Toward Peace in South Asia

Umeed-e-Milaap is an initiative by the core team of Techfest-IIT Bombay, in partnership with LUMS-Spades, Lahore, AIESEC, Karachi, and FAST, Karachi, to unite the students of India and Pakistan, brushing aside all their differences, and voice their opinion for a peaceful tomorrow. Their vision is to remove the existing misconceptions in the minds of young citizens of both countries and to build a future of harmony and partnership. More info from Ronnie@techfest.org

Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) is a think tank that helps policy makers to anticipate and shape, the future in uncertain times. It produces fresh perspectives, by combining research with policy change and conflict-resolution initiatives. SFG brings out confidential and public research reports. Its in-depth scenarios in the context of the war in Iraq, instability in Central Asia, religious extremism in Pakistan and India’s economy has earned SFG, a reputation for correct projections. Our current projects include Global Security issues, Terrorism and West Islam relations (www.strategicforesight.com).

Words fly away, Scripts remain
言葉は飛び去るが，書かれたものは残る
Les paroles s’envolent, les écrits restent
Worte verfliegen, Schriften bleiben.

A unique property of human beings is their faculty of transmitting to others their spiritual, and intellectual activity, their thoughts and feelings, by way of face or other body expressions, by speaking, writing, music composing and other art expressions. In my case, as the result of some 15 years of activity in promotion of the interreligious movement, I have tried to express the thoughts of myself and of some others in different writings. as compacted in this website, hoping they will be read and understood by many others. Your forwarding them to other members of the world family is highhly apprciated.

The Dialogue Institute works to transform the world into a global community by fostering interreligious and intercultural scholarship, understanding and cooperation. A nonprofit organization founded at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA) in 1978, the Dialogue Institute trains religious, civic and academic leaders in the skills of critical thinking and respectful dialogue so that they can build sustained relationships across lines of religious and cultural difference. Global and inclusive, the Dialogue Institute provides resources and creates networks of support among all those engaged in interreligious dialogue and action around the world.

Our Vision:
Honoring the many paths we walk and the uniqueness of each individual, we joyfully establish a meeting place where all may come together to foster peace, encourage learning, celebrate diversity, and co-create a world that works for all.

Our mission is to provide an opportunity for individuals from various faith and cultural backgrounds to come together for the promotion of peace in our community. To create an inclusive, family friendly festival. To celebrate our diversity, highlight service opportunities, and to invite the community to move beyond our differences to allow for greater understanding of our neighbors.

We enact our mission on the third Saturday of August through a day of family friendly live music, dance, cultural activities, panel discussions, workshops, food and more! Through the generosity of community sponsors, participants and volunteers, the Interfaith Peace Festival provides a free and fun opportunity for all to come together and celebrate our rich faith and cultural diversity. Our next event is Saturday, August 20th, 2011.