Development

International Youth Year

International Youth Year

Report of Baha'i International Community activities in support of the United Nations International Youth Year

New York—3 June 1986

When in December 1979 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 1985 as International Youth Year (IYY), the Baha'i­ International Community warmly welcomed the opportunity to support and foster the vital role that youth worldwide could play in bringing about world peace and in building a world civilization. Accordingly, the Baha'i­ International community took part in the sessions of the IYY Advisory Committee and established a close relationship with the UN Secretariat for IYY at the Vienna International Centre. It also played an active role as an Executive member of the NGO Committees on Youth, in New York and in Vienna; and participated in the deliberations of the Sub-Committees on IYY, the Tree Project, Street Youth, and the NGO Intergenerational Committee on aging and youth, all in New York.

In preparation for, and well as during IYY, the Baha'i­ International Community took part in several UN and UN-related conferences in different parts of the world. It attended the 1983 Annual DPI/NGO Conference in New York, on the theme of "The Challenge of Youth in our Changing Society," after assisting in planning the event; and took part in an IYY preparatory conference in Costinesti, Romania, as well as in a discussion on Improving Channels of Communication between the United Nations and Youth. In 1985 the Baha'i­ International Community sent a delegation to the IYY International Youth Conference in Kingston, Jamaica, where it circulated to attending delegates a statement on "The Contribution of Youth to Peace" (attached). It also took part in a Latin American/Caribbean regional IYY meeting; and in November 1985 made a major contribution to the planning and success of an IYY NGO Conference and Youth Celebration held at United Nations headquarters.

Both prior to and during IYY, the Baha'i­ International Community provided information and materials for IYY activities to Baha'i­ communities around the world. It encouraged the participation of Baha'i­ communities on National IYY Commissions, and provided guidance and suggestions to assist Baha'i­ youth in undertakings that would contribute to IYY goals.

On January 3, 1984 the Universal House of Justice, the Baha'i­ international governing council, addressed Baha'i­ youth around the world stating: "The designation of 1985 by the United Nations as International Youth Year opens new vistas for the activities in which the young members of our community are engaged. The hope of the United Nations in thus focusing on youth is to encourage their conscious participation in the affairs of the world through their involvement in international development and such other undertakings and relationships as may aid the realization of their aspirations for a world without war...How apt, indeed how exciting, that so portentous an occasion should be presented to you, to enlarge the scope of your endeavors in precisely the arena of action in which you strive so conscientiously to distinguish yourselves! For in the theme proposed by the United Nations -- 'Participation, Development, Peace' -- can be perceived an affirmation that the goals pursued by you, as Baha'i­s, are at heart the very objects of the frenetic searchings of your despairing contemporaries...Let there be no delay, then, in the vigor of your response...Regardless of the modes of service, however, youth must be understood to be fully engaged, at all times, in all climes and under all conditions."

Reports from Baha'i­ national communities reveal an enthusiastic response on the part of Baha'i­ youth worldwide to International Youth Year. Youth activities initiated and supported by the Baha'i­ International Community emphasized Baha'i­ principles of education, unity of all peoples and the eradication of prejudice, service to humanity, improvement to the quality of human life, and the promotion of an ever-advancing civilization. Nearly all Baha'i­ youth activities originate and are embedded in local communities.

To date, the Baha'i­ International Community has received reports of Baha'i­ IYY activities from fifty countries. Twenty-eight youth conferences took place, eight of which were international. Twenty-two national Baha'i­ communities collaborated with agencies of their governments or other non-Baha'i­ groups to hold Youth Year events. Eight Baha'i­ national communities on four continents produced IYY literature or related material or published special IYY issues of their youth magazines.

The major Baha'i­ IYY activities include the following:

Africa

Botswana: Over 100 youth from six countries attended a Baha'i­ Youth Conference in August 1985 held at Molepolole, Botswana. The Honorable Peter Mmusi, Vice-President of Botswana officially opened the Conference with Radio Botswana broadcasting the proceedings; Baha'i­ youth tutored children in Baha'i­ tutorial (rural) schools.

Chad: Various humanitarian service projects were undertaken by Chad Baha'i­ youth to help alleviate the suffering of thousands afflicted by drought, hunger and illness. Baha'i­ youth visited and cared for the sick and elderly, prepared and provided food and collected and distributed clothing throughout 1985; a special issue of the Journal Badi was published and devoted to IYY; a regional youth conference was organized in Sarh with attendance of 200 youth from surrounding localities; hundreds of young Baha'i­s; planted three hectares of trees in Makiling in support of IYY; to encourage all youth clubs in Chad and their sponsoring Baha'i­ Local Assemblies to undertake activities for IYY, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i­s; of Chad printed and distributed in large quantities copies of the official Youth Year emblem to all local communities.

The Gambia: a Baha'i­ young woman represented her government at the youth conference in Jamaica; more than 1,200 youth were involved in two weeks of seminars jointly sponsored by the Baha'i­s; of Gambia and the IYY Commission entitled "Youth -- Developing the Potential."

Kenya: A series of mini-projects were carried out by youth in November, 1984 at Burened; as a follow-up to IYY, two youth conferences were held in December.

Malawi: Baha'i­ youth planted fuel wood and fruit trees throughout Malawi to benefit entire villages; a Baha'i­ delegation met regularly with the Ministry of Youth regarding Baha'i­ involvement in the Year's celebrations; the Government of Malawi included Baha'i­ representation in its IYY Committee.

Zaire: Baha'i­ youth in three regions offered stage performances called "Peace or Sword" and lectureson "Participation, Development and Peace."

Zambia: Baha'i­ youth cooperated with their government's IYY activities, assisted in teaching children's classes for their Baha'i­ Local Assemblies and sponsored a tutorial school.

The Americas

Argentina: The Local Baha'i­ Assembly of Buenos Aires held an IYY Conference and Exhibition 4-6 October 1985. A large IYY logo (10m sq.) was painted and installed in the center of the Plaza de la Republica. UN and IYY literature was distributed at a UN booth set up in the Plaza and staffed by Baha'i­ youth. Invitations were sent to 250 prominent citizens of Buenos Aires. The event received extensive media coverage from both radio and television.

Belize: Youth worked with their government's Ministry of Youth to put on the largest youth conference in Belize's history. Baha'i­s were active in the overall planning and implementation of the Congress held in Belize City on 1-3 March. Approximately 6,000 youth participated in the Congress in support of IYY. Baha'i­ youth marched in the Congress parade holding a banner proclaiming "Youth Can Move the World" and were active in workshops, four of which were conducted by Baha'i­s;: Youth and Religion, Community Development, Marriage and Courtship and Dance. As a result of the Congress, Baha'i­s are represented on the Belize National Youth Council.

Bermuda: Baha'i­ youth of Bermuda won an island-wide competition sponsored by the government in April and May which tested their powers of observation and deduction as well as their special knowledge in four categories: vegetation, sports, history and religion.

Brazil: A wide-range of IYY activities in Brazil include an essay contest open to all youth, special publications, conferences and a youth deepening institute during Carnival.

Canada: The National Baha'i­ Youth Committee of Canada reported on several creative and successful activities held in support of IYY such as: 1) the planting of 123,000 trees by hundreds of Baha'i­ youth in a well planned campaign throughout the country; 2) an International Baha'i­ Youth Conference held in London, Canada 25-27 August 1984 in preparation for IYY with approximately 2,000 youth attending from 52 countries; 3) a Baha'i­ youth conference entitled "Two Wings" officially opened by the Governor of Ontario in Toronto in February with approximately 500 youth attending from Canada and the United States. Through speakers, workshops, panels, films and open discussions, the youth examined patterns of male-female relationships and explored the concept of equality as a prerequisite for peace; 4) the production of the video "Mona" involved the participation of 150 youth in Toronto. "Mona." depicting the true story of a fifteen year old girl's commitment and courage to stand up for her beliefs even when facing death, serves as an example of the nobility of youth. A series of school presentations, conferences and concerts organized by youth where held across the country throughout IYY as part of the "Mona" project; 5) an intensive Social and Economic Institute held for nine days in the Yukon and followed by several days of community service projects; 6) the participation of six Native American Baha'i­ youth in overseas development projects; 7) the publishing and distribution to all Baha'i­ local communities of two youth guidance booklets entitled Career/Study Services for International Service and Youth and Development by the National Assembly of Canada.

Chile: A drawing and painting exhibit of the work of children and youth was sponsored by the Baha'i­s in Chile.

Colombia: Baha'i­ youth are strengthening rural schools in Colombia, Panama and Paraguay using youth volunteers trained in residence at the Ruhi Institute.

Costa Rica: Six Baha'i­ youth from the Baha'i­ Youth Institute of Costa Rica participated in a four nation tour of Central America. An article featured in a Costa Rican newspaper was headed "They sing, they dance and they serve mankind." The group called "Ya" performed music and folk dances in six cities in Honduras, Belize, Mexico and Panama. Their effort was to mobilize support for IYY. On tour they expressed the prevailing sentiments of their generation worldwide: "Now is the time for faith, now is the time for peace, now is the time for action. Our time has arrived, our time is right now." They also dedicated their time and talents throughout the year working for altruistic and charitable groups such as the Red Cross and nursing homes.

