U Day Festival at the African Union for UN World Interfaith Harmony Week February 2, 2018
Convened by United Religions Initiative-Africa; The lnter-Religious Council of Ethiopia; UNITY EARTH for U Day Festival 2018; The African Ombudsman and Mediators Association and World Peace Prayer Society in partnership with the African Union Commission Department of Civil Society & Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) Editors, Ambassador Mussie Hailu and Ben Bowler
U Day Festival at the African Union for UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, February 2, 2018 Convened by United Religions Initiative-Africa; The lnter-Religious Council of Ethiopia; UNITY EARTH for U Day Festival 2018; The African Ombudsman and Mediators Association and World Peace Prayer Society in partnership with the African Union Commission Department of Civil Society & Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) Editors, Ambassador Mussie Hailu and Ben Bowler Citation: Amb. M. Hailu and Ben Bowler [Eds.]. U Day Festival at the African Union for UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, February 2, 2018. UNITY EARTH. February 2019.
Acknowledgements The editors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Yanni Maniates for his leadership in the compilation and editing; Dr. Kurt Johnson for editorial support; Rev. Shannon Winters for editorial support and publishing management; David Winters for graphic design and layout; and Daryl Henderson, Rev. Deborah Moldow, Erik Rabasca, Rajiv Sankarlall, and Joshua Smith for their photographic contributions in this issue.
U Day Festival at the African Union for World Interfaith Harmony Week, February 2, 2018 Introduction by Ambassador Mussie Hailu..................3 Introduction by Ben Bowler...........................................4 Opening Prayers..............................................................5 Welcoming Remarks by Pastor Zerihun Degu.......................................................... 5-6 H.E. Amb. Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of United Religions Initiative-Africa and Representative of URI to the AUC and UN office in Africa and Geneve......... 7-9
Syed Salman Chishty – Head of the Chishti Sufi Order, Direct Descendant of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chishti......... 25-27 Dr. Mindahi Bastida – Centre for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary.......................................28-29 Chief Phil Lane Jr – Chairman of the Compassion Games and Indigenous Leader from North America........................................................ 30-31 Sam Cook – Australian Indigenous Representative................................................................ 32-33
H.E. Mrs Fozia Amin President of African Ombudsman and Mediators........................................... 10-11
Prof. Peter Blaze Corcoran – Christian, Educator and Sustainability Expert.....................................................34
Mr. Ben Bowler, Director of U-Day Festival.......................11
Rev. Deborah Moldow – Interfaith Minister................... 35
H.E. Mrs. Amira ElFadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs......................................... 12
Amb. Mussie Receives UNITY EARTH Award............... 36
Official Opening Remarks
Presentation of the African Interfaith Harmony Award of URI—Africa.....................................................37
H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Guest of Honour).............................................................. 13-14
Reciting of the Golden Rule........................................ 38
Message From
Universal Peace Prayer “May Peace Prevail on Earth” Program—Flag Raising Ceremony
The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr. Executive Director of United Religions Initiative............................... 15
Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart, Executive Director of World Peace Prayer Society................................... 39-40
Mr. Hiro Saionji, President of the World Peace Prayer Society........................................................................ 16
Presenting Peace Pole to the African Union Commission and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Ms. Frewot Worku, Secretary General of Ethiopian Red Cross Society Ethiopian Red Cross was represented by its President Dr. Ahmed Reja, President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society................17
Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart (WPPS).................................. 41-44
Remarks from International Guests Venerable Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai – Thai Buddhist Monk and leader of the Delegation from Thailand......................................................................... 18 Mrs. Monica Willard – URI Representative to the United Nations........................................................... 19 Rabbi Gabriel Hagai – Orthodox Jewish Leader.....20-21 Dr. A. K. Merchant – Representative of the Bahá’í Faith from India.................................................. 22-23 Dr. Mohinder Singh – Interfaith activist and Representative from the Sikh Faith in Delhi............ 24-25
U Day Festival at the African Union for UN World Interfaith Harmony Week, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 2, 2018 Rev. Deborah Moldow Editor, Yanni Maniates........ 45-49 Bibliography of Media Coverage................................ 49 Program.................................................................... 50-51 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 October 2010................................................................ 52 Participants’ List...................................................... 53-55
Introduction by Ambassador Mussie World Interfaith Harmony Week was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations and it is an annual event to be observed during the first week of February starting in 2011. Coming together as citizens of the world for the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week helps us to understand the interdependence of human beings and to celebrate our cultural and religious diversity and to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust among peoples of different religions. As well, we get to know each other and build trust and understating among the followers of different religions, faiths and cultures. One simple and yet a profound practical action that helps to promote harmony and a culture of peace among all people regardless of their faith traditions is the teaching of The Golden Rule which says, “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. Recognizing this fact United Religions Initiative -Africa in partnership with Interfaith Peace-building Initiative ( URI member organization based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) declared April 5 as a “Golden Rule Day” on 2007 and called upon all citizens of the world, religious leaders of the world, mayors of the world, heads of state of the world, the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, interfaith organizations, schools, higher learning institutions, the business community and civil society to join URI-Africa & IPI in proclaiming this day as Golden Rule Day and to live accordingly to make this world a better and peaceful place for all to live in harmony. In response to this call we have now over 285 organizations in 128 countries proclaiming April 5th as Golden Rule Day. We are currently working for the United Nations to proclaim the Golden Rule Day and a request for a declaration of Golden Rule Day is pending before the General Assembly of UN. In addition to this URI-Africa also started in 2007 a Golden Rule Goodwill Ambassador program to highlight the need for The Golden Rule in the world to promote a culture of peace, interfaith harmony and a Global Ethic. Since 2007 every year URI-Africa honor an individual or organization with the Gold Rule Medal and appoint Goodwill Ambassador. Among the many reasons why URI is promoting the teaching of the Golden Rule in the world, to mention some: · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
It calls us to extend our concern beyond ourselves and to embrace a greater understanding and respect for others It is affirmed in many religions, traditions, indigenous cultures and secular philosophies as a fundamental principle of life and the foundation on which a global ethic is founded It is a universal message which is accepted and embraced throughout the world by different religions, cultures and secular philosophy Its message is simple, universal and powerful It is the most prevalent and universal moral principle in human history It summarizes the basic teaching of compassion, non-violence, respect, honoring the dignity of all living beings, social justice, equal right, and peaceful co-existence It is the best guide we must help peoples of the world to live together in mutual respect and harmony It is a preventive mechanism to discrimination, violence, crime, war and the violation of human right and greed It is the pathway for inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony in the world It is universal wisdom of the world It can help to reverse the insane trends prevailing today in our world It is the best way to prevent violent extremism and hate speech It is a fundamental principle that addresses critical issues such as democracy, human rights, mutual respect for each other, gender equality, and constructive dialogue among nations It transcends our differences and encourages us to consider the well-being of all humanity It helps to recognize pluralism and respect diversity
· · · As Albert Schweitzer once said “It is Man’s temperament that decides his fate. There is no other kind of fate. I do not believe therefore that he must necessarily continue to follow the path which leads only downwards; he may yet turnabout before he arrives at the very end.” To me this turnabout is the teaching of the Golden Rule. On behalf of the organizers I take this opportunity to thank all the participants of the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week held at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Feb 2, 2018 and for the General Assembly of the United Nations for proclaiming the first week of February as World Interfaith Harmony Week. May Peace Prevail on Earth
3
Introduction by Ben Bowler U DAY Festival 2018, Ethiopia: Land of Origins took place from Jan 31-Feb 8. With a visit to the sacred site of Lalibela, several public musical performances, and interactions with various local communities, one of the major highlights of the Festival was the Feb 2 official U Day event at the African Union. UNITY EARTH in conjunction with our partners the United Religions Initiative (URI) and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia was honoured to bring U DAY Festival to the African Union as part of the global commemorations of World Interfaith Harmony Week. This event, which was the result of tireless efforts by His Excellency Ambassador Mussie Hailu and was attended by H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; Sheikh Muhammad-Amin Jamal Omar, President of Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council; Pastor Zerihun Degu, General Secretary of Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia; H.E Mrs. Fozia Amin President of African Ombudsman and Mediators Association; Mr. Ahmed El-Basheer, AUC-CIDO; H.E. Mrs. Amira Elfadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs, Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart, Executive Director of World Peace Prayer Society and Mr. Patrick Petit Representative of Goi Peace Foundation. We were deeply honoured to bring a delegation of Australian Aboriginals to the event. Having the world’s oldest living culture visiting the “cradle of humanity” was a deeply special experience for all involved. In addition, in attendance were indigenous elders from North and Central America, Chief Phil Lane, Jr. and Dr. Mindahi Bastida. It was also special having a strong delegation of Buddhist Monks from Thailand, led by Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai. The other U Day Delegates who spoke at this wonderful interfaith event included: Mrs. Monica Willard, URI Representative to the United Nations; Rabbi Gabriel Hagai, Orthodox Jewish Leader; Dr. A.K Merchant, Representative of the Bahai’ Faith from India; Dr. Mohinder Singh, Interfaith activist and Representative from the Sikh Faith in Delhi; Syed Salman Chishty, Head of the Chishti Sufi Order, Direct Descendant of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chishti; Dr. Mindahi Bastida, Centre for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary; Chief Phil Lane Jr, Chairman of the Compassion Games and Indigenous Leader from North America; Ms. Sam Cook, Australian Indigenous Representative; Prof. Peter Blaze Corcoran, Christian, Educator and Sustainability Expert and Rev. Deborah Moldow, Interfaith Minister and emeritus of many Committee positions at the UN. The atmosphere was one of deep excitement, hope and joy as we came together from 13 nations and more than 20 different spiritual perspectives, to promote the values of intercultural harmony, friendship and peace. During the event UNITY EARTH was delighted to honour Ambassador Mussie Hailu as the first ever UNITY EARTH “Champion” Keeper of the Flame. One of the most colourful moments on this momentous day was the entering of all the flags of the world, during the ceremony conducted by Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart, Executive Director of World Peace Prayer Society and Mr. Patrick Petit Representative of Goi Peace Foundation. This procession also involved many dozens of local school children which added a vibrancy and poignancy to the whole affair—here was the next generation of young Africans ready to take up the mantle for peaceful coexistence. Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart and Mr. Patrick Petit also presented a Peace Pole to the African Union Commission and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. On behalf of UNITY EARTH, I would like to congratulate Ambassador Mussie Hailu for this truly historic event and honour the lnterReligious Council of Ethiopia; the United Religions Initiative-Africa; U DAY Festival—UNITY EARTH; The African Ombudsman and Mediators Association and the World Peace Prayer Society in partnership with the African Union Commission Department of Civil Society & Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) for their efforts at the African Union and for all their years of creating space for interfaith dialogue at this continental body. We encourage them all in their efforts and reassert our view that with their continued energetic activities the continent of Africa can become a world leader in their field of inter-religious dialogue, intercultural harmony and faith-based peace building efforts. Many Peace Prevail in Ethiopia. May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail on Earth. Ben Bowler Executive Director UNITY EARTH 4
Opening Prayers
His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Sheikh Muhammad-Amin Jamal Omar, President of Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council
Welcoming Remarks Pastor Zerihun Degu, General Secretary of Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia Your Excellence Dr. Mulatu Teshome, The President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Respected patrons of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of United Religious Initiative-Africa & Representative to the African Union and United Nations, Religious Leaders, Members of Diplomatic Community, Distinguished Guests, Brothers and Sisters,
5
