HOUSE OF LORDS, LONDON, UK, 21 NOVEMBER 2022 – Developed over a decade of international dialogue and consultation, the Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation was launched at the 3^rd Peace Forum held on 21 November 2022 at the House of Lords in Westminster, London.  The distinguished venue, at the heart of Westminster democracy, provided a most appropriate backdrop for the innovative Peace Charter that has the potential to be truly transformative..  At the event, the unveiling of its Preamble and 18 Principles were discussed through key sessions that exemplified the Charter’s applicability. In particular, the issues of peacebuilding and climate change were discussed through an alternative lens of forgiveness and reconciliation so that they could be approached to become a pivotal agenda for societies worldwide. 

The launch of the Peace Charter marked the culmination of more than a decade of international consultation, symposia and seminars between profound thinkers and peace practitioners across a spectrum of secular and religious standpoints.  In particular, the event aimed to raise awareness amongst civic leaders and parliamentarians about positive social outcomes where forgiveness and reconciliation are both identified and astutely implemented as core values to guide peace-building processes.    

During the proceedings, Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief joined the event hosts, The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, the Lord Bishop of Coventry and Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia OBE KSG, Co-convener of the Peace Charter and spiritual leader of the Sikh faith-based organisation, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha.  Speakers from the dynamic and highly experienced global delegation included: Professor Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International, a key partner for the Peace Charter; Canon Sarah Snyder, Founding Director of the Rose Castle Foundation; His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, the first Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London; Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers; Dr Chinmay Pandya,Pro Vice Chancellor, South Asian Institute of Peace and Reconciliation; and Dr. Carl Stauffer, senior expert on reconciliation for the U.S. Institute of Peace.

‘I commit to continuing to work together to make the Peace Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation, a widely known, trusted, and often used framework for engagement in actively building peace in every corner of our world.’ – Professor Azza Karam, Religions for Peace.

‘If ever there was ever an international currency for peace and prosperity in our lives, it would be the currency of values that are sacred to us as humans.  It is this impactful, yet invisible, currency of values that inspires the Peace Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation…. As we edge towards a point of no return, a time has come for values and virtues like forgiveness to fully crystallise within our psyches and inform how we partner and plan to meet the unprecedented challenges before us.’ – Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Co-convenor & Co-Chair, Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation.

“I think about peace, forgiveness and reconciliation a lot, both as a personal desire and one for the world. It is encouraging and reassuring to know there is a charter dedicated to these purposes. It feels like a wonderful starting point, a resource and a guide for anyone and everyone, wherever they are in the world, whose aim is to move beyond conflict.” – James Davies, Oxford University, Peace Forum participant.

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Notes for Editors:

The Peace Charter for Forgiveness & Reconciliation: Inclusive in its mission and development, the Charter has been globally co-created since its conception in 2011 and has travelled across the globe and received significant contribution, consultation, and endorsement from over 100 world religious leaders and humanitarians. It has been shared, discussed and noted by esteemed leaders including the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis, Desmond Tutu, Uhuru Kenyatta (former President of Kenya) and The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, amongst many others.

For further information about the Peace Charter, participant profiles and event proceedings, please contact;

Mr Amrik Singh Bhabra amrik@charterforforgiveness.org

Peace Charter UK headquarters: Nishkam Centre, 6 Soho Rd, Handsworth, Birmingham B21 8JQ

Faith Leaders from across the UK, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby, are urging faith communities to plant trees in honour of Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the nation, through The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative which was launched on Monday.

In a special video message, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the leaders from the Buddhist Society, the Interfaith Council for Wales, Al-Khoei Foundation, Nishkam Centre, the Church of Scotland, the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, the Hindu Council UK, the Moravian Church of Northern Ireland, and the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, encouraged people to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” in 2022.

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) initiative is a unique, UK-wide tree planting initiative reated to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is Patron of the QGC and planted a tree in the grounds of Windsor Castle with Her Majesty earlier in the year to mark the start of the project. Everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates will be encouraged to plant trees from October 2021 when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. The countdown to planting season begins now, giving people time to plan their planting projects.

As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy will highlight and showcase 70 irreplaceable Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identify 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

The QGC project will also create a pilot training programme for unemployed young people aged between 16-24 through Capel Manor College, London’s only specialist environmental college of which The Queen Mother was Patron, to plant and manage trees.

The Faith Leaders in their message to the interfaith community urged everyone to get involved with the QGC and highlighted the benefits of trees and green spaces for communities, mental health and the importance of creating a legacy that will benefit future generations. The Queen’s Green Canopy was launched at the Royal Horticultural Society’s
Virtual Chelsea event on Monday.