El Salvador: The three Baha'i­ Youth Committees of El Salvador -- the Baha'i­ University, International Youth Year and Arts and Graphics Committee -- combined efforts to hold a well-attended National Youth Conference on 3-5 August. The Ministry of Education expressed the hope that Baha'i­s would collaborate in a program to educate the illiterate in the country throughout the decade; other varied activities included aid to refugees, and an arts festival.

Jamaica: The International Youth Conference in Kingston on 6-9 April included a delegation from the Baha'i­ International Community. A statement prepared by the Baha'i­ International Community entitled "The Contribution of Youth to Peace" was distributed. The statement addressed the three IYY topics of participation, development and peace and described the motivation of Baha'i­ youth from 2,000 ethnic backgrounds, working in 160 countries to resolve some of the crucial problems of the world.

Peru: About five hundred youth from eighteen countries in Latin America, North America and Europe attended a Youth Conference in Lima last August. Among the tribes and native groups represented were the Aymaras and Quechuas (Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru), the Mapuches (Chile) and the Aguarunas (Peru). Forty-seven youth organizations were officially represented on panels. Organized under the guidance of the Baha'i­ National Assembly of Peru, the conference was opened by Dr. Angel Degado, acting mayor of Lima. The gathering culminated in the creation of eight national and international youth projects including the planting of some 2000 plants in Lima's Grau Square.

St. Lucia: The National Youth Committee of St. Lucia visited secondary schools on the island and presented a half-hour program to inform students about IYY. A national youth exhibition prepared by the Baha'i­s toured the island.

United States: The following represents a sample of the IYY activities reported by the United States: 1) The Baha'i­ National Youth Committee of the US began its involvement in IYY with major tree plantings during the annual Youth Conference at Disney World, Florida in December, 1984. The initial goal of 20,000 trees was surpassed during the Year; 2) the Youth Conference at Ohio State University with more than 3,300 youth attending from 42 nations generated massive publicity and good will, with social service projects carried out locally; 3) a Baha'i­ youth group commended by the Mayor of Atlanta for "outstanding contributions to the vitality and spirit of the City"; 4) a class of twelve to fifteen year old youth at the Louhelen Baha'i­ School conducted a survey on the subject of world peace. (Four key questions, inspired by the Peace Statement of the Universal House of Justice were asked of the public in downtown Davison: Do you think world peace is possible? (52% answered "yes") Could it be established by the year 2000? (48% thought so) What problems need to be solved first?, and What can you do to create a peaceful world? The project was reported in The Davison Flagstaff with photos of the youth at their task. The five-column newspaper read: "Baha'i­ youth survey says world peace is possible"); 5) Baha'i­ youth in Decatur, Illinois planted trees at local nursing homes as a service to their community for IYY; 6) over a dozen Baha'i­ youth from the central states traveled throughout nine states planting trees, picking up trash and visiting the elderly in support of IYY; 7) an International Youth Conference held in Hawaii in August drew youth from twenty countries and islands of the Pacific; 8)'Youth Can Move the World' was the theme of the Hawaii Baha'i­ community's award-winning float in September, 1985 in the annual Aloha Week parade in Honolulu. The float received the Mayor's Award, emblematic of first place.

Venezuela: Five Baha'i­ youth; participated in a two-week training program in May in preparation for a six month service project in rural communities to promote local consolidation as well as community development.

Virgin Islands: The Baha'i­s established a joint Task Force with a government commission, and built a prize-winning float in which they donated the prize money to the IYY Task Force.

Asia

Bangladesh: A seminar in support of IYY was held by the Baha'i­s of Rajshahi in July and was well attended by young professionals and dignitaries.

India: 1) Over 550 participants from 24 countries, with eighty percent representing 19 Indian states, attended an Asian Baha'i­ Youth Conference held in New Delhi in August, 1985; 2) the Youth Committee of the Baroda Baha'i­ Local Assembly held an essay and painting competition in which several hundred students of sixteen schools participated; 3) the Baha'i­ Youth Committee of Nagapur organized a highly successful Eye Camp in Maharashtra in January, treating two hundred and twenty villagers. Youth distributed 11,000 handbills to publicize the camp and posted 50 handmade posters. The Civil Surgeon said the Baha'i­ Youth Committee will receive a government award. The youth undertook the programme as a response to social development and dedicated it to IYY. 4) The youth of Indore conducted a medical camp in Yeshwat in August in which three Baha'i­ doctors and eight Baha'i­ youth volunteered their services. One hundred and sixty patients were examined and issued free medicines. Due to the need, the camp will be held each month. The youth have asked the Health Ministry of Madhya Pradesh to supply free medicines.

Japan: National book fair in conjunction with a poster and essay competition was held by the Singapore Baha'i­s.

Pakistan: The National Youth Committee held a free medical camp in the village of Deh Jokio, Malir, in cooperation with the Social Welfare Association of the Government of Sind Province. Five young Baha'i­ physicians carried out nightly visits to the villages between July and August. More than 350 patients were given medical aid. The National Youth Committee hopes to hold the free Camp at regular intervals in the upcoming year.

Taiwan: Baha'i­s sponsored an island-wide high school essay and photo contest on the themes of IYY.

Thailand: a Baha'i­ Youth Conference was held in support of IYY.

Australasia

Australia: 1) Two youth conferences were held in December 1984 and September 1985; 2) a Baha'i­ Youth was a representative on the National IYY Committee; 3) Corio and West Geelong Baha'i­s organized a seminar in Geelong on youth and peace which involved 150 participants. Subjects included world order, the integration of migrant children, a new morality as the foundation of peace, and hope for the future. A nineteen year old Baha'i­ youth presented a paper on the creative contribution that youth can make to world order. 4) Baha'i­ youth of Rockhampton produced a poster for IYY with the theme "Youth can Move the World" and displayed it in local commercial and service centers.

Fiji: Baha'i­ youth held a large rally over the week-end of 5-7 October to celebrate IYY. Speakers focused on the role of youth for the future.

Guam: Baha'i­s coordinated a program called "Unity Day" as part of IYY activities under the auspices of the government of Guam's Department of Youth Affairs.

Samoa: Three youth represented the Baha'i­s of Samoa to a National Youth Seminar sponsored by the International Labor Organization of the United Nations and the National Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Organization of Western Samoa. Youth conferences were held in Kiribati, New Zealand and Tuvalu. In Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, Baha'i­s served on public or government committees to plan and carry out IYY activities; and links between Tonga and Japan were forged through joint Baha'i­ participation in Youth Year activities involving the two countries.

Europe

Austria: 1) In the Fall of 1984, the Austrian Baha'i­ youth held an IYY preparatory conference featuring a representative of the UN IYY Secretariat; 2) Austrian Baha'i­ youth produced a slide show called 'Die Zukunft Laesst Gruessen' ('The Future Says Hello') which was shown in Austria and Germany throughout 1985; 3) the Austrian Baha'i­ Winter School at Harbach was organized by the Baha'i­ National Youth Committee in honor of IYY. One hundred and ten youth representing four countries attended and consulted on the nature of the future society; 4) Baha'i­ youth participated in three regional youth festivals during IYY; 5) at the request of the UN IYY Secretary, a youth year theme song "One Heart and a Million Hands" was written by an Austrian Baha'i­ youth and was performed at the Celebration of the Fortieth Anniversary at the Vienna International Centre . The song's lyrics were distributed at the Celebration and published in "Channels" publication. The song is now available in record.

Belgium: The European Baha'i­ Youth at the International Baha'i­ Youth Conference in Antwerp addressed the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in letters that told of their resolve to put into action the IYY themes. They spoke of their eagerness to participate in IYY and mentioned supporting Baha'i­ youth projects ranging from human rights education to social and economic development. 1,452 youth from 45 nations participated.

Denmark: a Youth seminar was held in Hillerod; a five day study conference took place in Helsingor 13-18 October; an IYY exhibition produced by Baha'i­ youth toured the country throughout IYY.

Finland: Finnish Baha'i­ youth participated in a national event called "Festa" in September. The youth provided an IYY exhibition and participated in two public consultations: "What are the possibilities of youth to help" and "The world of values and development as a human being." The Baha'i­s of Finland also published a special pamphlet for IYY.

France: The National Youth Committee held a conference at the National Centre in Paris on 13-14 April for the purpose of studying the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. One hundred and thirty youth participated. The Committee also received official approval from the government's International Youth Year Committee to their project of presenting the "Declaration" to French schools. The Bordeaux Local Assembly raised money for an African village. Baha'i­ youth in Nantes produced a poster for IYY and distributed it to local Baha'i­ communities and interested groups throughout the country.

Greece: The first National IYY Youth Conference was sponsored by the Baha'i­s in Athens 28-30 December 1984; the National Baha'i­ Youth Committee of Greece initiated visits to orphanages, elderly homes and institutions for the disabled; a tree campaign was held in Ioannina in February where Baha'i­ youth planted 49 trees donated by the mayor; Baha'i­ youth initiated a service project in Thessaloniki to clean a section of forest; Baha'i­ youth actively participated in various IYY activities sponsored by the Ministry of Youth.

