{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-archive-page-jsx","path":"/archive/70/","result":{"pageContext":{"strings":{"about":"About","additional_articles":"Additional Articles","administration":"Administration","africa":"Africa","all_bahaiorg_sites":"All Bahai.org Sites","all_sites":"All sites","all_sites_arising_serve":"Arising to Serve","all_sites_arising_serve_caption":"A film recounting highlights of the 41 regional Bahá’í conferences called by the Universal House of Justice in 2008","all_sites_bahai_org":"The official website of the worldwide Bahá’í community","all_sites_bahai_org_library":"Bahá’í Reference Library","all_sites_bahai_org_library_caption":"The authoritative online source of Bahá’í writings","all_sites_bahaullah_org":"The Life of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bahaullah_org_caption":"A photographic narrative of the life of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bic":"Bahá’í International Community Representative Offices","all_sites_bic_caption":"The official website of the Bahá’í International Community’s Representative Offices. The site contains news and information about recent activity and provides access to BIC statements, reports, and other publications","all_sites_bicentenary":"Bicentenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_bicentenary_bab":"Bicentenary of the Birth of The Báb","all_sites_bicentenary_caption":"The official international website for the bicentenary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_frontiers_learning":"Frontiers of Learning","all_sites_frontiers_learning_caption":"This film captures the insights and experiences of people from four communities across the world whose efforts to build vibrant communities are at the frontiers of learning","all_sites_light_to_the_world":"Light to the World","all_sites_light_to_the_world_caption":"A feature film about the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh","all_sites_media_bank":"Bahá’í Media Bank","all_sites_media_bank_caption":"Photographs available for downloading","all_sites_national_communities":"National Bahá’í Communities","all_sites_national_communities_caption":"A page containing links to the websites of many national Bahá’í communities from around the world","all_sites_news_bahai_org_caption":"The official news website of the worldwide Bahá’í community","all_sites_title":"Official Bahá’í Sites","all_sites_universalhouseofjustice_org":"The Universal House of Justice","all_sites_universalhouseofjustice_org_caption":"Information about the Universal House of Justice and selected statements and letters","all_sites_widening_embrace":"A Widening Embrace","all_sites_widening_embrace_caption":"A documentary film about the community-building efforts of the Bahá’í world","americas":"Americas","android":"Android","archive_results_to_of_a":"Results","archive_results_to_of_b":"to","archive_results_to_of_c":"of","asia":"Asia","back_to_story":"Back to Story","bahai_international_community":"Bahá'í International Community","bahai_media_bank":"Bahá’í Media Bank","bahai_reference_library":"Bahá’í Reference Library","bahai_world_centre":"Bahá’í World Centre","bahai_world_news_service":"Bahá’í World News Service","bahai_world_news_service_bwns":"Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","bahaiorg_home":"Bahai.org Home","bahais_semnan":"The Bahá’ís of Semnan","battambang_cambodia_house_worship":"House of Worship in Battambang, Cambodia","battambang_cambodia_temple":"Battambang, Cambodia Temple Inauguration","before_downloading_terms":"Before downloading please refer to the [Terms of use](/legal/).","bic_un_office":"Bahá’í International Community\nUN Office","brief_history":"Brief history","bwns_noTranslation":"BWNS","cdn_documentlibrary_path":"http://dl.bahai.org/bwns/assets/documentlibrary/","cdn_images_path":"//bwns.imgix.net/","chile_house_worship":"Chile House of Worship","chile_temple":"Chile Temple Inauguration","close":"Close","closed_doors_denial_education_iran":"Closed Doors: Denial of Education in Iran","comma":",","comprehensive_report":"Comprehensive report","contact":"Contact","contact_h1":"Contacting the Bahá’í World News Service","contact_h2":"Contacting Bahá’í institutions","contact_h3":"Reporting technical problems","contact_information":"Contact Information","contact_p1":"General inquiries about BWNS can be directed to [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org). Information regarding news and media contacts is available in the [Media Information](/media-information/) section.","contact_p2":"The Bahá’í Faith is established in more than 100,000 localities in virtually every country and territory around the world. At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are guided by National Spiritual Assemblies, and a list of websites for many national Bahá’í communities can be found at the [National Communities page](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/) on Bahai.org.","contact_p3":"To report a technical problem with this site, please send a detailed description and screenshot of the issue, along with the address of the page where it occurred, to [webmaster@bahai.org](mailto:webmaster@bahai.org). Please note that this email address exists to receive reports of technical problems with the site and it is not possible to respond to other queries through this facility.","copy_link":"Copy Link","did_not_match_any_documents_showing_results_for":"did not match any documents. Showing results for","did_you_mean":"Did you mean:","download":"Download","download_highest_resolution":"Download highest resolution","email":"Email","email_address":"Email Address","enlarge":"Enlarge","error_page":"Error Occurred","error_page_p1":"Sorry. An error has occurred with your request. It would help us if you let us know what you were trying to do when this error occurred by using our [contact form](https://www.bahai.org/contact/).","europe":"Europe","featured_stories":"Featured stories","featured_videos":"Featured videos","follow_updates_via_instagram_twitter":"Follow the Bahá’í World News Service on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates and stories","from_bwns_archive":"From the Bahá’í World News Service archive","get_notified_stories":"Get notified of stories","highest_resolution":"Highest resolution","historical_photographs":"Historical photographs","homepage_feature_audio_h2":"Recent podcast episodes","homepage_feature_audio_h3":"Audio versions of stories","homepage_feature_audio_p1":"Selected audio content from around the globe","homepage_feature_h1":"Subscribe to BWNS Updates","houses_worship":"Houses of Worship","human_rights_iran":"Human Rights in Iran","images":"images","ios":"iOS","iran_news_stories":"Iran News Stories","key_terms_facts":"Key terms and facts","latest_headlines":"Latest headlines","latest_video_category":"Latest","legal":"Legal","legal_h1":"Privacy","legal_h2":"Terms of Use","legal_information":"Legal Information","legal_li_1":"They must at all times be attributed to the Bahá’í World News Service.","legal_li_2":"Photographs and stories cannot be used in any way (including, without limitation, suggesting an association with or endorsement of any product, service, opinion or cause) that conflicts with the intent and premise of the original source.","legal_li_3":"Photographs may be edited for size only. Captions must remain with the photographs at all times.","legal_li_4":"The Bahá’í World News Service will not be responsible to any person or organization for any liability for any direct, incidental,  consequential, indirect, or punitive damages that may result from any access to or use of the stories and/or photographs on our site.","legal_li_5":"Although this blanket permission to reproduce BWNS material is given freely such that no special permission is required, the Bahá’í World News Service retains full copyright protection for its stories and photographs under all applicable national and international laws.","legal_p1_1":"On this Web site we try to ensure your privacy. We collect only personal information provided by you on a voluntary basis, in order to respond to your queries and to send you any additional information and material that you request.","legal_p1_2":"Visitors to this Web site are not tracked, except to produce aggregate statistical data that does not identify individual users. Where we must use cookies to provide essential functionality, these are not used to track your use of the site or to store personally-identifiable information. Steps have been taken to ensure that all information collected from you will remain secure, free from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. Please keep in mind that if you leave this site via a link, the other site may have a different policy regarding privacy.","legal_p1_3a":"We occasionally update this privacy policy and encourage you to review it periodically. If you wish to correct your personal information, or have questions regarding this policy, please send an email message to","legal_p1_3b":"or call the Bahá’í World News Service at +972 (4) 835-8412, between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. GMT +2, Sunday through Thursday.","legal_p2_1":"All stories and photographs produced by the Bahá’í World News Service may be freely reprinted, e-mailed, posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by any individual or organization, subject to the following restrictions:","legal_p2_2":"The Bahá’í World News Service is an agency of the Bahá’í International Community, a nongovernmental organization that represents and encompasses the five million members of the Bahá’í Faith.","links_other_websites":"Links to other Web sites","listen":"Listen","listen_bwns":"Listen to BWNS","load_more_results":"Load more results","media_bank":"Media Bank","media_information":"Media Information","media_information_about_bwns":"About BWNS","media_information_administration_h2":"International","media_information_administration_h3":"National","media_information_administration_h4":"Local","media_information_administration_p1":"The Bahá’í Faith is administered by a series of elected bodies at the local, national, and international levels. There is no class of ecclesiastics or clergy.","media_information_administration_p2":"The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It is the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years at the International Bahá’í Convention, where members of the National Spiritual Assemblies (see below) around the world serve as delegates. The Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963. Its permanent seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_administration_p3":"At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member elected council responsible for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country. The responsibilities of a National Spiritual Assembly include channelling the community’s financial