I greet and welcome you on behalf of Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopian to this inter-religious harmony week celebration here in Ethiopia and in African Union. Welcome to Addis Ababa. In Ethiopia, from the very beginning, long before many parts of the world, our religious tolerance and welcoming of each other has been there and it is part of recorded history. Our relationship with each other is an extension from those early days of our faith with spirit of mutual respect, golden rule and trust. Ours has been dialogue of life. We passed difficult times and good times together. Our peoples built worship places together. We stood together to serve our peoples during times of great needs. We have hoped together. We have acted together. We have organized our common dialogue platform to impart our shared values to current and future generations of our faithful. We plan together and stand together for peace, human dignity, religious freedom and promotion of culture of dialogue. We, the religious leaders in Ethiopia, are aware of the challenges of our times. We also recognize that it is high time that we stand together with faiths and people of similar values and commitment in Africa in particular and in the world in general. The challenges and opportunities presented to us by our time are shared across the board. As we support our faith communities in Ethiopia to strengthen their daily dialogue of life in the spirit of mutual respect, we promote the culture of Golden Rule where everyone in everything must treat others as one would want to be treated. We value respect for diversity, tolerance, human dignity, compassion, morality, forgiveness and loving others like ourselves. The most important is to build trust and sense of our common responsibility to defend our common human dignity. We believe that to promote inter-religious harmony and culture of The Golden Rule in this difficult time among people, partnership among religious leaders and institutions is crucial. It is difficult to build and sustain interfaith harmony and peace without genuine partnership among all faith leader and Grace of God. Seven years back we religious leaders in Ethiopia established the inter-religious council of Ethiopia to work for dialogue and promote interfaith harmony. Since then, we have managed to impact together for interreligious harmony in this country. As we move forward, we religious leaders, in collaboration with all stakeholders in Ethiopia, and in Africa, we shall remain committed to promotion of inter-religious harmony and culture of The Golden Rule. We hope to work with Ethiopian government, African Union, United Nations and all religious leaders in the world to create synergy. As religious leaders and institutions, we are also facing considerable challenges despite positive hopes. Religions are being misused for violence, for political and global manipulations. These kinds of trends are threating some, while profiling others. Therefore, we are committed to work for inter-religious harmony since we are part of the world. We hope our collective efforts wherever we may be will make positive radiations to the whole humanity. And finally, I am grateful for those who tirelessly worked to make this event possible here in Ethiopia. You are all welcome to Ethiopia once again. May God bless you all! Pastor Zerihun Degu General Secretary of Inter-religious Council of Ethiopia
Pastor Zerihun Degu, General Secretary of Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia
6
H.E. Amb. Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of United Religions Initiative-Africa and Representative of URI to the AUC and UN office in Africa and Geneve
Your Excellency the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Your Excellency the Commissioner of Social Affairs of the African Union Commission Excellencies, Respected Patrons and Staff of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, Respected Religious, Spiritual, Faith and Traditional Leaders and Representatives, Respected General Secretary of Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, Distinguished Participants, Dear Brothers and Sisters. Good morning and greetings of peace and blessing to all of you. On behalf of members of the United Religions Initiative from diverse religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions in Africa and the rest of the world I want to welcome you and convey greetings of peace and blessing. I also thank you for honoring our invitation to attend the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week under the theme of “Interfaith Cooperation to Promote a Culture of Peace, Harmony and Human Dignity� organized by the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (URI member organization in Ethiopia, United Religions Initiative-Africa; U DAY Festival; African Ombudsmen and Mediators Association; World Peace Prayer Society, and African Union Commission Department of Civil Society Diaspora Directorate (CIDO). At the outset allow me to recognize and thank the student participants and our dear brothers and sisters who came for this event from different parts of the world to celebrate with us World Interfaith Harmony Week. I also take this opportunity to express my 7
profound gratitude and appreciation to our brother, Mr. Ben Bowler Founder and Director of U DAY Festival, for his tireless effort, commitment, vision and action to bring peace, harmony and unity among all humanity. I also want to thank all his colleagues on the U DAY Festival Team. Coming together as citizens of the world for the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week helps us to understand the interdependence of human beings and to celebrate our cultural and religious diversity. As well, we get to know each other and build trust and understating among the followers of different religions, faiths and cultures. As we gather this morning to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week may the Almighty God, creator of the universe, open our hearts and minds to understand the uniqueness of each one of us; pour out the spirit of Unconditional Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness; and help us understand and fully embrace the idea that, though we are many people of many faiths, traditions, and culture, we all are part of one human family created in the image of God. Bearing in mind and recognizing the role of religion as a healing force in the world, people of diverse religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions throughout the world, established the United Religions Initiative to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings. United Religions Initiative (URI) is an international interfaith organization working to build global interfaith cooperation for a better world. URI has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. URI has over 900-member organizations in 104 countries Through its 980-member organizations from 108 countries, URI is cultivating peaceful coexistence among different religions and cultures by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and their environment. URI-Africa has signed memoranda of understanding with the African Union, IGAD, UNFPA-Africa Regional Office and many other organizations Your Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Dear Brothers and Sisters, religion plays an important role in our life as more than 80 per cent of all people worldwide affiliate with a religion. Religious communities have always contributed to the provision of services for people – for example, they build hospitals, run schools, provide emergency relief, work for the preservation of the environment by planting trees, etc. Religion is also an important source of values. It influences people`s way of thinking and their actions. As we reflect on the theme of our event, it is very relevant to highlight the role of religious and traditional leaders, faith-based and interfaith organizations to promote peace, safety, human dignity, mutual respect, trust, compassion, reconciliation, social justice and development. It is with this context in mind, and recognizing the strong need in Africa to promote inter-religious constructive dialogue to build understanding and trust-- and to avoid projecting the wrong image of others, thus overcoming the fear of the unknown—that the Commission of the African Union, through its Citizens Directorate (CIDO), established the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum to mobilize faith-based, interfaith organizations and religious leaders in Africa to discuss ways of promoting religious tolerance and peaceful co-habitation and also to harness faith based organizations to contribute to the work of the Union. I want to take this opportunity to recognize the active partnership of KAICIID with the African Union in reviving the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum. URI-Africa also played a critical role in the effort of reviving the AU Interfaith Dialogue Forum. Dear Participants, as we are addressing Interfaith cooperation to promote a culture of peace, harmony and human dignity we also need to address the issue of armed conflict, extremism, intolerance and gender-based violence as they are major threats to human dignity, safety, security, peace and development in Africa and in the rest of the world. We also need to reflect on issues such as human trafficking, organized crime, and the impact of arms trade and piracy on the peace and security of Africa. We need to: · · · · ·
Engage actively in the effort of ending the illicit trade in the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Work actively together to support the effort of the AU in silencing guns by 2020. Work together to promote human and moral values based on inclusion and the rejection of all forms of terrorism, religious extremism, radicalization and intolerance. Work together as people of faith to speak with one voice against hate speech, gender-based violence and human atrocity and incitements. 8
· · ·
Advocate for the respect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Introduce peace education in the school curriculum starting from kindergarten. UN & AU Member states need to come up with a clear policy against hate speech.
Every human being without distinction of age, sex, race, skin color, physical or mental ability, language, religion, political view, or national or social origin possesses an untouchable human dignity. Therefore, as faith-based, interfaith organizations and religious leaders we need to honor this dignity and protect it. Your Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Dear Brothers and Sisters, as you may know the World Interfaith Harmony Week was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations and it is an annual event to be observed during the first week of February starting in 2011. In the resolution, the General Assembly, points out that mutual understanding and inter-religious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and establishes World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith. One simple and yet a profound practical action that helps to promote harmony among all people regardless of their faith traditions is the teaching of The Golden Rule which says, “Treat others the way you want to be treated”. Practicing The Golden Rule helps to build trust, understanding, harmony and respect among followers of different religions and will create the opportunity for them to come together to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust among peoples of different religions. With this in mind, here in Ethiopia, through the pioneering efforts of the Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative (URI member organization) and URI-Africa, on April 5, 2007 we established the Golden Rule Day. As well, religious leaders and many other organizations proclaimed the Golden Rule Day together with us. I am happy to inform you now that the celebration of Golden Rule Day on April 5th which started in Ethiopia is now recognized and accepted in over 120 countries by over 250 organizations throughout the world. We are living in a global village which is coming together more than ever and our shrinking “Global Village” is evolving into a multiracial, multi-cultural and multi-religious society. In this interconnected and globalized world, all nations are our close neighbors and our well-being increasingly depends on how well we interact and live together with others based on the teaching of The Golden Rule. As you know, The Golden Rule has been around for a long time. But today, it seems more relevant than ever before. Living by The Golden Rule isn’t always easy. To treat others like we want to be treated requires a constant, active consideration of how our words and actions affect others. By putting this time-honored principle into daily practice, and asking our friends, families and leaders to do the same, we can work towards creating a greater understanding and respect for one another. If we work together to address our common issues under the guiding principle of The Golden Rule, we can help to reverse the insane trends prevailing today in our world. If everyone does his or her part, together we can accomplish what is necessary. The Golden Rule is the pathway for peaceful co-existence, human dignity, mutual respect, justice and harmony to prevail on earth among people and followers of different religions and cultures. World peace is only possible when we start to make peace within ourselves, our families and in our respective communities. May our hearts open more and our minds understand the depth of our calling as people who are living in the 21st Century to serve humanity and Mother Earth. Let us be in the presence of each other at deep levels of our thinking, feeling and acting and be compassionate to each other. Let us be instruments of peace and a living example of the teaching of The Golden Rule. May Peace Prevail in our Heart. May Peace Prevail in our Family. May Peace Prevail in our Communities. May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail throughout the World. May Peace Prevail on Earth.
9
H.E. Mrs Fozia Amin President of African Ombudsman and Mediators Association Your Excellence, Dr. Mulatu Teshome President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Respected Religious Leaders, Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of United Religions InitiativeAfrica and Representative of URI to the African Union and UN office in Africa, Excellencies, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Ombudsman office of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Ombudsmen and Mediators Association I want to convey my greetings and want to welcome you to this event.
It was indeed my wish to be with you in person but due to an urgent meeting which I had to attend outside of Addis Ababa I could not be with you in person, but please be assured that you have all my support and that I send you all my best wishes. It is a great honor and pleasure for the African Ombudsmen and Mediators to be invited by Ambassador Mussie Hailu to join hands with the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, United Religions Initiative-Africa, U DAY Festival and AU-CIDO to celebrate the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the African Union Commission. Our Association welcomes with appreciation the decision of the UN General Assembly in proclaiming the First Week of February as World Interfaith Harmony Week to enhance inter-religious peaceful co-existence and to build trust, understanding and avoid the fear of the unknown and to make religion a healing force in the world and not a battlefield. This gathering in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Africa and the home for the African Union, is indeed a grand event as it is the first of its kind for the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week to be held at the African Union in this scale with participants not only from Ethiopia and other parts of Africa, but also from different parts of the world. I am so happy to learn that among the international participants we have Australian Aborigines and Native American representatives. I really want to thank the organizers and all those who have had a part in making this event happen in such a beautiful way. My special thanks and gratitude go to H.E. Ambassador Mussie Hailu who played a critical role in making this World Interfaith Harmony Week such a successful one. Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The African Ombudsman and Mediators Association has observer status at the African Union and it has members in 36 African countries. Its mission is to advance the development of the Ombudsman institution for the furtherance of good governance, the rule of law and human rights in Africa. And its vision is to be a leading international association of Ombudsman officers, practitioners and scholars dedicated to the promotion of open, accountable and people-centered democratic governance in Africa. As you know, good governance is at the heart of peace, security and sustainable development and the alleviation of poverty. Without peace there can be no long-term development. And without good governance and the rule of law there is seldom peace. Recognizing this fact, the African Ombudsmen and Mediators are working diligently to make good governance and the rule of law an urgent priority for the continent’s peace, integration, security and development agenda. I do believe very strongly in the need for the African Ombudsman and Mediators to play a leading role to be the force that brings people of diverse nations and cultures together to build trust, address common issues and find solutions and better ways to live peacefully; and, as well through constructive dialogue to build national cohesion, peaceful co-existence, justice, human dignity and to prevent misunderstandings which lead to conflict. Having an active and effective platform of Ombudsman and Mediators in Africa is a very important ingredient to achieve peace, resolve conflict and to enhance the rule of law, respect for human rights, justice, good governances and democracy in Africa. Building partnerships with different stakeholders, including international, multilateral organizations, religious leaders, scholars and civil society is of paramount importance in the work of the African Ombudsman and Mediators in their efforts of peace-building, ensuring the rule of law and good governance and promoting human dignity. 10