The Faith Leaders participating in the video message include:

• The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
• Desmond Biddulph CBE, The Buddhist Society UK
• Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh OBE, KSG, Chair of the Nishkam Group of Charitable
Organisations
• Ms Sarwat Tasneem, Al-Khoei Foundation
• The Rt Revd Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of
Scotland
• Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great
Britain and the Commonwealth
• Kate McColgan, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Chair of Interfaith Council
for Wales
• The Rt Revd Sarah Groves, Moravian Church of the British Province, Northern Ireland
• Imam Qari Muhammad Asim MBE, Senior Imam, Makkah Mosque, Leeds, Chair of
Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board
• Ms Muna Chauhan, Hindu Council UK

More information about the QGC is available on http://www.queensgreencanopy.org
QGC social media channels.

Please follow The Queen’s Green Canopy launch at these handles:

Instagram: @queensgreencanopy / @theroyalfamily / @clarencehouse
Twitter: @qgcanopy / @royalfamily / @clarencehouse
Facebook: @queensgreencanopy / @thebritishmonarchy
LinkedIn: @queensgreencanopy / @theroyalfamily
Hashtags: #queensgreencanopy #plantatreeforthejubilee #jubileetree #qgclaunch

The theme for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting this year (21-24^th January 2020) was ‘Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World’. It brought together 3,000 participants from around the world and aimed to give concrete meaning to “stakeholder capitalism”; assist governments and international institutions in tracking progress towards the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals; and facilitate discussions on technology and trade governance. The Forum was established 1971 and World Faith Leaders were invited to take part in discussions, particularly in the area of Society and Future of Work.

The Forum’s first meeting in 1971 was established to further the idea put forward by Professor Klaus Schwab that

Kezevino Aram

business should serve all stakeholders – customers, employees, communities, as well as shareholders. It was reaffirmed in 1973 in the ‘Davos Manifesto’ – a document that has shaped the work of the Forum ever since.

The Programme for the Annual Meeting prioritised several key areas – How to Save the Planet, Society & Future of Work, Tech for Good, Fairer Economies, Better Business, Healthy Futures, Beyond Geopolitics.

The initial discussion for Faith Leaders was ‘The Role of Faith for a Cohesive and Sustainable World’. Speakers included Lynette Wallworth, Assa Karam, Kezevino Aram, and Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh. Initially speakers discussed technology, Kezevino Aram, a leading voice in the faith and child health space and founder of the International Centre of Child and Public Health, stated, “When it comes to technology, we must remember that ethics does not belong to Faith communities alone. We all know values, principles that ensure human dignity but also the dignity of life per say, for me the presence of Faith communities is a re-articulation of the need to work together and the new challenge of deepening our discourses on ethics and values”.

Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh OBE KSG

Bhai Sahib, Bhai Mohinder Singh shared perspectives about the ethics in social media and technology. “God, the master Creator, along with the creation is very interlinked, so this immediately gives you this feeling of unity. So you start lovingly looking after things. I feel that there is disconnect from the Creator, you disconnect with His Creation. This nature has its own rhythm, it is perfectly balanced, and I am informed that there is 8.4 million species, all of this means that we are all brothers and sisters, we need to realise this and take care of each other, and technology and religion they should not be two opposite camps, they should complement each other.”

The next question was about climate change, “What is preventing us from urgent action and caring for our planet? How might we shift to radical action?”

Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh continued to say; “The world is on fire, like Australia is on fire, and this fire comprises of

Assa Karam – Secretary General-elect, Religions for Peace

the fire of vices, like lust, anger, ego, greed, which are fuelling people to become apathetic (un-interested) to the situation we are in. So we have to create good values and a new consciousness of this interdependence so we can carefully start looking after each other. Even when one species is eliminated, it affects the balance of the whole world, so there is a famine of values, which is why people are not taking care of each other. ”

Azza Karam stated that, “Where we look for faith for that guidance, for that other self that is selfless and I think that is all things that Faith brings and can inspire. And at the end of the day it comes back to the human being, whether its media or technology or religious texts, how the human beings reads or understands, like you said, how we are. Where is it and how faith can inspire us to be different human beings, better human beings, inspire compassion, mercy, love, words that we do not hear often enough.”

Faith Leaders and communities have influence over more than 80% of the world’s population but have typically been left out of conversations beyond faith. Religious leaders and communities of faith have an important role to play in protecting vulnerable populations and creating safer communities where all can thrive. A discussion was held around Religious Leaders’ role in safeguarding communities. Speakers included Pinchas Goldschmidt, Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh, Alem Tedeneke, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, Peter Kodwo Appiah, and Dana Humaid.

Dana Humaid, Chief Executive of the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities (IAFSC) stated that, “More than 85% of

Dana Humaid

the world population subscribe to a faith; however a lot of Faith Leaders have previously been excluded from discussions.” The reason she helped establish this Alliance was because they saw a need for the Faith Leader’s voice in discussions, and this would help bridge gaps between communities.

