Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

“We practice healing and reconciliation to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.” - URI Principle 9
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

URI Cooperation Circles work at every level, from influencing policymakers to providing training at the grassroots, to build peace, heal existing tensions, and prevent new conflicts.

Examples of our work in this Action Area:

  • EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East CC gathered Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians to join their voices in calling for cooperative restoration efforts in the Jordan River.
  • In Africa, Shalom Ghana CC ended a 10-year feud between Christians and Muslims by getting youth from both sides together to plant trees the village badly needed.
  • After an increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in California, USA, the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County CC co-sponsored a "Ring of Solidarity" where over 200 people joined hands around a mosque to show community support for their Muslim neighbors.
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Stories

Tubalar celebrations

Europe
Community Building
Indigenous Peoples
Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

Altaian ethnic groups have gone through, what can be called “ clinic death” in the XXth century, nowadays it is the time of “recovering” which is not an easy process. “Progress of humanity can not be led by incidents, the Creator have no “small deeds or small people”, for everything in the life serves to the Big”-says the Eastern Wisdom. In the course of Altaian history the biggest syoks(tribes) have become more vivid, while some small of them have almost been erased out of the people’s memory towards the end of the XXth century, so we see a great spiritual potential for Tubalars in the words of the Eastern Wisdom. The time of the revival of Tubalar consciousness, has come; they should become recognized as a respected, knowledgeable syok within sacred Altai and within a big World Nation of People.

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Interfaith in Pakistan: URI Regional Coordinator Father James Channan Speaks Out for Unity Made Visible

Asia
Community Building
Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

“We have 9/11 every day in Pakistan,” said Fr. James Channan, Regional Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative (URI) in Pakistan, speaking on “Interfaith in Pakistan” at the Chapel at Croton Falls on Sunday, July 10, 2011. He explained that more than 35,000 people in his country have been killed by terrorists, making ordinary life very unsafe. There are now guards outside of mosques and churches. And it was a particular shock when Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who had been appointed Federal Minister for Minorities, was assassinated in March 2011 for his stance on the blasphemy laws often used as an excuse for persecution. Fr. Channan believes that ignorance is the root cause of terrorism and thus education is the real key to a brighter future.

Stopping the Islamization of Europe?

Europe
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation
Policy Advocacy
Indigenous Peoples

In the 17th century, the logical conclusion to interreligious conflict was holy war. A handful of extremists would argue for that conclusion today. But for most of us, violence in the name of God, any God, is not an answer, it is a blasphemy. But if the point is not to take up arms in the cause of exclusive righteousness, then what can people do to cope with the very real changes happening in their communities?

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URI's Mussie Hailu to speak at international interfaith conference on the Golden Rule

North America
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

We have all heard the phrase: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” With roots in most religions and cultures, the Golden Rule has become a basic concept in modern human rights work. It is also the passion of URI Regional Director for Africa, Ambassador Mussie Hailu, who will travel from Ethiopia to Phoenix, Arizona later this month for the North American Interfaith Network Conference (NAIN Connect 2011). A keynote speaker, he will address the theme, "Many People, Many Faiths, One Common Principle – The Golden Rule." 

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URI Asia Executive Council attends URI Korea Youth Leadership Peace Camp

Asia
Youth
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

For the past four years, URI Korea has organized a Youth Leadership Peace Camp in partnership with the Korea Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This year the Peace Camp took place June 24-26 in Seoul. Dr. Abraham Karickam and Dr. Hira Paul Gagnegi, URI Coordinators from India, and Father James Channan, URI Coordinator from Pakistan, who are members of the URI Asia Executive Council, joined the Ven. Dr. Jinwol Lee and the young adults attending the Peace Camp this year. In addition to sharing their perspectives on interfaith work, they joined in youth activities and took this opportunity to develop plans and programs to sustain and develop URI across the Asia region.