John XXIII, John Paul II, and the Quest for Peace in Africa

The two newest saints have a deep history with Africa, and their teachings offer guidance today and for years to come.

These past weeks leading up to the canonization of Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II, have provided a wonderful opportunity to revisit and reflect on their contribution to the Church and the world. This week , at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar organized a two-day event with the theme, “The Church in Africa: From the Second Vatican Council to the Third Millennium”. The conference was a chance to celebrate the contribution of the two Popes to the Church in the continent of Africa.

Pope John Paul II is assisted by South African President Nelson Mandela at the Johannesburg International Airport in 1995 at the start of the pope's first official visit to the country. (CNS photo/Patrick De Noirmont, Reuters)

The two newest Saints have a deep history with Africa. While Pope Paul VI was the first pontiff in history to set foot on the continent when he visited Uganda in 1969, it was Pope John XIII who created the first African Cardinal, Laurean Rugambwa (1912-1997), in 1960. Pope John Paul II made numerous trips to Africa, including three visits to my own country, Kenya, within a span of fifteen years.

However, what has caught my attention, especially in light of recent and ongoing events on the African continent, is what I and my fellow African citizens can learn from these two great Saints as we seek to advance justice and peace.

During the month of April, Africa and the world have been commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. The tragic events in Rwanda are still very fresh for many in the Central African country. The words “Never again” have been used repeatedly, in expressing the commitment that humanity will no longer remain as spectators in the face of the evil of war.

Regrettably, violence which has been described by various international agencies as “genocidal”, erupted late last year in the Central African Republic and South Sudan. And just this week, the world has witnessed what is being described as the “Massacre of Bentiu”, in which hundreds of civilians were killed in a church, a mosque and a hospital in the South Sudanese town of Bentiu.

The current conflict in South Sudan, pitting rebel forces under the command of Dr. Riek Machar,  the former vice president, against government troops and President Salva Kiir, began in mid-December and was precipitated by internal power struggles within the ruling party, the Sudanese People Liberation Movement . An agreement on the cessation of hostilities signed by the two parties and brokered by the Inter Governmental Authority on Development  on the January 23rd, failed to hold, even after weeks of mediation talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Watching a country—whose birth I was old enough to witness—disintegrate so soon, along with the human suffering, death and destruction being experienced, is a sad experience.

I recently turned to Pacem in Terris, the encyclical of Pope John XXIII on “Establishing Universal Peace in Truth, Justice, Charity and Liberty”, given on April 11, 1963. Now, the 1960s is significant in various ways in the history of the African continent, besides the many events in the life of the Church. More than thirty African countries gained independence during that period (1960-1969). A few weeks after Pacem in Terris was given, the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union (AU) was formed, to promote unity and solidarity of African states in order to achieve a better life for its people.
The first thing that stood out for me in Pacem in Terris is that Pope John XXIII laid out the rights but also duties, beginning with the right to life:

Man has the right to live. He has the right to bodily integrity and to the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food,  shelter, clothing, medical care, rest, and, finally, the necessary social services. (par.11)

This is an important message to put out to the warring parties in the conflicts in South Sudan, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other hot spots across the world. War is a direct threat to innocent life, resulting in bodily harm (with many women suffering sexual violence) and compromising or even ending the provision of necessary social services, while also damaging or destroying existing infrastructure.

As many African countries celebrate fifty years of independence this decade, many young people are disillusioned as a result of high unemployment rates in their countries, with the associated social problems. The few who manage to secure employment often find themselves under-employed and have to endure difficult working conditions. 

Pope John XXIII still addresses this situation today, as he did more than fifty years ago:

A further consequence of man's personal dignity is his right to engage in economic activities suited to his degree of responsibility. The worker is likewise entitled to a wage that is determined in accordance with the precepts of  justice. This needs stressing. The amount a worker receives must be sufficient, in proportion to available funds, to allow him and his family a standard of living consistent with human dignity. (par. 20)

The need to make a living consistent with human dignity, and the scarcity of such work and opportunities on the African continent, has led many young people to make harrowing trips across dangerous deserts and rough seas. These journeys have sometimes ended disastrously in loss of hundreds of lives as witnessed off Lampedusa, Italy, and elsewhere, while the treatment of those detained by immigration authorities has been documented in many cases as inhuman. Speaking on the right to emigrate and immigrate, the “Good Pope” taught:

