LA Nuclear Disarmament

Ask Obama to work for world nuclear disarmament:
wagingpeace.org/appeal

---

Nuclear Age Peace 
Foundation

nuclearweaponsfree.org

Beyond War

Nuclear Free Future

LA Catholic Worker 
YouTube Vandenberg protest

Be Carbon Neutral - go to CarbonCounter.org, e-bluehorizons.com, NativeEnergy.com or CarbonFund.org. Pick the Wind Energy Option. Fill in the form with your total energy use and sign up for a monthly contribution via credit card - usually less than $20. 

• Creating a Unity-and-Diversity Fellowship
• Peace Sunday
• Humanitarian Response to Haiti
• World Scriptures Vol. 2 by Rev Leland Stewart now available
• Sun Jan 3, 2009, Moral and Spiritual Values for a New Decade
• Sun Dec 20, 2009, Transitioning to Global Interfaith Community
• Sat Dec 19, 2009, Activating our Concerns for Peace, Justice and Environment
• Sun Dec 13, 2009, Intensifying the Preparation
• Sun, September 20, Interfaith Celebration: Moral and Spiritual Transitions
• Sun, July 26th, Interfaith Celebration: Awakening the Family of Humanity
• Sat, July 18th, General Assembly "World March for Peace and Nonviolence"
• UDC as a Network of Networks by Leland Stewart
• UNIVERSAL RESPONSIBILITY by His Holiness The Dalai Lama
• Los Angeles Area Nuclear Disarmament Coalition [LAANDC] Appeal for Participation

Outwitted

 They drew a circle that shut me out -
 Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
 But love and I had a wit to win;
 We drew a circle that took them in.
  --Edwin Markham, page 97 - World Scriptures, Vol. 2

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council is an outgrowth of democracy.  It seeks to include all faiths and all dimensions of life, as well as the organizations that represent these many dimensions.  Its design is that of a peoples' equivalent of the United Nations.  Within that vast network there is a place for fellowship on a moral and spiritual basis.  It is this aspect of UDC's work which we call the Unity-and-Diversity World Fellowship.

It is the task of the Fellowship to hold unity-and-diversity services of worship, the best time for such services being Sunday morning. In this way it can also work with children and young people.  It also is given the responsibility of training and ordaining ministers who choose to serve to build this kind of fellowship.  The Fellowship, through myself and once with both myself and my late wife Elizabeth, has trained and ordained about twenty-five ministers over the years. 

There are various ways in which a Unity-and-Diversity Minister can fulfill his/her ministry, but the most obvious and most needed one is the role of holding unity-and-diversity type services of worship by whatever name.  During our lifetime of devotion to this awareness Elizabeth and I have usually held such services.  It is only most recently that these Sunday morning gatherings have been held by ourselves at our residence.  That time of hibernation is about to end.

Stephen Longfellow Fiske, an outstanding musician and producer of events, with whom I have worked for about forty years, will be ordained this year tentatively on March 21st at his garden in Venice.  March 21st is a Sunday, and it is the first day of spring.  The ordination will be held in the afternoon, but following that occasion Sunday morning interfaith gatherings will be held on the westside of Los Angeles.  All interested individuals, of whatever faith or no official faith, are invited to participate. 

These unity-and-diversity services will include spiritually-minded speakers of various faiths, music, interfaith candlelighting, meditation and prayer, and dialog.  A single venue will be chosen for these events, so that steadiness of attendance and development will be more possible.  Its goal will be both to enrich the lives of those who participate, and also to involve people of various faiths in working together.  A world spiritual calendar will be developed which each month devotes one Sunday to a particular faith, so that understanding can be increased.

Over time, programs will be developed throughout the week that include interfaith and other intergroup cooperation.  The Fellowship will attempt to fulfill its unity-and-diversity purpose by being at the moral and spiritual center of community, both reaching out to all faiths and groups and also organizing programs that draw them together.

Are there such groups already in existence in cities across the country and around the world?  The answer is "yes", but not very many.  There is one in Pennsylvania that holds services and develops related programs with the stress on building common ground.  I believe that its name is Common Ground Fellowship.  One of its creators is Kit Thomas, who used to live in California.  There is another group in Palm Springs, California, which holds a form of service and features speakers from the area.  A third group is in Oregon, headed by Sharif Abdullah, which has a unity-and-diversity global outlook but which to my knowledge does not hold services at this time.   We are interested in knowing of others.  Please let us know if you are aware of such groups.

Do stay in touch and plan to be with our Fellowship on March 21st.  We appreciate your support and your participation.  It is time to build a creative, dynamic, and diverse kind of fellowship that can have a major role in bringing forth the emerging global civilization!

In the Spirit of Unity-and-Diversity!!!

