A united world is possible!
As in previous years, United World Week this year was held contemporaneously in major population points around the world, ranging from the tsunami-stricken areas to the U.S.A., Africa, Middle East and other “hot spots,” from Moscow to Patagonia.
The motto: “Give a hand to our city,” highlighted the commitment of the “Youth for a United World” (the promoters of United World Week) to do something for their own city, town, or village, with special outreach to the needy. In view of leading more and more people to believe that “A united world is possible!” the youth got local institutions and entities involved. They also collected the impressions of the adolescents who just concluded their ‘Run4Unity’ relay race in 300 cities all over the world.
United World Week was concluded on Oct. 15 and 16 with two “planetary phone calls,” where the youth participants in about 100 localities were linked up to listen to Chiara Lubich’s message and exchange impressions and experiences.
Birth of the idea. Ten years ago, at the conclusion of the Genfest 1995 in Rome, a proposal was launched to the youth all over the world, to public and private institutions, both national and international; in short, to everyone. It was not only a proposal; rather, it was an appointment – United World Week. Its aim? To highlight and give value to initiatives that promote unity … at all levels.” At ten years from that historic moment, the balance sheet is positive – all ten editions of United World Week have attracted wide-scale participation all over the world.
News of United World Week around the globe
Indonesia: In Medan, there were meeting points at the University throughout the week, to get acquainted and to work together for the victims of the tsunami and the earthquake at Nias; also scheduled: a marathon race and an ecology project to clean up the city (population: 3 million). Singapore: Initiatives to promote dialogue and understanding among youth of different religions by following the “Golden Rule.” Everyone was invited to make a commitment to build “a more united Singaporean society.” Signatures were collected to accompany a declaration that will be presented to the government. India: In Mumbai, there were fund-raising activities for the building of an orphanage; in New Delhi: Cineforum and visit to the poor in the houses of Mother Teresa; in Goa, prayer vigil for peace.
U.S.A. : In Manhattan, New York, at the Jesuits’ Fordham University, one of the activities of the United World Week was a program entitled “Interreligious Dialogue: A Way to Peace.” Argentina: In Rosario, night at the theater to benefit Project Africa in collaboration with one of the city’s universities. Bolivia: “We chose one of the most disadvantaged cities – El Alto. A revolution deposed the President of Bolivia two years ago. This city, situated 4,000 m above sea level and inhabited mostly by descendants of the Aymara (the first people of Bolivia), symbolizes our efforts to build unity among the Bolivians. Together with adult members of the Movement, for more than a year now we have been holding monthly sessions dedicated to discussion of current national issues, viewed in the light of the Gospel. We named these initiatives ‘De El Alto al Alto’.” This was what the Youth for a United World of Cochabamba wrote us, as they organized the activities for the United World Week together with their Aymara friends, all of them “high level” projects. Brazil: At Sao Paulo, 123,000 calendar notebooks were printed containing the United World Week calendar of activities as a reminder of its message and how it can be put into practice. Tanzania: In Iringa, following the encounter with the municipal authorities to inform them of the initiatives of the Youth for a United World, there was an ecology-inspired activity and a meeting organized at the orphanage. Lebanon: The Youth for a United World have for some months now been working in teams to get the involvement of public institutions and to try to respond to Lebanon’s current problems. One of the strategies is interreligious dialogue. Scheduled for the United World Week: social activities with Muslim families in Nabaa; artistic and cultural activities like painting and music; forum on new politics at Beirut’s Faculty of Medicine; ecology day. Italy: In Loppiano (Florence): forum on “Fraternity – A Response to the Terrorist Emergency;” soccer match with friends of the Arab community of Figline Valdarno. In Lazio region: culinary contest; forum on the theme of immigration; meal service to the poor; program for children patients at Genzano Hospital; conclusion at Nettuno with various “unity workshops.”
[:it]Meditazioni per la vita pubblica
Peace Landmarks
The Young for Unity raced across the globe’s symbolic sites Places that had known suffering:tsunami-stricken Medan (Indonesia): the relay race, held at the University of Sumatra Utara campus, took place at 6 a.m. (local time) in view of the hot climate. Johannesburg (South Africa): the sports activities took place at Regina Mundi, a place which had a significant role in the end of apartheid.
To appeal for the end of all conflicts: In New York (U.S.A.), the race course included the road past the United Nations. In Jerusalem (Israel), a message of peace was carried to the respective sacred places of the three monotheistic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism). In Nagasaki (Japan), the relay race started at the point where the atomic bomb was dropped 60 years ago. It closed with a meal at the clinic for radiation victims. In New Caledonia, the appointment was at St. Louis, site of frequent conflicts between the people of Wallis and of Melanesia, the island’s natives.
Places that symbolize unity: In Panama, the race course included the Bridge of the Americas which unites the north with the south of the continent. Slovak and Hungarian participants crossed the Mount Valeria bridge over the Danube, which had been built to mark the end of rivalry between the two nations. In Seoul (Korea) the race took place in a place which is symbolic of the unity between the two Koreas.
Significant spots: From Marathon (Greece), the city from which the modern sport got its name, the race followed the route which unites the city to Athens. In Oslo (Norway), the relay was in the form of a canoe race along the fjords. In Mexico City, there was a stop-over at the Anthropological Museum, a monument to the nation’s pre-Hispanic, indigenous culture. In Melbourne (Australia), the starting point was Federation Square, symbol of Australia’s multiethnic society. In Amman (Jordan), the race passed around Mount Nebo, and included a telephone link-up with Baghdad (Iraq).
Interreligious participation: This was a characteristic of most of the events, especially in Coimbatore (India) where both Christian and Hindu youth competed. The relay race between Christians and Muslims in Cairo (Egypt) took place against the backdrop of the Pyramids. In Buenos Aires (Argentina), a large number of Jewish young people participated, while in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Christian and Buddhist youth competed.
In Italy: 30 relay races took place which touched cities like Oniferi and Orani (Nuoro, Sardinia), the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, the ‘Sassi’ (tr. – ‘Boulders’) in Matera, the Square of the Miracles in Pisa, and the Palace of the Normans in Palermo.