Dear Colleagues,
Greetings of peace from URI Africa. Recently I represented United Religions Initiative at the 12th annual World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations” under the theme “Preventing World War through Global Solidarity – 100 years on.” It was held in Rhodes, the ancient Greek Island from September 25th to 28th. Four hundred delegates from 60 countries took part in the forum.
The forum addresses the following issues in the format of plenary sessions, panels and workshops:
- The legacies and lessons of World War I and World War II
- Culture of Non-violence
- Youth in Disputed Zones: How to avoid Possible Conflicts
- Mass Media and Social Media
- Intercultural Dialogue
- Promotion of the solidarity of cultures as the needed premise for world order and social well-being
- The problem of externally engineered modes of "regime change" as a threat to the stability and development of global humanity
- Education as a means to promote the peaceful settlement of inter-faith, inter-cultural and inter-ethnic tensions
- Projects fostering solidarity in the fields of economic development and regional cooperation and integration
- Policies designed to protect the natural environment as well as the "spiritual wealth" of the peoples of this world
The World Public Forum’s "Dialogue of Civilizations" is a deliberative-consultative body that unites as a single network of various international and national Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), representatives of public and state institutions, civil society organizations and faith-based groups, academics, representatives of cultural, spiritual, business, and media spheres from different countries, members of diverse civilizations and cultural traditions, and individuals who share the principles of openness and mutual respect forms the basis of the contemporary dialogue of civilizations.
The main goals of the Forum are to unite the efforts of the global community to protect the spiritual and cultural values of humankind and to create a space for constructive dialogue among the major civilizations of the modern world. The work of the Forum is aimed at defining, developing and promoting dialogue, and introducing the spirit of cooperation and understanding into everyday life.
The World Public Forum seeks to create effective and democratic instruments to solve global problems and set into motion evolutionary changes in the structure of modern society. The Forum also aims to protect and promote the co-existence of diverse ideas and combine liberal standards with humanitarian values.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
In peace and gratitude,
Mussie Hailu
URI Africa Regional Coordinator
