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><em><em><span id="result_box" lang="en">Yesterday in Oslo the </span></em></em><em><em><span id="result_box" lang="en">Nobel Peace Prize ceremony for Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Sathyarti, awarded last October<span>.</span></span></em></em></p> <p>Two champions of children’s rights have been honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize at a ceremony in Oslo.</p> <p>The award was shared between Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi, 60, and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, at 17 the youngest person ever to receive it.</p>
<p><em>Super Soccer World 2014, a worldwide soccer tournament for teens who would like to use sports as an instrument for building relationships and for peace among different countries. There were 56 teams involved from various cities around the world.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>A soccer tournament where the winner is not one team but two and from different parts of the planet</strong> sometimes very far from each other? Where Art Play is practiced and awarded? Where the sponsors are willing to donate an amount for every goal as a contribution to finance scholarships for teens from disadvantaged countries? Many initiatives and projects of solidarity? A “third playing time”…?</p> <p><strong></strong><strong>«This and many other things were part of the Super Soccer World 2014</strong> – Federico Rovea, one of the organizers of the event shared with us. This sporting event was promoted by the “<a href="http://www.focolare.org/en/movimento-dei-focolari/un-popolo/rpu/" target="_blank">Teens for Unity</a>” of the Focolare Movment and <strong>involved 56 soccer teams from various cities in the world»</strong>.
<p><em><span id="result_box" lang="en">A memorial that has not only to remember but most of all to unite.</span></em></p> <p>‘The Ring of Memory’ memorial in northern France was designed to focus attention not on nations but on the individuals who lost their lives in World War One.</p> <p>Euronews correspondent Laurence Alexandrowicz met its creator, Architect Philippe Prost: “The shape of a ring came to me quite easily, to express an idea, of giving the concept of fellowship a shape.</p>
<p><em><span id="result_box" lang="en">What does it mean to live in war? What does it mean to see every day murder victims? A way out is still possible? A friend who lives in Damascus sent us this letter.</span><br /></em></p> <p>Dear all,<br /><strong>sorry that I have not written for a long time, but today, after being at a funeral of two young brothers, I thought I could no longer delay.</strong> <strong>The two brothers are uncles of a girl I know, one is 35 and the other is 37 years old.</strong> They were kidnapped a month ago, they had gone to protect their city from the "anti-government rebels;" for one month there has been no news .... but the other day they found them dead, disfigured, with their heads cut off! What a tragedy, what a pain .... <strong>One of them is married and has two daughters, his wife is pregnant and about to give birth this month.</strong> In front of this pain, there are no words, there was a sadness that breaks my heart apart ... I said to myself "My God, how long, how long must this war go on? This is enough!" Greeting the family, I felt I was giving the embrace of the whole church and all of you who pray and offer for peace.</p>
<p><em>Pope Francis and leaders of the Orthodox, Anglican, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist faiths sign a Joint Declaration in the Vatican today. Through the latter, the Global Freedom Network (GFN), which is behind the initiative, wants a common commitment to inspire spiritual and practical action by all faiths and people of goodwill everywhere to eradicate modern slavery, a practice that affects 36 million people.</em></p> <p>Vatican City (AsiaNews) - For the first time in history, the religious leaders world's Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists are scheduled to sign a declaration calling for the eradication of modern slavery.</p> <p>The leaders of the Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Churches, as well as Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths make their commitment against slavery today in a Joint Declaration at the Vatican, on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.</p>
<p><em>Around a hundred scholars coming from 25 countries, from the three monotheistic religions, to make an in-depth study together on the dignity and the role of the woman in building peace.</em></p> <p>«<strong>To create</strong> <strong>a network of women,</strong> going beyond the diversity of religion and culture; to make an in-depth study of the sacred texts so as to regain the place of the woman in today’s society; and to promote interreligious dialogue with a more human dimension»; here are some of the conclusions of the<strong> International Symposium</strong> that took place <strong>last November <strong>12 and 13, in Rabat, the capital of</strong></strong> <strong>Morocco</strong>.
<p><em>"What if I offer him the water bottle I just bought?" Sometimes a simple act of love is enough</em></p> <p>It was a hot day. I had just arrived in the big city after a two-hour train ride for a doctor’s appointment. I was travelling alone, and although the train ride was pleasant, it was a difficult one for me as I was still recovering from major brain surgery. When I got there, I had to take a taxi to reach the neurologist’s office.</p> <p>This leg of the trip was much shorter, but it was much more painful because of the bumpy roads. The young driver wove quickly through the traffic. I was tempted to ask him to slow down and be more careful, knowing that if I mentioned the recent surgery he would understand. However, I remembered that we can find God in our brothers and sisters (see Ps. 36:9), so instead of demanding kindness, I decided to take the first step.</p>
<p><em>A second instalment is sent with funds raised in September. The fate of East-West relations is being played out in the Middle East and Iraq. Pope Francis and the Synod issue an appeal. Governments are lukewarm. Aid is coming from around the world. A new international community is defeating the "globalisation of indifference."</em></p> <p>Rome (AsiaNews) - Thanks to the generosity of many readers and friends of AsiaNews, the campaign "Adopt a Christian from Mosul" has raised nearly 700,000 euros (almost US$ 900,000) to fund the basic needs of Christian and Yazidi refugees in Kurdistan, who fled the violence and cruelty. On 10 October, we sent the bishops - who like their faithful are also refugees - a second instalment of 393,297.76 euros raised in September. With 279,219.96 euros raised in August, the total amount sent comes to 672,517.72 euros.</p>
<p><em>EoC entrepreneur Gonzalo Perrín's experience told at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Argentina) during the event: "Subsidiarity: An Entrepreneurial Commitment".</em></p> <p><strong>Gonzalo Perrín</strong> would never have imagined becoming the manager of a company producing biscuits at the age of only 29. He did his studies and was preparing to work in the hospitality industry but when he got to know the EoC, he felt contaminated by its philosophy and did not hesitate to leave everything behind. Today he is the director of the company named <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.descubriendosabores.com.ar">Pasticcino</a></strong>, a factory inside the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mariapolis.org.ar/polo-solidaridad/">Polo Solidaridad</a> where 2.500.000 biscuits for coffee are produced monthly to be then distributed to 25 chain stores. Actually, at the moment there are plans to set up a branch office in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.edc-online.org/en/eoc/industrial-parks/polo-spartaco-en.html">Polo Spartaco</a>, in Sao Paulo (Brazil).
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.
EN
