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| Bahá’í News | August 1988 | Bahá’í Year 145 |
Bahá’í
INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH CONFERENCE
In June, the news was received that a court in Egypt had acquitted 32 Bahá’ís who were sentenced in 1987 to three-year prison terms on charges that they violated a 1960 edict barring organized Bahá’í activities in that country. A District Court in Cairo ruled on June 13 that the monthly meetings held in Bahá’í homes were not illegal because they were “private and personal” in nature.
The 32 Bahá’ís thus acquitted were among a group of 48 sentenced in May 1987 to prison terms on religious charges. At that time, two of the accused who recanted their faith were found not guilty. Thirteen others convicted last year were acquitted February 17 by the Egyptian Court of Appeals in Cairo.
According to reports from Cairo, the court rulings did not address the defense’s argument that the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a signatory, requires Egypt to respect the rights of all citizens to practice their religion.
With grateful hearts convey to the followers of Bahá’u’lláh throughout world joyful news first meeting newly appointed International Teaching Centre.
On morning Friday third June the Hands of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum and ‘Alí Akbar Furútan, the members of the Universal House of Justice and the nine Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre gathered in Bahjí and entered the Most Holy Shrine for prayers before proceeding to the Mansion of Bahá’u’lláh where their first joint meeting was held in room associated with Shoghi Effendi. All were acutely conscious of the inestimable blessing of initiating their consultations in these sacred precincts.
In this and subsequent consultations during the days which followed, the tasks of the International Teaching Centre in face of the tremendous opportunities for teaching now before the Bahá’í world were reviewed, and new patterns of operation were formulated.
Rejoice new vistas opening for victorious promotion Cause God.
June 13, 1988
Bahá’í News[edit]
More than 100,000 embrace Cause in India; 11 new Counsellors named | 1 |
Upwards of 3,000 at U.S. Youth Conference pledge service to Cause | 2 |
Congress again hears testimony of U.S. National Spiritual Assembly | 10 |
Canada’s first ‘Festival of Human Spirit’ celebrates importance of arts | 12 |
Tanzania’s Ruaha School is Africa’s first Bahá’í-run secondary school | 13 |
Around the world: News from Bahá’í communities all over the globe | 14 |
Bahá’í News is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í world community. Manuscripts submitted should be typewritten and double-spaced throughout; any footnotes should appear at the end. The contributor should keep a carbon copy. Send materials to the Periodicals Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A. Changes of address should be reported to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center. Please attach mailing label. Subscription rates within the U.S.: one year, $12; two years, $20. Outside the U.S.: one year, $14; two years, 24$. Foreign air mail: one year, $20; two years, $40. Payment must accompany the order and must be in U.S. dollars. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1988, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Late-breaking news[edit]
| More than 100,000 embrace Cause
as a result of teaching campaign in India’s Uttar Pradesh State |
|---|
| WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS SHARE NEWS RESOUNDING TEACHING VICTORIES INDIA FIRST EVIDENCE RESPONSE RIDVÁN MESSAGE APPEAL.
INSPIRED BY COUNSELLORS AND LED BY THREE COORDINATORS TWO COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES 110 DEVOTED SOULS AROSE TO SPREAD LIFE-GIVING MESSAGE OF BAHÁ’-U’LLÁH AMONG THEIR COUNTRYMEN. RESULT THEIR EFFORTS WITHIN ONE SHORT MONTH WAS BEYOND ALL EXPECTATION. OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN WOMEN YOUTH MANY BELONGING SAME FAMILIES ACCEPTED FAITH. EFFECTIVE FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM INITIATED ESTABLISHING AT LEAST FIVE DEEPENING INSTITUTES PER MONTH IN CENTRAL AREAS. ALREADY 1,000 NEW BELIEVERS CONTRIBUTED TO FUND SUBSCRIBING TO HINDI BAHÁ’Í MAGAZINE. LARGE QUANTITY HINDI LITERATURE INCLUDING PICTURE OF MASTER BEING PRODUCED WITH ASSISTANCE COUNSELLORS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO NEW BELIEVERS. AUDIO CASSETTES OF HOLY WRITINGS, PRAYERS, SIMPLE TALKS BEING PREPARED. THREE LARGE RURAL CONFERENCES FOR WOMEN YOUTH FAMILIES BEING PLANNED. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BEING CONSULTED UPON. CONFIDENT SUCH VICTORIES ATTAINABLE IN OTHER PARTS OF PLANET AS WELL. URGING FOLLOWERS MOST GREAT NAME THROUGHOUT WORLD ARISE WITH HIGH RESOLVE FOLLOW EXAMPLE THEIR INDIAN BRETHREN CALLING MANKIND TO FAITH OF GOD AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE HUMAN HISTORY. EAGERLY AWAITING NEWS RESULTS THEIR EFFORTS. ASSURE ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES BESEECHING BLESSINGS ANCIENT BEAUTY THEIR DETERMINED EFFORTS MASS TEACHING FIELD. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
|
| House of Justice appoints 11 Counsellors
to fill vacancies on Continental Boards, pays loving tribute to retiring Counsellors |
|---|
| To the Bahá’ís of the World Dear Bahá’í Friends, Recent events have given rise to 11 vacancies in the membership of the Continental Boards of Counsellors. Mr. Adib Taherzadeh has been elected to the Universal House of Justice; Dr. Farzam Arbáb, Mr. Hartmut Grossmann, Mrs. Lauretta King, Mr. Donald Rogers, Mrs. Joy Stevenson, and Mr. Peter Vuyiya have been appointed as Counsellor members of the International Teaching Centre. In addition, ill health has sadly made it impossible for Dr. Chellie Sundram to continue his services as a Counsellor for Asia, Dr. Iraj Ayman and Mrs. Thelma Khelghati have been compelled by circumstances beyond their control to leave, respectively, the continents of Asia and Africa in which they were serving, and Mr. Adam Thorne has had to resign, for personal reasons, from the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe. We wish first to express our profound appreciation of the contributions these dear friends have made to the advancement of the Cause of God during their years of service as Counsellors, and we pray that the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh will surround them in all they undertake in the future. We now have great happiness in announcing the appointment of the following believers as Continental Counsellors: Africa: Mr. George Allen and Mr. Hizzaya Hissani. The Americas: Mr. Gustavo Correa, Mrs. Jacqueline Delahunt and Dr. William Roberts. Asia: Dr. Kim Myung-Jung and Mrs. Shantha Sundram. Australasia: Mrs. Violette Haake. Europe: Mr. Patrick O’Mara, Mrs. Elisabeth Mühlschlegel and Dr. Shapoor Rassekh. Furthermore, as two of the Counsellors now appointed to the International Teaching Centre had been Trustees of their respective Continental Funds, we now appoint Counsellor Peter McLaren to be Trustee of the Continental Fund in the Americas, and Counsellor Ben Ayala to be Trustee in Australasia. As was abundantly apparent at the time of the sixth International Bahá’í Convention and in the meetings of the Counsellors which followed, the Bahá’í world has entered on a stage of the greatest importance in its development, when the teaching work throughout the world must be in the forefront of the thoughts of every ardent follower of Bahá’u’lláh. The challenges and opportunities are great, and are increasing in number with each passing day. We supplicate the Almighty to grant an unprecedented measure of divine confirmation to the institutions of His embryonic World Order and to His faithful believers who are laboring for the diffusion of His Message in every region of the globe. With loving Bahá’í greetings, The Universal House of Justice
June 16, 1988 |
United States[edit]
Youth are ablaze in Indiana[edit]
More than 40 declarations of faith in Bahá’u’lláh ... upwards of 3,000 commitments of service to the Cause of God ... nearly 6,000 youth, adults and children from 50 countries and every continent on earth: this was a conference to cherish, to savor and to remember for a lifetime.
