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 29^th 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 30^th 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 (8^th 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 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)

Dutch Chapter, Fall 2012 meeting

Please see Poster NLG (Dutch Chapter) Fall meeting 4 oktober 2012 (PDF 1 page, Dutch language)

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day in Tamil Nadu

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Memorial Day 2012 
IARF branches in Tamil Nadu state: Anna Nagar, Arumbakkam, Villivakkam and Arakonam
6th to 11th August

On 6th August, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Disaster Memorial Day was observed in the morning at Sri Venkateswara Engineering College, Thiruvallur, from 9.30 a.m.

About 700 students assembled in the meeting hall and the function commenced with all religious prayer by the students, followed by the lighting of candles programme was observed.
Then, the Principal delivered the welcome address and appreciated IARF’s efforts for the noble cause of world humanity.
Then, the Chairman Sri. Vasudevan delivered the presidential address about the threat of atomic weapons.
Then, I (V.Rengapashyam) delivered the special address about the IARF’s objects and activities, and shared my experience  on my recent visit to Hiroshima with the survivors of the Hiroshima victims of 6th August, 1945. I appealed to the younger generation, who are all future engineers in different branches of engineering, to work for a nuclear-free world and use atom in a constructive way, definitely not in a destructive way.
The college management assured me that they would observe the memorial day every year.

On that same day, afternoon 3 p.m., a similar programme was organised at Corporation High School, MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam. In both the programmes, Mr. Lakshmipathi Naidu, Mr. K. Raju, Mr. Raghavalu,  Mr. Rajendran, Prof. Sadasivam and Mr. Dhananjeyan of Arumbakkam Branch also participated.

On 11th August, Arakonam Branch observed Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day, the students going on a procession with our banner in Arakonam Town.

On 15th August, Independence Day was celebrated at Corporation Higher Secondary School, Subbraya Street, Shenoy Nagar, wherein Mr. Raghavalu, Mr. Rajendran, & Mr. Lakshmipathi Naidu participated.

Also on 15th August, Independence Day was celebrated in the presence of local personalities and Mr. Lakshmipathi Naidu.

Similar functions were organized at Pondicherry, Tindivanam and Coimbatore

 – V. Rengapashyam, Council member

 Related events took place this year in Chennai, Mysore and Bangalore.

 [portfolio_slideshow]

Hiroshima Day 2012 remembrance event, Mysore

@ Sri Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar Auditorium, Senate Bhavan, Manasagangotri,  Mysore, India 
9 August 2012

Reports of the event in the national press:

• When miseries rained on two Japanese cities

• A-bomb attack survivor calls for nuclear-free world

• ‘The roof of our house was blown away’

Local press reports:

[nggallery id=27]

See also the related event in Chennai

REPORT:

The following dignitaries were present in the programme:

• Mr. Hiroo Iso, Japan
• Swamy Muktidananda, President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore
• Dr. Thomas Mathew – chairman, IARF, South Asia coordinating Council
• Prof. V. G. Talawar, Vice-chancellor, University of Mysore
• Prof. P. S. Naik, Registrar, University of Mysore
• Prof. G. Venkatesh Kumar, Director UGC-Academic staff college, UoM.
• Mrs. M.A. Hemalatha, IARF- National President
• Mr. Mohammed Shabeer Ahmed, IARF- National Secretary
• R. Vasudevamurthy, President, Mahajana Education Society
• Professors, Readers, Lectures, Office Staff, Students of Post Graduates, of all the Departments of University of Mysore, were also present.

Also present were Delegates from Geetha Shikshana Samsthe, Mother Teresa Nursing College, Mysore, JSS Law College, Mysore, Ramakrishna Vidyalaya [ Ramakrishna Ashram], Mysore,. Ghyana Jyothi Association, Mysore.
In total an audience of more than 1,000 attended the programme.

 [portfolio_slideshow]

Invocation [ Prayer] was done by Dr. Lakshmidevi and her associate.

Prof. P. S. Naik , Registrar , University of Mysore, welcomed the gathering and flowers bouquets were offered to all the dignitaries.

Prof. G. Venkatesh Kumar, Director, UGC- Academic Staff College- UoM, spoke on the importance of the programme.

Swamy Muktidanada inaugurated the function by lighting the lamp and offered floral tributes to the statue of Swami Vivekananda. All the dignitaries also paid tributes to lakhs of innocent people in the bombing of Hiroshima Nagasaki during 2^nd World War.