resources, fostering the growth and vibrancy of the national Bahá’í community, supervising the affairs of the community including its social and economic development activities and its properties, overseeing relations with government, resolving questions from individuals and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and strengthening the participation of the Bahá’í community in the life of society at the national level.","media_information_administration_p4":"At the local level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Each Local Assembly consists of nine members who are chosen in annual elections. As with all other elected Bahá’í institutions, the Assembly functions as a body and makes decisions through consultation. The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress.","media_information_administration_p5":"In addition, the Bahá’í Faith has **counsellors**, appointed to five-year terms by the Universal House of Justice, who serve as advisers in countries and regions around the world. Currently there are 90 such counsellors assigned to specific countries or regions, and an additional nine counsellors who constitute the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa.","media_information_administration_p6":"The Bahá’í International Community is a non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations (UN) as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_a":"the Seat of the Universal House of Justice,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_b":"the International Teaching Centre,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_c":"the Centre for the Study of the Texts,","media_information_bahai_world_centre_li_4_d":"the International Archives Building.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p1":"The spiritual and administrative center of the Bahá’í Faith is permanently established in the Acre-Haifa area of northern Israel, following the explicit instructions of Bahá’u’lláh.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p2":"The burial place, or shrine, of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre and that of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa are the holiest spots on earth for Bahá’ís. Other sites associated with the life of Bahá’u’lláh as well as the burial site of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are revered by Bahá’ís as holy places.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p3":"The shrines are the object of pilgrimage for thousands of Bahá’ís each year.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p4":"The administrative offices are positioned in an Arc across Mount Carmel in Haifa and include:","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p5":"Also in Haifa are the Bahá’í International Community’s Secretariat and Office of Public Information.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p6":"The Bahá’í World Centre is known for the gardens surrounding the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre, and also for the gardens and terraces surrounding the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_bahai_world_centre_p7":"At this time the Shrine of the Báb is open to the public.","media_information_brief_history_p1":"The Bahá’í Faith traces its origin to 1844 and the announcement by a young man, Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad, in Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), that He had been sent by God to prepare humanity for a new age and the imminent appearance of another Messenger even greater than Himself.","media_information_brief_history_p10":"During the 40 years of His exile, Bahá’u’lláh revealed a series of books, tablets, and letters that today form the core of the **holy writings of the Bahá’í Faith**. Comprising the equivalent of some 100 volumes, the writings of Bahá’u’lláh describe the nature of God and the purpose of human existence, give new religious laws, and outline a vision for creating a peaceful and prosperous global society.","media_information_brief_history_p11":"In His will, Bahá’u’lláh named His eldest son, ‘Abbás Effendi (1844-1921), as the head of the Bahá’í Faith and authorized interpreter of His teachings. ‘Abbás Effendi, known to Bahá’ís as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (“Servant of Bahá”), became well-known in the Haifa/Acre area for his charitable works, and he also traveled through Europe and North America to encourage nascent Bahá’í communities and to proclaim Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings to the general public. The writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are considered part of the sacred scriptures of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_brief_history_p12":"‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away in 1921. In his will he had designated his grandson **Shoghi Effendi** (1897-1957) as his successor, with the title of **Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith**. During the ministry of Shoghi Effendi, the religion spread around the world, and its local and national administrative institutions were established. With the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the line of hereditary leaders of the Bahá’í Faith came to an end.","media_information_brief_history_p13":"Following provisions established by Bahá’u’lláh, in 1963 the **Universal House of Justice** was elected to direct the affairs of the worldwide Bahá’í community. The nine members of the Universal House of Justice are elected every five years by the members of the Bahá’í national administrative bodies around the world.","media_information_brief_history_p2":"Siyyid ‘Alí-Muhammad took the title of the **Báb** (meaning “Gate” in Arabic) and said the one whose coming He foretold would be the universal Manifestation of God sent to inaugurate an age of peace and enlightenment as promised in all the world’s religions.","media_information_brief_history_p3":"The Báb’s teachings, which spread rapidly, were viewed as heretical by the clergy and government of Persia. More than 20,000 of His followers, known as Bábís, perished in a series of massacres throughout the country.","media_information_brief_history_p4":"The Báb Himself was publicly executed in the city of Tabriz on 9 July 1850.","media_information_brief_history_p5":"Bahá’ís consider the Báb to be both an independent Messenger of God and the forerunner of **Bahá’u’lláh** (“the Glory of God” in Arabic), who is the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_brief_history_p6":"Bahá’u’lláh, whose name was Mírzá Husayn ‘Alí, was born into a noble family in Tehran on 12 November 1817. In His mid-20s, He declined a life of privilege and became one of the leading disciples of the Báb.","media_information_brief_history_p7":"In 1852, in the course of the persecution of the Bábís, He was arrested, beaten, and thrown into an infamous dungeon in Tehran. After four months, He was released and banished from His native land – the beginning of 40 years of exile and imprisonment.","media_information_brief_history_p8":"He was first sent to Baghdad, where He and His companions stayed for 10 years. In 1863, on the eve of His further banishment to what is now Turkey and then to the Holy Land, Bahá’u’lláh announced that He was the Universal Messenger of God foretold by the Báb.","media_information_brief_history_p9":"In 1868, Bahá’u’lláh arrived in the Holy Land with about 70 family members and followers, sentenced by the Ottoman authorities to perpetual confinement in the penal colony of Acre. The order of confinement was never lifted, but because of the growing recognition of His outstanding character, He eventually was able to move outside the walls of the prison city. He lived His final years at a country home called Bahjí, where He passed away in 1892. He was interred there, and His shrine is the holiest place on earth for Bahá’ís.","media_information_description":"Contacts, facts, style guide,\ngeneral information, and photos","media_information_h1":"National and local","media_information_h2":"International","media_information_h2_a":"Bahá’í World News Service","media_information_h2_b":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_h2_c":"Bahá’í International Community - United Nations Offices:","media_information_h2_e":"For languages other than English:","media_information_houses_worship_li_1":"Wilmette, Illinois, United States. Opened in 1953.","media_information_houses_worship_li_2":"Kampala, Uganda. Opened in 1961.","media_information_houses_worship_li_3":"Sydney, Australia. Opened in 1961.","media_information_houses_worship_li_4":"Frankfurt, Germany. Opened in 1964.","media_information_houses_worship_li_5":"Panama City, Panama. Opened in 1972.","media_information_houses_worship_li_6":"Apia, Samoa. Opened in 1984.","media_information_houses_worship_li_7":"New Delhi, India. Opened in 1986.","media_information_houses_worship_li_8":"Santiago, Chile. Opened in 2016.","media_information_houses_worship_li_9":"Battambang, Cambodia. Opened in 2017.","media_information_houses_worship_li_10":"Norte del Cauca, Colombia. Opened in 2018.","media_information_houses_worship_li_11":"Matunda Soy, Kenya. Opened in 2021.","media_information_houses_worship_li_12":"Tanna, Vanuatu. Opened in 2021.","media_information_houses_worship_li_13":"Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Opened in 2023.","media_information_houses_worship_li_14":"Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Opened in 2024.","media_information_houses_worship_p1":"Bahá’u’lláh designated Bahá’í Houses of Worship as spiritual gathering places for prayer and meditation around which will cluster social, humanitarian, educational, and scientific institutions. Eight continental, two national, and four local Bahá’í Houses of Worship have been built.","media_information_houses_worship_p2":"The physical structure of a House of Worship comprises a central building—a House of Worship—along with several dependencies. While the House of Worship forms the focal point of worship in a geographical area, its purpose is not solely to provide a place for prayer. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained that, through the provision of education, healthcare and other services it is also to support the social and economic progress of the community and afford shelter, relief and assistance to those in need. In this connection, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá anticipated that subsidiary branches—such as a hospital, school, university, dispensary, and hospice—would gradually be added to a House of Worship. Bahá’u’lláh refers to the House of Worship as a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, Arabic for “dawning place of the mention of God.”","media_information_houses_worship_p3":"Bahá’í Houses of Worship are located in:","media_information_houses_worship_p4":"Plans are underway to build a national House of Worship in Brazil, Canada, and Malawi. A local House of Worship is also being constructed in Batouri, Cameroon; Bihar Sharif, India; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia. At the local level, meetings for worship are held regularly in Bahá’í centers and in the homes of believers all over the world.","media_information_key_terms_facts_h1":"Name of the religion and of the organization – the Bahá’í Faith","media_information_key_terms_facts_h2":"Founder of the Bahá’í Faith – Bahá’u’lláh","media_information_key_terms_facts_h3":"Year of founding – 1844","media_information_key_terms_facts_h4":"Head of the religion – the Universal House of Justice","media_information_key_terms_facts_h5":"Number of Bahá’ís – more than 5 million","media_information_key_terms_facts_h6":"Description of the religion and key beliefs","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_a":"the unity of the races and elimination of prejudice,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_b":"the equality of women and men,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_c":"universal education,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_d":"the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_e":"a spiritual solution to economic problems,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_f":"establishment of a universal auxiliary language,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_g":"the harmony of science and religion,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_h":"the independent investigation of truth,","media_information_key_terms_facts_li_6_i":"the creation of a world commonwealth of nations that will keep the peace through collective security.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_a":"The Bahá’í Faith is an independent world religion.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_b":"A member is called a Bahá’í (plural: Bahá’ís). It is also correct to say that someone is a “member of the Bahá’í Faith,” a “follower of the Bahá’í Faith,” a “follower of Bahá’u’lláh,” or a member of the Bahá’í community of a given locality.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p1_c":"The term “Bahá’í International Community” refers to the non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations (UN) as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p2":"Bahá’ís consider Bahá’u’lláh to be the most recent in a line of great religious teachers, or Messengers of God, that includes Abraham, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Krishna, Muhammad, Moses, Zoroaster, and others. Bahá’u’lláh—the name is Arabic for “Glory of God”—was born in 1817 in Tehran, Iran, and passed away in 1892 in Acre, Israel. The coming of Bahá’u’lláh was announced by the Báb (Arabic for “Gate”), also considered by Bahá’ís to be a divine Messenger.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p3":"There are a number of important dates in the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith, but the first announcement by the Báb of the new religion came in 1844.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p4":"The Universal House of Justice is the international governing council of the Bahá’í community, an elected body of nine men. Its seat is at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel. Around the world, in almost all countries, a National Spiritual Assembly oversees the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith in that country, and Local Spiritual Assemblies oversee local affairs.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_a":"The Bahá’í Faith is an independent, monotheistic religion established in virtually every country of the world. Bahá’ís believe that the world’s major religions represent unfolding chapters in God’s teachings for humankind, and that the writings of Bahá’u’lláh represent God’s guidance for this age.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_b":"Bahá’u’lláh’s central teaching is the unity of humanity under one God.","media_information_key_terms_facts_p6_c":"Among the many Bahá’í principles are the following:","media_information_key_terms_facts_p7":"For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_li_a_1":"Phone (office): +972 (4) 835-8412","media_information_li_a_2":"E-mail, for news inquiries: [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org)","media_information_li_b_1":"Mr. Saleem Vaillaincourt (London)","media_information_li_b_2":"Senior information officer","media_information_li_b_3":"Phone (office): +1 (212) 803-2544","media_information_li_b_4":"E-mail: [media@bic.org](mailto:media@bic.org)","media_information_li_c_1":"Ms. Bani Dugal (New York)","media_information_li_c_2":"Principal Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations","media_information_li_c_3":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_li_c_4":"Phone: +1 (212) 803-2500","media_information_li_c_5":"After-hours phone: +1 (914) 329-3020","media_information_li_c_6":"E-mail: [uno-nyc@bic.org](mailto:uno-nyc@bic.org)","media_information_li_d_1":"Ms. Simin Fahandej (Geneva)","media_information_li_d_2":"Representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations","media_information_li_d_3":"Bahá’í International Community","media_information_li_d_4":"Phone: +41 (27) 798-5400","media_information_li_d_5":"After-hours phone: +41 (78) 880-0759","media_information_li_d_6":"E-mail: [geneva@bic.org](mailto:geneva@bic.org)","media_information_li_e_1":"Persian – Simin Fahandej, +41 (27) 798-5400","media_information_li_e_2":"French – Rachel Bayani, +32 (475) 750394","media_information_li_e_3":"To arrange other languages +972 (4) 835-8412","media_information_media_contacts":"Media Contacts","media_information_p1":"Editors, journalists, and other media professionals are encouraged to contact the National Office of the Bahá’ís of their own country. See [National Communities](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/).","media_information_p2":"BWNS reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","media_information_p3":"Information about the Bahá’í Faith is available at [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org/)","media_information_p_native":"The website for BWNS is located at [news.bahai.org](https://news.bahai.org/)","media_information_photographs_p1":"To arrange for photographs, you are encouraged to contact the office of the National Spiritual Assembly of the  Bahá’ís of your country. See [National Communities](https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/).","media_information_photographs_p2":"For more information, or for international photographs, contact the Bahá’í World Centre:","media_information_photographs_p3":"Phone: +972 (4) 835-8412  \n            E-mail: [news@bahai.org](mailto:news@bahai.org)","media_information_photographs_p4":"Photographs here may be downloaded and published, with photo credit given to the Bahá’í World Centre. [Terms of use](https://news.bahai.org/legal/).","media_information_photographs_p5":"Additional photos are available through the [Bahá’í Media Bank](https://media.bahai.org/). Images attached to articles in the [Bahá’í World News Service](https://news.bahai.org/) main site may also be downloaded.","media_information_photographs_p6":"Photographs of Bahá’ís imprisoned in Iran are available in the [Iran Update](/human-rights/iran/iran-update/photos.html) section of this Web site.","media_information_sidecontent_h1":"Bahá’ís in Iran","media_information_sidecontent_li":"Updates, background, photos","media_information_statistics_p1":"There are more than 5 million Bahá’ís in the world.","media_information_statistics_p2":"The Bahá’í Faith is established in virtually every country and in many dependent territories and overseas departments of countries. Bahá’ís reside in well over 100,000 localities. About 2,100 indigenous tribes, races, and ethnic groups are represented in the Bahá’í community.","media_information_statistics_p3":"There are currently 188 councils at the national level that oversee the work of communities. A network of over 300 training institutes, offering formal programs of Bahá’í education, span the globe.","media_information_statistics_p4":"Of the several thousand Bahá’í efforts in social and economic development, more than 900 are large-scale, sustained projects, including more than 600 schools and over 70 development agencies.","media_information_statistics_p5":"There are currently 14 Bahá’í Houses of Worship – in Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Germany, India, Kenya, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Uganda, the United States, and Vanuatu. Plans are underway to build a national House of Worship in Brazil, Canada, and Malawi. Local Houses of Worship are also being constructed in Batouri, Cameroon; Bihar Sharif, India; Kanchanpur, Nepal; and Mwinilunga, Zambia. At the local level, meetings for worship are held regularly in Bahá’í centers and in the homes of believers all over the world.","media_information_statistics_p6":"The Bahá’í International Community has been registered with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York.","media_information_statistics_p7":"Bahá’í writings and other literature have been translated into more than 800 languages.","media_information_statistics_p8":"Each year, around one million people visit the Bahá’í Shrine, terraces, and gardens on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.","media_information_statistics_p9":"In Iran, where the Bahá’í Faith originated, there are now about 300,000 Bahá’ís, constituting the largest religious minority in that country.","media_information_style_guide_h1":"Pronunciation guide","media_information_style_guide_h2":"Style guide and glossary","media_information_style_guide_p1":"**Bahá’í:**   Ba-HIGH  \n            **Bahá’u’lláh:**   Ba-ha-ul-LAH  \n            **Báb:**   Bahb (Bob)  \n            **‘Abdu’l-Bahá:**   Abdul ba-HAH  \n            **Naw-Rúz:**   Naw Rooz  \n            **Ridván:**   REZ-vahn","media_information_style_guide_p2_1":"**‘Abdu’l-Bahá** (1844-1921) – The son of Bahá’u’lláh who was the head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1892 to 1921. Bahá’u’lláh in His will had designated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá occupies a special station as the authoritative interpreter of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and as the perfect example of how a Bahá’í should live. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá traveled widely through Europe and North America from 1911-1913, explaining his Father’s teachings in talks, interviews, and addresses at universities, churches, temples, synagogues, and missions for the poor. (Bahá’ís capitalize pronouns—for example, “He”—that refers to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá out of respect for his special station. Such pronouns are not capitalized in this guide in deference to international journalistic style and also to avoid confusion with Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, who are considered to be divine Prophets.) For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_10":"**Bahá’í Faith** – The correct term for the religion is the Bahá’í Faith. It is an independent, monotheistic religion established in virtually every country of the world. It is not a sect of another religion. In a list of major religions, it would look like this: Hinduism, Zoroastrianism,  Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_style_guide_p2_11":"**Bahá’í International Community** – The Bahá’í International Community is a non-governmental organization that represents the worldwide Bahá’í community. It has been registered with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization since 1948. It currently has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as accreditation with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI). The Bahá’í International Community collaborates with the UN and its specialized agencies, as well as member states, inter- and non-governmental organizations, academia, and practitioners. It has Representative Offices in Addis Ababa, Brussels, Cairo, Geneva, Jakarta, and New York. For more information, see [bic.org](https://www.bic.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_12":"**Bahá’í World Centre** – The spiritual and administrative center of the Bahá’í Faith, comprising the holy places in the Haifa/Acre area in northern Israel and the Arc of administrative buildings on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The Bahá’í World Centre itself uses the spelling “Centre”; elsewhere both “Centre” and “Center” are used, depending on the custom of the country.","media_information_style_guide_p2_13":"**Bahá’u’lláh** – The founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who lived from 1817 to 1892, considered by Bahá’ís to be the most recent divine Messenger, or Manifestation of God, in a line of great religious figures that includes Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, Muhammad, Zoroaster, the Báb, and others. Bahá’u’lláh was born in Tehran in present-day Iran, and passed away near Acre, in what is now Israel. “Bahá’u’lláh” is a title that means the “Glory of God” in Arabic; His name was Mírzá Husayn-‘Alí. His writings, which would equal about a hundred volumes, form the basis of the Bahá’í teachings. For more information, see [Bahai.org](http://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_14":"**Bahjí** – The place near Acre where the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh (His burial place) is located, as well as the mansion that was His last residence and surrounding gardens. It is a place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís. The word “Bahjí” is Arabic for “delight.”","media_information_style_guide_p2_15":"**children’s classes** – Classes in moral education, open to all, that are provided for children, operated at the community level by the Bahá’í training institute.","media_information_style_guide_p2_16":"**Convention** – See [International Bahá’í Convention](#internationalbahaiconvention) and [National Bahá’í Convention](#nationalbahaicconvention).","media_information_style_guide_p2_18":"**counsellor** – An adviser appointed by the Universal House of Justice who serves in a particular geographic area or at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. At present, there are 90 counsellors assigned to specific countries or regions, and nine counsellors who form the membership of the International Teaching Centre at the  Bahá’í World Centre. Appointments are for five years.","media_information_style_guide_p2_19":"**devotional meetings** – Gatherings, often in people’s homes, for prayers and to read the sacred writings of the Bahá’í Faith and other religions. Usually undertaken as an individual initiative.","media_information_style_guide_p2_2":"**accent marks** – Bahá’í, Bahá’u’lláh, and other names are written with accent marks, but many publications and websites do not have the facility for using such marks.","media_information_style_guide_p2_20":"**fast, the** – A period during which Bahá’ís abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sundown during the Bahá’í month of ‘Alá’, from 2 March to 20 March. Bahá’u’lláh enjoined His followers to pray and fast during this period. The sick, the traveler, and pregnant women, among others, are exempt.","media_information_style_guide_p2_21":"**feast** – See [Nineteen Day Feast](#nineteendayfeast).","media_information_style_guide_p2_22":"**Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith** – See [Shoghi Effendi](#shoghieffendi).","media_information_style_guide_p2_23":"**Haifa** – The city in northern Israel that, along with nearby Acre, is the location of the Bahá’í World Centre. The international administrative buildings of the Bahá’í Faith (including the Seat of the Universal House of Justice), the Shrine of the Báb, and surrounding terraces and gardens are all located on Mount Carmel in the heart of Haifa.","media_information_style_guide_p2_24":"**Holy days** – Eleven days that commemorate significant Bahá’í anniversaries. The nine holy days on which work is suspended are the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the Birth of the Báb, Declaration of the Báb, Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, Martyrdom of the Báb, Naw-Rúz, Ridván (a 12-day festival, of which the first, ninth and 12th days are holy days). The other two holy days are the Day of the Covenant and the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. *See names of individual holy days.*","media_information_style_guide_p2_25":"**Holy Land** – The area associated with present-day Israel, which is holy to a number of religions, including to Bahá’ís. The resting places of Bahá’u’lláh near Acre and of the Báb in Haifa are, to Bahá’ís, the holiest spots on earth.","media_information_style_guide_p2_26":"**International Archives Building** – One of the buildings at the Bahá’í World Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa. The repository of many sacred relics of the Bahá’í Faith, it is visited by thousands of Bahá’í pilgrims each year.","media_information_style_guide_p2_27":"**International Bahá’í Convention** – A gathering every five years of delegates from around the world to consult on the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith and elect the members of the Universal House of Justice. Members of the National Spiritual Assemblies serve as delegates.","media_information_style_guide_p2_28":"**International Teaching Centre** – One of the institutions at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa. The International Teaching Centre has nine members, all counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice. Appointments are for five years.","media_information_style_guide_p2_29":"**Local Spiritual Assembly** – At the local level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Each Local Assembly consists of nine members who are chosen in annual elections. As with all other elected Bahá’í institutions, the Assembly functions as a body and makes decisions through consultation. The responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly include promoting the spiritual education of children and young people, strengthening the spiritual and social fabric of Bahá’í community life, assessing and utilizing the community’s resources, and ensuring that the energies and talents of community members contribute towards progress.","media_information_style_guide_p2_3":"**Acre**– English rendering of the name of the city north of Haifa where Bahá’u’lláh was exiled in 1868. He lived in or near the city until His passing in 1892. Bahá’ís often use the Arabic name, ‘Akká, which was the name in general use during the time of Bahá’u’lláh. In Hebrew the name is Akko.","media_information_style_guide_p2_30":"**Mount Carmel** – In Haifa, Israel, site of the Bahá’í World Centre, including several Bahá’í holy places, the most important of which is the Shrine of the Báb, and the buildings housing the administrative offices of the Bahá’í World Centre.","media_information_style_guide_p2_31":"**National Bahá’í Convention** – In each country, the annual gathering of elected delegates to discuss the affairs of the Bahá’í Faith in their jurisdiction and to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.","media_information_style_guide_p2_32":"**National Spiritual Assembly** – At the national level, the affairs of the Bahá’í community are administered by the National Spiritual Assembly, a nine-member elected council responsible for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country. The responsibilities of a National Spiritual Assembly include channelling the community’s financial resources, fostering the growth and vibrancy of the national Bahá’í community, supervising the affairs of the community including its social and economic development activities and its properties, overseeing relations with government, resolving questions from individuals and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and strengthening the participation of the Bahá’í community in the life of society at the national level.","media_information_style_guide_p2_33":"**Nineteen Day Feast** – An administrative gathering at the local level. The term refers to a spiritual “feast” of prayers,  consultation and fellowship. It is held every 19 days, on the first day of each Bahá’í month.","media_information_style_guide_p2_34":"**pilgrimage** – Each year thousands of Bahá’ís undertake pilgrimage, during which they forge a profound and lasting connection with the spiritual and administrative centre of their Faith, located in the Haifa-Acre area of what is now northern Israel. Bahá’í pilgrims pray and meditate at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and the Shrine of the Báb, as well as in the beautiful gardens that surround them. They also draw inspiration from the time spent at various historical sites associated with the lives of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, as well as from visits to the edifices dedicated to the worldwide administration of the Bahá’í Faith.","media_information_style_guide_p2_35":"**progressive revelation** – The central belief that Manifestations of God have successively provided the guidance necessary for humanity’s social and spiritual evolution.","media_information_style_guide_p2_36":"**Regional Bahá’í Council** – In some countries, the National Spiritual Assembly assigns certain of its functions to Regional Bahá’í Councils, which serve a designated geographical area within the land in question. The responsibilities of a Regional Council may include carrying out policies of the National Spiritual Assembly, supervising progress of particular plans and projects, and taking steps to stimulate