy-making and action.” Friday’s disaster response panel showed the diversity of organizations that are thinking about the critical role of local communities. Central to this is the relationship between national and international policy and local capacity and ability to organize. Several speakers discussed the importance of global disaster response and recovery, but noted that national and international policies need to be made in concert with local communities and informed by their own practices. Willy Missack, who works with Oxfam in Vanuatu, shares his country’s experience in connecting policymaking to community practices, explaining that meaningful policies come when the government and civil society organizations work together.Willy Missack, who works with Oxfam in Vanuatu, shared his country’s experience in connecting policy-making to community practices, explaining that effective policies come when the government and civil society organizations work together. Transformation, he noted, comes from unified action at the grassroots, but this needs to be coordinated with the national level. Kathryn Adams, executive director of Haiti-based LIDÈ, spoke about her organization’s efforts to help locals develop expertise in medical, psychological, legal, and other skills necessary to disaster response. “We don’t do enough in disaster response to embed resilience. By that I mean finding ways to turn disaster response into an opportunity to empower people to build tools for future use,” Dr. Adams explained. The Baha’i community’s experience indicates that people can exhibit remarkable resilience, selflessness, resourcefulness, and creativity during times of disaster. In its 2016 statement, Rising Together: Building the Capacity to Recover from Within, the Baha’i International Community wrote that communities “that have been especially effective in responding have – prior to the disaster – been consciously working to create distinctive and beneficial patterns of collective life.” In short, localities where the fabric of community life is strong are more resilient and better equipped to respond to disasters.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Exploring how Houses of Worship are connecting with their societies

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In the second podcast episode about Baha’i Houses of Worship, Felipe Duhart and Eduardo Rioseco of Chile, Santos Odhiambo of Uganda, and M. A. Ghanbari of India explore the impact that Temples are having on visitors and on surrounding populations. Creating a sacred space open to all has given rise to greater consciousness of and action for the betterment of society. “Service is the way to transform ourselves and society,” explains Mr. Rioseco. “And in the Houses of Worship, really you can find many avenues to do that. It’s a question that each visitor and each person that interacts with the House of Worship takes home. How do we keep transforming ourselves and society—in our neighborhood, in our family, in our workplace? Wherever we interact with others this question accompanies us. And the Temple inspires us in all those places.” The interviews followed a unique gathering last month at the Baha’i World Centre, where more than 30 individuals gathered to explore what is being learned about all 10 Temples currently in operation. The participants hailed from Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, Uganda, and the United States. Part one of their discussion can be heard here. (Clockwise from left) M. A. Ghanbari of India, Eduardo Rioseco of Chile, Santos Odhiambo of Uganda, and Felipe Duhart of Chile speak in the latest Baha’i World News Service podcast episode about the evolution of Baha’i Houses of Worship.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Communities feel spiritual impulse of pilgrimage

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Many have waited a lifetime for this moment. Before them are swaying cypresses and towering eucalyptus trees that stand guard, red geraniums that cascade along the terrace to the east, precisely groomed lawns and hedges that symbolize striving for perfection, and flowering jasmine shrubs that welcome the newly arrived pilgrims as they make their way along the smooth pebble pathway on their first visit to the Shrine of Baha’u’llah. Inside, they pray silently and pilgrimage begins. For a century and a half, people have been making Baha’i pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In the early days, pilgrims would visit Baha’u’llah in person, often traveling great distances by foot; after the passing of Baha’u’llah in 1892, pilgrimage consisted of visiting His Shrine and, once it was finally constructed, the Shrine of the Bab. “Pilgrimage is a story of love. You love Baha’u’llah and you come to see where He revealed many of His significant writings, you see where He lived, you see His personal items—the history comes alive,” said Taraneh Rafati, who, as a pilgrim guide, accompanies pilgrims during their visits to the Baha’i Holy Places in the Akka-Haifa area. Baha’i pilgrimage consists of time for prayer and meditation in the Shrines, including the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel in Haifa.Today, thousands of people each year, representing the diversity of humanity, make Baha’i pilgrimage. Many who undertake this sacred act sacrificially save money for years or decades to journey to the Holy Land. The process of traveling to revered locations that form part of one’s spiritual heritage is common to the world’s religious traditions. Baha’i pilgrimage represents a period of reflection and renewal, of deep meditation and prayer, and of transformation. Its fundamental purpose is for the pilgrim to visit the sacred Shrines of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. During the nine-day program, pilgrims also have an opportunity to see historical sites associated with the lives of the Central Figures of the Faith and many of the early heroines and heroes of the Cause. A special reception by the Universal House of Justice and several evening talks and presentations over the course of the nine days also enrich the pilgrims’ experience. In recent years a new program has been started in which groups of people from a single country or from a small region of a country undertake pilgrimage together. This has enabled more and more people to plan for and realize their hope of going on pilgrimage. Some of the groups come from remote and isolated parts of the world. Two pilgrims enter the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.Many of those who make the journey note how moving it is to see the diversity of the human family engaged in an act of worship and reflection and to see people who are striving to refine themselves in order to serve humanity with ever greater dedication. Fellow pilgrims hail from every corner of the world, and they find on their pilgrimage a practical expression of oneness and unity. “We see how people from around the world, regardless of nationality, race, and religion, can abandon all negative thoughts and actions and come together in peace,” said Lala, a pilgrim from Azerbaijan. In July, a group from Cameroon made pilgrimage together, as part of the new program. The group’s interpreter, Chonwain, described how, although his primary responsibility was to translate for the French speakers in the group, he felt the profound spiritual effect of pilgrimage. “When you accompany pilgrims at every blessed stage, when you move along with them and make every effort to help them with language, when you move in the steps of these pilgrims on their visits to the holy Shrines, your heart is here on pilgrimage,” Chonwain explained. In addition to the formal group pilgrimage program, many communities around the world are organizing themselves informally to make pilgrimage together. Recently, one such group traveled from Utrecht, Netherlands, where the members of the group work side-by-side in a dynamic Baha’i community building effort. “We are asking ourselves how this great privilege can impact our service to the community back home,” explained one of the Dutch pilgrims from the group, whose focus in the Netherlands has been working with young people in a spiritual and moral empowerment program. Two of her companions on pilgrimage were among the youth she has been studying with for three years. “Visiting the sacred Shrines with these youth has been deeply moving for me,” she reflected. Pilgrims enjoy the beauty of the Ridvan Garden during their visit to the holy site.A group living and engaged in community building activities in a district of Chiayi, Taiwan, recently undertook pilgrimage together. “It’s like we’re an extended family, traveling together and caring for each other,” said Chiu, one of the pilgrims from the group. “We’re a lot stronger than before.” The group included a few families with young children. Wendy, another pilgrim from the group, described how her 4-year-old son was nervous about entering one of the Shrines. “So my daughter, who is 6, says, ‘Do you want your soul to grow strong like a tree? Come into the Shrine and pray with me,’” Wendy recounted. To assist individuals and families to apply for pilgrimage online, a new website has been launched at pilgrimage.bahai.org. The site also includes a film about the sacred experience of pilgrimage. Pilgrims walk through the gardens in Bahji.

WASHINGTON

D.C.

United States

Power of history: the pursuit of truth, justice, and unity

WASHINGTON — Our common story is a powerful means through which we come to understand our history, our present, and our future. In the United States, the lives, suffering, and contributions of the enslaved people from Africa and their descendants have historically been overlooked in the nation’s narrative of progress and prosperity.On Wednesday, a number of organizations gathered at Georgetown University’s Slavery Archive in Washington, D.C., to have an intimate, profound discussion on this critical topic and to explore how a renewed national narrative can contribute to racial reconciliation and, ultimately, the transformation of society. The U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs (OPA) organized the space with Georgetown University’s Slavery Archive and the Maryland State Archives.“So much of where we are in the U.S. in terms of race and racism has to do with our history. And so much of that history remains untold and, not only untold but also distorted, to hide the truth of what has happened,” says May Lample from the OPA.“In order to address inequality and racism in the U.S., we have to start to tell the story of how we got here. But the challenge before us is to tell that story in a way that is not divisive and that allows us to see history as progressive. At the same time we need to acknowledge that there are many setbacks, forces of disintegration and forces of integration. There are challenges on the road to progress.”The U.S. Baha’i Office of Public Affairs (OPA) has been intensively engaged in a discourse on race unity, participating in numerous forums across the country, engaging various social actors, and organizing spaces for dialogue that can inform understanding and constructive action. One of its ongoing initiatives has been its Faith and Race Dialogues, in which it has brought together faith based organizations to explore the role that religion and spirituality bring to overcoming the bane of racism.Some of the participants from the Faith and Race Dialogues began to explore together the impact of America’s history on racial dynamics in the country today. Their meeting was held at Georgetown University in the U.S. capital city and included an exhibition of some items from the school’s slavery archive. The university established the archive in 2016 to properly organize and curate material related to its owning and eventual sale of 272 enslaved men, women, and children in 1838.Several descendants of enslaved people attended the gathering, highlighting the importance of giving voice to the thousands who were enslaved and whose stories have never been told. The university has tried to make their stories known through archival materials, artifacts, and oral histories passed down from generation to generation.“The conversation explored the question of how to repair the harm that has been done,” explained P.J. Andrews, from the OPA. “We think of these problems as being in the past, but these systems and values continue to perpetuate themselves.”“Still, we also know that things are not fated to always be this way. We are not just powerless in the face of history and social forces that continue to assail society today. We are hopeful, and we all as human beings have agency to build the world anew. The history of the human race also shows that.”

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BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Special bicentenary collection added to Baha’i Media Bank

BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — A collection of 86 images and videos related to the bicentenaries of the births of Baha’u’llah and the Bab has been added to the Baha’i Media Bank, as preparations for the highly anticipated, historic celebrations of the birth of the Bab gain momentum around the world.The new section, called Special Bicentenary Collection, includes photographs related to the Shrines of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, aerial videos of the Shrine of the Bab and the terraces, bicentenary graphics in nine languages, and images and videos offering glimpses of the October 2017 celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.The Bab was the forerunner and herald of the Baha’i Faith, whose dramatic ministry paved the way for the appearance of Baha’u’llah. Their births, which fall on consecutive days, are celebrated annually. On 29 and 30 October of this year, the births of these Twin Luminaries will be celebrated in countless locations in every part of the world.Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are regularly updated with images and videos in honor of these two events.The Baha’i Media Bank, created in 2006, is a reservoir of visual resources for communities worldwide, publishers, journalists, videographers, and students, among others. The more than 1,200 photos are categorized under five main headings: activities of the Baha’i community, administration and agencies, buildings and places, history, and gatherings and conferences.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Artistic expressions blossom across the globe

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Preparations for worldwide celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, the forerunner and herald of Baha’u’llah, are giving rise to diverse artistic expressions inspired by the lives and teachings of these Twin Luminaries.Music, film, theater, painting, and poetry are among the forms of art being created by individuals and communities from virtually every part of the world. These works are prompting reflection on the remarkable origins of the Baha’i Faith, its teachings, and their implications for the life of humanity. As preparations gain momentum in the weeks to come, expressions of devotion and service will continue to intensify in vastly diverse cultural contexts that reflect the richness and oneness of the human race. Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are regularly updated with images and videos in honor of the upcoming bicentenary of the birth of the Bab as well as the celebrations in 2017 of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.This is the cover of a music album created in Singapore in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.This collage art from the United Arab Emirates was inspired by the teachings of the Bab.One of a series of pieces reflecting on the spiritual nature of human beings, this digital art from the United States draws on the concept of interconnectedness and was created in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.The laser wood art from Australia, depicting the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, was created for the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.Baha’is in Norway recently staged a play about the life of the Bab.A painting from a series that will be shown in an upcoming exhibition in Kazakhstan's capital city.This is one of several paintings by an artist in Costa Rica whose work is inspired by the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.

KAMULI DISTRICT

Uganda

The transformative power of prayer: How devotional gatherings are taking root in Uganda

KAMULI DISTRICT, Uganda — Humanity has always relied on prayer as a source of guidance and connection with God. In the latest episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast, Charles Oloro and Michael Okiria from Uganda speak about how growing numbers of people are attending regular gatherings for collective prayer and experiencing its transformative power. Known as devotional gatherings, these spaces are open to all people in a community and free of ritual; no one person has a special role. The gatherings are also offering people in the community space to discuss their spiritual and material needs. “We are seeing this new culture of friends coming together and turning to God to actually seek guidance for whatever is happening in their communities,” Mr. Oloro says. “Any soul can come to this space and inhale these heavenly fragrances.” Mr. Okiria and Mr. Oloro spoke with the Baha’i World News Service when they were at the Baha’i World Centre as part of a consultation among representatives of eight localities around the world where a robust Baha’i educational and community building process is engaging thousands or tens of thousands of people. The two were representing a cluster of villages and towns in Uganda known as Kamuli South. At the heart of these community building efforts has been local populations building capacity to contribute to social change through applying fundamental Baha’i principles to their social reality. “People are actually talking among themselves about the needs of the community and consulting together to try to find some solutions to the challenges their communities are facing,” Mr. Okiria explains. In February, the Universal House of Justice also published a compilation of Baha’i writings and guidance about prayer and devotional life, available on the Baha’i Reference Library.

0.94224745

33.126300403793124

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Preparations gain momentum worldwide for bicentenary

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Waves of diverse undertakings inspired by the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah are sweeping across the globe as Baha’i communities prepare to mark the second historic bicentenary with special celebrations in October.Gatherings, open to all, dedicated to prayer are infusing neighborhoods and villages with a renewed spirit of hope and a heightened consciousness of humanity’s oneness. Other initiatives in these settings, also aimed at contributing to a community’s prosperity, are increasing in number as the 200th anniversary of the Bab’s birth approaches. The accompanying photo gallery provides glimpses of such activities. Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are regularly being updated with images and videos in honor of the upcoming celebrations and those held in 2017 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah.A group of youth in Ukraine are creating a film about the lives of the early followers of the Bab.Families in Assam, India, gather to consult about how they can enhance the spirit of collective worship and service in their community.In East Palo Alto, California, United States, more than 150 people gathered for a special conference to make plans for the upcoming bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and to share about the lives and teachings of the Twin Founders of the Baha’i Faith.Youth in the Mariana Islands decided to beautify their community in preparation for the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and began by cleaning up and painting a local bus stop. They were inspired to undertake this service project by their participation in devotional gatherings.In Singapore, community members are beginning to consult about bicentenary preparations. As part of these gatherings, some are reflecting on the various artistic expressions created during the celebrations of bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah in 2017 and consider plans for new pieces.Young people in the Central African Republic participate in a community march as part of efforts to celebrate the upcoming bicentenary.The Baha’i community of Portugal is recording a six-part television program on themes about the life and teachings of the Bab.

