Showing posts with label URI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label URI. Show all posts
Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Saturday, 2 September 2017
REQUEST FROM URI : ENDORSE THE APPEAL FOR DIPLOMACY IN KOREA
Hello friends,
I was fortunate enough to meet Alyn Ware during my recent URI trip to the US.
Alyn is from New Zealand and is an extremely capable and passionate person dedicated to nuclear disarmament. It was great meeting with him and learning about his work in this space. He has sent on the following email and I am forwarding it to you all in case it is of interest.
Take care and wishing you all well.
Nivy Balachandran
Regional Coordinator, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.
Phone: +61 433 238 406 | Skype: nivy.bala | www.uri.org
URI is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alyn Ware
Date: Fri, Sep 1, 2017 at 8:56 AM
Subject: Invitation to United Religions Initiative to endorse the call for a diplomatic solution to the Korea nuclear crisis
To: Bishop Swing, Monica Willard
Cc: MBWillard@aol.com, JonathanGranoff@gmail.com, Sari Heidenreich, Nivy Balachandran
Dear Bishop Swing and Monica
We invite United Religions Initiative, a valued member of Abolition 2000, to endorse the Appeal for a diplomatic solution to the Korea nuclear crisis, which has been drafted by members of Abolition 2000.
In addition, members of United Religions Initiative are invited to endorse the appeal in their individual capacities.
We will send the appeal to the leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Best regards
Alyn Ware
Dear Friends,
We invite you to endorse an Appeal of Abolition 2000 Members for a diplomatic approach to address the Korea nuclear crisis.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.
The Abolition 2000 members listed below, representing peace and disarmament organisations from around the world, call on the United States and North Korea to step back from the brink of war in North East Asia, and instead adopt a diplomatic approach to prevent war.
We call for the immediate commencement of negotiations to prevent a military conflict from erupting, and to resolve the underlying conflicts. Such negotiations should take place both bilaterally and through a renewed Six-Party framework involving China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities makes a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
More than three million citizens of Korea, Japan, China, USA and other countries lost their lives in the Korean War from 1950-1953. Should a war erupt again, the loss of lives could be considerably worse, especially if nuclear weapons are used. Indeed, a nuclear conflict erupting in Korea could engulf the entire world in a nuclear catastrophe that would end civilization as we know it.
In supporting diplomacy rather than war, we:
1. Oppose any pre-emptive use of force by any of the parties, which would be counter-productive and likely lead to nuclear war;
2. Call on all parties to refrain from militaristic rhetoric and provocative military exercises;
3. Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to consider the phased and comprehensive approach for a North-East Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone with a 3+3 arrangement[1], which already has cross-party support in Japan and South Korea and interest from the North Korean government;
4. Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to also consider options and modalities for turning the 1953 Armistice Agreement into a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War;
5. Welcome the call of the UN Secretary-General for a resumption of Six-Party talks and his offer to assist in negotiations;
6. Welcome also the offer of the European Union to assist in diplomatic negotiations, as they did successfully in the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program;
7. Call on the United Nations Security Council to prioritise a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
I was fortunate enough to meet Alyn Ware during my recent URI trip to the US.
Alyn is from New Zealand and is an extremely capable and passionate person dedicated to nuclear disarmament. It was great meeting with him and learning about his work in this space. He has sent on the following email and I am forwarding it to you all in case it is of interest.
Take care and wishing you all well.
Nivy Balachandran
Regional Coordinator, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.
Phone: +61 433 238 406 | Skype: nivy.bala | www.uri.org
URI is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alyn Ware
Date: Fri, Sep 1, 2017 at 8:56 AM
Subject: Invitation to United Religions Initiative to endorse the call for a diplomatic solution to the Korea nuclear crisis
To: Bishop Swing
Cc: MBWillard@aol.com, JonathanGranoff@gmail.com, Sari Heidenreich
Dear Bishop Swing and Monica
We invite United Religions Initiative, a valued member of Abolition 2000, to endorse the Appeal for a diplomatic solution to the Korea nuclear crisis, which has been drafted by members of Abolition 2000.
In addition, members of United Religions Initiative are invited to endorse the appeal in their individual capacities.
We will send the appeal to the leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Best regards
Alyn Ware
Dear Friends,
We invite you to endorse an Appeal of Abolition 2000 Members for a diplomatic approach to address the Korea nuclear crisis.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.