and coordinate the growth of the Bahá’í community within the region.","media_information_style_guide_p2_37":"**Shoghi Effendi** (1897-1957) – The head of the Bahá’í Faith from 1921 to 1957. His title is Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. He is the grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh. For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_38":"**Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh** – The resting place of the mortal remains of Bahá’u’lláh, located near the city of Acre in what is now Israel. The shrine is the holiest spot on earth to Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage.","media_information_style_guide_p2_39":"**Shrine of the Báb** – The resting place of the mortal remains of the Báb, located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It is a sacred site to Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage.","media_information_style_guide_p2_4":"**‘Akká, Akko** – See entry above for “[Acre](#acre)”.","media_information_style_guide_p2_40":"**study circles** – A study circle is one of the principal elements of the process of distance education offered by the [Bahá’í training institute](https://www.bahai.org/action/response-call-bahaullah/training-institute). It is a small group that meets regularly to study the institute course materials.","media_information_style_guide_p2_41":"**Universal House of Justice** – The international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith. It is the supreme administrative body ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His book of laws. The Universal House of Justice is elected every five years at the International Bahá’í Convention, where members of the National Spiritual Assemblies around the world serve as delegates. The Universal House of Justice was first elected in 1963. Its permanent seat is on Mount Carmel in Haifa.","media_information_style_guide_p2_5":"**Arc** – An area on Mount Carmel in Haifa, shaped like an arc, where the major international administrative buildings of the Bahá’í Faith, including the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, are situated.","media_information_style_guide_p2_6":"**Báb** – The title, meaning “Gate,” assumed by Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad, the Founder of the Bábí Faith and the Forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh. Considered by Bahá’ís to be one of the twin Manifestations of God associated with the Bahá’í Faith. Born on 20 October 1819, the Báb proclaimed Himself to be the Promised One of Islam and said His mission was to announce the imminent coming of another Messenger even greater than Himself, namely Bahá’u’lláh. Because of these claims, the Báb was executed by firing squad in the public square in Tabriz on 9 July 1850. His remains were hidden in Iran for many years before being taken to Haifa/Acre in 1899 and buried on Mount Carmel in 1909. For more information, see [Bahai.org](http://www.bahai.org).","media_information_style_guide_p2_7":"**Bábí Faith** – The religion founded by the Báb. After 1863 and the announcement by Bahá’u’lláh that He was the Messenger whose coming had been foretold by the Báb, the Bahá’í Faith gradually became established and most followers of the Báb began to call themselves Bahá’ís.","media_information_style_guide_p2_8":"**Badí‘ calendar** – The Bahá’í calendar, consisting of 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of intercalary days known as Ayyám-i-Há. The number of these intercalary days varies according to the timing of the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere in successive years. The first day of the year corresponds to the spring equinox. The Bahá’í era (B.E.) begins with 1844, the year of the Báb’s declaration. For more information, see [Bahai.org](https://www.bahai.org/action/devotional-life/calendar).","media_information_style_guide_p2_9":"**Bahá’í** – (1) A noun referring to a member of the Bahá’í Faith. The plural is Bahá’ís. (2) An adjective describing a person, place, or thing related to the Bahá’í Faith. Examples: a Bahá’í book, the Bahá’í community, a Bahá’í holy day, a Bahá’í holy place.","media_reports":"Media Reports","menu":"Menu","meta_description_bwns":"The Bahá’í World News Service - BWNS - The official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community, reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","minutes_short":"min","mobile_app":"Mobile app","national_bahai_communities":"National Bahá’í Communities","news_email":"news@bahai.org","news_service_home":"BWNS Home","no_matches_for":"No matches for","no_results_for":"No results for","number_of":"of","oceania":"Oceania","official_news_site":"Official news source of the worldwide Bahá’í community","one_country":"One Country","other_bahai_sites":"Other Bahá’í Sites","other_sites":"Other sites","other_stories":"Other Stories","overview_section":"Overview of this Section","page_link":"Page link","photographs":"Photographs","photographs_download":"Photographs for download","podcast":"Podcast","podcast_available":"Podcast available","podcast_description_bwns":"Reporting on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","podcast_p1":"The Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS) podcast reports on major developments and endeavors of the global Bahá’í community.","podcast_subscribe":"Subscribe to the BWNS podcast for additional audio content.","print":"Print","privacy":"Privacy","recent_articles":"Recent Articles","recent_headlines":"Recent headlines","recent_media_reports":"Recent media reports","recieve_stories_email":"Receive stories via email","related_stories":"Related Stories","results":"Results","return_top":"Return to top","rss":"RSS","search":"Search","search_bahai_reference_library":"Search the Bahá’í Reference Library","search_bahaiorg":"Search Bahai.org","search_news_service":"Search the News Service","section_shrine_of_abdulbaha_description":"Read reports on the progress","section_shrine_of_abdulbaha_title":"Coverage of Construction Work of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá","see_all":"See All","seven_bahais_leaders":"The Seven Bahá’í Leaders","share":"Share","share_this_article":"Share this article","share_this_page":"Share this page","show_more":"Show more","sign_up":"Sign Up","slideshow":"Slideshow","social_media_name_instagram":"Instagram","social_media_name_instagram_account":"bahaiworldnewsservice","social_media_name_twitter":"Twitter","social_media_name_twitter_account":"bahainews","special_reports":"SPECIAL REPORTS","special_reports_shrine_construction":"Coverage of construction work for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá","statistics":"Statistics","story_archive":"Story Archive","style_glossary_pronunciation_guide":"Style guide, glossary and pronunciation guide","subscribe":"Subscribe","subscribe-confirmation-message":"Thank you for your interest in Bahá’í World News Service (BWNS)","subscribe-souble-optin-email":"You will receive an email shortly, asking you to confirm your subscription.","subscribe_bot_submission":"This doesn't look like a human submission.","subscribe_check_email":"Please check your email to confirm your subscription!","subscribe_email_exists":"This email already exists! 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There are now 252 of those nine-member local Baha'i administrative councils spread throughout Papua New Guinea.\n\nTo mark the occasion, the local Baha'is built a memorial pool at the Madina Baha'i center as a tribute to the Baha'is who introduced the Faith to the area. Colored lights illuminated two large stars that were placed in the middle of the pool to symbolize Baha'u'llah and the Bab.\n\nThe guest of honor was Rodney Hancock, who came to Papua New Guinea in July 1954 from New Zealand to help establish a Baha'i community.\n\nMr. Hancock addressed the participants at the jubilee about the exemplary life of Violet Hoehnke an Australian Baha'i  who introduced the Faith to Papua New Guinea, and who stayed at her pioneering post for 50 years.\n\nFor her services in Papua New Guinea Ms. Hoehnke received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.\n\nConfined to bed, Ms. Hoehnke was unable to attend the jubilee celebrations. She passed away one month later, on 4 June 2004, at the age of 87."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Mr. Hancock said that Ms. Hoehnke had corresponded with many Baha'is over the decades.\n\n\"She must have written hundreds, if not thousands of letters to encourage the friends [Baha'is] in their endeavors,\" he said.\n\nMr. Hancock also spoke of the difficulties of introducing the Faith in the 1950s, when the Australian Administration disapproved of any friendly association between expatriates and local people.\n\nHe had to obtain special permission from the government before visiting villages. It took more than a year before he and Ms. Hoehnke could introduce the Faith to the first Papua New Guinean to become a Baha'i -- Apelis Mazakmat, a teacher from Munawai village, in New Ireland.\n\n\"He [Mr. Mazakmat] told me that when he first heard of the Faith from [Ms. Hoehnke], it was like the answer to all his dreams and he wished to learn more about the teachings of Baha'u'llah,\" Mr. Hancock wrote in his book titled, \"Longpela bun nating: My life as a Baha'i pioneer in Papua New Guinea.\"\n\nParticipants at the jubilee also paid tribute to some of the other early believers who have passed away, among them Axomerang, Kelep, Romalus, Sairu, Salomie, Sanaila, and Tivien.\n\nAt the celebrations, New Ireland provincial administrator Robinson Sirimbat praised the efforts by the Baha'i community to promote unity and understanding among the different religions in the region. A local government leader Dickson Bilas was also present.\n\nMembers of the National Spiritual Assembly Paul Lupai and  Margaret and Michael Elias attended the celebrations.\n\nAlso present was Jalal Mills, a  member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, who addressed the gathering about the history the Baha'i Faith in Papua New Guinea.\n\nDr. Mills' father, John Mills, was present in Madina when the first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed.\n\nGuests enjoyed a lavish traditional feast prepared by the Baha'i women of Madina.\n\nBaha'i choirs, string bands, and Christian \"singsings\" (traditional dancing and singing) provided the entertainment that continued till the early hours.\n\nIn Rabaul, some 600 guests arrived on 3 April 2004 at the jubilee venue, Kulau Lodge, after traveling to the Lodge down a road decorated with streamers, flowers, and a large banner.\n\nDonald Tulai, who grew up in Rabaul, was the master of ceremonies. Among the participants at the celebrations was Roslyn Bale, the first Papua New Guinean woman to become a Baha'i in the local area.