United Nations Day Celebration

Held in co-operation between the United Nations Association and the B&H Inter Faith Contact Group

By Bonnie Evans-Hills

We were warmly welcomed by Judith Weisz of our host, the First Church of Christ, Scientist. She pointed that this year is their 100 years' celebration of Christian Science in Brighton & Hove.

Tehmtan Framroze, chair of the B&HIFCG, asked us to keep a few moments silence, as is our custom. He then invited the chair of the U.N. Association, Sheila Schaffer, to give us a few words. She read for us the preamble to the U.N. Charter:

We, the people of all faiths, come together to rededicate ourselves to the cause of love and peace.
We, the people of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,
which twice in our life-time has brought untold sorrow to mankind and to reaffirm our faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations
arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom and for these ends to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of economic and social advancement of all people, have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.  1945 San Francisco

Deputy Mayor Cllr Jeanne Lepper then gave both organisations words of support for their work, and added a personal note about her recent visit to Cypress . She spoke eloquently about how the country has been divided over the past 30 years and of efforts to re-unite the Christian and Muslim areas into one country again.

Presentations were then given by some of the faiths represented:

Bahà'í - Tony Pirkis
RICE

As long as there is no bond nor communication between the members of a household, there is no comfort nor rest for them and they cannot have their needs supplied.
From the Household, turn to the people of a city. When citizens are linked one with another, if one wishes to build a house, he can send for materials and masons, and then for carpenters to construct the doors, window frames, etc. Each one must be linked with the other, inorder that they may communicate with and help one another.
Then when several cities are united together, they form a territory or dominion. In one part of this territory perhaps they grow rice, whilst I another part of it, there may be no rice, but some other kind of grain or food, and each part can prepare something the other is in need of.
So we see the union between cities is the same as between members of a household.
'Abdu'l-Bahà
(compilations, Bahá'í Prayers 9, p.41)

The Prophet as Physician

We live in a world, however, where from time immemorial obedience to the commands of the Prophets has been the exception rather than the rule; where love of self has been a more prevalent motive than love of God; where limited and party interests have taken precedence of the interests of humanity as a whole; where material possessions and sensual pleasures have been preferred to the social and spiritual welfare of mankind.
Hence have arisen fierce competition and conflict, oppression and tyranny, extremes of wealth and poverty - all those conditions which breed disease, mental and physical.
As a consequence, the whole tree of humanity is sick, and every leaf on the tree shares in the general sickness. Even the purest and holiest have to suffer for the sins of others. Healing is needed - healing of humanity as a whole, of nations and of individuals.
So Bahá'u'lláh, like His inspired predecessors, not only shows how health is to be maintained, but also how it may be recovered when lost. He comes as the Great Physician, the Healer of the world's sicknesses, both of body and of mind.

Dr. John Esslemont, 'Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era,' p. 105

Unitarian - Dinah Staples
 
 
Judaism - Arnold Lewis

SHALOM... The last two United nations International Day themes have been 'Freshwater' & 'Mountains' ... both have been around since time immemorial. This year's theme is 'RICE' which is one of the most ancient of foods - dating back from the reign of the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung about 3000 B.C.E. - yet it is still one of the most popular foods, not only in Eastern countries but all over the western world.

On a point of information, botanists have recorded no less than 7000 different varieties of rice, but today's housewives simply shop for it by name, yet the rice sold under these names has in fact been grown from seeds descended from the original varieties.

Rice is cooked and enjoyed today according to the customs of the Chinese, Persians, Turks, Egyptians and the main groupings of the Sephardic Jews as well as the Ashkenazy Jews ... but.. it is interesting to note, that at our Passover time, there is a divergence of opinion between these two groups.
Passover is the first of the major Jewish Festivals mentioned in the Bible and is observed and is possibly celebrated by more Jews than any other holiday in the Jewish calendar. Whether it is by 'cleaning in all the corners of their houses,' by attending a 'Seder' (which is a special service celebrated in the family home), by attending a Synagogue, by eating matzot or by abstaining from a long list of foods forbidden on Passover.
During the 8 days of Passover, there is a major difference of opinion in that the Ashkenazic Communities ONLY accept the 5 grains of WHEAT, BARLEY, SPELT, RYE & OATS : which are all mentioned in the Bible (as in Exodus 12-39( and it is only these grains and no other foods that can be used to produce Matzot and most importantly ALL OTHER GRAINS HAVE TO BE TOTALLY REMOVED BY THE EVE OF PASSOVER.
Whereas the Sephardic Communities who are by tradition great rice users, DO NOT ACCEPT THE PROHIBITION, because one of the main ingredients of foods used in their geographic location is of course rice ... so therefore they cannot and do NOT ACCEPT THE RULING AS LAID DOWN!
The ruling is based on the possible confusion in the kitchen that flour made from rice MIGHT be stored near flour made from the permissible grains therefore AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE are banned by the Ashkenazy Communities.

