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> </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.teens4unity.net/home_ita.html" target="_blank">The Young for Unity</a> in Cordoba, Argentina, go to the streets, to help restore order and melt tensions following serious social uprisings that began with police strikes</em></p> <p><strong>Cordoba is a city of 1.2 million inhabitants</strong> in the heart of Argentina. Provincial police began protesting for higher wages, leading to strikes that left the streets without police protection. Two people died and more than a thousand commercial centres, private homes and a Caritas warehouse were assaulted by groups of organized criminal delinquents on December 13th and 14th. A curfew was enforced on the citizens who remain locked in their homes, public offices, schools and universities. Public transportation was no longer in service.</p> <p><strong>The mediation carried out by Comipaz</strong> (interreligious committee), through the intervention of Auxiliary Bishop Pedro Javier Torres, Rabbi Marcelo Polakoff and religious leaders from several other confessional groups helped to re-establish calm.<br />By noontime on December 4th they reached an agreement between the parties, following which the police slowly regained control of the city.
<p><em>In Bethlehem, where the Secretariat of Youth for a United World are meeting in these days with the Youth for a United World of the Holy Land. This is the initiative for this period to trasform each city capable of welcoming the lonely ones,the marginalized, the poor and the homeless.</em></p> <p><strong>Christmas in Bethlehem!</strong> “It’s a unique opportunity to crown this year through our meeting with the Holy Land Youth for a United World”, shared Maria Guaita, Andrew Camilleri and Claudia Barrero, from the Y4UW international secretariat.</p> <p style="display: inline !important;"> </p> <p style="display: inline !important;"><strong>What significance does it have for you</strong> to spend Christmas in the Holy Land? We have welcomed this invitation as a proposal to all the Youth for a United World spread all over the planet – narrates Maria Guaita -. The Gospel narrates that Mary and Joseph found no inn to lodge: “the Word came to his own and his own people did not accept him.” We wish to welcome him especially in the lonely ones, the marginalized, the poor and the homeless. Therefore, we commit ourselves to transform each of our cities into a small Bethlehem that hosts the nativity crib that offers a cradle to baby Jesus.”
<p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><em>Parliamentary polls were also taking place and this could mean a power-sharing deal is necessary.<br /></em></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><strong>Madagascar has been voting</strong> in round two of a presidential poll, which it is hoped will help one of Africa’s poorest <br />nations emerge from political, economic and social crisis.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><strong>It is the first such ballot</strong> since 2009 when democratically-elected Marc Ravalomanana was ousted in a military-backed takeover by incumbent President Andry Rajoelina.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; border-width: 0px;"><strong>Claims of fraud on both</strong> sides have not been confirmed by independent monitors and, according to Africa Diaspora in Europe Observer Olivier Combo, the vote unfolded peacefully.
<p><em>The World Day of Migrant and Refugees is celebrated every Dicember 18. We want remember it with the message of Jean Paul II in 2005.</em></p> <p><strong>International Migrants Day</strong>, proclaimed by the United Nations in 2000, invites countries to celebrate this date because: "We owe this to the millions of migrants who, through their courage, vitality and dreams, help make our societies more prosperous, resilient and diverse."</p> <p><strong>We want remeber this occasion</strong> with the message dated 2005 of Jean Paul II.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span></em></span></p> <p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">«<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><strong>1. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees</strong> is at hand. In the annual Message I usually address to you on this occasion, I would like this time to consider the phenomenon of migration from the perspective of integration.</span></span><strong>Many people</strong> use this word to denote the need for immigrants to be truly incorporated in the host country, but neither the content of this concept nor its practice is easy to define. In this regard I would like to sketch the picture by recalling the recent Instruction Erga migrantes caritas Christi (The love of Christ towards migrants) (cf. nos. 2, 42, 43, 62, 80, 89).</span></span></p>
<p><em>For "Protagonists of Fraternity" Chaira Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement that 7 December celebrated its seventy years old of foundation.Catholic, she was committed in person to building ecclesial communion, to ecumenism, to interreligious dialogue and among people of non-religious convictions.</em></p> <p><strong>Chiara Lubich (1920-2008), foundress of the Focolare Movement</strong> in 1943, is considered one of the most influential spiritual figures of the twentieth century. Catholic, she was committed in person to building ecclesial communion, to ecumenism, to interreligious dialogue and among people of non-religious convictions.</p> <p><strong>Decorated with 15</strong> honorary doctorates, in the most diverse disciplines, and with recognitions from national and international entities, as well as with honorary citizenships from major Italian cities and Buenos Aires, she tirelessly promoted a culture of unity and fraternity among peoples.</p> <p><strong>Historical profile</strong></p> <p><strong>Silvia, the baptismal name given to Chiara</strong>, was born in Trent on 22 January 1920. She was the second of four children, Gino, Liliana and Carla. Her father, Luigi Lubich, a wine-seller, ex-typesetter, anti-fascist and socialist, had once been a close colleague of the once socialist Benito, and later the unyielding political opponent of the fascist Mussolini. Her mother, Luigia, was animated by a strong traditional faith. (...)</p>
<p><em>The former British colony marks the passing of the anti-apartheid leader with a special event organised by an interfaith organisation at the South African High Commission in Colombo. Buddhist, Catholic, Christian and Hindu leaders offer a special prayer for the late president.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Sri Lanka "must nurture</strong> the values of forgiveness and reconciliation" as exemplified and promoted by Nelson Mandela, said Buddhist, Catholic, Christian and Hindu leaders from the Inter-Religious Peace Foundation (IRPF) at a special ceremony held last Wednesday in honour of the late leader and first post-Apartheid president of South Africa.</p> <p><strong>The event was held</strong> at the South African High Commission (Embassy) in Colombo and was Sri Lanka's way to pay tribute to Mandela. Many lay people from different religions also attended the gathering to honour Madiba with a special prayer.
<p> </p> <p> </p> <p><em>Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu meets with Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos in the capital Athens of Greece.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Turkish Foreign Minister has arrived</strong> 13 Dicember in Athens for talks with his Greek counterpart. The main focus of the meeting was the divided island of Cyprus.</p> <p><strong>Hopes were high negotiations</strong> would resume over the future of the island last month but they stuttered over the wording of a joint statement due to be made by the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.</p> <p><strong>“Turkey and Greece have supported</strong> every process towards a peace agreement for Cyprus. We wish for peace in the broader area of the Middle East which is affected by peace in Cyprus,” said Ahmet Davutoglu Turkish Foreign Minister. “It is crucial that any proposed solution must be ratified by the Cypriot people in a referendum. This is the final and essential criterion,” stressed Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
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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