Candles were lighted in memory of those who lost their lives and suffered due to Atomic Bomb attack.

Dr. Thomas Mathew introduced Mr. Iso Hiroo, a Japanese National who survived the atom bomb attack, and mentioned his travels in different parts of the world, and said now he has come to India on our invitation and participated in Peace programmes in Narendrapur West Bengal, in different parts of Kerala and in New Delhi, and now in Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day organized by University of Mysore, in Association with IARF-SACC. He further said that another such programme was also arranged for Chennai on 10^th August 2011.

71 year-old Mr. Iso recalled he was about four years old when first bomb was drop on 7^th August 1945.

(Since he was speaking in his mother tongue, his speech was translated into Kannada by Mrs. M. A. Hemalatha President IARF India Chapter for the benefit of the audience).

“That morning, my father was working in a factory. My mother later told me she was doing the laundry. I was in the hall taking dried bean out of the can for our meals. My brother was asleep”.

Mr. Iso said his mother was afflicted by cancer caused by radiation and suffered for 10 years before she passed away. “I am still suffering from the damage that radiation caused to my body which produces only half the normal amount of thyroid hormone. Even now, I must have a liver test every six months”.

Commenting on the present stockpile of nuclear arms in the world, he pointed out that there was enough nuclear material to destroy the world many times over.

Appealing for the elimination of all nuclear weapons, Hiroo said “ We, the atom bomb survivors, have launched a campaign called, “ Yes, abolition of nuclear weapons, throughout Japan from Aug. 2009 to Apr. 2010 and were able to win the approval from two-thirds of 1,750 local governments. US President Barack Obama is aiming at a world without nuclear weapons. We would like to keep trying hard to eliminate all nuclear weapons by 2020”.

Earlier, Sri. Ramakrishna Ashram President Swamy Muktidanandaji highlighted the significance of Swamy Vivekanananda’s thoughts and teaching. He recalled the monk’s famous address at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, saying that “for whom the bell tolls today, this should be the death knell for all violence and conflict”.

“Unfortunately what we have seen is not only the devastating Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic bombing but also the 9/11, and it is caused due to conflicts with each other”, he said.

In the presidential address Prof. V. G. Talawar Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, said that he was very happy when he heard the information from Prof. G. Venkatesh Kumar, Director, UGC-Academic Staff College, UoM., that IARF–South Asia Coordinating Council, and IARF India Chapter, is organizing Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day in association with University of Mysore, and he directed Prof. G. Venkatesh vKumar to go ahead in organizing the programme. He further said that Mrs. M. A. Hemalatha & Mr. Mohammed Shabeer Ahmed also approached me and assured them all possible help. I also advised them to arrange to meet Swamy Mukthidananda of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore, that the vice- chancellor is also interested in celebrating 150^th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.  He said he is happy that both Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day and inauguration of 150^th of Birth Anniversary of Swamy Vivekananada is organized today at Sri. Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar Auditorium, Senet Bhavan, Manasagangotri, Mysore.

We are proud to mention that most respected Prof. V. G. Talawar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, is a simple, sober, soft-spoken, dignified gentleman, and as promised by him he has provided all possible help, such as printing of Invitation, auditorium with all facilities, refreshment for students and all invitees, Guest House facilities to Japanese and Dr. Thomas Mathew [Two VIP Rooms & Two Executive Rooms], Breakfast Lunch & Dinner for all of us. He also facilitated Mr. Iso by offering Garland, Shawl, Fruit Bowl. IARF have not spent a single pie in organizing this programme.

IARF–South Asia Coordinating Council expressed their gratitude to our vice-chancellor for all his help.

We pray Almighty God for his good health, prosperity and long life. Further we wish to mention Prof. G. Venkatesh Kumar Director UGC- Academic Staff College- UoM for all his help from the day one till the programme is organized, he has put all his efforts for success of this programme. We express, our gratitude and thanks to him.

I express our thanks to Dr. Thomas Mathew Chairman, South Asia Coordinating Council , Mrs. M. A. Hemelatha, President, India Chapter, Mr. M.R. Preethan, [ IARF] Mr. M. A. Madhusudhan, [ IARF] Dr. Laakshmidevi [ IARF] Hemavathi [Ghyana Jyothi Association], and principles of Ramakrishna Vidyalaya, {RKM] Geetha Shikshna Samsthe, JSS Law College, Mr. Nagaraj, Head of the Department of Geography , Teaching and Non Teaching Staff of University of Mysore and students of Post Graduate Departments of UOM.

