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Global Newsletter In the Network SYRIA | Religions for Peace (RfP) Calls for Increased Prayers and Multi- religious Action to End Syrian Bloodshed 16 January 2014 In response to the growing humanitarian crisis resulting from the civil war in Syria, RfP the world's largest multi-faith coalition, is calling for increased prayers and an immediate cease-fire to end the suffering of the Syrian people. In a letter to RfP members around the world, Dr. William Vendley [Secretary General of RfP] said it is imperative "to pray urgently -in accord with your own tradition-for our Brothers and Sisters in Syria. The agony of the Syrian people suffering an unbearable civil war and humanitarian crisis must cease." It would help if all religious believers re-doubled their prayers for Peace. Dr. Vendley's statement comes as world political leaders plan to convene Geneva 2 peace talks next week, following a major United Nations conference in Kuwait on Wednesday calling for increased humanitarian aid to Syria. Earlier this week, (13 January) Dr. Vendley joined with 17 senior religious, political and academic leaders at the Vatican to search for an end of the Syrian violence in a conference titled: "Syria: With a Death Toll of 126,000 and 300,000 Orphans of War, Can We Remain Indifferent?" The Vatican statement called for an immediate cease-fire without political preconditions, an end to the arming of both sides by "foreign powers" and for charting "an urgent path to reconciliation and reconstruction." On Thursday, Dr. Vendley met with leaders of the World Council of Churches as it convened its member churches to address the Syrian crisis. Dr. Vendley noted that many Muslims throughout the world and in Syria are also calling for an immediate resolution to the crisis. Dr. Vendley also called for multi-religious action for peace. "The international political negotiations for peace must also be accompanied by multi-religious efforts to advance peace. This is why Religions for Peace is working to support Syrian religious leaders in their efforts to build an action oriented Syrian Inter-religious Council." UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK| World Religious Leaders Unite to Counter Rising Tide of Global Violence 12 February 2014 World religious leaders today called for religious believers of the Earth to unite against the increasing misuse of religion by extremists for hostile and violent purposes. The conference, titled "World Interfaith Harmony: Vital for Peace and Development, was co- sponsored with the United Nations Alliance of Civilization (AOC). "The harsh fact is that turmoil exists in a number of countries around the world," stated H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, who delivered a keynote speech for the third annual observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week. "Radical notions embodying a distorted perspective of religion often fuel acts of violence. But why? The idea that religion could be used to justify violence is a contradiction in itself." Dr. William F. Vendley, President of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, which co-sponsored the event said in his speech, "Today, we need to acknowledge that religion- related hostilities, harassment, intimidation and abuse proliferate." However, Dr. Vendley, Secretary General RfP, the world's largest and most representative multi- religious coalition, called interfaith harmony "perhaps the most powerful antidote to the rising tide of social hostility." The conference was held in the wake of a new and alarming report issued by the Pew Research Center, which found that the number of countries with religion-related terrorist violence has doubled over the past six years. "We religious believers must, first of all, acknowledge that our traditions are all too often being abused by extremists," said Dr. Vendley. "Then, standing together across all religious differences, we must reject this abuse." However, world religion leaders and experts said there is hope on the horizon. Dr. Brian Grim, author of the Pew report and President of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation in Washington, D.C., said that his studies show that where respect for religious freedom and diversity flourish, so do economies and societies. "The new promising players on the field are businesses, because it is in their interest -where religious freedom grows, so does business." Religious leaders cited cases to show that building positive interfaith dialogue has helped build trust and resolve conflicts around the world, including Sierra Leone, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Regarding the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Dr. Vendley said that "cooperation among Syria's religious communities will be utterly essential for both the cessation of violence and the long, hard road of reconciliation." The conference featured musical performances, and representatives of the other major world faiths, including, Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Indigenous, Jewish, Muslim and Zoroastrian, offered sacred prayers from their own traditions. Expert panels discussed "Transforming Conflict and Building Peace through Interfaith and Inter-cultural Harmony," and "Social Cohesion: Key to Promoting Sustainable Development." The United Nations proclaimed World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2010 to enhance mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue as a means to promote harmony among all people, regardless of their faith. This marked the third annual observance, which is held in February. Dr. Vendley said that every attack in the name of religion around the world is amplified in the media, sending out a "polarizing wave, fueling the rise in hostility." "How can we bring light to this sinkhole of darkness?” he asked. "The answer is welcoming the other into interfaith harmony." Officers of the Committee of Religious NGOS at the UN include Vice Presidents, Dr. C.J. Willie, Sisters of Charity Federation and Mr. Carl Murrell, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States; Treasurer, Rev. Doyeon Park, Won Buddhist International; Secretary, Ms. Elizabeth Begley, Pax Christi; At Large members: Rev. Farida Ali, All Pakistan Women's Association [Honorary President of RfP]; Rev. Doug Hostetter, Mennonite Central Committee; Dr. Jafar Jawad, Al-Hakim Foundation; Ms. Gloria Landy, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism; Swami Parameshananda, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, ex-Officio, Ms. Monica Ward, United Religions Initiative and Rev. Dionne P. Boissière, Chaplain of the Church Center for the UN. New York, New York | Religious Freedom Day Observance at the US Mission to the United Nations 16 January 2014 Religious Freedom Day was celebrated at the United States Mission to the United Nations. Co-sponsoring the event was the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, which Dr. William Vendley [Secretary General of RfP] serves as its current President. The celebration was shaped as a panel discussion on The Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion: Religions Respond. The panel moderator was The Very Reverend Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations, Orthodox Church in America; [Moderator Emeritus of RfP and Honorary President of RfP] Past President of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and Moderator Emeritus of Christian Churches Together in the USA. The program and panelists were introduced on behalf of the United States Mission by Teri L. Robl, Minister/ Counsellor and the Deputy Representative of the Economic and Social Council of the Mission, who offered a brief substantive reflection on religious freedom. On behalf of the Religion and Public Life Project of the Pew Research Center, Dr. Brian Grim gave an overview of the data on the daunting challenges in the protection of religious freedom around the world. This succinct and revealing report showed that politics and political culture, as well as religions themselves, are actors in expressing hostility to religious communities. The panel members participating in the discussion were: The Reverend Chloe Breyer, Executive Director, Interfaith Center of New York; Imam Khalid Latiaf, Executive Director, Islamic Center at New York University; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President, New York Board of Rabbis; and The Reverend Dr. Elias D. Mallon, Catholic Near East Welfare Association. The panelists brought to bear in the discussion the experiences of their faith communities with regard to tolerance and respect, at times witnessing to suffering, at times witnessing to the responsibility religious communities have for opposing and preventing hostility and discrimination in their societies, at times witnessing to the grievous reality that faith communities are sometimes contributing to hostility and discrimination. Dr. William Vendley initially scheduled to moderate the January 16 panel, was absent due to his participation in meetings on the Syria crisis convened in Rome by the Vatican and in Geneva by the World Council of Churches. Some 170 persons were registered for the Religious Freedom Day Observance at the United States Mission to the United Nations, filling the auditorium to capacity. The program was organized and coordinated by Ms. Peggy Kerry, NGO Liaison at the United States Mission. To mark Religious Freedom Day 2014, H.E. Barack Obama, President of the United States, issued a Proclamation; H.E. John Kerry, Secretary of State, and Ambassador Samantha Power, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, issued statements. TOKYO, JAPAN