When there are just reasons in favor of it, he must be permitted to emigrate to other countries and take up residence there. The fact that he is a citizen of a particular State does not deprive him of membership in the human family, nor of citizenship in that universal society, the common, world-wide fellowship of men. (par. 25)

One of the most amazing things about the current political situation in Rwanda, twenty years after the genocide, is that there are many more women in the national parliament than there are men. The head of the African Union Commission is a South African woman, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma. Africa now has three female heads of state—in Liberia, Malawi and the Central African Republic where Mrs. Catherine Samba - Panza was elected as an interim president, earlier this year, as part of the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis there. As foreseen by Pope John XXIII, “women are gaining an increasing awareness of their natural dignity. Far from being content with a purely passive role or allowing themselves to be regarded as a kind of instrument, they are demanding both in domestic and in public life the rights and duties which belong to them as human persons” (41).

He then posed a question, and offered an answer—a prayer—which to my mind will inspire hope and determination for all who work for a better world, here in Africa: “Will the African in his human dignity be the path towards a just and peaceful future of this continent? It is my hope that he will. Long live Africa!”
May St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II intercede for peace in Africa and peace in the world. Amen. 

Reference: http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Blog/3102/john_xxiii_john_paul_ii_and_the_quest_for_peace_in_africa.aspx

Teaching the next generation about peace

Students from the local junior high and senior high schools taught children about peace through interactive workshops and games Sunday at the second-annual Peace Day at the Iowa Children’s Museum.

Peace Iowa and the Iowa Children’s Museum asked students to develop creative ways to teach young children about non-violent strategies to problems such as bullying.
Deb Dunkhase, executive director of the Iowa Children’s Museum, said the event started last year after Peace Iowa came to her with an idea for a day dedicated to teaching kids about peace.

Jillian Baker checks the register while volunteering at the Iowa Children's Museum as part of Peace Day in Coralville, IA on Sunday, April 13, 2014. Benjamin Roberts / Iowa City Press-Citizen / Benjamin Roberts / Iowa City Press-Citizen

 “For us, it’s just a really wonderful event,” Dunkhase said. “The kids who are here today are actually kids that grew up playing at the Iowa Children’s Museum.”
The teens came up with ways to teach how to be peaceful in our everyday life, and how to distinguish violent actions from peaceful choices.

North Central Junior High student Spencer Erhman, 13 years, said that he taught cooperation and teamwork through a game where children move down a line to guide a ball down a track.
“To me, it teaches teamwork as well as cooperation because we have to know when to go and to line up and to stay steady because if you’re moving it on purpose, that’s not nice to do,” he said.

Wanda Pearson of North Liberty, whose granddaughter was a volunteer, said she thought the event was a good way to teach young children how to deal with life’s conflicts.
“What should you do in this situation, or that situation? Should you walk away or should, you know, invite yourself into that situation and say, ‘I’m going to do the negative instead of doing the positive,’ ” she said. “Or if you see someone being bullied, should I walk away, or should I say, ‘Hey, that’s not the thing to do. You shouldn’t bully him, or you shouldn’t bully her.’ ”

North Central Junior High students Jilian Baker, Diamond Scarbrough, and Shay Dixon, all 12, created a “Peacearia,” where kids made peace pizzas.

“What we do is we ask kids what they know about peace, and if they basically don’t know anything, we make ‘peaceas,’ Baker said. “What we do with that is we made each of the toppings represent something to do with peace, such as love, happiness and anything else, and they can make their ‘peacea.’ ”
Dixon said she enjoyed the interactive element.
“They get to actually have fun with it, instead of just sitting there having to learn about peace,” she said.

Volunteers Aaron Kemp, left, and Spencer Ehrman help 5-year-old Brady Venzon with a game Ehrman created Sunday at the Iowa Children's Museum as part of Peace Day in Coralville. / Benjamin Roberts / Iowa City Press-Citizen

Claire Von Bergen, 7, of Iowa City said her favorite activity was making a Frisbee, and she learned to “be kind always.”
Alisa Megitt, a global studies teacher at North Central Junior High, said it was eye opening as an instructor.

“We all need to trust that the kids have the capacity to teach peace once you just teach them a little bit about peace, and they can do it creatively and in a meaningful way,” she said. “I’ve grown through this experience. Not only as a citizen, but also as a teacher, it’s very valuable for me to see what kids are capable of doing when you give them a lot of autonomy.”