Another most unusual fact to recall is that years ago rice came in hessian sacks, so it was a traditional chore for Sephardic housewives to pick over their rice to remove the stones, dirt & rubbish, so that before Passover begins the major part of the preparation of the rice for cooking used to be in the cleaning.

One very interesting custom to tell involving rice is that at the end of some Jewish marriage ceremonies the families and guests throw rice at the happy couple because of the long tradition that rice is considered a SYMBOL OF FERTILITY and to express the hope that the couple will be 'fruitful and multiply,' as commanded in the Book of Genesis.

To conclude - it is not difficult to understand why the Festival of Passover is so deep-rooted in Jewish history. PASSOVER celebrates the escape of the children of Israel from the Egyptian 'House of Bondage'...And... it serves to remind US ALL on this UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE ... of the importance of CONTINUING THE BATTLE FOR FREEDOM ... and

SHALOM ... PEACE
FOR EVERY GENERATION!
THANK YOU



Anglican - David Young

David played us a song from the show 'Song of Asia':

Will there be rice tomorrow, Dad?
 
Day is over, work is done people are hurrying by.
The streets are bright the buildings tall they almost touch the sky.
My heart is heavy as I go home, my feet are dragging slow
For every night my little son and daughter want to know,

Refrain:
'Will there be rice tomorrow, Dad, before we go to bed?
You promised we'd have it today, Dad, remember what you said?
Why are some people fat, Dad, and others thin like us?
Was it like this when you were a boy? Will it be always thus?'
I think to myself as I walk along I wonder what I'd do
If I were one of the very rich, would I be selfish too?
Could I be just the same inside as the ones I've learned to hate?
Who are we going to put in the place of the ones we liquidate?

Refrain

Supposing all decided now from buniya* to man of state
To care enough and share enough what wonders we'd create.
No need to hate and kill but help to build new men instead,
We could have a free world where my children will be fed.

Refrain

* a businessman







Brahma Kumaris - Sarah Cavanagh

RICE
Rice is the staple diet for millions of people in the east. It is like a tiny seen, holding in it the essence of life, both for the plant and for the one who eats it. Rice is symbolic of simplicity - for many people there is no other choice and so the rice provided all nutrition, sustenance and health for them.
Rice is grown in water - clean water holds all life in balance, is necessary for life. Water is seen as a purifier, a cleanser. There is significance, no doubt, that rice is grown in water. In many areas of the east rice is still farmed in a simple way, still traditional, in the paddy fields, by workers, by hand. Representing patience, taking time and care. It needs drying, careful cleaning, careful storage - if it is not to be ruined.
And the locals are wise. They eat the rice unprocessed. Unhusked and untreated by cleaning and chemical agents. They take the full benefit of the simple rice grain.
And in these countries, if they need any more sustenance, any more nurture - their tradition is to go to God.  In contrast, our Western way of life is complex. Our malaise of too many choices, too many things to do, to go to eat. All done in a fast way, all grown in a fast way, a forced way - all treated, and mixed and processed. Never seeming to have enough of anything.
Our growing obsession with size, weight, obesity, cleanliness, perfectionism - shows how our western thinking of making things too complicated has given us a lot of sorrow. Indeed, complications seem to be an inevitable by-product of modern living. As we strive to make everything more technical, faster, more competitive, better packaged, more 'value for money' - on all accounts we have moved away from simplicity.
But simplicity, the simple rice grain being a reminder of that - simplicity gives birth to inspirations of a higher nature. Keeping my mind calm and clear is the easiest method to sort out complicated situations and make the wisest choices. Maintaining a balance of living simply, yet comfortably, and only using what I really need of the earth's resources - I will always have abundance in my life.
We can learn the art of simplicity again. The ancient practices of the east, for example, In Raja Yoga we sit in silence. With an awareness of being a point of light. A seed of light.
And we go and sit with the Ocean of Love. As we surround ourselves with the love of that Divine Ocean, God, we grow strong. In that silent communication, in the stillness, we are filled with love, peace, power, simplicity, patience, care, clarity, wisdom...Like the grain of rice, the human soul then becomes strong. With a nature of simplicity, we restore hope, faith, stillness and silence. As we nurture the soul, the tiny energy source inside each of us, and then link to God, we also become a source of sustenance and nurture for others.

