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Promoting Unity in Europe '
The Bald ’1‘ lnteman'anal Community} exhibition: at the European Parliament in mer and Belgium aflémz' an opportunity ta showcase t/Ie Baht}? Faith} mnm'bun'an to unity in European mritgt
May 2004, and with the addition of to new states it will
feature the largest economy and the third largest popula- tion in the world. But the economic and political alliance is not an easy one. The governments that compose the EU must work hard for compromises. and its people must reckon with a dense con— glomerate of languages, cultures, and ideologies. Though there is a great deal of hope for the future, Europe’s diversity has historically been a source of conflict, witnessed in the last century as tragedy. upheaval, and unparalleled change. including two world wars and their aftermath.
Considering both the recent past and Europe’s more distant history, the merger of nations into the EU is a striking reverse ofdivi- sions that have characterized the continent for most of its existence. Though still unsettled by friction and politics. the Europan Union offers an economic and political unity welcomed by the Ball“ Faith, whose members—cven in the midst ofworld waIs—firmly held that the flssions between nations would be overcome and those wars would give way to peace. as the whole human race began to regard itself as a single entity and the earth its collective home.
I' I 1h: European Union faces its most ambitious expansion in
113
114 THE BAHA’f WORLD 2003—2004
‘Abdu’l—Bahé, during a visit to London in 1911, addressed a gath- ering with His hope that “through the zeal and ardor of the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and difference will be entirely abolished, and the light of love and unity shall shine . . . human hearts shall meet and embrace each other; the whole world become as a man’s native country and the different races be counted as one race.”'
At that time, the Faith had only recently been introduced in Europe, but in the years since, the Bahé’l community there has grown in both size and influence. Bahé'fs now reside in more than 7,100 localities throughout Europe, and they have established some 860 Local Spiritual Assemblies, in addition to the National Spiritual Assemblies in 37 European countries. There are well-established Baha’i communities and National Spiritual Assemblies in all 15 member nations of the European Union, as well as in the new na- tions scheduled to join the EU.
It is fitting, then, that when the Bethe“ community of Europe wanted to create an exhibit about its activities and members, its chosen theme was “Unity in Diversity," an essential ideal in the Faith, whose members Come from thousands of ethnic, tribal, and cultural backgrounds.
The exhibition, titled “The Bahé'f International Community: Promoting Unity in Diversity throughout Europe for over a Centu— ry,” was created by the Baha’i International Community to welcome the new states that will join the European Union on I May 2004. It opened at the main building of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on II June 2003, and again on 10 February 2004 at the Winston Churchill Building in Strasbourg, France.
“This exhibition aims to show the degree to which the Bahé’f communities of Europe are involved with the life ofsociety at large, and are seeking to promote and contribute to social progress on a number of fronts," said Silvia Frohlich, a representative of the Swiss Bahé’IT community who assisted the Paris branch of the Bahé’l ln— temational Community’s Office of Public Information in designing the display.
Composed of 14 panels, the exhibit highlighted the contribution to social harmony made by Bahé’f communities in Europe through photographs and text about how the Baha’i communities of Europe
[Page 115]
EUROPEAN EXHIBITION HS
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and a variety (){Bnhd’i—inspircd organizations lmvc sought (0 promote peace. integration. and ethics throughout Eurupc.
Titlus 0f the panels included: "An Emerging \X’orld Identity," "The Bah.“ Vision,“ “Collaboration with the United Nations," “Curporutu Sncizll Responsibility,n “[invimnmcm and Develop— mcm." “'l‘hc Advancement of Wumcnf' “Ymuh in Action," "I’cacc and Undcrsmnding." “lnrerreligious Dialogue;u and "Multicultural lntcgmlion." Each panel includud a quotation from the sacred writ- ing» ol- the Bnhd'l’ Faith along with an explanation 0f the relevant principle and examples of'action being taken by lellzi‘is in Europe [0 promote these principles
THE BAHA’! WORLD 2003—2004
Through the exhibition, visiting members of the European Parliament were able to [am about Bahé’f—inspired projects such as the Institute for Social Cohesion in the United Kingdom and the Bahé'f International Community's innovative collaboration with the Stability Pact for Eastern Europe (formerly known as the Royaumont Process).2
The exhibition also featured the European Bahé’f Business Forum (EBBF), dedicated to promoting ethical values. personal vir— tues, and moral leadership in business as well as in organizations of social change. 2331: members from Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Slovakia participated in the exhibition staged by the Oflice of Public Information of the Bath“ lntemational Community. The emu: panel and the exhibit brochure described EBBF partnerships and coaching activities with organizations such as business schools and international student organizations, the International Labour Organiution, and the ongoing courses in ethical economics taught by EBBF members at Italian universities.’