What is more important, the 1988 Bahá’í International Youth Conference may be recalled by future generations as the event at which “the stage was set” for a remarkable transformation in the American Bahá’í community, one that would lead to victory in the Six Year Plan and help bring about the process of entry by troops which was, in the words of the Universal House of Justice, “promised by the beloved Master and which Shoghi Effendi said would lead on to mass conversion.”
The conference, held June 30-July 4 on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, was marked by a serious-mindedness and sense of purpose seldom seen at an event of its size and scope.
This was underscored Sunday afternoon when young people from all over the world stood before a large audience including Counsellors and members of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and described recent events in their countries that have helped advance the Cause of God, and again that same evening when the National Assembly asked for written pledges of service to the Faith.
As the audience stood and applauded, the pledges began arriving onstage—singly at first, then in handfuls, and finally boxes full of these marvelous commitments to serve, more than 3,000 in all.
The heart-stirring news was cabled immediately to the Universal House of Justice, which said in its reply:
“With joy and thanksgiving we hail the outstanding success of the International Youth Conference in Bloomington, Indiana, which has been distinguished by an unprecedented number of pledges of service to be carried out in support of the goals of the Six Year Plan....”
“We have full confidence that the American Bahá’í youth, who comprise a strong element of the community honored by the Master with the title of ‘apostles of Bahá’u’lláh,’ will exert themselves to the fullest to fulfill the pledges they have made at this conference.”
While the significance of those commitments cannot be overstated, they were but one aspect of a stupendous gathering whose effects will be felt within the American Bahá’í community for many years to come.
The over-all theme, “The Stage Is Set,” was taken from a passage by the Guardian (Messages to America: 1932-46, p.17) in which he says: “... There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life.
“The stage is set. The firm and ir-
[Page 3]
In terms of energy and visual excitement, it would be hard to top the superb Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble which came all the way from Chicago to perform at the Youth Conference.
revocable promise is given. God’s own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its execution.
“Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to ensure ultimate and complete victory.”
Every aspect of the conference, from plenary sessions to discussion groups and even social events, was geared toward realizing the goal of that theme: one’s personal commitment to arise and serve the Cause of God.
The conference was blessed by the presence of several members of the senior institutions of the Faith whose wise counsel was ardently sought and freely given throughout the five-day event.
They included one member of the Universal House of Justice, Hooper Dunbar; Counsellors Wilma Brady, Jacqueline Delahunt, Robert Harris, William Roberts, Fred Schechter and Arturo Serrano; and five members of the National Spiritual Assembly—William Davis, Alberta Deas, Robert Henderson, Jack McCants and Dorothy Nelson.
Also taking a leading role in the conference, which, as Dr. Henderson pointed out, “was planned by youth for youth,” were a number of young speakers and masters of ceremonies from the U.S. and abroad whose outstanding contributions helped make this a truly memorable event.
The task of introducing speakers, entertainers and other participants at plenary sessions was capably handled by half a dozen Bahá’í youth including three from the U.S. (Traci Gholar, Ryan Heydarian and Mehr Mansuri) along with Nobi Garrigues (Spain), Rocky Moncho (Botswana) and Terrance Simmons (Guyana).
Apart from the Counsellors, members of the National Assembly and its committees and agencies, the speakers were a diverse group who came from far and near and represented a number of ethnic groups.
They included Nelson Sapad (Southeast Asian now living in California), Sophie Berhane (Ethiopian now studying at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan), Homa Sabet (California), Louis Henrique Beust (Brazil), and Varta Sokhanvar (Canada).
The conference was convened Thursday evening with an opening night social, the first of two presentations of a dramatic three-act play, “Táhirih,” by the Louhelen Youth Theatre, and a late-night prayer session by candlelight.
Each morning from Friday through Sunday the youth, children and adults held separate sessions. Afternoons were devoted to discussion groups for parents and youth as well as other
[Page 4]
Above: Bahá’ís and their guests gather
in front of Indiana University’s Assembly Hall to prepare for one of the
Youth Conference’s plenary sessions. Below: the wide-ranging entertainment included music by Persian santour player Kamel Missaghian from Puerto Rico.
special activities, while evening sessions saw all groups coming together in IU’s Assembly Hall for inspirational talks and entertainment.
A highlight of the Saturday evening session was the presentation of a plaque by the Spiritual Assembly of Bloomington to Dr. Herman B. Wells, long-time chancellor of Indiana University, recognizing his many years of devotion to the causes of world peace and human rights.