NAIROBI

Kenya

In Africa, preparations energize and focus communities

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. NAIROBI, Kenya — As communities in Africa prepare for the upcoming bicentenary celebrations, a diversity of efforts are bringing into focus the significance of the historic anniversary. Creative projects, energizing planning gatherings, and endeavors to share accounts about the life of the Bab are occurring in the months before the celebrations. In Kenya, a film team has been traveling the country and interviewing people about the Faith’s history there. The filmmakers have recorded conversations with some of the first Baha’is in Kenya, many of whom were attracted to the teachings of Baha’u’llah and the Bab several decades ago. In reflecting on the history of the Faith in their own country, these interviewees have also been recalling the early history of the Faith during the time of the Bab, said Edward Amaya, one of the filmmakers working on the project. In Kenya, a film team is interviewing a family about the history of the Baha’i Faith in their country.“In the process of recording these interviews, we have been joined by younger friends who are now seeing how to include these elder believers in the bicentenary celebrations,” Mr. Amaya explained. One Kenyan Baha’i, currently living in Mombasa and who, as a young person, led a Baha’i choir, is now teaching younger people songs about the life and teachings of the Bab. Slightly up the coast in Kilifi, two older residents who are unable to attend celebrations at the distant Baha’i center offered their homes to host the bicentenary celebrations. Several dozen people participated in a special conference in Mbotoro, Cameroon, to meet people interested in learning about the Baha’i Faith and participating in the preparation and celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.In other countries, traditional chiefs have been participating in a constructive dialogue about applying the Baha’i teachings in their villages. At one such gathering in the Plateaux region of the Central African Republic, chiefs also met to study Baha’i writings about prayer, life and death, and other topics. In the Western Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, traditional chiefs, who draw on the Baha’i teachings to administer their villages, discussed the transformative power of Baha’u’llah’s revelation. Youth in Emalahleni, South Africa, participate in a special gathering to reflect on their role in society. Several hundred young people have been participating in such gatherings throughout the country.Groups of young adults are also gathering to reflect on their role in society today. In South Africa, several hundred youth, engaged in serving their communities, gathered in recent months to study and make plans to further contribute to the life of their societies. “The youth can see themselves serving their community, and this vision is becoming clearer,” explained Mlingane Poswayo, who works with a group of youth in the Mamelodi township of Pretoria, South Africa. For example, young adults are supporting each other to make strong moral choices while some are also arising to support groups of younger youth in studying and undertaking projects to improve life in their community. More than 1,000 young people are expected to participate in a series of special local gatherings next month throughout South Africa, Mr. Poswayo added. Young people in Kigali, Rwanda, have also been meeting at a weekly youth night to prepare for the bicentenary, turning their focus recently to developing the skill of storytelling.Young people in Kigali, Rwanda, have also been meeting at a weekly youth night to prepare for the bicentenary, turning their focus recently to developing the skill of storytelling. “It’s a space the youth love and enjoy,” said Nasim Parsa, who helps organize the youth nights. “They’re building closer friendships and are inspired. As we read about these young people in the history of the Faith, it also helps us to reflect on our lives and our choices.” Energizing gatherings have also been occurring for participants to reflect on their communities and ways to be of service generously. In Cameroon, hundreds of people have attended eight such conferences throughout the country, enabling participants to “have meaningful conversations about participating in the preparations and celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab,” explained Alidu Wirba of Cameroon’s Baha’i community.

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36.8172449

OTTAWA

ONTARIO

Canada

Baha’i studies: Aiming to apply spiritual principles to humanity’s social progress

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Canada — Baha’i studies involves the effort to understand Baha’u’llah’s teachings, correlate them with the perspectives of humanity across diverse fields, and attempt to apply them to humanity’s current issues and challenges. The Association for Baha’i Studies’ 43rd annual gathering, held earlier this month in Canada’s capital city, featured thought-provoking and lively discussions on topical issues. The 1,400 conference attendees reflected on their efforts to contribute to spiritual and social transformation through the application of principles such as justice and oneness. “One can critique the current social structures, but more can be done to, for example, inspire a hopeful vision for society,” explained Julia Berger, the secretary of the Association’s executive committee. This year’s four-day conference also reflected an important re-visioning of the Association’s annual gathering. “We’ve tried to reimagine the conference to look more broadly at the intellectual life of the Baha’i community. We’ve taken very deliberate steps and are highlighting nascent but significant initiatives,” Dr. Berger said. The annual conference of the Association for Baha’i Studies brought together 1,400 people for a lively discussion on contributing to social progress. (Credit: Monib Sabet)One of those initiatives is the Association’s effort with “working groups,” a collection of people building capacity to engage in a common professional or academic exploration and study. These groups—which meet throughout the year and are focused on topics such as media, economics, healthcare, education, and law—are beginning to analyze the implicit assumptions and concepts in their fields. Participants are relating this collaborative exploration of the deeper questions and concerns in their fields with the Baha’i teachings and the experiences of the community. The group focused on economics, for example, began studying different threads of thought related to the extremes of wealth and poverty. Some then began exploring the role of community in economic life and how assumptions about human nature have shaped economic thought and practice. The growing Baha’i experience in community building and social action, as well as the Baha’i teachings about the nobility of people, also shed light on these questions. The long-term objective is to help advance thinking in different fields in ways that foster the application of spiritual principles such as justice and unity to the needs of society, explained Selvi Adaikkalam Zabihi, who helps coordinate the working groups for the Association. “We are in the early stages of this work, and our understanding is evolving as the groups move forward and we learn along with them,” Ms. Adaikkalam Zabihi noted. This year’s plenary talks included topical themes such as racial justice, spiritual and moral development of youth, and reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people in Canada. Conference organizers explained that they wanted to highlight approaches and principles that would also aid Baha’i participation in the discourses of society. The 43rd annual Association for Baha’i Studies conference created an opportunity for attendees to reflect on their efforts to contribute to spiritual and social transformation. (Credit: Louis Brunet)The conference provided opportunities for individuals to strengthen their capacity to participate in broad conversations focused on social betterment. This participation includes the contribution of individuals to discourses in the social and professional spaces in which they find themselves. Baha’i communities also contribute to social discourses through the formal involvement of their national and international institutions with various agencies of their societies.

45.4211435

-75.6900574

VANCOUVER

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Canada

In Americas, spirit of oneness moves communities in anticipation of bicentenary

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada — The global momentum of bicentenary preparations is building through the Americas. Artistic expressions, thoughtful presentations on the past and present, and other activities give a glimpse of how the continent’s diverse populations are readying themselves for the upcoming historic anniversary of the Bab’s birth. During this period, neighborhoods across Canada are experiencing a new impulse of energy. In one neighborhood of Vancouver, devotional gatherings as well as educational programs for children and youth are increasing in these months. “As a team we are seeing every moment before this bicentenary as precious,” says Hoda Toloui-Wallace, who lives in the area. “Our orientation is to reach out to as many friends to become protagonists in the betterment of society. There is a real spirit of joy in seeing more people channel their energies and find their place on a path of service.” Young people in Ecuador participate in a recent three-day gathering to learn more about the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.Across the United States, communities are drawing growing numbers to local celebrations and other activities. Many places held special summer school gatherings, placing a particular focus on the life and teachings of the Bab. Energizing conferences have allowed participants to reflect on ways to generously serve their community and intensify this effort in the lead-up to the October bicentenary. Artistic endeavors are also underway through the creation of paintings, craft projects, and film screenings. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Baha’is are putting a special focus on the history of the Faith in the city. A series of events is planned for September to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of Martha Root, a notable early Baha’i, in the Argentine capital. Also, on the day of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab in October, a special gathering will be held at the resting place of May Maxwell, a prominent early American Baha’i who died in Buenos Aires in 1940. This deep connection with history also found expression in Vila Velha, Brazil, where the local community is planning a drama featuring monologues of six early followers of the Bab. “The six of us are very excited about it. We are enjoying writing the monologues,” says Bahiyyih Maani Hessari. “We’re nervous for the play, but we’re also very happy and willing to do our best.” Communities through the United States have been preparing for the upcoming bicentenary. These photos (clockwise from left) show a devotional gathering inside the Prayer Hogan at the Native American Baha’i Institute in the Navajo Nation, a special gathering in Dallas, and the participants in the Indiana Baha’i Summer School. These gatherings are among many happening as part of an increase in community building efforts before the October celebrations.Also in Brazil, A Tarde, a major newspaper in Salvador, featured the Baha’i community in its latest Sunday magazine. The special section featured 6-page cover article about the Baha’is of Salvador, their history from when Ms. Root first visited a century ago, their present efforts to contribute to life in Salvador, and their plans for the upcoming bicentenary celebrations. Communities throughout the Americas have been holding special gatherings about the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. For example, in Kingston, Jamaica, an arts workshop to create and present different creative works was held. In Ecuador, people in the country’s southern region recently met for a three-day camp focused on themes inspired by the Bab and Baha’u’llah’s vision for humanity. In La Bomba, Costa Rica, there are a variety of efforts such as a weekly devotional gathering that includes sharing accounts from the lives of the Bab and early heroes and heroines of the Baha’i Faith. And in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, youth are meeting to learn and tell stories about the life of the Bab. Elsewhere, along the continent, four Baha’i Houses of Worship radiate the spirit of the bicentenary period, acting as a focal point for preparations. A gathering at the Temple in Agua Azul, Colombia, brought together dozens of community residents to discuss different themes from the life of the Bab. In all of the Houses of Worship in the Americas—in Chile, Colombia, Panama, and the United States—devotional gatherings will be held during the bicentenary holy days and plans are underway in some for live online broadcasts of the celebrations. Designated accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are regularly being updated with images and videos in honor of the upcoming celebrations and those held in 2017 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah. Community members meet for a gathering on the grounds of the Baha’i House of Worship in Agua Azul, Colombia. The group was studying and reflecting about the life of the Bab.

49.2608724

-123.113952

NEW DELHI

India

Role of sacred space: A conversation on places of worship

NEW DELHI — A diverse group of participants in India’s capital city explored the role that places of worship play in contemporary society. Held on Thursday on the grounds of the Baha’i Lotus Temple, a well-known place of worship in India and abroad, a symposium organized by the country’s Baha’i community brought together about 80 people, including religious leaders, students, scholars, and others. Participants examined how temples, churches, mosques, and other sacred sites can aim to unite people and stimulate deep contemplation on spiritual reality as well as life’s foundational questions. This conversation has particular significance in the country, where religious coexistence is a prevalent topic of discussion, organizers explained. Some speakers noted that places of worship are vital for collective religious experience. The symposium gave speakers an opportunity to reflect on how these sacred spaces can be more inclusive and create a unifying dialogue. “These places of worship offer opportunities for creative transformation of individuals and communities,” said Bindu Puri, the chair of the Center for Philosophy at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. “They can create spaces where people come together across religions.” Bindu Puri, chair of the Center for Philosophy at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, discusses the role of places of worship in society.Nilakshi Rajkhowa of India’s Baha’i community explained: “Sites for worship have been a mainstay in the spiritual life of the individual as well as the community. Therefore, it seemed timely to begin what we hope will be an ongoing conversation from which to glean insights about these sacred places.” Participants explored the concept of a House of Worship in the Baha’i writings, which explain that such structures should be open to everyone, regardless of religion, background, ethnicity, or gender. Several speakers expressed their particular appreciation for the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi; the thousands who visit the lotus-shaped structure daily see it as a haven in which to pray and meditate. The Temple is also a catalyst for service in the surrounding neighborhood, providing space for and stimulating participation in a dynamic educational process that involves people of all ages in systematic study and action aimed at uplifting their neighborhoods spiritually, socially, and materially. “This is a beginning of a series of conversations about the role of places of worship in society,” said Carmel Tripathi, with India’s Baha’i community. “Most of the participants expressed that they really needed a space like this to share their thoughts, and we are eager to organize more gatherings about this topic with the media, students, and others.”

28.6138954

77.2090057

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Bicentenary website to reflect worldwide celebrations

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — A new international website for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab was launched today. The website will unfold in stages over the next eight weeks. Currently featuring artistic endeavors created for the occasion, and articles on the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, the site will expand dynamically over time. A special letter from the Universal House of Justice about the historic anniversary will be published. Dawn of the Light, a feature film commissioned for this upcoming bicentenary, will also be released by the end of this month. The website is available in 10 languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. The bicentenary website will connect the world by capturing the celebrations of people in selected communities across the globe as they recall the lives of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and Their unifying message. These glimpses will be illustrative of the thousands of other celebrations that will be unfolding in virtually every country. The bicentenary website features a small sample from among many artistic expressions created by individuals and communities around the world.On the Twin Holy Days, the website will capture glimpses of a wave of celebrations that will sweep across the planet. This coverage begins at sundown on 28 October in Kiribati and ends at sundown on 30 October in Hawaii. Photos, news, and other media from scores of locations will be published over the course of those 72 hours. There are also plans to include video coverage from Baha’i Houses of Worship. Preparations have been reported in the Baha’i World News Service as well as dedicated Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts; coverage on these platforms will continue.

LIMERICK

Ireland

Worldwide spirit of bicentenary inspires communities throughout Europe

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. LIMERICK, Ireland — The worldwide energy of bicentenary preparations is prompting an efflorescence of activity in country after country. In Europe, communities calling to mind this significant anniversary are producing music inspired by the Bab’s life and teachings, bringing history to life through drama, and redoubling their commitment to constructive action. More gatherings dedicated to prayer and reflection, in homes and public places, are drawing people together in Limerick, Ireland. “We are creating as many beacons of light in our city and county as we can over the next seven weeks,” explains Trisha Rainsford of Limerick’s Baha’i community. Many residents have been opening their homes for collective worship, offering a space where anyone can seek contemplation. Several plays are being staged across Europe. A meeting in Mantova, Italy, to discuss the development of the community’s spiritual education programs included a performance about important moments in the lifetime of the Bab; the drama helped the audience to see the connection between that history and their present-day efforts. In France, playwright Malene Girot Daquin had always wanted to tell the story of Tahirih, the heroic follower of the Bab who was the first woman to recognize Him as a Manifestation of God. “With the upcoming bicentenary of the Bab, I felt that the time was right,” Ms. Girot Daquin explains. The play, which focuses on the final part of Tahirih’s life when she was imprisoned and eventually executed for her belief in the Bab, was performed in part at an event in southern France. There are plans to also stage it at local theaters elsewhere in France and Switzerland. “Tahirih faced her fate with determination and courage,” Ms. Girot Daquin adds. In France, playwright Malene Girot Daquin wrote a play about Tahirih, the heroic follower of the Bab who was the first woman to recognize Him as a Manifestation of God. The drama does not portray Tahirih as one of the actors, but some of her poems are recited.Tahirih’s inspiring life has prompted other stage performances and efforts to recall her important contributions. In North Macedonia, for example, a poet is translating Tahirih’s verses into Macedonian for the bicentenary. Calling to mind the history of the Babi Faith, the community of Camberley, United Kingdom, has been telling stories in community gatherings about the Letters of the Living, the Bab’s first 18 followers who each independently recognized Him in 1844. “The impact of connecting to these early believers has been phenomenal,” says Shadeh Rahimi-Irandoust. “In different social spaces, these names and this history come up. Researching and telling these stories have brought that period to life and made it much more relevant for us.” Seeing the relevance of the Bab’s message to today is one of the topics explored in an album of music being recorded in honor of the upcoming bicentenary by Spain’s Baha’i community. Artists from around the country and the Canary Islands are writing and recording pieces in a diversity of genres and styles as well as different local languages from Spain. The piece below is called Bienamado Bab, which means Beloved Bab, and is about the Bab’s announcement to humanity.Young people in Switzerland have written and narrated a short film about the life of the Bab in the style of a Kamishibai theater, a form of street theater and storytelling from Japan. “When I was growing up, there were many things I didn’t know about the lives of the Manifestations of God,” explains Emma Burnand, 14, who helped make the film. “It was helpful to learn more about these Figures myself, and then prepare the Kamishibai theatre to share our new knowledge.” Germany’s Baha’is have undertaken numerous steps to prepare for the upcoming bicentenary. Recent efforts include storytelling gatherings to bring the early history of the Faith to life, a group’s visit to a small town that has memorialized ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit there in 1913, and a growing number of young people arising to serve their neighborhoods.Hungary’s Baha’i community is one of several that is channeling an interest in the Faith’s history into a printed publication. A 46-page book published in honor of the bicentenary details the 10 days that ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent in Budapest toward the end of His two-year journey through Europe and North America. During His visit to the city, ‘Abdu’l-Baha gave lectures to full halls and had many more intimate conversations, explaining to countless people the Baha’i Faith’s teachings and their relevance to the life of societies He was visiting. To beautify their neighborhood, young people in Chisinau, Moldova, were assisted by a local artist in painting a mural. Moved by this spirit of service, fellow youth joined the project as it got underway. The artwork includes this passage from the Baha’i Writings: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” The community of Nuuk, Greenland, has also been preparing for the upcoming bicentenary. At a recent gathering, participants explored ideas for how to commemorate the Bab’s bicentenary. “The spiritual atmosphere was so wonderful,” a community member expressed.