C/o Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc., P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA 90066; Phone: 310-391-5735; Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org 

Rev Leland Stewart has recently published Vol. 2 of his World Scriptures.  Both volumes are available and well worth the modest investment. Check here for more details.

January 17, 2010(10) - link to pictures

Islamic Center of Southern California

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council (UDC), in cooperation with the Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace (ICUJP), produced this 11th annual Peace Sunday on Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend.  Its theme was Building Bridges Across Our Differences. It was a most successful event, with 140 people participating.  The major purpose of this Peace Sunday was to seek to understand Islam more fully and to go beyond its stereotyping, which has become so prevalent in recent times. 

Keynote speakers were Edina Lekovic, Communications Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and Stephen Rohde, Chairperson of ICUJP and an outstanding attorney. A Heart of Humanity Award was given to Blasé and Theresa Bonpane, Founders of Office of the Americas, for their long-standing work for peace, justice, and humanity. Jihad Turk, Director of Religious Education for the Islamic Center, welcomed the people and established a tone of friendliness and mutual understanding.  Rev. Leland Stewart, Founder/Central Coordinator of UDC brought greetings from this organization, which has sponsored Peace Sunday since its beginning in 1989. Bonnie Blustein brought the welcome for ICUJP.

There were also three excellent performances, a Middle Eastern couple called Mitra and Rama, a gospel singer by the name of Crystal Davis, and the producer Stephen Longfellow Fiske. 

A moving Interfaith Celebration was held, with two representatives from each of eleven faiths including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism as well as more recent faiths such as Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and Baha'i.  This year the readers surrounded the audience, while the candlelighters assembled on stage and lighted the candles as the readings were being given.

In addition to the two co-producers of this event, there were twenty co-sponsors, many of whom had displays at the event.  Displays opened at 2 p.m. and were greeted by interested and hungry attendees, who chose to come early this year and visit the exhibit room.  A great energy was generated during that hour, which carried into and beyond the 3-5 p.m. program.  Some also stayed afterward to continue their visitation, but most of the people chose to go home, since it was raining at that time.

The response to Peace Sunday was most enthusiastic and will be long remembered.  The Islamic Center was an excellent venue; its leaders saw that the people's needs were met, and the atmosphere was most gracious. 

The ultimate test for us of what a truth means is the conduct it dictates or inspires. -- William James, Science and Spirituality p. 136

The tragedy in Haiti is not only a wake-up call for the Haitian people but for the world at large.  What we do in a time like this is a very good indicator of who we are and how real we are when a natural disaster of this kind strikes anywhere in the world.  Not all of us have the money or time to drop everything and go there, but we are called upon to do what we can.  The teaching from all religions that most applies here is the Golden Role: Treat others as you would have others treat you.

People of faith generally respond to social issues from a spiritual, as well as ethical, perspective.  They are not disposed to finger-pointing and blaming others for what is usually their own responsibility.  Because Haiti is a humanitarian disaster, it calls upon the deepest emotions and sense of service from vast numbers of people around the world.  It is quite different from Iraq and Afghanistan, where wars are involved.  On the other hand, some of the same humanitarian concerns are involved, such as people being injured or killed, others starving or unable to have basic services such as food, housing, and water.

The task for the emerging global community is to help resolve humanitarian disasters such as Haiti, while at the same time keeping in mind the overall goal, which should be to create a world that works for all.  Helping Haiti needs to include rebuilding its infrastructure in a way that is honest and gives opportunities to people to take part in creating a new nation that can be more a part of the global community.   Democracy has to do with people helping themselves out of poverty and dependence on others to do for them what they need to do for themselves.  Properly understood, this is not selfishness but positive self interest.  Each person is asked to do what he or she can do and to share with others. 

The most important lesson of the horrendous tragedy in Haiti is that progress can be made toward a more sufficient nation able to live effectively in the 21st century.  A new level of moral and spiritual values will need to be at the heart of this transformation, one which relates to getting jobs, having an education, finding decent housing, etc.  That process needs to begin now!

In the Spirit of Unity-and-Diversity!!!

The beginning of thought, a beginning which continually repeats itself, is that individuals do not simply accept their existence as something given but experience it as something unfathomably mysterious.  Life-affirmation is the spiritual act in which we cease to live unreflectively and begin to devote ourselves to life with reverence, in order to raise it to its true value.  To affirm life is to deepen, to make more inward, and to exalt the will-to-live.

