Category: News

THE CULTURE OF PEACE

Subject: 2021 UN HIGH LEVEL FORUM ON THE CULTURE OF PEACE on 7 September 2021.
Date: 2021-08-31 21:53
From: “ANWARUL K. CHOWDHURY”

Dear co-activists — As you know, the President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly has convened this year’s UN High Level Forum onThe Culture of Peace on Tuesday 7 September 2021. It would consist of an in-person opening session and plenary segment in General Assembly Hall from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and a virtual Panel Discussion and closing session from 3.00 to 6.00 pm.

Please note that this Forum will also be the 10th anniversary of this high profile annual event involving the Member States and civil society sharing their ideas for the full and effective implementation of the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace.

The Concept Note and the full programme of the day-long event is attached.

UN WebTV would broadcast the whole programme live. You can access it through UN WebTV. Please share the information contained in this mail with friends outside this listserv.

Best wishes — AKC

___________________________________________

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Former Under-Secretary-General
and High Representative of the UN

—
Bircan Ünver, Founder-President of The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (LM, 2001, New York);
Associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (formerly UN.DPI/NGO since 2005).
• Member, The Global Movement of the Culture of Peace (GMCoP, since 2012).

September 1, 2021
Genetic History and Identity: The Case of Turkey

Genetic_History_and_Identity_The_Case_of İndir

With the rise of genetic studies of human history over the last two decades, criticism has arisen among the disciplines traditionally concerned with this subject, i.e. anthropology, archaeology and history. This criticism is concerned with the biological construct of historical communities – whether they be called tribes, (ethnic) groups, migrants or populations – that neglects decades of scholarly discourse on these matters by transferring these entities into
primarily biological spheres. This essay is based on a systematic analysis of scientific articles reporting genetic research in the context of the history of what is now Turkey. Analysing the structure, methods and contents of this genetic research from the perspective of an archaeologist and historian, I discuss the issue of past and present identity according to both sampling criteria and the major research question, i.e. the Central Asian origin of the Turks.

August 25, 2021
DOWNFALL of DEMOCRACY

Webinar / SAVE THE DATE for: (Flyer is attached.)

DOWNFALL of DEMOCRACY – Covid-19 and Natural Disasters:
VISIONS TOWARD SOLUTIONS

In support of the International Day of Democracy, SDG-16, and SDG-17

• When: On Sunday, September 12, 2021

• Time Zones: 12:30–14:30 (EDT) | 11:30–13:30 (CDT) | 9:30–11:30 (PDT)
10:30–12:30 (CR) | 19:30–21:30(TR) | 22:00–24:00(IN)

Via Zoom platform – Please REGISTER:

us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pBtCwLZYQCGhtQz39bXM0A

Concept Note:

lmglobal.org/2021/08/19/downfall-of-democracy-covid-19-natural-disaster-and-svisions-toward-solutions/

ataa.org/press-releases/downfall-of-democracy-covid-19-natural-disasters-visions-toward-solutions-sept-12-1230pm-edt

Co-organized by:

1. Assembly of Turkish-American Associations
(1979, D.C.) – http://www.ataa.org/u.n

2. The Light Millennium, Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization
(2001, New York) https://www.lmglobal.org/undgc/ | www.lightmillennium.org

3. Turkish Anti-Defamation Alliance
(2017, New York) – www.tadalliance.org

Emails: contact@lightmillennium.org | newyorkvp@ataa.org | assembly@ataa.org

August 22, 2021
Kiev Cross Procession unites thousands of supporters of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine

Photo: RIA Novosti

The Procession of the parishioners and priests of the Ukraine Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) held on July 27 in Kiev to mark the 1033th anniversary of Christianization of Rus’ gathered about 100 thousand of participants.

According to journalists covering the event, there were actually a lot more people. This only shows that most Ukrainians support and recognize the Moscow Patriarchate Orthodox Church of Ukraine, not the Kiev Patriarchate Church, which many experts consider as self-proclaimed.

Meanwhile, the journalists also reported that some Procession participants carried posters criticizing Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who founded the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, causing the schism in the Orthdox Church Institution in Ukraine.