52.661252

-8.6301239

CANBERRA

Australia

Members of parliament honor bicentenary

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. CANBERRA, Australia — Members of Parliament have honored the historic 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, highlighting the contributions of Baha’i communities to the life of their societies. The House of Representatives of the Australian Federal Parliament held a 30-minute session on Monday during which members congratulated the country’s Baha’i community on the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. The comments followed a private member's motion with cross-party support.Among other points, the motion stated that the House of Representatives “considers the Baha’i community a valued part of Australian society,” “commends the contribution that Australian Baha’is make to social cohesion, unity and community building in Australia,” and “provides assurance that it holds the Baha’i Faith, its leadership and its practicing members in the highest regard, in light of their focus on serving others with excellence.” MP Julian Leeser said in Monday’s session: “Baha’is seek to serve their community through cooperation and support to achieve good social outcomes.” Another MP, Anne Aly, began her comments with a passage from Baha’u’llah's Writings: “‘It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.’ That’s one of my favorite quotes, because it speaks to the universality of the human race unfettered by the imagined borders of nationhood and the constructed boundaries of race.” Meanwhile in the United States, the California State Senate has also acknowledged the Baha’i community’s contributions to society in honoring the upcoming bicentenary. State Senator Henry Stern introduced the idea of commemorating the bicentenary with a proclamation from the legislative body.“Throughout California, Baha’i communities strive to collaborate with others to promote peace, justice, and unity, applying the spiritual principles to their lives and serving their fellow citizens in neighborhoods across our state,” the state Senate’s leader Toni G. Atkins told her colleagues. “In their celebration of diversity and commitment to a good life for all of us, the Baha’is represent the better angels of our state.”

-35.2975906

149.1012676

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha unveiled

BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The Universal House of Justice has today released the highly-anticipated design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to all National Spiritual Assemblies. For Baha’is, ‘Abdu’l-Baha occupies a station without parallel in the religious annals of humankind. In a letter today, the House of Justice states that the structure envisaged in the design seeks “to honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s unique position” and “to reflect at once His lofty station and His humility”. “This should be unlike any other building,” explains Hossein Amanat, who has been selected as the architect for this historic initiative. “It seeks to manifest ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s selflessness, wisdom, openness, acceptance, and kindness towards all people, to embody His love for gardens and nature, and to reflect His progressive and forward-looking approach.” As well as a selection of images illustrating the design concept, a video has been released that allows the viewer to see both the central structure and its surroundings. Garden and plaza approaching the Shrine“‘Abdu’l-Baha had expressed His wish regarding where He should be buried,” explains Mr. Amanat, a distinguished Iranian-Canadian architect. “He had said to an early believer that if something should happen to Him and He should pass away, ‘Abdu’l-Baha wanted to be buried under the sands between Haifa and Akka, which He described as the pathway trodden by the loved ones and the pilgrims.” In a prayer composed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recited by visitors to His resting place, He expresses this supplication to God: “Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones.” This idea in the prayer is one of the organizing principles of the design. “Considering the essence of these words and referring to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s attributes, one is hesitant to design an imposing structure for His resting place. His wishes must be taken into consideration,” Mr. Amanat says, “but not to such a literal extent that His station is not revered and recognized. His resting place must be new and unique, and not like any other building.” Visitors will walk on a path designed to facilitate stages on a meditative journey toward the Shrine at the central point of the garden. “The interior of the Shrine is envisioned to be a place of diffused light and quiet contemplation. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s resting spot is placed at the center of this serene space, and a sunburst pattern emanating from His resting place will embrace the whole garden, symbolizing the radiance that ‘Abdu’l-Baha brought to the people of the world,” says Mr. Amanat. “Abdu’l-Baha was a modern Man,” he continues. “He was a harbinger of the new—His words were new, the Teachings of His Father that He promulgated were new, and He called humanity to a new set of relationships. This building seeks to reflect that.” The video is also available on YouTube. Nighttime bird’s-eye view

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

“Dawn of the Light”: New bicentenary film explores search for truth and meaning

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Dawn of the Light, a new feature film commissioned by the Universal House of Justice for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, was released today on the bicentenary website, bicentenary.bahai.org. The film follows the personal search for truth and meaning undertaken by eight people from different parts of the world. Each one describes the journey to discovering that God has sent two Divine Manifestations for today, the Bab and Baha’u’llah, Who are revolutionizing human thought and behavior. The stories of the eight individuals are explored against the backdrop of the remarkable life of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha’u’llah. Available in Arabic, English, French, Persian, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili voiceover and subtitled versions, the 48-minute film can be viewed here. The film can also be viewed on YouTube.

THE HAGUE

Netherlands

Dutch parliamentary year begins with interfaith gathering, gives voice to youth

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Prince’s Day opening celebrations in the Netherlands, marking the new parliamentary year and held annually by faith communities, this year provided a platform for youth to contribute to the national discourse on the environment. The event, attended by the country’s prime minister, members of parliament, the mayor of The Hague, ambassadors, and faith communities, provided an occasion for over 1,000 participants to reflect on the future of their country. “Whoever looks in the eyes of a child sees that his or her future is important,” said Ad van der Helm, chair of the program. “Our decisions, or our lack of decisions now, will affect their environment. If we care now, they can live.” The faith communities of the country, he continued, “wish to connect the voices of the youth and the voices of the future to the voices of those who bear responsibility at this time. All generations, all layers of society, all groups, languages, and cultures living in our country, share in the responsibility for this earth, our world.” Namara van Bekkum, a 16-year-old youth representing the Dutch Baha’i community, gave the main address for the Prince’s Day event.Namara van Bekkum, a 16-year-old youth representing the Dutch Baha’i community, opened the main address for the event with a passage from ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s First Tablet to The Hague, written nearly a century ago in the aftermath of World War I to a peace organization based in the city: “Until the minds of men become united, no important matter can be accomplished.” Her comments were part of a program that stimulated profound reflection through readings of sacred texts, moments of silence, musical performances, and remarks by additional presenters. Ms. van Bekkum underscored the importance of recognizing the spiritual dimensions of human identity. “How can our rapidly growing and developing world population live in harmony with the earth and its limited natural resources? We simply consume too much of what is produced in the wrong manner,” Ms. van Bekkum said in her speech. “A new consciousness is needed in how we human beings interact with the natural world. We need to pay attention to those spiritual characteristics that are compatible with the oneness of humanity and harmony with nature, for example fairness, honesty, love for the earth and human beings, generosity, and detachment from material things.” In preparing her presentation, Ms. van Bekkum drew on her experiences with community building endeavors. “We have many conversations with people where I live on topics like justice and unity. Many see that this is what we need right now,” she says. “And everywhere in the world, people—youth, kids, and adults—are having more conversations about the importance of unity in climate change.” Marga Martens, chair of the event’s organizing committee and a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community, addressed the gathering.Marga Martens, chair of the event’s organizing committee and a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community, explains that “this year’s event was the first time a youth gave the main speech. That was an intentional choice by the committee to give voice to the country’s young people.” The gathering is the outcome of close and unified collaboration among religious communities in the Netherlands. “We don’t see each other as separate groups presenting their own piece. We see each other as one community,” Ms. Martens said.

52.0799838

4.3113461

BATTAMBANG

Cambodia

Rapidly approaching bicentenary galvanizes communities across Asia

The Baha’i World News Service is publishing a series of articles about preparations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. BATTAMBANG, Cambodia — Across the vast lands of Asia, preparations for the bicentenary gain momentum daily. As the sun rises in Battambang, residents near the local Baha’i House of Worship gather at dawn to pray and consult about their plans for the upcoming historic anniversary. “We are doing our best to be ready for the celebrations and to provide opportunities for many people to contribute to community building efforts,” says local resident Chanserey Ing. The Temple, acting as a focal point for preparations, is attracting growing numbers of visitors who come to pray and reflect on their efforts to contribute to the life of their society. A group of Buddhist monks and several university students, for instance, recently visited the local House of Worship to explore the Baha’i teachings and their implications for social progress. Shopkeepers in in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, pause for a moment in their busy day to reflect on profound questions about the spiritual dimensions of life. Their discussion draws inspiration from the life of the Bab and the relevance of the Baha’i teachings to the state of the world today.Such purposeful conversations as these are also taking place among friends and neighbors throughout the continent. For example, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, shopkeepers pause for a moment in their busy day to reflect on profound questions about the spiritual dimensions of life. Their discussion draws inspiration from the life of the Bab and the relevance of the Baha’i teachings to the state of the world today. Community members in Daidanaw, Myanmar, repair a road in the village.Elsewhere in Asia, the Baha’i community of Daidanaw, Myanmar, is undertaking special projects in honor of the bicentenary, including the repair and construction of a neighborhood road. Throughout India, communities are vigorously preparing for the coming bicentenary in a variety of ways. In New Delhi, activities at the Baha’i Lotus Temple are attracting growing numbers of people from diverse backgrounds to pray and serve together. In Bramhapara, in the state of Assam, youth and young adults have built a covered meeting area to hold spiritual education classes for young people. In the town of Ahwa, the community has dubbed a segment of the film A Widening Embrace in Dangi, a local language spoken in Gujarat and other states. The film, community members say, will help more people to understand the purpose and aims of the Baha’i community and its activities. Throughout India, communities are vigorously preparing for the coming bicentenary in a variety of ways.A group of youth in Istanbul, Turkey, has recently painted a colorful mural on a building in their neighborhood. This project has inspired others in the area to join the effort to beautify their surroundings. “We carried out this project to raise awareness in our region about the importance of serving together,” says one of the youth from the group. Many individuals and communities are channeling their joyful spirit of this special period into music. In Azerbaijan, a group of musicians, poets, and other artists has produced an album of songs in Azeri, English, Persian, and Russian. Another group in Jordan has recorded a song about the Bab and His early followers. Some of the Bab’s prayers have been put to music by a Baha’i from Kuwait. In Itanagar, India, a group has composed an album putting to music Baha’i writings in various Indian languages.

12.9256791

103.23171364274523

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

David Rutstein appointed as Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i International Community today announced the appointment of Dr. David Rutstein as its new Secretary-General. He is succeeding Dr. Joshua Lincoln who had been serving in this capacity since 2013. The Secretary-General is the senior officer acting on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, the world governing body of the Baha’i community, in the conduct of its external affairs, including its relations with Israel, the host-country of its World Centre. Dr. Rutstein comes to the Baha’i International Community following an international career as a senior health executive and physician. He served as a primary care physician in Micronesia and held multiple administrative positions within the United States government’s Department of Health and Human Services, including as a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service, and a term as the Deputy Surgeon General of the United States. He was also the vice president for medical affairs for a private healthcare system in China and founded a global public health charity. Dr. Rutstein holds an M.D. from Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School and an M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is married and has three children. Dr. Lincoln holds a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Prior to joining the Baha’i International Community, he worked for the United Nations, serving in various field assignments in Africa as well as senior positions in New York and Geneva. Reflecting on his tenure, Dr. Lincoln said: “It’s been a privilege to serve in this position—one that requires the maintenance of effective relations and growing partnerships with government authorities, with universities and communities, and with all sectors of civil society. The Baha’i gardens and shrines in Haifa and Acre, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, are now visited by over a million people annually. With this comes a thirst for meaningful dialogue. I’ve noticed the same internationally, whether in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the United States, or elsewhere. Despite very different social realities in these countries, I’m struck by the commonality of issues discussed by governments, scholars, and secular and religious institutions, chief among them being extremism, climate change, and advancing the well-being of individuals while simultaneously building strong and sustainable communities.” Dr. Joshua Lincoln

LONDON

United Kingdom

British Library marks bicentenary, exhibits works of the Bab and Baha’u’llah

LONDON — The British Library is marking the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab with various initiatives alongside the launch of a new website, Discovering Sacred Texts, and companion exhibition, which feature examples of the Faith’s original texts. Drawing from its vast collection, the library is displaying three rare and exquisite pieces in its Treasures Gallery: an original of the Bab’s own handwriting, in the shape of a five-pointed star; calligraphic exercises written by Baha’u’llah in His childhood; and an example of “Revelation Writing”, the form in which Baha’u’llah’s words were recorded at speed by His secretaries as they were revealed. These manuscripts will be displayed at the library for the next six months. Visitors viewing original works of the Bab and Baha’u’llah on display at the opening evening of an exhibition in the British Library’s Treasure GalleryThe exhibition opened in conjunction with the library’s new online educational resource which includes digitized selections of sacred texts from the world’s religions. “Through the project we have made the British Library’s significant collection of Baha’i manuscripts accessible online,” says Alex Whitfield, Learning and Digital Programmes Manager. This tablet of the Bab, an original in His own handwriting, is on display at the British Library.The new educational website “will provide an invaluable tool for students, teachers, lifelong learners, and anyone with an interest in the great world religions,” says Dr. Whitfield. The site includes pages introducing the Baha’i Faith, its sacred texts and Central Figures. Coinciding with the launch of the site and exhibition is the publication of an article by Moojan Momen, specially commissioned by the library for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. Dr. Momen writes about the three original works on display at the exhibition, set in the context of a brief historical account of the life of the Bab. To further mark the bicentenary, the library invited actor and comedian Omid Djalili to stage his one-man show A Strange Bit of History recounting events surrounding the appearance of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. The four-day run of performances concluded this week. Jon Fawcett, head of events at the British Library, saw the show 25 years ago and has never forgotten it. “It struck me as a brilliant piece of storytelling,” he says. In the performance, Mr. Djalili plays 16 different roles. The main characters are an executioner and a camel driver. “The executioner represents the reaction of the authorities at the time of the Bab,” says Mr. Djalili, “while this lowly camel driver represents both the appeal of the Baha’i Faith to people from every stratum of society and, at the same time, the sense of expectation during the Bab’s time when, all over the world, people were spiritually searching.” In the play Mr. Djalili also portrays five modern-day performance poets. “They in turn comment on what’s going on in the world, talking about their own search,” he says, “but they also convey the sense that we are living at a great time, when two Divine Messengers have appeared in the world. One of many digitized manuscripts in the British Library’s Discovering Sacred Texts website, this illuminated leaf is from a volume of Baha’u’llah’s Writings.

