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One Planet Peace Forum – Peace Messages for the World

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In a world that struggles with violence, we can still say🎉 Happy International Day of Peace 🎉 because we know of the work you are doing locally in connection with the URI Network. You are the hope of a better world!

 

This morning, we woke up to read news on social media on events and activities our CCs and Individual Members have organized north and south, east and west. From a march and training session in SEAPac to an Indigenous Call and beautiful video from Latin America, from a zoom call in North America to a Peace Pledge in Asia, a football match in Africa and an amazing global gathering in Japan and of course impactful initiatives in many other places in the world of URI. Big and small, with diverse audiences, all count and contribute to create cultures of Peace, Justice and Healing for the Earth and all living beings.
Since URI´s inception, International Day of Peace has been an opportunity to see URI star shining brightly
To celebrate our interfaith community, we will be gathering on Thursday September 26th at 6:00 am PT. Please register here
To learn what 6:00 am PT is in your part of the world click here

Faith, Peace, and Clean Air 2024: A Community Walk of Harmony and Sustainability

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This year’s Faith and Peace Walk marked the third consecutive event organized by the Barnet Multi-Faith Forum and Middlesex University Inter Faith Network on June 20th, 2024. The walk coincided with both the London Festival of Architecture 2024 and National Clean Air Day.

It was a remarkable event celebrating religious diversity, community harmony, and
environmental awareness, providing an informative experience that fostered new friendships while highlighting air quality and sustainability initiatives across Edgware.

The walk commenced from Edgware Underground Station, making its way to St. Margaret’s Church as a midpoint, and concluded at OneStonegrove. In line with National Clean Air Day, some walkers carried portable air monitors provided by Middlesex University and Climate Action Barnet. This initiative aimed to record air quality and pollution levels along the route, contributing valuable data to ongoing research efforts.
The Faith and Peace Walk in Edgware was more than just a physical journey; it was a journey of the heart and spirit, bringing together individuals from different faiths and backgrounds in a shared pursuit of peace and understanding, showcasing a commitment to environmental sustainability. It stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration and interfaith dialogue in creating a more harmonious and environmentally conscious society.
A Journey Through Edgware’s Spiritual and Cultural Heritage
The walk began at Edgware Methodist Church, a cornerstone of the community celebrating its centenary this year. The church, which has stood in its current form since 1956, serves a diverse congregation, including a significant number of West African members. Its role extends beyond traditional worship, hosting a large Romanian Pentecostal community and a Trefoil Guild group for former Girl Guide members. This rich blend of cultural and spiritual traditions reflects the church’s inclusive philosophy, making it a microcosm of the diversity that characterizes Edgware itself.
Participants then moved to the Islamic Centre Edgware, a vibrant and essential institution for the local Muslim community. Established in 1974, the centre has grown steadily over the years, culminating in the construction of a new, purpose-built mosque in 2016. This modern facility, located on Deansbrook Road, serves as both a place of worship and a model of environmental consciousness, designed with numerous eco-friendly features. The centre’s emphasis on environmental sustainability is deeply rooted in Islamic teachings, which encourage the faithful to care for the Earth as stewards of creation.
Next on the route was St Margaret’s Church and Community Churchyard, the oldest building in Edgware, with a history dating back to the 13th century. This historic church has been a continuous place of Christian worship and community service for over 700 years. The current structure, largely rebuilt in the 1760s, houses bells that were cast during that period and remain in regular use, following a significant restoration effort from 2012 to 2014. The churchyard, transformed in 2019 into a peaceful sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of Edgware’s main street, offers a quiet place for reflection and connection with the divine. Additionally, the historic almshouses associated with the church, dating back to 1680, provide a fascinating glimpse into the community’s long-standing commitment to social welfare.
The walk then led participants to the Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue, a cornerstone of the local Jewish community. This synagogue, formed from the merger of two historic Jewish congregations—Edgware & District Reform Synagogue and Hendon Reform Synagogue—stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Jewish life in North London. The merger, completed in 2016, brought together these communities into a single, vibrant congregation of over 3,000 members. The synagogue is known for its two walls of stunning stained-glass windows, which were donated by congregants in memory of loved ones and have become symbolic of the community’s deep ties to its history and traditions. Today, the synagogue continues to serve as a vital center for worship, learning, and community life, offering a wide range of activities that cater to the spiritual and social needs of its members.
The final stop on the Faith and Peace Walk was the OneStonegrove Community Centre & St Peter’s Church, an award-winning facility that exemplifies the power of community-led development. Completed in 2016, OneStonegrove replaced two aging 1960s buildings with a state-of-the-art facility that combines innovative architectural design with a strong social mission. The project, inspired by the roof structure of the old St Peter’s Church, was designed to reflect the history and character of the Stonegrove estate while providing a modern space for worship and community activities. The center is managed by the Stonegrove Community Trust, a resident-led organization that has infused the space with a dynamic and inclusive spirit. OneStonegrove hosts a wide range of activities, including programs for families, young people, and the elderly, as well as environmental initiatives such as community gardening. A standout feature of the center is its £100,000 solar panel array, the largest charity-owned solar project in London. This installation underscores OneStonegrove’s commitment to sustainability, with the goal of becoming completely carbon neutral in the coming years.
The Faith and Peace Walk in Edgware serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and beauty found in diversity and the potential for interfaith collaboration to foster a more peaceful and harmonious society. As participants departed from OneStonegrove, they carried with them not only the memories of the day but also a renewed commitment to building bridges of understanding and working together for the common good.

