Dear All:
In speaking about the burning of the Holy Quran and the reaction to this outrageous act, The Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director of the United Religions Initiative expressed the belief “that these times call for us to expand the impact and visibility of our work.” Telling stories about real people and progress in interfaith and inter-cultural activities, the Week of Global Interreligious Dialogue is a platform for people and organizations to tell their stories of our interconnectedness and the power of working together.
Expanding the impact and visibility of our work happens through the media. It happens through a global event of celebration based on local participation and collaboration.
2011 marks the Ninth Annual Week of Global Interreligious Dialogue. During the week of September 15-21, individuals and organizations around the world are encouraged to share their religious, spiritual, and cultural values and traditions in celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace: “…a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities.” In previous years the Week of Global Interreligious Dialogue has been celebrated in communities in Iran, India, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Mozambique, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Australia, Taiwan, Finland, the Philippines, the UK, and the United States.
The Week of Global Interreligious Dialogue creates occasions for dialogue and for the sharing our cultural uniqueness through music, art and food. Our gathering of communities builds a critical mass of positive energy and unity to facilitate a greater understanding of our own interconnectedness, our interconnectedness with the Earth, and of our responsibility for each other. These local events need not be elaborate or formal as the purpose is to bring people together to share common values and traditions, and to work toward a more peaceful and cooperative future by initiating projects to serve local communities.
Global Family for Love and Peace will share information on its website about these events and the United Nations International Day of Peace.
The Week of Global Interreligious Dialogue is organized by:
o Global Family for Love and Peace
o United Religions Initiative at the United Nations
o The Indigenous Culture and Education Center
o Lalitamba Mandiram
o The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors
The Week of Global Interreligious Dialogue is also a leading annual participant in 11 Days of Global Unity September 11-21, an annual worldwide promotion of peace, justice, sustainability and transformation that culminates on September 21st, the U.N. International Day of Peace, and partners with The We Campaign and the NGO Planning Committee for the International Day of Peace.
For suggested guidelines for the week, click here.
Please join and participate with all of URI's Cooperation Circles.
Blessings, Laurence
Global Family for Love and Peace
