Friday News Roundup: Believe it – 70% of world not allowed to believe

The overwhelming majority of stories we find when researching religious diversity news involve some type of religious intolerance. Well, a shocking new statistic came out this week that explains why: 70% of the world’s population lives without religious freedom.

Nominations in! On to research…

Over the past two months people from around the globe have shared with us the stories of their colleagues, friends and neighbors who are changing the world. We have received 20 nominations for the next Peacemaker in Action and Women’s Peace Initiative award winners!

New Prize Recognizes Tanenbaum Peacemakers

The Fondation Chirac’s first Conflict Prevention Prize was awarded on November 6^th to Imam Muhammad Ashafa and to Pastor James Wuye for their efforts in Nigeria. Just up today: you can watch videos, see pictures and download their speeches! Click here.

A Survey Look at Peacemaking in Seminary Education

That was the title of the seminar I presented at the Interfaith Youth Corps 6^th Conference on Interfaith Youth Work this week. To an over-stuffed room of 19 students, professors and non-profit trainers, I presented the findings of our summer’s work: 22 interviews with 10 seminaries, one divinity school and one graduate department of religion.

I may have rushed through my PowerPoint, as I wanted to continue the survey – hearing from this group, how can and should peacemaking be incorporated into future religious leadership?

Listening Closely – news from “the ground”

On July 9^th, toward the end of a conference call about building a Peacemakers’ Network, Chencho told us that he was just back from Honduras – where a military-led coup had ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya 11 days before.

Having read passing coverage of the event and analysis of its causes, we were unfamiliar with the story Chencho told: that half a million protesters organized by 36 civil society organizations were marching; that priests and teachers feared a return to the times of the guerrilla wars and regional instability; that accusations of a power grab were not only false, but also illogical in light of the referendum and election timelines. Chencho concluded by stating simply: “if the voice of the people can be heard, it would better the situation in Honduras.”

Breaking News Update from Baghdad

“Even though there is violence all around, this is a place of the profoundest peace.”

This is how Andrew has described the church of St George of Mesopotamia, the Art Deco, brick built place of worship in Baghdad, situated on Haifa Street in the ‘Red Zone’.  However, this morning, that peace was shattered by a bomb blast, along with every window in the church.

Women as Healers of Our Time

Last December, Nurah Amat’ullah, Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development, joined Joyce Dubensky, CEO and Executive Vice President of Tanenbaum, to discuss the role of women as healers and peacemakers at the Healers of Our Time event sponsored by the Sister Fund.

Please visit the link below to view their discussion.

Nurah Amat’ullah & Joyce Dubensky from The Sister Fund on Vimeo.

Both/And: Religion in Iraq

Again today, religious people were targeted in violence in Iraq. According to the New York Times, 5 Iranian pilgrims were killed as they traveled to holy Shiite sites.

Friday News Roundup: Dastaars on the Defense

If you’re like a lot of non-Sikhs you probably don’t know what this headline means, because you don’t know what a dastaar (or dastar) is.

A dastaar is the turban traditionally worn by Sikh men, and the right to wear it is under attack from all quarters: schools and workplaces in the U.S., the U.S. miliary and schools internationally.

Also this week:  a plug for Tanenbaum staffers and Peacemaker Azhar Hussain!

Tanenbaum on Azhar Hussain

Our own Assistant Director of Religion and Conflict Resolution Heather DuBois on Peacemaker in Action Azhar Hussain’s work and new book in this week’s Common Ground News Service! Check it out: Madrasa enhancement in Pakistan