HRE workshop in Orissa
Siddheswar College, Balasore, Odisha (Orissa), India
6-7 October 2012
This kind of program actually brings us to a new horizon in life. As a member of minority community, it gives lot of ideas and inspiration to me.
Report (PDF, 5 pages illustrated)
RFYN International Youth Conference 2012
24 to 28 September 2012
@Nobili Pastoral Centre, Madurai, TamilNadu, India
- Organized in association with the Angelo Province of the Institute of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, India.
- A historic gathering for IARF in being a first attempt to be self-funded (that is, funded entirely from local member group contributions).
- 21 different Sacred Heart bodies around South India contributed generously. The 85 young adult participants themselves raised $900.
RFYN Madurai 2012 Report (PDF 22 pages, illustrated inc YouTube links)
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Dutch Chapter seminar report
2012 Thursday, October 4th
@ Apostolic Society, Azielaan 155, 3526 SG Utrecht
Theme: “Religion and Diversity: Strength or Dilemma?”
IARF Dutch Chapter and her partners in Interfaith Dialogue, express their gratitude to The Apostolic Society in Utrecht, The Netherlands for hosting and sponsoring the seminar.
The Keynote speech – “Pussy Riot and the refusing civil servant – Liberal emancipation, a dilemma?” (PDF 17 pages, Dutch language) – was given by Professor Theo de Wit (Tilburg University).
Responses came from:
- Alper Alasag (Islam and Dialogue, Rotterdam);
- Mrs Riet Bons-Storm (emeritus professor, Expert in gender and religion, Groningen);
IARF.4.10.2012.coreferaat.Bons.Storm - George Gelauff (Netherlands in Dialogue, Delft);
IARF.4.10.2012. coreferaat en workshop G Gelauff - Arie Nico Verheul (Platform of Religion and Belief, Utrecht).
IARF.4.10.2012 coreferaat Verheul
Each also offered a contribution in the workshop session.
IARF.4.10.2012.workshops.suggestions and conclusions
President of the meeting was Tom Mikkers (general secretary Remonstrants Brotherhood).
New was the presence of 25 students from Utrecht University for applied Sciences and their Supervisor Mrs Ella van ‘t Hof. All are Dutch-speaking, and from different (ethnic) backgrounds. For one semester they work on the subject “Islam in society today”. Many of them attended this kind of meeting for the first time.
Reaction: “It would be interesting to have such a meeting every year!”
Photos (Flickr link)
Bangladesh chapter statement on anti-Buddhist riots
Attack on the Buddhists and their Temples in Bangladesh
A Report by IARF Bangladesh Chapter
07 October 2012
On the night of the 29th September 2012 a militant group of people attacked the Buddhist communities of Ramu, a small town in the district of Cox’s Bazar of Chittagong division in Bangladesh. The culprits set fire on more than fifty houses and damaged twelve Buddhist temples. Most of the houses attacked were burnt into ashes and all the temples attacked were seriously damaged. One of these temples was also a museum of the history of Buddhism in Bangladesh.
The Buddhist have lost more than fifty houses and twelve temples have been seriously damaged. But the nation has lost more than what we can even conceive of. The attack on the Buddhists and their temples is not only an attack on the minority people, it was an attack against the state and the nation as a whole. This has damaged the image of Bangladesh as country which was known as a role model of inter-religious harmony. No language is enough to explain the tragedy of the affected people and no word is sufficient enough to condemn this heinous activity.
The free printed media and the electronic media of Bangladeshgave a massive coverage of the incident. The entire nation was stunned. All the leaders of different political parties including the Government, the members of the civil society, religious leaders and human rights organizations condemned the incident with the strongest possible language. The members of the IARF, Bangladesh Chapter also brought out a Protest Rally against this unfortunate incident. We demanded that the burnt houses be properly rebuilt, the affected people be given compensation and shelter, and all the temples be rebuilt immediately by the Govt.
Since 30th September there have been Protest Rallies throughout the country, because (1) 99% of people in Bangladesh believe in inter-religious harmony and peaceful co-existence; (2) This incident has damaged the image of Bangladesh as a country of inter-religious harmony; (3) The Buddhists, by nature, are peace-loving people and for hundreds of years Muslims and Buddhists have been living together in an ideal and peaceful manner.