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Philippines, ‘ the least peaceful in world’

The Philippines was among the least peaceful countries in the world, the recent survey from Global Peace Index revealed.

According to the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Peace Index (GPI) 2013, the world became “less peaceful” compared to how it was five years ago. In the new index, 162 countries around the world were surveyed to determine the levels of securities in the societies, the extent of conflicts and the degree of militarisation in the countries.

Based on their findings, the GPI reported that the level of peace in the world has fallen by 5% since 2008. It added that internal conflicts in countries have risen over the years and it also showed that 110 countries became less peaceful over the years. Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Austria, Ireland, Slovenia, Finland and Switzerland were the top 10 peaceful countries, the index reported. It explained that Iceland’s political stability, low crime rate and small prison population made it the most peaceful country in the world.

“Europe is the most peaceful region, with 13 of the top 20 most peaceful countries,” the index said and added that “the top three most peaceful countries (Iceland, Denmark and New Zealand)” made it to the top because of their “small and stable democracies.”

“The three least peaceful countries are Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria,” GPI report said.

Meanwhile, Japan, the only Asian country that made it to top 10, was ranked six because of its good relations with its neighbouring countries and its strict laws on possession of firearms, GPI said.

“Syria’s score dropped by the largest margin, with the biggest ever score deterioration in the history of the GPI,” it added.

Afghanistan landed on the last spot because, the index said, it uses a political terror scale.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is still among the less peaceful nations in the world based on the results of the index. The country ranked 129 in 162 countries surveyed. The index said that the country scored two out of 5 in terms of militarisation, 3.1 in terms of society’s security and 3.2 out of five in terms of domestic and international conflict.

“Ranking among the least peaceful countries in AsiaPacific, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar all face ongoing internal civil conflict. Last year saw improved prospects for peace between the Philippines government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (the main rebel group on the southern island of Mindanao), when a framework deal for a potential peace agreement was signed. There are many obstacles to lasting peace, but negotiations appear to be on-track in 2013,” the index said.

 Antonio Javellana Ledesma, Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro (27. Sep. 2013 During the World Peace Talk with Mr. Man Hee Lee) 

Meanwhile, International Peace Activist Mr.Lee Man Hee visited the Philippines to conduct a series of talks on how to achieve peace. In a press conference on Thursday, Mr.Lee said the youth played a significant role in achieving peace in a society. He said that the youth’s desire to achieve it can make a lot of difference in terms of attaining peace in a society.

Mr.Lee explained that the most common victims of war were the youth, especially the young children who are voiceless in turbulent times.

Phl sets world record to light 100,000 candles for peace

NEW RECORD: A total 56,680 candles on torches carried by participants form the map of the Philippines and a peace logo (inset) to set the Guinness World Record for the largest flaming image using candles at the Savannah City in Oton, Iloilo last night.  PHOTO COURTESY OF VISTA LAND

OTON, Iloilo , Philippines   – In a bid to achieve world peace through inner peace, the Philippines set another Guinness world record here last night after about 100,000 people were able to carry the torch for peace in Savannah City, the master-plan township project of Camella Homes.

Guinness representative Seyda Subasi Gemici announced that the Philippines now holds the record for having the world’s largest flaming image using candles that formed the map of the Philippines and the logo of the Middle Way Meditation Institute, Phrathepyanmahamuni, Archdiocese of Iloilo, the provincial government, and the Departments of Tourism and Education.

The latest feat bested Pakistan’s record of 36,478 candles for peace.
The Philippines broke Pakistan’s record with 56,690 candles for the Guinness feat.
As part of the event, participants were also asked to perform body and mind exercises to bring in “world peace” through “inner peace” to internalize the lighting of the torches for peace.

Participants from all walks of life, including members of social, school and church organizations and a contingent of Philippine National Police, joined the event.

Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Imam Abdulnasset Langco of the Moslem mosque, Baba Karam Singh of Nanak Darbar Indian Temple and Phrarachpawanajan of Buddhist temple offered prayers during the memorial service for over 6,000 victims who died during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda last year.

 Phrarachpawanan said in Bangkok, Thailand said
"After our minds came to standstill, our minds will find inner peace. And we shall dedicate all our inner peace and energy to victims of disasters through the candles that we will light tonight,”

“May they enjoy happiness in their afterlife,” he said before chanting prayers in his local dialect.

Former senator Manuel Villar Jr., chairman of the Villar Group of Companies, said he is happy over the latest Guinness World Record achieved by his team.