The following afternoon a tree was planted at the IU arboretum, also in honor of Dr. Wells.
Monday morning’s closing session included a presentation honoring Tomilea Allison, the mayor of Bloomington, and a “challenge to the American Bahá’í community” by the Counsellors and members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
Other special events included:
- A Friday evening talent show featuring performers from across the country.
- Late-night discussion groups at several locations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- A FUNd Run to raise money for the completion of the Arc on Mount Carmel.
- A “Celebration of the Family” on Saturday afternoon whose centerpiece was a performance by Bahá’í singer/composer Red Grammer.
- A Sunday evening concert by well-known Bahá’í entertainer Dan Seals.
- A second performance Saturday afternoon of the play “Táhirih.”
- A celebration that same evening of “The Unity of Mankind” with music and dancing.
- Several programs especially for Persian believers including a slide show, “The Time Is Now,” and a reception for refugees hosted by the National Persian-American Affairs Committee.
Each of the plenary sessions was centered around a theme whose cumulative impact was designed to inspire the individual Bahá’í to arise in service to the Cause. Those themes were:
- Friday morning, “The Significance of This Day.”
- Friday evening, “Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation.”
- Saturday morning, “The Individual’s Mission.”
- Saturday evening, “The Immedi-
| Message to the International Youth Conference in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A.
The powers released by the advent of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh are inspiring in the hearts of humankind a heightened desire for unity and peace, and are shaping world events in an evolutionary process destined to yield, in due time, the Lesser Peace and to lead ultimately to the inauguration of the Most Great Peace. Collateral with this new spirit at work in the world is a heightened spiritual impetus energizing the community of the Most Great Name which was evident in the consultations at the International Convention and which is producing a rich harvest of victories in the teaching field, news of which reaches us every day. Today we have received the welcome news of the enrollment of over 100,000 new believers in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. Country after country is joining the ranks of those areas blessed with entry by troops into the community of the followers of the Blessed Beauty. As the chief executor of the Divine Plan, the American Bahá’í community is called upon to seize the privileges and obligations bestowed upon it, and by its noble exertions to inspire the entire Bahá’í world. Let the dearly-loved Bahá’í youth of America arise as never before, in a consecrated and sustained endeavor to win fresh victories in the propagation of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions. By this means they will hasten the advent of that day when, as prophesied by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, America will “evolve into a center from which waves of spiritual power will emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the plenitude of its majesty and glory, be firmly established.” We have full confidence that the American Bahá’í youth, who comprise a strong element of the community honored by the Master with the title of “apostles of Bahá’u’lláh,” will exert themselves to the fullest to fulfill the pledges they have made at this conference. Our prayers will be offered at the Sacred Threshold, that these dear friends may be the recipients of unprecedented blessings as they embark on this new and exciting stage in their magnificent record of service to their Beloved. Universal House of Justice
July 4, 1988 |
There were, of course, activities for those of all ages.
- ate Future.”
- Sunday morning, “A New Attitude.”
- Sunday evening, “The Time Is Now.”
- Monday morning, “Let the Doubter Arise.”
The wide-ranging and provocative discussion groups for youth included something for nearly everyone, answering such questions as “Are Bahá’ís socialists?” and “Is Money the Root of All Evil?” and covering topics in such diverse areas as “the promise of world peace,” life as a single adult Bahá’í, sexism and the media, prayer and meditation, families in crisis, a fresh approach to career/vocations, and “Model United Nations: an international experience.”
Meanwhile, parents were discussing topics that included developing cultural pride in one’s children, moral challenges facing youth, spiritual and psychological survival in the ’80s, spiritualization of the work place, developing your child’s potential through reading and writing, and discipline: parenting’s “most challenging issue.”
In addition, there were two discussion groups for pre-youth: “Calling All Younger Youth!” (conducted by Counsellors Wilma Brady and Robert Harris), and “Set Yourself Free!” (conducted by Cindy Savage, author of the new novel, Nothing in Common).
Ms. Savage’s book was a best-seller at the conference, whose over-all sales were described by a representative of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Distribution Service as “the best in at least a decade.”
The conference was front-page news in the Sunday edition of the local newspaper, the Herald-Times, which described the event in a lengthy article with color photograph as “the biggest ever held in Bloomington.”
The friends were also welcomed by a number of billboards and signs on roads and business establishments in and around the city.
The plenary sessions for youth (mornings) and youth, adults and children (evenings) were a skillful blend of talks and entertainment designed to inform, edify and inspire everyone at the conference and to instill a greater love for and commitment to the Cause of God.
That they succeeded in that purpose was evident in the large number of commitments made in response to the National Spiritual Assembly’s request for tangible pledges of service.
The spirit of those commitments was equaled by that of two performing groups who, having rehearsed for months especially for the conference, were asked to relinquish their time so
[Page 6]
From the children’s reaction, it would seem that language is no barrier to entertainment.
Counsellor Robert Harris compares ‘wrist bands’ with young Bahá’í Anis Sabeti. The bands were needed for admission to conference sessions.
that the pledges could be received.
Although greatly disappointed, both groups—“Global Beat” from San Diego and “Fourth Epoch” from Michigan—agreed without hesitation to do so.
The speakers at this grandly international event came from many countries (others attending the conference came from as far away as Korea, Nepal, New Zealand and South Africa) and included several groups of youth and pre-youth whose remarks were especially well-received.
The first of these group presentations, “The Vibrating Influences of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation,” was given Friday evening by Shahrokh Bahador, Leon Graham, Parisa Payman, Natasha Miller, Glen Evans and Ricky Martinez.
A second, “Serving the Faith,” on Saturday morning, consisted of brief remarks on that theme by Adriana Tomás, Bobby Ahdieh, Ndeley Agbaw, Margie Bulkin, Rambod Hashemi and John Stahl.
On Sunday evening, “Summoning the Heroes” was addressed by Kaylin Anderson, Michelle Lancaster, Verdia Louis, Cyprian Sajabi and Jene Wallace.
The youngest speaker at a plenary session was 12-year-old Saba Firoozi of Glencoe, Illinois, whose theme was “Bahá’u’lláh.”
