Stories from around the globe show how a united world is already in motion. This platform highlights experiences, initiatives, and projects from people and communities working for unity and peace. Explore what’s happening and get inspired.
<p><a href="index.php?option=com_docman&view=document&alias=94-appeal-uwp-2015&category_slug=english&Itemid=138&lang=en" target="_blank" class="doclink">download</a></p> <p></p> <p>To International and National Institutions.<br />To International and National Organisations</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;">APPEAL</h2> <h1 style="text-align: center;">#SIGNUPFORPEACE</h1> <p>We represent “Youth for a United World” and are part of the Focolare Movement, which began in 1943 arising out of the experience of Chiara Lubich. We are young people from all over the world who belong to different religions, cultures, beliefs and traditions. We identify with the principle of universal fraternity and are committed to living according to the “Golden Rule” which invites us to do to others what we would like done to us. At international level we work in collaboration with the NGO New Humanity.</p> <p>We are aware of the current global scene in which many conflicts cause migrations of peoples fleeing from violence, extreme poverty, hunger and social injustices, which they are victims of in their own countries. We are deeply affected by all this suffering and are personally committed to finding practical solutions. Our projects and actions for peace are called “seeds of fraternity” and are part of the overall United World Project (www.unitedworldproject.org).<br />Universal fraternity cannot be achieved only through individual good will. We believe direct action by politicians is needed to address the causes of conflicts and the factors that generate inequality.</p>
<p><em>We are in a Third World War, we must be aware. The waves of migrants are a result of the conflicts that must be known in their origin. The task that the policy can not avoid is to find a solution</em></p> <p>This morning while reading the newspapers and on the web I focus on the news about the countries of origin of migrants who knock Europe.</p> <p><strong>Afghanistan:</strong> the Taliban release 355 inmates from Ghazni prison.<br /> <strong>Pakistan:</strong> governative bombings in Waziristan, Taliban and civilian victimes.<br />
<p><em>Tsipras wins the elections as expected and will govern again with the right wings allies of Anel. The unknowns of the future</em></p> <p><span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="E così Tsipras è di nuovo a capo della politica greca.">So <strong>Tsipras</strong> is again at the head of Greek politics. </span><span title="I mercati, la Ue, gli stessi greci non ne sono poi così scontenti, anche se la partecipazione al voto è stata bassa, poco più di un elettore su due si è infatti recato alle urne. ">The markets, the EU, the Greeks themselves are not all that unhappy, although the turnout was low, little more than one voter out of two fact went to the polls.</span></span></p>
<p><em>The campaign, Change for the planet – Care for the people, promots sustainable lifestyles in view of the upcoming Conference on the Climate in Paris, France. Bernd Nills, Secretary General of the CIDSE (a network of Catholic agencies for development) meets with Maria Voce, president of the Focolare. Working with institutions and mobilizing the base.</em></p> <p>Networked for the common good, in the aftermath of <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="_blank"><em>Laudato Si’</em></a>, which asks for immediate concrete action, includes many others besides Bernd Nilles and Maria Voce, who all met at the International Centre of the Focolare in Rocca di Papa, Italy, on September 9, 2015, together with co-president Jésus Moran and several collaborators representing the youth and several agencies of the Focolare (<a href="http://www.afnonlus.org/" target="_blank">AFN</a>, <a href="http://www.new-humanity.org/it/" target="_blank">New Humanity</a>, <a href="http://www.amu-it.eu/?lang=it" target="_blank">AMU</a>, <a href="http://edc-online.org/" target="_blank">EoC</a>).<strong><br /> </strong></p>
<p><em>The current election campaign. The appeal of Aung San Suu Kyi and the hope for a real change after years of oppressive military dictatorship. The problem of extremist fringe of <em>theravada-Burmese</em> Buddhism<br /></em></p> <p>November 8 Myanmar will live a moment that we hope will be a turning point in the history of the country. Over 30 million citizens will go to the polls for elections that are supposed to represent a "real political and administrative change" in the words of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, charismatic and historical leader of the opposition to the military power that controls the country for decades with an iron fist. Just Aung San Suu Kyi has launched the campaign with a social message asking, among other things, to the international community to ensure the elections to be conducted in a free and truly democratic way.</p>
<p><em>A daily influx of thousands of refugees crossing the Hungarian border and heading for Austria and Germany have created an emergency situation which is difficult to manage. Then, there are people whose sense of humanity often wins out.</em></p> <p><strong></strong>Viktoria Bakacsi and Laszlo Vizsolyi from the Focolare Movement in Hungary write: <strong>“Every day we encounter suffering under so many guises, right outside the doors of our homes. </strong>We listened to the words of Pope Francis and are now trying to put them into practice even more.”</p> <p><strong>“For months,” they write, “there has been a continual influx of refugees. </strong>Some two thousand people arrive in Hungary every day: families with children, exhausted. Despite the general chaos, many people are stepping out and giving a helping hand, people belonging to civic groups and church organisations.”</p>
<p><em>A village at the entrance of the forest where the ideal of brotherhood is translated into concrete decisions in favour of the common good: a house for guests, a rice bank, a health centre and child care. Gilbert’s story.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Seven kilometres into the forest, reachable on foot or by <em>baka </em>(van), </strong>which is the only thing capable of travelling over the mud and holes during the rainy season, lies the village of Glolé. It is one of eighteen Cantons in the region of Tonkpi, northwest of the Ivory Coast. There is no electricity, and therefore no television, internet or shops. Many of the people in that region have been touched by Chiara Lubich’s ideal of brotherhood. They live it in their daily lives beginning with putting into practice the Word of the Gospel; even the social and political structures have been gradually enriched and illuminated by the experience.
<p>We are the "Youth for a United World", and looking at the global situation and what is happening around the world, we feel the need and urgency to step in and do something about it. Driven by the experiences of many, we would like to propose a project to make an impact in our communities, in our country, in the institutions, in the social media and loudly declare, together with the whole Work of Mary, involving as many people as possible, that: ”WE WANT PEACE AND UNITY AMONG PEOPLES”.</p> <p>Therefore, we propose to everyone to begin, as a first step, from <strong>11 September 2015</strong> to:</p>
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
Every year, from May 1st to 7th, the United World Project support, together with the Focolare Movement and Youth for a United World (Y4UW), the United World Week, a global action where many people promote events and initiatives worldwide to foster dialogue, unity, and peace.
Dialogue & Interculture
Dialogue & Interculture
Dialogue & Interculture
United World Week
Here’s the key: knowing that we do not know. No one possesses the absolute Truth, and by engaging in dialogue with everyone we can grasp aspects or fragments of truth that help us reassemble a shattered vase that we can restore only if we are “together”.
Economy & Work
Anna Granata, professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca, reminds us that teaching peace is not an abstract utopia. It is something that happens every day in Italian classrooms among children with diverse stories, languages, and backgrounds.
Art & Social Commitment
Celebrated Marvel and DC artist Gabriele Dell’Otto invites us to consider the people who are working to build peace as the real superheroes of our world. A profound discussion on responsibility, citizenship, and the challenge of doing the extraordinary in our everyday lives.
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