Dear Friends,
We invite you to endorse an Appeal of Abolition 2000 Members for a diplomatic approach to address the Korea nuclear crisis.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.
Appeal for a diplomatic solution in North East Asia
The Abolition 2000 members listed below, representing peace and disarmament organisations from around the world, call on the United States and North Korea to step back from the brink of war in North East Asia, and instead adopt a diplomatic approach to prevent war.
We call for the immediate commencement of negotiations to prevent a military conflict from erupting, and to resolve the underlying conflicts. Such negotiations should take place both bilaterally and through a renewed Six-Party framework involving China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities makes a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
More than three million citizens of Korea, Japan, China, USA and other countries lost their lives in the Korean War from 1950-1953. Should a war erupt again, the loss of lives could be considerably worse, especially if nuclear weapons are used. Indeed, a nuclear conflict erupting in Korea could engulf the entire world in a nuclear catastrophe that would end civilization as we know it.
In supporting diplomacy rather than war, we:
1. Oppose any pre-emptive use of force by any of the parties, which would be counter-productive and likely lead to nuclear war;
2. Call on all parties to refrain from militaristic rhetoric and provocative military exercises;
3. Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to consider the phased and comprehensive approach for a North-East Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone with a 3+3 arrangement[1], which already has cross-party support in Japan and South Korea and interest from the North Korean government;
4. Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to also consider options and modalities for turning the 1953 Armistice Agreement into a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War;
5. Welcome the call of the UN Secretary-General for a resumption of Six-Party talks and his offer to assist in negotiations;
6. Welcome also the offer of the European Union to assist in diplomatic negotiations, as they did successfully in the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program;
7. Call on the United Nations Security Council to prioritise a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
[1] The 3+3 arrangement would include Japan, South Korea and North Korea agreeing not to possess or host nuclear weapons, and would require China, Russia and the USA agreeing not to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan, South Korea or North Korea, nor to attack or threaten to attack them with nuclear weapons.
Endorsers:
Organisations....
Individuals.....
Organisations....
Individuals.....
.
Thursday, 17 August 2017
Youth PoWR 2017 'Light in Dark Times'
From Nivy at United Religions Initiative (URI), Melbourne
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Dear friends,
Please see invitation below for the upcoming Youth Parliament of the World's Religions event taking place this Sunday in SYDNEY!
I am hoping to be there myself - and I do know Anne Lanyon of our CC, Faith Ecology Network will be in attendance, as will a long time youth interfaith friend of mine Parviz Deamer who works for the Office of External Affairs for the Australian Baha'i Community.
If you can make it along it will well be worth your time!
Kind wishes
Nivy
Nivy Balachandran
Regional Coordinator, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.
Phone: +61 433 238 406 | Skype: nivy.bala | www.uri.org
Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.
Phone: +61 433 238 406 | Skype: nivy.bala | www.uri.org
From: Deamer, Parviz <Parviz.Deamer@bnc.bahai.org.a
Date: Thu, Aug 17, 2017 at 3:48 PM
Subject: Youth PoWR 2017 "Light in Dark Times"
To: "," <nivy@uri.org>
Date: Thu, Aug 17, 2017 at 3:48 PM
Subject: Youth PoWR 2017 "Light in Dark Times"
To: "," <nivy@uri.org>
Dear Nivy,
I wanted to let you know more formally about the Youth PoWR 2017 'Light in Dark Times' event, which is an interfaith gathering for youth all over Sydney and NSW to engage in dialogue about their contribution to building a better society. This is by far the biggest interfaith youth gathering in Sydney, open to youth aged 18-35 yrs. Over 400 youth across all major faith traditions attended last years gathering.
We'd like to extend an invitation to yourself and any members of the URI network who may be able to attend, especially those that live in Sydney and the surrounding areas. We hope that you've be comfortable sharing this invitation with them.
This event is taking place this Sunday, the 20th of August. Details are below:
This link is a 40s video ad that sets the scene:
This is the facebook event link where one can find out all the details:
This is the event registration link:
There's also a free vegetarian (and vegan) dinner provided towards the end. And, in addition to the interfaith group work and dialogue, there'll be a live band, martial arts demonstrations, and some inspiring speakers from youth across all faith traditions.