Iceland: The Baha'i­ Youth Committee of Iceland initiated a youth magazine for IYY entitled "Badi." By September, three issues had been published. An international youth camp was held on the national endowment land with 27 youth participating.

Ireland: The Baha'i­s of Ireland, in honor of IYY, submitted a float on the theme "Youth Working Toward a Better World" to Dublin's annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade; by July the 800 secondary schools in the nation had received Human Rights information packets from the Baha'i­s; several students sent entries to the Baha'i­ sponsored essay competition on the subject "Blueprint for Peace"; at least three Irish youth will go to African countries to serve in the Mobile Teaching Institutes; and four tree plantings have been carried out in Bray, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire and County Wicklow.

Italy: In March of 1985, over 600 youth from local high schools participated in an IYY event organized by the Baha'i­s of Albano Laziale. The program was opened by the Mayor, and followed by a presentation by a UN Information Officer on the meaning of IYY. A series of four seminars on the theme "Education for International Cooperation" followed throughout the year in cooperation with the municipality.

Luxembourg: Two Baha'i­ representatives were invited to the opening ceremonies of IYY hosted by the Luxembourg government. Baha'i­ youth prepared two panels about their own IYY activities. Youth participated in Ecology Day in which trees were planted; a Festival of Peace and Development was held in Diekirch in October by the official governmental agency in charge of the Youth Year; Baha'i­ youth ran a tearoom and donated proceeds to a primary school in Brazil. Other projects sponsored by Baha'i­ youth raised money for books and supplies for schools in Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.

Netherlands: Baha'i­ youth collaborated with other youth in a project for the Choco region of northwest Colombia, South America. They raised money to help equip and provide operating expenses for a medical boat which will service one of the poorest areas of the country. The medical boat will transport patients to the hospital at Quibd�, as well as supply medical services along the river to regions that cannot be reached by roads, and where medical care is non-existent. Under the slogan "Youth can Move the World." Baha'i­ youth have made it their goal to help supply operating funds for medicines and petrol throughout IYY.

Norway: Norwegian youth produced pamphlets on topics relevant to the UN IYY themes; a member of the National Youth Committee appeared at a Youth Year Conference in Tromso; regional Baha'i­ youth conferences were held in August and September; an informational map on IYY was produced by the Youth Committee and was used as study material in weekend youth seminars held in five localities; youth from Trondheim participated in a IYY seminar arranged by a UN office in Trondelag, and a radio program initiated by the Baha'i­s was aired after the seminar on the topic of IYY and the Baha'i­ principle of the unity of mankind.

San Marino: In response to a request by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Cultural Affairs, the Baha'i­ community of San Marino was represented at the International Library Conference last May to celebrate IYY. Christine Hakim, an author and member of the Baha'i­ community of Switzerland made a presentation on "The Effects of Literature on Youth" stating that "literature for young people can make a vital contribution toward the achievement of peace and justice in the world by exalting spiritual and ethical values such as compassion, tolerance, honesty, altruism and love and by protecting young people from hatred, prejudice, greed, oppression and violence..."

Sweden: Three Swedish international summer schools attracted 160 youth from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Germany; IYY material was translated and produced by the Baha'i­s of Sweden for Swedish youth including a statement written by scientists on peace research and sociology. A pamphlet on youth was published and two issues of "Varldsmedborgaren" (World Citizen) had youth as a theme.

Switzerland: A seminar on consultation was held at the Baha'i­ Conference Center in Landegg in which many non-governmental organizations on the Swiss National IYY Committee participated; a delegation of Swiss Baha'i­ ;youth actively participated in the work of the Swiss National Coordinating Committee for IYY; Baha'i­ representatives were among the youth invited by the Swiss Federal Counsellor A. Egli, Minister of the Interior to discuss special youth problems; a Swiss Baha'i­ was chosen as a member of the Swiss delegation to the International Youth Conference in Japan; thirty-eight youth from Switzerland participated in the European Baha'i­ Youth Conference in Antwerp, Belgium in July. Examples of other Baha'i­ IYY activity on regional levels are: a day of youth conceived by the Baha'i­s of Ticiao; a public forum on youth with participation of local dignitaries in Putty; a two-day event with discussions, slides and music by the Baha'i­s of Lucerne; and the collaboration with the local authorities of Romansham for a new Youth Center.

United Kingdom: Throughout the year, the National Co-ordinating Committees for IYY were informed of Baha'i­ youth activities: 1) a member of the Baha'i­ IYY Committee was invited to attend the official launching of IYY in October, 1984; 2) a member of the IYY Committee also served on the British Youth Council's Working Party for IYY. 3) A major Baha'i­ IYY project to acquaint all secondary schools with the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights was very successful. Baha'i­ youth of the United Kingdom contacted the heads of 8,075 Secondary schools and through them distributed copies of the Declaration to 1,500,000 students. 4) An essay competition "Blueprint for Peace" sponsored by the Baha'i­s attracted widespread attention. 5) Baha'i­s served on Local IYY Committees and participated in activities in local areas throughout the year; 6) an International Youth Conference was held in York in March 1985; 7) Baha'i­ youth participated in IYY Festivals and Gatherings, such as the Chester IYY Festival in April, the Edinburgh Gathering in June and the London Youth Festival in July; 7) Baha'i­ youth planted trees throughout the country in November and December.

International Year of Peace

International Year of Peace

Statement to the Fifth session of the South Pacific Commission (SPC) Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CARGA)

Noumea, New Caledonia—26 May 1986

In representing the Baha'i­s of the countries and islands in the Pacific, the Baha'i­ International Community is very happy to be able to present a statement to this meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations.

This year, declared by the United Nations to be the International Year of Peace (IYP), marks a particularly significant point in the ever advancing development of mankind. The issue of an enduring peace and the greater unification of peoples, central to the survival of the human family, is now being critically examined not as a utopian dream but as both a necessary and attainable reality. It presents simultaneously a task and a challenge to the leaders and administrators in the Pacific. On the occasion of the IYP, the Universal House of Justice, international governing council of the Baha'i­ Faith, has issued a statement on peace, addressed to the peoples of the world. The statement, which is being presented to all heads of state, outlines political, social, economic and spiritual requirements for the establishment of world peace.

The peoples of the South Pacific, characterized by their communal and collective spirit, their tolerance, acceptance, forbearance and neighborliness, provide a good basis upon which to build the realization of higher endeavors and ideals conducive to dynamic community growth and peaceful existence. As in most developing countries of the world, community values are best sustained in rural settings where the majority of the population reside.

The strength and the quality of a country's growth depends upon effective and meaningful participation of its population in the nation-building process. It has always been a point of admiration that the islands and countries of the South Pacific region, despite the enormous problems imposed by geographical isolation, the often limited resources and their racial and linguistic diversity, have been able to consistently bring about, under their respective leadership, a sense of purpose and focus and to forge a meaningful sense of identity, through a process of participation such as is evidenced in this meeting.

A society's fundamental values determine the type of living and education to which a nation aspires. This in turn influences its technological pursuits. Whereas the advancement of education and technology is a must if we wish to better harness the benefits of science, it must be recognized that they are means and not ends in themselves. The question then is: towards what end are we planning our future and how best can we marshall all our resources towards its realization?

The Baha'i­ International Community wishes to express the view that in the process of ordering human affairs our attention should be directed towards bringing into being a world unified in all the essential aspects of its life. This implies the achievement of a dynamic coherence between the spiritual and practical requirements of life on earth. We recognize that the presence of a unifying spirit is an indispensable prerequisite towards the bringing about of meaningful social and economic growth and the peace and security towards which the region aspires.

Amongst the Baha'i­ community throughout the Pacific, even in the most remote villages, there is a recognition and a striving towards the goal of true unification and the harmonization of spiritual and human needs. This is expressed through the establishment of national and local institutions, elected by the Baha'i­s themselves, and which, conducting their affairs through commonly accepted consultative principles, serve spiritual, social and economic needs.

The constant practice of the art of consultation in all matters, large and small, is a principle fundamental to Baha'i­s. It is upon this principle that joint decisions resulting in joint efforts are translated into the reality of community action. The key to success, Baha'i­s believe, lies in the spirit of unity in action. Social and economic activities are carried out by Baha'i­s at grassroots level throughout the Pacific region, some of which are in full operation, others in their infancy. These include community development projects such as the cooperative boat building scheme in Fiji, women's development activities in Western Samoa and adult literacy programmes in Vanuatu. Kindergartens and tutorial schools are functioning in Tuvalu, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, while small beginnings in health and nutrition, agricultural and livestock programmes have been made in communities notably those in Western Samoa and Papua New Guinea. These are resulting from the application of the principle of communities coming together to consult and deliberate on matters pertaining to their welfare and development. This is based on the conviction that the spiritual and material forces necessary for development are potentially within individuals and communities. Whereas these are modest attempts offered by a relatively small Baha'i­ community in this region restricted by limited resources, there is full confidence and hope that in time such efforts will not only contribute to national endeavors in development but also offer some of its operational principles and methods as models for the upliftment of whole communities.

