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From a Battlefield to an Arena of Reconciliation and Relationship
The World of Diplomacy Addresses Interreligion
Report – International Interfaith Gatherings in Vienna
In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were also a religious occasion and accompanied by a 100 days truce midst any warfare. Today some faith groups have observed 100 days of prayer for peace and that the Games would foster international friendship.
The European Council of Religious Leaders met recently in Sarajevo and have reflected on inclusive citizenship, and issued a statement on living together in diversity and harmony.
Geneva: A consultation on world peace and human security was convened by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva on Feb. 9. The event preceded a two-day committee meeting charged with following up the report and recommendations of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, which brought 1,000 participants to Kingston, Jamaica in May 2011.
St Martin in the Fields in London’s Trafalgar Square was full on July 24th for a special evening service which marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the World Congress of Faiths. The venue was particularly appropriate as the memorial service for Sir Francis Younghusband – the founder of WCF – which was held there in 1942, and included tributes from people of different faiths, in what The Church Times described as a ‘rather improper performance.’
from URI-Europe
The conference Words Matter (Stop Hate) was held on Friday, November 18, 2016, at City College in Coventry, UK. This conference was initiated for a reason; following the UK EU referendum to leave the EU, there has been an increase in hate speech and crime. Especially amongst young people, there has been an increase of online hate speech and an increase of tension in and between communities, thus harming the region’s harmony and prosperity.