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, As you know religion has become an important topic on the agenda of our world and policy makers are becoming more aware of the role of religions in conflict prevention, peace-building, reconciliation and preventing violent extremism. I am happy to inform you that the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association signed a partnership agreement with United Religions Initiative-Africa to work to promote a culture of peace, constructive dialogue, respect for human dignity and enhance interreligious and inter-cultural harmony through the teaching of the Universal Principle of Ethics and common shared values across all religions and traditions, that is, The Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.� Once again, I send you all my best wishes I thank you. H.E. Fozyia Amin President of the African Ombudsmen and Mediators Association and Chief Ombudsman of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Mr. Ben Bowler, Director of U-Day Festival Your Excellency Dr. Mualtu Teshome, President of Ethiopia, Your Excellencies, Respected Religious Leaders, Distinguished Delegates to the African Union, fellow U DAY participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of Unity Earth, U DAY Festival, our partners at The United Religions Initiative (URI) and The Ethiopian Experience, I would like to convey what an honor it is to address this assembly on this most auspicious occasion of UN World Interfaith Harmony Week. I would like to thank the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia for hosting this event and for their strong and willing partnership in making U DAY Festival 2018 in Ethiopia, such a great success. I would like to personally honour and thank Ambassador Mussie Hailu for his tireless work and vision to make this day a reality. At this time all over our world, gatherings with intentions such as this one are becoming more important than ever before, as we strive towards intercultural respect and understanding, leading us to right relationship based upon universal human dignity and a culture of peace. From this gathering of more than 65 Cultural Delegates from 10 countries; from many various cultures and spiritual traditions; with leaders, artists, visionaries coming together to celebrate and embody Peace, Compassion and Unity-- we take great hope for the future and for our collective road ahead. We congratulate the African Union for your ongoing efforts towards interfaith harmony, through the good work of CIDO and other bodies. Based upon the universal human family, we seek a new and comprehensive spiritual unity, which is needed for us to navigate through the many challenges before us. This spiritual renaissance of the heart involves and includes all cultures, all traditions, all religions, and all nations. We look to Africa to be an inspirational leader in this great work, building harmony, fostering peace and uplifting humanity, on this great holy Continent and across the world. Blessings of Peace upon the Nations of Africa May Peace Prevail on Earth 11
H.E. Mrs. Amira ElFadil, African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs Excellency The President of Ethiopia, Representatives of the Diplomatic Community, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Al Salam alaikoum. Let me welcome you all here to the African Union and apologize on behalf of H.E Mr. Moussa Faki for not being here to grace this august occasion as he is attending to other pressing activities. We are gathered here to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week which is the Proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly that the first week of February every year be set aside as World Interfaith Harmony Week. World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a platform—one week in a year—when all interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill can show the world what a powerful movement they are. Events organized by these groups often go unnoticed not only by the general public, but also by other groups themselves. This week will allow for these groups to become aware of each other and to strengthen the movement by building ties and avoiding the duplication each other’s’ efforts. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, In line with the priorities of the African Union, and as a means to achieve Agenda 2063 goals, and address religious intolerance and promote peace and social cohesion particularly in the wake of the rising phenomenon of religious extremism and related conflicts on the continent, the AU pioneered the Interfaith Dialogue Forum (IFDF). The IFDF is envisioned to become the mechanism to sustainably weave the voices of religious actors from all member states and communities into the workings of the AU. The IFDF supports Aspiration 3, Goal 11, and priority Area 1 of agenda 2063 on the role of religious leaders in the development agenda, Peace and Security, and Women and Gender. The IFDF culminated with a declaration which builds on the Abuja declaration on Interfaith, an action plan, and the election of a permanent Steering Committee mandated to work with the AU to support and strengthen the process of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue within African communities, as well as to enhance partnerships between religious leaders and the policy makers at the AU. CIDO held the second Interfaith Dialogue forum (IFDF2) in November 2016, under the theme “Leap of Faith: Religious Leaders Advance Justice, Peace, Security, Inclusiveness, Dialogue and Development in Africa”. The forum brought together religious leaders and interfaith organizations and scholars from over 30 AU member states and almost 40 nationalities who produced a Declaration of their intent to work on a wide range of pressing issues (hate speech, gender equality and countering violent extremism among others) and who elected a Steering Committee. This Committee is composed of 12 members tasked with representing the full variety of religious stakeholders in each of the five regions of Africa. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The third African Union interfaith dialogue forum is also anticipated in the fourth quarter of this year and it is hoped that it will draw even wider participation from AU Member States interested in seeing how their own faith institutions can become involved. We encourage you all to support effective and strong Interfaith platforms at the national, regional and continental levels while we at the AU are committed to facilitate mechanisms for active participation of the faith community on policy dialogue for peace-building, violent extremism and education to sustain lasting peace in Africa. I thank you for your kind attention. H.E. Mrs. Amira ElFadil African Union Commissioner for Social Affairs 12
Official Opening Remarks
H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Guest of Honour)
Excellencies, Distinguished Religious Leaders, Esteemed Participants of this Conference, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to begin my address by expressing how happy I am to be here with you today at the opening program of the celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, 2018, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and I am pleased to welcome you all to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where religious co-existence has prevailed for centuries. At the outset I want to thank the organizers of the event who worked tenaciously and collaboratively for the celebration of the 2018 World Interfaith Harmony Week to be held in Addis Ababa at the African Union Commission. I also take this opportunity to welcome the establishment of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum to enhance inter-religious harmony, a culture of peace and prevent violent extremism in Africa. The World Interfaith Harmony Week presents a special opportunity to recognize the existing interfaith contributions to peace, and to encourage others to join in the great work of principled multi-religious cooperation for the common good.
13
The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative. This initiative called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments-- Love of God, and Love of the Neighbor-- without nevertheless compromising any of their own religious tenets. The Two commandments are at the heart of the three Monotheistic religions and therefore provide the most solid theological ground possible. Ethiopia was known since ancient times as a land of peace and religious tolerance. Coming to our current time, adding to the long-standing heritage of peaceful co-existence, the question of religious freedom and equality has been further guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The existence of this constitutional guarantee has created even greater opportunities for religious institutions in Ethiopia to work together. The principle of equality fully acknowledges the differences between various religious tenets and accords legal protection. Religious tolerance takes it one step further and puts forward that the different religions should live in harmony with each other, accepting and allowing for religious diversity, to the extent of working together for common goals. It is a deep appreciation of the rich diversity of our cultures, our forms of expression and our ways of being human. Diversity is about the objective existence of differences within a society. A diverse group of people in a country might differ in religion, ethnicity, race and class or social background, but they can find ways to live peacefully together. Tolerance is the expression that someone has to recognize and respect other people’s values and beliefs. Tolerance also is the level of acceptance people offer toward those who are different from themselves. Being tolerant means accepting diversity and not expressing negative attitudes towards people who are different from oneself. Dear Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia was established by different religious institutions which co-exist peacefully in our country. The Ethiopian Inter-Religious Council has stressed the fact that all religions and cultures share certain values and it aims to create a feeling of alliance in the promotion of peace and stability in its teachings. Therefore, it has worked strongly to build peaceful coexistence and tolerance throughout the country. The promotion of interfaith learning and collaboration to address a common concern opens the door for constructive religious dialogue and for the exercise of religious tolerance and mutual respect.
Peaceful co-existence, human dignity, justice and interfaith harmony among different religions and cultures can be significantly enhanced by the teaching of The Golden Rule which says, “Treat others the way you want to be treated�. We find the principle of The Golden Rule in all religions and faith traditions. In this interconnected world, promoting The Golden Rule is the pathway to build a culture of peace and harmony and to secure a better future for this generation and generations yet to come. The Golden Rule is a way to disarm fear, to open the world for better change and to lay the foundations for lasting peace. In an increasingly globalized world in which societies are growing more diverse, The Golden Rule is central to living together. I am so happy to notice that the Golden Rule Day and Golden Rule Proclamation which was endorsed by religious leaders and numerous organizations in Ethiopia in 2007 is now endorsed in over 120 countries. It is with these feelings that I end my address wishing for a world where peace and stability are dominant, people live in peace and harmony, and hence, prosperity is assured in Ethiopia, in Africa, and all over the world. I thank you!! H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 14
Message From
The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr. Executive Director of United Religions Initiative Greetings Sisters and Brothers gathering in Ethiopia for Interfaith Harmony Week, Greetings to you. Greetings, His Excellency Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and thank you from all of us who seek peace in this world for your support and for your words of welcome for this celebration. Greetings and deep gratitude to all who organized these extraordinary events, U DAY Festival, African Union Commission Department of Civil Society Diaspora Directorate, the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association, the Interreligious Council of Ethiopia, The World Peace Prayer Society, UNITY EARTH and its Director and my dear friend Ben Bowler, and to the United Religions Initiative in Africa and my brother Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Global Envoy and Africa Regional Director of the United Religions Initiative. Dear friends, the world is blessed by all of your work and by this convergence of peacemakers from different religions, cultures and nations. At a time of deepening divisions and escalating violence between people throughout the world, Interfaith Harmony Week reminds us of the vision of a world in which our differences are seen not as barriers to peace but as essential resources for weaving together the fabric of our common humanity. For so many, the world is characterized by nightmares rather than dreams, discord rather than harmony. There is so much suffering. There is so much war, poverty, disease, displacement, environmental degradation, violence against women and children. In too many places, inequality and injustice abound. And yet into the terror of this nightmare, come your voices, spiritual people of all beliefs, speaking and singing words of compassion and hope, forgiveness and love; moral people who can imagine a world with no poverty, no hunger, accessible healthcare, quality education, gender equality, clean water… a world where the vision of peace and justice is no longer a distant dream but a reality in the life of our children and of our children’s children. My sisters and brothers, on this Interfaith Harmony Week may the power of our convictions infuse purpose into our actions that we may be part of extending the reality of peace to all the peoples of this precious planet. And may your gathering be filled with deep connection to one another and to this great movement towards peace, justice and human dignity of which we are a part. In peace, The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian Jr. Executive Director United Religions Initiative Victor Kazanjian’s talk was read by Subhi Dhupar of URI.
15
Mr. Hiro Saionji, President of the World Peace Prayer Society Your Hon Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Excellencies, Distinguished religious, faith and spiritual leaders, Dear friends of peace of World Interfaith Harmony Week, It is my great joy and privilege to congratulate you for commemorating World Interfaith Harmony Week in Ethiopia – the Land of Origins; bringing inspiring spiritual, traditional and religious leaders together with international changemakers and musical artists to celebrate both the colourful diversity and basic unity among the human family, and to demonstrate how peaceful coexistence among religions and spiritual traditions fosters a sustainable and harmonious planet. While representatives of various faiths and worldviews, visionaries, musicians and artists celebrate our common humanity and promote values of intercultural harmony, we realize that we all originate from a same spiritual source we may call the‚ “divine spark.” The divine spark, highlighted in various religious and spiritual traditions as the inherent sacred universal source residing in each one of us, is the universal force, which brings all life into being – including ourselves.