51.5073219

-0.1276474

BIC NEW YORK

At General Assembly summit, civil society given prominent voice

BIC NEW YORK — At a first-of-its-kind meeting at the United Nations, non-governmental organizations deliberated, alongside senior government and UN officials, on the status of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Civil Society Forum, attended by over 500 individuals, was held for the first time during the General Assembly’s High Level Week, a space typically reserved for world leaders. Delivering the forum’s opening remarks and co-moderating the discussion, Baha’i International Community representative Daniel Perell remarked that humanity is “standing at the precipice collectively” and that the condition of the world calls for “decisive, constructive steps.” The barrier to action, however, is not ignorance, noted Mr. Perell. “The gap is in commitment, in creativity and, most of all, in courage.” “The systems and structures in place are a patchwork of treaties and institutions, a far cry from the organic wholeness of humanity and the earth.” Mr. Perell stated that today’s historic imperative is “to rethink the narratives, habits, and systems which have brought humanity to this point.” Daniel Perell, a representative of the Baha’i International Community, addresses attendees at the Civil Society Forum during the SDG Summit. (Credit: IISD)Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, an assistant secretary-general at the United Nations, stated: “It is clear that the SDGs will be reached with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders, and all people,” and that this Forum is a reflection that action by a diverse array of actors “is the only way to navigate the complex challenges we are facing today.” Many insights emerged from the discussion. Speakers underscored the importance of working toward the SDGs as an entire system, with countries, NGOs and others engaged in a common effort. Others underscored the significant role civil society organizations have in helping to solve global problems, working alongside governments and the UN. “Though many are skeptical of the utility of another United Nations forum, spaces such as these could also be seen as a step toward bringing the lived experiences of those impacted by policies into the halls of decision-making” said Mr. Perell reflecting on the forum. “We are hopeful that the report from this meeting will contribute substantively to future deliberations at the United Nations,” Mr. Perell added. “This precedent for more inclusive processes is a victory.” The SDGs are the UN’s blueprint for social and economic development. One of their most significant features has been the opening of new avenues for participation to more segments of society. Watch the video of the full session here, and Mr. Perell's remarks here.

SOUTH TARAWA

Kiribati

Bicentenary preparations intensify throughout Australasia

This fifth and final article in a series on preparations for the bicentenary highlights efforts across Australasia. SOUTH TARAWA, Kiribati — Across Australasia, communities are filled with anticipation for the coming bicentenary and are honoring this special period through an abundance of artistic works and vibrant community activities. There is a long and rich history in this region of marking celebrations with traditional dance. A well-known dance troupe in South Tarawa, Kiribati, is offering a series of performances along the island’s main road, presenting stories about the Bab and His mission. “The bicentenary is so special, and we want to let every soul on South Tarawa know about it,” says Therese Bakineti, an island resident. In the Tongan island of Tongatapu, youth from several communities are rehearsing traditional dances to be performed at upcoming celebrations. A group of musicians in Christchurch, New Zealand, is honoring the bicentenary by setting Baha’i prayers and writings to music in the Maori language. Naming their effort the Waiata Project—from a Maori word for song or chant—they have created an album of nine songs in both traditional and contemporary styles. “Being Maori myself, this project made me connect a lot more with my language and with the prayers,” explains D. J. MacDonald, a 17-year-old musician who helped compose the music. “My hope is that these waiata strengthen the Maori language and bring people together in New Zealand. I want us to be united over these songs.”In diverse settings throughout Australasia, people are also coming together to reflect on the special nature of the bicentenary, by viewing the film commissioned for the occasion, Dawn of the Light, and by turning their attention to a message of the Universal House of Justice about the bicentenary. These and many other initiatives are strengthening community bonds across this region and channeling the energies of growing circles of people toward constructive processes in society. For example, the community in Lae, Papua New Guinea, is raising a building to house educational activities. In a suburb of Port Vila, Vanuatu, friends, neighbors, and government officials recently set out together to clean a river, clearing trash and planting riverbank grasses to prevent soil erosion. In a neighborhood near Sydney, Australia, dozens of households are inviting friends and neighbors to gatherings for prayer and reflection on the teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah and their application to humanity’s social progress. At the site of the future Temple in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the community met for prayers on a recent national holiday, and young people spoke about the life of the Bab and the upcoming bicentenary.The bicentenary has also been marked at the national level, including in Australia where the Federal Parliament last month held a session honoring the historic anniversary of the birth of the Bab. A special feature of this region that is lending further impetus to preparations for the bicentenary is the presence of two Baha’i Houses of Worship, with two more that are under development. At the Temple in Sydney, some 200 people gathered recently for a conference to reflect on their community-building efforts. Drawing on the welcoming spirit of the Temple, participants spoke with visitors and residents of the surrounding neighborhood about the edifice and the teachings it represents. “A lot of people are starting to see who the Bab and Baha’u’llah were and why they’re so important to the world today. Their teachings about the oneness of mankind, the oneness of religion, and the equality of women and men are essential for our society,” notes Steven Maaelopa of Sydney. Sites in the Pacific islands where Houses of Worship stand or will be built in the coming years are also acting as focal points of celebration and profound reflection during the bicentenary period. At the site of the future Temple in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the community recently met for prayers on a national holiday, and young people spoke about the life of the Bab. At the Temple site in Tanna, Vanuatu, a sense of collective ownership is permeating surrounding communities as residents learn about the nature and purpose of Houses of Worship and contribute to its development. At the Temple in Sydney, devotional gatherings and meetings to reflect on community building efforts are regularly taking place in the lead-up to the bicentenary.

1.3490778

173.0386512

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

‘Ali Nakhjavani, 1919–2019

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — ‘Ali Nakhjavani, former member of the Universal House of Justice, passed away in the early hours of this morning in France. He was 100 years old. The House of Justice sent the following message to all National Spiritual Assemblies today.*  *  *With sorrowing hearts we convey the news that in the early hours of this morning our deeply cherished, illumined, and illustrious former colleague ‘Alí Nakhjavání ascended to the worlds beyond. We mourn the loss of an extraordinary figure who leaves behind a distinguished legacy of uninterrupted service to the Cause of God. In the course of a singularly remarkable life that began in the closing years of the Heroic Age and extended to the very fringes of the second century of the Formative Age, he shone in the firmament of selfless devotion to Bahá’u’lláh and was called upon to be involved in many a major development in the rise of the Administrative Order, whether as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, as an intrepid pioneer to Africa in the Ten Year Crusade, as a member of the African Auxiliary Board when it was first created, as a member of the Regional National Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa at its inception, and as a member of the International Bahá’í Council when it was first elected, a prelude to his membership on the Universal House of Justice when it was established in 1963. He brought to his decades of monumental service absolute fidelity to his beloved Guardian, an exceptional depth of knowledge of the Cause, leonine commitment to the defence of the Covenant, intense ardour for the teaching work, rare spiritual acuity, and a radiant heart brimming with love for everyone who crossed his path. His was a life of profound spiritual attainment lived at the hinge of history. May his utter consecration, his adamantine faith, and his unswerving dedication to duty inspire generations to come. We supplicate at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of his noble soul, that it may be richly rewarded, and that it may be united with his valiant pillar of support, his beloved wife Violette. Our condolences are extended to his dear daughter and son, Bahiyyih and Mehran, and to their families, and we pray that their grieving hearts may be solaced. The friends are called upon to hold memorial meetings in his honour, including befitting gatherings in all Houses of Worship throughout the world. The Universal House of Justice

COLLEGE PARK

MARYLAND

United States

Thinkers challenge social structures, link women’s empowerment to peace and progress

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, United States — In a recent conference held by the Baha’i Chair for World Peace, academics and practitioners from diverse fields examined the inseparable relationship between the advancement of women and the creation of prosperous and peaceful societies. Talks and panel discussions at the two-day event held last month at the University of Maryland, College Park, examined the inadequacies of contemporary social structures to address the major challenges facing humanity today and explored the leading role women must play in the pursuit of genuine solutions. “Despite the progress being made toward women’s equality, by no means are we close to fully understanding the scale of change required to bring about full equality between women and men,” explained Hoda Mahmoudi, holder of the Chair. “We will have to create a new social order with new norms and institutions that are constructed with the full and equal participation of women.” Speakers at the event critically examined the major obstacles that prevent the participation of women in all the spheres of society. Among their conclusions were that that societal structures today concentrate decision making at all levels in the hands of a relative few, largely excluding women; that science is misused to reinforce prejudices about women and, in some cases, to justify the abuses of men in certain positions of power; and, that laws and policies often exclude or disadvantage women, blocking their progress or establishing ceilings. Speakers and attendees converse during a break at the recent Baha’i Chair conference about the equality of women and men.Panel discussions also focused on the contributions that women are making to positive social change. Margaret Satterthwaite of the NYU School of Law spoke about indigenous women around the world who are learning to work with and shape legal systems to overcome oppressive structures. Brandy Thomas Wells, a historian from Oklahoma State University, described the contributions of African-American women to 20th century and present-day peace movements. Other speakers described the significant contributions made by women to peace-building efforts, noting that peace negotiations in which women are included as major actors tend to be more fruitful and long-lasting. “Where women are represented in higher numbers in civil society groups and in legislation, there is less violence and war,” Dr. Mahmoudi says. “According to many studies, higher levels of women's equality are associated with a lower propensity for conflict both between and within states.” Speakers also emphasized the need for structural changes in society to bring about the equality of women and men. Marie Berry of the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies described how incremental reforms would not be sufficient. “How are we actually seeking to build movements that change systems and don’t replicate the violence of those systems? How do we build movements that challenge and dismantle those systems and rebuild more just, more inclusive, more democratic, and more peaceful societies?” noted Dr. Berry. A student asks a question during the recent Baha’i Chair conference that focused on the equality of women and men.Reflecting on the conference, Dr. Mahmoudi explains that the event has revealed important questions about the requirements for new patterns of thought and behavior and for new social structures which reflect the principle of the equality of women and men. The empowerment of women is one of the Baha’i Chair’s five central themes on which it focuses as part of its mandate to advance research and dialogue on global peace. The Chair will continue to open spaces for leading academics and practitioners to exchange ideas and explore new insights about the advancement of women and its relationship with global peace and prosperity. The conference’s talks and panel discussions can be viewed on the Baha’i Chair’s YouTube channel. During one of the panel discussions, Brandy Thomas Wells, a historian from Oklahoma State University, speaks about the contributions of African-American women to 20th century and present-day peace movements.

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-76.94610290199051

MATUNDA

Kenya

Construction progresses on Kenya Temple

MATUNDA, Kenya — A new stage of development has been reached in the construction of the first local Baha’i House of Worship in Africa. The foundation of the central edifice has now been laid and work on other structural elements is advancing. The 1.5-meter central mound on which the 18-meter-tall Temple will stand has been completed. Work on columns has begun and construction of its auxiliary structures, such as a visitor’s center, is well under way. The Temple’s design, simple yet elegant in form, was inspired by huts that are traditional to the region. Since the groundbreaking ceremony in March, interest in the Temple and what it represents has been growing among the region’s inhabitants. “The devotional spirit in local communities has been enriched as more people come to better understand the nature and purpose of Houses of Worship,” says Stephen Mwangi, the Temple’s project administrator. “Many new gatherings that bring together friends and neighbors for prayer have been initiated in local communities since construction began.” Workers build the Temple’s structural columns.Located just west of the town of Matunda, the site of the future Baha’i Temple is in a region that is home to some of Kenya’s earliest Baha’i communities, where patterns of worship and service to humanity have been fostered over decades. “Nearby residents,” Mr. Mwangi continues, “are visiting the Temple site to pray and offer service, demonstrating a growing sense of ownership for the development of the Temple and the surrounding land.” Mr. Mwangi noted that numerous plants and trees have been donated for a nursery and a core of people are dedicated to its maintenance. The nursery, which houses over 1,000 plants and trees of 100 varieties, will eventually provide for the beautification of the Temple grounds. The Kenya Temple follows two other local Baha’i House of Worship which were raised in Battambang, Cambodia, and Norte del Cauca, Colombia. Other countries designated by the Universal House of Justice to build a local Baha’i Temple include India and Vanuatu. The Kenya Temple’s construction crew carefully laid stones, on which concrete was later poured to form the building’s foundation.

0.82795955

35.12127738390197

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Anticipation mounts: A guide for 72 hours of bicentenary coverage

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On Monday at sunset in the Line Islands in Kiribati, a global community will begin a period of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith. From the small island nations in the Pacific, celebrations will then spread across Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, as sunset moves westward with the rotation of the earth. With sunset on the following day, the world will begin celebrating the birth of Baha’u’llah, Who was born 202 years ago in 1817. The birthdays of the Bab and Baha’u’llah occur back-to-back on the Baha’i calendar and are referred to as the “Twin Birthdays.” The Baha’i writings state that “these two days are accounted as one in the sight of God.” 72 hours of celebrations Baha’i Holy Days are held from sunset to sunset. This year, the birthday of the Bab begins at sunset on 28 October and ends at sunset on 29 October, when the birthday of Baha’u’llah begins. In any given city, the total time marking the celebrations is 48 hours, or two whole days (sunset 28 October to sunset 30 October). But globally, the total period for the two holy days lasts 72 hours. This is because around the earth each day’s first sunset over land occurs in the Line Islands, just west of the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean; the last sunset is in the Hawaiian island of Kauai, which lies just east of the International Date Line. The International Date Line, which is an artificial marker demarcating the change of one calendar day to the next, runs from north to south. It takes three rotations of the earth, 72 hours, to cover two sunsets across the planet (see graphic). This graphic explains why the bicentenary celebrations worldwide last 72 hours.Staying connected to celebrations worldwide The bicentenary celebrations across the planet open a window into the diversity of the human family and its essential oneness. As the earth spins on its axis and celebrations begin in different lands, the world can be updated with information on the festivities occurring in particular places. The international website Bicentenary.Bahai.org, launched last month, will begin covering bicentenary celebrations around the world at Monday’s sundown in Kiribati, that is 4:15 a.m. GMT. The site will be regularly updated with glimpses into the celebrations in more than 100 countries. Currently, the site features articles on the lives and teachings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah, a special letter from the Universal House of Justice about the historic anniversary, and Dawn of the Light, the film commissioned for the bicentenary. The website is available in 10 languages—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Hindi, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. In addition to the website, the following platforms will publish stories, photos, and videos from or related to the bicentenary: The Bahá’í World News Service: bwns.org YouTube: youtube.com/thebahaifaith Instagram: @twinbirthdays Facebook: facebook.com/twinbirthdays The @twinbirthdays Instagram page provides updates of bicentenary celebrations and preparations around the world.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

For bicentenary, Shrine of the Bab opens to thousands of visitors, community leaders

