promoting love, peace and unity
"The Gardener, the award-winning film from Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, is now available for free viewing online, according to the Baha’i World News Service. The film, which debuted at film festivals in 2012, is set in the gardens at the #Bahai World Center and explores the power of faith and the role of religion in society."
Read the story here: http://news.bahai.org/story/1075
via Baha'i Office of Public Affairs
In recent years, an interfaith environmental movement has emerged; faith communities are issuing and responding to calls to action on environmental issues such as climate change. Those involved in this interfaith movement believe that the environment, climate change in particular, is not just a scientific issue, but also a spiritual issue, a moral imperative. So, these groups have embraced and are advancing the cause of sustainable development. The Baha’i Faith is among the faiths actively involved in the movement. Among the leaders of this effort - in the Baha’i Faith in particular and in interfaith circles in general - is Peter Adriance, who is the Representative for Sustainable Development in the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs in Washington, DC.
Bhakti Larry Hough interviews Mr. Adriance in the current edition of Insight. He also speaks with Teresa Eickel, Executive Director of the Interreligous Eco-justice Network of Hartford, Conn. Her organization held a Climate Stewardship Summit last week that drew representatives from more than 20 faith groups.
Insight airs Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. 7 p.m., and midnight.
You can listen to or download the show on Soundcloud here:
[soundcloud_ultimate track=http://soundcloud.com/radiobahai/insight-85-peter-adriance]
For five years, seven Baha'i leaders have been wrongly imprisoned in Iran. Today, May 14th, marks the anniversary of their 20-year sentences, which are the longest given to any current prisoners of conscience in Iran. The harshness of their sentences reflects the Government’s resolve to oppress completely the Iranian Baha'i community, which faces a systematic, “cradle-to-grave” persecution that is among the most serious examples of state-sponsored religious persecution in the world today.
Baha'i communities around the world have launched a campaign calling for the immediate release of these seven – and the release of all innocent prisoners of conscience in Iranian prisons. The campaign is called, “Five Years Too Many.”
The US Bahá’i community has initiated a Congressional Call-In Day today, to gather support for Senate Resolution 75 and House Resolution 109, both of which, “condemn the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.”
The charges leveled against the seven Baha’i leaders reflect the depth of animosity and prejudice directed towards them — as well as a degree of ignorance regarding the basic principles and history of the Baha’i Faith.
Despite the overwhelming evidence that the Baha’i community in Iran is being persecuted solely because of its religious beliefs, the Iranian government continues – in both public and private forums – to justify its behavior with unsubstantiated accusations.
Specifically in the case of the seven Iranian Baha’i leaders, there was never any evidence presented to support the charges.
Information on the Congressional Call-In Day today to gather support for Senate Resolution 75 and House Resolution 109, condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority is available on the web at iran.bahai.us.
Below are links on the campaign to call for the release of the Bahá'ís in Iran that have been unjustly sentenced to 20 years in prison, of which they have already served five years, “Five Years Too Many”!
LINKS
Five Years Too Many for information about the Five Years Too Many campaign and details about the effort to gain their release, and background about who these wonderful people are.
Congressional Call-In Day, for information about the campaign to call US Senators and Representatives to ask them to support either Senate Resolution 75 or House Resolution 109, condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority.
VIDEOS
Five Years Too Many, - 3:30 video about the imprisoned leaders.
Five Years Too Many - Hands: 1:41 video showing support for the Baha'is in prison in Iran.
Five Years Too Many Special Event (part 1), held at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace hosted by Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute from the TV series, The Office).
Five Years Too Many Special Event (part 2)
