Gathering at the Washington National Cathedral to Support Millennium
September 3rd, 2005 by sfuqua
On September 11, the Washington National Cathedral (in Washington, D.C., USA), will host delegates from Christian denominations worldwide as they call for United Nations member states to support the Millennium Development Goals.
September 6, 2005
The [Bush] Administration’s sudden opposition to…the international target for rich nations to contribute 0.7 percent of GNP toward poverty reduction places an unwelcome obstacle in the path toward a more stable and secure world…I am deeply mindful of the need to use government resources to combat terrorism, but one of the most stinging lessons of our time is that the roots of terrorism and conflict most often can be found in those places where poverty and sickness abound and hope is lost…For the U.S. to now oppose that long-held target further undermines our nation’s international credibility, weakens rather than strengthens global security, and does violence to all of our efforts to respond to God’s passionate desire for reconciliation and the well-being of all people.
The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church Excerpted from a statement issued Aug. 25, 2005
More than 30 leaders of Christian denominations worldwide will gather at Washington National Cathedral on Sunday, Sept. 11, to affirm the UN plan to halve extreme poverty by 2015 and propose stepped up action to eradicate poverty throughout the world. Participants will call for a recommitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals as laid out by UN members in 2000.
The event, “Consultation of Religious Leaders on Global Poverty,” will open with a series of worship services and lectures in the Cathedral nave, including a 2 p.m. speech by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and special advisor to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
During a 4 p.m. interfaith service of music and prayer, featured speakers will include the Most Rev. Njongonkulu W.H. Ndungane, archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa; and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright.
All events in the Cathedral nave on Sunday, Sept. 11 are open to the public and free of charge. Media coverage is welcome.
Beginning Sunday evening, the faith leaders will enter closed consultative sessions that will extend into Tuesday, Sept. 13, after which a delegation will travel to New York to present the group’s communiqué to the U.N.
Although the three-day conference’s meetings will be private, the Cathedral’s Office of Public Affairs will be able to arrange limited media availabilities with participants.
“On Global Poverty” is the inaugural event of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, a new initiative of the Cathedral College of Washington National Cathedral. Prior to the Sept. 11 convocation’s start, the Rev. Canon John L. Peterson, director of the Center, will be available for interviews and background briefings.
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I am writing to you at this time because you are having your workshop at the same time (W/E) and the same city as The Peace Alliance, another national campaign that works closely with the United Nations, who through UNESCO passed a ten year moratorium to create a “Culture of Peace” for the children of the world. The Peace Alliance is an organization whose goals are twofold. One of them involves a campaign to get the US cabinet level Department of Peace legislation passed through Congress. I believe this is the most important legislation of our time concerning changing the culture of violence which we have all grown up in. The Honorable Congressman Dennis Kucinich is reintroducing this inspired Bill on Wednesday, September 14th. I say inspired because it covers all the issues that concern us today. It shall involve educating US, giving US tools to have better experiences with our everyday conflicts and communications encouraging a change in our violent and hurtfull dialogue, which is many times an unconscious misrepresentation of what we are really feeling. Once we learn this as adults we can teach our young from birth and again when they enter institutions for more formal education, we can hopefully create a “Culture of Peace.” I perceive this legislation as a “calling” to our higher power, for love and respect for every living thing on our fragile planet. It would be wonderful if both our groups could converge not only when meeting with the dignitaries of the United Nations in New York City, but converge on the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate while we are all learning to be all we can be in the Capital City of Washington DC. After reading Deepak Chopra’s book, “The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire,” I truly believe in the synchronicity of events and Providence.I also believe in the power of one. We all have something to give no matter how small it may seem. Please send this letter on to the powers that be in your organization because I think a partnership will be powerful. If you are moved by this request please make time and call the “L’Enfant Plaza Hotel” Tele #202-484-1000 and ask for Matthew Albracht, our Director, or Dorothy Maver, our Assistant Director, if you are unable to connect with Congressman Dennis Kucinich at Tele #202 224 3121 You can find out more about us at www.ThePeaceAlliance.org. May God bless us all in this important work,
Maggi Koren RN
Windsor Ca 95492
Tele # 707 838 8647