Saba is a participant in a children’s public speaking project conducted by Gayle Woolson who gave three workshops on public speaking as a means of developing children and youth from “ordinary” to “extraordinary.”
[Page 7]
While the youth were meeting each
morning in Assembly Hall, parents and
other adults were at the Auditorium
for talks and other presentations by such well-deepened Bahá’ís as Counsellors Wilma Brady and Fred Schechter; Judge Dorothy Nelson, chairman,
and William Davis, treasurer of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly;
| TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
WITH RENEWED HOPE AND REVOLUTIONARY COMMITMENT TO MEET CHALLENGES AND OFFER VICTORIES 5,300 PARTICIPANTS FROM 36 COUNTRIES ARE GATHERED TOGETHER AT 1988 BAHÁ’Í INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA. BLESSED BY PRESENCE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE MEMBER HOOPER DUNBAR, COUNSELLORS WILMA BRADY, JACQUELINE DELAHUNT, ROBERT HARRIS, WILLIAM ROBERTS, FRED SCHECHTER AND ARTURO SERRANO AND FIVE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES, YOUTH DISPLAYING UNPRECEDENTED SERIOUSNESS TO TASKS DEFINED IN 1988 RIDVÁN MESSAGE. THE CONFERENCE THEME, “THE STAGE IS SET,” FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION AND DEEPER COMMITMENT TO REVELATION AND COVENANT OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. ALL PREPARED TO HELP FULFILL HIGH DESTINY AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY AS FORETOLD BY ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ. 3,200 YOUTH, 1,400 PARENTS/ADULTS, 700 CHILDREN ATTENDING TRIPLE CONFERENCE HAVE GLOBAL VISION OF BAHÁ’Í FAMILY BROADENED BY INTERNATIONAL PRESENTERS. REQUEST PRAYERS HOLY THRESHOLD FOR DIVINE ASSISTANCE THAT YOUTH, PARENTS/ADULTS AND CHILDREN WILL INITIATE ENTRY BY TROOPS THIS CONTINENT “LEST OPPORTUNITY BE LOST.” LOVING GREETINGS, PARTICIPANTS GATHERED AT 1988
BAHÁ’Í INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE JULY 4, 1988 TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JOYFULLY REPORT SUMMARY RESULTS THUS FAR OF COMMITMENTS OF PARTICIPANTS—CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS/PARENTS—INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCE. PLEDGES REFLECT PROFOUND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING. 3,022 PLEDGES OF ACTION TO SERVE AND ADVANCE BELOVED CAUSE. UNIFIED SPIRIT OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT UNPRECEDENTED IN RECENT HISTORY OF THE CAUSE IN NORTH AMERICA. PLEDGES OFFERED TO SUPREME INSTITUTION IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF URGENCY CONVEYED IN RIDVÁN MESSAGE. THE SUMMARY OF PLEDGES IS AS FOLLOWS: PIONEER OFFERS, 442; YOUTH YEAR OF SERVICE, 502; TRAVELING TEACHING, 697; TEACHING/SERVICE PROJECTS, 378; FIRESIDES AND OTHER TEACHING, 1,429; FUND, 704 PLEDGES TOTALING $163,173 INCLUDING $81,592 FOR ARC PROJECT; NEW DECLARATIONS, 23; PRAYER/DEEPENING, 492; COLLEGE CLUB ACTIVITIES, 43. HUMBLY REQUEST PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES FOR CONFIRMATIONS AND FULFILLMENT OF EVERY PLEDGE. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES JULY 4, 1988 |
Helen Markovitch Sanchez, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Costa Rica; Bahia Mitchell from the Bahá’í World Centre; John Smith of the National Teaching Committee, and Linda Ahdieh of the National Youth Committee.
Other activities for parents included two “open mike” sessions and a multimedia presentation, “The Seven Year Plan: A Retrospective.”
The children’s program, held each day in the Student Union, was varied and interesting with entertainment, games and other activities for those ages 3-11.
More than 200 people of all ages took part in Sunday evening’s FUNd Run. On-site pledges to the Fund exceeded $7,200 with thousands of dollars more pledged by sponsoring individuals and communities.
One runner completed 106 laps, generating an estimated $6,000 in contributions.
In a sense, of course, everyone at this most remarkable conference was “running,” or at the very least moving quickly forward toward a deeper understanding of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and a greater commitment to teaching, which the Universal House of Justice said in its Riḍván 1988 message to the Bahá’ís of the world is “the food of the spirit; it brings life to unawakened souls and raises the new heaven and the new earth; it uplifts the banner of a unified world; it ensures the victory of the Covenant and brings those who give their lives to it the supernal happiness of attainment to the good pleasure of their Lord.”
More photos on pages 8-9 ——>
[Page 8]
Above: When it comes to play time,
‘the messier the better’ seems to bring
the most pleasure. Above right: Hooper Dunbar, a member of the Universal
House of Justice, addresses the conference. Right: One of the special sessions for the Persian Bahá’ís. Below
right: The Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth
Workshop entertains at an outdoor
‘Family Day’ event. Below: A game of
‘hide-and-seek,’ perhaps?
[Page 9]
Above: IU Chancellor Herman Wells
(right) is given an award by the Spiritual Assembly of Bloomington. Right:
Some of the 3,200-plus pledges of service arrive onstage. Below right:
Young people from 50 countries tell of recent advances of the Cause in their
areas. Below: Red Grammer entertains.
United States[edit]
Congress hears testimony on Iran[edit]
For the third time in six years, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States has presented testimony about the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran before the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.
Appearing at the Subcommittee session June 29 were the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Robert C. Henderson, and its secretary for External Affairs, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh.
Also testifying on behalf of the Bahá’ís were Rep. John Porter of Illinois and Richard Schifter, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs.
The hearing followed by less than two months the introduction in the Senate and House of a joint resolution calling on the government of Iran to
‘International complications, economic crises, changes in leadership, domestic upheavals could produce situations in which one or another group of extremists would want to use the Bahá’ís for a scapegoat, as has happened repeatedly in the last 150 years.’
respect the civil rights of all its citizens including the Bahá’ís who are not protected under the Constitution that was put in place after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
This latest resolution—also the third since 1982—has 90 co-sponsors in the House and 39 in the Senate.
