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"lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses"
-Baha'u'llah
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Promoting
social harmony in Europe
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STRASBOURG,
France, 11 February 2004 (BWNS) --
An exhibition on social harmony at the main
building of the European Parliament was
officially inaugurated at a reception here on 10
February.
Titled
"The Baha'i International Community:
Promoting Unity in Diversity throughout Europe
for over a Century," the display will grace
the first floor gallery of the Winston Churchill
Building until 12 February 2004.
More
than 150 people -- including some 30 members of
the Parliament -- attended the reception, which
featured an address by Baroness Sarah Ludford, a
member of the European Parliament from the
United Kingdom who sponsored the exhibition. |
Baroness Sarah Ludford (second from right)
standing with Baha'i representatives, Kazem and
Christine Samandari (left) and Laszlo Farkas
(right).
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There are
well-established Baha'i communities -- headed by
national-level governing councils -- in all 15 member
nations of the European Union, as well as in the ten
acceding nations.
"I
believe this little-known religion of global reach is of
interest to people like ourselves who work in an
international context in this expanding and enlarging
European Parliament," said Baroness Ludford.
She said
that Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith,
"warned of the dangers of unconstrained nationalism
and called for a system of global governance, which has
led Baha'is to be particular supporters of the United
Nations."
"He
would have applauded the success of the European Union
in ensuring collective security and protecting human
rights," said Baroness Ludford, who is not a
Baha'i.
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The
exhibition was created by the Baha'i International
Community to welcome the 10 new states that will
join the European Union on 1 May 2004.
It
specifically showcases the contributions that
Baha'i communities in Europe have made towards
promoting unity among diverse peoples.
Also
addressing the reception was Dr. Laszlo Farkas, a
representative of the national governing council
of the Baha'is of Hungary, which is one of the 10
new countries joining the EU.
"For
us, the unification of different cultures and
peoples is a natural process," said Dr.
Farkas. "Baha'is both in Europe and in the
whole world are working for this unified human
family." |
Elmar Brok (center), a German member of the
European Parliament and Baha'i representative
Peter Amsler (left) with another attendant at the
exhibition's opening. |
Other
dignitaries at the reception included several judges
from the European Court of Human Rights, representatives
of the Council of Europe, members of the European
Commission, and a number of ambassadors and diplomats.
As well, a number of prominent personalities from the
Strasbourg region were present.
Composed of
17 panels, the display tells the story, through words
and photographs, of how the Baha'i communities of Europe
have sought to promote peace, cross-cultural
integration, religious tolerance, and business ethics
through a variety of concrete projects and actions.
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Baroness Ludford (center) with Ronald Mayer,
the ambassador of Luxembourg to the Council of
Europe and the European Parliament (left) and
Ulrich Bohner, chief executive of the Congress of
Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (right).
Photo by European Parliament.
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"The
idea of social harmony, which this exhibition
seeks to promote, is of critical importance as the
European Union becomes larger," said Lucien
Crevel, chairman of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha'is of France, one of the 37
national Baha'i governing councils in Europe.
"Over
the years, the Baha'i communities of Europe have
sought to engender and encourage social harmony
and progress, through a wide range of activities.
It is this experience, which the exhibition seeks
to highlight, that we hope will be helpful to the
Parliament, and its members," said Mr. Crevel.
The
exhibition, for example, takes note of projects
like The Institute for Social Cohesion, which was
established in 2001 by the Baha'i community of the
United Kingdom to promote cross-cultural harmony.
It
also highlights the Baha'i International
Community's innovative collaboration with the
Stability Pact for Eastern Europe (formerly known
as the Royaumont Process) to strengthen stability
and interethnic communication in Southeastern
Europe.
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And
it discusses projects in some of the new
member-states, such as the Mesed (Story-telling
Mothers) of Hungary, which empowers women to work
for greater social harmony.
"Baha'is are convinced of the necessity of
international collaboration and support the
principles underlying the European Union,"
said Christine Samandari, representative of the
Baha'i International Community, noting that the
Baha'i Faith was first established in Europe in
1898.
Baha'is
reside in more than 6,000 localities throughout
Europe, and they have established some 976 locally
elected governing councils, which administer their
communities at the local level. As noted, they
have national governing councils in 37 European
countries. |
Baroness Ludford with Michael Gahler (right), a
German member of the European Parliament, and
Baha'i representatives Barney Leith (left) and
Daniel Wheatley (second from right). Photo by
European Parliament. |
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| Published in
www.Bahaiworldnews.org |
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