You are invited to share your meals with a starving child or refugee.

Through responding to this mangoBanana fast & share invitation, you can share your food with a child or a refugee who is starving today, as every other day. You can choose to fast on one day of the week and the child or the refugee will be able to eat for the whole week, from what you did not eat on that one day.

This is how you can do your mangoBanana fast & share:

On one day every week, you can choose voluntarily not to eat anything or just the absolute minimum. The money you do not spend on food or on other consumption on that day will be transformed into food for a starving child or refugee whom you will learn to know. This is not a donation of your money. This is sharing your food with someone who has no food today.

You are also invited to have an ownership in this initiative and play a leadership role by helping us designing and building up a system of food sharing with reliable international partners that will guarantee that the equivalent of every chunk of banana or mango, or anything else you choose not to eat, will reach your fast & share partner who is starving today but will not have to tomorrow.

For getting involved in or more details about the mangoBanana fast & share please contact Gabriella or Geza on: info@intercivil.net. Thank you.

The Intercivil Society, London © MMXI – MMXII

The Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro inaugurated the debate, followed by remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Besir Atalay, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Mr. Gonzalo de Benito, and former Portuguese President and UNAOC High Representative, Mr. Jorge Sampaio. The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser moderated the opening session.

The role of youth in particular is a major centerpiece of the conversations taking place today. Dr. Migrio, the Deputy Secretary-General, in particular emphasized this point stating:

“The older generation needs to follow the lead of young people and leave their stereotypes behind, open their minds to difference and accept the others for all they have to bring. Today’s emerging generation is paving the way toward cross-cultural understanding; they are creating the conditions for the global community to go far beyond respect and understanding to engagement and real collaboration on common challenges.”

Dr. Migrio went on to talk about how young people are at the forefront of a new global dynamic that is transforming relations between governments and citizens: one in which governments are being held accountable in a much more meaningful way for their actions and policies. The UN, in her view, needs to encourage this as an institution and at a global level. Crucially, this approach also falls in line with one of the key strategic objectives of the UNAOC, which is to mainstream young people, an underrepresented majority, in political processes and decision making.

Mr. Lawrence Chuma, a Youth Solidarity Fund winner from Tanzania, Ms. Danya Bashir, a young leader from Lybia and Mr. Aleksandar Simic, a young music composer from Serbia underlined that knowledge and creativity were assets to be harnessed by Government decision-makers in creating, carrying out and monitoring national policies and programmes related to cultural diversity.

A report of the debate will soon be available on this website.

The Commonwealth Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a Special Grants Initiative for Civil Society Organisations and Commonwealth Associations in partnership with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) to undertake strategic and innovative projects that will promote the Commonwealth theme for 2012, “Connecting Cultures”.

The Commonwealth Foundation’s mission is to strengthen civil society organisations across the Commonwealth as they promote democracy, advance sustainable development and foster inter-cultural understanding. To deliver this mission the Foundation gives grants to promote dialogue, exchanges, and partnerships between Commonwealth peoples.

The “Connecting Cultures” Special Grants Initiative complements the existing Commonwealth Foundation’s programmes and grants and aims to create deeper understanding between different cultures within the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Foundation invites applicants to submit proposals exploring the connections between Diaspora groups across a number of different countries, for projects up to a total of £25,000.

Deadline for applications is 9 March 2012 (5.30 pm GMT).

All details can be found on the Commonwealth website.

Recognizing youth as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterized by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions, PLURAL+ invites youth to address key challenges in their communities related to migrant integration, inclusiveness, identity, diversity, human rights and social cohesiveness, both at local and global levels. Young people up to 25 years old are invited to submit short videos of five minutes maximum in length.

Marc Scheuer, Director of the UNAOC, said “PLURAL+ videos fit very well in this very relevant conversation: how to build more inclusive societies where we can all live together in harmony.” Michele Klein-Solomon, Permanent Observer to the United Nations, IOM, added “PLURAL+ videos touch very sensitive issues in a very real way. They look at the realities that people are facing; we like to see young people expressing their profound ideas in a manner that allows the opening of a dialogue.”

Independent media producer and PLURAL+ 2011 jury member Renzo Devia said, “I was amazed to see how these young film makers created these videos and I really appreciate the work they put into these productions. Probably the most impressive thing is the stories. I learned a lot from different cultures and social issues in various nations”.

PLURAL+ supports young people’s expression of their opinions by providing them with a variety of media platforms and distribution networks, including broadcasts, video festivals, conferences and events around the world. PLURAL+ not only provides young people with an effective platform to express themselves on key migration and diversity issues, but also reinforces the firm belief of IOM and UNAOC that youth are powerful and creative agents of social change.

A prestigious international jury will select three winners in each age categories (9-12, 13-17, 18-25). All the winners will be invited to New York, all travel expenses paid, to present their work at PLURAL + 2012 Awards Ceremony at the Paley Center for Media on 6th December 2012.

PLURAL+ partner organizations will also award other prizes and professional opportunities, such as winning participants presenting their work at film and video festivals, conferences and events around the world.