Patriarch Bartholomew stated that, “We should never forget what has been increasingly obvious in recent years, namely that the ecologist crisis is not a matter of science or even politics, it is primarily and essentially the result of moral choices and ethical conduct.”

Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh was asked to share how we all have a place in this World Interfaith Alliance and how that agenda can be pushed and advanced forward;

His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew

 “I believe we are trying to improve the state of the world. The world comprises of people and the planet and all things on the planet. First thing, I feel, humanity has to have that realization that all of us in this world are divinely interconnected and interdependent. We are all divine sparks, we are all brothers and sisters and that we have to have to have this shared responsibility to try and mend the state of affairs. It is a shared responsibility.

“We need cohesion; cohesion means unity and unity is strength. We have five fingers, each finger is weak, but the five make a hand, which is powerful. So we need this partnership and the hugely important works of interfaith alliance for safer communities is very much admired and respected together with the collaboration and partnership with the World Economic Forum.”

The delegates discussed further with a Q & A session.  Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh reiterated that the virtual world has lumped humanity into a global village. We are on this planet for a short period of time. We must understand where we come from, where we will end up and what is the purpose of life? Is it to fight or to have conflicts on this planet? What is the purpose of life? This brings us back to the important issue of peace building. Faith religions – the essence of this is peace building – peace building within ourselves first and foremost, and then we can generate peace outside. Peace requires reconciliation, and reconciliation requires mercy and forgiveness. Whatever has happened in the past, we must courageously forgive and reconcile to establish peace, without peace within you and peace outside then we cannot have any development, and we cannot improve the status quo.

Notes:

1. Link to ‘The Role of Faith for a Cohesive and Sustainable World” – https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2020/sessions/the-role-of-faith-for-a-cohesive-and-sustainable-world?fbclid=IwAR0r1viYoBTv5FrhohPsWh9ETdmrn0GMBXaktFZyUvFaqMVc5cfuGySFqj0.

2. Link to “ Religious Leaders’ Role in Safeguarding Communities” – https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2020/sessions/religious-leaders-role-in-safeguarding-communities

Mindu Hornick MBE, Holocaust Survivor, shares her harrowing story

The Nishkam Centre Director was honoured to be invited to speak at this year’s Holocaust Memorial Ceremony, hosted by Birmingham City Council. The theme for this year was ‘Stand Together’ – it explored how genocidal regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by marginalising certain groups, and how these tactics can be challenged by individuals standing together with their neighbours, and speaking out against oppression. The candle lighting ceremony was followed by an afternoon of stories describing hope, strength, and survival.

‘Don’t be content in your life just to do no wrong, be prepared every day to try and go some good.’ – Sir Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Europe, was the backdrop message on the screen. Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2020 marks the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz – this is a significant milestone and is made particularly poignant by the dwindling number of survivors who are able to share their testimony. It also makes the 25^th anniversary of the Genocide in Bosnia.

One such survivor included Mindu Hornick MBE, an inspirational 85 year-old grandmother from Edgbaston, who saw

Abdullah Rehman MBE

the horrors of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Mindu was only 12 years-old when she was sent to the notorious Nazi extermination camp with her mother, sister and two younger brothers. When people ask her how she survived, she always tells them the same thing “sheer luck”. “When we arrived at the camp there was 70 of us, all women, mothers and children, in the wagon, there was an immediate air of shock and panic – SS guards set out to disorientate and scare you. A Polish man, in striped uniform spoke Yiddish to my mother and told her to send us ahead, and say we were 17 and 19 years old. We never saw her and my brothers again. Looking back he saved our lives.” She highlighted that through education we share what happened and to ensure that nothing like this happens again.

Near Neighbours shared a video called ‘Bringing People Together’, where they are challenging others to recognise their similarities during the current turbulent political time our nation is experiencing, encouraging people to unite over the one subject that unites us all: community.

Amrick Singh, speaks on behalf of, and accompanied by, some members of the Birmingham Faith Leaders Group

Abdullah Rehman MBE, former CEO of Balsall Heath Forum, addressed the audience with a few questions; “I was taught as a young person growing up in Britain about history and World War 2, and questions always arose in my mind, why didn’t they stand up? Why didn’t they stand together? It kept going around in my head – how can a neighbour go against a fellow neighbour?”

The Kol Kinor Choir performed beautiful songs which were composed during the Holocaust such as ‘Even When God is Silent’ and ‘I Believe’.  The choir was formed in 1990 with the aim of sharing Jewish music with all faiths and cultures.

The Birmingham Faith Leaders offered their heartfelt prayers, and invited all attendees to remember all those fallen loved ones, who were all part of our human family.