\n\nA United Church choir performed a song, written for the occasion, and a Baha'i youth choir sang Baha'i songs. A dance group, wearing traditional costumes and headdresses, performed a dance that told the story of the first Local Spiritual Assembly.\n\nRodney Hancock and Jalal Mills also attended these festivities.\n\nRadio Rabaul provided extensive coverage of the event in Rabaul, and a daily newspaper ,\"The National,\" published a report about the events in Madina.\n\nThe local Baha'i communities in Alotau, Baimuru, Balimo, and Pencat will hold their jubilee celebrations later this year.\n\nThe Baha'i community is actively involved in educational projects. Local Spiritual Assemblies in the rural areas sponsor kindergartens and primary level school programs. Members of the community also hold devotional meetings, children's classes, and study circles, which are all open to the public.\n\nMore than 150 Baha'is from other countries came to Papua New Guinea during the past 50 years to assist the local Baha'is as they administered and developed their national community.\n\n(For an obituary on Violet Hoehnke, see [http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/307](http://www.bahaiworldnews.org/story/307))."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5392-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Madina Baha'i Rodney Kelep outside the local Baha'i institute. Inside, the ceiling is covered with nine pointed stars made from seashells, and each window's upper frame is carved with traditional motifs."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424918-bwns5391-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Six members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Papua New Guinea at the Baha'i International Convention, Haifa, Israel, 1998."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5390-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Eight members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Papua New Guinea, 1969."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5389-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A group of Baha'is including the members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Madina."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5388-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Rodney Hancock at the jubilee celebrations in Papua New Guinea, 2004."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5387-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Rodney Hancock, on a trip to Australia from Papua New Guinea, 1956."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424916-bwns5386-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"First local all-girl Baha'i teaching team in Papua New Guinea. (Left to right) Jenny Homerang (New Ireland), Thelma Lundeng (New Ireland), Rose Elias (New Ireland), Lingling Hosea (Kimbe), and Poigo Willie (Kimbe). July 1982."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424914-bwns5385-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A Baha'i children's class in Daga Compound, Alotau Milne Bay Province, 1986."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424916-bwns5384-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Papua New Guinean Baha'is Kairi Api and his wife, Kivau (center), with family members at Mapaio, 1984."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424914-bwns5383-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha'is with a banner for a Baha'i gathering in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, 1993."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5382-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause, and Violette Nakhjavani with a Baha'i who hosted them at Aumu village, 12 July 1984."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424917-bwns5381-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Local Baha'is meet with Sirus Naraqi (left, rear), a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, at their village in Papua New Guinea."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424915-bwns5380-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Apelis Mazakmat, the first Papua New Guinean to become a Baha'i."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424916-bwns5379-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Violet Hoehnke with children in Papua New Guinea, 1954."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424918-bwns5378-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Tamun Kosep, a traditional chief and treasurer of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Madina, (center), flanked by Rodney Hancock (left), and Jalal Mills, with other Baha'is at the jubilee festivities."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":311,"evergreenUrl":"royal-praise-development-projects","title":"Royal praise for development projects","description":"Members of the royal family and other dignitaries praised the Baha'i community at celebrations marking the 50th jubilee of the Baha'i Faith here....","date":"2004-05-16","customDateline":null,"city":"MBABANE","country":"SWAZILAND","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5377-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5377-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Members of the royal family and other dignitaries praised the Baha'i community at celebrations marking the 50th jubilee of the Baha'i Faith here.\n\n\"The contribution of the Baha'i Faith in Swaziland is highly commendable,\" said Zephania Hlatjwako, the principal secretary to Prince Gabheni, the Minister of Home Affairs.\n\nMr. Hlatjwako made his comment at the national library  in Mbabane as he opened an exhibition depicting photographs of the early Baha'is of Swaziland.\n\n\"The Baha'is have established an educational complex in Malagwane hill [in Mbabane] which strives to provide excellent academic and moral education at pre-primary, primary, and high school levels,\" Mr. Hlatjwako said.\n\nThe school, founded in 1990, has more than 850 enrollments this year. Students sit their examinations under the Cambridge international examinations system.\n\nAnother example of the Baha'i contribution to education is the Tarbiyat School in Manzini. This institution is for pupils who have difficulties in regular schools. The curriculum focuses on moral education, youth enrichment, computer literacy, HIV/AIDS prevention -- and even includes a bee-keeping course. There are four other Baha'i schools in Swaziland.\n\nThe jubilee celebrations, held between 11-16 May 2004, featured presentations on the history of the Swaziland Baha'i community, which now has 24 Local Spiritual Assemblies.\n\nThe event was rich in cultural entertainment. The Swaziland Baha'i choir sang and a local Baha'i youth dance troupe gave performances inspired by Baha'i principles."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Thozi Nomvete and Crispin Pemberton-Pigott performed a song written for the occasion with lyrics about the history of the Faith in Swaziland.\n\nSome 600 participants, including visitors, who came from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, and the United States enjoyed a traditional feast, known as \"braai,\"  which was held at the Baha'i center.\n\nSome of the early Baha'is -- including Ben Dlamini, Chuck Ducker, and Jacob Mdluli -- told touching stories about the first Baha'is in Swaziland, Bula Mott Stewart and John and Valera Allen.\n\nMs. Stewart arrived in Swaziland from the United States on 11 April 1954. As the first person to introduce the Baha'i Faith to Swaziland, she received the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah from the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.\n\nShe spent six-weeks in that country and later moved to South Africa, where despite the oppressive racist laws, was able to give the Baha'i teachings to the local people, many of whom became Baha'is. Ms. Stewart later served the Faith in Hong Kong, and the Pacific.\n\nOn 19 April 1954, John and Valera Allen, also from the United States, arrived in the country to help to establish the Baha'i community and they too were named Knights of Baha'u'llah. Another Baha'i who settled there that year was Mrs. Allen's mother, Maude Todd Fisher.\n\nMr. Allen, who had run a successful car business in San Francisco, helped scores of Baha'is  from other countries to settle in Swaziland. He built, and largely financed, schools and Baha'i centers in the country.\n\nMr. and Mrs. Allen were both elected to the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Mbabane in 1955. Mr. Allen served as the chairman of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland when it was formed in 1971.\n\nMrs. Allen served on the National Teaching Committee. In 1959 she was elected to the National Assembly of South and West Africa and served as secretary.\n\nAmong the first local people to become Baha'is were Isaiah Phala, a teacher, and his wife, Jemima. Others to follow were Ben Dlamini, Chris Kuhlase, Andrew Mofokeng,  Maxwell Ndlovu, and some of the children of the late King Sobhuza II. One of those was Princess Gcinaphi, an ardent promoter of Baha'i principles, who went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1984.\n\nOn several occasions, Baha'is met the King, who often assured them of his support for the Baha'i community. A tribute to the late King was offered at the jubilee by Beth Allen, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa.\n\nAlso attending from the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa were Enos Makhele and Maina Mkandawire.\n\nRepresentatives of King Mswati III and the Queen Mother were present at the jubilee festivities, a sign of the continuing good relations between Swaziland's royal family and the Baha'i community.\n\nA message from the King was read on his behalf by his brother, Prince Phinda, a member of the Swaziland National Council.\n\n\"We have no doubt that the Baha'is have found a happy home in the kingdom of Eswatini [Swaziland],\" the King's letter to the participants said. \"This is evident through their active participation in and contribution to the welfare of the Swazi nation.\"\n\nThe King's message also praised the Baha'i community's efforts in educational and agricultural projects.\n\nThe Queen Mother sent a  message in which she related some of the main teachings of the Baha'i Faith to current issues in Swazi society. Her message was delivered by a royal representative, A.K. Hlope.\n\n\"As the Swazi nation, we pledge to continue to pray for unity, peace, and harmony, and to support all organizations that promote such values, for a better world, for the benefit of all mankind,\" the Queen Mother's message said.\n\nSeveral newspapers reported extensively on the jubilee, among them \"The Nation\" monthly magazine and the \"Weekend Observer,\" which published articles about the Baha'i Faith on four weekends. Radio Swaziland broadcast several talks on the Faith, both in English and the local language, SiSwati.