The education and advancement of women is a key responsibility of local and national Baha'i­ institutions. Baha'i­s believe that only as women are welcomed into full partnership in all fields of human endeavor will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge. The exercise of this principle by Baha'i­s is evident from the high and increasing degree of willing participation of women in not only Baha'i­ institutions but also in other forums concerned with issues regarding the development of women and the community at large.

In addition, the Baha'i­ International Community recognizes opportunities for other specific areas of collaboration between Baha'i­ undertakings and government and private agencies concerned with social and economic activities in the South Pacific. The following describes some of the areas which may warrant consideration:

  1. Development activities initiated by Baha'i­s could provide field settings and opportunities for students from surrounding schools to undertake their social service and practical assignments. Exposing students from an early age to the idea of purposeful participation in community work inculcates in them a mind-set suitable for future responsibilities in their adult life.
  2. The existence at grassroots level of functioning Baha'i­ institutions provides resources which government planners, administrators, and extension workers can draw upon for local information, the identification of problems pertaining to the community, as well as for other types of assistance including technical and consultative.
  3. Accessibility into remote and isolated villages in some of the territories of the South Pacific is often a problem. In some instances, the people residing in such areas may not have the elementary organizational infrastructure or the benefits of modern knowledge to take advantage of the many programmes and schemes designed for them by their governments. The problem of motivation and sustaining local initiative makes the benefit of many of these schemes short-lived. Baha'i­s in these isolated communities, aided by their respective local and national institutions, can assist in generating a spirit of cooperation vital for community growth and open possible channels for dialogue.
  4. National and local Baha'i­ institutions throughout the South Pacific maintain close relations with one another. Such communication enables them to share ideas and experience. While the Baha'i­s value the assistance they receive from their respective governments, the Baha'i­ International Community is also happy to share its expertise and service, as has already been done in relation to the South Pacific Commission.

These are the areas which come to mind and there will surely be others which may emerge as Baha'i­ communities and their social and economic activities in the region consolidate and expand.

The Baha'i­ International Community is indeed grateful to the organizers of this meeting for the opportunity to offer some of its views. The commitment of the Baha'i­ International Community to the idea of meaningful social and economic development in the South Pacific has already been expressed in earlier forums such as this. It will continue to demonstrate keen interest, contribute its participation and seek for opportunities to render its services to the development of the region and its peoples.

Internationales Jahr des Friedens

Internationales Jahr des Friedens

Erklärung der Internationalen Bahá’í-Gemeinde zur fünften Sitzungsperiode der Südpazifik-Kommission, Ausschuß der Beauftragten von Regierungen und Verwaltung

Noumea, Neukaledonien—26 May 1986

In Vertretung der Bahá’í der Länder und Inseln im pazifischen Raum freut sich die Internationale Bahá’í-Gemeinde sehr, bei diesem Treffen des Ausschusses aus Beauftragten von Regierungen und Verwaltung eine Erklärung vorlegen zu können.

Dieses Jahr, das von den Vereinten Nationen zum Internationalen Jahr des Friedens (IJF) erklärt wurde, bildet einen besonders markanten Punkt in der ständig voranschreitenden Entwicklung der Menschheit. Die Frage eines dauerhaften Friedens und erheblich weitreichenderer Völkervereinigung, die für das Überleben der Menschheitsfamilie im Mittelpunkt steht, wird jetzt sorgfältig geprüft – nicht als utopischer Traum, sondern als unvermeidliche, erreichbare Wirklichkeit. Sie ist für die Führer und Verwaltungsbehörden im Pazifik gleichzeitig Aufgabe und Herausforderung. Aus Anlaß des IJF hat das Universale Haus der Gerechtigkeit, der internationale Führungsrat des Bahá’í-Glaubens, eine an die Völker der Welt gerichtete Erklärung zum Frieden herausgegeben. Diese Erklärung wird allen Staatsoberhäuptern überreicht und zeigt in groben Zügen die zur Errichtung des Weltfriedens nötigen politischen, sozialen, wirtschaftlichen und geistigen Voraussetzungen.

Die Völker im Südpazifik, deren besondere Merkmale Gemeinschafts- und Gruppengeist, Toleranz, Glaube, Langmut und gut nachbarschaftliches Verhalten sind, bieten eine gute Grundlage für den Aufbau höherer Ziele und Ideale, die dem dynamischen Gemeindewachstum und friedvollen Dasein wirklich nützen. Wie in den meisten Entwicklungsländern der Welt werden Gemeinschaftswerte auf dem Land, wo die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung lebt, am besten gepflegt.

Kraft und Wert der Entwicklung eines Landes hängen von der tatsächlichen und sinnvollen Mitarbeit seiner Bürger am Aufbauprozess des Staates ab. Schon immer verdiente die Tatsache Bewunderung, daß die Inseln und die Länder in der Region Südpazifik trotz der ungeheueren Probleme, die ihnen durch geographische Isolation, oftmals begrenzte Wirtschaftsquellen und ihre Vielfalt an Rassen und Sprachen aufgebürdet wurden, es schafften, daß sich unter ihrer jeweiligen Führung konsequent ein Sinn für Zweck und Hauptsache entwickelte und sich durch eine Beteiligungsart, wie sie dieses Treffen deutlich zeigt, ein bedeutsames Identitätsempfinden ausprägte.

Die Grundwerte einer Gesellschaft bestimmen die von einer Nation angestrebte Lebens- und Bildungsart. Diese beeinflußt ihrerseits deren technologische Ziele. Obwohl das Fördern von Bildung und Technologie ein Muß ist, wenn wir die Vorteile der Wissenschaft besser nutzbar machen wollen, müssen wir dennoch einsehen, daß diese an sich Hilfsmittel und nicht der Endzweck sind. Die Frage lautet dann: Auf welches Ziel richten wir unsere Zukunft aus, und wie können wir die uns zur Verfügung stehenden Mittel zu dessen Verwirklichung am besten einsetzen.

Die Internationale Bahá’í-Gemeinde möchte die Ansicht äußern, daß beim Ordnen der menschlichen Verhältnisse unsere Aufmerksamkeit auf das Schaffen einer Welt gerichtet sein sollte, die sich über alle wesentlichen Aspekte ihres Daseins einig ist. Dies beinhaltet das Erreichen einer dynamischen Verbundenheit von geistigen und praktischen Lebensbedingungen auf Erden. Wir sehen, daß eine einigende Geisteshaltung als unerläßliche Voraussetzung dasein muß, um ein sinnvolles soziales und wirtschaftliches Wachstum und genau den Frieden und die Sicherheit zustande zu bringen, nach denen sich die Region sehnt.

Die Bahá’í-Gemeinden im gesamten pazifischen Raum, selbst in den entlegensten Dörfern, erkennen und arbeiten für das Ziel, die geistigen und menschlichen Bedürfnisse wirklich in Übereinstimmung und Harmonie zu bringen. Dies zeigt sich im Aufbau nationaler und örtlicher Institutionen, welche die Bahá’í selbst wählen, und die sich um die geistigen, sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Erfordernissen kümmern, indem sie ihre Angelegenheiten gemäß gemeinsam angenommenen Beratungsprinzipien regeln. Ein grundlegendes Prinzip ist für die Bahá’í das ständige Anwenden der Kunst der Beratung bei allen Angelegenheiten, ob groß oder klein. Genau nach diesem Prinzip werden gemeinsam gefaßte Beschlüsse, die zu gemeinsamen Aktionen führen, in die Realität der Gemeindearbeit übertragen. Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg, so glauben die Bahá’í, liegt im Geist der Einheit im Handeln. Im gesamten pazifischen Raum werden die sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Programme von den Bahá’í in ländlichen Gebieten durchgeführt. Manche sind voll in Betrieb, andere stecken im Anfangsstadium. Dazu gehören Gemeindeentwicklungsprojekte wie ein genossenschaftliches Bootebauprogramm in Fiji, Frauenentwicklungsarbeit in West Samoa und Alphabetisierungsprogramme für Erwachsene in Vanuatu. Kindergärten und Tutorschulen arbeiten in Tuvalu, Tonga, Papua Neugionea und Vanuatu, und bescheidene Anfänge mit Gesundheits-, Ernährungs-, Landwirtschafts- und Viehzuchtprogrammen wurden hauptsächlich in West-Samoa und Papua Neuguinea gemacht. All dies ist das Ergebnis des Grundsatzes, daß die Gemeinden zusammenkommen, um über ihre Wohlfahrts- und Entwicklungsfragen zu beraten und nachzudenken. Dem liegt die Überzeugung zugrunde, daß die zur Entwicklung nötigen geistigen und materiellen Kräfte potentiell in den einzelnen und den Gemeinden vorhanden sind. Obwohl diese von einer relativ kleinen Bahá’í-Gemeinde mit begrenzten Mitteln durchgeführten Versuche bescheiden sind, vertrauen wir voll darauf und hoffen, daß mit der Zeit Bemühungen dieser Art nicht nur ein Beitrag zur nationalen Entwicklung sind, sondern daß auch einige der Bahá’í-Arbeitsprinzipien und -methoden als Modell zur geistigen Motivation ganzer Gemeinden dienen mögen.