Although no Bahá’í has been executed in Iran since last September and none has been arrested since last February, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, “the Iranian authorities have not given any indication of relenting in their explicitly stated purpose of destroying the Bahá’í community ...”
Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh (right), the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for External Affairs, and its secretary, Dr. Robert Henderson (left), explain one of the exhibits that accompanied their testimony June 29 before the House Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations.
After listing a number of hopeful signs concerning the treatment of Iran’s Bahá’í community in recent months, Dr. Kazemzadeh said, “It is an unfortunate fact that the persecution of the Iranian Bahá’ís has not ended and may at any time flare up again in its most savage forms.
“International complications, economic crises, changes in leadership, domestic upheavals could produce situations in which one or another group of extremists would want to use the Bahá’ís for a scapegoat, as has happened repeatedly in the last 150 years.”
Dr. Henderson presented the testimony of two Bahá’ís who, he said, “cannot appear in person because threats have been made against members of their families still living in Iran.”
Both of these individuals, according to their testimony, were harassed, imprisoned and tortured by Islamic authorities before they were able to flee the country.
The National Assembly also presented Iranian government documents showing instances in which Bahá’ís in that country were dismissed from schools and employment, denied business licenses, pensions, inheritance, compensation for injury and even a proper burial, and had legal marriages annulled by the courts.
In every case, the reason given was none other than membership in the “errant sect,” that is, the Bahá’í Faith.
Nevertheless, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, “in 1987 there began to appear signs of change in the Iranian government’s treatment of Bahá’ís.”
Since last September, he told the
[Page 11]
Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh (right), the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for External Affairs, testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations. Looking on is the National Assembly’s secretary, Dr. Robert C. Henderson.
Subcommittee, “no Bahá’í has been executed; and no Bahá’í has been arrested since February 1988.
“Moreover, there has been a significant reduction in the number of Bahá’ís held in the various Iranian prisons.
“Eighteen months ago more than 750 Bahá’ís were in prison. The latest data show 152....
“Until recently, for every Bahá’í released, another one would be jailed. Currently, releases occur without new arrests, thus genuinely reducing the Bahá’í prison population.
“There have been no reports of torture inflicted on any Bahá’í prisoners in the last several months,” said Dr. Kazemzadeh, “and there are indications that the general treatment of prisoners has been somewhat improved.”
For the first time, he added, “a few Bahá’ís have been issued visas and permitted legally to leave the country....
“In several instances Bahá’ís whose homes, shops or farms had been confiscated were permitted to resume ownership. It must be noted, however, that as of now only a small fraction of confiscated properties has been returned.”
One of the most encouraging developments, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, “has occurred in the field of education,” as some Bahá’í students who had been expelled from schools and colleges have been invited to resume their studies.
“We do not know how many,” he said, “and it remains to be seen whether the right to education will be extended to all Bahá’ís or will be granted only in exceptional cases.”
In the absence of firm data, Dr. Kazemzadeh said, “it is futile to speculate about the reasons for the change in the treatment of the Bahá’ís by the authorities in Iran.
“Whatever the reasons, we welcome the change and hope that it will continue until the Iranian Bahá’ís are guaranteed all their human rights.”
And despite the recent improvement in their condition, he said, “American Bahá’ís hope that the United States will continue to show, through its elected representatives in Congress, its concern for the fate of the Iranian Bahá’í community....
“The case of the Bahá’ís in Iran,” Dr. Kazemzadeh concluded, “is such a pure instance of religious persecution that it may serve as an archetype.
“The American Bahá’ís hope that advocacy of the cause of the Iranian Bahá’ís would not only alleviate the sufferings of the Iranian Bahá’ís but help all who suffer persecution for their faith.”
Canada[edit]
‘Festival of Spirit’ celebrates arts[edit]
There was a burgeoning of creative expression at Canada’s first “Festival of the Human Spirit,” which was held June 30-July 3 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.
The focus of the event was the importance of the arts in celebrating the beauty and diversity of the human spirit and contributing to a better world.
An estimated 1,000 people attended the festival, which was sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and the Bahá’í Arts Council of Canada, an organization that was formed as a goal of the Six Year Plan.
At one of the opening sessions, Dr. Hossain Danesh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, paraphrased a Japanese Haiku: “When the almond tree was asked of God, it blossomed.”
There was much evidence of blossoming in the multi-faceted artistic presentations, exhibits, talks about marriage and education, and activities for children and youth, all of which served to encourage and integrate the artistic and intellectual capacities of the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í participants (about one-third of the performers were not Bahá’ís).
Highlights on the main stage included music by Andrew Pemberton-Piggott; santour player Kiu Haghighi accompanied by his daughter, Keely, and Nancy Ward; a celebration of the folklore of French Canada presented by Ellie Melling-Cyr and a company of 18 singers, dancers and musicians; and the premiere of a ballet based on the story of Badí’, performed by Roderick Johnson & Co.
Among other evening events were a disco dance for people of all ages and two evenings of late-night informal performances (music, poetry and story-telling) hosted by Nancy Acker-
Among the highlights were talks and poetry readings by Roger White; a slide presentation and talks by Faríburz Sahba, who designed the Bahá’í House of Worship in India; and a slide presentation and talk by artist and Counsellor Donald Rogers.
man, a member of the Arts Council.
Many other presentations, performances and workshops were held in various buildings on campus. Topics ranged from “Educating Children for a Peaceful World: The Role of the Arts” to “The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging,” “Sacred Ceremonial Sand Painting” and “Out of Africa: Views and Fashions.”
Dramatic performances included a play, “Anticipation,” by John Dunn; “The Passing of Exquisite Music,” a one-woman play about Martha Root, written and directed by Ann Boyles and performed by Susan Lyons; and “Lord of the Flies,” a creative adaptation acted by children (ages 9-16) under the direction of Daniel Danis of Group Capture.