\n\nGuests received a color booklet produced for the jubilee. It depicts the major events in the history of the Swaziland Baha'i community and tells of the service of the local Baha'is assisted by many traveling teachers from a variety of countries, as well as those Baha'is who settled in the country. It also refers to visits by many distinguished Baha'is, among them Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani and other Hands of the Cause, including Collis Featherstone, Leroy Ioas, Rahmatu'llah Muhajir, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, Enoch Olinga, John Robarts, and William Sears.\n\n(Jubilee photos by Linda Blair.)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5376-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani (center) with Princess Gcinaphi (left), and Chief Zwangendaba Dlamini, at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1984."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424878-bwns5374-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Princess Gcinaphi. Photo courtesy of \"Heroes and Heroines of the Ten Year Crusade in Southern Africa,\" compiled by Lowell Johnson and Edith Johnson. Baha'i Publishing Trust, Johannesburg."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424882-bwns5373-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Happy times...Baha'is in Swaziland. Photo by Julie Blair."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424880-bwns5372-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Pupils at the John and Valera Allen Primary School, Mbabane. Photo by Barbara Campbell."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424882-bwns5371-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Swaziland, Lesotho, and Mozambique."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424878-bwns5370-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Early Baha'is of Swaziland, 19 November, 1954: (front, left to right) Margot Bosch, Valera Allen, Jemima Phala, Maude Fisher. (Middle, left to right) Maxwell Ndlovu, Isaiah Phala. (Back, left to right) Dale Allen, Kenton Allen, John Allen."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5369-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel, a Hand of the Cause (second from right), with King Sobhuza II (center). Others pictured (left to right) Helen Wilks, Mrs. Muhlschlegel, an aide to the King, and Valera Allen (far right)."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5368-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Chuck and Sarophina Ducker."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5367-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dan Ramoroesi, one of the Baha'i speakers at the jubilee."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5366-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dale and Irma Allen, Baha'i pioneers to Swaziland."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5365-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Swaziland Baha'i choir."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5364-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A joyous moment at the jubilee."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5363-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ruth Dlamini, a member of the Swaziland Baha'i community."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5362-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On behalf of the Baha'i community, Eva Mnisi presents a gift to A. K. Hlophe, the representative of the Queen Mother."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5361-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Entertaining at the braai (barbeque feast) were Modison Magagula (left) and Crispin Pemberton-Pigott."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5360-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some of the participants at the Baha'i jubilee in Swaziland."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5359-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha'i youth at the jubilee."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5358-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Prince Phinda (center) with the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Swaziland, Mohammed Monadjem, and a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Maina Mkandawire."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424876-bwns5357-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Knights of Baha'u'llah John and Valera Allen (sitting) and (at rear) their son Dale and his wife Irma."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424880-bwns5356-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha'i women at the jubilee."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424883-bwns5355-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Wearing traditional dress at the jubilee: Maina Mkandawire (left) and Eva Mnisi. Photo by Linda Blair."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":310,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-participate-interfaith-parliament","title":"Baha'is participate in interfaith parliament","description":"The high point of 20 years of interfaith activity by Lally Lucretia Warren, a Baha'i from Botswana, came this week when she chaired a session...","date":"2004-07-12","customDateline":null,"city":"BARCELONA","country":"SPAIN","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424861-bwns5354-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424861-bwns5354-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Among the Baha'i participants were (left to right) Robert Bennet (United Kingdom), Jan Saeed (United States), A.K. Merchant (India), Badi Daemi (Andorra), Denise Belisle (Canada), and Miguel Gil (Spain).","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The high point of 20 years of interfaith activity by Lally Lucretia Warren, a Baha'i from Botswana, came this week when she chaired a session at the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions.\n\nThe Parliament, a major interfaith conference, drew more than 8,000 people from 75 countries to this Mediterranean city 7-13 July.\n\nActing as master of ceremonies, Ms. Warren steered a plenary session through the granting of a new international award for interreligious dialog, speeches by prominent Jewish and Muslim leaders, and prayers from representatives of various religions.\n\nMs. Warren, a nurse and midwife, began her involvement in interfaith activities two decades ago by being one of the organizers of local observances of World Religion Day.\n\n\"Baha'u'llah said 'Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship,'\" said Ms. Warren. \"So that is what we tried to do.\"\n\nMs. Warren attended the Parliament in her capacity as one of 15 members of the Parliament's international advisory committee -- a group that includes such figures as the Dalai Lama, Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, and Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.\n\nMs. Warren was largely sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation, in part because of her participation in Interfaith Action for Peace in Africa, which was initiated by the Lutherans.\n\nHer role reflected the participation of Baha'is here -- many making presentations were representing various interfaith and academic organizations."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Denise Belisle of Canada, for example, was sponsored by the Goldin Institute because of her work in an interreligious \"Partner Cities\" project that came about because of her activity on the Interfaith Council of Montreal.\n\nJan Saeed of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA was sponsored by Brigham Young University because of her efforts on the Salt Lake Interreligious Council during the 2002 winter Olympics.\n\nAnd Brian Lepard, a professor of law at the University of Nebraska, came at the invitation of the Global Ethics and Religion Forum because of his scholarship on international human rights and religion.\n\nMore than 20 Baha'is were involved in panel discussions, speeches or other events at the Parliament, and another 80 Baha'is attended as participants, coming from more than a dozen countries.\n\n\"The goal for Baha'is at the Parliament is to help further understanding between the different religions,\" said Miguel Gil, who represented the Baha'i community of Spain.\n\nMr. Gil said the Spanish Baha'i community gave significant support by providing volunteers and organizational assistance.\n\nMoojan Momen, a Baha'i scholar of the United Kingdom, who gave a well-attended talk at the Parliament on \"The Baha'i Theological Basis of Interreligious Dialogue,\" said that Baha'is are able to contribute particularly well to interfaith dialogue because of a belief system that defuses those elements of religion that tend to produce conflict.\n\nIn speeches and discussions, religious leaders and activists from virtually every religious tradition repeatedly called for tolerance, and recognition of human interdependence and the common spirit in all religions.\n\n\"We need a new global spirituality that affirms the unity of all being, that affirms the interconnectedness of all, and affirms a new bottom line of love, caring, and generosity,\" said Rabbi Michael Learner, a noted Jewish author, in a panel discussion entitled \"The Battle for God.\"\n\nTaking the theme \"Pathways to Peace,\" the 2004 Parliament was organized by three entities: the Chicago-based Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions, the UNESCO Centre of Catalonia, and the Forum Barcelona 2004.\n\nOpen to religious leaders and lay people alike, the event involved more then 400 workshops, panel discussions, and artistic presentations. The overall focus was on promoting interreligious dialog.\n\nAn assembly of religious leaders, held in conjunction with the Parliament, focused on four social issues: improving access to clean water, reducing global poverty, advocating the elimination of Third World debt, and opposing religiously inspired violence.\n\nThe Parliament is the third such gathering since 1993, when some 8,000 people from all religions came together in Chicago to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the World's Parliament of Religions, which was held there in 1893 and was the start of the movement for interreligious dialog. The 1893 event was also the first time that the Baha'i Faith was mentioned in a public talk in the Western Hemisphere.\n\nIn 1999, a second modern Parliament was held in South Africa, attracting some 7,000 participants from 90 countries. Baha'is have been involved in all three modern Parliaments, as organizers, participants, and presenters."