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Terraces cascading down the mountainside were illuminated as thousands of residents of Haifa and surrounding cities and villages walked through the Baha’i gardens at night. At the midpoint of the terraces, the iconic Shrine of the Bab beamed brightly as a symbol of hope and peace. This two-night special program was attended by more than 16,000 people earlier this month, and today community leaders from Haifa participated in a more intimate gathering that included a walk down the terraces to the sacred Shrine. Around the world, people are preparing for the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. To mark that historic anniversary at the Baha’i World Centre, the gates to the terraces on Mt. Carmel, normally open to the public only in the daytime, were opened on two evenings, 16 and 17 October. People from all walks of life—among them Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze—attended the special occasion. Haifa, home to the Shrine and terraces, is known for its long history of communal harmony. Visitors had the opportunity to inquire about the Baha’i Faith, its history, and the bicentenary as they walked the terraces and entered the magnificent domed Shrine, where the remains of the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith have been laid to rest. Many also entered the Shrine to pray and meditate. Visitors around the Shrine of the Bab, when the sacred structure and its surrounding terraces were open to the public at nightAround the Shrine, the evening was characterized by a spirit of reverence, as children and adults silently entered to pray. Many expressed deep spiritual feelings inside the Shrine. “All I can say is that it is as if this place is like a piece of heaven. It’s like God has taken a piece of heaven and dropped it here,” said one resident who lives near the terraces. “I wish I could stay on the terraces for the whole night,” expressed another visitor. “One more time! One more time!” a four-year-old girl insisted to her parents after another visit to the Shrine. Two hundred people, among them Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, public servants, university officials, and civil society actors, attended a reception earlier today, held in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab.Today, commemorations continued with a reception that hosted 200 people, among them Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, public servants, university officials, and civil society actors. The program included a film about the life of the Bab and remarks by the Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community in Haifa. After the reception, participants walked down the terraces from the top of the mountain, ending their journey at the Shrine. Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem, second from right, also attended today’s reception that included a visit to the Shrine of the Bab and the Haifa Pilgrim House.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Worldwide celebrations begin, live updates on bicentenary site

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Moments ago in the Line Islands of Kiribati, sunset initiated a wave of joyous celebrations that will encircle the planet over the next 72 hours. During this special period, individuals, families, communities, and whole populations reflecting the diversity of the human family will gather in numerous settings to celebrate the lives of two divine Luminaries Who, in the words of the Universal House of Justice, “inaugurated a new stage in social evolution: the stage of the unification of the entire human family.” This year’s celebrations are especially significant because they mark the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. Celebrations around the world can be followed on the bicentenary website, which will have live updates every few minutes, as well as on a number of other online platforms. Special gatherings held at Baha’i Houses of Worship will be broadcast as well.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

President of Israel visits World Centre to honor bicentenary amid wave of commemorations in Haifa and across the globe

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — On Sunday, President of Israel Reuven Rivlin came to Haifa to honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab. The visit follows a recent reception for local leaders and a special two-evening opening of the Shrine of the Bab and the terraces on Mt. Carmel, which saw more than 16,000 visitors walk through the Baha’i gardens, with many entering the Shrine, in a stirring display of joy, reverence, and social harmony. A brief film about the Bab was shown at the bicentenary reception."The values of tolerance and respect are well integrated into the two cities where the Baha’i World Centre is based—Akka and Haifa,” remarked President Rivlin during his visit. “The State of Israel is proud and delighted to host Baha'i believers and the World Centre for the Baha’i Faith, which promotes values of peace and unity among different religions.” During his visit, President Rivlin joined Dr. David Rutstein, the Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community, on a visit to the Shrine of the Bab and a walk through the surrounding gardens. With sunset this evening, the Twin Baha’i Holy Days have commenced at the Baha’i World Centre, and commemorations will be held on 29 and 30 October to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah at Their sacred Shrines. A reception for local leaders and dignitaries in the Haifa and Akka areas was held on Friday. Haifa Mayor Einat Kalisch-Rotem (second from the right) talks with Carmel Irandoust (center) from the Baha’i International Community in Haifa.The history of the Baha’i Faith is deeply connected with the Holy Land and goes back more than 150 years. After the martyrdom of the Bab in the Persian city of Tabriz in 1850, Baha’u’llah and His family and closest companions underwent a series of exiles. Baha’u’llah’s last banishment was to Akka in 1868, where He lived the remaining years of His life. August 31 last year marked the 150th anniversary of His arrival to the Holy Land, which was explored in parts 1, 2, and 3 of a podcast series published by the Baha’i World News Service. After the martyrdom of the Bab, His remains were recovered and concealed by the Baha’is until a final resting place was established on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, where today a magnificent Shrine illuminates the mountainside, surrounded by terraces and gardens. This week, celebrations are being held in virtually every country as people mark the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab and the 202nd anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah on 29 and 30 October, respectively. Stories, videos and photographs from celebrations around the world are available on the bicentenary website. After sunset, the Shrine illuminated the mountainside in Haifa.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Celebrations have now encircled the globe

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — Activities and celebrations honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab are multiplying rapidly since sunset in Kiribati on Monday. As sunset on the 28th occurred in place after place, moving westward across the entire globe, it initiated a period of celebrations in every land. Reports from around the world reflect a diverse range of activities for the bicentenary, including profound conversations, prayer and meditation, visits to the homes of friends and family, artistic expressions, the distribution of booklets and special newsletters, service projects, large parades through city streets, celebrations in family homes and neighborhood centers, national commemorations with dignitaries and societal leaders, and devotional gatherings at Baha’i Houses of Worship. At the grassroots especially, activities have flourished beyond any expectation. Numerous reports have come in about intimate celebrations in homes, where families share stories and pray together, recounting episodes from the life of the Bab. Similarly, larger community gatherings in neighborhoods and localities, open to all, have occurred across the planet. Many celebrations have screened the film Dawn of the Light, and attendees have studied the October 2019 message of the Universal House of Justice written for the occasion of the bicentenary. A celebration at a high school in Gwalior, IndiaIn several instances, where communities faced natural disasters or acute social upheaval, Baha’i communities have responded by turning their energies toward alleviating in some way the suffering of their fellow inhabitants and drawing on the inspiring life of the Bab to bring hope. The flourishing of activities witnessed over the past day reflects a growing capacity in recent years within the Baha’i community to build new patterns of community life, in which service, collective worship, collaboration, mutual respect and collective learning, have come to characterize interactions among families, neighbors, and friends. During this bicentenary period, people throughout the world are finding a source of inspiration and hope in remembrance of the figure of the Bab, gentle and kind in His disposition yet courageous and indomitable in the face of oppression and injustice. A service project in Ebreichsdorf, Austria A celebration with devotions held at the Temple site in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

72 hours, one world

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — The remarkable period that just ended with sunset in Hawaii has opened a new window onto the world. Over the course of three rotations of the Earth, humanity on every land commemorated the anniversaries of the births of the Bab and Baha’u’llah. These days of commemoration offer a glimpse into a humanity that is rarely, if ever, so profoundly depicted in its oneness. Neither borders, nor conflicts between nations, nor prejudices of class, race, religion, or culture, were able in the least to obscure the reality that all humanity is one. The description below, from the message of the Universal House of Justice on the occasion of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, was illustrated through the multitude of examples that flowed in over these days: “… these are communities that define themselves by their commitment to the oneness of humanity. They value the rich diversity represented by all the world’s kindreds, while maintaining that one’s identity as a member of the human race has precedence before other identities and associations. They affirm the need for a global consciousness, arising from a shared concern for the well-being of humankind, and they count all the peoples of the earth as spiritual brothers and sisters. Not content with simply belonging to such communities, Bahá’u’lláh’s followers are making constant effort to invite like-minded souls to join them in learning how to put His teachings into effect.” Two centuries ago during His brief and dramatic ministry, the Bab suffered exile, imprisonment, and martyrdom at the hands of a fanatical leadership that was determined to snuff out His light and keep the populace in darkness. He Himself during His imprisonment in the remote fortress of Mah-Ku was kept in darkness, denied even a candle at night. In contrast to that oppression, His Shrine on Mt. Carmel stands lit every evening as a reminder that His light, and indeed the light of Baha’u’llah for Whom He paved the way, cannot be put out. The celebrations that encircled the planet brought to vivid life the well-known passage of Baha’u’llah: “So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”

TORONTO

Canada

“The hand of the community crafted the outcome”: Baha’i House of Worship receives prestigious international prize

TORONTO — The prestigious biennial Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) International Prize is not a typical architectural award. An international jury of six highly distinguished architects has to choose a building that stands out for being “transformative within its societal context” and “expressive of the humanistic values of justice, respect, equality, and inclusiveness.” This they have to do from among an extraordinary selection of architectural structures from around the world that have impacted the social life of the communities within which they were built. “The Bahá’í Temple was a community project. Numerous volunteers worked on this project, similar to a way a community project works in a small village, but this was on a global scale,” explains Diarmuid Nash, a distinguished Canadian architect and Chair of the Jury. “But the Temple went beyond the community,” he continues. “It extended the principles of the Bahá’í Faith—that every person is equal, that every person can come here to reflect and regenerate. It had this impact that rippled beyond the community and attracted more and more people from all walks of life.”This year’s RAIC International Prize of $100,000 was awarded to the Bahá’í House of Worship for South America. The prize money is being dedicated to the long-term maintenance of the Temple. Commissioned by the Universal House of Justice and designed by Canadian architect Siamak Hariri, the House of Worship for South America has become an iconic symbol of unity for Santiago and well beyond. Overlooking the city from the foothills of the Andes, the Temple has received over 1.4 million visitors since its inauguration in October 2016. The House of Worship has not only symbolized unity but it has given expression to a powerful conviction that worship of the divine is intimately connected with service to humanity. The connection between the built environment and the well-being of society was a preeminent concern for the Jury of the RAIC Prize. Diarmuid Nash, the Jury Chair, explains that three architectural projects were selected as finalists for the transformative impact they had on their respective communities. “The Bahá’í Temple was a community project. Numerous volunteers worked on this project, similar to a way a community project works in a small village, but this was on a global scale.” The House of Worship has received more than 1.4 million visitors since its inauguration in October 2016.“But the Temple went beyond the community,” he continues. “It extended the principles of the Bahá’í Faith—that every person is equal, that every person can come here to reflect and regenerate. It had this impact that rippled beyond the community and attracted more and more people from all walks of life.” The process of selection was rigorous and extended over six months. Jury members were asked to perform site visits as part of their research and selection process. “We asked Stephen Hodder, former President of the Royal Institute of British Architects and guest Juror, to visit this project,” says Mr. Nash. “We thought he would have a dispassionate eye.” Mr. Hodder visited the Temple for three days earlier this year and spent a significant amount of time with the local community. He later shared his impressions with the Jury, referring to the House of Worship as “truly transformational, timeless and spiritual architecture, the like of which I have never experienced, and the influence of which extends way beyond the building.” Speaking about Mr. Hodder’s visit, Mr. Nash says “Stephen said to me that he had not felt such an emotional impact since he had walked into Ronchamp, which is a very famous chapel all of us have visited in our architectural careers. It is a touchstone of modern architecture. He said ‘this goes beyond Santiago, it reaches out to the world.’” Mr. Hodder in his comments to the Jury shared the following thoughts: "How can it be that a building captures the spirit of ‘unity,’ a sacred place, or command a prevailing silence without prompting? The interior space spirals upwards vortex-like culminating with the oculus within which is the inscription ‘O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious’. Seating orientates to Haifa and the Shrine of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh…. But why do people flock to the Bahá’í Temple? Is it the garden, planted with native species and lovingly cared for by volunteers, or the view over Santiago and remarkable sunsets, or the curious object set against the mountains? The Temple is the anchor…At night, the opacity of the cast glass outer skin, and the translucency of the Portuguese marble inverts, and the dome appears to glow ethereally from the inside…. The Temple has not only afforded a focus for the Bahá’í community but in their commitment to ‘service’ also for the neighbourhood and its well being." The Baha’i Temple for South AmericaIt was not only the impact of the Temple on society but also the nature of its craftsmanship that struck the Jury. “It was lovingly assembled,” says Mr. Nash. “The woodwork, the stonework, and the glasswork—they all have the sense of a hand shaping them, which is remarkable for a project so sophisticated. This had a powerful impact on the Jury. There was this sense that the hand of the community had crafted the outcome.” In the wake of the award, Mr. Hariri has been reflecting on the endeavour. “Hundreds of people sacrificially worked on this project with great dedication, enormous skill, and put themselves forward at the very frontier of what’s possible in architecture,” he explains. “The Temple reflects an aspiration. What architects do is put into form aspiration. When you have a chance like this, where the aspirations are so great, it requires the furthest reaches of imagination to meet that challenge.” The award was presented on 25 October at a ceremony at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. “Above all,” said Mr. Hariri in remarks he made that evening, “our gratitude extends to the Universal House of Justice which was our unwavering source of guidance, courage, and constancy.” Mr. Nash, who was there, says that as the talk finished people were standing and cheering. “We were all very inspired. It’s a project that has a life of its own. It is supposed to be a building built to last 400 years. I suspect it will go well beyond that.” The Baha’i House of Worship is open to all people as a sacred space for meditation and prayer.

43.6534817

-79.3839347

BIC ADDIS ABABA

At BIC, bicentenary celebrations explore peace, oneness of humanity

BIC ADDIS ABABA — Baha’i International Community offices brought together dignitaries and leaders of international organizations for celebrations of the historic 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab earlier this month. The gatherings, held at BIC offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday and in New York City on 1 November, explored the relevance of the Bab and Baha’u’llah’s teachings two centuries ago to the conditions of the world today. In Addis Ababa, Solomon Belay, a representative of the Baha’i International Community, focused his presentation on the imperative of peace and the emphasis placed on it in the Baha’i teachings. “The reality of peace is so complex that no individual or organization can claim to grasp and promote it alone. We all need to come together and consult on the possibility, prerequisites, and the way of peace.” In New York City, the celebration was held in the BIC offices where attendees explored some of the implications of the oneness of humanity. “The conviction that we belong to one human family is at the heart of the Baha’i teachings,” Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community, said to the celebration’s attendees. She noted that acceptance of this principle “calls on each of us to strive to overcome all forms of prejudice—whether racial, religious, or gender-related.” The bicentenary celebration held at the BIC office in New York City included many joyful discussions about the significance of the Baha’i teachings.The celebrations served as an opportunity to reflect on the current state of world affairs, as well as the impact that the teachings of the Baha’i Faith are having on diverse populations. Participants in New York’s celebration watched excerpts from the film Dawn of the Light, which demonstrates the implications of some of the core Baha’i teachings in addressing contemporary forms of oppression in diverse settings around the world. “Profound changes in the structures of society are, of course, essential to lasting peace,” noted Emily Osvold of the BIC, as she introduced a section of the film about individuals working for peace in their communities. “The role of women, of young people, of education, and our economic models—all require reexamination. But individuals need not wait for structural change before contributing to peace. Each person has the potential to become an active agent of social change and to contribute to building a peaceful society.” Reflecting on the film, one participant noted, “My heart was touched by the message of love. This message is really what gives meaning to all of our lives, and is applicable to all of us, no matter our background.” In the film, which tells the stories of eight people’s personal search for truth and meaning, one of the interviewees underscores this message of love: “The unquestionable truth is love. Love is what we share with everyone in our society. Love is the reason we exist.” Dozens of dignitaries, representatives of international organizations, and others attended the bicentenary celebration at the BIC office in New York City.