The exhibition in Brussels ran from u to 13 June 2003 and was opened by its sponsor. MEP Jan Lambert. Other notable attendees at the exhibition included Ana dc Palécio, the Minister of Foreign Again of Spain; Professor Nicolas Dehousse, the former President of the Royal Belgian Academy; MEP Elma: Brok from Germany, chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security, and Defense Policy; Efstartios Korakas. a Greek MEP and member of the same committee; Rytis Martikonis, assistant secre- tary of the Minister of Foreign AHaim of Lithuania; Geneviéve Tuts, executive assistant to the Vice Prime Minister of Belgium.
Professor Suheil Bushmi, who holds the Bah“ Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, gave an address on “The Ethics of Globalization," 3 topic of particular relevance to the expanding EU in its role as the world’s major economic power.
In Su-asboutg, the exhibit ran from 10 to n. February 2004. Some 30 members of the Parliament attended the opening reception. Other dignitaries included judges from the European Court of Human Rights, representatives of the Council of Europe, members of the European Commission, ambassadors and diplomats, and prominent personalities from the Strasbourg region.
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EUROPEAN EXHIBITION H7
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Baroness Sarah Ludford, a member of the Europcan Parliament from the United Kingdom, sponsored the event. She addrcsscd the gathering during the opening reception. speaking warmly about the potential 0f the Bahé’f Faith (0 inHuc‘nce Europe's course in the world. "I believe (his little-known religion of global reach is of interest to people like ourselves who work in an intcrnmional contexr in (his L-xpanding and enlarging European Parliamenr." said (he Baroness.
She said that Bahfi'u'lla'h, the Founder of the Bahé'i Faith. “warned of'lhc dangers ()funconstrained nationalism and called for a system ofglnbal governance, which has led Bahi'l’s m be particular supporters 0f the Unircd Nations. He would have applauded the success of (he European Union in ensuring collective sucurity and protecting human rights."
"Over the years, the Bahei'l' communities of Europe have sought to engender and encourage social harmony and progress. through a wide range of activirics," said Lucien Crcvcl. Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of (he Bahé'l's of France. “I: is (his
118 THE BAH.“ WORLD 2003—2004
experience, which the exhibition seeks to highlight, that we hope will be helpfitl to the Parliament and its members.
"The idea of social harmony, which this exhibition seeks to promote, is of critical importance as the European Union becomes larger.”
The Eli's ongoing plans to apand in: membership will undoubt- edly increase not only its influence but also its complexities. The new states that will be admitted in 2004 will raise new issues to be addressed collectively, as the new and old member states work to integrate into a cohesive whole. Throughout that process, the Bahé’ls will be working in their own communitia and in the wider society to bring into practice the principles of unity that animate their Faith.
NOTES
' 'Abdu‘l—BIM, Ml—Babd in London: Addmm, andNom nfConuemn'am (Lon- don: Bahi‘l Publishing Trust, [987), p. )8.
1 For more infbrmztion about the Institute for Social Cohaion. see 77): Babd’l Wurldzaoz—zwj (Haifa: World Centre Publications, 7.004). pp. urts. For more nbout the Bah“ involvement in the Royaumont Process. see TkMd'lWorId [”8—99 (Haifa: World Centre Publications, 2000), pp. 145—50.
’ For more information about the European Bahi’l Business Forum, see 77:: Build? War“ 2001—1002 (Haifa: World Centre Publications. 2003), 1"?- ”9—54”