Earlier, during the briefing, Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, the Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, said that this year the procession would be dedicated to the “idea of loyalty to the Church”. According to him, for the Ukraine Orthox Church “this is a very important issue today,” since the canonical Church in Ukraine “is being discriminated by the authorities and attacks of extremists who are trying to tear away parishes from it and seize churches.”

The Christianization of Russia took place in 988. Today, it is celebrated among Russian Orthodox believers on July 28. In the Orthodox church calendar, this is the day of remembrance of the Great Prince Vladimir (960-1015), who initiated the Christianization of Russia.

August 5, 2021
Eruç Charts New Territory On Epic Adventure

15 Time Guinness World Record Holder, Erden Eruç Charts New Territory On Epic Adventure – Westbound Rower

For Immediate Release

15 Time Guinness World Record Holder,
Erden Eruç Charts New Territory On Epic Adventure –
Westbound Rower

No Engine, No Sails, Just Raw Human Power.

Gig Harbor, WA, June 19, 2021 – The first person to circumnavigate the world solo by human power, Erden Eruç, (pronounced Air-den Air-rooch) is launching on a second epic adventure, this time departing Crescent City, CA on June 22nd – destination, Hong Kong, PCR. Having successfully crossed four different oceans by rowing between 2006 – 2012, Eruç is estimating a 10-month crossing of the Pacific Ocean before making landfall. This will be the first mainland to mainland crossing of the Pacific between North America and Asia.

As an Ocean Ambassador for Ocean Recovery Alliance (ORA)will produce a stream of an educational content both in English and Chinese. Additionally, he will reach classrooms communicating by satellite phone with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants. His educational and scientific mission earned Westbound Rower the recognition as a Flag Expedition by the prestigious Explorers Club.

“I’m looking forward to connecting with more classrooms from my rowboat and spreading the message about the current state of our oceans. I have a unique perspective out at sea in which to capture the attention of students and other ocean advocates,” said Eruç.

About Erden Eruç – Westbound Rower

Eruç is a leading ocean rower in the world today. He is the recipient of the 2013 Citation of Merit from the Explorers Club, one of he 2013 Adventurers of the Year – “nine individuals changing the face of global adventure” by Outside Magazine. Fifteen Guinness World Records are registered to his name and listed in the 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 & 2021 Guinness Book of World Records.

“We believe that this historic crossing between the two continents will generate dedicated fans who will wake up wondering where Erden is, then check his progress on the tracking page before their morning meal. That interaction creates teachable moments to raise awareness about plastics in our ocean and the plight of all species under pressure from human activities. This Westbound Rower will take his followers on a transformational journey to become stewards of this planet,” said Doug Woodring,
Founder & Managing Director of Ocean Recovery Alliance.

Follow the Expedition

Viewers can learn more at Westbound Rower and follow progress via this tracking page.

Press Inquiries

Nancy Board
nrboard@gmail.com
nancy.board@gw4w.org

www.erdeneruc.com

June 30, 2021
Assad has won 4th term, what’s next?

People walk by an image of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on 10 May 2021 (AFP)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was re-elected for the 4^th term in office with 95.1% of the votes. According to Assad’s government, the election results proved Syria is functioning normally.

This will extend his rule over a country despite harsh criticism from the United States, Germany, Italy, France and Turkey as well as Assad’s opponents in the country said the vote was illegitimate.

Despite their condemnation of his brutal and authoritative regime during the decade-long Syrian civil war, imposing economic sanctions and militarily backing his opponents, the Syrian leader was able to remain in power and save the country from the territorial divide. Like a true captain of the wrecked ship, Bashar Al-Assad did not leave the war-torn country and, what’s important, did not let it collapse despite West’s multiple efforts to intervene.

With Russia’s support, Assad arranged constant humanitarian help flows to the country and save the sovereignty of secular state despite endless clashes and civil war in the country. Moreover, Assad assured his supporters get access to education and healthcare while his government provided jobs to workers.

Prior to the elections, the White House have warned Syrian President that it would not recognize the result of upcoming presidential election unless the voting is free, fair, and supervised by the United Nations while Biden administration said it had no plans to restart the dialogue “any time soon” claiming the Assad government failed to restore legitimacy in the country. With no doubts such open statements mean the West will continue its pressure to the Assad’s regime and will try to remove him from his post demonstrating a double standard “legitimacy” at its best.

June 7, 2021