US State Dept. International Religious Freedom Report for 2011
The report focuses special attention on key trends such as the impact of political and demographic transitions on religious minorities, who tended to suffer the most in 2011; the effects of conflict on religious freedom; and the rising tide of anti-Semitism. Impacted groups, to name just a few, included Baha’is and Sufis in Iran; Christians in Egypt; Ahmadis in Indonesia and Pakistan; Muslims in a range of countries, including in Europe; Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Uighur Muslims in China; and Jews in many parts of the world.
Derek McAuley meets David Cameron
News from UK member group
Shortly after attending our EME region’s 2012 conference (19-22 July) in the Netherlands, Derek McAuley – Chief Officer of IARF member group the GAUFCC (UK Unitarians) – had a chance to raise current LGBT issues with the British prime minister at a Downing St. reception on 24 July.
…and more detail on campaigning for equal marriage, from Derek’s blog
SACC chairman attends Rio+20
Dr. Thomas Mathew, Chairman of our South Asia regional body, represented IARF in the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janerio from June 20-22, 2012.
IARF attended the original 1992 Rio conference, and this was an opportunity for him to represent IARF as one of several religion-based voices on Earth issues.
His report of the event is here (GoogleDoc, 7 pages).
International RFYN Conference 2012, Madurai
|
Time |
Day One |
Day Two |
Day Three |
Day Four |
Day Five |
|
7.00am |
Arrival & Registration |
Morning Prayer |
Meditation |
Yoga |
Morning Prayer |
|
8.00am |
Breakfast |
|
|||
|
9.00am |
Inaugural Celebration |
Recalling Yesterday Activities |
|||
|
10.30am |
Introductory and Ice-breaking Sessions |
Session Four:- Leaders for the New Century for peace activities |
Visiting Various Interfaith Centers Madurai, Rameswaram |
Session Nine:- UN Human Rights Mechanisms |
Future Action Plan (GD) |
|
11.00am |
Break |
|
|||
|
11.30am |
Session One -: History of IARF and RFYN and its Objectives and Goals |
Session Five: – Many Faces of Peace (Documentary Presentation) |
Session Eight: Dialogue for peace and harmony |
Session Ten:- Peace and Harmony through Human Rights Education – 1 |
Presentation & Future Action |
|
01.00pm |
Lunch |
|
|||
|
2.00pm |
Session Two: – The Role of IARF to promote Peace and Harmony |
Session Six: – Cultivating Creativity for peace activities |
Visiting Various Interfaith Centers, Rameswaram |
Session Eleven:- Peace and Harmony through Human Rights Education – 2 |
Preparation for Final Celebration |
|
3.00pm |
Session Three: – IARF activities to UN |
Session Seven: – Role of UN for World Peace |
Interaction with Physically imbalanced children |
Session Twelve:- Peace and Harmony through Human Rights Education -3 |
Valedictory Celebration |
|
4.30pm |
Break |
|
|||
|
6.00pm |
Open Discussion: (peace activities through RFYN) |
Group Discussion: the source of peace and harmony |
Visiting Various Interfaith Centers Madurai |
Open Discussion: Human Rights Issues and stories |
Good Bye |
|
7.30pm |
Dinner |
|
|||
|
8.30pm |
Recreation |
Cultural Program |
Sharing experience |
Role Play (Stories of Religious Freedom) |
|
|
10.00pm |
Good Night |
|
|||
Pakistan Chapter – Hiroshima & Nagasaki Peace Exhibition 2012
For Hiroshima Day 2012 (6 August)
Sargodha, Pakistan
As a contribution to awareness-raising on nuclear issues in the 2012 approach to the annual international remembrance day for the atomic holocaust, our Pakistan chapter launched an awareness-raising exhibition in its home city of Sargodha, titled ‘Never again Hiroshima, Nagasaki never again‘.
Guests at the opening, which took place during Ramadan, included Muslims as well as Christians & Bahais. For brief comments from guests (in Urdu), see these videos (YouTube link).
Exhibition opening photos (Facebook)
This event was made possible by support from our member group the Hiyoshi Shrine, Nagoya, Japan.