“Tonight, our attempt to light the most number of candles simultaneously is not just an attempt to break the Guinness World record, but to symbolize our collective effort at making our world more peaceful, a better place,” he said.
Participants lighted the torches placed in a 50-hectare part of the 500-hectare Savannah City.

“Attaining world peace is a lofty dream. As we are surrounded by conflicts in practically all corners of the globe, by violence inflicted by one human being to another, by suffering brought about by poverty and hunger or by natural calamities, world peace seems a distant reality,” Villar said.


Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and Sen. Cynthia Villar attended the event, celebrated during the Thailand New Year and the start of the Philippine Holy Week.

Anant Asavabokhin, chairman of the Middle Way Meditation Institute, lauded Filipinos for their “beautiful hearts and leading the world in changing the world.”
“There is no such happiness that will come from the peace within,” Asavabokhin said.
“May everyone here tonight be instrument of peace,” he added.


Luistro noted how 100,000 lights would be lighted in the hearts of every participant “not just for those who perished in the disasters but also the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 that was lost last month.”

Luistro congratulated participants on behalf of President Aquino for the latest feat.
After the main event, organizers also launched the lighting of 30 special lanterns and small torches.

Apart from the participants coming from the province and nearby areas, volunteers from 15 other countries such as Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Estonia, India, Indonesia,  Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Taiwan, New Zealand,United States of America, United Kingdom and Vietnam joined the event together.

In 2013, the organizers also bested other countries when the Philippines lit up 15,185 flickering lights and lanterns in Miag-ao, also in Iloilo.

Volunteers
Sally Salaveria, a teacher of Sto. Angel Elementary School in San Miguel, Iloilo, said she was with a group of 30 teachers who volunteered for the event.
“I want to be part of the collective call for peace within individuals and in the country and the world,” she said.
Ana Tapan of Barangay Abilay Norte in Oton town came with seven family members “to be part of this historic event.”
Organizers began ferrying participants in rented jeepneys from assembly points in Iloilo City in the morning. The volume of participants and vehicles caused a traffic jam a few hours before the event.

It also took several hours to leave the venue after the candle-lighting activity, with many of the participants walking for hours to get a ride.
Setting new world records has become quite popular in the Philippines, with about 10,000 taking part in the largest human formation for the symbol of a woman last month, more than 3,000 signing up as organ donors in one place in February, and the people of Bayambang, Pangasinan, creating the longest barbecue measuring 8,000 meters earlier this month.


Reference: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/04/15/1312837/phl-sets-world-record-light-100000-candles-peace

World Peace Conference(Philippines)

Peace activist Man Hee Lee on PTV 'Good Morning Boss'.

As a peace advocate he has worked for the world peace in his entire life.

In his eighth world peace tour, he visited Philippines for the third time, and hold world peace forum, and peace agreement between islam and cathlic in Midanao Island.

Further headache for Obama after collapse of Middle East peace talks

President says 'we haven't seen the political will to actually make tough decisions' and holds out little hope for US-brokered deal

Barack Obama, the president of USA on Friday acknowledged the collapse of the US-led Middle East peace process, the latest in a line of diplomatic setbacks to overshadow his trip to Japan and South Korea.

Speaking at the end of a bruising week for White House foreign policy, the president said that after nine months of pressure from the US, there wasn't the will among either Israeli or Palestinian politicians to take “tough decisions” necessary to reach a deal.
"Folks can posture, folks can cling to maximalist positions, but realistically there is one door, and that is the two parties getting together and making some very difficult political compromises in order to secure the future of Israelis and Palestinians for future generations," Obama told reporters in a press conference in Seoul.
"Do I expect that they will walk through that door next week, next month or even in the course of the next six months? No."

His pessimism, which followed the suspension of Israeli participation on Thursday after a controversial Palestinian alliance with Hamas, contrasted with early reaction at the State Department, which had insisted the moves were simply the latest in a line of “ups and downs”.

"So far we have seen some movement on both sides to acknowledge that this is a long-running crisis that needs to be solved," he added.

Attempts to pressure both sides to the negotiating table have been led by John Kerry, the US secretary of state, but Obama has also invested significant political capital in a process he now admits may have reached a stalemate.
Although also pledging the US would continue to offer "constructive approaches", Obama told reporters on Friday: "There may come a point at which there just needs to be a pause, and [where] both sides need to look at the alternatives."