At the same time, individuals who have become thinking beings feel a compulsion to give to every will-to-live the same reverence for life that we give to our own.  We experience that other life life in our own.  We accept as being good: to preserve life, to promote life, to raise to its highest value life which is capable of development; and as being evil: to destroy life, to injure life, to repress life which is capable of development.  This is the most fundamental principle of the moral, and it is a necessity of thought. --Albert Schweitzer, World Scriptures, Vol. 2, p. 156-157 

Ten years ago at this time we began a new millennium.  Many of us hoped that such an auspicious time would be filled with new personal and global transformation.  Instead, we found ourselves mired in outmoded understandings of life, and then we were plunged into two wars from which we have not yet recovered.  While there were changes going on beneath the surface, they were not the major force that was needed to bring about many of the dreams of the new millennium. 

With the transfer of power to the current U.S. administration, there was the hope that all this would change, since change was the most used word to describe what was to happen.  Advances have been made, and many changes have come about, but we are still caught up in the two wars and a number of other conflicts, one of the most severe being the decline of the economy in this country and in many parts of the world.  What is it that is wrong with this picture, and how can it be fixed? 

Much financial stimulus has been given to the economy, and as a result we have been saved, at least temporarily, from the challenges of the Great Depression which began in 1929..  But there is much more to the change than just giving money to an economy that is seriously out of line and filled with greed.  What is needed is a moral and spiritual transformation.  If, instead, we simply return to our former corrupt and indulgent ways of living, the problems we had earlier will return to haunt us. 

We are now entering into the second decade of the new millennium.  Once again, we are given a new opportunity for positive and creative change to move us further into the global civilization that lies within our reach.  There are signs that we are learning and growing, and that this decade will provide us with increasing hope for a nuclear-weapon-free, environmentally sustainable civilization for all of life.  As we consider the meaning of the new decade, let us remember that we do need a new moral and spiritual awakening in order to succeed in having a civilization worthy of the name.  It is time to cut down on our excesses, provide more fully for meditation and prayer, and live life with reverence and compassion. 

In the Spirit of Unity-and-Diversity!!! 

C/o Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc. 
P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201 
Phone: 310-391-5735; FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first) 
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org 

Date:   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2009(9), 3-5 P.M.  Special refreshments in honor of the Holy Day Season.  Participants are invited to help and to bring refreshments.

Venue:  STEWART RESIDENCE/UDC CENTER -- 12806 Matteson Ave. #10, Los Angeles 90066 (Mar Vista).  Directions:  Take Santa Monica Fwy. west to San Diego Fwy,, then left toward airport.  Exit at Venice Blvd., then left to first street beyond Centinela Ave. (Wade St.); turn left 2 blocks to Matteson, right 1 block to Moore St.; park on street and go halfway down hall on second floor. 

BACKGROUND:  This Interfaith Celebration is the fourth in the 2009-2010 monthly series at faith communities in greater Los Angeles.  These events are sponsored by World Interfaith Network, a Specialized Affiliate of Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.  They include music, meditation and prayer, interfaith candlelighting, and dialog. 

THEME:  TRANSITIONING TO GLOBAL INTERFAITH COMMUNITY

"Moral and Spiritual Transitions" is the year's theme.  This Interfaith Celebration will hear from two or three individuals who participated in the Parliament of the World's Religions just concluded in Australia, and how this relates to the Holy Day Season.  A dialog will be included, as well as music, meditation and interfaith candlelighting. 

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE (others will be invited to share as time permits):

REV. DORIS DAVIS --Interfaith minister; returning from Parliament in Australia
S.S. SIMRAN KAUR --Sikh leader; just returned from Parliament in Australia
Rev. Leland Stewart, B.S.E., B.T. -- UDC Founder/Central Coordinator (Host)
Mary Mann, Ph.D. -- Playwright; coordinator, Science and Spirituality book project
Al Duffy -- Buddhist tour guide; Unity-and-Diversity ministry student
Fred & Margaret Bayer -- Fred is member, Temple Beth Emet
Howard Mungo -- Ongoing representative, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Univ.
Wilma Striebeck -- Metaphysical Minister; former UDC staff member
Keki Gandhi -- Representative, Zoroastrian Association of California
Paul Nugent or representative -- Aetherius Society in Hollywood
Tony Shaw -- Former member of Founder's Center for Spiritual Living
Others are cordially invited to participate; each one bring one 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sun. Dec. 20, 5:30-6 p.m. -- Meeting of WIN steering committee.  Please join in.
Sun. Jan. 17, 3-6 p.m. -- PEACE SUNDAY at Islamic Center of So. Calif.  Co-
produced by UDC and Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.  Keynote
speakers: Steve Rohde, President of ICUJP and Edina Lekovic, Communication
Director, Muslim Public Affairs Council.  Music, display tables, and refreshments.
Interfaith Education Project voted in February. Al Duffy in charge.  Watch for details. 