Die Bildung und Förderung der Frauen ist eine der Hauptpflichten örtlicher und nationaler Bahá’í-Institutionen. Die Bahá’í sind der Meinung, daß erst wenn die Frauen als gleichberechtigte Partner in allen Bereichen menschlichen Strebens gern gesehen sind, das moralische und psychologische Klima geschaffen wird, in dem der internationale Friede sich entwickeln kann. Daß die Bahá’í dieses Prinzip anwenden zeigt sich deutlich in dem hohen, wachsenden Maße, in dem Frauen nicht nur in den Bahá’í-Institutionen, sondern auch in anderen Beratungsgruppen, die sich mit Fragen zur Förderung von Frauen und der Gemeinde als Ganzem beschäftigen, bereitwillig mitarbeiten.

Die Internationale Bahá’í-Gemeinde sieht außerdem in bestimmten anderen Bereichen die Möglichkeit zur Zusammenarbeit zwischen Bahá’í-Unternehmen und Regierungs-, bzw. Privatorganisationen, die sich im Südpazifik mit sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Programmen befassen. Im folgenden seien einige Bereiche geschildert, die eine nähere Betrachtung rechtfertigen:

  1. Von den Bahá’í ins Leben gerufene Entwicklungsprojekte könnten für die Schüler der Schulen im Umkreis der Einsatzort sein, an dem sie ihren Sozialdienst und ihr Praktikum ableisten. Wenn man die Schüler in jungen Jahren in die Vorstellung von sinnvoller Teilnahme an der Gemeindearbeit einbezieht, prägt sich ihnen eine Geisteshaltung ein, die ihren künftigen Aufgaben als Erwachsene angemessen ist.
  2. Die an der Basis der Gesellschaft vorhandenen, funktionierenden Bahá’í-Institutionen bilden eine Zuflucht, die Regierungsplaner, Administratoren und Volksbildungshelfer in Anspruch nehmen können, wenn sie lokale Informationen einholen, die Gemeinde betreffende Probleme erkennen oder andere sowohl technische wie beratende Unterstützung erhalten wollen.
  3. In manchen Gebieten des Südpazifik ist der Zugang zu abgelegenen, einsamen Dörfern oft ein Problem. In manchen Fällen haben die in solchen Gebieten lebenden Menschen nicht einmal die einfachste, planmäßige Infrastruktur oder die Vorteile modernen Wissens, um aus den vielen Programmen und Projekten, die ihre Regierungen für sie planen, Gewinn zu ziehen. Das Problem, zu motivieren und die örtlichen Initiativen in Gang zu halten, hat zur Folge, daß die Nutzung vieler dieser Pläne von kurzer Dauer ist. Die Bahá’í in diesen einsamen Gemeinden, denen ihre jeweiligen örtlichen und nationalen Institutionen helfen, können zum Entstehen des für das Gemeindewachstum lebenswichtigen Geistes der Zusammenarbeit beitragen und geeignete Wege zum Dialog öffnen.
  4. Die nationalen und örtlichen Bahá’í-Institutionen halten im gesamten südpazifischen Raum untereinander enge Beziehungen aufrecht. Diese Verbindung ermöglicht ihnen, Ideen und Erfahrungen untereinander auszutauschen. Die Bahá’í schätzen die Unterstützung, die sie von ihrer jeweiligen Regierung erhalten, und die Internationale Bahá’í-Gemeinde teilt ihre Sachkenntnis und ihren Dienst, wie bereits in Verbindung mit der Südpazifik-Kommission geschehen, gerne mit Ihnen.

An diese Bereiche denken wir jetzt, und sicher werden weitere entstehen, während die Bahá’í-Gemeinden in diesem Gebiet sich konsolidieren und ihre sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Programme ausbauen.

Die Internationale Bahá’í-Gemeinde ist den Organisatoren dieses Treffens wirklich dankbar, daß sie die Gelegenheit zur Darstellung einiger ihrer Gesichtspunkte bekam. Das Engagement der Internationalen Bahá’í-Gemeinde in Sachen sinnvoller sozialer und wirtschaftlicher Entwicklung im Südpazifik wurde bereits bei früheren Foren dieser Art zum Ausdruck gebracht. Sie wird weiterhin lebhaftes Interesse zeigen, durch ihre Mitarbeit beitragen und nach Möglichkeiten suchen, um der Entwicklung dieses Gebietes und seiner Völker ihre Dienste zu erweisen.

Development Decade

Development Decade

Statement to the forty-second session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Bangkok, Thailand—22 April 1986

The Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the International Development Strategy, submitted by the Secretariat to the 41st session of ESCAP, elaborates the well-known fact that little progress has been achieved so far in realizing many of the goals and objectives of the Third United Nations Development Decade. For example, the establishment of a self-sustaining process of development in the least developed countries, ensuring broadly-based participation, remains more an aspiration than a reality. And gross disparities in living standards and inequalities of wealth persist, both between countries within the Asian and Pacific region, and between this region and more developed regions of the world.

There is ample reason to address the issue raised in a statement by the international governing council of the Baha'i­ Faith outlining the political, social, economic and spiritual requirements for the establishment of world peace. This statement was recently issued to mark the International Year of Peace. The statement explains why, in the Baha'i­ view, the vast majority of the world's peoples is "sinking ever deeper into hunger and wretchedness when wealth on a scale undreamed of by the Pharaohs, the Caesars, or even the imperialist powers of the nineteenth century is at the disposal of the present arbiters of human affairs." We would like in our intervention to outline some of the points made in this statement, and on this basis, to recommend from the Baha'i­ perspective a few steps that can be taken to promote implementation of the Strategy for the Third Development Decade, as well as the Substantial New Programme of Action for the 1980s for the Least Developed Countries in the ESCAP Region.

Baha'i­s are convinced that successful development efforts require, above all, a spirit of cooperation and collaboration among the participants in the development process. The absence of such a spirit of common endeavour up to the present time -- within local communities and nations as well as between countries -- constitutes in our view the main reason for the limited success of the Third Development Decade and the persistence of gross economic inequalities. Baha'i­s believe that the required higher level of cooperation can only be motivated by a sincere appreciation for the unity of all human beings. Only on such a basis can prejudices related to nation, race, religion, sex, and other prejudices that hinder determined and equitable development activities be eradicated. The importance of cooperation at every level is underscored in the statement on peace to which we referred earlier:

 

The inordinate disparity between rich and poor, a source of acute suffering, keeps the world in a state of instability, virtually on the brink of war. Few societies have dealt effectively with this situation. The solution calls for the combined application of spiritual, moral and practical approaches. A fresh look at the problem is required, entailing consultation with experts from a wide spectrum of disciplines, devoid of economic and ideological polemics, and involving the people directly affected in the decisions that must urgently be made.

This quotation raises a number of points about cooperation. First, cooperation should be aimed at eliminating human suffering and at ensuring every individual the fulfillment of his basic human needs. We fully agree with the Development Strategy that "the development process must promote human dignity." In the Baha'i­ view, man has been created as a noble being by God and it is each individual's right and duty not only to fulfill his own potential, but to develop the nobility of his character by working to ensure the same dignity for other human beings. For these reasons, we believe that particular energy must be devoted to improving the plight of the poorest of the ESCAP countries, and to augmenting their already-existing programmes aimed at improving health and nutrition and reducing the infant mortality rate.

Second, in the Baha'i­ view, close cooperation among the local population manifesting itself in participatory groups and organizations is a crucial requirement for the success of community development efforts of a sustainable and equitable nature. We believe that development can only be successful and self-sustaining if it draws upon -- and thereby enhances -- the creative energies, potential and initiative of individual men and women. It must function primarily as a local process, and rely on the full participation of community members in all aspects of this process. The development of a sound local economy through community involvement would help to reduce the problems of unemployment and urban migration that continue to plague so many countries in the Asian and Pacific region. Our conviction that a participatory system can succeed is based on practical experience which Baha'i­ communities in this region have gained in implementing projects based on local participation and initiative.

Third, we are convinced that women must participate actively in this local development process. For this reason, we welcome such initiatives as the Project on Women in Agriculture in Asia, described in last year's Report on Secretariat Activities in Support of the Substantial New Programme of Action. Moreover, Baha'i­s believe that while a high priority should be given to all education efforts, the education of women and girls should be accorded first priority. This is because -- and we quote again from the statement on peace -- "it is through educated mothers that the benefits of knowledge can be most effectively and rapidly diffused throughout society." Further, such an educational focus is an essential component in enhancing local-level self-reliance and self-sufficiency, since women constitute a crucial but often neglected element in the family and local economy. We suggest accordingly that ESCAP examine ways to increase further its efforts to improve the education of women in all areas of knowledge, including health, nutrition, agriculture, trades and professions.

Finally, cooperation between countries is essential in eradicating the gross inequalities among nations that continue to destabilize the world. A new level of conscious recognition of world community must be brought about in order for developed and developing countries to be willing to cooperate in eradicating non-tariff and other trade barriers, for developed countries to meet and surpass the Strategy's goals for official development assistance, and for technologically advanced nations to share their technology and expertise with less developed countries.

