Inter-Faith
Action for Peace in AfricaPress Release
Inter-Faith
Peace Summit in Africa
14-19 October 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa
Embracing the Gift of Peace
An Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa was launched at a news conference in Johannesburg today with the slogan “Embracing the Gift of Peace”.
This was announced by Dr Ishmael Noko, the General Secretary of the Geneva-based Lutheran World Federation, who with the National Religious Leaders’ Forum of South Africa (NRLFSA), will host a ground-breaking Inter-Faith Peace Summit at the Kopanong Centre, Benoni, from October 14 to 19
Speaking at the news conference Dr Noko, said that the continent of Africa was “enveloped in in a cycle of violence beyond description.” He added that this violence is not imported from outside Africa but is “made in Africa”.
According to Dr Noko the aim of the conference would be to get a solid commitment to inter-faith dialogue and co-operation for promoting peace in Africa.
“But it will be more than just a commitment on paper. We want to say less and do more and find our own solutions to the problems of Africa,” said Dr Noko.
There was potential for complimentary efforts by religious
and political leaders, said Dr Noko, who added: “The establishment of
the African Union has created a new environment for the promotion of peace…and
the new Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) initiative has
produced a new sense of commitment to development in Africa.”
Pastor Ray McCauley, an executive member of the NRLF, agreed that the Summit
Peace initiative could play a role in strengthening President Mbeki’s
Nepad plan.
“Africa needs to be at peace for Nepad to have far-reaching success and the religious leaders of the continent can offer much in this area as well as strengthen the moral fibre of our countries.
“We must not forget the role that religious leaders played in the build up to the elections and peaceful transformation in South Africa in 1994.
“I believe that the Benoni conference could be a major milestone in the march towards a true African Renaissance,” said Pastor McCauley.
Iman Ebrahim Bham, also a member of the NRLF, said that the examples of tolerance and peace making in South Africa’s recent past were worthy of case studies and consideration by other countries. He added that one had to look deeper to find what were some of the real reasons for religious intolerance, which sometimes came about because of perceived economic imbalances.
Over 100 delegates, representing all major religions, including traditional African religions and inter-faith groups across Africa, will be attending the conference.
Key topics of the conference will include:
In addition the conference will hear first hand accounts from people caught up in wars in Africa, including a former child soldier and a landmine survivor.
(Released by Ron Steele on behalf of the Inter-Faith
Peace Summit in Africa. Contact details: Cellphone 082-981-7458 or Mr Petros
Wontamo 082-788-1407).
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