Dear Fellow World Citizens,
It is indeed my great honor and pleasure to send you greetings of peace and best wishes on behalf of Interfaith Peace-building Initiative (IPI) and United Religions Initiative (URI) Africa Region on Golden Rule Day, celebrated annually on April 5th.
The Golden Rule, which says “treat others the way you want to be treated” is the most prevalent and universal moral principle accepted and embraced throughout the world. For thousands of years it has been affirmed by many religions, traditions, indigenous cultures and secular philosophies as a fundamental principle of life and the foundation on which a global ethic is founded. Its message is simple, universal and powerful.
The Golden Rule is also the best tool to educate people about respect, in order to achieve peaceful coexistence and solidarity among members of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions. It plays a major role in building right relationships and promoting a culture of dialogue so that understanding and trust may develop among individuals and peoples, as these are the conditions of authentic peace.
Because of this strong core belief, in 2007, IPI proclaimed April 5th as Golden Rule Day and called upon the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, heads of states, religious leaders, mayors, higher learning institutions, schools, businesses, interfaith organizations and civil societies to join us in proclaiming the Golden Rule Day and to live according to its teaching to make this world a better place for this generation and generation yet to come. In response to this call, religious leaders, mayors and different organizations in over 90 countries joined us in proclaiming the Golden Rule Day and many organizations are joining us on a daily basis. Currently we are working for the Golden Rule Day to be celebrated throughout the world and for the General Assembly of the United Nations to pass a resolution on the Golden Rule Day.
Every year IPI also honors individuals or organizations as Goodwill Ambassadors of the Golden Rule, presenting them with the Golden Rule Medal.
We strongly believe that the Golden Rule will bring world interfaith harmony; build more trust, understanding, harmony and respect among followers of different religions; and create the opportunity for them to come together to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrust among peoples of different religions.
Therefore on the occasion of the Golden Rule Day, we ask you to proclaim the Golden Rule Day and to promote its teaching as one practical action to create a better world for all.
On this Golden Rule Day I want to extend my appreciation, acknowledgment and thanks to all individuals and many organizations in the world who are working hard to promote the Golden Rule, Compassion, Interfaith harmony and a culture of peace. Karen Armstrong, the noted religious scholar and founder of the Charter for Compassion, is among those who have been named Goodwill Ambassador of the Golden Rule.
IPI, a URI member organization, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and works to promote the teaching of the Golden Rule and a culture of peace, interfaith harmony, and constructive dialogue among different religions and cultures. URI is a global interfaith peace organization with special consultative status with Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Its purpose is 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.
May Peace and Golden Rule Prevail on Earth.
Ambassador Mussie Hailu