Please spread word of this event among the young men and women connected to URI, and all other young people who would be inspired by this event's essential message of religious/cultural unity and youth empowerment.
For more details, do not hesitate to contact James Wood on jameswd85@gmail.com or 0424292344. He is representing the Baha'i youth on the organizing committee for Youth PoWR this year. You are also more than welcome to contact me directly if you prefer. We would dearly like to see our some of our URI brothers and sisters join with others in force to make the voice of youth heard this Sunday.
Kind Regards,
Parviz Deamer
Office of External Affairs
Australian Baha'i Community
Friday, 11 August 2017
Music for a Warming World - an event of Melbourne's Greenfaith-ARRCC
| 10 August  | | ||
Dear friends,
Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.
Check out the event below for one of our fellow CCs Greenfaith
"Music for a Warming World", taking place on 13 August 2017 in Melbourne.
Thanks Jonathan and Andrea
for sharing this with us and for inviting us along.
Do get a long and check it out,
and please share with your networks!
(Please email me if you have events you'd like to share with the URI network).
Kind wishes
Nivy
Nivy Balachandran
Regional Coordinator, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.
Phone: +61 433 238 406 | Skype: nivy.bala | www.uri.org
Wednesday, 19 July 2017
From Nivy Balachandran of United Religions Initiative (URI) - how one interfaith organisation operates on the ground
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Good morning, URI Family,
Two weeks ago I completed an exchange with Sari Heidenreich - the Regional Co-ordinator for URI's North America Region. I flew from Melbourne to Philadelphia, where we began a 9-day road trip visiting URI CCs and like-minded interfaith organizations across the northeast US! Ours was a listening tour where we met with grassroots peacebuilders, large national interfaith centres and organisations, went to the United Nations, and so much more. As the Balachandran is the Regional Coordinator for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific - I have come away from this experience full of ideas and inspiration as to how best to serve you as my co-operation circles, and as URI partners. Sari and I learned so much from the Cooperation Circles and organizations we visited and from each other!
We invite you to take this journey with us by watching the video below and or reading our photo essay from the trip. These are being hosted on the URI North America website, so while you're there do take a moment to take a look at it.
Please go here to see more pix and read more of Nivy's wonderful road trip.
The work of URI is extensive and varied.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these groups or the programs they run, I'd love to answer questions or make connections!
Thank you all for your interest and support and I look forward to being in touch with you all soon.
Kind wishes
Nivy
| ||||
Nivy Balachandran
Regional Coordinator, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
Phone: +61 433 238 406
Skype: nivy.bala
Thursday, 11 February 2016
CULTURAL INFUSION and UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE IN AUSTRALIA CO-OPERATE IN PRESENTING AN AFTERNOON TO CONSIDER PEACE, FAITH AND SOLVING CONFLICT
Peace, Faith and Solving Conflict: Cultural Infusion
From February 20, 2016 17:03 until February 20, 2017 20:00
Cultural Infusion in conjunction with United Religions Initiative invites you to:
Peace, Faith and Solving Conflict
Date: Saturday 20 February 2016 Time: 5:02pm
Location: Cultural Infusion Centre, Collingwood College Theatre (entrance from Campbell street), 49 Vere St. Collingwood, VIC 3066 AU
Cultural Infusion’s Culture Talks are free events that present great speakers and new ideas on the broad topic of Australia’s cultural life. Each Culture Talk features prominent speakers discussing their field of expertise, followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Sometimes funny, sometimes controversial, and always thought-provoking, the Culture Talk series aims to explore the importance of culture and its effect on the world.
Guest Speakers:
- Rev. Victor Kazanjian (Global Director United Religions Initiative): Rev. Victor H. Kazanijian, Jr. is the Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative (URI). His work at Wellesley College in the United States is widely recognised as the catalyst in the movement to include religion and spirituality as core issues in higher education. With decades of experience in community organising around the world, Victor specialises in interfaith dialogue, conflict transformation and peace building, and holds a Master of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Harvard University.
- Prof. Gary Bouma (UNESCO): Professor Bouma holds the UNESCO Chair in Intercultural and Inter-religious Relations – Asia Pacific, and is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Monash University. He works to promote communication and respect between religious communities. His research in the sociology of religion examines religious diversity in multicultural societies as a content for religion and public policy.
Refreshments provided.
