Resources

January 2009

Vol 4, Issue 1

Dear Subscriber,

In the recent "Most Read Stories for 2008" newsletter, a couple of reports were of events that actually took place during 2007. Please accept our apology for mislabeling them. If you have any comments or suggestions to improve UPF Enewsletter, please drop us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Delhi Conference Focuses on India's Strengths and Potential

New Delhi, India - An International Leadership Conference in New Delhi on December 27 reviewed the recommendations of the ten leadership conferences held throughout India during 2008. Participants examined the challenges and opportunities facing India and the relevance of UPF to India's aspirations.
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People-to-People Diplomacy in the South Caucasus

Moscow, Russia - A January 23 conference addressed human security issues in the South Caucasus conflict zones  and recommended people-to-people diplomacy as a way to resolve long-standing conflicts related to Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This was part of the South Caucasus Peace Initiative (SCPI) set up by UPF-Eurasia in early 2008 and the Russian Political Science Association.
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Call for Interfaith Action for Peace in Israel and Gaza

The Universal Peace Federation is deeply saddened by the loss of life in the current crisis in the Gaza strip. Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith leaders of the Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) of the Universal Peace Federation are committed to peacebuilding and an end to the cycle of violence in Israel and the Gaza strip. Amidst the violence and despair, MEPI continues to foster dialogue and understanding to seek God's guidance toward the resolution of conflict.
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Peace Festival Launched In Indonesia

Jakarta, Indonesia - With the sound of a gong and setting of dozens of doves to flight, the Global Peace Festival was launched in Indonesia on January 14. Four months of community service and networking will culminate in a huge gathering in May. 
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Bridging Ethnic Differences in Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia - The Georgia Peace Festival December 6 and 7 provided opportunities for neighboring peoples in the Caucasus Mountains south of Russian to learn about their diverse people, cultures, and history and better understand how the ongoing political and ethnic turmoil in the regional impact people's daily life.
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Celebrating Peace in Belize

Belize City, Belize - The Global Peace Festival in Belize was the first time that the idea of celebrating peacebuilding efforts with neighboring Guatemala had come to people's minds. Though small compared to the GPF efforts around the world, the November 28 and 29 events may impact the future of Belize and its neighboring countries in tremendous ways.
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FREE- UPF Today ( PDF)

New York - Free PDF of UPF Today 
in Chinese, English, French, Japanese, Russian and Spanish on UPF Website. 

With our warm appreciation and best wishes.
May the coming year be filled with
Peace, Joy and Happiness for you and your family!

December 2008

Vol 3, Issue 26

Global Leaders Endorse "One Big Family Under God" in Manila

Manila, Philippines - Religious and political leaders from various nations shared the limelight on December 13 in front of thousands of people at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila in a show of unity and symbolic breaking of cultural barriers to become "one big family under God" during the Global Peace Festival.
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Making Solomon Islands a Model Nation of Peace in Oceania

Honiara, Solomon Islands - "Under the motto of One Family under God, everyone can learn to live in harmony," according to the chair of the Global Peace Festival-Solomon Islands, Hon. Augustine Taneko, a Member of Parliament.

The GPF comes on the heels of a tumultuous time in the history of the Solomon Islands due to civil wars and riots. The capital Honiara is still recovering from the wounds of ethnic conflicts between the indigenous population of Guadalcanal and migrants from the island of Malaita. Also, a riot that burned down Chinatown left emotional and psychological scars that are painful and worrisome.

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Feature Video

Speakers at Interfaith Youth Leaders Forums

Interfaith Youth Leaders Forums

Pabari: Hinduism
Aycil: Islam
Engle: The New Seminary
Gentile: Sufi Islam
Nachef: Catholicism
Singh: Sikhism
Fong: Unificationism
Garibay: Buddhism
Dundonon: Islam
Haines: Unificationism
Chaggar: Sikhism
Shah: Jainism
Patel: Hinduism

Spreading the Vision of One Family Under God in Brasilia

Brasilia, Brazil - Bishop Manoel Ferreira mobilized his family and the Assemblies of God Church leaders in Brazil to prepare for the Global Peace Festival in Brazil and to make it into a successful event. After attending a breakfast planning meeting, they invited GPF chairman Dr. Hyun Jin Moon and his party to visit the Brasilia headquarters of the Assemblies of God Church. Bishop Ferreira asked Dr. Moon to offer a prayer of blessing, and afterwards they planted trees in the courtyard
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FREE- UPF Today ( PDF)

New York - Free PDF of UPF Today in Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish on UPF Website.

December 2008

Vol 3, Issue 25

UPF Announces Human Rights Portal to Commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->New York, USA - On December 2nd, 2008, in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, more than 300 religious, political and civil rights leaders gathered at the United Nations to discuss how to best respond to the disturbing new wave of human rights violations around the world.

To honor this historic event, UPF has created a special website portal with videos of keynote speeches, including talks by these passionate youth:http://www.upf.org/un/humanrights.

More UPF News

International Volunteer Day in Gama, Brazil

World AIDS Day Fliers Distributed in Brazil

University Beauty Pageant in Manila Finds Beauty in Service

Update on Supporting Success Scholarship Challenge

Hondurans Celebrate International Volunteer Day

Brasilia GPF: Brazil Could Participate in a Global Peace Corps

Brasilia, Brazil - With more than 20,000 noisy Brazilians of all ages filling the Nelson Nilson stadium with noise and enthusiasm, Bishop Manoel Ferreira, the tireless chairman and promoter of the Global Peace Festival (GPF) held in Brasilia last weekend could perhaps at last afford himself a quiet smile of satisfaction."This is a very important time for Brazil," he told reporters. "We are one of the fastest growing nations in the world, and it is time for us to show the world what we can do." Although Brazil has its full share of social and economic problems, the most urgent problems facing its 180 million people are not primarily material or economic, but moral and spiritual, Ferreira said.

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Small Acts of Selfless Service in Manila

Manila, Philippines - Partnering with government and agencies of social change, the Global Peace Festival is helping create a new sense of civic pride in cities around the world - what it calls a "culture of service." Even small acts of service will help to create a new ethos of cooperation and civic involvement. In the business world they call it "buzz marketing." One of the three main components of the Global Peace Festival is the social impact component. The main objective is to teach young people the value of selfless service. But it is not a concept that can be learned in a book - it has to be experienced.
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Lebanese Youth Reach out to Others During a Weekend of Service

Beirut, Lebanon - Recording stories for blind children, planting olive trees for peace, singing songs with orphans, distributing flyers against drunk driving, playing games in a home for abandoned street children, and clearing a park area for a women's center: these were some of the social projects which volunteers carried out during the Lebanon Youth Service Weekend on November 14 to 16 under the umbrella of the Global Peace Festival's new national service program.
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Youth Leaders Promote Human Rights at Interfaith Forums

"The world is suffering not only because of the actions of evil people but because of the silence of good people." This challenge to speak up was issued by Aliya Khan, a Muslim speaker at the Interfaith Youth Leaders Forum held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on December 2, the fourth in a series of recent youth leaders forums.
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Peace Music Community Launched

Peace Music Community is a new online community of musicians dedicated to the ideal of using their creative abilities for peace. You can upload photos, video and audio, share with friends and colleagues via forums and blogging, chat, etc.
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FREE- UPF Today ( PDF)

<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->New York - Free PDF of UPF Today in Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish on UPF Website.