 "What we haven't seen is, frankly, the kind of political will to actually make tough decisions. And that's been true on both sides."
But the US administration has yet to specify whether there will be any consequences for either side to resisting its pressure to reach a compromise – a factor critics say is also partly to blame to for a series of similar recent foreign policy setbacks.
On Thursday, the State Department said it was “up to Congress” to decide whether the Palestinian alliance with Hamas, which it brands a terrorist organisation, would lead to a ban on US financial aid.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon also announced that it would restart US aid to Egypt, which was temporarily suspended after its military coup led to a crackdown on protesters, despite questions over whether such aid was legal under US law.
Similar questions have been raised over the US response to the collapse of a Ukrainian peace deal reached last week in Geneva.

On Thursday night, Kerry accused Russia of reneging on the deal by not pressuring pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine to disarm, but the US and Europe have yet to announce a response other than to warn of the possibility of further economic sanctions.
Economic co-operation among US allies was also under strain during Obama's trip to Japan, where the two governments failed to agree new farm agreements central to stalled talks on a broader international free trade deal.

Middle East peace talks: Q&A

Why was today's deadline so important, and what happens now the Israelis and Palestinians have suspended talks?

Israelis protest in support of former US navy officer Jonathan Pollard, who is serving a life sentence in the US for spying for Israel. Photograph: Oded Balilty/AP 

A US deadline for peace talks between Israel and the Palestine has passed without an agreement being reached.

Why was 29 April significant?

The effort by John Kerry, the US secretary of state, to get Israelis and Palestinians to peace talks set a deadline of nine months, which expired today. In reality, however, Israel suspended talks last week over the agreement signed between the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the leadership of the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza. The aim of the accord between the rival Palestinian factions was to produce a national unity government and new elections.

Palestinian Nehad Jondiya hugs his sister after his release last year from 24 years spent in an Israeli jail. Photograph: Adel Hana/AP

Kerry's original aim was a deal that would set borders for a two-state solution. That was downgraded to the target of reaching a "framework agreement". Yet even that was not achievable. Recent weeks had seen protracted haggling over the terms for an extension to the talks. These included proposals for the US to release the jailed Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard as a sweetener to encourage Israel to release a group of long-term Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, whose fate had become a stumbling block.
For his part, the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's conditions for an extension were the release of the prisoners, a freeze on settlement building by Israel and a commitment that the first three months of any talks would be spent discussing the final borders of a Palestinian state.

John Kerry, left, meets the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah as the US-sponsored talks between Israel and the Palestinians lay in tatters. Photograph: Mohamad Torokman/AP

The talks, however, foundered on the failure of a deal made nine months ago under which the Palestinians suspended unilateral moves to join international bodies and treaties – steps towards recognition of Palestine as a de facto state – in exchange for the release of four groups of long-term prisoners held in Israeli jails.

 Those prisoners, 14 of them who are Arab-Israelis, had all been in Israeli jails since before the 1993 Oslo Accord. Before the release of the fourth group, Israel asked the Palestinian side to agree to an extension of talks.
Both sides blame the other for bad faith in the negotiations. Following Israel's refusal to release the final group of prisoners, Abbas responded by reinstating his suspended bid to apply to join a series of international bodies. Last week he initiated reconciliation talks with Hamas, which triggered Israel's suspension of the talks.


On the Israeli side, Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister has had to contend with rightwing coalition partners, including a faction of his own Likud party, who have threatened to force a crisis over the talks. Abbas has also faced political problems. 

Another area of friction – as figures released by Peace Now underlined on Tuesday – has been the continuing surge in Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. There have been plans or tenders for 13,851 new housing units during the nine months of the talks that, Palestinians argue – demonstrated the lack of willingness on the Israeli side to reach a deal.

Does this mean there will be another intifada?

Although there have been warnings – not least from Kerry – that failure risked a return to violence, the consensus appears to be against a third intifada, or uprising, unless triggered by a specific event, perhaps over the contentious issue of Jewish visitation rights and prayer on the Temple Mount or Haram al-Sharif. Abbas  repeatedly insisted that resistance to Israeli occupation should be non-violent in recognition that the militarised Second Intifada, including a campaign of suicide bombings, was counterproductive.

What happens next?

On the Palestinian side, the next steps appear already mapped out with the next group of international bodies at which Abbas will seek recognition being identified and further efforts to create a technocratic national unity government supported by Hamas within a month or so. The composition of that government, and the degree of Hamas's involvement, will be closely watched by the US, EU and Western governments that give financial support to the PA, not least because Hamas does not recognise the right of Israel to exist. Abbas has told Kerry that any new government would respect previous commitments made by the PLO, but that interpretation is likely to be challenged by both Israel and supporters in the US Congress.
Following Abbas's renewed efforts to seek international recognition, Israel has threatened the Palestinian Authority (PA) with punitive sanctions that are likely to be widened. One target that has been mooted is the tax and customs revenues that Israel collects on the PA's behalf. Because the PA owes money for electricity supply to Israel that may be deducted.
Other members of Netanyahu's cabinet have suggested Israel should act unilaterally to impose its own borders and annex large parts of the West Bank, among them the economy minister, Naftali Bennett, the hawkish, hi-tech tycoon and head of the nationalist Jewish Home party, which has always opposed negotiations with the Palestinians.

The civil defence minister, Gilad Erdan, a member of the powerful security cabinet and close to Netanyahu, told Army Radio on Sunday he would recommend that "preparations begin to annex Area C lands, those places in which, in any event, a Jewish population lives," referring to the area of the West Bank which is under full Israeli security control. Despite the threat, however, most observers believe a wholesale annexation would be unlikely because of the almost certain international fallout for Israel.
Finally, Kerry has made abundantly clear his own deep frustration with the peace process, not least in his reported remarks – later retracted – warning that Israel risked becoming an "apartheid state" without a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. Kerry later apologised for the comment, but with Ukraine and other issues demanding attention, he is almost certain to withdraw, in the short-term at least, which would suggest little prospect of any meaningful moves in the months ahead.

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Easter sparks hope for world peace for local Christians

Local Christians celebrated this weekend by reflecting on Pope Francis’s Easter message, which called for world peace.

“Our belief is very much in the line of peace,” said Jon Abbey, who attended Easter Sunday mass at Community of Christ Church. “We believe that we’re called to a purpose of bringing peace to the world. That’s the reason that Christ came to earth – to show us peace and to show that each of us should model our lives after that.”
Pope Francis made his plea for peace and dialogue in conflicted areas of the world such as Syria and Ukraine during Easter Sunday mass celebrated at an altar set up on the steps of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Jen Lenhart leads the congregation through song during Easter mass at Heritage Park Alliance Church on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014. (DAX MELMER/The Windsor Star)

Pope Francis addressed a crowd of more than 150,000 people. He also urged people to pay attention to the hungry and needy closest to home.

“I think we should be more aware of what’s going on around us and more aware of other people and do our best to help those that need help,” said Nan Ghiloni, who attended Easter Sunday mass at St. Alphonsus Church.
Easter Sunday marks Christianity’s most hopeful day and the belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion. More than one billion Christians worldwide celebrate Easter each year.

Ray Jones, the associate pastor of Heritage Park Alliance, got emotional before mass began Sunday as he talked about the sacrifice Jesus made by dying on the cross.

“Easter weekend is the climax of all of history because of what Christ did for us,” said Jones. “It’s a celebration of life, and while we have a world that’s in chaos and in trouble and we all have our difficulties, God affirms and gives life.”

Before celebrating mass at St. Alphonsus, Rev. Nicolas Mauro Iko said Pope Francis leads by example, and his hopeful message of peace and equality shines through in the way he lives a life of humility – living in a guesthouse on the Vatican grounds rather than an ornate apostolic palace, and choosing to drive in regular cars over limousines.

“He teaches us that we should be relating to one another as brothers and sisters created by God,”

said Mauro Iko. “He talks about why we-as human beings-should not be hating one another, but rather we should be looking forward and living in harmony with one another.”

Mauro Iko said Easter is a reminder to be appreciative of life, and a time to self-reflect and give renewal to our lives.

Ghiloni said she was looking forward to getting together with family and friends to celebrate Easter following mass Sunday. She said the universal message of renewal, hope and love is something that can be understood by all.
“It doesn’t matter what your religion is or where you’re from or what you’re nationality is, Easter is a time for people to get together and rejoice,” said Ghiloni.

Manhee lee in Guatemala

Mr. Man Hee Lee laid white rose in Palm of Peace

 

 

 

 

 
Mr. Lee held talks with various high-profile government officials in Guatemala. Among them were the Minister of Culture, Mr. Carlos Batzin, and the Minister of Justice, Ms. Claudia Paz y paz.