PLURAL + 2012 deadline for video submission is 1 July, 2012. Early submissions are encouraged. Further information, including guidelines, regulations, awards, and the entry form can be found at the PLURAL+ website at: http://pluralplus.unaoc.org

PLURAL+ is a joint project of the UNAOC and the IOM with the support of many international partners, including: Anna Lindh Foundation, Chinh India, Cine y Salud Spain, COPEAM, Universal Forum of Cultures Foundation, MEC Serbia, NEXOS, Roots&Routes Germany, Royal Film Commission Jordan, Without Borders Film Festival, SIGNIS, UN TV, UNESCO AV Platform, Turkish Cultural Center New York, Gulen Institute, TAL, Global Block, Scalabrini International Migration Network, Paley Center for Media and Red Unial.

For more information, please contact: plural@unaoc.org

Dear friends,

The UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) seeks to reduce tensions across cultural divides that threaten stability and peace among and between communities and societies. The Alliance welcomes efforts by states, civil society, and other actors to build trust and respect among diverse communities – including among religions.
We therefore welcome the UN General Assembly’s unanimous adoption on October 20th, 2010, of a Resolution establishing the World Interfaith Harmony Week, upon an initial proposal by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan on September 23rd 2010.
We note that the intent of the resolution is to be broad and inclusive, bringing together people of all religions, faiths, and beliefs.

We urge members of the Alliance of Civilizations, partners, civil society organizations, faith communities, universities, youth, and other sectors to visit the website established by the Jordanian government at www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com to learn more about the initiative and investigate ways in which they may promote the initiative, support it or get involved.

Furthermore, you will find below two notes prepared by the Secretariat of the Alliance that provides you with an overview of the initiative – please disseminate them to your own constituencies and partners. I thank you in advance for your kind collaboration.

Sincerely,

H.E. Mr. Jorge Sampaio, Former President of Portugal, United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations

Note 1: Background

World Interfaith Harmony Week, from 1 to 7 February 2012

On October the 20th 2010, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously established the World Interfaith Harmony Week through the adoption of a Resolution upon an initial proposal by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan on September 23rd 2010.

The UNGA Resolution on “World Interfaith Harmony Week” reaffirms that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of a culture of peace and it proclaims the first week of February of every year the World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs.

Therefore, it encourages all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world’s Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Temples and other places of Worship during that week based on Love of God and Love of the Neighbor, or based on Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions.

“The World Interfaith Week Harmony” is underpinned by the idea that there is a lot to be done by:
(1) ‘Co-ordinating and uniting the efforts of all the interfaith groups doing positive work with one focused theme at one specific time annually, thereby increasing their collective momentum and eliminating redundancy.
(2) Harnessing and utilizing the collective might of the world’s second-largest infrastructure (that of places of worship — the largest being that of education) specifically for peace and harmony in the world: inserting, as it were, the right ‘software’ into the world’s religious ‘hardware’.
(3) Permanently and regularly encouraging the silent majority of preachers to declare themselves for peace and harmony and providing a ready-made vehicle for them to do so. Moreover, if preachers and teachers commit themselves on the record once a year to peace and harmony, this means that when the next inter-religious crisis or provocation occurs, they cannot then relapse into parochial fear and mistrust, and will be more likely to resist the winds of popular demagoguery.’

Your help is very much needed. Specifically, we need and gratefully ask you to:
(1) Write a personal email or letter of support for this initiative and post it at www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com at the appropriate place.
(2) Forwarding an email to all those on your email list who you think might be interested in it and them to their friends and so on as much as possible.
(3) Posting any resources you think would be important to the theme of the World Interfaith Harmony Week at www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com at the appropriate place.
(4) Organizing an event as simple as a sermon or a lecture or an event on the first week of next February on the theme of Interfaith Harmony.
(5) Recording your event at www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com at the appropriate place according to your own country.
(6) Consult the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations website (www.unaoc.org) to find inspiration to develop your own project for the 2012 world interfaith harmony week.

Note 2: Get involved!

The World Interfaith week Harmony between all religions, faiths and beliefs aims at celebrating Love of God and Love of the Neighbor or Love of the Good and Love of the Neighbor, each according to the various religious traditions or convictions.

By uniting all interfaith groups and faith communities — those consisting of hundreds of members as well as those of very few — but also by binding together all the world’s citizens of good will and by uniting our efforts between East and West, North and South, our combined efforts will have a greater impact for good.

From 1 to 7 February 2012, let us
- Use the second largest historical infrastructure on earth – places of worship – to help cement religious leaders in promoting interfaith harmony.
- Use schools – all kinds and levels – and classrooms to help disseminate among youth a culture of peace, respect, tolerance, harmony and human dignity.
- Use public zones of encounter – market places, parks, libraries, museums, community centers – to celebrate interfaith harmony and world peace.
- Use the workplace to organize a common event to enhance people’s knowledge, more tolerant attitudes and mutual respect.
- Use new technologies of information and communication, media and new media to help disseminate stories on the implementation of this initiative and make the headlines.
- Use this week to demonstrate that people from different communities can come together in harmony to serve a common humanity
- Use any other opportunities to implement this initiative and contribute to enlarge its scope.