Among other highlights were talks and poetry readings by poet Roger White; a slide presentation and talks by architect Faríburz Sahba, who designed the Bahá’í House of Worship in India; and a slide presentation and talk by artist and Counsellor Donald Rogers.
Americans who took part in the festival included Kiu and Keely Haghighi (santour/piano), Mark Ochu (concert pianist), Donna Kime (jazz/classical fusion singer/pianist), and Deborah Chicurel Conow and Anne Gordon Atkinson, who performed dramatized versions of the poetry of Roger White with music by Donna Kime and lighting by designer Danny Phillips.
Festival exhibits included works by five contemporary Canadian artists, four of whom are non-Bahá’ís: Donald Rogers, Greg Curnoe, Jamelie Hassan, Geoffrey Holdsworth and Susan Shantz.
In addition, a “Festival Emporium” featured art works and crafts for sale.
The children’s program included many quality performances and workshops in dance, drama and music. The Children’s Festival Choir, composed of many of the children at the festival, performed for everyone at the closing ceremony.
Also provided was a day care program with arts and other activities for children under five years of age.
The National Spiritual Assembly of Canada has decided to make the Festival of the Human Spirit an annual event during the remainder of the Six Year Plan.
Next year’s festival is tentatively scheduled to be held in eastern Canada, with the following year’s in one of the western provinces.
The power of the spirit was certainly evident at this first festival celebrating the diversity and creativity of humanity. Future festivals promise an even more abundant blossoming of the artistic efforts of Bahá’ís and their guests.—Anne Gordon Atkinson
Tanzania[edit]
Report on ‘dynamic’ Ruaha School[edit]
The first Bahá’í secondary school in Africa is a dynamic place to visit and to pioneer. The Ruaha Technical Secondary School, which is nestled on some 50 acres along the Ruaha River and several kilometers outside the town of Iringa, Tanzania, at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, was begun a mere three years ago with the laying of the foundation stone on October 29, 1985.
Only 55 days later, when the first classroom building was completed and the school administrators asked permission to open, the government Ministry of Education was astonished, and sent several officers to check the buildings. They were quickly reassured, and classes began on March 27, 1986, with students in Form I, the first year of high school. Now in its third year of operation, the school has Forms I, II and III with about 300 students. Plans are to continue adding students until Forms I-VI are included; the latter two Forms are above the usual four of high school and will teach the technical subjects—air conditioning and refrigeration, auto mechanics and electric power production are some of the possibilities.
The school is on property donated by the Town Council of Iringa. All buildings are constructed of brick which is fired right on the property; they include classrooms, a science lab, offices, a canteen and shop for everyday items, a staff room, and teachers’ housing. The school is owned by the National Spiritual Assembly of Tanzania and approved by the country’s Ministry of Education.
Besides regular classwork, each student takes part in regularly scheduled activities in self-reliance—carrying bricks, planting bananas, digging foundations, watering and weeding his own 10 trees (gifts of the Town Council), and so on.
The curriculum, which is determined by the Ministry, includes English, Swahili (the national language), geography, history, agriculture, chemistry, physics, biology, political science, mathematics and religion—Christian, Islamic and Bahá’í studies. Students sit for examinations in these subjects at the end of Forms II and IV. Besides regular classwork, each student takes part in regularly scheduled activities in self-reliance—carrying bricks, planting bananas, digging foundations, watering and weeding his own 10 trees (gifts of the Town Council), and so on. These activities are designed to foster pride in the school based on participation in all its aspects.
The headmaster, Hushang Garmroud, is originally from Iran. He and his wife, Susan, who is from Lebanon, have lived in Iringa for 12 years while Mr. Garmroud gained excellent experience in a growing secondary school following his education in India. Mrs. Garmroud studied at the American University in Beirut and has served as one of the school’s English teachers. Three of their four children were born in Iringa.
As of March 1988, four pioneers were on the staff—an Australian with experience in teaching science, and three Americans, one of whom is trained in agriculture and oversees the banana plantation and agriculture classes. Another is setting up the technical aspects of the school, while the third teaches English. The remaining teachers are Tanzanians, two of whom were trained abroad, the others locally.
Already, the school is highly respected for its high standard of instruction and for efficiently building and outfitting its facilities. Evidence of this respect can be found in the many requests for enrollment of their children by local and national government officials. Emphasis is placed on regular attendance by students and teachers, and on the use of English throughout the school, in and out of classes. In cases of infractions of school rules, parents are called to the school for consultation, and students often must perform extra work as punishment. In addition, free after-school tutorial sessions are held for students who need extra help.
With a pump producing plenty of clean water and a small shop selling a number of household items, the school serves the nearby community and has also hosted student teachers from the training college in Iringa. Especially for students, the school shows weekly video tapes, serves inexpensive snacks in the canteen, and sponsors clubs. For example, the science club recently built a demonstration solar water heater.
| This article on the Bahá’í-operated Ruaha Technical Secondary School in Iringa, Tanzania, was written by Laurel West Kessler of Shingletown, California, who visited the school with her family in August 1987. |
Among the attractions for pioneers to Iringa are a pleasant climate, electricity and running water in the staff housing, a friendly staff of fellow workers, a community of about 200 Bahá’ís in Iringa itself with a fairly new Bahá’í Center, and a Bahá’í-run nursery school in Iringa. Expansion plans at the school include hostels for students and classrooms in which to house additional students and the technical program.
The world[edit]
‘Street plays’ aid India development[edit]
An innovative rural development project was held last April 1-6 in India’s Jhabua District. Using drama, the projecteers aimed at motivating tribal villagers in self-development. The project was organized by the Jhabua local center of the Bahá’í Vocational Institute for Rural Women, Indore, and sponsored by CAPART (Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India).
The project director, Miss Janak Palta, has established excellent relations with the government and other officials, all of whom have praised the project highly.
Five coordinators from each of the district’s five villages were chosen and trained in rural development. They deepened their understanding of the needs and demands of village life and how to take the initiative to resolve difficulties and meet those needs.
Nearly 300 tribal members in each of the villages enjoyed and responded to educational “street plays” staged by the projecteers. The villagers expressed their appreciation for the messages conveyed in the plays whose themes included health, child care, hygiene, water sanitation, forest development, education, self-employment, family planning, and other developmental issues.
