News – Page 132 – Religions for Peace Australia

Faith actors call for global solidarity

June 21, 2019 by Admin

immigrants

Religions for Peace was among 25 signatories on a statement released by the UN Refugee Agency entitled “Faith Actors call for Global Solidarity.” The statement was released on World Refugee Day, observed on 20 June.

“The diversity of origins and traditions which make humanity unique are being targeted by intolerance, sometimes by brutal violence, and refugees are often on the front line of this assault,” reads the statement. “Based on their religious teachings, as well as on the experience that some of their communities have of being targeted themselves, faith-based actors seek to address xenophobia as one of their special responsibilities.”

The number of displaced people in the world has eclipsed 70 million. Social media campaigns, including #RefugeeForum and #StepWithRefugees also supported solidarity with refugees.

G20 Interfaith Forum

June 17, 2019 by Admin

G20 Interfaith Forum Logo The final day of the forum sought to transform discussion into focused results and recommendations. Following a morning dialogue session, the two plenary sessions, “Ideas to Action” and “Towards 2020,” featured distinguished speakers who proposed recommendations for the G20 Summit, as well as ideas for the 2020 forum.

The Charter of Makkah

July 16, 2019June 16, 2019 by Admin

The “Charter of Makkah” calls on the world to fight terrorism, injustice and oppression, stating that the duty of all is to refuse the exploitation of people and violation of human rights.

Pope Francis backs carbon pricing and ‘radical energy transition’ to act against global warming

June 15, 2019 by Admin

Protesters - Listen to the Pope

Pope Francis says that carbon pricing is “essential” to stem global warming — his clearest statement yet in support of penalising polluters — and appealed to climate change deniers to listen to science.

In an address to energy executives at the end of a two-day meeting, he also called for “open, transparent, science-based and standardised” reporting of climate risk and a “radical energy transition” away from carbon to save the planet.

Pope warns oil bosses of climate threat

June 15, 2019 by Admin

The Pope has told oil company bosses that climate change threatens the future of the “human family”. The oil executives had been invited to the Vatican in Rome for an audience with the pontiff. Pope Francis said a radical energy transition is needed to save what he called “our common home“.

Statement of the African Council of Religious Leaders on the Excessive Use of Force on Protesters in Sudan

June 9, 2019 by Admin

Nairobi, Kenya – 7th June 2019 – The African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace (ACRL-RfP) strongly condemns the violent response of the Transitional Military Council to the ongoing peaceful protests on the streets of Khartoum. The recent use of brutal force to disperse peaceful protesters by unarmed civilians in Khartoum, Sudan are indeed shocking and tragic.

UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief

July 13, 2019May 31, 2019 by Admin

UN General Assembly Logo The U.N. General Assembly has adopted a resolution designating August 22 as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The resolution expresses concern at “continuing acts of intolerance and violence based on religion or belief against individuals, including against persons belonging to religious communities and minorities”.

Buddhism: When Teachers Don’t Practice What They Preach

May 31, 2019 by Admin

sketch of buddhist monk crossing fingers Question: Some Buddhist teachers’ lives don’t match what they teach. Usually it’s ordinary human faults, but in some cases they’ve done really bad things. How do I evaluate a dharma teacher—by their teachings, which I’ve benefitted from, or by the way they lead their lives?

Concern and Solidarity for West Papua: The World Council of Churches Executive Committee Statement

May 28, 2019 by Admin

World Council of Churches

The World Council of Churches Executive Committee issued a statement on 23 May expressing concern and solidarity for the people of West Papua who are facing violence and human rights violations.

In February of 2019, 23 members of an ecumenical Pilgrim Team visited four separate locations in West Papua in what is believed to be the first time that such a large and diverse international delegation has visited the territory since its integration into Indonesia in 1969. Observations by the Pilgrim Team indicate persistently high levels of violence and human rights violations, including recently in the Nduga Regency resulting in the displacement of many people from remote communities in this Highlands Region.

Pope names new head of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

May 26, 2019 by Admin

Pope Francis appoints 66-year-old Spanish Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot as the new President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. This appointment fills the Presidential vacancy since the passing of Cardinal Tauran in 2018.

Call for Applications: Interfaith Fellowship Program

May 26, 2019 by Admin

Interfaith Fellowship Program As part of the European Union-funded project “Southeast Asia: Advancing Inter-Religious Dialogue and Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)”, The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers is seeking peace action-orientated Interfaith Fellows to advance a growing body of interfaith peacebuilding work in South and Southeast Asia. The project is being implemented in consortium with Finn Church Aid, Sathirakoses Nagapradipa Foundation, World Faiths Development Dialogue, Islamic Relief Worldwide and World Conference of Religions for Peace.

Extremists Won’t Hinder Interfaith Dialogue

July 12, 2019May 23, 2019 by Admin

Interfaith dialogue is a necessity in our age. In a world suffering from armed conflicts, diplomatic standoffs and trade wars, cooperative and constructive interaction between people of different religious traditions is fundamental to solidifying peace and stability, and stemming racism, xenophobia, radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism.