Contact: Stephen M. Apatow, Director, International Research & Development
Humanitarian Resource Institute International Peace Center/Interfaith News Network
Eastern USA: (203) 668-0282 Western USA: (775) 884-4680
International Peace Center: http://www.humanitarian.net/peace
Interfaith News Network: http://www.humanitarian.net/interfaith
Email: s.m.apatow@humanitarian.net

GLOBAL YOUTH INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON OPEN DIALOGUE, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL PROVIDE A LASTING SOLUTION FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE

The youth hold the future of international peace and security.  As terrorism threatens every society and the world takes action, we all must be reminded of the need to address the conditions that permit the growth of such hatred and depravity. Violence, bigotry and hatred must be confronted even more resolutely as work continues to address the ills of conflict, ignorance, poverty and disease.

In a massive international initiative, youth programs across the globe are being invited to participate in a campaign to encourage elected officials, grass roots organizations and members of their communities to both review and support the International Interfaith Peace Declaration (http://www.humanitarian.net/peace/declaration.html).  The text reads as follows:

INTERNATIONAL INTERFAITH PEACE DECLARATION

On April 4, 2002, the Humanitarian Resource Institute Interfaith Peace Center introduced the initial draft of the International Interfaith Peace Declaration, the full text and revisions of which appear on the following pages.  Following this act the international interfaith community, intergovernmental and United Nations leadership has been asked to assist in the development and support of this global initiative.

PREAMBLE

Whereas the pursuit of peace, the respect for life and human dignity is the objective of the international community,

Whereas the escalation of systemic hatred, anger, animosity and the motive for revenge has resulted in widespread destruction in the name of religion, in direct contradiction to the highest aspirations of the common people,

Whereas the war on terrorism has resulted in widespread military intervention in an attempt to counter further deterioration of international stability, increased conflicts and the potential use of weapons of mass destruction that threaten the fabric of civilization itself,

Whereas it is essential that peace efforts move beyond military interventions and diplomatic relations to a new level of intercultural-interfaith dialogue and cooperation to achieve a consensus for peace on the grass roots level within the borders of every nation,

Whereas the golden rule, as a foundation for peace, is endorsed by all the great world religions and is best interpreted as saying: "Treat others only in ways that you're willing to be treated in the same exact situation,"

Whereas present conflicts call for open dialogue, conflict resolution and negotiations that will provide a lasting solution for sustainable peace,

Now, Therefore,

WE, MEMBERS AND LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES,

proclaim,

THIS INTERNATIONAL INTERFAITH PEACE DECLARATION is a common standard for all peoples and nations, to the end that every individual and organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote interfaith cooperation and support of progressive measures, national and international, to secure peace and stability.

Article 1.

All human beings are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of solidarity pursuing peace and justice for all living beings.

Article 2.

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth by the United Nations without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Article 3.

Leaders and representatives of all major and minor religions and spiritual movements have a responsibility to promote the universal objectives of the Golden Rule Principle as a priority message to provide a substantive foundation for dialogue and support of diplomatic relations for peace.

Article 4.

The objective of  conflict resolution, healing and reconciliation is pursued as a vehicle for revitalization of the economic, environmental, political, social and moral challenges facing our Earth community.

Article 5.

Measures are taken to create an atmosphere where present and future generations can co-exist with mutual respect and trust to awaken to our deepest truths, and to manifest love and justice among all life in our Earth community.

Article 6.

Functioning spiritual forums for world peace are initiated and supported at the international, national and local levels.

Article 7.

The Humanitarian Resource Institute International Peace Center serves as a host for the development of an Forum for World Peace to support the recommendations of this declaration and to engage the international interfaith community, intergovernmental and United Nations leadership accordingly.

Note: Consensus Text Revision 10.4.2002

The objectives of this initiative include: (1) the communication of the full text of the International Interfaith Peace Declaration to the grass roots household/community level, (2) to request signatures of support from elected officials, grass roots organizations and members of their communities for this act that has been introduced to the international interfaith community, intergovernmental and United Nations leadership (3) the presentation of the signature lists to their countries national leadership in conjunction with the September 11 anniversary, and (4) the submission of signatures in electronic format to Humanitarian Resource Institute for inclusion in the online signatories to the International Interfaith Peace Declaration.

REMEMBER THE PEOPLE

The Global Youth Initiative for Peace is being coordinated in remembrance of all those lost in the World Trade Center/Pentagon Terrorist Incident (http://www.humanitarian.net/interfaith/tradecenter) and in dedication to Sarah Clark, 65, of Columbia, Maryland, a sixth-grade teacher at Backus Middle School in Washington, DC. She was accompanying a student on an educational trip to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary near Santa Barbara, California, as part of a program funded by the National Geographic Society.
 

The Humanitarian Resource Institute International Peace Center is a collaborative initiative to share information and enhance academic discussion of issues related to Crisis Management/Intervention and the prevention and settlement of conflicts between and within states, with emphasis on policy research and development. On the web: http://www.humanitarian.net/peace
.