A visit to the project by Dr. Prayag Mahta of the government Ministry of Rural Development received newspaper coverage.
A street play in India’s Madhya Pradesh State reflects issues related to health, education and agriculture to an audience of tribal villagers in an effort to impart an awareness of new approaches to development. Nearly 300 people in each village visited enjoyed and responded to the educational street plays, which were organized by the Jhabua Local Centre of the Bahá’í Vocational Institute for Rural Women, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Canary Islands[edit]
More than 100 people took part in the National Youth School of the Canary Islands last April. Among them were 50 youth, 20 children and 12 seekers as well as members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Canary Islands and one Auxiliary Board member.
Ecuador[edit]
The exciting finish of a 250 km (155-mile) foot race through the Andes mountains was witnessed last March 20 by some 2,000 people gathered at Radio Bahá’í in Otavalo.
The crowd welcomed more than 300 runners who had begun at dawn the day before to cover the rugged, mountainous course of a “Chasqui for Unity” sponsored by Radio Bahá’í to mark the Bahá’í new year. (Chasqui is a Quechuan word meaning runner-messenger, and refers to an ancient Andean tradition repopularized in recent years by Radio Bahá’í.)
The runners carried translations in Quechua of the peace statement as well as Naw-Rúz greetings to local officials in 44 country towns and villages reached by Radio Bahá’í broadcasts.
As excitement built among the people of Imbabura Province, hundreds gathered at the radio station in Otavalo for a dual celebration—the arrival of the runners and a festival of Andean music.
The 13 groups who were finalists in the annual Festival of Folkloric Music put on a magnificent program which lasted into the late evening hours of March 20.
Trinidad/Tobago[edit]
Dr. Peter McLaren, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas, addresses a large group of Bahá’ís last December 12 at the home of Dr. and Mrs. M.H. Jamalabadi in Trinidad, West Indies. Dr. McLaren described the beauty and magnificence of the Bahá’í House of Worship near New Delhi, India, and spoke on a wide range of other topics during the evening.
Germany[edit]
On March 21, Naw-Rúz, the prestigious Peutinger Collegium, an association for the promotion of humanitarian and cultural activities, held a gala dinner in Munich, Germany, to give public testimony to the peaceful spirit of tolerance shown by the Bahá’ís of Iran in their time of severe difficulty and to pay respect to the Faith in general.
About 230 non-Bahá’ís including leading dignitaries and people of prominence from southern Germany were present with 10 representatives from the Bahá’í community.
A German member of the European Parliament, Dr. Otto von Habsburg, spoke about human rights, praised the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and related them to world peace.
The president of the Collegium commented that this “Bahá’í evening” had drawn the greatest participation of any event that body had ever sponsored.
Everyone at the dinner received a copy of the peace statement and other literature about the Faith.
In 1987 the Peutinger Collegium distributed copies of the peace statement to members of the Bavarian State Parliament and, in December of that year, published an article about the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran in its news organ which is distributed to some 30,000 leading figures in southern Germany.
United States[edit]
A cooperative effort encouraged by the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and its Office of External Affairs, and implemented by the United Nations representative, has sparked participation by six selected local Spiritual Assemblies in a project called “Africa Focus.” The project’s principal sponsor is the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service; co-sponsor is the YMCA of the U.S. whose branches will serve as liaisons at the local level.
Six pilot cities were chosen by the sponsors to initiate efforts designed to heighten nationwide awareness of the critical plight of an entire continent, Africa, which was described by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, as “truly awakening and finding herself and (which) undoubtedly has a great message to give and a great contribution to make to the advancement of world civilization.”
The local task forces in these cities will be composed of civic leaders and representatives of various non-governmental organizations including the Bahá’í Spiritual Assemblies. Their goal will be to build in the community an awareness of Africa’s economic and social problems and of African initiatives being taken to solve them. American partnership in long-term solutions will be crucial to the success of African development efforts.
Although participation was entirely optional, the six Spiritual Assemblies in the pilot cities have eagerly chosen to join the effort. They are the Spiritual Assemblies of Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Boston, Massachusetts; Cincinnati, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and New York City, New York.
First and second phases of the project involving task force formation and consultation have already begun. Third phase activities are to include community-wide conferences or symposia on Africa, teacher workshops for curriculum development, fact-finding missions, lecture series at universities, media roundtables, and other means of generating interest and support.
Swaziland[edit]
When Bahá’ís in a village in Swaziland arrived to organize the funeral of a Bahá’í in a neighboring community, they found that a Christian minister had already arranged the service. After agreeing that the Bahá’ís would carry on the funeral, the minister was amazed to see that women could could complete the task.
He asked about the Faith and invited the Bahá’ís to his church where, following the service, each of the Bahá’ís gave a brief talk, with the meeting lasting for two and one-half hours.
The minister then distributed Bahá’í pamphlets to each of the 50 adults and 20 youth present, all of whom were moved by what they had heard.
Canada[edit]
Howard J. Brown, a former Auxiliary Board member and long-time member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska who in 1963 was the first person ever to cast a vote for the election of the Universal House of Justice, died May 27 in Palmer, Alaska, two months after his 79th birthday.
In 1957 Mr. Brown was elected a delegate to the first National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Alaska and was elected vice-chairman of the newly formed National Spiritual Assembly, serving in that capacity for eight years until appointed to the Auxiliary Board by the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem.
In 1963, all nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska were in Haifa, Israel, for the historic International Convention at which the Universal House of Justice was first elected.
Since National Assemblies were seated alphabetically, Alaska was in the first row. Mr. Brown, always a gentleman, stood aside as the women took their seats in the middle of the row. As a result, he was seated on the aisle when balloting began, and was the first person called upon to cast a ballot.
In 1948, Mr. Brown and his wife, Lea, had helped to form the second local Spiritual Assembly in Alaska, the Anchorage Recording District (now Oceanside), and in 1960 they helped form the first Spiritual Assembly of the Matanuska Valley before pioneering to Wrangell, Petersburg and Haines.