BIC NEW YORK

UN to Iran: End human rights violations against Baha’is

BIC NEW YORK — Iran has once again been condemned by the international community for its ongoing human rights violations. A United Nations General Assembly committee has expressed its serious concern about the country’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is. This came in a resolution adopted today by a vote of 84 to 30, with 66 abstentions, from the Third Committee of the General Assembly. The six-page resolution expressed “serious concern about ongoing severe limitations and increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, … against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities, including ... members of the Baha’i faith.” This resolution follows two recent reports on Iran. Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, noted in his July report that, “Over the past 40 years, the Baha’is, considered to be the largest non-Muslim and unrecognized religious minority in the Islamic Republic of Iran ... have suffered from the most egregious forms of repression, persecution and victimization.” Additionally, the Secretary-General in a September report about Iran included the following recommendation: “The Secretary-General urges the Government to ensure the protection of minority groups and individuals, and to uphold and implement legislation that protects them.” The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution that expresses its serious concern about Iran’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is.Meanwhile, in Geneva, during the 34th session of the Universal Periodic Review, a large number of countries criticized Iran for its violation of the rights of religious minorities which led to six recommendations that specifically refer to the Baha’is. “We welcome this resolution and its condemnation of Iran’s egregious human rights violations,” said Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations. “The passage of this resolution sends a strong message to the Iranian authorities that continuous violations against the Baha’is and other religious minorities are well-noted by the international community, and ongoing discrimination and harassment of any religious minority group for simply practicing their faith will not be tolerated.” The resolution will be confirmed by the plenary of the General Assembly this December. The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution that expresses its serious concern about Iran’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is, by a vote of 84 to 30, with 66 abstentions.

LENAKEL

Vanuatu

Milestone for Vanuatu Temple uplifts, galvanizes island

LENAKEL, Vanuatu — A unifying and festive ceremony marked the groundbreaking of the local Baha’i House of Worship for the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. About 2,000 people were joined by representatives of the national government and members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the country for Sunday’s ceremony, which was held on the Temple site in the town of Lenakel. “This House of Worship will be a place for joy and delight, a collective center for the hearts of all people, a place that will unite us all, a place where we will chant the words of God,” said Annick Nakal Nanua, a member of the country’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. Speaking about the decades-long history of the development of the Baha’i community in Vanuatu, she continued, “Today we are not just celebrating the groundbreaking, but also celebrating a significant milestone of a process that began many, many years ago.” Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu and President of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs Willie Plasua together drive the kakel—a traditional wooden spade—into the soil, symbolizing the start of construction on the local Baha’i House of Worship on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.Government and traditional leaders recognized the significance of the occasion and expressed their gratitude to the Universal House of Justice for choosing Tanna as the site of a Baha’i Temple. Many senior officials attended Sunday’s ceremony, including Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu and all 17 members of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs. “This Temple will symbolize what we wish to see in Vanuatu in the years to come, which is peace and unity among us all, irrespective of belief,” noted Minister Regenvanu. “This is what we need in Vanuatu.” Paul Windie, the vice president of the Tafea Provincial Council, also addressed the audience: “In our culture when a person—child or adult—wishes to find peace, he or she takes shelter under a banyan tree. This House of Worship provides us a place where we can meditate deeply about our spiritual reality. This is where an individual makes a spiritual connection with God.” “The House of Worship is where an individual listens to his or her soul,” he commented. A dance troupe performs during the groundbreaking ceremony for the local Baha’i House of Worship on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.Following prayers, speeches, and celebratory dances, the gathering culminated with the official breaking of the ground. A traditional wooden spade, called a kakel, was passed from representatives of the local and national Baha’i communities and eventually to Minister Regenvanu and the president of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Willie Plasua. Standing before the gathering’s attendees under the hot midday sun, the two national leaders together drove the kakel into the earth. Local chiefs had presented the kakel to the Baha’i community in a customary ceremony the day before to honor the eight tribes of Tanna that together offered the land for the Temple. One of the traditional chiefs, Allan Dan of the Nalu people, spoke on behalf of the eight tribes that unitedly offered the land. “This sacred project will be the source of harmony and will ensure our region will have healthy growth, where the material and the spiritual are in harmony.” The Universal House of Justice first announced in 2012 that Tanna would be home to one of five local Temples to be built around the world. In July 2017, the Temple’s design was unveiled in a festive and galvanizing ceremony. In its 2014 Ridvan message, the House of Justice highlighted Tanna as an example of a community where an entire population is moving toward a vision of material and spiritual prosperity, for which Baha’is around the world are striving. Sunday’s groundbreaking ceremony was attended by many residents of Tanna and other islands of Vanuatu.

-19.5315762

169.2677639

PORT MORESBY

Papua New Guinea

Construction advances on historic first national Baha’i House of Worship

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Construction is advancing on the national Baha’i House of Worship for Papua New Guinea, which is being built in Port Moresby. Already, the excavation work is completed, and the Temple’s foundation is now being laid. The foundation is expected to be complete by December, and work on the steel superstructure will begin in January. The Temple is the first to be designated as a national Baha’i House of Worship, being for the population of an entire country. The start of the construction for the Papua New Guinea Temple follows the completion in 2016 of a century-long endeavor to build continental Baha’i Houses of Worship and the inauguration of two local Houses of Worship in 2017 and 2018. With the foundation expected to be complete in December, construction crews expect to begin work on the Temple’s steel superstructure in January.Featuring a weaving pattern that is a universal element of Papua New Guinea culture, the Temple’s design was unveiled last year on Naw-Ruz. “The design is based on the idea of unity,” explains Confucius Ikoirere, the Secretary of the country’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly. In this diverse Pacific Island nation, where hundreds of languages are spoken and thousands of different cultural groups exist, weaving is a common act, Mr. Ikoirere adds. “We all use weaving to decorate our homes. We all use woven baskets. We sleep on woven mats. Weaving is found everywhere. It’s a symbol of unity.” “And the House of Worship is an ultimate symbol of unity, where everyone is welcome for prayer and meditation.” After receiving formal approval from National Capital District’s building board in August to commence construction, the Baha’i community held a simple dawn prayer gathering at the Temple site in September and soon after began construction work. Since then, the efforts have been progressing steadily. “People are learning that this Temple is not just for the Baha’is,” says Henry Lape, one of the Temple’s architects. “The House of Worship belongs to the community. Everyone and anyone can come here to meditate and pray.” A worker carefully prepares the Temple’s foundation.The project has garnered support from local residents and government officials. “It’s a beautiful design that will attract visitors and lift the city’s landscape,” Minister for Lands and Physical Planning John Rosso explains in a recent meeting with representatives of the Baha’i community. Minister Rosso, among other government officials, has visited the Temple site, which is located on the same property as the Baha’i community’s national offices. The central edifice will have nine gabled-roof entrances made of timber. Located on a hilltop in the country’s sprawling capital city, the House of Worship will include gardens and other spaces—in addition to its central edifice—for quiet meditation and prayer. Port Moresby’s city manager, Bernard Kipit, notes that “such structures are needed in the capital city.” The concrete boom pump stretches high in the sky.The site has already been serving as a place for prayer, adds Saeed Granfar, Mr. Lape’s co-architect. “There is a great sense of reverence by the community toward the House of Worship site. Whenever people would come to visit, there would be a visible change in pace, demeanor, and attitude when approaching and spending time close to the location of the central edifice.” Plans for the Papua New Guinea Temple were announced by the Universal House of Justice in its Ridvan 2012 message. Around the world, there are currently 10 Houses of Worship. Communities are learning how these sacred structures reflect the spiritual aspirations of a people and inspire service aimed at transforming society. Before construction began, the Temple site was already serving as a place of prayer for the community. In August, community members gathered for a devotional gathering at the site.

-9.4743301

147.1599504

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

“Baha’i World” articles explore uniqueness and dramatic impact of the Bab

BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE — In its latest articles, The Baha’i World focuses on the figure of the Bab, Who was born 200 years ago. The Bab is a divine Messenger and the Herald of the Baha’i Faith. The distinctive nature of the Bab’s station and character, the extraordinary drama that unfolded as tens of thousands responded to His teachings, and the deep impact His life and message had on countless other people in His homeland and abroad—these themes are explored in three articles now available on the publication’s website, BahaiWorld.Bahai.org. In “A Twofold Mission,” Elham Afnan looks at some of the most distinctive characteristics of the Bab’s life and Writings, highlighting the rare combination of qualities that have come to be associated with Him. “Tales of Magnificent Heroism,” by Robert Weinberg, provides a survey of responses to the Bab by writers and artists of the time and over the subsequent century, revealing just how extensive was knowledge of the Bab and His new religion and how captivating the dramatic story of His life and the lives of His followers. The article “Tales of Magnificent Heroism” includes a series of portraits of writers and artists who were impacted by the message of the Bab. The portraits shown here are (clockwise from top left) Isabella Grinevskaia, Jules Bois, Charlotte Despard, and Robert Hayden.The site includes a special piece from the archives of The Baha’i World, an essay by Mary Maxwell—later known as Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum after her marriage to Shoghi Effendi in 1937. In the article, first published in the 1932–1934 volume, Ruhiyyih Khanum reflects on the dominant themes of The Dawn-Breakers, an early narrative of Babi history. Over the course of this year, communities in every land have commemorated the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab. The celebrations around the world have shed light on just how far-reaching has been the impact of the Bab’s mission in the world. The Baha’i World volumes began in print form in 1926 under the direction of Shoghi Effendi, providing a remarkable historical record of the development of the Baha’i Faith. In May of this year, a website was launched for The Baha’i World, which periodically publishes new pieces and works from the archives. The Baha’i World has introduced an email subscription service, through which readers can be notified when new articles are published.

WELLINGTON

New Zealand

National bicentenary gatherings shine light on social themes

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Recent bicentenary commemorations for societal leaders were celebratory occasions as well as moments of reflection on the challenges of our time. In some communities, leaders were moved to express their appreciation of the Baha’i community’s contributions to society during this special period. For example in Wellington, New Zealand, Member of Parliament Priyanca Radhakrishnan hosted a bicentenary celebration in the country’s Parliament Buildings. “I can see that the work that you do in Aotearoa is rooted in the values and beliefs of the Faith,” MP Radhakrishnan said, “for example inculcating values of love, unity, and kindness amongst children, encouraging young people to be constructive agents of change, and contributing to discussions across New Zealand on some of the challenges that face us as a nation.” A conference organized last month in Kyiv, Ukraine, brought together religious scholars, representatives of different Faith communities, students, and others to explore how the common underlying values of religion can contribute to societal progress. “We want to investigate in this conference how we can go beyond simply recognizing what is common in all religions and act together to establish peace,” said Alla Baranova, Secretary of the Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly of Ukraine and current head of the All-Ukrainian Council of Religious Associations. The conference organized by Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies, and the country’s Baha’i community, included talks about the significance of the life and teachings of the Bab.Organized by Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, the Ukrainian Association of Religious Studies, and the country’s Baha’i community, the gathering included a session on the Bab’s life and teachings and highlighted the life of one of His earliest followers—Tahirih. Tahirih is an iconic figure in the cause of women’s advancement. In 19th century Iran, she called for a profound transformation in society’s conception of women and advocated change in the habits and attitudes of society. Tahirih’s courage and heroism were also the subject of a documentary shown at a bicentenary celebration for dignitaries, representatives of civil society, journalists, and others in Tunis, Tunisia. The screening, held at L’Agora cinema, led to a vibrant discussion on the equality of women and men. In Sydney, Australia, to honor the bicentenary, the Baha’i community organized a conference on social cohesion and inclusion. “The bicentenary period is an opportunity to reflect on Baha’i teachings related to knowledge, compassion, and justice,” explained Ida Walker, of the country’s Baha’i Office of External Affairs. “This conference provided a space to learn from the experiences of one another and build on the efforts of many individuals and organizations to overcome prejudice and injustice and foster inclusion in society.” Participants in a conference held in Sydney, Australia, shortly after the bicentenary discuss their efforts to contribute to social cohesion in the country.At national gatherings in numerous countries, participants discussed the spirit of renewal brought by the Bab, as the Herald of Baha’u’llah, and the relevance of the Baha’i teachings in addressing the challenges of their societies. Attendees of many celebrations watched Dawn of the Light, which tells the story of eight people as they search for truth and meaning. They describe how their discovery of the Baha’i teachings brought hope and a way forward in addressing the social ills of our time. At a commemoration in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, the film resonated with a large audience, many of whom were visibly touched by its message. Other national governments also honored the historic period with special receptions. The Australian Parliament marked the anniversary during a session of its House of Representatives as well as an event last month in the distinguished setting of the Senate Alcove of Parliament House. The United Kingdom Parliament also held a celebration for the bicentenary, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group in Portcullis House. Malaysia’s minister for national unity and social well-being, Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, recognized the Baha’i community’s contributions to the country at a bicentenary celebration. And at a reception in Madrid, Spain, held for national leaders, Ana Gallego, a director general of the country’s ministry of justice, explained that “the mission of the Bab aimed to elevate the status of women, promote universal education and the harmony of science and religion, and overcome prejudice, corruption, and fanaticism at a time and place where these ideas were revolutionary.” South Africa’s Baha’i community held a bicentenary celebration for national dignitaries.In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where Baha’u’llah spent two years of His life, a commemoration focused on the history of the Faith in the region. Speaking about the significance of the bicentenary and the Twin Birthdays, a local leader, Sheikh ‘Abdu’l-Rahman Al-Naqshbandi, described the period of Baha’u’llah’s two-year stay in and around the mountains of Sulaymaniyyih more than a century and a half ago. The Figure of Baha’u’llah and the stories of His time there have stayed with the local population, Sheikh Al-Naqshbandi said. “Much was said and continues to be said about (Baha’u’llah); that He had a mission, knew God, and came to Hawraman.” Sheikh Al-Naqshbandi continued, describing that his account of the life of Baha’u’llah relies not on written history, but on the stories about His life that remain alive in the hearts and minds of the region’s population. “If you speak the name of Baha’u’llah in Hawraman, everyone will know Him and what He spoke about. … I hope His teachings continue to spread and prosper, and that it becomes a source of attention. These teachings are richer and loftier than the diamond.” United Kingdom Member of Parliament Jim Shannon spoke at a celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, held at Parliament, on 28 October.

-41.2887953

174.7772114

BERLIN

Germany

Exploring the distinctive role of youth, Germany’s Baha’is give impetus to an expanding conversation

BERLIN — In recent months, Germany’s Baha’i community has created diverse spaces to explore the unique contributions young people make to society. Through these spaces, momentum has been given to a growing conversation, amid a national discourse on youth, revealing new insights about the distinctive role of the younger generation in society. Over the last six months, the Baha’i community’s Office of External Affairs has organized gatherings, each with dozens of participants, in different settings to explore these questions: in Teterow, a small town in the country’s east with a diminishing young population; in central Frankfurt, a busy urban center with many young professionals; and in Hagen, a mid-sized industrial city where the discussion brought together several youth from immigrant families. Following the gatherings, the insights from those spaces were discussed in articles, podcasts, and videos on a specially created website. “We noticed there were many conversations about youth, but not with youth,” says Gabriella Brutto, from the Office of External Affairs. “So we decided to work with local organizations to invite people of all ages to discuss what helps youth to develop their potential to contribute to society and what hinders youth from engaging.” Participants in the discussions about the role of youth in society explored the potential young people have to contribute to the progress of society as well as the obstacles before the younger generation in expressing its aspirations for society.After meeting with other organizations working with youth around the country, the Office identified some core questions. How do different generations work together? What are the obstacles that prevent members of the younger generation in expressing their hopes for society? And how are the conditions created for young people to engage constructively? Through the discussions, it has become clear that many people shared the same hopes and aspirations both for themselves and society, Ms. Brutto explains. What these conversations have confirmed is that many youth have a deep longing to contribute to society through their professions, hobbies, families, and other ways. Something distinctive about today’s youth in particular is that most, in Germany, grew up immersed in online technology such as social media—discussions explored the implications of the younger generation having grown up this way. One of the most significant ideas that came up, for example, was that youth are thus connected to large networks of peers that transcend physical location, creating a greater openness to diversity. Participants also discussed the different qualities that are more common in this time of life, for example, altruism, openness, and vigor. The workshops have also created a space to share the experience of the German Baha’i community in engaging youth to offer service to their communities in cities and towns around the country. Much has been learned about channeling the great potential and enthusiasm of youth into acts of service. Among the most profound contributions of youth is focusing on the development of the next generation, working with adolescents to realize their intellectual and spiritual potential.

