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UPF-Argentina Observes UN's World Interfaith Harmony Week
Written by Miguel Werner, President, UPF-Argentina
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Buenos Aires, Argentina—An on-site fraternal meeting held by the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD)/UPD-Argentina, along with Ladies in Interreligious Dialogue (DDI), closed the World Interfaith Week 2023 (1), at Scientology Community’s headquarters in Buenos Aires. The event took place on February 7, 2023.
The event, which was also in support of the International Day of Human Fraternity (2), included religious people from different denominations and representatives of other areas, most of them Ambassadors for Peace. After warm welcoming words from Gustavo Libardi, president of Scientology Church in Argentina, UPF-Argentina president Miguel Werner explained the reason behind the event, not only highlighting fraternity among religions, but also with all people, including non-believers.
Susana Segovia, public relations at Scientology Argentina and founder of Ladies in Interreligious Dialogue (DDI), and Inderveer Kaur, representative of the Sikh Dharma Community in Argentina and IAPD-Argentina, briefly introduced the work done by those interreligious entities, and shared two videos (3).
Afterward, all participants expressed their feelings and thoughts in relation to both dates being commemorated. Among them were: María Grandoli, executive secretary of the Jewish-Christian Argentinian Fraternity; Rosalía Gutiérrez, representative of the Kolla People and the United Religions Initiative (URI); Swami Purnabodhananda and Norma Terzo, from the Ramakrishna Ashrama Community in Argentina; Sergio Castellón, from the Unificationist Community; and Jorge Stein, Minister of Scientology Church. Also, Rosetta Conti, from the Unificationist Community, DDI member, and WFWP-Argentina member; Rosa Di Lorenzo, president of the Pope Francis Commission “Encounter, Work and Family Culture,” from the Argentinian Congress Legislative Personal Association; and Norma Pompilio, active collaborator of “Nuestra Familia” Foundation, which provides training courses and help to those in need.
The event ended with the song “Color Esperanza,” performed by Israel Voci, which cheered everyone. This song is about building a better future from within ourselves: “To paint our face with the color of hope, to entice the future with our hearts….”
In parallel, IAPD/UPF-Argentina had invited religious representatives, executives and representatives of different spiritual creeds and denominations to share a message in support of both dates to spread through the UPF-Argentina social network, considering “the importance of interreligious dialogue, cooperation and action for Peace.”
World Interfaith Harmony Week was designated in 2010 by the UN’s General Assembly, which “points out that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace.”
The International Day of Human Fraternity, established by UN General Assembly Resolution on December 21, 2020, “underlines the importance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions, or beliefs, and the promotion of tolerance, which involves societal acceptance and respect for religious and cultural diversity.”
For the occasion, we received videos and messages from representatives of Christianity, Hinduism, Sikh, Baháʼí Faith, Scientology, African and aboriginal beliefs:
Father Carlos White, Catholic priest of Buenos Aires Archdiocese
Inderveer Kaur, representative of the Sikh Dharma Community in Argentina
Swami Purnabodhananda, Ramakrishna Ashrama Community in Argentina
Graciela Páez Báez, Baháʼí Faith Community
Pastor Juan Climenti, “Jesus for Nations” Evangelical Ministry
Martha de Antueno, president of the Jewish-Christian Argentinian Fraternity
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=247811250903885
Pedro Ricardo Ojeda, IFABA president, Babalawo and Babalorisa of the age-old IFA/Orisa African religious culture
Jorge Stein, Minister of Scientology Church in Argentina
Kahyri Chanquia, representative of the Diaguita Community in Santa Fe
www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=248274457524231
Gustavo Libardi, president of Scientology Church in Argentina
Links:
1) More on World Interfaith Harmony Week:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/interfaith-harmony-week
2) More on the International Day of Human Fraternity:
www.un.org/es/observances/human-fraternity
3) Review on the 2021 “Interreligious Dialogue and Good Practices” IAPD/UPF/YSP Series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYVjeI94VKE
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