Mr. Patrick Petit Representative of Goi Peace Foundation
The divine spark is our true origin. While we are confronted nowadays with a historical era, transitioning from a material global culture into a spiritual world civilization, it should be our utmost collective mission to awaken the divine spark in the spirit for humanity in order to generate a civilization of oneness with diversity on planet Earth. Therefore, in May 2015 at the foot of sacred Mount Fuji in Japan, a great number of change leaders and representatives of various faith traditions gathered to launch The Fuji Declaration. The Fuji Declaration is an invitation to each human individual and organization to join a steadfast growing global movement in heart and mind in order to bring forth a peaceful and thriving world for future generations. It is a call to consciously evolve with each other and with nature to bring into being a new world based on spiritual values and principles. The Fuji Declaration has been endorsed and signed by thousands of globally-minded and hearted changemakers from all world’s traditions and cultures since its launching. In the words of former President of Ethiopia Girma Wolde-Giorgis, who is a Founding Signatory, The Fuji Declaration is “a road map that can bring humanity together for more compassion and respect for all life and Mother Earth.” In that respect, I cordially invite you to join this international alliance, united by a global commitment to live and collaborate toward the advancement of a harmonious and flourishing world by signing The Fuji Declaration. The Fuji Declaration is available and can be signed online at fujideclaration.org. Let us collectively write a new chapter about the conscious evolution of the global family. Let us restore the dignity of our own lives and the awe that we feel towards the lives of others and ones of all creatures on Earth. May Peace Prevail on Earth. May Peace be in Africa. Thank you. 16
Ms. Frewot Worku, Secretary General of Ethiopian Red Cross Society Ethiopian Red Cross was represented by its President Dr. Ahmed Reja, President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society Your Excellencies, Ministers, Ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community, Distinguished Religious Leaders, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and on my own behalf I am indeed honored and pleased to express my heartfelt thanks for being invited to this august gathering of the annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. At the outset I would like to express my thanks to Ambassador Mussie Hailu for inviting us to this important week about that matters to us most –Unity, Peace and Harmony. These three concepts are the fountains that drive humanity forward. In fact, the lasting ideals of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements, created 155 years ago by Henry Dunant – the founder of the Red Cross in 1863 and the winner of first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901– are founded on the innermost and deepest core of Humanity. Their Seven Fundamental Principles-- Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality− testify to the relevance of what gathers us here today. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society, 83 years now since its establishment in 1935, has been providing humanitarian services with a view to saving lives and livelihoods. Today our mission, as has always been, is engaged to prevent and alleviate human suffering in order to contribute to the prevalence of peace. We do so in partnership with all our stakeholders at home and abroad. I am informed that one of the basic tenets of what gathers are today is Unity. Unity is our biggest strength. The other tenet is Peace. Peace must reign in people’s inner being, in their acts, their thoughts and their feelings. In the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements the principle of Unity refers to humanitarian values of Harmony and Cohesion, Diversity and Pluralism and Confidence, while inner peace is also considered as a personal skill important to conduct. Therefore, if our world has to move forward to attain new heights of development, then the first guarantee, irrespective of our attachment to ideology, is unity, peace and harmony. Across the world, crises are increasingly complex and humanitarian need is vast. More and more lives are being destroyed as a result of intolerance. Calamities, exasperated by natural and manmade acts, definitely necessitate the work of our Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff to be guided by the principles, values and skills I already mentioned to realize success based on the principle of Voluntary Service, without any desire or motive for self-gain. Ladies and Gentlemen, humanitarian principles are more important than ever as we walk the last mile to ensure that no one is left behind. That is why we at Red Cross and Red Crescent build our actions around the principles of Impartiality, Neutrality and Independence, to protect life and to enhance the dignity of all human beings, without any discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. Moreover, based on our principle of Universality, we also promote solidarity, mutual assistance, cooperation, openness to all in the world, and lasting peace amongst all people. The intractable humanitarian issues our world faces will not be solved only by organizations. They will also be solved by people who come together fueled by a voluntary determination and passion to alleviate human suffering. In this regard, therefore, World Interfaith Harmony Week plays a huge role in the peaceful settlement of disputes and the propagation of Unity across the world. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society proudly stands alongside this. Therefore, I urge everyone to respond to this appeal in whatever capacity possible, with the aim of celebration as well as making people aware of its importance. Thank you! Humanity First! Dr. Ahmed Reja, President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society 17
Remarks from International Guests
Venerable Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai – Thai Buddhist Monk and leader of the Delegation from Thailand
On behalf of the Thai delegation which are mostly Buddhist monks from Thailand attending this very meaningful gathering of the celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week and the theme “To Promote a Culture of Peace, Harmony and Human Dignity,” I would like to express my deep gratitude to the organizers for inviting all the Thai delegates to this gathering to witness such a successful operation of interfaith work here in Ethiopia. This very important event is in Addis Ababa. I was part of the first U DAY Festival which was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2012. It was a very meaningful festival that gathered musicians, artists and visionaries and many other people who came to share their vision in promoting, peace, harmony and human dignity. We Buddhists are in complete agreement with the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly to promote a Culture of Peace and not violence. In the culture of Buddhism, the Buddha himself has prescribed the Six Virtues for Fraternal Living in Oneness: to be friendly in deeds and action; to be friendly in words; to be friendly in thought; to share any lawful gain with virtuous fellows; to keep without blemish the rules of conduct along with one’s fellows; and lastly, you rise along with one’s fellows. This is the way of how to act to promote peace and harmony among the people in different cultures. And to further add to these teachings of the Buddha, a Buddhist scholar and monk in Thailand expressed his hope in the work of religious and interfaith cooperation by saying: “To do everything in my power to help others to realize the value of their own religion. To work for mutual good and understanding among the religions and to cooperate in dragging the world out from the power of materialism.” This is really, really important for the world today that we must work for mutual good and cooperation and understanding among the religions. And regarding interfaith or inter-religious dialog, we need more and more dialog of action. May Peace Prevail on Earth. 18
Mrs. Monica Willard – URI Representative to the United Nations Your Excellencies. President Teshome, Distinguished Delegates to the African Union, fellow U DAY participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honor to be here in Ethiopia, the land of origins, addressing this distinguished gathering at the African Union during World Interfaith Harmony Week. Thank you for welcoming the U DAY Team. The United Nations General Assembly designated the first week in February annually as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The Resolution was introduced by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in the fall of 2010 and the Week was first observed in February 2011. As the United Religions Initiative’s Representative to the United Nations, this resolution has personal and organizational resonance for me. I served as President of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations from 2011 to 2013 and worked to establish the annual observances at the United Nations. In 2011, the Committee of Religious NGOs anchored this resolution at an Interfaith Breakfast with the Department of Public Information, UNICEF, UNESCO and UNFPA. In 2012 and 2013, World Interfaith Harmony Week events were held in the United Nations General Assembly with the 66th and 67th Presidents of the General Assembly as sponsors and participants. Since 2014, The Alliance of Civilizations, under the leadership of the High Representative Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, has partnered with the Committee of Religious NGOs for an annual World Interfaith Harmony Week event at the United Nations. The 2018 event will be held on February 7. Thousands of other events, including this special meeting at the African Union, will honor World Interfaith Harmony Week throughout the world. Observance of this UN Resolution promotes peace-building at the community level. I would like to quote several key portions from the UN resolution that established World Interfaith Harmony Week. The resolution recognizes “the imperative need for dialogue among different faiths and religions in enhancing mutual understanding, harmony and cooperation among people.” It recognizes that the moral imperatives of all religions, convictions and beliefs call for peace, tolerance and mutual understanding and it reaffirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace. The resolution goes on to “encourage all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week based on love of God and love of one’s neighbour or on love of the good and love of one’s neighbour, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions.” The UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Resolution uses the word love four times. To give it a strong theological basis, the resolution references the two Great Commandments shared by the Abrahamic traditions, the Love of God and the Love of Neighbour. It expands the call to include “the love of good and the love of neighbour” to encourage participation by people of “goodwill,” including those who may not have a specific faith or tradition. Our U DAY delegation is here with representatives from 10 countries from Aboriginal, Spiritual and Indigenous traditions, along with Sikhs, Baha’is, Sufis, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians. To be with you at the African Union expands our journey together. We deeply appreciate your daily work for peace and harmony on the great continent of Africa. We encourage you to promote World Interfaith Harmony Week in your respective countries by upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and living by the Golden Rule. Join with us in building a worldwide culture of peace by igniting the values of Unity, Peace and Compassion in the Global Fire of One Love. May Peace Prevail on Earth! Monica Willard, United Religions Initiative (URI) Representative to the United Nations 19
Rabbi Gabriel Hagai – Orthodox Jewish Leader Your Excellency Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of Ethiopia, Your Excellencies, Respected Religious Leaders, Distinguished Delegates to the African Union, Fellow U DAY Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, Sisters and Brothers, My traditional greetings in Hebrew: Hash-Shalôm ‘alêkhem we-Raḥmê Adônây wu-Virkatô – May Peace, the Mercy of God and His Blessing be upon you all. As part of the commemoration of World Interfaith Harmony Week and U DAY Festival, it is with great honor that I stand here before you all to share some of the wisdom of our holly Tôra, our sacred text – i.e. the Jewish Bible. For it is written there (Deuteronomy 4:6): “Kî hî ḥokhmatkhem wu-vînatkhem le-‘ênê ha-‘ammîm (for she – i.e. the Tôra – is your wisdom and your intelligence before the eyes of the peoples).” So I had to ask myself what type of wisdom the Tôra contains that would be relevant to share with the African Union? Firstly, I stand before you all not only as Gabriel – son of Daniel, son of Yôḥanan, son of Meyuḥas, son of Mehullal – an Orthodox Jew, a Sephardic rabbi, a university professor, a spiritual teacher and a peacemaker, but I stand primarily before you all as a brother in humanity. For we are all created in God’s image, after His likeness, as it is written (Genesis 1:26): “Na‘ase Adam be-ṣalmeNu ki-dmuteNu (let Us make Adam in Our image, according to Our likeness).” The fact we are descendants, all of us, from Adam “the First” should put in ourselves an acute sense of kinship, of unity, with all others. The other is just another self, and I am no more myself than the other is, but no less neither. This should equally plant in ourselves an active sense of responsibility towards God’s creation – the animals, the plants, the air, the water and the earth. Sacredness of Life is the highest principle in the holly Tôra. As it is written (Deuteronomy 30:15-19): “Wu-vaḥarta ba-ḥayyîm (you will choose Life).” Incidentally, one of God’s names in Hebrew is Ḥay – i.e. “The [eternal] Living”. Is it not stated in the Midrash (Bemidbar Rabba 23, Eliyyahu Rabba 10) and the Mishna (M. Sanhedrîn 4:5): “He who saves a person, it is as if he had saved the world.”? And its opposite (ibid.): “He who kills a person, it is as if he had destroyed the world.” Thus, we are all related, all linked, all united by our bonds of humanity. When a human being dies, it is all of us who die. Secondly, our wise Teachers said in the Mishna, in the tractate Avôt, called ‘The Wisdom of our Fathers’ (1:18): “On three things stands the World, ‘al had-Dîn, ‘al ha-Emet we-‘al hash-Shalom (on Rule of Law, on Truth and on Peace).” Distinguished Assembly, true Peace is based on Justice. Since I stand here at the African Union without any political agenda, I found especially important to declare as a Jew, as an Israeli citizen and as a rabbi, that there cannot be Peace in my country without Justice and equal rights for my Palestinians sisters and brothers. I demand Justice for my Palestinians sisters and brothers, victims of the Israeli Government! True Judaism is not nationalism! Jewish identity cannot be the excuse of an apartheid excluding non-Jews from any citizenship! For it is written (Deuteronomy 16:20): “Ṣedeq Ṣedeq tirdof (Justice, you shall pursue Justice)!” By the way, about the too-often-misunderstood concept of “Chosen People” applied to us, I would like to explain that we Jews weren’t chosen exclusively – for every nation on Earth is chosen by God. We have been chosen specifically for observing the Tôra, that is why it is us who are written in it and no others. But as for being chosen, every human family is to fulfill its own divine master plan. There’s no judgment of superiority or exclusiveness by it. By example, the Ethiopians are chosen by God to embody the values, the culture and the spirituality of Ethiopia. And so the French are to the values, the culture and the spirituality of France. I hope I made myself clear. Peace is a divine virtue. God only praised Aaron (Moses’s brother) because of Peace, as the Wisdom of our Fathers reiterates (1:12): “Be a disciple of Aaron, who loves Peace, who pursues Peace, who loves the creatures and brings them to the Tôra.” On Aaron, it has been said in Malachi (2: 6): “He walked with Me in Peace and Uprightness, and turned many away from sin.”