Explore Mental Health – valuable resource

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Islamophobia and my mental health: Osama's story

Osama, a Mental Health Foundation Young Leader, shares his story to help promote awareness of Islamophobia and the impact it can have on your mental health.  

Content warning: this blog mentions depression and suicidal feelings, please read with care. 

 

Contribute to the London Nature Recovery Interactive Map

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The Greater London Authority (GLA) has launched an interactive mapping tool for Londoners to tell us where action to improve nature should be prioritised.

The GLA will use the map, alongside other inputs, to set out the priorities for London’s nature in the London Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which is due to be published in Summer 2025.

You can access and add your suggestions to the interactive map here: LNRS Interactive Map (arcgis.com)

This interactive map is open to all organisations and individuals across London, so please share this with your friends, colleagues, family and communities living and working in Greater London. The map will be open for input until 23:59 on Wednesday 2nd October.

If you have any questions regarding the interactive map, please email biodiversity@london.gov.uk

Statements of peace and solidarity at Finchley Mosque

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The Barnet Multi Faith Forum (BMFF) were praised by Government minister, Sarah Sackman MP and other local MPs for an inspiring solidarity event organised at the Finchley Mosque last Friday.

The large congregation were joined by local councillors of both parties’, Rabbis, and a diverse gathering of prominent faith and community leaders. This harmonious event followed in the aftermath of the often-violent civic disobedient clashes provoked by far-right groups attaching, refugee centres and mosques exploiting for their own divisive motives, the tragic murders of three young girls in Southport.

In a statement, from the minister read out by Cllr Sara Conway, whilst thanking everyone present, she praised the professionalism of the police in standing up to these attacks, and especially to those that peaceably lined the streets of Finchley the previous week. This sent a powerful message about “who we are, and that this is our home”. In remaining vigilant to these threats, she proclaimed “there is no place for Islamophobia and racism in our society.”

She also explicitly stated that anyone calling themselves anti racist but who chose to promote their cause by patent use of antisemitic language or signs does this virtuous cause no favours. “This is racism, and we will call it out” she declared. “The vast majority of the people in our community come together to stand up to fascism and I could not be prouder.”

To loud applause from the huge gathering the BMFF Chair David Clare read out the Barnet Pledge which commits us to work together for the common good, alongside all who share our values of justice and peace, respect for one another, for the earth and its creatures and to build a better society and a better world now and for generations to come.

In thanking the Mosque and especially the kind invitation of Imam Hamid with the warm reception given by those in attendance for prayers, the coming together of Senior Rabbis, Imams, diverse ministers of faiths, councillors and community leaders to further loud acclaim Esmond Rosen President of BMFF, concluded “In choosing the language, of peace, unity over division, of hope over hate, the community gathered together last Friday, sent a powerful message of strength and friendship to the people of Barnet.

 

Barnet Pledge

We commit ourselves, as people of many faiths living in Barnet, to work together for the common good and uniting to build a better society in our Borough, in London and in the wider world.

Together, we are grounded in the following values and ideals:  community, personal integrity, a sense of right and wrong, learning, wisdom and love of truth, care and compassion, justice and peace, respect for one another and for the earth and its creatures.

We commit ourselves, in a spirit of friendship and co-operation, to work together alongside all who share our values and ideals in Barnet and beyond, to help bring about a better Borough, a better capital and a better world – now and for generations to come.

 

Statement from Sarah Sackman MP

Sarah Sackman MP statement to BMFF Solidarity event 9th August 2024