WORLD INTERFAITH NETWORK, C/o Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc. P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA 90066; Phone: 310-391-5735 Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com, Website: www.udcworld.org (now updated) 

DATE:      SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2009(9) -- 9 a.m. to 12 noon including refreshments
THEME:   ACTIVATING OUR CONCERNS FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ENVIRONMENT
VENUE:   ST. ANDREW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 11555 National Blvd. at Federal Ave., West L.A.  Take
San Diego Fwy. to National (S. of Pico), turn east 4-5 blocks to Federal (one block east of Barrington).  Church is on left.  Park in lot.  Suggested donation: $10 ($8 for members).

 UDC GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

DATE:      SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2009(9) -- 9 a.m. to 12 noon including refreshments

THEME:   ACTIVATING OUR CONCERNS FOR PEACE, JUSTICE, AND ENVIRONMENT

VENUE:   ST. ANDREW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 11555 National Blvd. at Federal Ave., West L.A.  Take
San Diego Fwy. to National (S. of Pico), turn east 4-5 blocks to Federal (one block east of Barrington).  Church is on left.  Park in lot.  Suggested donation: $10 ($8 for members).

BACKGROUND:  The General Assembly is the one activity of Unity-and-Diversity World Council (UDC) which deals with every area of concern related to creating a world that works for all.  UDC began during International Cooperation Year 1965, initiated by the General Assembly of the United Nations. This Assembly will begin with updates on the Copenhagen Conference on climate change, Pres. Obama's decision on Afghanistan, and the continuing Congressional debate on health care.  Also Roger Eaton’s Sister Cities Program. Will be followed by action sessions on nuclear disarmament, climate change, and health care.  Closing session: sharing, decision-making, and refreshments. 

PARTICIPANTS IN THE ASSEMBLY INCLUDE (others are cordially invited to join in): 
CHRISTINA SCARBOROUGH -- SIERRA CLUB on the COPENHAGEN CLIMATE CONFERENCE
Mickey Oskey -- President, Westside Progressives; social/spiritual activist
Bob McCloskey -- Coordinator, Nagasaki Day March and Rally; peace activist
Dr. Bob Kalayjian -- Member, Congregational Church of Long Beach; peace activist
Marguerite Spears -- Representative, Citizens for Global Solutions; active Unitarian
Dr. Gary Herbertson -- Environmental activist; formerly UNEP; UDC Board member
Andre Graham -- UDC Vice-president; social activist; involved in media project
Randy Ziglar and Cris Gutierrez -- Active members of Westside Progressives
Madelon Logue, Editor/Publisher, “Black Sheep”, a Seth publication
Leland Stewart, Founder (with Elizabeth), UDC; Leland facilitates the Assembly session 
Tentative:  Daryl Seybold, Martha Madison, and Jon Turetsky 
Others are cordially invited.  Each one encouraged to bring one or two new people, especially youth.

ADVANCE NOTICE                                                                                           Sat. Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to noon -- Next UDC General Assembly at same location.                                 Sun. Jan. 17, 3-6 p.m. -- PEACE SUNDAY to be held at Islamic Center of So. Calif.                   Watch for separate flyer. 

UNITY-AND-DIVERSITY WORLD COUNCIL, P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles CA 90066
         Phone: 310-391-5735; Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org

ADVANCE NOTICE
Sat. Jan. 16, 9 a.m. to noon -- Next UDC General Assembly at same location. 
Sun. Jan. 17, 3-6 p.m. -- PEACE SUNDAY to be held at Islamic Center of So. Calif.
Watch for separate flyer. 

UNITY-AND-DIVERSITY WORLD COUNCIL, P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles CA 90066
Phone: 310-391-5735; Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org

INTENSIFYING THE PREPARATION

    I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will
    have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility.  Each of
    must learn to work, not just for oneself, one's own family, or one's
    nation, but for the benefit of all humankind.  Universal responsibility
    is the best foundation for world peace.

                 His Holiness The Dalai Lama, World Scriptures Vol. 2, p. 4

December 13th is the second Sunday of the month in which we are asked to prepare for the emergence of the global civilization based on universal moral and spiritual values.  It is a time to celebrate the new world, yet first of all it requires that we prepare ourselves inwardly for this new birth of life.  It is not enough that we simply enter the new world, but that we symbolically take off our shoes knowing that we are entering sacred ground.  The new civilization, in order to survive and to be real must be based on reverence for life, as pointed out by Dr. Albert Schweitzer some years ago.

The month of December is the month in which we prepare for this miraculous event, the birth of new life within each of us and around the globe.  The first two Sundays are the times to remind ourselves of the needed preparations in the first two weeks.  The third Sunday is the reminder time of the new birth on December 25th and the last Sunday is the reminder time of the emergence on January 1st, the coming of the New Year.  Between December 25th and January 1st is the time of greatest intensity, of daily prayer and meditation aimed at realizing the fruits of our inner struggle.  This state could be seen as the true meaning of "jihad"; the path to becoming enlightened and to doing what is right for the well-being of all.

