The November 2011 edition of AEFJN's Forum for Action is now online. It contains articles on the ethical responsibility of the Church on the climate issue, on the clean up of the Ogoniland oil spills, which will take decades, on the spread of Libyan arms in the Sahel, on the production of medicines in Africa and on the EU's attempt to force African countries to sign EPAs.
The national election campaign officially started the 28th October in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exactly one month ahead of historic presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for November 28 2011. 41 humanitarian and human rights organizations, among them AEFJN, have expressed concern about the high political tension and deteriorating security situation. They have called upon all Congolese and international actors involved to take urgent measures to prevent electoral violence, better protect civilians and ensure credible, free and fair elections.100909 "A Million Minutes for Peace" Initiative
Religion News Service
New York - When clocks strike noon on the International Day of Peace (September 21), a quiet but worldwide phenomenon is expected. From time zone to time zone on that day, people will be honoring their pledges to pause and pray for peace for one minute. Odyssey Networks, the multi-faith media coalition, launched this unique prayer campaign—"A Million Minutes for Peace"—in 2009, drawing participants from over 114 countries. Their continuing goal is to secure a million pledges to pray for peace for one minute at noon on September 21. The pledges are made at a dedicated website www.AMillionMinutesforPeace.org, where its award winning 60 second PSA can be seen. The list of pledge participants will be presented at a special ceremony during the opening days of the United Nations 2010 session.
Over 350 organizations, including high schools,
colleges, faith groups, non-profits and media outlets, are partnering with
Odyssey in circulating the news of "A Million Minutes for Peace" to
their constituents, as well as pledging on behalf of their members/communities.
Partners include 20,000 Dialogues, Religions
for Peace, Council for a
Parliament of World Religions, United Religions Initiative, Global Tolerance, Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility,
Interfaith Mediation Centre, La Red Solidaria, and The Global Peace Initiative
for Women. To see a complete list of English and Spanish partners [Religions for Peace summary is among them] visit:
http://www.amillionminutesforpeace.org/our-partners.shtml
In addition to making the pledge, which is available in English and Spanish, visitors to the site can view The Prayer Wall, a presentation of video prayers by notable faith leaders from diverse traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Among them are the Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, Jim Wallis, Rev. Otis Moss III, Martin Marty, Rabbi Ted Falcon, Annutama Dasa, Guo Cheen, Sohaib Sultan, and Imam Muhammad Ashafa. Authors Angela Hunt ("The Note") and Mitch Albom ("Tuesdays with Morrie") also offer original peace prayers. Viewers are invited to send in their own video prayers to info@odysseynetworks.org.
Odyssey is supporting "A Million Minutes for Peace" with a multimedia campaign that includes English and Spanish PSAs on television and radio in key markets, online ads on sites such as HallmarkChannel.com and Facebook, and a Twitter campaign and contest.
This year "A Million Minutes for Peace" will present a special feature on its website on September 21: "Take Ten." During this ten-minute period, which begins at 11:55 AM ET, people from all over the United States and from countries as far away as the Middle East—will go to the site for a "virtual" ecumenical prayer group. The one-minute noon prayer will be preceded by a just-released rendition of the famous hymn Prayer of St. Francis, set against visual imagery, and performed by noted inspirational singer Jenny Burton.
About Odyssey Networks
Get Odyssey Networks is a multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that builds bridges of understanding and promotes peace, tolerance and issues of social justice. Established in 1987, Odyssey Networks is a service of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc. For more information visit www.odysseynetworks.org!