Plan and organize your event and register it on the website
www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com

For additional information, please contact Helena Barroco, High Representative for UNAOC’ office in Lisbon, hbarroco@netcabo.pt

A number of concrete projects, partnerships and policy recommendations have been developed at the Forum, including several under the Youth Program of the UNAOC. Specifically, during the Youth Preparatory Event, young leaders met to debate on key aspects of cross-cultural and interreligious understanding. Several concrete projects were developed as an outcome, including an on-line youth-lead campaign against the use of xenophobic rhetoric in political discourse, an on-line global dialogue with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, etc. Also, Youth Recommendations were drafted and then shared with world leaders during the Forum Opening Ceremony on December 11. More information on these initiatives will soon be posted on the UNAOC Youth Website.

The Youth Preparatory Event is an integral part of the UNAOC Forum and a vital opportunity for youth to meet and interact with decision-makers from various fields, including politics, civil society, media and religious institutions. The Doha Youth Preparatory Event counted on the support of the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation and its International Youth Council, which were also the organizers of this large gathering of youth at the United Nations.

For more information about the UNAOC Youth Program, please contact Ms. Isabelle Legare, Youth Program Manager at isabellel@unops.org.

(Photograph by Amrita Jayakumar)

The main objective of the Forum is to provide a platform for leaders such as heads of states, members of the media, representatives from NGOs, as well as multilateral, civil society and youth organizations, etc. to meet and have constructive discussions on the priorities of the UNAOC, i.e. intercultural dialogue and understanding and promotion of peaceful coexistence.

A total of 470 youth from over 100 countries took part in the Forum. On December 10, during the Youth Preparatory Event, this diverse group of young leaders met to debate the main theme of the Forum as well as their role in achieving the Alliance’s objectives.

The main outcome of these preparatory discussions was the drafting of Youth Recommendations to world leaders on specific policies that affect the lives of young people, and on ways to enhance and build on the achievements of young people in bridging cultural divides. These recommendations were presented on December 11, during the Forum’s opening plenary.

These 470 young leaders represented a variety of youth-led organization such as national youth councils, NGOs, youth networks and youth media that are active in their communities and are committed to the UNAOC principle. Traveling from as far as Senegal, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Yemen, Ecuador and Canada, youth also contributed to the discussions during the Forum itself through their own unique experience, expertise and thoughts on the various themes discussed.

His Excellency Dr. Jorge Sampaio, United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations first addressed the audience: “We have all witnessed a turning point that will forever change the way that young people shape their societies. You are finding new ways to ensure that your desires and efforts to achieve positive social change are recognized. Your presence here is a sign of that and I can very much appreciate this, including from a personal point of view”.

Other outcomes of the Youth Preparatory Event include an on-line youth campaign calling on political leaders, decision-makers and citizens to speak out against fear, intolerance and xenophobia, as well as the organization of an online forum on the links between diversity and sustainable development with youth, Professor Jeffrey Sachs and his colleagues at the Earth Institute.

The Youth Preparatory Event is an integral part of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum and is a vital opportunity for youth to meet and interact with decision-makers from various fields, including politics, civil society, media and religious institutions. The Doha Youth Preparatory Event was organized in collaboration with the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation and its International Youth Council as well as the World in Conversation Project.

Theme: Alliance of Civilizations and Serbia – “Embracing Civilizations’’

The contest opens on Monday, 03 October 2011, at 00:00:01 and closes on Thursday, 20 October 2011, 11:59:00

Only images not yet published may be submitted

Eligibility: 18 years and older

Award: attending the 4th Global Forum of the Alliance in Doha (Qatar) and taking part in an amazing event in December 2011

Submit your photo via http://www.unphotocontest.rs

The e-discussion is intended to serve as a forum for young people and youth-led organizations to share their own views, experiences and recommendations on preparing for, entering, and remaining active in the workforce. Throughout each week, a broad theme will be explored in depth from a social lens through diverse views and perspectives.

The e-discussion will be held in three languages (English, Spanish, French).

This consultation will take place on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147059458722534

The videos in the Generation 9/11 video project feature the opinions of young adults from the U.S., Pakistan, Egypt, Morocco and Hungary, who ranged from school-aged to recent college graduates at the time of the attacks. Now they are making their way in the world as young professionals working in journalism, the arts, international relations and other fields. Their responses to September 11 have impelled them to travel and study abroad, volunteer in diverse ethnic and religious communities, engage in cross-cultural dialogue, and record their observations in a range of media.

The Generation 9/11 video project is a joint endeavor of the British Council’s Our Shared Future and Transatlantic Networks 2020 (TN2020) projects, and videos were edited by TN2020 member Gabriella Kessler. The videos in this album reflect the personal views of the participants, and the British Council bears no responsibility for their content or the views expressed within them.

For more information as well as to see the videos, please go to http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-intercultural-dialogue-generation-9-11