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>Myanmar, a land with more than 50 million inhabitants, located in Southeast Asia. In one small village in the south of the country a project is underway producing biogas electrical energy. It is the fruit of a common effort.</em></p> <p><strong>“Ever since 1860,”</strong> parish priest Father. Carolus Su Naing recounts, “the parish has served the local church by focusing on the social and pastoral development of the local people, and over time four parishes were begun: Pinle, Aima, Pein ne gone, Myitkalay and Wakema where over 8,000 Catholics are living. Kanazogone has always played a vital role in caring for the neediest people in the region. In 2008, when cyclone “Nargis” hit the delta region, our village became a centre for refugees: more than 3000 people who had been hit by the cyclone.”</p>
<p> </p> <p><em>It's the important result by Cluster Munition Coalition, five years from the singning conference of the Convention in Oslo in 2008.</em></p> <p><strong>Thousands of civilian lives</strong> are being saved by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions since it opened for signature five years ago today, said the Cluster Munition Coalition.</p> <p><strong>Five years on from the signing</strong> conference of the convention in Oslo on 3 December 2008, more half the world’s nations have already joined the treaty, creating a powerful global stigma against the use of this indiscriminate weapon.</p>
<p><em>Egyptian Christians celebrated Christmas Mass across the mainly Muslim nation on Monday night amid tight security.</em></p> <p><strong>There were fears that Islamic</strong> militants loyal to ousted President Mohamed Mursi would target them claiming they played a large role in the protests which lead up to his removal.</p> <p><strong>But worshippers are resting</strong> their hopes for the future in the adoption of Egypt’s new constitution which criminalises discrimination.</p> <p><strong>“We thank God on this day</strong> which made all of us united, the state has made this day an official holiday for all Egyptians, Christmas comes this year at the beginning of a new phase in the history of our beloved Egypt, in the implementation of the constitution,” said Archpriest: Saleeb Matta Sawiris.
<p><em>It's the first time. Equal "without discrimination" for the law.</em></p> <p><strong>The absolute equality</strong> between men and women entering for the first time in the Tunisian constitution.<i></i></p> <p><strong>The Constituent Assembly</strong> of Tunisia has approved today (December 6, <em>ndr.</em>) an article of the draft Constitution which introduces for the first time in the country equality "without discrimination" for the law between "citizens and citizens."</p> <p><strong>Article 20</strong> was approved with 159 votes in favor out of 169.
<p><em>Civilizations and migrations of over 40 countries at MAMT.</em></p> <p><strong>A 'prayer room' open to all monotheistic religions</strong> of the Mediterranean will be inaugurated Friday (Dicember 19th, <em>ndr.</em>) by Imam Hamid Saydawi. The event is part of the symbolic opening of the Mediterranean Museum of Art, Music and Traditions (MAMT) in Naples, Italy. ''The room is a place of worship for Muslims and all those who believe in a single God,'' said Fondazione Mediterraneo president Michele Capasso. ''Within is a mihrab and two rare writings on the name of Allah. The first, donated by the Sultunate of Oman, means 'Merciful and Forgiving God', and is carved into the covering of the Kaaba built in Masjid al-Haram in central Mecca, the holiest place for Islam. The second, given by the Kingdom of Morocco, means 'God is Great and there is no God but God', and was made by Moroccan craftsmen of long ago.''</p>
<p style="text-align: right;"> </p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>Initiative of "City Angels" organization. A group of students as waiters.</em></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Not vip but only a small army</strong> of thirty students aged 14 to 18 years to serve about 200 homeless and 'new poor', the unemployed, who have lunch at the Principe di Savoia, the historic five-star hotel of Milan.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>The initiative, sponsored by the "City Angels"</strong> organization, was wanted by the manager, Ezio Indians, and saw the valuable contribution of the godmother of 'association, Daniela Javarone.</p>
<p><em>The story of a group of young Muslims of the Focolare community in a north African country. The discovery of the power of love that goes beyond every difference.</em></p> <p><strong>For a long time we thought</strong> that it wouldn’t be possible to have any relationship with Christian young people in such a deep way. But the things that come from God can’t lack harmony.</p> <p><strong>We are Muslims,</strong> by culture and by conviction. We come from a country, Algeria, where nearly everyone is Muslim, where contacts with other religions are extremely rare or, more usually, completely inexistent.<br />Certainly, introducing into our lives a Movement rooted in Christianity is a real challenge. In first place, this is because our cultures are so different – with differences encouraged by political ideas and by history, which are made more intense by many social and cultural obstacles.
Dialogue & Interculture
New Humanity NGO presented the M.E.D.I.T.erraNEW project — co-financed by the Erasmus Plus Program — to the Youth Section of UNESCO in Paris.
Peace & Human Rights
Amid the rubble of Syria, art becomes an act of resistance. Discover the story of Aeham Ahmad, the “The Pianist of Yarmouk”, who defied the horror of war with the invincible beauty of his musical notes.
Operation Mato Grosso is working on over 100 missions across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, all rooted in education, hard work, and solidarity. Jacopo Manara, who has been a volunteer for years, tells us their story.
An interview on communication with Michele Zanzucchi, journalist and writer, former director of Città Nuova, professor of communication at Sophia University Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and author of around forty books.
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