March Letter from the URI Executive Director
March 15th, 2003 by sfuqua
All over the world, people are calling for a future beyond the destructive cycles of violence that plague humanity. All over the world, members of URI’s network of 200 Cooperation Circles are acting to make that future a reality now.
March 1, 2003
Dear Friends of the URI,
Greetings of love and peace.
All over the world, people are calling for a future beyond the destructive cycles of violence that plague humanity. All over the world, members of URI’s network of 200 Cooperation Circles are acting to make that future a reality now.
On February 20, in Multan, Pakistan, in an event co-sponsored by the URI in Pakistan, 150 Muslims, Hindus and Christians planted the first peace pole in Southern Punjab. The pole, one of more than 200,000 planted around the world through the work of the World Peace Prayer Society, carried the simple message, “May Peace Prevail On Earth”, in English, Urdu, Arabic and Italian. The peace pole planting was preceded by an interfaith peace procession and followed by a conference where leaders of different faiths spoke passionately of the need to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Iraq. In a part of the world rife with religiously motivated violence, these events were a courageous statement, backed up by action, that religion should be a force for peace, justice and healing.
On the same day, the URI at the United Nations Cooperation Circle was hosting the second of two gatherings, at the Church Center for the United Nations, focused on ?The United Nations as an Instrument of Non-Violence?. Rev. Deborah Moldow, convenor of the URI UN CC and director of the World Peace Prayer Society, shared with the group a greeting from Fr. James Channan, URI Global Council member in Pakistan. At the gathering in Multan, Fr. Channan shared a greeting from Rev. Moldow. An infrastructure of peace across a world plagued by violence.
The Peacemakers CC in Manila, Philippines has been tireless in its peacebuilding workshops and interfaith prayer vigils. On February 21, its members were stunned by news of a massacre in Tubod village in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte. In an act of religiously motivated violence, two gunmen killed 16 people, wounded at least 10 more and burned five houses to the ground. Six children were among those killed, including an infant and a seven-year-old boy.
Marites Africa, convenor of the Peacemakers CC and coordinator of URI in the Pacific, shared news of this tragedy and her feelings with the URI global community:
The forces of darkness, fueled by our anger and our fears, are making their presence known in no uncertain terms… . Many of our brothers and sisters are living in fear, in abject poverty and uncertainty, many are hurting and dying. Where is our sanity and our humanity there? In the midst of all the violence and bloodshed, is it possible to look towards the future with some sense of dignity and hope?
Two days later, after having received messages from her URI sisters and brothers around the world, Marites reflected:
It is comforting to hear from friends near and far, and to know that we are not alone in our human struggles. The sense of kinship with our dear friends from around our global URI community is strong. This is a source of inspiration to me and to many others out here in our circle. These are trying times and we face tremendous challenges to peace. But these challenges are teaching us to love more and to value what is truly good and beautiful about our human spirit. I am glad that we are all in this difficult journey together
Yes, the journey is difficult. But the path is lighted by the work of these three and all of URI’s network of CCs. Join us in creating cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings. One seed at a time, one day at a time, we can change the world.
Love,
Charles Gibbs