20
Thirdly, the innermost message of the Tôra is a message of Love, as it is written (Leviticus 19:18): “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” And similarly (Deuteronomy 10:19): “You shall love the stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” One cannot truly love another person unless one can genuinely love oneself unconditionally as God loves him. Why this duty of love? It reflects the Love that our Creator feels towards us, manifested by His very Act of Creation. A story from the Talmûd (T. Sanhedrîn 39 b) tells that at the time of the crossing of the Red Sea, when the Israelites intoned a song – the famous Canticle of the Sea (Exodus 15:1-19) – the Angels also wanted to sing. God said to them: “The work of My hands is drowning in the Sea, and you want to intone a song?!” Love is a divine deed. To love one another, is to realize one’s own divine nature and recognize it in the other. This essential biblical message emerges from a Talmudic story about Hillel the Elder (T. Shabbat 31a): Someone asked Hillel to summarize the Torah by standing on one foot. The Elder said then: “Da‘alakh sene le-ḥavrakh la ta‘aved (what you hate, do not do to your neighbor). This is the whole Tôra, the rest is only its commentary. Zel gemor (go study)!” Meaning that there is no difference between self and other, both are equally the work of God’s hands. Harming your neighbor is harming yourself; it is harming the Shekhîna (the Divine Presence). This is The Golden Rule shared by all spiritual traditions of humankind on Earth. Not harming the other is the more reachable version of the commandment to love the other as oneself. Furthermore it is known in our prophecies that the final Redemption will be established on “unconditional Love (Ahavat ḥinnam)”. Only after this eschatological requirement is fulfilled that the Mashîaḥ (Messiah) will reveal himself. Parenthetically, contrary to what people think about the Jews, we don’t wait for the Messiah, he is waiting for us. As the Talmudic story goes (T. Sanhedrîn 98a): Upon Prophet Elijah’s advice, Rabbi Yehôshûa‘ ben Lewî (first half of the 3rd century CE) went to find the Messiah at the gates of Rome, among the lepers. After respectfully greeting him, the Rabbi asks: “When will you come, Master?” The Mashîaḥ answers: “Today (hayyôm)”. When the deadline had passed and the Messiah didn’t arrive, Rabbi Yehôshûa‘ complained to Elijah: “He lied to me, he said he would come today, but he didn’t!” The Prophet replied: “In fact, what the Messiah told you, is [quoting a verse]: Today, if you hear His voice (Psalms 95:7).” Meaning that the Messiah will come only when the generation is deserving, i.e. when global human consciousness has raised to a sufficient level. Lastly, in order to fulfill our messianic destiny, Unity is the key. The image given by our mystical Rabbis is one of a global orchestra: each nation possesses a musical instrument and a score. We all just have to play together, without judgment – no instrument is more important than the other, no score is better than the other. No need to force others to play one’s instrument or one’s tune – this would be just loss of beauty. Let’s just play in unison, with all our diversities, so that can be heard a symphony instead of a cacophony. This symbolic orchestra piece played by the entire humankind is called “the Heavenly Symphony” – han-Niggûn ha-‘Elyôn (the Celestial Melody). It is the music of the Messiah. This harmonized togetherness is what makes the difference between a live body and a corpse – when all the organs function together: Life – when each one functions separately: Death. In conclusion, I’ve been surprised (in a very positive way) for my first time in Ethiopia how well-behaved and well-educated the people are here. And especially after visiting the Holy City of Lalibela, I was amazed by the spiritual devotion and the religious practice of the pilgrims. We know that in less than a hundred years, it will be Africa’s time to become the world’s leading continent. And I say – without being a prophet nor the son of one – that in the next century, Ethiopia will be one of the leading countries of the world. A deep connection exists between Ethiopia and the House of King David (Bêt-Dawîd). This is a reality that I can feel here strongly, being myself a descendant of King Joas (Yô’ash) – 8th generation after King David on the Throne of Jerusalem – through Nathanael the Elder of Jarteph (Yartef), two thousand years ago. Ethiopia feels like a second home to me – like finding a lost cousin. Loving-Kindness and Compassion (Ḥesed we-Raḥamîm) will be the everlasting cement of the global, about-to-emerge, Messianic Paradigm. Let this verse be accomplished in us (Psalms 133:1): “Hinne maṭ-ṭôv wu-man-na‘îm shevet aḥîm gam yaḥad (how good and how pleasant it is for [sisters and] brothers to dwell together in unity).” Thank you, and may God bless you all. 21
Dr. A. K. Merchant – Representative of the Bahá’í Faith from India Warm salutations and greetings to all for making this historic gathering possible, and sincere gratitude to the African Union in Addis Ababa and H.E. Ambassador Mussie Hailu, our host for the occasion! It gives me great joy, as a member of the Bahá’í Faith, and General Secretary, Temple of Understanding India Foundation, to share my thoughts on a theme very dear to my heart: “Unity in Diversity”. I come from India which has the motto Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam “the world is one family”. In the words of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith, whose 200th birth anniversary was recently celebrated, this would be understood as “the earth is but one country, and humankind its citizens”. The bedrock of a strategy that can engage the world’s population in assuming responsibility for its collective destiny must be the consciousness of the oneness of humankind. The Golden Rule statement from each of the world’s religious scriptures and the oral tradition of indigenous peoples read out at the beginning of this conference is an integral part of this strategy. We just celebrated the super moon night, also known as the blood moon or blue moon, on 31st January evening so let me share what earthmen landing on the moon have perceived that poets, philosophers, and prophets have echoed through the centuries—the oneness of the human family, which is the overarching theme of the 2018 U DAY Festival. “The view of the earth from the moon fascinated me—a small disk, 240,000 miles away,” wrote an astronaut. “It was hard to think that that little thing held so many problems, so many frustrations. Raging nationalistic interests, famines, wars, pestilence [and what have you] don’t show from that distance. I’m convinced that some wayward stranger in a spacecraft, coming from another part of the heavens, could look at earth and never know that it was inhabited at all. But the same wayward stranger would certainly know instinctively that if the earth were inhabited, then the destinies of all who lived on it must be inevitably interwoven and joined. We are one hunk of ground, water, air, clouds, floating around in space. From out there it is really one world.” 22
Bahá’u’lláh compared the world to the human body and offered a model of world order, synonymous in interfaith parlance with the establishment of the “Kingdom of God on earth” or the “Ram Rajya”, that holds convincing promise for the organisation of a planetary society. Because human society is composed not a mass of merely differentiated cells but of associations of individuals, each one of whom is endowed with intelligence and will, and the modes of operation that characterize man’s biological nature illustrate fundamental principles of existence. Chief among these is that of unity in diversity. Paradoxically, it is precisely the wholeness and complexity of the order constituting the human body that permits the full realization of the distinctive capacities inherent in each of these component elements. No cell lives apart from the body, whether in contributing to its functioning or in deriving its share from the well-being of the whole. The physical well-being thus achieved finds its purpose in making possible the expression of human consciousness; that is to say, the purpose of biological development transcends the mere existence of the body and its parts. That human consciousness necessarily operates through an infinite diversity of individual minds and motivations detracts in no way from its essential unity. Indeed, it is precisely an inhering diversity that distinguishes unity from homogeneity or uniformity. What the peoples of the world are today experiencing Bahá’u’lláh said, is their collective coming-of-age, and it is through this emerging maturity of the human race that the principle of unity in diversity will find full expression. From its earliest beginnings in the consolidation of family life, the process of social organisation has successively moved from the simple structures of clan and tribe, through multitudinous forms of urban society, to the eventual emergence of the nation-state, each stage opening up a wealth of new opportunities for the exercise of human capacity. Significant advances have been made in terms of educational access and the creation of environments for women to thrive alongside men; nevertheless, far more remains to be accomplished. Systemic and structural injustice continues to suppress women’s potential, plunging humanity into crisis after crisis. Until these inequalities are thoroughly uprooted from the fabric of society, humanity will remain mired in the conflict, despair, confusion, and imbalance that have come to define much of modern life. The world civilization to which humanity aspires is one where the material and spiritual dimensions of life are in harmony, and the materials aspects of civilization, such as commerce and governance, are suffused with spiritual principles, such as equity and justice. Naturally, the potency and vigour of a civilization is contingent upon the strength of its component parts. In this regard there is much to say about the qualities governing the relationships among the individuals, institutions, and other constituents that comprise presentday society. The prevailing economic and geopolitical orders are characterized by conflict and aggression to such an extent that many have succumbed to the view that these qualities represent inescapable features of human nature. While humans are capable of violence, selfishness, cowardice, and competition, they have also repeatedly demonstrated their ability to be kind, to prefer others over themselves, to carry out acts of valour at immense personal cost, and to cooperate when competition is the norm. How much more would these noble tendencies prevail if governments allocated substantial resources to cultivating the higher nature of their citizens, focusing vigorous learning processes around how the latent spiritual and moral powers of their inhabitants can be developed and released? What is more, the dynamics that have come to define relationships of power must be reimagined in the light of a genuine understanding of the oneness of humanity in order for all people to have an opportunity to lead meaningful lives. Understandably, changes of this magnitude will be hard won, requiring vision and sacrifice, and the long-term commitment of the leaders and citizens of the world. However great the turmoil, the worldwide Bahá’í community believes that the period into which humanity is moving will open to every individual, every institution, and every community on earth unprecedented opportunities to participate in the writing of the planet’s future. “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised,” Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed, “regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.” Let me conclude with an African word and tremendous gratitude to the peoples of Ethiopia, the land of origins. Ubuntu, Ubuntu, Ubuntu! (the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity) Dr. A. K. Merchant
23
Dr. Mohinder Singh – Interfaith activist and Representative from the Sikh Faith in Delhi Dear friends, rather than addressing you as Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to address you as Sisters and Brothers as we, the Sikhs, believe in one God and we’re all His children. Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith, was born at a time when, in India there was conflict amongst two major traditions(i) Hinduism and (ii) Islam, as to who was ‘superior’. There is a popular belief that one day when the Guru went for his morning bath in the rivulet called Kali Bein, he suddenly disappeared. According to hagiographical accounts Guru Nanak is believed to have been called the Court of Lord, given a cup of nectar to drink and send back to earth to preach His Name. Upon his return, Nanak, the Guru went into silence. When pressed to speak the Guru uttered only two words: “Na Ko Hindu Na Musalman” meaning that upon his enlightenment, he could not see anyone as Hindu or Musalman as these were the labels given to humans by the society. God sent them without any label of religion or caste both of which were men made. To spread his message Guru Nanak went on long spiritual journeys in different parts of India and neighbouring countries. According to popular tradition when he went to Mecca, the holy pilgrimage place for the Muslims, the local divines confronted him with a question, ‘You claim to be a new prophet. Tell us who is good: a Hindu or a Muslim. Nanak’s spontaneous response was, “without good actions both were of no consequence”. Guru Nanak traveled throughout India and neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq in spirit of dialogue with religious teachers of his times. Interesting feature of his dialogue was the fact that Guru would like to listen to the view point of others before giving his opinion. This is how it is described in a hymn in Guru Granth Sahib, “As long as we live in this world we should listen to others before speaking our mind”. Nanak believed that it was important to have an open mind while dealing with interfaith. Because of Nanak’s emphasis on ethical living and transcending boundaries. A story is told that when the Guru’s end was near there was a dispute among the followers whether he should be cremated according to the Hindu practice or buried according to the Muslim tradition. The Guru advised them, “You place flowers on either side, Hindus on my right, Muslims on my left. Those whose flowers remain fresh tomorrow will have their way.” So saying, he asked them to pray. When the prayer was over, Nanak pulled the sheet over him and went to his eternal sleep. The next morning, when they raised the sheet, they found no body. The flowers of both communities were fresh. The moral of the story given in the Janamsakhi is clear. Guru Nanak is still fondly remembered as: Baba Nanak Shah Fakir Hindu ka Guru, Musalman ka Pir. Nanak’s message was belief in one God and emphasis on truthful living was carried on by his successors. Guru Arjan, the fifth Master compiled the hymns of Guru Nanak and his successors as well as those of Hindu Bhagatas and Muslim Saints who were at the same spiritually wavelength. When the scripture was ready he authenticated the first copy by writing Moolmantra (opening hymn of the scripture) with his own hands and installed it in the newly built temple which he called Harimandir, meaning house of the God. The temple had four doors indicating that persons from all the four directions were welcome to enter without any distinction of cast and creed. With the passage of time, Harimandir at Amritsar came to be known as the Golden Temple because of the shrine being goldplated by the first Sikh emperor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and the last Guru created the order of the Khalsa, meaning God oriented pure hearted followers. An interesting feature of this new order was that the first five Sikhs who were converted to the new order came from five different directions of India and four of them belonged to so-called low caste. Guru made them drink amrit (nectar) from the same bowl and later he requested them that he should be also baptized the same way. It was a revolutionary step where there was no difference between the Master and the followers. The Guru believed that the whole creation has been created by one God and those who do not 24
believe in any God were equal in the eyes of God. In the following hymn the Guru conveys his message of equality: “I salute the believer I salute the non-believer!” I salute the religious I salute the non-religious! Let me end by quoting a story from Guru Nanak’s Biography. We are told that when Guru Nanak went to Multan, a city (now in Pakistan) which was full of Saints. Feeling threatened by the entry of the Guru the local divines offered the Guru a bowl full of milk indicating thereby that the place was full and there was no room for him. Rather than entering into argument with them the Guru put a petal of Jasmine in the bowl indicating thereby that he and his followers will co-exist way the petal was, without taking any extra space, adding only fragrance to the milk. I think this should be an important model for the followers of Guru Nanak in dealing with host societies where-ever the Sikh diaspora have settled. Let me conclude with a prayer from the scripture: “This world is burning, show Thy mercy, Thy grace, oh Lord, save this world in whatever manner Thy can.” Thank you brothers and sisters.
Syed Salman Chishty – Head of the Chishti Sufi Order, Direct Descendant of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chishti Surah Nooh [71:15] “See ye not how Allah hath created seven heavens in harmony” God says in the Holy Qur’an: There is no good in much of their secret conferences save (in) whosoever enjoineth charity and fairness and peace-making among the people and whoso doeth that, seeking the good pleasure of God, We shall bestow on him a vast reward. (Al-Nisa,4:114). First of all, we must try to understand that Human Beings occupy a unique position in this world and they are at the axis and centre of the cosmic milieu. By being taught the names of all things, we are given the keys to knowledge of all things, and thus gain an understanding of all sacred and secret knowledge. In fact, Human Beings are the channel of grace for nature; through our active participation in the spiritual world we bring light into the world of nature. Because of our intimate connection with nature, our inner state is reflected in the external order. This explains why, when our inner being turns to darkness and chaos, nature is also turned from harmony and beauty to disequilibrium and disorder. Human Beings see in nature what we ourselves are and penetrate into the inner meaning of nature only by being able to delve into the inner depths of our own being. Those who live only on the surface of their being can study nature as something to be manipulated and dominated; only those who have turned toward the inward dimension of their existence can recognize nature as a symbol and come to understand it in the real sense. Peace indicates tranquility, mental calm, silence, serenity, reconciliation, amity, accord, concord, friendliness, harmony, on 25
the one hand and, the absence of or cessation of war, a state of reconciliation after strife and enmity, freedom from mental agitation or anxiety, freedom from civil disorder and strife as well. There is a very close relationship between peace and harmony at the personal and societal levels. Peace creates concord, balance, consistency, unanimity, compatibility and stability at individual and collective levels and helps to affect accord in facts and viewpoints and it acts and helps in making sympathetic relationships and mutual similarities the focal point of human concern. When peace and harmony is achieved in this real interrelated manner, the expectation for a trustful, promising, secure, and faithful existence of human beings becomes possible which, in other words, can be called hope in harmony and peace. Islamic Spirituality insists on total social harmony which includes religious harmony which is something that the whole world needs. Despite our information age, the geographical unification of countries and the internationalization of learning and economics, the world badly requires a strong movement to dispel aggression in the name of race and creed.