52.5186925

13.3996024

THE HAGUE

Netherlands

100 years on, remembering ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s call for peace in the First Tablet to The Hague

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A century ago yesterday, ‘Abdu’l-Baha penned what has come to be known as the First Tablet to The Hague, an exploration of the profound societal changes required for the attainment of international peace. Marking this occasion, the Baha’i community of the Netherlands on Tuesday night held a special commemorative event at its National Center in The Hague. Attendees—among them religious leaders—discussed themes from the Tablets to The Hague. “Peace is at the heart of humanity and ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His letter is helping us see how we can reach it,” explained Marga Martens, a representative of the Netherlands’ Baha’i community. “Peace is inevitable, but we have to work hard to reach that state in the world.” Addressing the Executive Committee of the Central Organization for a Durable Peace in The Hague, ‘Abdu’l-Baha writes in the Tablet’s opening lines, "Your intention deserves a thousand praises, because you are serving the world of humanity, and this is conducive to the happiness and welfare of all.” In the tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains that peace would require a transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to fundamental spiritual principles enunciated by Baha’u’llah, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of women and men, among others. While an English translation of the first half of the tablet was published in Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1978, the complete translation was prepared in May this year and presented on the Baha’i Reference Library. A photographic chronology recently published on a website by Jelle and Adib de Vries in the Netherlands sheds light on events surrounding ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablets to The Hague. The website describes how two Baha’is in Iran, Ahmad Yazdani and ‘Ali-Muhammad Ibn-i-Asdaq, wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1915 about the Central Organization for a Durable Peace. He encouraged them to introduce the Organization to the Baha’i teachings on peace. The Organization wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Baha in 1916, but wartime communications into the Holy Land were blocked. This image from 1916 shows the secretary’s office of the Central Organization for a Durable Peace. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had corresponded with the Organization in response to letters addressed to Him by its Executive Committee. (Credit: bahaigeschiedenis.nl)The Organization’s letter reached ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Haifa three years later, in the aftermath of World War I. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá responded immediately, sending Mr. Yazdani and Mr. Ibn-i-Asdaq to deliver His message in person. According to Dr. de Vries’ research, they arrived in The Hague in May 1920 only to find that the Central Organization for a Durable Peace had virtually dissolved. Nevertheless, the Organization replied to ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s message, prompting Him to write what is known as the Second Tablet to The Hague. In it, He asserts that “our desire for peace is not derived merely from the intellect: It is a matter of religious belief and one of the eternal foundations of the Faith of God.” The goal of world peace is central to Baha’i belief. In 1867 and 1868, Baha’u’llah addressed an extraordinary series of tablets to the kings and rulers of the world, urging them to set aside their differences, to establish a system of collective security and move toward disarmament, to champion the cause of justice, to show the utmost care and consideration for the well-being and rights of the poor, and to work toward a lasting peace. From 1911 to 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Baha spoke extensively during His tour of Europe and North America about the imperative of peace and warned that Europe was on the brink of war. In a letter dated 28 November 1931, Shoghi Effendi states that the oneness of humanity “calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world—a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life ….” The Universal House of Justice in October 1985 penned a significant message on the subject of world peace, known as The Promise of World Peace. In January of this year, the House of Justice also released a message addressing contemporary challenges facing humanity, in which it states that “the establishment of peace is a duty to which the entire human race is called.” The House of Justice further states that although “world unity is possible—nay, inevitable—it ultimately cannot be achieved without unreserved acceptance of the oneness of humankind.” “Unity, in its Bahá’í expression, contains the essential concept of diversity, distinguishing it from uniformity,” the House of Justice writes. “It is through love for all people, and by subordinating lesser loyalties to the best interests of humankind, that the unity of the world can be realized and the infinite expressions of human diversity find their highest fulfilment.” This is an image of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, walking outside his home on Haparsim Street in Haifa in 1920, the same year that the First Tablet to The Hague was delivered to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace.

52.0799838

4.3113461

NEW DELHI

India

India’s president honors the Bab’s historic bicentenary

NEW DELHI — Honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab, India’s President Ram Nath Kovind and more than 160 dignitaries, civil society and faith leaders, academics, and artists gathered at the country’s National Baha’i Centre for a historic reception on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, President Kovind stated that “the contributions made by the Baha’i community of India, along with others, many of whom are present at the gathering, have helped build vibrant communities across India.” “This includes working for the education of both girls and boys, expanding the concept of worship to include work carried out in a spirit of service, and seeking to bring about spiritual, social, and material progress simultaneously,” he continued. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the more than 160 attendees of a reception held in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab at the National Baha’i Centre in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday.Reflecting on the event, Nazneen Rowhani, the Secretary of India’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly, said that “it was an immense honor for the Baha’i community to receive the president at this historic gathering. This was also an opportunity to share with President Kovind about the advancement of the Baha’i Faith in India.” The country’s Baha’i community has been focused on cultivating peace at the grassroots and contributing to prevalent thinking about social harmony, including raising schools that emphasize both material and spiritual education and participating in social discourses concerned with the status of women, the rights and welfare of children, and religious coexistence. Expressing its appreciation and gratitude, the Baha’i community presented the head of state with a plaque made of the same marble that was used to build the Baha’i House of Worship in New Delhi. The Temple is one of the country’s most recognized structures and has come to be seen as a symbol for unity, a place of worship and meditation for thousands of visitors each day from all walks of life. At the gathering, the president greeted each attendee, among whom were youth engaged in their community’s efforts to effect social change. President Kovind was also joined by his wife and their daughter. This is the first time that a president of India has visited the National Centre. Speaking of Baha’i communities throughout the world, President Kovind said “these communities are defining themselves by their commitment to the oneness of humanity—thereby echoing the proud Indian tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” referencing a well-known Sanskrit phrase that means “the world is one single family.” President Ram Nath Kovind and his family are joined in a photo by the members of India’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly.

28.6138954

77.2090057

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

2019 in review – A year of historic developments

BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — The Baha’i World News Service, reflecting on 2019, provides a brief overview of stories in the past year about developments in the global Baha’i community and a glimpse of the extraordinary worldwide celebrations that took place in honor of the second historic bicentenary.200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab October 2019 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Báb, as the forerunner and herald of the Baha’i Faith, whose dramatic ministry paved the way for the appearance of Baha’u’llah. The bicentenary was celebrated worldwide at every level, from the grassroots to the international. In villages and neighborhoods across the globe, bicentenary preparations began months in advance, prompting an unprecedented intensification of community building activities and an outpouring of artistic works to mark the occasion, reflect on its significance, and recall the momentous life of the Bab. In the lead-up to the anniversary, the News Service reported on these preparations and celebrations in each continent: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australasia, and Europe. Based on what had been learned in 2017, the celebrations were much more broadly based on this occasion at the grassroots of society. A service project in Ebreichsdorf, Austria, undertaken by a group of youth during the bicentenary period.Notable events also took place at the national level. In the United Kingdom, the British Library launched a remarkable exhibition displaying examples of the Faith’s original texts and hosted an acclaimed one-man play for the occasion; in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States members of Parliament commemorated the bicentenary, acknowledging the Baha’i community’s contributions to the life of society; and in India, the country’s Baha’i community held a special reception for President Ram Nath Kovind. A bicentenary celebration held in New Zealand’s Parliament Buildings included a presentation about this artistic Tapa cloth made in honor of the bicentenary that depicts the Shrine of the Bab amid 19 terraces on Mount Carmel.At the Baha’i World Centre, President of Israel Reuven Rivlin visited the Shrine of the Bab to honor the bicentenary. On another occasion, a reception was held for community leaders, and the terraces on Mount Carmel as well as the Shrine of the Bab were opened to thousands of visitors for a two-night special program. The Baha’i International Community offices honored the bicentenary by bringing together dignitaries and other officials to explore the relevance of the Bab and Baha’u’llah’s teachings to the conditions of the world today. A film commissioned for the bicentenary, Dawn of the Light, was screened in countless locations around the world. The film follows the personal search for truth and meaning undertaken by people from different parts of the world. The community in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, held a screening of the film Dawn of the Light as part of celebrations honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Bab.Glimpses of celebrations were captured on the international website Bicentenary.Bahai.org, where a letter from the Universal House of Justice written for the occasion is also available. The Shrine of Abdu’l-Baha This year, the Universal House of Justice announced plans for the construction of a sacred structure, distinctive in its design, to be built to honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Who holds a unique station in religious history. In May, the House of Justice announced its selection of the Shrine’s architect, and in September it unveiled the structure’s design concept. The Shrine will be built in the vicinity of the Ridvan Garden in Akka, a holy place visited on Baha’i pilgrimage—a spiritual journey to the Holy Land taken by thousands of people from around the world each year. Design concept for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, displaying the front entrance of the Shrine.Baha’i Houses of Worship The News Service covered a variety of stories this past year on what is being learned about the social impact of Baha’i Temples in communities around the world and on advancements in the construction of new Houses of Worship in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. A dance troupe performs during the groundbreaking ceremony for the local Baha’i House of Worship on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.A two-part podcast (Part one | Part two) featured interviews with participants of a unique gathering that brought together representatives from 10 countries to explore insights emerging about these structures. In another podcast, representatives from a community in Uganda, where a Temple has stood for over 50 years, explored how collective prayer is influencing society at large.In Chile, the Temple was recently recognized for its transformative impact on society and for being “expressive of the humanistic values of justice, respect, equality, and inclusiveness.” In India, the Baha’i community hosted a symposium examining how places of worship can aim to unite people and stimulate deep contemplation on spiritual reality and life’s foundational questions. The House of Worship for South America was awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s prestigious International Prize.Publications online and in print The past year saw the publication of new selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as well as the launch of new websites—the Baha’i World publication and the News Service in French and Spanish. A new volume of Baha’u’llah’s mystical Writings was made available online and in print in February, including a translation of one of His most renowned poetic works, Rashh-i-‘Ama, or The Clouds of the Realms Above. In May, 67 selections from ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Writings were published for the first time on the Baha’i Reference Library. In August, several collections of images on the Baha’i Media Bank were updated. A new volume of Baha’u’llah’s mystical writings, The Call of the Divine Beloved, was made available in print and online in February.Social and economic development The News Service reported on various examples this year of advances in Baha’i social and economic development endeavors. In Macau, a Baha’i-inspired school that seeks to develop intellectual and moral excellence in its students celebrated its 30th anniversary. In Zambia, decades-long educational processes gained momentum with the opening of new educational facilities in two regions of the country. A podcast episode explored how a group of young women from India helped their communities to overcome superstitious attitudes that have ostracized women for generations. The News Service also reported on how a united and hopeful community in Mozambique mobilized to contribute to recovery efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai. The dedication ceremony for the new educational facilities in Mwinilunga, Zambia.And, the five-member board of directors of the newly established Baha’i International Development Organization convened its first meeting in January to consult on its aims and work. The emergence of this new institution at the international level portends significant advances in this area of endeavor in the years to come. Participation in the discourses of society Efforts of the Baha’i community to contribute to the betterment of society at the level of thought continued to be a prominent theme covered by the News Service in 2019. The Baha’i International Community this year participated in forums on the equality of women and men, the role of religion in development, the role of local communities in humanitarian relief, and the status of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. National communities worldwide have participated in many forums where contemporary issues of concern to their societies are being considered by government and civil society actors. Themes explored in these communities have included the role of religion in promoting constructive social change, race unity, and issues concerning social and economic development. In an episode of the Baha’i World News Service podcast, two representatives of Australia’s Baha’i community discussed what they are learning about consultation’s power to build greater unity of thought and action in society.In Spain, the Baha’i community hosted prominent journalists in a roundtable discussion on news media’s impact on social cohesion and the rise of radicalization. In Canada, at a Parliament Committee hearing about combatting online hate speech, representatives of the Bahá’í community highlighted the importance of cultivating a strong moral framework to understand and analyze online media. In Italy and Kiribati, Baha’i communities expressed to their countries’ presidents a shared hope for a unified society. A podcast interview with representatives of Australia’s Baha’i community highlighted the power of consultation to build unity of thought and action in society. In the United States, the Baha’i Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, College Park, organized several conferences on prevalent issues, including the future of cities and the inseparable relationship between the advancement of women and the creation of prosperous and peaceful societies. In June, more than 70 people attended a session on religion’s role in development, moderated by a Baha’i representative. The session was part of the European Development Days, a major international conference in Brussels. (Credit: EDD Brussels)The News Service also reported on the importance of the participation of youth in social discourses. Young people explored critical issues such as race unity in New Zealand, the environment in the Netherlands, and the younger generation’s distinctive role in contributing to social transformation in Germany. Six finalists spoke at the Race Unity Speech Awards in Auckland, New Zealand. The annual event is organized by the Baha’is, the national police, and other partners. (Credit: Ben Parkinson)Persecution of the Baha’is in Iran and Yemen Against the backdrop of these advances worldwide, the persecution of the Baha’i communities in Iran and Yemen continued. Earlier this month, the United Nations condemned Iran’s ongoing human rights violations, as the country’s Baha’i community continues to suffer under the weight of state-sponsored systematic persecution. During the celebrations of the bicentenary of the birth of the Bab, Iranian authorities raided gatherings in homes, arrested Baha’is, and sealed off business that were closed in observance of the Holy Days. Over the course of the year, Baha’is in Iran have experienced ongoing persecution, including revolving arrests and home raids; multiple court cases, in some instances yielding sentences of up to 10 years; and continued expulsion of students from university on the basis of their Faith. Many businesses owned by Baha’is remain sealed by order of local authorities. A United Nations General Assembly committee has expressed its serious concern about the country’s continued attacks against religious minorities, including the Baha’is. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the General Assembly during a recent session. (UN Photo/Cia Pak)In Yemen, six Baha’is have remained in prison in Sana’a, one of whom, Hamed bin Haydara, is under a sentence of death. The six have been detained between two-and-half and six years each. During the appeals hearings for Mr. Haydara, the prosecution had repeatedly pressured the court to not only uphold the verdict to execute him but also to deport all Baha’is and ban their entry into the country. In September, the U.N. Human Rights Council condemned the Houthi persecution of the Baha’is.

