The Words of the Famularo Family
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The Words of the Famularo Family |
More than 50 UPF Ambassadors for Peace gathered at Les Suites Hotel in Ottawa, Canada for the first national planning conference in preparation for the Canada Peace Festival to be held October 2-5.
Participants came from the Greater Toronto, Greater Montreal, and Ottawa areas. Interest in the mini-conference was beyond the expectations of the organizers and as the representative of a major Ottawa interfaith coalition remarked, he found all the participants to be highly motivated.
After opening remarks and a presentation on the international efforts to develop Global Peace Festivals by UPF-Canada Secretary General Franco Famularo, Dr. Andrew Wilson gave an excellent presentation on the religious and philosophical aspects of building a culture of peace, emphasizing the value of "soft power" (strong families, interfaith cooperation, culture of service, reconciliation and partnerships, and affirmation of spiritual principles).
He noted that beyond external solutions we need inner qualities of heart and character to realize peace substantially. He proposed three pillars of a peaceful society: universally shared values, politics that emphasizes public service instead of partisanship, and economic interdependence. Dr. Wilson's presentation set the tone for the day's discussions and provided and excellent intellectual framework for the participants.
Following his presentation, a panel consisting of Dr. Wilson, Dr. Golam Dastagir, and Rev. Darryl Gray spoke briefly about peacemaking from Islamic and Christian perspectives, and fielded several questions.
After a light lunch, Daniel Stringer, chair of the National Capital Peace Council of UPF, reported on the current plans for the Ottawa festival and requested the participation of the attendees as organizational partners. Planned events include a conference, a soccer tournament, and an awards ceremony. Particular challenges are integrating the French and English cultures and languages, and understanding the role played by women in creating a culture of peace.
Gathering Ambassadors for Peace together in Ottawa is a major step toward establishing stronger bonds among partners and allies as they seek ways to establish ongoing cooperation for the sake of peace.
Participants expressed strong desire that this effort continues on a regular basis.