Allah epitomizes religious understandings in Al Quran e Karim in a nutshell: “Lakum deenukunm wa liya deen --- Your religion is for you and my religion for me (109:6)”. Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty (RA) is a shining Sufi luminary and a great Spiritual Master whose final resting place in Ajmer Sharif, India, has become an abode of eternal Peace among all. The light of his personality has dispelled darkness and has illuminated thousands of hearts throughout the world. He is not only respected, esteemed, honored and implored, but in fact is the focus of attention and a center of hope to a myriad of people belonging as they do to different castes, creeds, religions and nationalities. Today the Sufi dargah at Ajmer Sharif continues to draw people irrespective of caste and creed and nobody goes back deprived of blessings. “He indeed is a true devotee blessed with the love of God who is gifted with the following three attributes – River like Generosity Sun like Bounty Earth like Hospitality” Khawaja Gharib Nawaz Al Quran e Karim says: “La Ikra Hafiddeen - There is no compulsion in religion” (2: 256) Pope John Paul II, 1985. From a speech delivered to over 80,000 Muslims in Casablanca: “We believe in the one God, the Living God who created the world... In a world which desires unity and peace, but experiences a thousand tensions and conflicts, should not believers favor friendship between the men and the peoples who form one single community on earth?... We must respect each other and we must stimulate each other in good works on the path to righteousness.” Judaism, Christianity and Islam have a great deal in common. They are all based on monotheism and are committed to increase justice in the world and accountability before God. Their historic roots go back to the Prophet Abraham and, as such, they are often described as the “Abrahamic Faiths.” They are also the basis of great world civilizations. 26
Humanism, harmony, love and brotherhood are the essence of all religions. Islam stands for human brotherhood, harmony, peace, compassion, tolerance and social justice. Al Quran e Karim says, “Al khalqu Aayatullah” which means the entire mankind is God’s family. From the Vedantic tradition of India is written in an Upanishad: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” a Sanskrit phrase which means “the world is one family”. Finally, I would like to end my remarks with the blessed last sermon of Hazret Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty(ra) “Love all and hate none. Mere talk of peace will avail you naught. Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far. Bring out all the latent powers of your being and reveal the full magnificence of your immortal self. Be surcharged with peace and joy, and scatter them wherever you are and wherever you go. Be a blazing fire of truth, be a beauteous blossom of love and be a soothing balm of peace. With your spiritual light, dispel the darkness of ignorance; dissolve the clouds of discord and war and spread goodwill, peace, and harmony among the people. Never seek any help, charity, or favors from anybody except God. Never go to the court of kings, but never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor, the widow, and the orphan, if they come to your door. This is your mission, to serve the people......... Carry it out dutifully and courageously, So that I, as your Pir-o-Murshid, May not be ashamed of any shortcomings on your part Before the Almighty God and our Holy predecessors in the Sufi order (silsilah) On the Day of Judgment.” Hazret Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty 11th Century Chishty Sufi Grand Master Haji Syed Salman Chishty Gaddi Nashin - Dargah Ajmer Sharif Chairman - Chishty Foundation Ajmer Sharif INDIA
27
Dr. Mindahi Bastida – Centre for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary My name is Mindahi Bastida, of the Otomi-Toltec ancestral Peoples of Mexico. I am representing the Center for Earth Ethics and its Original Caretakers Program. It is a big honor to greet Ethiopia, the Land of Origins. We pay respect to the original peoples and territories here and also to the African Union. We greet the original peoples of Ethiopia and all of Africa as an important continent that can give light to the world in times of Climate Change and distressing bio-cultural erosion. According to our prophecies and ancestral knowledge, 7,000 years ago some human beings began to go in another direction and began to take over Nature. Others remained as caretakers, in a collective way, of what original peoples call Mother Earth, living in harmony and balance with divine creation. But in many places harmony was broken, and this situation prevails until today, deeply affecting the material and spiritual components of life. Furthermore, due to invasions and colonization of the world, bio-cultures were affected, and many species and cultures disappeared, provoking imbalances of right livelihood. Despite the devastating effects of global colonialism, many Original Peoples, also known as Indigenous Peoples, have successfully kept their ancestral practices, cosmologies and philosophies. An ancient basis of wisdom is known collectively as the life originating principles, through which we continue to interact with the sacred-spiritual, nature-material and with other cultures. This original counsel, based in the original instructions, brings together our ancestral wisdom, our current perception of the endangered world and our actions. People who have acted as allies of ancestral cultures and wisdom for the permanence of life and of original peoples are aware of the mounting crises that all beings face on many levels. The world is experiencing the end result of a different kind of knowledge whose implementation has been provoking a disharmonious, fragmented and highly destructive way of interaction and relationship with nature, cultures and celestial bodies. More and more it becomes evident that the recovery of harmony, peace, unity and dignity lies in our return to the sacred origins of the ancestral wisdom, where human beings are an integral part of creation and not the peak of creation. The recovery of harmony is not just tangible but also intangible, and collective consciousness is vital to address harmony in the spiritual and material worlds. This harmony and balance must be reflected among all beings, according to time and space order. Then, peace can be achieved not just among human beings but also with Nature and Mother Earth. It is urgent to restrict the anthropocentric thought and return to the original principles. We need to make peace with Mother Earth and her sacred elements and nature. Peace and Dignity are intertwined principles; we as human beings can achieve dignity if we go beyond the greed and commodification of “things” and respect life through reciprocal actions. We want to strengthen families, communities, bio-cultures, Mother Earth and our relationship with all beings working together and pulling together. We want an integrated world based on dialogue, reciprocity and complementarity that will carry all through far more than just seven generations. For us, unity is all about the Unification Process. This process is a mandate from indigenous spiritual leaders to respond to our planetary and civilizational crisis, emphasizing that all beings, including the celestial bodies that are integral components of the life systems, must be taken into account to produce balance and harmonization in the world.
28
In achieving Harmony, Peace, Unity and Dignity we should: Strengthen the work of those who, in continuity with their “originating principles/law of origin”, sustain to this date the ancient wisdom and spiritual traditional practices that preserve the sacred balance of the Earth. Remind those who were given their “original instructions”, and that may have drifted from them due to their own historical processes, to revive their bio-cultural identity as a way back to their ancient ways, which will give them once again a sense of belonging and meaning in the sacred web of life. Bring awareness to those who have completely lost, or never had, the understanding that they too are an integral part of the natural world and as such need to learn that they are here to contribute to sustaining it for themselves and for those who are yet to come. Practice tolerance, intercultural dialogue and mutual cooperation for the sake of bio-cultural diversity. These are among the strongest warranties of peace and security at the local and international levels. In sum, we, together, in a Process of Unification, need to be engaged in restoring the harmony and balance of Mother Earth for the sake of human life and all beings. We need to think and act at local and global levels and think beyond intergenerational equity: we must leave a legacy of good generations for Mother Earth. Kjamadi – May love and blessings be with us, the land of origins and your families.
29
Chief Phil Lane Jr – Chairman of the Compassion Games and Indigenous Leader from North America Very Dearly Beloved and Respected Excellencies, Spiritual and Religious leaders, Fellow U DAY Travelers and all Beloved Members of our Human Family, I want to extend a very warm, respectful, loving handshake and embrace to each and every one of you on behalf of the Hinhan Wicasa and Deloria Tiospayes, Magaska Ptesan Wicoti, White Swan People, Ihanktonwan Dakota, Oceti Sakowin, Seven Council Fires of the Sioux Nation, and the many Indigenous peoples and allies we work with across the Americas and beyond. I am very honored, privileged and inspired to be here in Ethiopia, the Land of Origins and in the Room in which the African Union addresses security challenges to the Nation States of the African Union. When I arrived in this beautiful and sacred land of Ethiopia, I felt the spirit of our Creator. When I traveled to Lalibela, I felt the Spirit and Power of God, the Creator of All Good Things. When I prayed at the Mosque of Aqsa in Jerusalem, I felt the Spirit of God, the Ever Forgiving! When I went to the Western Wall and prayed, I felt the Spirit of God. When I walked along the Via Dolorosa where Jesus walked and suffered and in the Garden of Gethsemane I felt the Spirit of God. When I visited the Baha’i Holy Places on Mount Carmel, I felt our Beloved Creator. When I traveled through Asia, I felt the spirit of God, the Spirit of Love and Compassion in the Holy Places of our Buddhist and our Hindu relatives. And, of course, our Indigenous peoples know that all of that all life is one, interrelated, and that the hurt of one is the hurt of all! As is revealed in the Koran by the Prophet of God, Mohammed, we all come from the same clot of blood. All of us. We are One Human Family. Each of us is a sovereignty, ancient, imperishable and everlasting. Each of us, a spiritual representative of all of those who have gone before us. That’s who we are: sacred beings. Each and every one of us. And I’m so thankful to have returned to Mother Africa. Because right from here, whether people want to accept it or not, we know scientifically, the entire human family emerged from Mother Africa. That is truth. So I have come home to my Mother. And I want to say, the Indigenous peoples of the Americas understand what happened very, very well to our relatives of Africa over the past 500 years. This is not the time to go into it now, but we have also suffered. But we know our Beloved Creator does not give us any test or difficulty except for our own spiritual growth and perfection. Now we are stronger than we have ever been! And so, I reach out with great love and affection to each and every one of you as my Family members. When Jesus says, “my Father’s house has many rooms”, this verse has many meanings. We know that Messengers from God were sent to the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, too. The Creator would never leave alone our indigenous peoples across the Americas or anyone on our Mother Earth without spiritual teachings and guidance. We received our Sacred Teachings as well. All of us do. No one is left out. So I want to conclude with a description in English of some of the spiritual teachings of our Indigenous Peoples by the Blessed Beauty. I found these same teachings in the hearts and souls of our Indigenous Peoples everywhere on Mother Earth. In fact, every 30
single one of us sitting and standing here, we are all Indigenous Peoples of Mother Earth, each and every one of us. All of us have been born from the breast of our Mother Earth and so we all shall return, each in our own time! “Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of your friends and relatives and look upon them with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of your pledge. Be fair in your judgment and guarded in your speech. Be unjust to no man and show respect to all men. Be as a lamp to them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all your acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light to the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a breath of life to the body of humankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a shining light in the firmament of your generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.” I will close with words for these wonderful young people of Africa who have been so quietly and respectfully sitting in the balcony. Over fifty percent of our Global Population is under thirty years old. My father used to say this to me on many occasions, “Son, When the young people stop singing the old songs and there are no more dreams and visions of greatness, there is no more power. So as your vision is, so shall your power be. So as your faith is, so shall your success be!” I have complete faith that our great Mother Africa is going to continue to rise up and is going to be a light to all Members of our Beloved Human Family. Shunkmanu He Miye Yedo! Chanupa Sapa He Miye Yedo! My sacred names are, A Leader of Warriors Who Takes the Enemies Best Horses and a Sacred Black Pipe Born of Thunder, Lightning, and Rain and I Stand Fully Responsible Before the Creator For All My Words and Actions.
31
Sam Cook – Australian Indigenous Representative Sisters and Brothers, I am from the Nyikina Nation, One of the 800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations of the land mass now known as Australia. I come in delegation, With my brothers, the descendants of the Ancestors Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. We represent our collective nations, Whose sovereignty never ceded. Whose treaty is not yet attained. WE STAND in recognition of your independence. Affirmed in diverse cultural traditions And ley lines of ancestral story. WE STAND for our cultural continuum, Eternally entwined from the origin Of Humanity. WE STAND in the shadow of your sovereignty, A freedom that we both mourn, And celebrate For in our lands, We are tested Through colonial agendas Of extinguishment and denial. When we Indigenous people have asked for: RESPECT We were gifted hate. When we sought: COMPASSION We were granted intolerance. When we pleaded for: HARMONY with the land and its spirit The World was led toward instability And climate change. When Indigenous people cried for our RIGHTS and JUSTICE We were met with theft, incarceration and poverty. When we begged for PEACE We received war. And when we pleaded for LOVE We were given genocide.