Mr. Brown was the first person in Alaska to be appointed to the Auxiliary Board. His territory included Washington, Idaho and northern Oregon. He served the Board until 1982 when his deteriorating health forced him to resign.
About 25 people from the Anglican Church, the Uniting Church, the Catholic Church and the Bahá’í Faith attended a public meeting last April 24 in Ontario, Canada, which was organized by the Richmond Hill Ecumenical Peace Group.
The featured speaker was Geoffrey Pearson, executive director of the Canadian Institute for International Peace and Security and the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson.
After he was introduced, Mr. Pearson said that his third daughter is a Bahá’í, has spent some time in India and is presently working on a degree in religious studies.
United Kingdom[edit]
Pictured is the exhibit mounted by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom last March at the London International Book Fair. The prominent stall featured a wide and colorful range of books from many Bahá’í publishers. The fair was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of York whose tour of the exhibits brought her past the Bahá’í display. Seen here (left to right) are George Ballentyne from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Wendi Momen from George Ronald Publisher, Bahá’í author Joseph Sheppard, and Donna Adamson, director of information at the Bahá’í National Centre in London.
Singapore[edit]
On March 8, International Women’s Day, Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, a Bahá’í from Singapore, was given a plaque by the Singapore Council of Women in appreciation of her work for the equality of men and women and women’s rights.
More than 100 people attended the event, many of whom had an opportunity to hear about the Bahá’í Faith for the first time.
Mrs. Fozdar was described as an ardent champion of women’s rights, an influential leader, an idealist and a well-known social worker.
As early as 1925 she had taken an active interest in women’s issues, and in 1952, after moving to Singapore from India, she founded the Singapore Council of Women.
Through the council, Mrs. Fozdar has worked to bring to public attention the discrimination and mistreatment of women and has campaigned against polygamous marriage.
Her many activities have included leading delegations to international women’s conferences, presenting lectures in many countries, and starting schools for rural children in Thailand and India.
New Zealand[edit]
Bahá’ís presented two papers last May 12-15 at the World Conference on Refugee Mental Health in Wellington, New Zealand.
More than 200 people attended the event including the governor-general, the minister of social welfare, the United Nations high commissioners for refugees from Bangkok, Canberra and Geneva, and representatives of scores of other organizations.
The papers presented by the Bahá’ís, one on refugee mental health and the other on the New Zealand Bahá’í Refugee Resettlement Program, were received with considerable interest by the 24 attendees in spite of three simultaneous alternative programs.
The Bahá’í participation in the event led to many opportunities to present the principles of the Faith and to foster cordial relations with the community at large.
Four Bahá’í communities in and around Auckland, New Zealand, recently braved wet weather to dedicate a Bahá’í Peace Grove in Marlborough Park, Glenfield.
Bahá’ís from Northcote, Devonport, Takapuna and Birkenhead attended the dedication at which a local member of Parliament, Mrs. Keall, unveiled a bronze plaque on which are inscribed the words “Dedicated to the Oneness of Mankind” and the name of the Takapuna Bahá’í community.
Children presented Mrs. Keall with Thoughts on Peace and a bouquet of flowers, and a youth acted a spokesman for the Bahá’í community, thanking Mrs. Keall for her participation.
The dedication received excellent local newspaper coverage.
Zambia[edit]
During a visit last March 3 to the William Mmutle Maseltha Bahá’í Institute, R.C. Kamanga, chairman of the Rural Development Committee, the highest-ranking policy-making body in Zambia next to the Cabinet, praised the Bahá’ís for their efforts to develop rural areas.
Mr. Kamanga, whose visit was part of a provincial tour, was accompanied by the district governor, representatives from several other ministries and cooperative unions, officials from party headquarters, and members of the press.
While inspecting the agricultural demonstration plots, he referred specifically to the cooperation between the Institute and the research unit of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Copies of the peace statement were given to Mr. Kamanga and those in his entourage, and an article headlined “Bahá’ís Praised” appeared on the front page of the Sunday Times of Zambia.
Ivory Coast[edit]
During Intercalary Days last February, the Bahá’ís of Danane, Ivory Coast, went to the local prison to serve lunch to its 178 inmates.
At midday, the prisoners were brought from their cells to the courtyard. A prayer for forgiveness was read, followed by a talk and guidance relating to the question, “Should a criminal be punished?”
The talk was based on the chapter “The right method of treating criminals” in Some Answered Questions.
Brazil[edit]
A recent nationwide contest for the design of the National Bahá’í Center in Brasilia, Brazil, drew entries from some of the most prominent architects in that country.
The contest was sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly and planned by the Brasilia section of the Brazilian Institute of Architects.
Eighty-two architectural teams (composed of about 200 individuals) from 11 states in Brazil entered the competition. A panel of judges chosen by the Brazilian Institute of Architects included four leading Brazilian architects and a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly, Mrs. Venus Sahihi Peseshk, who is herself an architect.
The Journal of the Brazilian Institute of Architects advertised the contest alongside an article about the Faith which included a photograph of the Bahá’í House of Worship in India.
The award-winning entry used contemporary Brazilian architectural design in which were incorporated Bahá’í concepts.
An inauguration ceremony was held last December for the Bahá’í-operated School of the Nations in Brasilia, Brazil.
The ceremony, which marked the school’s move to its permanent location, coincided with the week in which Brasilia was declared by the United Nations to be a “patrimony of humanity.”
The program included prayers and readings from the scriptures of many religions and musical performances by staff members. At its close, a bronze plaque bearing a quotation from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh was unveiled.
in Common |
would change her life forever CINDY SAVAGE |
A new teaching tool for youth and adults!
| NOTHING IN COMMON
by Cindy Savage This is an intriguing story about a young woman’s search for truth and her discovery of the beauty and challenge of the Bahá’í message. Katie’s search becomes an adventure that brings her from feeling slightly out of sync with the crowd to realizing that it is her differentness that shows strength. Katie finds a niche in this new religion and learns how she can help show others that all people have a lot in common. While Nothing In Common is especially appealing to young people, adults will find the issues challenging and will relive their own search and acceptance of the Faith. This story “teaches” by offering practical applications of Bahá’í principles to every day situations. SC 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 |