The development of an attitude of cooperation at all the levels to which we have referred requires, we believe, universal education in the truth of human unity. Education in the concept of local, national and world citizenship should be a priority of development efforts and should be aimed at all sectors of society. An increasing number of Baha'i­-sponsored educational activities in Asian and Pacific countries and other nations around the world are already offering this type of education to children of all faiths and backgrounds.

To conclude, we applaud ESCAP's important efforts to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of the Development Strategy. The goals of the Decade will also continue to be a high priority for Baha'i­ communities in the region as they work to enhance cooperative and development efforts at every level.

Entwicklung und Weltfrieden

Entwicklung und Weltfrieden

Eine Erklärung der Internationalen Bahá’í-Gemeinde bei der zweiundvierzigsten Sitzungsperiode der Wirtschafts- und Sozialkommission für Asien und den Pazifik

Bangkok, Thailand—22 April 1986

Die Rückschau und Bewertung der internationalen Entwicklungsstrategie, die vom Sekretariat bei der 41. Sitzungsperiode von ESCAP vorgelegt wurde, behandelt ausführlich die bekannte Tatsache, daß die Verwirklichung vieler Ziele und Pläne des dritten Entwicklungsjahrzehnts der Vereinten Nationen bisher wenig vorangekommen ist. Zum Beispiel bleibt der Aufbau eines sich selbst in Gang haltenden Entwicklungsprozesses in den am wenigsten entwickelten Ländern, der sich garantiert auf allgemeine Beteiligung stützen kann, weiterhin eher eine Sehnsucht als eine Realität. Und ungeheure Ungleichheiten in Lebensstandard und Wohlstand bestehen weiterhin sowohl zwischen den Ländern innerhalb der asiatischen und pazifischen Region wie auch zwischen diesen und den mehr entwickelten Gebieten der Welt.

Es gibt genügend Gründe für diese Frage, die auch in einer Erklärung des internationalen Führungsgremiums des Bahá’í-Glaubens angesprochen wird, einer Erklärung, in der die politischen, sozialen, wirtschaftlichen und geistigen Erfordernisse zur Errichtung des Weltfriedens umrissen sind. Sie wurde vor kurzem aus Anlaß des Internationalen Jahres des Friedens veröffentlicht und erläutert, warum nach Ansicht der Bahá’í ein Großteil aller Völker “immer tiefer in Hunger und Elend versinkt, wenn den heutigen Sachwaltern der Gesellschaft Reichtum in einem Maße zur Verfügung steht, von dem die Pharaonen, die Caesaren oder selbst die imperialistischen Mächte des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts nicht hätten träumen können.”[i]

Wir möchten bei unserer Intervention einige der in dieser Erklärung genannten Punkte erläutern und auf dieser Grundlage aus der Bahá’í-Sicht einige Schritte empfehlen, mit deren Hilfe die Umsetzung der Strategie für das dritte Entwicklungsjahrzehnt sowie das gewichtige neue Arbeitsprogramm für die achtziger Jahre für die am wenigsten entwickelten Länder in der ESCAP-Region gefördert werden.

Die Bahá’í sind überzeugt, daß erfolgreiche Entwicklungsbemühungen von denen, die am Entwicklungsprozeß teilnehmen, vor allem den Sinn für das Mitmachen und die Zusammenarbeit verlangen. Das Fehlen dieses Sinnes für die gemeinsame Anstrengung – innerhalb örtlicher Gemeinden und Nationen oder unter Ländern – ist unserer Meinung nach der Hauptgrund für den begrenzten Erfolg des dritten Entwicklungsjahrzehnts und für den Fortbestand massiver wirtschaftlicher Ungleichheiten. Die Bahá’í glauben, daß die erforderliche höhere Ebene der Zusammenarbeit nur durch die aufrichtige Wertschätzung der Einheit der gesamten Menschheit hervorgebracht werden kann. Nur auf einer solchen Grundlage können die auf Nation, Rasse, Religion, Geschlecht oder anderes bezogenen Vorurteile, die eine entschlossene und unparteiische Entwicklungsarbeit behindern, ausgerottet werden. Die Bedeutung der Zusammenarbeit auf jeder Ebene wird in der Erklärung zum Frieden, auf die wir uns vorher bezogen, wie folgt unterstrichen:

Der krasse Unterschied zwischen arm und reich, eine Quelle heftigsten Leides, hält die Welt in einem Zustand der Instabilität am Rande des Krieges. Nur wenige Gesellschaften haben diese Situation erfolgreich gemeistert. Die Lösung erfordert die kombinierte Anwendung geistiger, moralischer und praktischer Mittel. Das Problem muß in einem Licht betrachtet werden; es bedarf der Beratung durch Experten aus einem breiten Spektrum von Fachbereichen, frei von wirtschaftlicher und ideologischer Polemik, unter Einbezug der von den dringend zu fällenden Entscheidungen direkt Betroffenen.[ii]

Dieses Zitat wirft eine Anzahl Fragen zur Zusammenarbeit auf. Erstens sollte die Zusammenarbeit darauf ausgerichtet sein, das Leid der Menschen auszumerzen und für jeden die Befriedigung seiner Grundbedürfnisse sicherzustellen. Wir stimmen der Entwicklungsstrategie, daß “der Entwicklungsprozeß die menschliche Würde fördern muß”, voll und ganz zu. Nach Meinung der Bahá’í wurde der Mensch als edles Wesen von Gott erschaffen, und jeder Mensch hat das Recht und die Pflicht, nicht nur seine eigene Leistungsfähigkeit zu entfalten, sondern auch den Adel seines Charakters zu entwickeln, indem er sich für dieselbe Würde für andere Menschen einsetzt. Aus diesen Gründen glauben wir, daß auf die Verbesserung der schlimmen Lage der Ärmsten in den ESCAP-Ländern und die Ausweitung ihrer bereits vorhandenen Programme, die auf die Verbesserung von Gesundheit und Ernährung und die Verminderung der Kindersterberate ausgerichtet sind, ganz besonderer Nachdruck gelegt werden muß.

Zum zweiten ist der Bahá’í-Ansicht nach die enge Kooperation der örtlichen Bevölkerung, die sich in zusammenarbeitenden Gruppen und Organisationen zeigt, für den Erfolg von dauerhaften und unparteiischen Gemeindeentwicklungsbemühungen unbedingt erforderlich. Wir glauben, daß Entwicklung nur dann erfolgreich und selbsttragend sein kann, wenn sie die schöpferischen Kräfte, Fähigkeiten und Anregungen aller Männer und Frauen in Anspruch nimmt und sie dabei zum Wachsen bringt. Sie muß in erster Linie als lokaler Vorgang wirken und auf die uneingeschränkte Mitarbeit der Gemeindemitglieder an jedem Teil dieses Prozesses bauen. Die Entwicklung einer gesunden Lokalwirtschaft durch Einbeziehen der Gemeinde würde das Problem der Arbeitslosigkeit und der Abwanderung in die Städte, das viele Länder der asiatischen und pazifischen Region weiterhin belastet, verringern helfen. Unsere Überzeugung, daß das System der allgemeinen Teilnahme erfolgreich sein kann, beruht auf praktischen Erfahrungen, die Bahá’í-Gemeinden in dieser Region bei Projekten gewonnen haben, die auf örtlicher Beteiligung und Initiative basierten.

Zum dritten sind wir überzeugt, daß die Frauen aktiv an diesem örtlichen Entwicklungsprozeß teilnehmen müssen. Daher begrüßen wir solche Initiativen wie das Projekt für Frauen in der Landwirtschaft in Asien, das im letztjährigen Bericht über die Aktivitäten des Sekretariats zur Unterstützung des gewichtigen neuen Arbeitsprogramms geschildert wird. Wir Bahá’í glauben außerdem, daß im Rahmen der hohen Priorität, die allen Erziehungsbemühungen gewährt werden sollte, der Bildung von Frauen und Mädchen höchste Priorität eingeräumt werden muß, und zwar deshalb, weil – wir zitieren wiederum aus der Friedenserklärung – “durch gebildete Mütter der Nutzen des Wissens am wirksamsten und schnellsten die Gesellschaft durchdringen kann.”[iii] Ferner bildet die auf einen solchen Kernpunkt ausgerichtete Erziehung eine wesentliche Komponente, um das Selbstvertrauen und die Unabhängigkeit von fremder Hilfe auf örtlicher Ebene zu steigern, weil die Frauen ein entscheidendes, jedoch oft vernachlässigtes Element in der Familie und der lokalen Wirtschaft sind. Demnach schlagen wir vor, daß die ESCAP nach Möglichkeiten forscht, wie sie ihren Einsatz für die Ausbildung der Frauen in allen Wissensgebieten, einschließlich der Bereiche Gesundheit, Ernährung, Landwirtschaft, Handel und Gewerbe steigern und verbessern kann.