32
We have endured the worst example of humankind. The worst. Yet here we stand. Bathed in the spirit of our Ancestors, Our Elders, Our Brothers, Our Sisters, Our future leaders. And as the sun rose this morning across the land of Origin, It brought forth a new day. An historical day. A day of renewal. A day of hope. This hurt ends today. For we have converged in the best possible way. In Respect. Compassion. Harmony. Peace. Unity. And in Love. We are here, so full of potential and cultural prosperity. Enriched by one another. As sisters and brothers. The time is NOW To stand in POWER. The power of humanity. Sam Cook Nyikina Nation
33
Prof. Peter Blaze Corcoran – Christian, Educator and Sustainability Expert Your excellency Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of Ethiopia; your excellencies; respected religious leaders; distinguished delegates to the African Union; students; fellow U DAY participants; ladies and gentlemen; All protocols observed… It is an honor for us to be at the African Union—a family of nations that, in spite of great challenges, shines hope on the destiny of Africa. As a citizen of the United States, I am painfully aware of the recent disrespectful remarks by the American President regarding African nations and people of African origin. I applaud the timely, dignified, and forceful response of the African Union—which was heard and echoed across the world. Brothers and sisters, we live in disharmonious times. We know the natural world is in agony—that God’s creation, as humankind has known it, is dangerously diminished by human activity. We know the social world, too, is in agony—that poverty, injustice, and war characterize daily life for millions around the planet. This makes the work of the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week all the more critical and the more urgent—because we can bring our interfaith work to bear on these conditions. So, what is our work? Especially as it relates to intergovernmental contexts such as the United Nations and the African Union? Surely the commitments of governments and intergovernmental bodies to peace-keeping, to interfaith harmony, and to aspirational agreements such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Earth Charter are promising. There is much that government can do—and there is much that each of us can do to influence our governments and to support intergovernmental bodies. Yet we know that governments have limits. We know that we must go deeper than citizenship. I believe our spiritual work is to create harmony, starting with ecological harmony, which is, of necessity, a foundation for other harmonies. The late, great Wangari Maathai, Nobel Prize Laureate from neighboring Kenya, wrote, “Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking so that humanity stops threatening its life support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process to heal our own—indeed to embrace the whole of creation.” This compassionate embrace is an agency for harmony with all life. Love, too, is an agency for this harmony. Saint Paul writes in the Christian New Testament: “Above all, clothe yourselves with love which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians, Chapter 3, Verse 14). We can find harmony among differences, because within all life there dwells a unity beyond difference. So this is our work—this week and beyond—to build harmony using all great religious, faith, and spiritual traditions. But we need to go even beyond harmony to search for the unity, the Earth unity if I may call it that, that is the divine order. And in this way, transform our world toward a just, humane, peaceful, sustainable one for all living things. And I might call that a unity Earth. And if I may be allowed, I would like to thank the organization “UNITY EARTH” for bringing the U DAY Festival to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Āmeseginalehu! Thank you…
34
Rev. Deborah Moldow – Interfaith Minister Your Excellencies, sisters and brothers in the spirit: We come from many faith traditions and many countries of the world to be with you at the African Union in commemoration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, to share our light with you. I want to invite all of those invited to Ethiopia by UNITY EARTH to come forward so that you can see all of us in our great diversity. We are a living embodiment of World Interfaith Harmony Week. We have brought with us the light of three flames, representing universal values essential to the future of humanity and the implementation of The Golden Rule: compassion, peace and unity. We lit the Torches of Compassion and Peace together with the Lamp of Unity at the sacred UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela two nights ago in a Convergence of Fire ceremony, in deep acknowledgement of Ethiopia as the “Land of Origins.” ·
The Torch of Compassion was raised by Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr. of Canada. This torch is being passed symbolically throughout the world during World Interfaith Harmony Week.
·
The Torch of Peace, borne by American songstress Kristin Hoffmann, circled the globe to 45 countries in 1986 during the First Earth Run, endorsed by UNICEF.
·
The Lamp of Unity was brought from Thailand by Dr. Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai, a senior Buddhist Monk from Chiang Mai, Thailand.
UNITY EARTH brings these torches to the African Union today to honor the rich history of Africa and the important role of the African Union in creating a future of compassion, peace and unity. We trust that this Convergence of Fire into a Global Flame of One Love will kindle the Divine spark in the hearts of all delegates today as a light that will shine forth from your hearts through the nations of Africa to all the world. And we have one more brief presentation to offer. I would like to ask my dear friend and brother, Ambassador. Mussie Hailu to come forward, along with Ben Bowler of UNITY EARTH. We would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation you by presenting you with this award as a UNITY EARTH CHAMPION, KEEPER OF THE FLAME. We present this to Ambassador Mussie Hailu, Keeper of the Flame. We honor you! Thank you very much. May Peace Prevail on Earth. Rev. Deborah Moldow Founder, Garden of Light Core Team, UNITY EARTH
35
Amb. Mussie Receives UNITY EARTH Award
UNITY EARTH presented the launching of its award UNITY EARTH Champion “Keeper of the Flame” to Ambassador Mussie Hailu for his outstanding contribution in the fields of Interfaith Dialogue, Peacebuilding and Social Inclusion and promoting mutual respect and human dignity through the teaching of the Golden Rule which says “Treat others the way you want to be treated”
Ambasador Mussie receives Sufi painting from Syed Salman Chishty.
36
Presentation of the African Interfaith Harmony Award of URI—Africa
37
Reciting of The Golden Rule
38
Universal Peace Prayer “May Peace Prevail on Earth” Program—Flag Raising Ceremony Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart, Executive Director of World Peace Prayer Society
39
40
Presenting Peace Pole to the African Union Commission and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart (WPPS)
41
42
43
44
U Day Festival at the African Union for UN World Interfaith Harmony Week Addis Ababa, Ethiopia February 2, 2018 By Rev. Deborah Moldow Editor, Yanni Maniates UNITY EARTH, in partnership with the United Religions Initiative-Africa; the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia; the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association; and the World Peace Prayer Society in partnership with the African Union Commission Department of Civil Society & Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) brought together civic and religious leaders from Ethiopia, natives of Aboriginal Australia, indigenous leaders from North and Central America, Buddhist monks from Thailand, Sikhs, Baha’is, Sufis and Hindus from India, Jews, Christians and Muslims standing for unity, peace and compassion during World Interfaith Harmony Week. Besides the event at the African Union, organized by Ambassador. Mussie Hailu of the United Religions Initiative, highlights of the 7-day U Day Festival in Ethiopia, “land of origins,” included visiting sacred sites in Lalibela and Shashamane and joining in a Convergence of Fire torch-lighting ceremony on January 31st during a blue moon lunar eclipse. The mission of the U Day gatherings, which have been held previously in Thailand in 2012, at the Church Center for the United Nations in 2016, in Crestone, Colorado in 2017 and in Delhi, India in 2017 is to bring people into joyful harmony through interfaith understanding and the common language of music. UNITY EARTH (www.unity.earth), under the leadership of Ben Bowler and an international team from Australia, India and the United States, is planning future U Days in Toronto in 2018 during the Parliament of World Religions, in India (2019) and in Jerusalem (2020), as well as a caravan across America to highlight the Road to 2020, culminating in New York City on the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2020.
The African Union On February 2nd, in Addis Ababa, the UNITY EARTH participants took part in an historic event in a gracious hall at the African Union, where World Interfaith Harmony Week was observed for the very first time. The event, organized in partnership with Amb. Mussie Hailu, Africa Regional Director of the United Religions Initiative, featured Dr. Mulatu Teshome, the President of Ethiopia; His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church; leaders of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, and other local dignitaries, joined by 65 U Day cultural, spiritual, religious and musical ambassadors from around the world, and a World Peace Flag Ceremony with fifty Ethiopian children raising the flags of all the nations of the world with the prayer, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” 45
All speakers stressed the value of harmony among people of diverse religions and the significance of The Golden Rule in demonstrating the common values across religious divides. Members of the UNITY EARTH delegation read the way The Golden Rule is expressed in each of twelve different faith traditions.
President Teshome mentioned that the General Assembly Resolution establishing World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the shared principles of love of God and love of neighbor, noting that “Ethiopia is a diverse nation well known for long as a land of peace and religious tolerance with a longstanding heritage of peaceful co-existence.�
46
Then it was time for the UNITY EARTH guests to showcase their great diversity. Speakers were: • Ven. Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai, Thai Buddhist monk • Mrs. Monica Willard, Representative to the United Nations, United Religions Initiative • Rabbi Gabriel Hagai, Orthodox Jewish leader • Dr. A.K. Merchant, representative of the Baha’i faith from India • Dr. Mohinder Singh, representative of the Sikh faith from India • Syed Salmon Chishty, head of the Chishti Sufi Order • Dr. Mindahi Bastida, Center for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary • Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr., Indigenous Ihanktonwan Dakota and Chickasaw Nations of North America • Ms. Sam Cook, Mr. Jason Kelly, Mr. Dane Kennedy, Australian indigenous representatives • Prof. Peter Blaze Corcoran, Christian educator and sustainability expert Their speeches can be found on pages 18 through 34.
Rev. Deborah Moldow, founder of the Garden of Light, closed this portion of the program by inviting all the UNITY EARTH participants in the hall to come forward as “a living demonstration of World Interfaith Harmony Week,” including the three “Convergence of Fire” torches of compassion, peace and unity. Ben Bowler presented the UNITY EARTH CHAMPION “Keeper of the Flame” Award to Ambassador Mussie Hailu for his outstanding contribution in the fields of Interfaith Dialogue, Peace Building and Social Inclusion.
47
Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart, Executive Director of The World Peace Prayer Society, then presented the World Peace Flag Ceremony with fifty Ethiopian children raising the flags of all the nations of the world with the prayer, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” This beautiful and moving ceremony concluded with children – along with the UNITY EARTH delegates who hailed from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa – holding the flags of the continent of Africa, followed by the UNITY EARTH indigenous representatives bearing a special flag of the indigenous nations.
The program ended with a vote of thanks sung out by Ahmed Tijani Ben Omar, an African Sufi leader.
Words from the message read from Rev. Victor Kazanjian, Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative, summed up the experience beautifully. He wrote: Dear friends, the world is blessed by all of your work and by this convergence of peacemakers from different religions, cultures and nations. At a time of deepening divisions and escalating violence between people throughout the world, Interfaith Harmony Week reminds us of the vision of a world in which our differences are seen not as barriers to peace but as essential resources for weaving together the fabric of our common humanity. 48
Conclusion Ben Bowler of UNITY EARTH had these words for all who experienced World Interfaith Harmony Week through U Day Ethiopia 2018: As I see it, we have experienced together a week of profound manifestation of the possibilities of life on this world. Many revealed religious traditions talk about a future era of Light & Life on our planet, comparable to the Christian Kingdom of Heaven on Earth or the Mahayana Buddhist ideal of The Pure Land. For me, our time together in Ethiopia was a foretaste of that Reality, the love and beauty, the mystical spirituality, the grace, the divine synchronicity, the fellowship, the joy, the music, the laughter – it was nothing less than a very real experience of Light & Life. SO whatever else happens in this world, to have experienced that all together in such a profound way is a spectacular gift.... for which I am forever grateful, to each of you, to our unseen friends and the Divine. From Lalibela to the African Union, from U DAY Addis Ababa down to Shashamane, this journey of the heart demonstrated beyond any doubt that when people of good will gather together with the joy and conviction of their individual religious and spiritual traditions, they will produce a “Convergence of Fire,” igniting a Global Fire of One Love. This is the gift of World Interfaith Harmony Week, a time to reflect on the power of shared experiences of faith and music to unite all peoples for a new culture of peace across our beautiful planet Earth.
Visual representation of individuals and organizations that were part of 2018 World Interfaith Harmony Week Ethiopia: Land of Origins and the U DAY Festival See full “Kumu” diagram here. The event received widespread television and press coverage, including in the English language Ethiopian Herald and The African Dream.