SOUSSE

Tunisia

Peaceful coexistence only possible with full participation of women

SOUSSE, Tunisia — How do we address inequalities between women and men on our path to peaceful coexistence? How can we overcome cultural barriers to achieve greater advancement of women? “These are major questions in our country, but there is little consensus on the issues,” said Mohamed Ben Moussa, a representative of the Tunisian Baha’i community, at a discussion on the advancement of women held last week in Sousse. The gathering, organized by the country’s Baha’i community, brought together some 40 people, including religious and civil society leaders, at a “cultural café”—a new kind of forum emerging in Tunisia in which people from every stratum of society meet to exchange ideas and explore insights about the progress of their society. Participants explore questions concerning social structures and new patterns of thought and behavior required for a new culture to emerge, one based on cooperation among all people, especially between women and men, in all spheres of life.“Our country has been held up as an example for the advancement of women in the Arab region,” Mr. Ben Moussa continued, “but many people feel that we have reached a plateau. The laws of our country have advanced, but it is essential for our culture to advance as well. We must examine family structures, how children are educated from an early age, and how we can foster a culture of cooperation among all people, especially between women and men, in all spheres of life.” The question of the advancement of women has gained prominence in recent years as a new constitution and legal changes have instituted greater protections for women. Representatives of various groups—Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and the indigenous Amazigh people—contributed to the conversation, highlighting how coexistence is only possible when women are able to participate fully in the life of society. “The oppression of women exists in all fields,” said Sahar Dely, a director of an Amazigh cultural organization. “Oppressive constraints are linked to other matters such as religious, racial, and cultural differences.” Ms. Dely described stereotypes in society that excuse violence against women and spoke of the achievements that become possible for women when attitudes towards them change, citing stories of female leaders of the past, including Tahirih—a Baha’i heroine and champion of women’s emancipation. “Today, we have to address cultural matters before any legal changes can be realized. If nothing is changed within the collective imagination of Tunisians, the role of women in society will not be transformed.” A short film produced by the Tunisian Baha’i community as a contribution to the discourse on the advancement of women was screened at the recent event in Sousse.A short film inspired by Baha’u’llah’s teachings on the principle of the equality of women and men was also screened at the gathering. The film, produced by the Tunisian Baha’i community as a contribution to the discourse on the advancement of women, tells the story of Tahirih alongside decades of striving for social progress in the country.

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BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

A momentous endeavor begins: Groundwork being laid for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Work has begun on the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. The chosen site near the Ridvan garden in Akka has been prepared, and construction of the building’s foundation is progressing. During the Ridvan festival last April, the Universal House of Justice made an announcement that exhilarated the Baha’i world: the time had come to raise a befitting Shrine that would be the final resting place for the sacred remains of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Enthusiasm has mounted over the months since with the announcement of the architect and the unveiling of the design concept for a unique edifice that will honor a figure with a distinct station. The site for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the vicinity of the Ridvan garden (bottom right).While these developments occurred, construction work began with a thorough examination of the site’s ground composition and drainage, involving exploratory drilling at 29 points. Next, to allow work with heavy machinery to progress on the soft soil even in damp winter conditions, a 50 centimeter platform of compacted stone was laid across the whole circular area—170 meters in diameter—that will enclose the Shrine and surrounding landscaping. Concrete piles have been driven 15 meters deep, on which the foundation of the central structure is now being built. In April 2019, the Universal House of Justice announced that the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha would “lie on the crescent traced between the Holy Shrines in Akka and Haifa.”At the same time, preparations have begun for the next stages of the project: detailed architectural and landscaping plans to realize the design concept are being drawn up, and a search for suitable sources of building materials is well under way. Collaboration with local authorities has been essential, whether in obtaining the necessary permits, fostering understanding of the project among neighboring residents, or working with the Israel Antiquities Authority to ensure that the rich history of the area is respected and preserved. Throughout the design process, care has been taken to account for environmental factors. The Ridvan garden, located on a low-lying plain by the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, is protected by walls and earthworks that were built several years ago to help secure the gardens against flooding. The Shrine will be built on a gently sloping berm that will raise the central structure several meters to account for rising sea levels. ‘Abdu’l-Baha spent the last years of His life in Haifa and was interred there in a vault within the Shrine of the Bab.‘Abdu’l-Baha was a resident of Akka for four decades. He arrived as a prisoner and an exile alongside His Father, Baha’u’llah. Despite the many tragedies and adversities He suffered there, He made Akka his home and dedicated Himself to serving the people of the city, especially its poor. In time, He came to be known and revered throughout the region. He spent the last years of His life in Haifa, and upon His passing was interred there within the Shrine of the Bab. When His earthly remains are transferred to the permanent Shrine, Akka will witness the return of a figure Who left an indelible mark on that city. The News Service will continue to cover the developments of this momentous endeavor through articles and brief notices, which will be collected in a new section of the website.

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE

Akka mayor and religious leaders honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha at ceremony

BAHA’I WORLD CENTRE — Last Monday, the mayor of Akka, Shimon Lankri, and dignitaries representing the city’s religious communities and other local organizations gathered to honor ‘Abdu’l-Baha at a tree-planting ceremony coinciding with the start of the construction of His Shrine. “For Baha’is, diversity is beauty,” Mr. Lankri said in his remarks at the ceremony. “Like the flowers and plants of a garden, their worldview is that diversity creates beauty. I think this worldview is true, and we embrace it here.” The ceremony, held on the site of the Shrine, was attended by around 50 guests including leaders of the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze communities, officials of local government, and academics from educational institutions in the area. David Rutstein, Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community, and Hossein Amanat, architect of the Shrine, were among several representatives of the Baha’i community who were also present.After a viewing of the design concept for the Shrine and a recitation of prayers revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Mr. Lankri and Dr. Rutstein gave brief remarks before carrying an olive tree together to a chosen location. Guests helped plant the tree in a spot in the garden where it will be able to grow for years to come. “The spirit of ‘Abdu’l-Baha shines through a hundred years later,” says Dr. Rutstein. “Seeing the many segments of Akka’s population coming together in their happiness that ‘Abdu’l-Baha is returning to their city—this calls to mind how He worked to create unity here.” Shimon Lankri, Mayor of Akka, and David Rutstein, Secretary-General of the Baha’i International Community, carry an olive tree during a ceremony coinciding with the start of the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

BIC GENEVA

Imprisonment, confiscation, denial of most basic civil rights: A surge in persecution of the Baha’is in Iran

BIC GENEVA — Iranian authorities are preventing Baha’is across the country from obtaining national identification cards, while a series of home raids, confiscations, arrests, and attacks on properties have unjustly targeted Baha’is. These developments are part of a surge in persecution against the Baha’i community in Iran. Members of several religious minorities in the country face restrictions in applying for a new national identification card, removing a previous facility that allowed the option “other” to be selected instead of one of four recognized religions—Islam, Christianity, Judaism, or Zoroastrianism. The decision to remove that option now prevents Baha’is from obtaining their identification cards, depriving them of basic civil services such as applying for a loan, cashing a check, or buying property. “Despite continuous claims by Iranian officials inside the country and in UN fora that Baha’is have citizenship rights,” says Diane Ala’i, Representative of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) in Geneva, “the authorities are institutionalizing yet another mechanism which aims to destroy the Baha’i community as a viable entity; thereby extending a four-decade-long and relentless campaign of persecution against Baha’is across virtually every dimension of life—the cultural, social, educational and economic. Even so, the Baha’is of Iran continue to strive to live in accordance with the teachings of their Faith, which uphold truthfulness as ‘the foundation of all human virtues.’ How could Baha’is who apply for their national identification cards, for public sector jobs, or to enroll in a universities be punished simply for being truthful?” A court has ruled that all properties belonging to Baha’is in the village of Ivel—some of which they have owned since the mid-19th Century—be confiscated on the basis that Baha’is have “a perverse ideology” and therefore have no “legitimacy in their ownership” of any property.In another troubling development, a court has ruled that all properties belonging to Baha’is in the village of Ivel—some of which they have owned since the mid-19th Century—be confiscated on the basis that Baha’is have “a perverse ideology” and therefore have no “legitimacy in their ownership” of any property. There have been other attacks on Baha’i properties and confiscations of their possessions in the past three months, including one case where a Baha’i home was entirely destroyed. Moreover, dozens of Baha’is have been arrested, and dozens more have received religiously motivated prison sentences. These sentences amount to a combined prison time of nearly a century, with some individuals sentenced to over ten years of incarceration. “The Baha’i International Community is alarmed by the recent wave of persecution against the Baha’i community in Iran and calls upon the international community to shine a spotlight on these issues, which represent a major further deterioration”, says Bani Dugal, Principal Representative of the BIC. The village of Ivel, Mazandaran, has been home to a farming community for centuries, and Baha’is for over 160 years.For more information on the situation of Baha’is in Iran, visit the website of the Baha’i International Community, which includes archives of Baha’i persecution in Iran.

KAKENGE

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chiefs seek lasting peace in light of spiritual truths

KAKENGE, Democratic Republic Of The Congo — Earlier this month, residents of Kakenge in the Central Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo listened to a remarkable program on local radio. It was a live broadcast of a conversation between some 60 village and tribal chiefs, many of whom were on opposing sides of armed conflict only a year ago, discussing the true purpose of religion, the unity of the human family, the promotion of material and spiritual progress, and the critical role of women in building a peaceful society. In view of tensions that remain, the country’s Baha’i community invited chiefs from the Central Kasai region to a three-day conference to explore how principles from Baha’u’llah’s writings can shed light on matters of practical and immediate concern for their society. Lambert Kashama, a leading administrative official in the area, described what drew him to this conference: “During the period of tribal conflict that Kakenge and its surroundings experienced, I would see Baha’is from the two opposing tribes working together and coming to consult with me about what was to be done to restore peace. This is why I have come here today to understand more about these teachings.” At a three-day conference in Bukavu, South Kivu, chiefs explored how principles from Baha’u’llah’s writings can shed light on matters of practical and immediate concern for their society.The long-standing Baha’i community of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has spent decades contributing to constructive social change, especially through educational initiatives at the grassroots. In the past few years, they have been in conversation with chiefs in various regions of the country to explore together paths towards a society characterized by principles such as harmony, justice, and prosperity. “This Faith teaches unity in practice,” commented Chief Walter Melangu.“We will no longer guide our people in darkness, now that the light has appeared through these teachings, which we shall never forget.”—Joint statement by chiefs in South KivuA focus of discussion at the recent conference was the Baha’i principle that all humanity is one, regardless of race, nationality, or tribe. The chiefs found the gathering to be a unique opportunity to decide on practical action that could turn tense coexistence among tribes and religious groups into constructive, peaceful collaboration. Jean-Baptiste Shamba, the chief of the Nkinda Katenge village, decided at the conference that as soon as he would return to his community, he would gather every person whom he had seen as an enemy in order to make peace and seek mutual pardon. “Following these teachings,” he said at the conference, “I will reconcile the rancor that I have with my brothers. Our conflict was based on ignorance. Henceforth we will speak as friends for the good of our community.” Another notable result of the conference was the decision by many of the chiefs to call meetings of all the women in their villages, realizing that their participation was essential for reconciliation to be successful. Chief Nkayi Matala of the Lushiku village (right) and Chief Mbindi Godée of the Ndenga Mongo village. These women were among dozens of traditional chiefs who came together at a conference in Kakenge, Central Kasai, described as “a remarkable step forward that opens up many new possibilities for realizing the unity of peoples and the prosperity of our communities.”At another conference this month in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, chiefs discussed the same themes as their peers in Central Kasai. Some expressed that conversations like these had the potential to prevent conflict in the future. “We understand that peace is not something that development organizations bring us: it is a state of the soul and spirit when people decide to contribute to their communities.” Lavoisier Mutombo Tshiongo, Secretary of the country’s Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly, who attended both conferences, described their significance, saying: “These gatherings of chiefs represent a remarkable step forward that opens up many new possibilities for realizing the unity of peoples and the prosperity of our communities.” “These conferences allow chiefs who have gone to war in the past to come together,” says Justin Kamwanya, another member of the National Spiritual Assembly. “The fact that they express themselves, that they all share the same food, greet, and embrace—most of all, that they are coming together around religion, around the Word of God—this is the catalyst that allows a durable peace to come about.” “We have seen that the world is evolving,” reads a statement jointly signed by 26 chiefs at the end of the conference in Bukavu. “We will no longer guide our people in darkness, now that the light has appeared through these teachings, which we shall never forget.” A local choir performs at a conference for chiefs in Bukavu, South Kivu. Their songs expressed some of the themes discussed at the conference, which included the true purpose of religion, the unity of the human family, the promotion of material and spiritual progress, and the critical role of women in building a peaceful society.

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BRUSSELS

Belgium

Transcending differences through a unifying language

BRUSSELS — At a recent European Parliament panel discussion, the Brussels office of the Baha’i International Community (BIC) led an exploration of how institutions and civil society actors can develop language that at once respects diversity and fosters shared identity. This discussion comes at a time when questions of identity and belonging occupy a central place in contemporary discourses across Europe. The panel, attended by some 40 policymakers and civil society representatives, was hosted by Julie Ward and Samira Rafaela, two members of the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI), and chaired by the BIC Brussels office. Ms. Ward expressed that she welcomed this conversation, giving an opportunity to frame these issues from a new perspective, and remarked on the power of language as a tool for either fostering cohesion or inciting division. “We should value diversity as a unifying factor,” said Ms. Rafaela, “but how do we address this through language? We need to create language that is respectful towards people rather than laying blame on others. How can a language be developed that fosters a strong sense of loyalty to all of humanity?” The European Parliament panel discussion on the role of language in fostering a shared identity was hosted by two members of the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI)—Samira Rafaela (right) and Julie Ward (center)—and chaired by the BIC Brussels office—represented by Rachel Bayani (left).In a paper prepared for the discussion and distributed to participants at the gathering, the BIC office highlighted that much of the thinking about language has been directed towards celebrating diversity and promoting peaceful coexistence. Language reflects people’s attitudes toward one another and shapes their thoughts. The BIC suggests that, while it is essential to have language that respects differences, overemphasizing this can reinforce the notions of “us and them” that must be overcome. The panel, therefore, focused on how institutions and social actors can address the root of the issue: that although celebrating diversity and advocating co-existence represent a step forward, a shared identity is needed to chart a path towards harmonious societies. Various organizations attending the European Parliament panel discussion provided insights and perspectives into the critical issue of language and identity, themes which occupy a central place in contemporary discourses across Europe.Pascal Jossi, a representative of an agency that assists firms and institutions to create inclusive organizational cultures, spoke about how the language used to describe differences among people can lead to a sense of othering. “It’s not about finding the best category to place someone in,” he said “but building a new reality in which everybody feels welcome.” Mr. Jossi shared his experience as someone of Cameroonian descent born in Belgium and raised in Luxemburg, who in each of these places found himself referred to in terms that separated him from the majority. “This kind of tension will remain,” he said, “until we remodel our interactions. I don’t think adding or removing specific words from our vocabulary will alone make language a catalyst for creating an inclusive society; we have to examine what attitudes and assumptions underlie the way we speak to one another so that we can begin engaging in a way that builds trust and unity.” “We are learning to speak in ways that enable us to establish interdependent and cooperative relationships,” said Mathieu Marie-Eugenie, describing his experience facilitating workshops with youth in the Paris area that promote coexistence and cooperation through poetry and artistic expression. “In an environment of trust and kindness, we are able to tell ourselves ‘I am a person who belongs within humanity,’ or in poetic language, ‘I am a drop, and I am a part of the ocean.’” “Beyond our individual identities,” said Rachel Bayani, representative of the BIC, in her remarks at the forum, “we need to conceive of an overarching, shared identity, one which can unite, which is based on the understanding that humanity is one and that all the peoples of the world are part of the same human family. This is essential if the splintering of humanity into opposing groups is to give way to greater degrees of unity, and if the rich manifestations of diversity are to be constructively woven into the fabric of social life.” Attendees of the European Parliament panel discussion in which some 40 policymakers and civil society representatives discussed how to transcend differences through unifying language.

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