Taking Christian-Muslim relations in the UK to the next level
Photo Courtesy of Steve Mitton
by Reverend Dr. Richard Cheetham
London – In London, where I live, scarcely a day goes by without some media interest in relations between Muslims and Christians. Usually the coverage is negative and often implies that religion is a constant and inevitable source of conflict. The recent clashes between Muslims and Coptic Christians in Cairo which have left several dead and many injured, for example, have been widely reported in the British press.
There have been many statements of condemnation of these atrocities from Muslims and Christians alike, but unfortunately in such cases words are not enough. read more…
by Kimberly Anne Davis, age 14
Lucky
I never live somewhere too long.
I never planted a tree and watched it grow.
I never know where I will be next week.
I never wore hi-fashion clothes.
I never became “part of the crowd.”
There are other things I’ve never done.
I never was afraid to speak freely.
I never was scared to show my religion.
I never worried about unjust laws being made.
I never left flowers at a loved one’s grave,
who died so I might be free.
I never forget how lucky I am.
UN Photo: Child Boards MONUC Helicopter for Repatriation in DRC
Radio is an essential tool for facilitating dialogue and reconciliation, especially in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In 2009, a dispute over access to fishing and farming rights between the Munzaya and the Enyele communities escalated into serious violence, causing hundreds of deaths and the displacement of over 130,000 people. Search has been working for the past year toward intensive reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts, using radio as a key tool in the process; and the two communities are beginning to heal their divides. read more…
By Carolyn Thompson
It’s a tired old saying.
“You’re in Africa.”
People use it liberally, using it to justify all types of problems, struggles, frustrations, behaviors. And I know I do it too.
You’re in Africa, so expect things to take a long time. You’re in Africa, so expect there to be corruption. You’re in Africa, so expect men to be sexist, even abusive.
But then someone will remind you that generalizations are unfair. And a culture of war that comes from decades, even centuries of conflict, still doesn’t justify behavior you see.
Rape is not normal. Neither is sexism. Nor is corruption. read more…
A temporary transplant to Africa, Elise Webb, is getting her masters in Global Comparative Sociology from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She’ll be spending her summer in Rwanda as an international intern for SFCG, studying the Participatory Theatre program and assisting our staff with building more online avenues for conflict transformation. As one-time actress, current social researcher, and new blogger this program could not have been a better fit. Look for more updates from Elise’s time in Rwanda and read about the work we’re doing there!
The spectacular view from SFCG's office in Kigali (by Elise Webb)
By Elise Webb
After an Ethiopian Airlines flight squished between a snoring ex-pat and a lovely woman who smelled of stale pepper, I arrived a bit dazed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Two more plane stops and I was in Kigali, Rwanda being greeted by an enthusiastic man holding a SFCG sign and wearing a grin.
I was hurried into a taxi, where the driver sat on the right and then drove on the right too, a confusing prospect for an American with a steady diet of British movies. We careened around corners, flew past pedestrians who were strangely in the street next to the sidewalk, and zoomed by “Saloons” offering “Pedicures and Manicures.” I was entranced. This is my first visit to Africa and the sights and smells were as exciting as they were overwhelming. I have spent my first five days here just getting adjusted, to the time zones, to the anti-malaria meds, to the sounds, and the people. read more…
Tourists and locals alike relax in Iceland's famous blue lagoon -- The world's most peaceful country according to the 2011 GPI.
The Institute for Economics and Peace just released their 2011 Global Peace Index. The world’s leading measure of global peacefulness, this index produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace takes looks at 23 indicators of peace in 153 countries.
For the third year now, the world has grown less peaceful.
Interestingly enough the most dramatic changes in this year’s peace index are due to internal conflict—between citizens and their governments—and not warfare between countries. The impact of ‘Arab Spring’ can be seen in the Egypt, Bahrain and Libya, who all saw a drop in their rankings. Libya’s was the most drastic since the survey has been conducted, falling a record 83 places.
One of the strongest takeaways is the cost of conflict. In the last year violence has cost the global economy US$8.12 trillion! If the world had been even 25% less violent during the past five years, it would have resulted in a savings of US$9.4 trillion!
Watch the video below, to see just how much change that could buy:
Explore more of this fascinating study here.
What stands out most to you? What’s most surprising?