The central task of the religions of the world at this time is to lead in awakening the inner life and guiding us into paths of peace, justice, and environmental sustainability..  To have a civilization is to become peaceful, to respect the rights of others, and to develop a culture based upon the highest values of human nature.  Recently we have slipped away from these values and have consequently found ourselves mired in the lesser values of hopelessness, darkness, and despair.  We have disregarded truth and the spirit of love in which life is worth living..  It is time to awaken the Life Force within us and to live in that light. 

May we approach the time of new birth in a spirit of humility, one which is based upon unity-and-diversity, and which listens to and responds to the yearnings of people and of all life seeking to fulfill itself.  Now is the time to become who we potentially are!

In the Spirit of Unity-and-Diversity!!!

Unity-and-Diversity World Fellowship
C/o Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: 310-391-5735; FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first)
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com; Website: www.udcworld.org

Rev. Leland Stewart, B.S.E., B.T.
UDC World Interfaith Network
20 September 2009

MORAL AND SPIRITUAL TRANSITIONS

I do feel that there is orderliness in the universe, that there is an  unalterable law governing everything and every being that lives and moves.  The law and the lawgiver are one. --Mahatma Gandhi, Science and Spirituality, page 134

"Moral and Spiritual Transitions"is the coming year's theme for UDC's World Interfaith Network.  It refers especially to our current economic collapse and its consequences for the future of modern society.  It is not enough that we recover and as quickly as possible return to doing what we were doing before the collapse.  We are rapidly entering into a global civilization, and in order for that to happen in a meaningful way we must have a new sense of moral and spiritual values.. 

A new birth of life requires us to learn from our past in terms of the religions and spiritual movements of the world, and at the same time to be open to the new teachings which are central to the world in which we now live.  A new synthesis is required in order for us to emerge victorious in the struggle to create a civilization that works for all.  The Parliament of the World's Religions in 1993 in Chicago came up with a Global Ethic that applied to the entire human race and our relation to all forms of life.  It was not pretending to be a final form of such a declaration, but it did mark a milestone in the process of creating such a document.

Each month throughout the year we will take up a different field in which these guidelines can apply as we seek to reshape our society.  For example, in health care we must replace greed with responsible pricing and also expand health care to include everyone.  Some countries have already been able to achieve this goal, while others are working toward it.  It was pointed out at our General Assembly that adequate health care is as much a right in modern society as is a basic education. 

In the area of nuclear weapons, we still live in a world which could largely be destroyed in a matter of minutes due to some careless mistake or terrorist act.  It is incumbent upon all of us to see that this risk is greatly reduced and finally eliminated through the abolition of nuclear weapons altogether.  We need to provide a safe world for our children, where they can go up and be able to fulfill their potentials.   President Barack Obama has opened this door to us.  May we have the courage to enter and see that this promise is fulfilled. 

World Scriptures, Volume Two, is my effort in this same direction.  It is focused on bringing forth guidelines that will help bring forth a responsible global civilization.  This book is in the final stages of being published now.  It should be available within the next month.  Advance orders for the book are $15 each, the publication price being $17.95.  Please make out checks to Unity-and-Diversity World Council..  Send to the address below.  Your copy(ies) will be sent to you just as soon as the publication is available. 

Unity-and-Diversity World Council, P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA USA 90066.  Phone: 310-391-5735.  Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com.  Website: www.udcworld.org.

BACKGROUND:  This Interfaith Celebration/Ordination is the tenth in the 2008-09 monthly series at faith communities in greater Los Angeles.  These events are sponsored by World Interfaith Network, a Specialized Affiliate of Unity-and-Diversity World Council. Inc. They include music, meditation and prayer, interfaith candle lighting, messages, and dialog.

THEME:  AWAKENING THE FAMILY OF HUMANITY
Year's theme:  Faith and Politics

This month's Interfaith Celebration is a summer special.  We will be gathering at Stephen Fiske's garden (note 2p.m. time) for a 1-1/2-hour event, featuring Stephen's son Evan and his wife Sharon, who are visiting from Israel.  Evan is an excellent drummer and will perform. Other artists are being invited; Crystal Davis has excepted so far.  The Celebration is from 2-3:30 p.m., followed by a potluck party with music and food.  We are cordially invited to remain for the party and to bring an item of food to share.  Other people are being invited beside from Stephen's list, so it should be a larger and quite diverse gathering. 