Nicht zuletzt ist zur Ausrottung der massiven Ungleichheit unter den Nationen, die die Welt noch immer aus dem Gleichgewicht bringt, die Zusammenarbeit zwischen den Ländern von entscheidender Bedeutung. Ein neues Maß an bewußter Anerkennung einer Weltgemeinschaft muß geschaffen werden, damit die entwickelten und die sich entwickelnden Länder willens werden, Zoll- und Handelsschranken zu beseitigen, die entwikkelten Länder ihre staatlichen Entwicklungshilfezusagen für die Strategieziele erfüllen und überbieten und die technisch fortgeschrittenen Nationen ihre Technologie und Sachkenntnis mit den weniger entwickelten Ländern teilen.

Wir meinen, daß das Entwickeln einer Kooperationshaltung in allen von uns angesprochenen Sachgebieten einen globalen Unterricht erfordert, der die Wahrheit vermittelt, daß die Menschheit eine Einheit ist. Die Erziehung in der Vorstellung von lokaler, nationaler und Welt-Bürgerschaft sollte bei den Entwicklungsbemühungen Priorität haben und auf alle Bereiche der Gesellschaft ausgerichtet sein. Eine steigende Zahl an von Bahá’í-Mitgliedern finanzierten Unterrichtsprogrammen in asiatischen und pazifischen Ländern und in anderen Staaten rund um die Welt bietet bereits Kindern aus allen Glaubensrichtungen und jedweder Herkunft ein solches Bildungssystem an.

Zum Abschluß möchten wir den bedeutsamen ESCAP-Bemühungen, die vereinbarten brauchbaren Entwicklungsstrategien aufeinander abzustimmen und zu fördern, unsere Anerkennung aussprechen. Die Bahá’í-Gemeinden in der Region werden fortfahren, den Zielen der Dekade in hohem Maße Vorrang einzuräumen, indem sie sich auf allen Ebenen für Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung einsetzen.

[i] Die Verheißung des Weltfriedens, S. 17
[ii] Die Verheißung des Weltfriedens, S. 22

[iii] Die Verheißung des Weltfriedens, S. 24, 25

The Baha'i International Community and World Peace

The Baha'i International Community and World Peace

Oral Statement to the NGO Committee for the University of Peace

New York—17 April 1986

"The Promise of World Peace," a statement addressed to the Peoples of the World by the governing body of the Baha'i­ International Community, the Universal House of Justice, to mark the occasion of International Year of Peace, opens with words of hope and assurance:

The Great Peace towards which people of good will throughout the centuries have inclined their hearts, of which seers and poets for countless generations have expressed their vision, and for which from age to age the sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long last within the reach of the nations. For the first time in history it is possible for everyone to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is not only possible but inevitable. It is - the next stage in the evolution of this planet - in the words of one great thinker, 'the planetization of mankind.'

This statement, analyzing the complexities of achieving peace on this planet, was presented officially to the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, last November. It has also been presented to numerous heads of state around the world, as well as to many government officials at all levels. It addresses the many problems we must resolve before we are able to achieve general and complete disarmament and world peace, considers that alongside collective security, "in essence, peace stems from an inner state supported by a spiritual or moral attitude, and it is chiefly in evoking this attitude that the possibility of enduring solutions can be found." The statement considers likewise the importance of resolving key social and economic issues, which by perpetuating injustice foster disunity, such as racism, the disparity between rich and poor, unbridled nationalism, religious strife. It also calls for the emancipation of women, universal education, and the adoption of an international auxiliary language. It addresses both the responsibilities of governments and peoples in correcting these world conditions.

While expressing the deep Baha'i­ concern for the problems of the individual and society in our contemporary world, "The Promise of World Peace" not only examines the obstacles to be overcome but makes several proposals that, if implemented, would, we believe take us out from under the shadow of war and destruction, and lead us to a state of peace and harmony on this planet. This condition would then allow the peoples of the world and their governments to build the kind of society in which human beings can express fully their noble potentialities.

The source of optimism we feel is a vision transcending the cessation of war and the creation of agencies of international co-operation....Beyond the initial armistice forced upon the world by the fear of nuclear holocaust, beyond the political peace reluctantly entered into by suspicious rival nations, beyond pragmatic arrangements for security and coexistence, beyond even the many experiments in cooperation which these steps will make possible lies the crowning goal: the unification of all the peoples of the world in one universal family.

The interest of the Baha'i­ International Community at the United Nations in the area of peace dates to the founding of the UN, when a statement entitled "The Baha'i­ Peace Programme" was distributed widely among delegates and Non-Governmental Organizations. More recently we participated in the First and Second Special Sessions of the General Assembly on Disarmament, in 1978 and 1982, sharing the Baha'i­ views on disarmament and peace, both through a brochure, and through an oral statement which we were invited to deliver to the UN General Assembly at its 1982 Session. The Baha'i­ International Community has co-operated with the UN Centre for Disarmament Affairs, and has participated in the work of the NGO Committees on Disarmament in New York and Geneva, and in NGO conferences and meetings organized by those committees.

When the United Nations proclaimed 1986 as International Year of Peace (IYP), as an occasion for rededication by member states to the goals of the UN Charter, the Baha'i­ International Community, provided the IYP Secretariate with detailed information on the Baha'i­ teachings and principles regarding peace, as well as evidence of the efforts of the Baha'i­ world community for over 100 years to achieve this goal and assured that UN office of wholehearted Baha'i­ participation in IYP. As evidence of this collaboration, the Baha'i­ International Community participated in all four UN regional seminars held during 1985 in preparation for IYP, presenting comprehensive statements on the seminar topics of "Preparation for Life in Peace," and on the relationships between peace and disarmament, and between peace and development. In addition the Baha'i­ International Community took part in several meetings in New York and in Europe organized by the UN to consult with Non-Governmental Organizations on a programme for IYP.

The Baha'i­ International Community has also followed closely from the beginning the establishment of the University for Peace in Costa Rica, expressing its interest in this most welcome institution for peace education. Both the Baha'i­ International Community and the Baha'i­s of Costa Rica have established a warm relationship with the University and its officials, and look forward to contributing to the work of that institution, as it undertakes its important mission for humanity, both the perspective of the Baha'i­ Writings and the experience of the Baha'i­ community.

For the commitment of the Baha'i­ International Community to peace and the unity of humanity is not merely theoretical, but is carried into action daily in the lives of Baha'i­s and their communities, as expressed in this excerpt from "The Promise of World Peace":

The experience of the Baha'i­ community may be seen as an example of this enlarging unity. It is a community of some three to four million people drawn from many nations, cultures, classes and creeds, engaged in a wide range of activities serving the spiritual, social and economic needs of the peoples of many lands. It is a single social organism, representative of the diversity of the human family, conducting its affairs through a system of commonly accepted consultative principles, and cherishing equally all the great outpourings of divine guidance in human history....If the Baha'i­ experience can contribute in whatever measure to reinforcing hope in the unity of the human race, we are happy to offer it as a model for study.

الجامعة البهائيّة العالمية والسّلام العالميّ

الجامعة البهائيّة العالمية والسّلام العالميّ

—

"السلام العالمي وعد حق"، بيان وُجّه لشعوب العالم من الهيئة العليا للجامعة البهائية العالمية، بيت العدل الأعظم ، بمناسبة الاحتفال بعام السّلام العالمي، ويبدأ بكلمات مفعمة بالأمل والثقة:

Prevention and Control of Drug and Substance Abuse: A Baha'i Perspective

Prevention and Control of Drug and Substance Abuse: A Baha'i Perspective

Updated and revised statement, originally submitted on November 14, 1974, to the United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs in reply to a questionnaire on "Activities in the Fight Against Drug Abuse"

—14 February 1986

The Baha'i­ International Community, comprising Baha'i­ communities in over 140 independent countries, and representing a cross-section of humanity of more than 2000 ethnic backgrounds, with a membership of over 3 million children, youth and adults of both sexes, lives by the principles and teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Baha'i­ Faith.

One of these laws is the "total abstinence from all alcoholic drinks, from opium, and from similar habit-forming drugs." This interdiction has been further elaborated in several passages from the Baha'i­ Writings, quoted below:

  1. The drinking of wine is, according to the text of the Most Holy Book, forbidden, for it is the cause of chronic disease, weakeneth the nerves, and consumeth the mind....Verily, it hath been forbidden unto every believer, whether man or woman.
  2. As to the question of opium, disgusting and execrated....the formal text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas [Bahá'u'lláh's Book of Laws] forbids and reproves it and, according to reason, its use leads to madness. Experience has shown that he who giveth himself up to it is completely excluded from the world of humanity. Let us take refuge in God against the perpetration of so shameful a thing, which is the destruction of the foundations of humanity and which causeth a perpetual unhappiness. It taketh possession of the soul of man, killeth the reason, weakeneth the intelligence, maketh a living man dead and extinguisheth the natural heat. It is impossible to imagine anything more pernicious. Happy is he who never mentioneth the word opium! But what is the fate of those who make use of it!
  3. Regarding hashish....this is the worst of all intoxicants, and its prohibition is explicitly revealed. Its use causeth the disintegration of thought and the complete torpor of the soul. Alcohol consumeth the mind and causeth man to commit acts of absurdity, but....this wicked hashish extinguisheth the mind, freezeth the spirit, petrifieth the soul, wasteth the body and leaveth man frustrated and lost.
  4. Baha'i­s should not use hallucinogenic agents, including LSD, peyote and similar substances, except when prescribed for medical treatment. Neither should they become involved in experiments with such substances.
  5. Concerning the so-called "spiritual" virtues of the hallucinogens ....spiritual stimulation should come from turning one's heart to Bahá'u'lláh and not through physical means such as drugs and agents....
  6. Hallucinogenic agents are a form of intoxicant. As the friends, including the youth, are required to strictly abstain from all forms of intoxicants, and are further expected conscientiously to obey the civil law of their country, it is obvious that they should refrain from using these drugs....A very great responsibility for the future peace and well-being of the world is borne by the youth of today.

