An article about women in dialogue and the Forum of Religions (Paula and Heidi) was published in the Finnish newspaper “Kirkkojakaupunki”. There is a picture of both women on the cover of this paper, which was taken in Helsinki.

                  

Heidi and Paula are surrounded by the heart of leaves. The title on the cover is: “The sisters of faith”. The picture and the article (on page 12f. in Finnish) can be found at: http://www.kirkkojakaupunki.fi/nakoislehti/2010/kirkko-kaupunki-22/primapaper/1 

Bond zonder Naam (BzN) was featured on URI's Real People Real Stories Real Change online fundraising campaign. The importance of steaching living values to children is so important and deserves broad replication. 

The 2010 Golden Rule Award, Kultainen sääntö- palkinto, has been awarded to Finland's President Tarja Halonen. President Halonen has meritoriously contributed to the dialogue between cultures and religions in Finland as well as internationally.

        

President Halonen convened the leaders of the so-called Abrahamic Faiths after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks. Finnish religious leaders have been meeting regularly on the President's initiative since 2001.

Among other things President Tarja Halonen has also given her strong support to the work of The Alliance of Civilizations Forum. The two main aims of this dialogue project, which was started at the government level of Spain and Turkey, are to improve the strained relations between the Western and Muslim worlds and to strengthen the multilateral international system.

"President Tarja Halonen has brought up the question of gender in her speeches and has thus reminded world leaders to consider the importance of the status of women in dialogue processes. Recognizing the role of women also expresses remarkable respect to grassroots activity. Women around the world do tremendous work for common good in their communities," says Heidi Rautionmaa, Finland’s Interfaith Dialogue Network Coordinator. Rautionmaa adds that if we really want to build good social cohesion in our increasingly multicultural communities, society's support of grassroots interfaith dialogue activities is needed today.

The Golden Rule Award was presented by the Interfaith Dialogue Network, which consists of the Forum of Religions and Convictions of Helsinki CC of The United Religions Initiative (URI), Religions for Peace Suomen naisverkosto (Religions for Peace Women of Faith Network in Finland), Kaupunki yhteisönä ry. and international Uskot ilman rajoja (Faiths Without Borders). The Network works in fellowship with the Parliament of the World's Religions, which has named Helsinki as one of its Cities of Peace.

Professor Emeritus Reijo E. Heinonen, who was awarded the Golden Rule Award last year, sees the Award as a drop in the ocean of awakening global ethical awareness. He received the Golden Rule Award for his engagement of promoting Global Ethic.

The Prize will be awarded during Interfaith Dialogue Week, on the United Nations International Day of Peace, September 21st. The hope is that all wars and conflicts will cease for Peace Day, and citizens are urged to work for peace and justice.

The Golden Rule, after which the prize has been named, calls on people to treat others as they would like to be treated.

Some impressions on the Universal Worship in Göttingen: 

The focus was on the theme “Gratitude,” and we thankfully received a lot of    very positive feedback. It was in all aspects a successful service with more than 30 participants. Many had never before taken part in a Universal Worship. As it had been organized by five people, each multiplying the idea to their surroundings, there were many new faces: friends, colleagues, acquaintances and others. We also were pleased to welcome a whole family that had been informed about the event by a poster in the Waldorf School.

The altar was set up in the middle of the room, allowing us to sit around in a chair circle. This then easily made it possible to have a dance inspired by the Jewish religion. We celebrated the vocation of the four elements as well, a short Buddhist meditation, the recitation of a mantra and, last but not least, four songs. All this was done by all participants, accompanied on the piano, the guitar and, during the dance, on a violin. We were happy to enjoy the live music. A woman who plays the flute is prepared to enrich the musical kaleidoscope  at the next service. Another has offered her assistance in organizing the next Universal Worship.  By the way, two weeks before the Universal Worship a retired priest gave a sermon in Herberhausen, and to our surprise he joyfully handed out invitations to the Universal Worship to his listeners. He had photocopied them at his own expense. He also took part in the Universal Worship, with which he was already familiar because he had been at Osterode with Pir Vilayat every now and then. 

This event was announced on the homepage of the UN as well as by URI Germany. There were announcements in the newspapers in Göttingen. The event was publicised with 20 posters and 300 flyers. The “Göttinger Tagesblatt” also published a short article on the Universal Worship. 

We plan to put the Universal worships on a regular schedule of every three months, each with a seasonal theme.