The report of the Enquiry Commission formed by the Govt. is yet to be out. That is why we are not sure as to who are responsible for the unfortunate incident. We hope, within few days the report will be available. However, it is almost evident that a group of fanatics are responsible for this unfortunate incident. Until the report of the Enquiry Commission is out, we cannot be sure about the motive.
Buddhist religious leaders including some Buddhist Ministers of the present Govt. met the Prime Minister of Bangladesh yesterday (06.10.2012). She assured all concerned that the Govt. would take stern action against the culprits. She will visit the site of occurrence tomorrow (8th September). She was in USA during the incident, which is why she could not go their earlier.
Meanwhile, some culprits have already been arrested and two of them have confessed. On the basis of the national demand, the Officer in Charge of Police of Ramu Town has been arrested for his failure to control the situation, and he has been in police remand. It is quite encouraging to note that Buddhists and Muslims in Cox’s Bazar held a Harmony Rally. The entire nation expressed solidarity with the Buddhists in the country, and the demand of exemplary punishment of the culprits has become a national demand. It has become everybody’s slogan: “Bangladesh is a country of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, and we must live like brothers and sisters of the same parents.”
Let us all pray for the best and hope for the best. Side by side, we seek forgiveness from those who have become victims of fanaticism.
Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam
President, Bangladesh Chapter
Bangladesh Chapter launches young adult branch
23-25 September 2012
@Department of World Religions, Dhaka University, Bangladesh
A reception for the visit to Bangladesh by IARF-JLC member Rev. Takahiro Miwa (accompanied by Mrs. Yukari Miwa and IARF-SACC president Dr. Thomas Mathew) was organised by the head of the Bangladesh Chapter of IARF-SACC, Dr. Kazi Nurul Islam (of the Department of World Religions, Dhaka University, Bangladesh).
Also part of the visiting delegation was Anbumani Arumugam, International President of RFYN and Assistant Professor at Annamalai University in Chennai.
- Her event report: Report on Bangladesh Chapter visit by SACC/Rev.Miwa
- Her seminar contribution: Paper given to Dhaka seminar by Anbumani Arumugam
- Photos of the occasion (link to Picasa)
Further reporting on this and related events by SACC president Dr. Thomas Mathew:
- Seminar on Human Rights & Religious Freedom in South Asia – Dhaka, September 2012 (PDF, 4 pages)
- “Human Rights & Religious Freedom in Bangladesh”, by Jannatul Maoa (PDF, 5 pages)
- Words by Ms. Amin Tahsina Ferdous, Vice President RFYN Bangladesh (PDF, 2 pages)
- Organising committee of RFYN-Bangladesh (PDF, 1 page name list)
International Day of Peace, South Asia region
21 September 2012
The IDP was marked in several locales of our South Asia region.
The theme of this year’s observances was “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future“.
HRE workshop Bethune College, Kolkata
25 – 26 August 2012
@Bethune College, North Kolkata, West Bengal
Facilitator: Asit Basu (Ramakrishna Mission)
Report of HRE held at Bethune College PDF, 5 pages illustrated)
HRE training at American College, Madurai
@American College, Madurai
7 – 8 August 2012
Facilitator: Brother Albert Xaviour
HRE Training, American College, Madurai (PDF, 17 slides illustrated)
Fideology, Trust and Oneness
A talk given by Rev. Dr. Richard Boeke at the “Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative” (GCGI) 10th Annual International Conference, “Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream: Reclaiming the Moral & Spiritual Roots of Economics & Capitalism”, Waterperry House, Oxford, September 2-5, 2012…
Fideology, Trust and Oneness (PDF, 7 pages)
Hiroshima-Nagasaki Memorial Day 2012 Bangalore
@Infant Jesus Matriculation School, Bangalore
6 Aug 2012
Organized by Janhvi Gupte (RFYN Indore)
Report (PDF, 3 pages illustrated)
See also the related events in Chennai, Mysore and Tamil Nadu.