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE:

• Stephen Longfellow Fiske -- Singer, songwriter, producer of the recent Venice Eco-Fest.
• Evan Gavriel Fiske and Sharon Fiske from Israel -- Special Guests
• Andre Graham -- Vice-President, UDC Executive Board; social activist; Christian
• Al Duffy -- Tour guide of Buddhist temples; will begin study for Unity-and-Diversity Ministry
• Paul Nugent -- Staff member, Aetherius Society; long active in Los Angeles area
• Mary Mann, Ph.D. -- Playwright; coordinator, of Science and Spirituality book project
• Dr. Gary Herbertson -- Methodist minister and environmentalist; knows Wangari Matthai
• Fred & Margaret Bayer -- Fred is member of Temple Beth Emet (Judaism)
• Rev. David Turner -- Unity-and-Diversity Minister; Secretary, UDC Executive Board
• Rev. Laura Hunter -- Poet; Unity-and-Diversity Minister; Sant Mat devotee
• Howard Mungo -- Representative, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University; actor
• Carl Hult -- Staff member, Founders Church of Religious Science; soloist & choir member
• Keki Gandhi -- Representative, Zoroastrian Association of California
• Rev. Wilma Striebeck -- Former staff person at UDC; metaphysical minister
• Anthony Shaw -- Member, Church of Religious Science (in transition)
• Revs. Leland & Elizabeth Stewart -- Unity-and-Diversity Council co-founders; Facilitators

Venue:   STEPHEN AND NIKKI FISKE GARDEN, 635 California Ave. Venice, CA 90291.  Directions: Take Santa Monica or San Diego Fwy. to Venice Blvd.  Go west on Venice to Lincoln Blvd.  Turn right and go to California Ave. (just beyond Staples).  Turn left to 635 on right.  Park on street.  Enter by driveway on left, thru gate, to backyard.

Suggested donation:  $10; $8 for members. 

"Long before the dawn of another centennial the struggle for the equality of the sexes will have given place to higher and nobler  issues for the advancement of humanity." --Maria Mitchell, Science and Spirituality, p. 188

We are now at a crossroads in the life of humanity on planet earth.  We must learn to live together as one human family or continue to proceed down the path of self-destruction which has been our predominant direction in recent years.  Our life today is highly fragile for a number of reasons: possible nuclear annihilation, global climate catastrophe, social and/or economic eruption, etc.  Life on earth is a delicate balance that requires us to find ways of respecting each other and working for the common good.

We are beginning to accept the reality of diverse races, cultures, and religions, yet there are many indications that this too is far from resolved.  The next step beyond the resolution of our differences is the awakening to our ultimate state of being, our Cosmic Destiny.  It is the realization of that Highest Nature within ourselves that will open the door to our fulfillment as human beings on this planet and into the universe at large.

In order for this awakening to take place, we need to provide time for the cultivation of our inner life.  This can often be done within the historic religions if they are willing to change and grow.  There are also a number of more recent religions and spiritual movements that can provide solace and a new sense of direction.  The interfaith movement has helped people of various paths to discover each other and to enrich the life of each faith by their interaction.  No one path is suitable for everyone, yet through our cooperation we can reach new heights of understanding and transformation. 

Our individual families need to find new strength in order to weather the storms of modern living, and the awakening of family life can provide parallels to the awakening needed throughout the planet.  We are told, in fact, that there is an almost complete parallel between the success of the individual family and that of the civilization as a whole.  Humanity can also be seen as an enlarged family, and the celebration of our common humanity in the midst of our differences can greatly help us to become the "family of humanity" which is our potential. 

In addition to the creation of meaningful services of worship and fellowship, we also need to have times away from the turmoil and distractions of city life.  We need a new kind of in-depth community based upon longer experiences in places of retreat and inner discovery that have been rare for most of us.  Deepening our spiritual life is an essential element in the completion of our wholeness.  May Spirit guide us in our search for who we truly are and what our growth potential is!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sun. Aug. 16, 3-5 p.m. -- Next Interfaith Celebration.  Watch for details.
Interfaith Education Project voted in February.  Al Duffy in charge.  Watch for details.

WORLD INTERFAITH NETWORK, C/o Unity-and-Diversity World Council, Inc.  P.O. Box 661401, Los Angeles, CA 90066; Phone: 310-391-5735, Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com, Website: www.udcworld.org (now updated)

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009(9) -- 9 a.m. to 12 noon including refreshments

ST. ANDREW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 11555 National Blvd. at Federal Ave., West L.A. 
Suggested donation: $10 ($8 for members).