 

 

Mr. Lee has been traveling world meeting with notable leaders in both secular and religious circles since 2012. On this, his 9th and most recent  trip for world peace, he held talks with the vice-president of Peru, Ms. Marisol Espinoza in Lima, Peru.

Following that, the former presidents of Guatemala – Mr. Alvaro Colom Caballeros, and Colombia – Belisario Betancur, in Bogota, Colombia. In Chile he met with the former president Mr. Ricardo Lagos in Santiago, Chile. His Excellency, Mr. Jose Mujcia, the President of Uruguay met with Mr. Lee in Montevideo, Uruguay. 

Surrey’s Khalsa Day Parade draws around 240,000 people from all walks of life

Moninder Singh, spokesperson for Dasmesh Darbar Gurdwara, said he was thinking about the words of Guru Gobind Singh in connection with the birth of the Khalsa, noting: “It is upholding righteousness, truth and freedom that we are looking for today. For every Sikh, every human being, that should resonate in their heart until they are free, all people and humanity are free, and to keep moving forward in the struggle.”

This year’s Khalsa Day Parade in Surrey organized by Dasmesh Darbar Gurdwara was a resounding success as around 240,000 people from all walks of life joined in the celebration. The rain did not extinguish the vibrant spirit as people enjoyed food, family, community, the floats and the birth of the Khalsa.

This year’s procession featured 23 floats representing local Sikh schools, community groups, humanitarian organizations as well as the most important float in the procession that carries the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Holy Scripture), according to a statement by the organizers.

“We are grateful to the Sikh and Surrey community who allow us to serve them through coordinating this event. It is inspiring to see this event evolve into a message for peace and tolerance while representing the rights of all peoples in the pursuit of justice and self-determination” said Moninder Singh.
This year’s event was particularly significant as it marked the 30th anniversary of the Indian Army’s attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
“As a community, we took this opportunity to remember and honour the lives of those killed during the storming of the Golden Temple in 1984,” said Moninder Singh.

As always, the festivities were volunteer-driven and exemplify the pride and enthusiasm of the Sikh community in sharing their rich culture and history with the entire city. Dashmesh Darbar Gurdwara thanked all attendees for their participation and said they looked forward to celebrating again next year.

World Peace Is None of Your Business (Video)

Morrissey has revealed the track list for World Peace Is None of Your Business, and the contents are as entertainingly caustic as the title.



The singer spread the word through the online Morrissey zine True To You this week, along with the news that the album has been confirmed for a July release on the Harvest label through the Capitol Music Group.

15 Revealing Quotes from Morrissey's 'Autobiography'


In an interview with Billboard in February, Morrissey spoke about how events of the past few years influenced the new album: "The good and the bad must be documented. Life is a serious business, so why pretend it isn't?" he said. "I'm amused by modern pop artists who can only sing about s.e.x ... as if nothing else mattered on the planet."

The opening track on the 12-song list bears the album's title, and the rest continue in the same High Morrissey fashion. There's "Neal Cassady Drops Dead," "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet," "Smiler With Knife" and "Kick the Bride Down the Aisle." The album closes with the intriguing-sounding "Oboe Concerto."



True To You reported in March that Morrissey was "beyond ecstatic" about the record, which was produced by Joe Chiccarelli and features many of the same musicians that worked with Morrissey on his last album, 2009's Years of Refusal.

Here's the full track list for World Peace Is None of Your Business:

1. "World Peace Is None Of Your Business"
2. "Neal Cassady Drops Dead"
3. "Istanbul"
4. "I'm Not A Man"
5. "Earth Is The Loneliest Planet"
6. "Staircase At The University"
7. "The Bullfighter Dies"
8. "Kiss Me A Lot"
9. "Smiler With A Knife:
10. "Kick The Bride Down The Aisle"
11. "Mountjoy"
12. "Oboe Concerto" 

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/morrissey-reveals-world-peace-is-none-of-your-business-track-list-20140412#ixzz30UqXLyeR
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More than 50,000 gather in Dubai to promote world peace

“Spreading Islam will make this world become a better and peaceful place,” said Sheikh Ahmed Hamed, a prominent speaker on Islam and comparative religion in the region.
His comments came on day two of the convention, which was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and and Ruler of Dubai.
Muhammad Salah, religious adviser of Huda Satellite TV, also spoke of Islam’s role in promoting peace.

