|
The Elders in the Middle East
Peace in the Middle East is fundamental to international stability and development. The Elders, an international group of statesmen, wants to show visually the huge support that exists around the world for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. The Elders have travelled to the region to listen to the concerns of all sides and to offer their support to those working for peace. As an independent group, they hope that by directly interacting with ordinary people affected by the conflict and supporting those working for peace and reconciliation at the grassroots, they can help to connect the concerns of the people with the diplomatic process. To learn more and to send your own “message of peace,” visit http://www.theelders.org/middle-east for background and blog. Click here http://www.theelders.org/ to view the video of the Elders’ webcast “Connecting the Elders, Palestinians and Israelis: 28th August 2009, Jerusalem - Ramallah - Tel Aviv – Gaza.”
|
|
Although we will recommend you to look at the websites mentioned above we can not take any responsibility for external sites.
|
|
The election of the first-ever fascist representatives to a major parliament from Britain following the European Elections has sent a shock wave through our society. Almost one million people in the UK voted for an openly racist party, which bans non-whites from membership, has called for an “all-white Britain”, and whose leader Nick Griffin has been convicted of Holocaust denial. A racist and fascist political party, the British National Party, has recorded record levels of electoral success for a fascist party in Britain – with two MEPs and almost 60 local councillors. What would our record shops look like if the racists got their way? The fascist British National Party wants to see an "all white Britain" and wants to eliminate black and Asian people from this country. Here's a glimpse of the sort of life the Neo-Nazis are trying to force on us. The Love Music Hate Racism campaign shows that every vote can count and can help stop racism and division within our society. Learn how you can help at http://www.lovemusichateracism.com |
|
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
To learn more about this initiative and to sign in affirmation, click here. |