U Day Festival makes Interfaith Harmony front page news in Ethiopia! Bibliography of Media Coverage · · · · · · 49
World Interfaith Harmony Week Participants Praise Ethiopia for Practicing Religious and Cultural harmony (Ethiopian News Agency) ~ Ethiopian News Agency. Ethiopia: A Nation With Interfaith Harmony - Religious Leaders, Theologians ~ AllAfrica.com U DAY Festival 2018: Convergence Of Fire In The Land Of Origins ~1God.com Ethiopia, Land of Origins, Hosted Interfaith Event for a Culture of Peace, Harmony and Human Dignity ~ Center for Earth Ethics Ethiopia is a land of tolerance: FDRE President Dr. Mulatu Teshome • Religious leaders call for Inter-religious dialogue for building peace, tolerance ~ Ethiopia Press World Interfaith Harmony Week Praise Ethiopia for Religious and Cultural harmony ~ The Ethiopian Herald
PROGRAM CELEBRATION OF
THEME: VENUE: DATE:
UNITED NATIONS
World Interfaith Harmony Week
INTERFAITH COOPERATION TO PROMOTE A CULTURE OF PEACE, HARMONY AND HUMAN DIGNITY AFRICA UNION COMMISSION, PLENARY HALL OLD BUILDING, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA FEBRUARY 2ND, 2018
PROGRAM 8:30-9:00
Arrival of Participants
9:00-9:10
Opening Prayer
9:10-9:20
Reciting of the message of The Golden Rule from different holy books which says
• His Holiness Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church • Sheikh Muhammad-Amin Jamal Omar, President of Ethiopian Affairs Supreme Council “Treat others the way you want to be treated” By Students Participants 9:20-9:50
Welcoming Remarks by:
• Pastor Zerihun Degu, General Secretary of Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia • H.E. Amb. Mussie Hailu, Regional Director of United Religions Initiative-Africa and Representative of URI to the AUC and UN office in Africa & Genève
• H.E. Mrs. Fozia Amin, President of African Ombudsman and Mediators Association • Mr. Ben Bowler, Director of U Day Festival • Mr. Ahmed El-Basheer, AUC-CIDO 9:50-10:00 Official Opening Remarks
• H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Guest of Honour) 10:00-10:20
Message from
• H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission • H.E. Mr. Antonio Guteres, Secretary-General of the United Nations • The Rev. Victor H. Kazanjian, Jr., Executive Director of United Religions Initiative • Mr. Hiro Saionjo, President of World Peace Prayer Society • Ms. Frewot Worku, Secretary General of Ethiopian Red Cross Society MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH 50
PROGRAM ....../2 10:05-11:00
Remarks from International Participants
• Venerable Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai - Thai Buddhist Monk and Leader of the Delegation from Thailand
• Mrs. Monica Willard - URI Representative to the United Nations • Rabbi Gabriel Hagai - Orthodox Jewish Leader • Dr. A. K. Merchant - Representative of the Bahai’ Faith from India • Dr. Mohinder Singh - Interfaith activist and Representative from the Sikh Faith in Delhi • Syed Salman Chishty - Head of the Chishti Sufi Order, Direct Descendant of Sufi Saint Moinuddin Chishti
• Dr. Mindahi Bastida - Centre for Earth Ethics, Union Theological Seminary • Phil Lane, Jr. - Chairman of the Compassion Games and Indigenous Leader from North America • Sam Cook - Australian Indigenous Representative • Prof. Peter Blaze Corcoran - Christian, Educator and Sustainability Expert • Rev. Deborah Moldow - Interfaith Minister 11:00-11:10
Presenting African Interfaith Harmony Award of URI-Africa
11:10-11:45 Universal Peace Prayer “May Peace Prevail on Earth” Program - The Flag raising ceremony
• Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart, Executive Director of World Peace Prayer Society 11:45-11:55
Presenting Peace Pole to the African Union Commission and the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia
• Ms. Fumi Johns Stewart (WPPS) and Mr. Patrick Petit, Representative of Goi Peace Foundation 11:55
Group Photo
Organised by: Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, United Religious Initiative-Africa, U-Day Festival, The African Ombudsman and Mediators Association and World Peace Prayer Society in partnership with the African Union Commission Department of Civil Society & Diaspora Directorate (CIDO)
Let us be the change we want to see in the world by living according to the teaching of the Golden Rule as stated in different religious holy books which says “Treat others the way you want to be treated” MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH The schedule on this printed program was not followed in its entirety because of time constraints. 51
52
Participants’ List Albertsen, Sommer Joy – Compassion Games Leader. International Relations Coach & Creative Fundraiser Director at Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest Banton, Pato – Artist, Musician, Minister, Urantia Book reader Bastida, Mindahi - Centre for Earth Ethics, Forum 21, Shaman Blaze Corcoran, Peter – Christian/Forum 21, Earth Charter, UNITY EARTH. Peter Blaze is an author and educator in sustainability, with a lifetime of service in the field of higher education Bowler, Ben – UNITY EARTH, 1GOD.com, World Weavers. Ben is a unity-activist and spiritual entrepreneur Brabazon, Esther – Guest Brabazon, Kevin – New York University. Kevin Brabazon is the main United Nations Representative for Generations United (www.gu.org) – which serves in an advisory capacity to the Economic and Social Council and an Associate Professor at New York University, teaching in statistics, information technology, and management science Brouwer, Anne-Jane – Ground Crew Member Chauhan, Sunil – Ecosphere, Activist, Mountain Mystic Chishty, Salman - The Chishty Foundation, Lineage Holder, Universal Sufi Council. Haji Syed Salman Chishty is the 26th Generation Gaddi-Nashin (Hereditary Custodians/Key Holders) through his Chishty family which has been engaged in serving at the globally famed, acknowledged and renowned center of Peace and Unity for the whole of Humanity – THE BLESSED DARGAH AJMER SHARIF SUFI SHRINE of the 11th Century Sufi Grand Master Teacher Hz.KHAWAJA MOINUDEEN HASAN CHISHTY(R.A.) Clendening, Miranda – Unity-Activist Cook, Samantha – Indigenous Australian, Event Director. Sam Cook has an extensive career in the arts and entertainment industry spanning close to thirty-years. A retired musician, she was the Director of The Dreaming Festival and a programmer of the Woodford Folk Festival Dawuni, Rocky – Artist, Interfaith Activist, Musician Demas, Darcy – Dakota Culture Teacher. Involved with Dakota culture for more than thirty years. Danced in the Sun Dance for twenty years and singing and assisting the elders for eleven years now Dolman, Juliana – Film Crew Dhupar, Subhi – URI Northern India and Afganistan. Regional Coordinator for URI-Asia: Afghanistan and India, North Zone Subhi holds a master’s degree in International Relations and has received extensive training on Peace and Conflict courses during her master’s program Hagai, Rabbi Gabriel - Gabriel Hagai is an Orthodox Rabbi, lecturer, linguist, philologist, paleographer-codicologist, mediator, poet, calligrapher and singer. Educated in Jerusalem and Boston, he is a researcher and a guest lecturer at a number of Parisian universities and higher institutes Hailu, Mussie (Ambassador) – URI Africa, Peace Activist who is working at national, regional and international level in promoting peace, reconciliation, interfaith and inter-cultural harmony. He served as Diplomat and Ambassador at large. He is a founding member of United Religions Initiative (URI) Hall, Antoinette - Musician, Acvitist, COEXIST, Urantia Book. Antoinette “Rootsdawtah” Hall is a skillful marketing and public relations expert. As a world-renowned Musical Minister in Pato Banton’s Spiritual Family and a social-spiritual activist she travels the globe promoting world peace and unity Henderson, Daryl – Film and Photography Crew Henriques, Patti – Guest 53
Hibbert, Ted- Heir Apparent - Traditional Ruler in Nigeria - Ubulu UKU, Delta State. Delta State is an area with traditional and charasmatic christian denominations, as well as a small but active Muslim community Hlabangane, Phindile – Guest Hoffmann, Kristin – Singer, Musician, Evolutionary Leaders. Kristin Hoffmann is a Julliard trained singer-songwriter-musician with extraordinary artistic range. Her music has been heard on major record labels, film and television, and she has performed throughout the world, collaborating with musical luminaries on projects ranging from individual albums to grand symphonic productions Ibi, Ras – Musician, Activist, Solder of Faith Johnson, Lyla June – Dine, Musician. Lyla June Johnston is a Fellow with the Original Caretakers Initiative at the Center for Earth Ethics. She was raised in Taos, New Mexico and is a descendent of Diné (Navajo) and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) lineages. She is a co-founder of The Taos Peace and Reconciliation Council, which works to heal intergenerational trauma and ethnic division in the northern New Mexico Kelly, Jason – Indigenous Australian, Cultural Ambassador. Jason is the Mutthi Mutthi Wuthunghi (man) responsible for ceremony and calling on the ancestors in ceremonies such as funerals or healing and cleansing ceremonies such as traditional smoking ceremonies. Jason currently works as a Koorie Engagement Support Officer with the Department Of Education Kennedy, Dane – Indigenous Australian, Musician. Jason is the Mutthi Mutthi Wuthunghi (man) responsible for ceremony and calling on the ancestors in ceremonies such as funerals or healing and cleansing ceremonies such as traditional smoking ceremonies. Jason currently works as a Koorie Engagement Support Officer with the Department Of Education Kushner, Andy – Musician Lane, Phil (Chief) - Dakota and Chickasaw Nation. Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. is an enrolled member of the Yankton Dakota and Chickasaw First Nations and is an internationally recognized leader in human and community development. During the past 45 years, he has worked with Indigenous peoples in North, Central and South America, Micronesia, South East Asia, India, Hawaii and Africa Maniates, Yanni – UNITY EARTH, Global Projects. Yanni Maniates is the Global Projects Coordinator of UNITY EARTH and is part of UNITY EARTH’s Core Team. His work is primarily focused on the U Day India Festival 2019; The Road to 2020 USA “Caravan of Harmony;” and the UNITY EARTH Center’s Inner Awakening Program Merchant, Ali (Dr) – Baha’i Temple. Dr. A. K. Merchant is a Trustee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India since 1989 & the Lotus Temple in New Delhi Moldow, Deborah (Rev.) – Interfaith Minister, Garden of Light. Rev. Deborah Moldow is an ordained interfaith minister committed to assisting in the transformation of human consciousness. She served for more than 20 years as the Representative to the United Nations of the World Peace Prayer Society, which promotes the universal prayer “May Peace Prevail on Earth” Morrison, Irina – UNITY EARTH Communications and Operations. Yoga Guru, Coms and Admin Ninja for UNITY EARTH Omar, Ahmed Tijani Ben - Muslim Leader, Universal Sufi Council Ottinger, Allaudin - Sufi, Dancers of Universal Peace Rabasca, Erik – UNITY EARTH Operations, Musician, Light Warrior. Currently recording, performing and producing as Light Warriors, involved as musician/writer/producer in several projects covering a variety of styles from singer/songwriter to rock, reggae and experimental music. Erik is also a Reiki Energy Healer and, in his former professional life, a social and digital marketing strategist and operations executive Ramer, Jon - Compassion Games – Founder. Jon Eliot Ramer (born 1958) is an American entrepreneur, civic leader, community organizer, inventor, and musician. Most recently, Ramer conceived of and produced the “Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest” in response to a challenge from the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky to other cities to outdo Louisville’s compassionate action as measured by hours of community services and numbers of people served. In five years the Compassion Games has served over fifteen million people in over 40 countries Richards, Antoine – Musician Reisman, Ben – Film Crew
54
Sankarlall, Rajiv – Film and Photography Crew. Gun Photographer, Healer Sayialel, John Matelong – Masai Warrior Schierbeek, Marcelle – Guest Singh, Dr Mohinder – Sikh Leader. Dr. Mohinder Singh is presently Director, National Institute of Panjab Studies, Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi. He also served as Member, National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Government of India, (2010 – 2014) Smith, Joshua – Light Smith. Incredible Graphic Artist that has helped make U DAY so beautiful looking online Spiri, Kwadjo – Musician, Spiritual Activist. Kwadjo SPiRi socializes his universal experiences on the platform of music and the output is always a blend of philosophy, spirituality, and science Sullivan, Cary – Musician, Photographer Tubbs, Premik – Musician. Premik Russell Tubbs, a composer, arranger, producer and an accomplished multi- instrumentalist, performs on various flutes, soprano, alto and tenor saxophones, wind synthesizer and lap steel guitar Wesemann, Jos – TEX (The Ethiopian eXpereince), Dires for Development, Social Entrepenuer. Manages a cultural travel company by and for deaf people, and since recently also a Responsible Tourism company in Ethiopia for a wide audience Willard, Monica – URI. Monica Willard is the Main URI Representative to the United Nations and coordinates the team of URI Representatives to the United Nations. She has worked with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) on the annual Student Observance for the International Day of Peace at UN Headquarters since 1997 Wonderland, Alison – Musician Yozi, Khanyisa – Guest Thai Buddhists: Dr. Phramaha Boonchay Doojai – Thai Buddhist. Dr. Phramaha Boonchuay Doojai is a senior Buddhist Monk from Chiang Mai, Thailand where among his many roles he is a lecturer at Graduate School Center, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU). He was also a vice rector of MCU, Chiang Mai Campus. For decades Phramaha Boonchuay has been a leading interfaith activist in Thailand and abroad and is the Chairperson, Asian Interfaith Network on HIV/AIDS Dr. Suwichan Phatthanaphariwan – Karen Tribal, Cultural Musician. “Chi” Suwichan Phatthanaphraiwan is a prominent Karen artist, musician, composer, educator and community activist based in Thailand. Chi becomes a prominent voice of the Karen people, both for his music and also for his many years of being at the forefront of indigenous peoples’ activism—fighting for their rights Dr. Phramaha Sangvech Sricot – Thai Buddhist Monk Sitthisuk Natari – Thai Buddhist Phra Jessada Singhara – Thai Buddhist Phrakhrumanumbunyakorn Sribunpeng – Thai Buddhist Monk Phrakhruwisutthikhemmerat Yakham – Thai Buddhist Monk Phramaha Kraisorn Sanvong – Thai Buddhist Monk Dr. Patitham Samniang – Thai Buddhist Monk Dr. Phrakhruvithitpanyaporn – Thai Buddhist Monk Dr. Phrakhrusuwapotivoratam Imrat – Thai Buddhist Monk Dr. Phrakhrusangkharak Id Loysai-Or – Thai Buddhist Monk
55