“The world peace is mentioned in the Holy Quran 140 times, which also contains the six meanings of peace, most notably forgiveness, goodness, justice and security,”

Mr Salah said, adding that the religion permitted only self defense while terrorism was out of bounds, according to the Quran.

Said Rageah, director of the Texas Dawah Convention and adviser to numerous Islamic organisations in the US, discussed misconceptions about women’s role in Islam.
“It is important to clear the misconception about the status of women in Islam, which offers women freedom. This is clearly conveyed through history,” Mr Rageah said.

“Women are the source of strength and peace. If women understand the true source of Islam they will be able to spread the message of peace and harmony.”

“Islam gives women liberation and stresses giving women their freedom of choice along the provision of Islam. Islam gives women respect, dignity, a high status and freedom and the perception stating otherwise must be corrected.


The three-day convention, which attracted between 50,000 and 70,000 attendees to the Dubai World Trade Centre, was concluded yesterday.

newsdesk@thenational.ae

The traditional food of Spain.

Let us know about the traditional food of Spain.

What kind of traditional food do you think there are in Spain? Let us find out about the kinds of traditional food that can help us feel the culture of Spain.

 

 

1. Paella

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Paella is the most well known traditional food in Spain.

If you want to taste the proper Paella during traveling in Spain, people say that it is better to try to avoid places that have tourist attraction and eat at the restaurants that are located in slack places.

The Paella that are sold in tourist spots, where in there are many foreigners, are like instant food and expensive. The food is made out of sea food, meat, vegetables, and rice.

Paella is generally salty.

That is why if you eat Paella by ordering, I bet it would be very salty for those who do not eat saltly just like me.

That is why it is good to ask them to remove salt or lessen the amount of salt whenever you would order the traditional food, Paella.

 

2. Jamón

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jamón is a ham that is like a bacon and it is made out of the legs of the pig that was salted.

There are many different ways to style Jamón in the restaurants and one of it is laying them on the top of the melon.

Although it seems that melon and pork do not go well together, people say that the saltiness of the pork and the sweetness of the melon have great combination.

I am really curious of how it would taste like.

Jamón is sold either by whole or by thin slices. It is a traditional food that can commonly be seen in markets or marts.

The reason why this kind of traditional food was invented is because during the 15th century, wherein the Spain was expanding their territory, they invented food for the war and that was Jamón.

 

Although our country is really hot during summer, what I know of is that Spain is even hotter than our country.

 

 

3. Gazpacho

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although our country is really hot during summer, what I know of is that Spain is even hotter than our country.

Our country have food that preserves health for us. Spain, too, have their own food for preserving good health.

Gazpacho is the typical traditional food and as well as food for preserving health.

If we compare the taste, it taste like tomato soup but it is eaten cold.

Since it is a food that has tomatoes, I am sure it is healthy.

Tomato has low amount of calories and is famous for being healthy to our body, so it is a great to go and eat to preserve your health this summer

It will give great appetite from the hot summer and it is good Spanish traditional food for children's nutritional snacks.

 

 

I think it would be nice for those who are going to Spain or have interest in it can go and eat!

 

 

 

 

 

Namibian president lauds SA role in world peace

South Africa is playing a pivotal role in the attainment and maintenance of peace across the world, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba said.

Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma.

"We recognise the leading role that this great country continues to play in the SADC region, continental and the international community,"

he said at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

"South Africa is making immense contribution to international peace and security, suitable economic development and the creation of fair global trade."

Pohamba, who is also chair of the Southern Africa Development Community's Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, was addressing South Africa's annual Freedom Day celebrations at the Union Buildings.

He said the regional bloc was confident that Pretoria would preside over fair and credible national elections on May 7.

President Jacob Zuma was warmly greeted with ululations and cheering by a jubilant crowd when he arrived at the ceremony earlier.

The president was ushered onto the lawns of the Union Buildings after 10am amidst loud cheers from supporters waving small replicas of the South African flag.

Several giant tents and a stage had been erected, and adorned with balloons. A large public address system was used to address the crowd.

Top government officials including Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Arts Minister Paul Mashatile were present at the event.

Zuma's arrival was followed by a 20-gun salute and aerial displays by the Silver Falcons of the SA Air Force.

This year's celebrations are being held under the theme "South Africa --a better place to live in".

Reference: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2014/04/27/namibian-president-lauds-sa-role-in-world-peace