Cultural Infusion is a social enterprise that works with schools, youth, and the arts to promote cultural harmony for a more cohesive and richer society. Cultural Infusion believes that culture is an enabler and driver of sustainability and quality education, an eradicator of poverty and a key to social cohesion and inclusion.
Cultural Infusion achieves its goals through the delivery of a range of sustainable arts and engagement programs including a range of innovative digital interactive media targeted to schools, youth and communities. Cultural Infusion has delivered a range of creative services, products and ongoing programs to Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cambodia, Egypt, India, US, South Africa, China, Pakistan, the UK, the Philippines, Portugal and throughout Australia. Cultural Infusion has been a winner of more than 15 international awards including the United Nations Alliance of Civilization Intercultural Innovation Award (UNAoC) and developed the winning slogan “Diversified We Grow” for the UNAoC “Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusiveness” campaign. Cultural Infusion has produced intercultural experiences at major events for organisations such as the United Nations, Commonwealth Games and the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Headquartered in San Francisco, the United Religions Initiative (URI) is the world’s largest grassroots interfaith peacebuilding network comprised of over 700 member organisations operating in 92 countries. URI brings people of different faiths and cultures together to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing. URI members work to transcend religious and cultural differences to create inclusive, on the ground solutions to critical issues facing their communities and in Australia work to foster cross-cultural understanding through the arts, education, and interfaith dialogue.
Thursday, 19 June 2014
World Peace and Prayer Days - 19 to 22 June 2014
From Global Indigenous Initiative:
World Peace and Prayer Days take place June 19 - 22, 2014, with a globally synchronized meditation with communities around the planet. GII's#HiddenSeeds supports this beautiful tapestry of people, worldwide, coming together in a spirit of unity and love for Source, the planet and one another.
Visit #Unify (http://unify.org/) for more information about the globally synchronized meditation. And, read this great article, "Honoring Sacred Sites, World Peace and Prayer Day" by Jacob Devaney:http://huff.to/1lDfky7
World Peace and Prayer Days take place June 19 - 22, 2014, with a globally synchronized meditation with communities around the planet. GII's#HiddenSeeds supports this beautiful tapestry of people, worldwide, coming together in a spirit of unity and love for Source, the planet and one another.
Visit #Unify (http://unify.org/) for more information about the globally synchronized meditation. And, read this great article, "Honoring Sacred Sites, World Peace and Prayer Day" by Jacob Devaney:http://huff.to/1lDfky7
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
You. Are. I. - from United Religions Initiative (URI)
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Saturday, 8 February 2014
United Religions Initiative Interfaith Gathering with Cultural Infusion and The Interfaith Network of the City of Grater Dandenong - 16 February 2014
Cultural Infusion cordially invites you to the:
United Religions Initiative Interfaith Gathering
Date: Sunday, 16 February 2014 Time: 3pm-6pm
Location: 18-34 Buckley St, Noble Park 3174
Leaders from the United Religions Initiative (URI), a global grassroots interfaith peacebuilding organisation with affiliates in Australia, will visit Melbourne February 14 – 17 and will take part in an interfaith gathering hosted by The Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong on the 16th of February at 3pm.
Leaders from the United Religions Initiative (URI), a global grassroots interfaith peacebuilding organisation with affiliates in Australia, will visit Melbourne February 14 – 17 and will take part in an interfaith gathering hosted by The Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong on the 16th of February at 3pm.
Kiran Bali, the Global Council Chair of the URI, and Victor Kazanjian, Executive Director of the URI, will attend the interfaith gathering and speak on such themes as:
- The importance of intercultural and inter-religious co-operation
- Building interconnected communities committed to respect diversity
- The nonviolent resolution of conflict
- Fostering social, political, economic and environmental justice
Bali and Kazanjian will also visit local organisations affiliated with the URI and meet with local leaders.
This visit is part of a global tour in which Kazanjian, recently appointed Executive Director, is meeting with URI staff and volunteers, and interfaith leaders.
Light Refreshments Provided
RSVP: Cameron Magusic Phone: (+61 3) 9412 6666 Email: ci-admin5@culturalinfusion.
RSVP: Cameron Magusic Phone: (+61 3) 9412 6666 Email: ci-admin5@culturalinfusion.
by Tuesday 11th February (Limited Seats)
Proudly Supported by: United Religions Initiative (URI), Cultural Infusion, & The Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong
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