Islam - written by Tariq Jung and read in his absence by URC representative Brenda Heasman

My rice my rice
The spice of my life
Colours are varied, from virgin to death *
From east to west and back again **
Natural and Wild, young or old we love you all
Deep in water we stand and plant
Hand span by hand span, One at a time.
In the clay we play, but not so as to delay ***
Planting more and more, year after year...
Demand is growing as greedy west wants it all
But forget the poor and let food mountain stand tall.
Stalks of rice thrive and survive,
Where others would drown and die.
Some plant you this way and others that,
May be on a hill and perhaps on the flat.
A month or two and may be more,
You grow and mature and stand up young and strong.
One at a time we cut and chop to gather you in,
Pile on pile, bundle upon bundle
You are made ready for the thrashing of your life.
We jump and stomp, we beat and toss
And look forward to the day when you taste supreme.
Streets are filled with rice as we spread it to dry it.
Then beat it and point it,
And get it ready to eat it.
Sold for the rich. Made by the poor
Next time before you eat, think of
My rice my rice
The spice of my life.

* virgin white to black of death various colours - signifies the many colours of the rice but also points to many who start the process but do not live to harvest it.
** grown in east repacked in west to sell to the east
*** planting is a happy time and the planters sing of good fortune to come

©2004 Poetry of Eastern side (UK) Ltd. All rights reserved

Quaker - Jonathan

From the Eden Project guide, pg. 27:

Age old Respect
We look at the moon and see a man in it. In Vietnam they look at the moon and in its shadows see the Rice Goddess, stacking her freshly harvested rice in the shade of a Bo tree.
Gold, diamonds and pearls are our treasures. But in Chinese tradition five grains are precious jewels; the first of these is rice.
Why? Because this grain has fed more people over a longer period than any other crop, and today nourishes around half the people in the world.

Future Harvest
Between now and 2020 around 1.2 billion extra rice consumers will be born in Asia alone. Scientists trying to address the problem are looking to some of the hundred thousand landraces* already out there for assistance. One of the real success stories is IR36 which was the first rice bred to have resistance to grassy stunt virus. The resistance came from a wild relation in India - Oryza nivara. This transformed rice production and at one time IR36 was the most widely grown rice cultivar in the world. At Eden we are planning to make a rice goddess from rice straw so that she may look down on to the diversity of landraces and oversee their role in the future of this vital food.
*Landrace: ancient types of plants who genetic diversity helps them adapt to their growing environment.

From Quaker Faith and Practice:

29.05 - We recognise the enormous powers of newly developing genetic engineering techniques to change living matter with speed and scope hitherto unthinkable. Recent applications of bio-engineering to plant and animal species have benefited mainly people in materially wealthy countries at the expense of the materially poor, and of global biodiversity. Continuation of these technologies and their extension to human beings highlights the need for Friends to affirm that the intrinsic value of all life forms is not restricted to their utilitarian functions and that the richness of human diversity should never be reduces to the level of a commodity or made subject to market forces. The potential of genetic technologies for good and ill requires humility, wisdom, and loving kindness, and also the capacity to know when to stop. We Friends need to bring out own diverse gifts to help ensure that research into and application of genetic technologies do not proceed without consideration for justice, democracy, and respect for the dignity and well being of all.
Amber Carroll and Grace Jantzen, 1994

Advice and Queries
41. - Try to live simply. A simple lifestyle freely chosen is a source of strength. Do not be persuaded into buying what you do not need or cannot afford. Do you keep yourself informed about the effects your style f living is having on the global economy and environment?


Anglican - Bonnie Evans-Hills

I'm remembering the time I was privileged to spend in Iran. Many of the entrances to the mosques had grand archways decorated with thousands of squares of mirror mosaic. They glittered as you entered the holy space. And they also reflected the patterns of rice paddies in the north of Iran. If you flew over the fields they glittered in the sun.

I was also privileged to be in the North during harvest time. The markets were wonderful to wander through with all the fragrant scents of the varieties of rice being sold and cooked all around me. There were huge Hessian sacks piled on top of one another, and spices and moist, humid, rainy air.

So I felt it appropriate to speak of harvest, and would like to share two Christian Aid prayers from this year's harvest festival:

We praise you Lord
For the wonders of life on our planet,
And we give you thanks
For all that the earth provides
For our food,
Shelter and well-being.
We commit to you
Those areas of the world
Where the resources of nature have been plundered
And people's livelihoods threatened;
And we pray for those who work
To restore the land to people
Who most need its harvest.

Christian Aid in Harvest for the World compiles by Geoffrey Duncan.
Published by Canterbury Press 2002, 2004 p. 18

We dare to imagine a world,
Where hunger has no chance to show its face.
We dare to dream of a world,
Where war and terror are afraid to leave their mark.
We long to believe in a world,
Of hope unchained and lives unfettered.
We dare to share in the creation of a world,
Where your people break free.

Dare we open our minds to difference?
Dare we open our lives to change?

Your kingdom come, O Lord
Your will be done
Amen

We Dare to Imagine a World © Linda Jones/CAFOD from Harvest for the World
Compiled by Geoffrey Duncan. Published by Canterbury Press 2002, 2004 p. 274
Copyright permission must be sought for any further publication.

 

Closing thanks from IFCG Chair Tehmtan Framroze