Today Baha'i­s in over 111,000 worldwide centers are committed to the law of their Faith that forbids the use of alcoholic beverages, opium, and other habit-forming drugs. A very simple and logical explanation to this prohibition can be found in the great importance which Baha'i­ communities attach to the development and protection of the human mind. Anything that deadens human consciousness or impairs a person's capacity to develop not only a "high resolve" and an "excellent character," but also "the breadth of his learning" and "his ability to solve difficult problems," all for the noblest human aim of service to the common good, is strictly forbidden.

As may be seen, Baha'i­ communities are already making an important contribution to the work of the United Nations in the prevention and control of drug and substance abuse, through the commitment of Baha'i­s who are implementing in their lives the values and standards of their Faith. Baha'i­s also actively participate, whenever they find opportunity, in drug education programs. Further, since they believe that religion and science must be in harmony, as facets of one reality, it is now possible to add to the logical explanations found in the Baha'i­ Writings for the prohibition of alcohol and drugs, scientific evidence, mounting every year in quantity and depth, establishing persuasively the damage done to the human body, and consequently to the human consciousness, by the use of such substances.

السيطرة على المخدرات والحماية من الإدمان: نظرة بهائية

السيطرة على المخدرات والحماية من الإدمان: نظرة بهائية

—

إنّ الجامعة البهائيّة العالميّة التي تتكوّن من جامعات بهائيّة  في أكثر من 140 دولة مستقلّة وتمثّل أكثر من 2000  من الأصول العرقيّة المختلفة للبشر، ويزيد أتباعها عن ثلاثة ملايين طفل وشاب وبالغ من الجنسين، تعيش وفق مبادئ وتعاليم حضرة بهاءالله، مؤسّس الدّين البهائيّ.

إحدى هذه التعاليم هي "الامتناع التّام عن تناول المشروبات الكحوليّة والأفيون وما يماثلها من عقاقير تسبّب الإدمان".

لقد تمّ توضيح هذا التّحريم بشكل أكبر في عدّة فقرات من الكتابات البهائيّة، الواردة أدناه:

Verhütung und Bekämpfung von Drogen- und Suchtstoffmissbrauch — aus der Baha'i-Sicht

Verhütung und Bekämpfung von Drogen- und Suchtstoffmissbrauch — aus der Baha'i-Sicht

Aktualisierte und überarbeite Erklärung, ursprünglich am 14. November 1974 der Abteilung für Rauschmittel der Vereinten Nationen als Antwort auf einen Fragebogen über »Aktivitäten um Kampf gegen den Drogenmissbrauch« vorgelegt.

—14 February 1986

Die Internationale Bahá’í-Gemeinde, die aus Bahá’í-Gemeinden in über 140 unabhängigen Ländern mit einer Mitgliederzahl von über drei Millionen (1989: 150 Länder und rund fünf Millionen) Kindern, Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen beiderlei Geschlechts besteht und Menschen aus über zweitausend ethnischen Gruppen vertritt, lebt nach den Grundsätzen und Lehren Bahá’u’lláhs, des Stifters des Bahá’í-Glaubens.

Eines dieser Gesetze ist die »völlige Enthaltsamkeit von allen alkoholischen Getränken, von Opium und anderen ähnlichen süchtig machenden Drogen«. Dieses Verbot wird in einigen nachfolgend zitierten Abschnitten aus den Bahá’í-Schriften behandelt:

  1. Das Weintrinken ist den Texten des Heiligsten Buches gemäß verboten, denn es ist die Ursache chronischer Leiden, schwächt die Nerven und zerstört den Verstand... Wahrlich, es wurde jedem Gläubigen, ob Mann oder Frau, verboten.  
  2. Was jedoch die Frage des Opiums betrifft: Es ist abscheulich und verflucht,... Der Text des Kitab-i-Aqdas [Bahá’u’lláhs Buch der Gesetze] verbietet es ausdrücklich und verurteilt es in höchstem Maße. Die Vernunft sieht im Opiumrauchen eine Wahnsinnstat, und die Erfahrung hat gezeigt, dass aus der menschlichen Gesellschaft völlig ausgeschlossen wird, wer sich ihm hingibt. Möge Gott alle vor einer so abscheulichen Tat beschützen, welche die Grundlage des Menschseins zerstört und die Ursache ewiger Verderbnis ist. Opium ergreift Besitz von der Lebenskraft des Menschen, so dass sein Gewissen stirbt, sein Verstand dahinschwindet und sein Wahrnehmungsvermögen abnimmt. Es tötet das Leben und bringt die natürliche Wärme zum Erlöschen. Es gibt keinen größeren Schaden als den, den das Opium zufügt. Wohl denen, die nicht einmal das Wort Opium über die Lippen bringen; wie erbärmlich ist, wer Gebrauch davon macht!
  3. Was Haschisch betrifft ... Dies ist das schlimmste aller Rauschmittel und dessen Verbot ist ausdrücklich offenbart. Sein Gebrauch verursacht den Zerfall des Denkens und die völlige Abstumpfung der Seele. Alkohol zerstört den Verstand und veranlasst den Menschen, sinnwidrige Taten zu begehen. Aber ... dieses verruchte Haschisch erstickt die Vernunft, lässt den Geist erstarren, versteinert die Seele, und lässt den Körper zerfallen und den Menschen enttäuscht und zugrunde gerichtet zurück.
  4. Die Bahá’í sollten keine halluzinogenen Mittel, einschließlich LSD, Mescalin und ähnliche Stoffe gebrauchen, außer wenn sie zur ärztlichen Behandlung verschrieben wurden. Ebenso sollten sie sich nicht in Experimente mit solchen Mitteln einlassen.
  5. Was die sogenannten »geistigen« Wirkungen der Halluzinogene angeht ... Geistige Anregung sollte durch die Hinwendung des Herzens zu Bahá’u’lláh entstehen und nicht durch materielle Mittel wie Drogen und Suchtstoffe...
  6. Halluzinogene Mittel sind eine Art Rauschmittel. Da von den Freunden, einschließlich der Jugend, verlangt wird, sich aller Arten von Rauschmitteln streng zu enthalten, und da außerdem von ihnen erwartet wird, dass sie die bürgerlichen Gesetze ihres Landes gewissenhaft befolgen, ist ganz klar, dass sie den Gebrauch dieser Rauschmittel unterlassen sollten. … Eine sehr große Verantwortung für den künftigen Frieden und das Wohlergehen der Welt wird von der heutigen Jugend getragen.

Heute sind die Bahá’í in über 111.000 Orten in der ganzen Welt dem Gesetz ihres Glaubens verpflichtet, das den Genuss von alkoholischen Getränken, von Opium und anderen süchtig machenden Drogen verbietet. Eine sehr einfache und logische Erklärung für dieses Verbot liegt in der großen Bedeutung, die die Bahá’í-Gemeinden der Entwicklung und dem Schutz des menschlichen Verstandes beimessen. Was immer das menschliche Bewusstsein abstumpft oder die Fähigkeit eines Menschen beeinträchtigt, nicht nur »edle Entschlossenheit« und einen »vortrefflichen Charakter«, sondern auch »den Umfang seines Wissens« und »seine Fähigkeit, schwierige Probleme zu lösen«, zu entwickeln, um dies alles für das edelste menschliche Ziel, den Dienst am Gemeinwohl, einzusetzen — all das ist streng verboten.

Daraus wird ersichtlich, dass die Bahá’í-Gemeinden bereits einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Arbeit der Vereinten Nationen bei der Verhütung und Bekämpfung von Drogen- und Suchtstoffmissbrauch leisten, weil die Bahá’í sich zur Durchführung der Ideale und Wertmaßstäbe ihres Glaubens in ihrem täglichen Leben selbst verpflichten. Die Bahá’í beteiligen sich auch aktiv an den Drogen-Schulungsprogrammen, wann immer sie Gelegenheit dazu finden. Da sie außerdem glauben, dass Religion und Wissenschaft wie Aspekte einer Wirklichkeit in Einklang stehen müssen, ist es nun möglich, den in den Bahá’í-Schriften wegen des Verbots von Alkohol und Drogen vorhandenen logischen Erläuterungen wissenschaftliche Beweise hinzuzufügen, deren Anzahl und Tiefgründigkeit jährlich zunimmt und den durch den Gebrauch solcher Mittel am menschlichen Körper und dem zufolge am menschlichen Bewusstsein angerichteten Schaden überzeugend darstellt.

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