BACKGROUND:  The General Assembly is the one activity of Unity-and-Diversity World Council (UDC) which deals with every area of concern related to creating a world that works for all.  UDC began during International Cooperation Year 1965, initiated by the General Assembly of the United Nations. This Assembly will begin with a speaker on peace and nonviolence.  It will be followed by action sessions on nuclear disarmament, global climate change, and social and economic justice.  Closing session: sharing, decision-making, sending of post cards, and rereshments.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE ASSEMBLY INCLUDE (others are cordially invited to join in): 

• Bob Kalayjian, Member, Long Beach Congregational Church; working with Mayors for Peace
• Roger Eaton, Developer of new General Assembly process; chairperson, decision-making time 
• Marguerite Spears, Representative, Citizens for Global Solutions; Unitarian, Santa Monica 
• Robin Gillies, Board member, United Nations Association, Pasadena chapter; UDC Board
• Rebecca Tobias, Board member, Wallenberg Institute of Ethics; UDC World Board member
• Andre Graham, Activist, world traveler, U.N. supporter; member, UDC Executive Board
• Narayan de Vera, Has hunger program in Africa; promoting U.N. conference in Mexico
• Randy Ziglar, Member, Westside Progressives; took part in nuclear disarmament conference 
• Chris Gutierrez, Member, Westside Progressives and Randy's significant other
• Dr. Gary Herbertson, Environmental activist; formerly UNEP; UDC Board member
• David Turner, Secretary, UDC Executive Board; Unity-and-Diversity Minister 
• Madelon Logue, Editor/Publisher, "Black Sheep", a Seth publication 
• Shel Plotkin, Founder, Southern California Federation of Scientists
• Walt McCarron, Member, Southern California Federation of Scientists
• Martha Madison, Member, Westside Progressives; interested in nuclear disarmament
• Daryl Seybold, Member, Westside Progressives; interested in nuclear disarmament
• Leland Stewart, Founder, UDC; Leland facilitates the Assembly session 
• Tentative:  Jon Turetsky, Natalie Stone, Irving Sarnoff, and Mickey Oskey

Sun. Aug. 9 -- Nagasaki Day Commemoration via UDC and other organizations. 
Sat. Aug. 15, 9 a.m. to noon --Next General Assembly at same location.

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council began in 1965, which was International Cooperation Year, designated by the General Assembly of the United Nations.  It was a year in which organizations interested in the United Nations were invited to develop programs that focused on intergroup cooperation.  Many organizations throughout the world took part in this event, yet to my knowledge we are the only organization born out of that year which has continued to emphasize intergroup and interfaith cooperation, as well as to develop specific processes to expedite this kind of cooperation. 

There is another way of looking at this effort which hopefully will make it clearer.  The United Nations has been seen by many people as the first universal organization on the planet.  Its primary focus is to create peace and cooperative efforts among all the nations of planet earth.  It has also set in motion an outreach into the nongovernmental field by organizing collaboration among Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO's).  In most of the U.N.'s major global conferences the NGO aspect of the events has been extensive.  The number of individuals and organizations drawn to these global conferences has far exceeded the number of people brought together by the nations of the world.  This body of organizations is now beginning to be called Civil Society.

There is, however, another kind of nongovernmental coalition of individuals, groups, and networks that is just beginning to form.  It is, first of all, independent of the United Nations, even though it is very supportive of the U.N.  This coalition, or network, is based upon ethical and spiritual values.  It recognizes the power of universal ethical and spiritual principles as the ultimate test of a global society's unity and capacity to weather the storms of rapid change and transitioning.  Many of the problems facing the United States and the world at this time are the result of greed and corruption, which are a serious departure from these ethical and spiritual principles. 

The Unity-and-Diversity World Council has been given the task of forming this kind of network; we call it a "network of networks" based upon these principles.  There are many kinds of organizations and networks forming at this time, yet UDC continues to focus this unique approach to the emerging global civilization and even looking beyond to the universe as a whole.  We do not claim to be the only network.  We do, however, assert that ours is a unique "network of networks", one which has the capacity to survive the tempests that now threaten to destroy civilization or to cause huge disruption.  You are cordially invited to take part in our events or to inquire about our numerous activities and publications.

We are witnessing a tremendous movement for the advancement of human rights and democratic freedom in the world.  This movement must become an even more powerful moral force, so that even the most obstructive governments and armies are incapable of suppressing it.  This is an occasion for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to this goal.  It is natural and just for nations, peoples, and individuals to demand respect for their rights and freedoms and to struggle to end repression, racism, economic exploitation, military occupation, and various forms of colonialism and alien domination.  Governments should actively support such demands instead of only paying lip service to them. 

(Today) we find that the world is becoming one community.  We are being drawn together by the grave problems of overpopulation, dwindling natural resources, and an environmental crisis that threatens the very foundation of our existence on this planet.  Human rights, environmental protection, and great social and economic equality are all interrelated.  I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility.  Each of us must learn to work, not just for oneself, one's own family, or one's nation, but for the benefit of all humankind.  Universal responsibility is the best foundation for world peace. 

