Category: Peace & Conflict Resolution - Carisma Services - inspiring communities

Sangha

14/3/2019

Sangha is a word in Pali and meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community" and most commonly refers in Buddhism to the monastic community of bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns). These communities are traditionally referred to as the bhikkhu-sangha or bhikkhuni-sangha. As a separate category, those who have attained any of the four stages of enlightenment, whether or not they are members of the monastic community, are referred to as the āryasaṅgha "noble Sangha".
In this context Sangha is taken to mean 'connecting people, building community.
I attended the soft launch of a new charity, called Sangha set up by Manchester Cathedral with the aim to encourage the Asian, and in particular the Indian, communities to work together. Although we were told that Sangha will not exclusively be for Asians.
Guest speakers made speeches and the learning was thus. Samiya Butt - Building bridges between cultures and faiths. People do not like to bring us closer together and in reality these are the perfect types to people to bridge with those who do not want to mix with us, for fear of the unknown about us. We need to collectively listen to one another, learn from one another. Story telling is a powerful way to build bridges. Don't fear what you don't know, respond to hate with love and kindness.
Ms Kavita Roy - a solicitor. Due to some many societal labels, names, so many groupings, sub-groups within sub-groups as a result we are narrowing our vision of togetherness rather than expanding it.
I agreed wither analogy of the '3rd Sider' talk or labelling as she called it. Such labelling over time about each other by each other eg: if they don't speak the same language; wear the same clothes; go to the same church; we then set boundaries and stay away from them. We build giant walls around ourselves and these boundaries become 'fractures' and actually fracture communities. We find ourselves compartmentalised by our own doing into Asian, African, Jamaican etc. We, therefore, begin to see each other separate from ourselves. We focus on the differences, which divide us than what unites us.
Before you do anything ask: 'Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Ask these questions before you do anything as a form of self discipline test.
Talk and listen. Listen to understand. Understanding brings empathy and Empathy brings change.
The Chief Superintendent talked about Communication- Tolerance - Understanding. Personally I do not like the word Tolerance. I do not want to be tolerated, I want people to understand me for all that I Am.
The Dean stated that 'Face to Face' communication is good, however, 'Side by Side is better.

70th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

16/2/2019

After attending the Africa Peace Symposium in October 2018 speaking about Human Rights it was indeed a pleasure, as Deputy Lieutenant to the County of Greater Manchester representing Her Majesty The Queen, to welcome Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights to the City of Manchester. The event took place in St Peter's House, a University of Manchester building for students from across all the Universities in Manchester and Salford.
The event was part of the United Nations Human Rights Office for the High Commissioner's activities to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each event is shining a light on Human Rights and calling for people to Stand up for the declaration's enduring principals.
Manchester was chosen as a City to host this event because of the way in which we, as a city of people, are 'Shining a Light on Social Cohesion'. We not only talk about it as a buzz phrase but actually do it in practice.
In practice CARISMA's experience in shining the light on social cohesion has been by 'doing' public community engagement in tackling gun crime and enabling conflict resolution. We advocated for peace. Whether this meant peace in the school playground, in the streets, neighbourhood, colleges, workplace or community. We galvanised people together to create a ground swell - a concerted citizen effort to come together and rid our streets of the gun and gang violence that was blighting our communities and neighbourhoods. This concerted galvanised effort has brought about a 92% reduction in gun and gang crime across Greater Manchester. We all have a 'human right' to live in a peaceful safe environment, no matter where we hail from.
We boast of multicultural Manchester and, therefore, should respect that.As a DL I see many people choose to reside in the UK and Manchester (Article 15). The articles were adopted in 1948 as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and established the equal dignity and worth of every person. If that be so, let me get political for a second. Why does our Government still sell arms globally to countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan etc, countries which clearly abuse Human Rights? Article 3 states: "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person." This is not simply an Enlightenment reflex, but a profound reaction to what went on in the concentration camps. So why do we have people committing knife crime and it being seen as a norm in social practice. We can look at Articles 10: Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him - where does Joint Enterprise it into this? The principles of the UN Declaration of HR are as relevant now as they were 70 years ago.
We are very honoured to host his even in our City of Manchester and shine a light on how we are standing up for Human Rights in Manchester and trying to build social cohesion.

Finally, in the words of Desmond Tutu: "I am a prisoner of hope. We are more connected than ever before, we have more knowledge and there are solutions if we work together."

Africa Peace Symposium

15/12/2018

I recently attended the Africa Peace Symposium in London. The theme was 'Peace and Brotherhood', I was glad to be asked as a female to be asked to address the attendees.

Keynote Speaker was Karim A.A. Khan QC. He stated that we should be scholars of history and he highs and lows of civilisation, if we want peace.

Learning: We needed to be patient and humble if we want peace. Creating or gaining peace is not an over night mission.In this day and time we are so mesmerized by celebrities, money, television - that seems to attract our attention and we want to listen. But if a person is humble and this is perceived as a weakness, therefore, we dismiss the person and the message as non important.

If we are to gain peace then we need to search out the truth and the truth cannot be found in newspapers or the television. Using such sources diminishes the enquiring mind. The society today almost forces a choice between, cult of the celebrity life Vs the cult of truthful life and this requires an enquiring mind, which is God given. It is God given that we have Human Rights.

Fundamentally the truth of Human Rights is not rocket science neither do you need a doctorate to understand. Ask any refugee, asylum seeker, subject of modern day slavery, victim of senseless gun or knife crime - were your Human Rights infringed? - common sense tells you the truths about Human Rights.

When we talk about Human Rights it can lead us to conversations about wanting 'Justice'. However we never do get absolute justice. The law has improved over the past 30 to 40 years but not applied equally locally, nationally or globally. There is still much disparity in the use of The Law (there is one for the rich and famous and one for the poor and vulnerable) and causes much debate.

Kindness and love are the beginning of piety. You cannot love an artist and hate his painting, or love a musician but hate his music or love God but hate his creation? Do not be a passive spectator to evil.
Stop it with your hand.
Stop it with you mouth - speakout.
Condemn it in your heart.
The perpetuation of evil happens when good people do nothing (Edmund Burke).
If Peace is the Key, where is the lock?