Amrick Singh, Nishkam Centre Director, was invited to speak on behalf of the Faith Leaders Group. As Bhai Sahib,

Rabbi Yoshi Jacobs shares the Memorial Prayer

Bhai Mohinder Singh OBE KSG were scheduled to speak but could not be present, he started the address by offering Bhai Sahib’s heartfelt warm wishes and prayers on such an auspicious gathering. Amrick Singh then quoted Nelson Mandela;

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than the opposite.”

Amrick Singh shared that, through teachings of the Sikh Dharam (faith), all of us are a Divine Spark and we must practice and encourage others to practice, the liberal use of mercy, compassion, truthfulness, forgiveness, selflessness, and an abundance of love. “History cannot be forgotten, but we must understand what it is has taught us with a view to move forward to make a positive difference.”

Rabbi Yoshi Jacobs addressed the audience and spoke in memory of the six million Jews who perished during 1939-45;

“They went down alive into the nether-world singing the holy prayers. Their souls departed whilst they were wrapped up in the prayer shawls and phylacteries, let the murderers be put to shame and confusion and be as naught.”

At this point, the West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said a big thank you to the City Council and all the organiser for putting together such an amazing event in the City. He then invited everyone to read the Statement of Commitment together.

The event concluded with a beautiful musical piece by Simone and Kirsty. 

End

Notes

1. Quote from Mindu Hornick https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/auschwitz-survivor-mindu-hornick-attends-8514212
2. Near Neighbours video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m0ccFyUUAg

Life size portraits of faith leaders design by Nicola Green, at the entrance of Saïd Business School.

Saïd Business School, University of Oxford hosted a thought-provoking exhibition that celebrated and gave insight into interfaith dialogue and solidarity. Titled ‘A Witness to Power’ the exhibition combined two striking series of works by the artist and social historian Nicola Green to eloquently depict the messages of unity and strength in diversity; a message very much needed in the current times.

In Seven Days (2010) and Encounters (2018) was designed to draw on Nicola’s experiences observing and shadowing the world’s pre-eminent religious leaders, including Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, Bhai Sahib, Bhai (Dr) Mohinder Singh Ji OBE KSG, Desmond Tutu. The exhibition also included two bodies of work the artist created during her remarkable access to President Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.

To create this work Nicola spent 10 years travelling the world attending interfaith meetings, from intimate private meetings, to global summits where she met leaders of the world’s major faiths.

In both The Encounter and The Light Series showcased the rich diversity and inclusivity of the faiths represented. These included:

• 12 Christians (4 Anglican, 3 Orthodox, 3 Catholic, 1 Assyrian, 1 Coptic)
  

  Nicola Green discussing ‘The Light Series’, exhibited at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

• 5 Muslims (2 Sunni, 2 Shi’a, 1 Sufi)
• 4 Hindus (1 Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, 1 Lingayat, 1 Dvaita, 1 Ramakrishna)
• 4 Jews (2 Orthodox, 1 Sephardic Orthodox, 1 Reform)
• 2 Buddhists (1 Tibetan, 1 Fo Guang Shang Humanist)
• 2 African Traditional (1 Ifa and Yoruba, 1 Benin Kingdom)
• 1 Baha’i
• 1 Confucian
• 1 Jain
• 1 Sikh
• 1 Shinto
• 1 Zoroastrian

The Light Series included portraits painted on Giclée (a fine art digital printing process combining pigment based inks with high-quality archival quality paper to achieve an inkjet print of superior archival quality, light fastness and stability) with hand applied 24k gold, silver copper leaf and diamond dust. It has been suggested by visitors that this is the first artwork in history to depict all the world’s major religions together in a shared space, and of equal status.

Speaking on the exhibition Nicola Green commented, “My intention with Encounters is to reach people of all faiths (and none) in particular those that don’t often see themselves represented.

“I was really delighted to see how the work resonated with everyone and to hear stories from people that were so excited to see themselves or their faith portrayed in the artworks.”

Jyotveer Singh poses with a portrait of his faith leader Bhai Sahib Bhai (Dr) Mohinder Singh Ji OBE KBE.

Jyotveer Singh, Head of Web Development at Saïd Business School and attendee of the exhibition said: “The exhibition is a celebration of interfaith solidarity and cross-cultural dialogue. Saïd Business School is a global village of diverse communities who come together to solve world-scale problems which I feel is reflected in the art. Nicola Green creatively demonstrates a rich tapestry of interdependent people, practicing shared values for the good of others; whilst honouring uniqueness and the dignity of difference.

“I was deeply inspired to see international interfaith ambassador, Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji depicted in the artwork, who continues to drive the agenda of peace and unity through projects. Namely, the Peace Charter (Charter for Forgiveness and Reconciliation) and the Museum of World’s Religions, this work by Nicola Green is most welcome and timely.”

The exhibition is available to the public at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford until 20^th December.

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