This need for cooperation can only strengthen humankind, because it helps us to recognize that the most secure foundation for a new world order is not simply broader political and economic alliances, but each individual's genuine practice of love and compassion.  These qualities are the ultimate source of human happiness, and our need for them lies at the very core of our being.  The practice of compassion is not idealistic, but the most effective way to pursue the best interests of others as well as our own.  The more we become interdependent, the more it is in our own interest to ensure the well-being of others.

I believe that one of the principal factors that hinders us from fully appreciating our interdependence is our undue emphasis on material development.  We have become so engrossed in its pursuit that, unknowingly, we have neglected the most basic qualities of compassion, caring, and cooperation.  When we do not know someone or do not feel connected to an individual or group, we tend to overlook their needs.  Yet, the development of human society requires that people help each other.

I, for one, strongly believe that individuals can make a difference in society.  Every individual has a responsibility to help move our global family in the right direction, and we must assume that responsibility.  As a Buddhist monk, I try to develop compassion within myself, not simply as a religious practice, but on a human level as well.  To encourage myself in this altruistic attitude, I sometimes find it helpful to imagine myself standing as a single individual on one side, facing a huge gathering of all other human beings on the other side.  Then I ask myself, 'Whose interests are more important?'  To me it is quite clear that however important I may feel I am, I am just one individual, while others are infinite in number and importance.

*From the book A Simple Monk. Copyright 2001 by Tom Morgan. Reprinted with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA.  www.newworldlibrary.com.

This new World Directory is further developing a long history of the Council dating back to its beginning in 1965, when the United Nations declared International Cooperation Year.   During and after that time two major activities were central to the Council's visibility: the annual World Festival and the World Directory. 

The festivals have now been replaced by the annual Peace Sunday, and the World Directory will be done as an ongoing project, with a continuing presence on the website of the Unity-and-Diversity World Council as well as in a printed form.  Instead of only representing organizations, it will now also include individuals, groups, and networks.  It will be available at any time by visiting our website: http://www.udcworld.org/worlddirectory.htm

Entries will include a 200-word statement from professional individuals and members, as well as a 200-word statement from groups and networks in addition to organizational members.  We will be encouraging these people to participate in the emerging peoples' equivalent of the United Nations through our monthly General Assembly in Los Angeles and the Global Assembly dialog coordinated by Roger Eaton. 

2-line listings are available in the World Directory free of charge.  Ask about the minimal cost of the 200-word statements.

For further information, or to request a listing in the World Directory, contact the Council (UDC) at:

Unity-and-Diversity Contact Information

Leland P. Stewart, Founder/Central Coordinator
P.O. Box 661401
Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: 310-391-5735
FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first)
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com
Website: www.udcworld.org

At the fifth annual Interfaith Unity Awards Dinner of the South Coast Interfaith Council, the Unity-and-Diversity World Council and Rev. Leland Stewart were given recognition for our interfaith work over the years.  An award certificate came from Janice Hahn, Councilwoman of the 15th District of Los Angeles.  Award certificates also came from Jane Harman, U.S. Congresswoman.  A beautiful plaque was given to Leland Stewart by the South Coast Interfaith Council.  All of you who have been involved in this important work are to be congratulated and urged to continue in these efforts.  We enthusiastically thank the South Coast Interfaith Council for its recognition! 

DECLARATION OF INTERDEPENDENCE

We the People, hereby declare our interdependence -- our connection to the Source of All Life and to all life forms.  We affirm that diverse individuals, groups, and networks are necessary for the creative development of humanity, and that to strengthen UNITY-AND-DIVERSITY throughout the universe is our individual responsibility and privilege.

We therefore pledge --

• To affirm the existence of a Supreme Beingness, called by any name or no name;
• To advance both individual initiative and human fellowship through mutual trust, understanding, and respect;
• To seek the truth in the spirit of love;
• To integrate reason and faith, science and religion;
• To ensure that all aspects of life be kept in dynamic balance for maximum health and well-being;
• To respect the teachings of the prophets and sages of all times and cultures;
• To provide present and future generations with the opportunity for full realization of their potential; and
• To build with joy a new civilization of freedom, justice, and peace founded on reverence for life.

Unity-and-Diversity World Council 
Contact Information

Leland P. Stewart, B.S.E., B.T., 
       Founder/Central Coordinator
P.O. Box 661401
Los Angeles, CA USA 90066-9201
Phone: 310-391-5735
FAX: 310-827-9187 (contact UDC first)
Email: udcworld1@yahoo.com
Website: www.udcworld.org