We express our thanks to all News Press personal & Media, for having widely publishing the news & telecasting the same in T.V. Channels namely ETV., Amougha T.V. , Chandana T.V., Kasturi T.V. After reading the newspapers and viewing the News in media, most of our friends and well-wishers called us over phone and congratulated us for organizing such a good programme. All this credit goes to Dr. Thomas Mathew of South Asia coordinating council. Prof. V.G. Talawar, vice-chancellor, University of Mysore, Prof. G. Venkatesh Kumar, Mrs. M. A. Hemalatha, office bearers and Executive Committee Members of IARF India Chapter. Office bearers and Executive Committee Members of IARF Mysore Branch, & Forum for Harmony & Peace Mysore.

We express special thanks to Mrs. M. A. Hemalatha, President IARF India Chapter for working hard and coordinating with University of Mysore, UGC Director, principals of above-mentioned college and association and also with the undersigned, for the success of this programme.

A Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mr. Mohammed Shabeer Ahmed, National Secretary, and he thanked all the dignitaries and audience including Press & Media persons, and during vote of thanks, Mementos was also offered to all the dignitaries on behalf of IARF.

                                               Mohammed Shabeer Ahmed, SACC National Secretary

Chennai remembrance on Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day 2012

International Peace Symposium

Organised jointly by the Department of Human Rights & Duties Education of Ethiraj College for Women, and IARF-SACC-RFYN, Chennai.

Mr. Hiroo Iso, an official Hiroshima survivor (Hibakusha), landed in Chennai, India on 10th August 2012…

The program is part of a tour of Mr. Iso in India organised by the Hiroshima Peace Foundation and our South Asia regional office.

Co-ordinators: Mr. Ramachandran, Nithya R., Anbumani Arumugam

Report (PDF, 2 pages)

Photos (link to Picasa)

Report in The Hindu

Report in New Indian Express

See also the related events in Bangalore, Mysore and Tamil Nadu.

EME Region Conference 2012, Netherlands

IARF Europe and Middle East (EME) Conference held at the Mennorode Conference Centre, Elspeet, the Netherlands on 19-22 July 2012

The theme was Liberal Religion on ‘hold’, ‘play’, or ‘fast forward’? with a focus on leadership.

Some 70 plus people of 12 nationalities from 10 different countries, affiliated to 18 different groups, took part in what was a highly successful international gathering, hosted by our Dutch Chapter (NLG) and offering a mix of lectures, workshops, devotions, and social events.

At the bottom of the post you can see a slideshow of selected photos, here a Photo set (on Flickr) from the event, and here read a full Report (PDF, 6 pages illustrated; 3.5mb).

This is one of the reactions we received as follow-up. For Libref. – the Swiss Liberal Reformed Association – the following points were important:

• Our communication with IARF is more direct and personal now due to the very well- organized meeting.
• IARF has now gained the nature of a community for us. We feel well that IARF has and is a body.
• We are informed in the matters of positive and negative liberty, risks, and splits. We learnt the human being is a kind of “split” (Martin Heidegger), that presence is an attitude of attendance.
• We are informed in procedures of human rights (the Council in UN Geneva) by Morse Flores
• We will discuss further on the role of libref. and IARF as one of leadership in public opinion.
• The excursion to Schokland showed that nature has a fragile balance, that manipulations of procedures needs enormous efforts. We saw very directly that water is chance and risk as much in the Mountains (sources of fresh water and torrents) as in Nether-Lands. Learning from nature might signify that liberty is a voluntary enlightenment by nature?
• The new internet platform of IARF reminds us that worldwide the first religious freedom as a (personal) right was articulated in 1524/-26 in a constitution which is vigorous still today in Ilanz, Switzerland (source of the Rhine as an important European storm). This religious freedom was the outcome of a conference between a protestant reformer called Comander, the bishop of Chur and the political authority of the ‘Freistaat der Drei Bünde’.
• We are looking forward to working with IARF and its members in the future.

We thank the organizing team of IARF for all their efforts.
– Jean-Claude Cantieni, Andreas Peter – libref. Switzerland

Selected photos from the event: