The London Peace Network presents the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with one of the bells (from the Shree Ghanapathy Temple, Wimbledon) rung on the Millennium Bridge on 29 July 2012.
It was estimated that over one million people took part in activities led by Islamic Centres worldwide on the International Day of Peace 2012 as a result of this initiative. Read the report here.
In 2013, we extended the invitation to churches and synagogues. Londoners from across the city participated in Flights for Peace across the Thames. Read the photo-report here.
Lord Michael Bates, a supporter of the Olympic Truce and a patron of the London Peace Network, speaks about the Truce to members of the Network at the Imperial War Museum, 2012.
The London events sparked others across the globe, culminating in the Pakistan-UK Minority-Majority Project early in 2013.
Thank you to everyone who supported, took part, passed the word around and organised the huge range of events over the last two years.
Dr Shuja Shafi (Muslim Council of Britain), Sayed Yousif Al-Khoei (Al Khoei Foundation) and Baroness Uddin at St Mary Undercroft in the Houses of Parliament on the UN International Day of Peace 2012.
Check the blog and the What’s On page for 2014, but here’s a reminder of what we got up to in previous years . . .
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A reminder of what happened on the International Day of Peace in 2012:
Exciting news from the participating centres is now coming in – see the front page of the blog for the latest updates. You can download the press release here.
The London Peace Network has been working on something very special. Download the flyer here.
We know that peace and justice are hard to achieve if we work alone – we need to work in partnership. We want to live well together in spite of our differences.
This year the International Day of Peace, which is marked each year on 21 September, falls on a Friday.
Islamic centres across the UK and overseas will be coming together as usual for Friday Prayers (Salaatul-Jamu’a). This year, they will also be leading their local communities in marking the International Day of Peace.
Islamic centres will invite visitors to join them during or after Friday Prayers to exchange messages of peace, to celebrate local peace-building activities and to enjoy the hospitality offered.
Local schools, churches, synagogues, temples, gurdwaras and community organisations will be invited to observe the day by accepting these invitations.
Some Islamic Centres in the UK are pairing up with a nearby church, religious community or school and linking their observance of the International Day of Peace to similar pairs overseas.
Islamic centres in the UK will be “twinning” with Islamic centres overseas which have also paired up with local churches, temples, schools, etc.
The growing list includes:
Visit by scholars in Najaf to Baghdad, Iraq
Careva Džamija, The Emperor’s Mosque, Sarajevo, Bosnia
Gazi Husrevbegova Džamija, Gazi Husrevbey Mosque (Central Mosque), Sarajevo, Bosnia
Džamija Kralj Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King Fahd Mosque and Islamic Centre, Sarajevo, Bosnia
Istiklal Džamija, Istiqlal Mosque, Sarajevo, Bosnia
Imam Haroon Mosque, Bangkok, Thailand
Ghandi Centre / North East Interfaith Forum, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) – Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Nima Central Mosque, Accra, Ghana
Madrassah Maa’had al Quran al Kareem, Peshawar, Pakistan
Jamia Khair-ul-Madaris,Multan – Pakistan
Jamia Ashrafia, Lahore, Pakistan
Ibadan Mosque, Nigeria
Finsbury Park Mosque, Islington, London
Al-Khoei Foundation School & visit to Mosque, Brent, London
East London Mosque, Tower Hamlets, London
The London Central Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre, Camden, London
Tooting Islamic Centre, Wandsworth, London
Balham Mosque, Wandsworth, London
Hyderi Islamic Centre, Lambeth, London
Stockwell Mosque, Lambeth, London
As-Shifa (Bobbers Mill), Nottingham
Karimia Masjid, Nottingham
Wollaton Masjid, Nottingham
Westferry Community Masjid, Tower Hamlets, London
South London Islamic Centre, Lambeth, London
Leicester Central Mosque
Al Asr Education and Community Centre, Woking
Al Noor Institute, Lambeth, London
Idara-e-Jafferiya, Tooting, London
Markaz-e-Ahlul Bayt, Clapham, London
Sakina Trust, Walthamstow, London
Al Hussain Mosque, Cheatham Hill, Manchester
Islamic Thought, Peterborough
Anjuman Mohibban e Ahlebait, Burnley, Lancashire
Alanwar Alnajafia, Newport, Wales
Hussaini Islamic Mission, Twickenham, Middlesex
Hosseinieh Foundation, Bristol
Old Kent Road Mosque, Southwark, London
Abubakr Mosque, Ealing, London
Dar Al Islam Foundation, London
London Fatwa Council
Central Jamia Mosque Ghamkol Sharif
Leeds Makkah Masjid
Qadria Jilani Islamic Centre, Manchester
Goodge Street Mosque, Camden, London
Southampton Medina Mosque, Southampton, Hampshire
Shia Ithna’Askari Community of Middlesex, Harrow
Harlesden Ummah, Brent, London
Brent Muslim Cultural Centre, Brent, London
Leeds Dar Ahlulbayt, Leeds
Edinburgh Ahlul Bayt Society, University of Edinburgh
The following Muslim leaders invite you to take part in marking the International Day of Peace this year.
Yousif Al-Khoei OBE, Al-Khoei Islamic Centre
Dilowar Khan, East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre
Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
Dr Mustafa Cerić, Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Maulana, Sarfraz Madni, Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
Farooq Murad, Muslim Council of Britain
Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, Majlis-e-Ulama Europe
Anas Altikriti, The Cordoba Foundation
Dr Ahnad Al-Dubayan, The London Central Mosque and the Islamic Cultural Centre
The London Peace Network invites you to join them and to participate by inviting visitors, or by accepting invitations, to mark the occasion at your local mosque or Islamic centre.
To find out more, or to register your Mosque or Islamic Centre on the online Directory, please contact the London Peace Network.
To register as a participating Islamic centre, and for supporting materials and further information, please contact:
- Catriona Robertson, London Peace Network 07903 682142
- Abdullah Faliq, The Cordoba Foundation 020-8991 3370
- Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi, Majlis-e-Ulama Europe 07894 277658
- Julian Bond, Christian Muslim Forum 020-7729 6830
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- The London Peace Network is a broad coalition of organisations promoting peace-building and the Olympic Truce during 2012.
- Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
- In October 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution urging the nations of the world to observe the Olympic Truce during the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. This was the first resolution in the history of the United Nations co-sponsored by all 193 Member States.
- Peace One Day is working towards a day of ceasefire and non-violence on 21st September – the Global Truce 2012 campaign.
Get inspired! Get in touch! Get involved!
The organisers below will be glad to hear from you – or contact the London Peace Network for more information.
Waterloo Festival – War and Peace 12-17 July
Action-packed festival of concerts, arts, theatre, talks, tours at St John’s Church, Waterloo.
Find inspiration at the Waterloo Festival. Be at the World Première of Orlando Gough’s Waterloo Canticle 2: Love is Strong as Death, specially commissioned for the Festival, setting poetry from Beirut alongside words from the Song of Solomon sung in Hebrew and Arabic. www.stjohnswaterloo.org
Inter Faith Walks 14-15 July
One of the very best ways to meet local people from different religious traditions – or none – walking and talking together, discovering the unexpected. All south London boroughs and some in north London are organising inter faith walks on the weekend of 14th – 15th July. Join in or organise your own! www.southlondoninterfaith.org.uk/2012-inter-faith-walks
Here are the flyers and maps for all the participating boroughs:
Richmond – will be posted soon.
The Peace Mala Gower Pilgrimage – Walking for World Peace with the Celtic Saints of Gower in Wales Wednesday 18th July – Sunday 22nd July
With the people who brought you the ever-popular Peace Mala wristband, join Ruth Davies for part or all of this pilgrimage, taking in ancient sites, holy wells and springs. Details on the Peace Mala website.
Britain Tastes Great 16-22 July
As the world looks at London this summer, HOPE not Hate encourages us to put on a party to celebrate modern Britain – a kaleidoscope of colours and cultures. Get together with your neighbours, schools, places of worship,
community organisations and plan a delicious meal.
For the really adventurous, people can host their own event. This can be a house party, a picnic in the park or in the local community centre. We’ll be encouraging churches, mosques, temples and local sports centres to open their doors to the local community and share food.
The HOPE not Hate red London bus might be coming your way . . www.hopenothate.org.uk
Don’t miss the Torch! Community events, peace pledges, drums, face painting and much more in Hackney on 21st July and in Southwark on 26th July.
All The Bells – participate in a nationwide work of art on Friday 27th July for three minutes – 8.12 am to 8.15am! Organise your own event, or join the London Peace Network on the Millennium Bridge to ring in support of the Millennium Development Goals as part of the Olympic Truce. Bring a bell!
Ramadan Festival – 20 July – 19 August
Bringing people together from different faiths, eating supper and breaking the fast together in a local mosque during the month of Ramadan – share the atmosphere that is created at such a special time of year for Muslims. Ramadan is a time of giving, of charity, of sharing, of remembering those in need and reaching out. These are all qualities embodied by the Olympics too and we are excited to be able to combine those at the same time this year. All eyes will be on the UK and especially on London. It gives all of us the chance to showcase the fantastic diversity that we celebrate and hold so dearly in Great Britain. www.ramadanfestival.org
Knife Amnesty Bins – until 21 September
Thinking of putting a knife amnesty bin in your local area? Contact people who have already done it – and your borough police. www.barkinganddagenhamfaithforum.jigsy.com www.word4weapons.co.uk.
Peace Day 21 September
Mark International Day of Peace by celebrating the peace-making in your local community in partnership with your local mosque, by raising awareness about violence against women and girls – or in any other way. www.peaceoneday.org
The Little Big Peace Event
Streatham’s very own peace festival, with a huge range of activities and opportunities!
- Learn practical skills to achieve peace in your own life
- Discover how people and communities around the world are working for peace
- Meet and connect with new people in your community
- Relax, de-stress, enjoy!
Week of Peace 16-23 September
Do Something Kind – join thousands of Londoners in doing something small to make Something Big. Our vision is that through simple acts of kindness in our schools, workplaces and our homes we can make a Big Difference in London. As such we plan to have a Samaritan Weekend where Londoners of all ages and races can do kind gestures to someone that needs or deserves it. www.weekofpeace.org.uk
2012 Hours Against Hate – until 21 September
We are asking people around the world to pledge their time to stop hate—to do something for someone who doesn’t look like you, pray like you, or live like you.
2012 Hours Against Hate is a campaign to stop bigotry and promote pluralism and respect across lines of culture, religion, tradition, class, and gender. Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/2012HoursAgainstHate and get in touch with www.faithsforum4london.org for a unique experience of volunteering.
City Safe Havens – until 28 October
A CitySafe Haven is a public place to seek refuge in a difficult situation. Encourage local businesses and organisations in your neighbourhood to offer their premises as CitySafe Havens. www.citizensuk.org/campaigns/citysafe-campaign
A Year of Service – throughout the year
A Year of Service highlights the voluntary service that people of faith carry out in their local communities, forging links between volunteers. Throughout 2012 there are 12 Days of Volunteering, each coinciding with a religious festival or existing volunteering day, and each focusing on a particular social action theme. Each faith community in turn is promoting its own day or days in neighbourhoods and businesses, and inviting people from other faiths or without religious beliefs to join in. www.ayearofservice.org.uk
Youth Refusing Violence – until 21 September
Use the experts at St Ethelburga’s or the resources online to pass valuable skills to the young people of your community. Activities and ideas for encouraging 11-18 year olds to refuse the use of violence by harnessing the strength and wisdom within their faith – and by learning from other faiths too. www.stethelburgas.org/themes/youth-refusing-violence
Release The Peace – until 28 October
Encouraging young people to be positive forces within their communities. www.releasethepeace.com
Build The Truce – until 23 September
This new interactive display at the Imperial War Museum looks at the concepts of truce, conflict and resolution and how they are relevant to us in the twenty-first century. Watch and listen to a compelling soundtrack of eyewitness interviews set against footage from the locations themselves, including Sierra Leone, Kosovo and Northern Ireland. The stories offer different perspectives from medics, aid workers and civilians, revealing our sometimes unpredictable responses to conflict and challenging our preconceptions about truce.
Visit the Open Day on 21-22 September to celebrate International Peace Day. www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/iwm-london/build-the-truce
17-24-30 No to Hate Crime
This movement grew from the horrific hate crimes in London in April 1999 – in Brixton, Soho and Brick Lane – and as a result of the homophobic murder of Ian Baynham outside South Africa House in 2009. The vigil draws thousands each year to remember the victims of all forms of hate crime.
17-24-30 says the vigils “provide an opportunity for our communities to raise awareness and reflect upon what has happened, so we can educate the next generation and ensure that we reduce the chances of this happening again.” This year the vigil will take place on Saturday 20th October 7-9pm in Trafalgar Square. http://172430notohatecrime.wordpress.com.
But before then, Hate Crime Awareness Week launches on Saturday 13th October with a vigil and lighting of candles at St Paul’s Cathedral, EC4M 8AD at 6.30pm. Download the details here.
Multifaith cricket and football matches are being planned, twinned projects with those in Pakistan and Ghana are in the pipeline – there is plenty to choose from.
Get in touch and get involved!
What else is happening during the Games?
Torch Relay (comes to London 21st – 27th July)
Local Leaders – ideas and equipment for local events
Get Set – LOCOG’s schools programme
2012 TIMELINE (including other significant London dates)
9th June London Citizens peace rallies and events
19th June The Dalai Lama visits London
21st June – 9th Sept London 2012 Festival
14th-15th July Inter Faith Walks across London (support from SLIFG)
21st July Torch overnight in Waltham Forest
22nd July Torch overnight in Bexley
23rd July Torch overnight in Wandsworth
24th July Torch overnight in Ealing
25th July Torch overnight in Haringey
26th July Torch overnight in Westminster
27th July 08.12am All The Bells – rung as quickly and as loudly as possible for three minutes
27th July – 12th August OLYMPIC GAMES
29th August – 9th Sept PARALYMPIC GAMES
17th – 23rd September London Week of Peace
21st September International Day of Peace and Global Truce 2012 Peace One Day Concert in London
The 40th anniversary of the Munich 1972 tragedy will be marked during the Games.
London Peace Network 
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