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424862-bwns5353-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Lally Lucretia Warren addressing the 2004 Parliament of World's Religions."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":309,"evergreenUrl":"leading-economist-calls-global-reform","title":"Leading economist calls for global reform","description":"A leading economist has joined his voice to the growing doubts about the capacity of existing international institutions to tackle the world's...","date":"2004-07-04","customDateline":null,"city":"LONDON","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5352-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5352-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Professor Moshe Sharon.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A leading economist has joined his voice to the growing doubts about the capacity of existing international institutions to tackle the world's problems.\n\nAugusto Lopez-Claros, the chief economist with the World Economic Forum in Geneva, told a conference organized by the Association of Baha'i Studies in association with the Irfan Colloquium that humanity is trying to face its challenges but its institutions are simply incapable of delivering adequate solutions.\n\nHis address was one of the keynote talks at the conference, held 2-4 July 2004 at the University of London's Institute of Commonwealth Studies, which aimed to explore Baha'i views on the theme of \"Power and Responsibility.\"\n\nMr. Lopez-Claros, who is a Baha'i, pointed to new challenges in the modern world like the increasing globalization of business and the radical change in the service industries caused by alliances between distant nations.\n\n\"Our current institutions were not designed for these changes nor for the challenges posed by the environmental crisis, AIDS or terrorism,\" Mr. Lopez-Claros said. \"Political structures are hierarchical, rigid, and slow. Some governments are adapting but most are struggling.\"\n\nThe result, Mr. Lopez-Claros said, is a growing public dissatisfaction with politicians and politics. \"Only a global framework and global institutions can address certain problems,\" he said.\n\nOne of the conference organizers, Nazila Ghanea-Hercock of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, said that \"Power and Responsibility\" are of concern in a number of disciplines, including governance, science, medicine, and the media.\n\n\"A lot of people feel disempowered from sources of authority,\" she said. \"We need to discuss how humanity deals with this issue in order to progress.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Scholar and author Moojan Momen described ways in which the Baha'i community offers a promising model for secular institutions, taking into consideration the fact that many people feel they don't have a say in their society, and that a balance must be found between individual freedoms and centralized authority.\n\n\"In the Baha'i model, power does not rest with individuals but institutions,\" Dr. Momen said. \"Baha'i consultative practice provides a safe and encouraging environment for people...to express their views. Devolution to local decision making has been the evolving hallmark of [Baha'i] planning processes.\"\n\nDr. Momen said the balance between individual freedom and central authority was explored by Baha'u'llah in a letter to Queen Victoria of Britain.\n\n\"On the one hand He applauded British efforts towards elected democracy but on the other He condemned excesses of liberty. Certainly the Baha'i experience in these areas could be fruitfully examined as a model for change.\"\n\nAnother speaker, Nahal Mavvadat, from the University of Birmingham, described an evolving maturity in medical treatment where patients are being increasingly encouraged to take an active role in their own healing.\n\n\"A new paradigm for medicine would temper scientific knowledge and wisdom with human virtues such as compassion, trust, and a commitment to living according to spiritual laws,\" Dr. Mavvadat said.\n\nAmong the distinguished guests was Professor Moshe Sharon, who holds the chair for Baha'i studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.\n\nProfessor Sharon, who is not a Baha'i, addressed the conference on the challenges he faced in translating Baha'u'llah's Book of Laws, the Kitab-i-Aqdas, into Hebrew.\n\nThe conference was organized by the Association for Baha'i Studies - English-Speaking Europe in association with the Irfan Colloquium.\n\nThe Association of Baha'i Studies has 20 affiliates, each dedicated to the study and application of Baha'i teachings.\n\nThe Irfan Colloquia started in 1993 and aim to foster systematic studies of the scriptures of the world's religions from the Baha'i perspective and to promote scholarly studies of the belief system of the Baha'i Faith.\n\n(Report by Rob Weinberg.)\n\n(Photos by Hamid Jahanpour.)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5351-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Conference participants (from left to right): Farhad Fozdar, Farhad Foroughi, and Professor Masoud Yazdani."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424841-bwns5350-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Conference participants Sonia von Kerkhoff and Jan Sijsling."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424841-bwns5349-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Among the conference participants were Dr. Mahsa Javid (left) and Dr. Clare Frampton."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5348-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Professor Moshe Sharon and Dr. Wendi Momen."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5347-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Dr. Nahal Mavvadat (left) and Dr. Nazila Ghanea-Hercock."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5346-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some of the conference participants (from left to right): Dr. Iraj Ayman, Dr. Sholeh Quinn, Dr. Moojan Momen, and Dr. Wendi Momen."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424840-bwns5345-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Augusto Lopez-Claros. Photo by Hamid Jahanpour."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":308,"evergreenUrl":"bahais-co-author-womens-rights-publication","title":"Baha'is co-author women's rights publication","description":"A newly published handbook demonstrates the leading role played by the Baha'i community of the United States in advocating the ratification by...","date":"2004-06-20","customDateline":null,"city":"WASHINGTON","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424822-bwns5343-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424822-bwns5343-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Leila Milani (left) and Sarah Albert.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A newly published handbook demonstrates the leading role played by the Baha'i community of the United States in advocating the ratification by the U.S. government of an important international treaty on women's rights.\n\nThe handbook, which outlines the importance of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, was co-authored by Leila Rassekh Milani, a spokesperson for women's issues for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.\n\nA coalition of some 190 U.S. nongovernmental organizations recently introduced the book at the U.S. Senate.\n\nFor more than a decade, a representative of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly has co-chaired the coalition, which is known as the Working Group on Ratification of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women).\n\nThe convention is an international \"Bill of Rights\" for women. It addresses the political, cultural, economic, and social dimensions of human rights for women around the world.\n\nThe United States was active in drafting the convention and was one of the first nations to sign it.  However, the United States is the only industrialized nation that has failed to ratify the treaty, lacking the necessary votes in the Senate.\n\nThe handbook, \"CEDAW: Rights that Benefit the Entire Community,\" was introduced in a Senate hearing room under the sponsorship of Senator Joseph Biden, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. More than 100 people attended, including representatives of the United Nations, NGOs, and congressional staff.\n\n\"The treaty on women's rights is a key instrument in promoting the equality of women,\" said Sean Moore, a spokesman for Senator Barbara Boxer, one of the key supporters of the convention in the Senate. \"This handbook is an important educational tool to gain the 67 votes needed for Senate ratification.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Working with Ms. Milani on the book were Sarah Albert of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and Karina Purushotma of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly's office in Washington.\n\nThe book is a revised and expanded edition of \"Human Rights for All,\" an advocacy book compiled and edited by Ms. Milani in 2001.\n\n\"After September 11, the world changed,\" said Ms. Milani. \"Greater attention was given to Afghanistan and the aggressive, systematic oppression of women there. Links were found between terrorism and the status of women, national security and women, HIV/AIDS and women.\"\n\nAccordingly, the second edition of the book focuses on the international impact of the treaty and documents how the treaty has been used by activists, lawyers, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to address trafficking in women, HIV/AIDS, terrorism, national security, and other key issues of global concern.\n\nCarolyn Hannan, director of the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women, said U.S. ratification of  the convention would strengthen the treaty around the world.\n\nShe also thanked the Working Group for producing the advocacy book, saying, \"We will use it extensively in our work and with all our contacts at the United Nations.\"\n\nAn electronic version of the book is available for download at [http://www.womenstreaty.org](http://www.womenstreaty.org).\n\nSince 1988, the Baha'is of the United States have been at the forefront of efforts to encourage U.S. ratification of international human rights treaties, including the U.N. Genocide Convention, the Convention Against Torture, the Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and the Convention Against Racial Discrimination."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424822-bwns5342-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The front page of the new publication."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":307,"evergreenUrl":"a-life-pursuit-noble-endeavors","title":"A life in pursuit of noble endeavors","description":"After Violet Hoehnke introduced the Baha'i Faith to Papua New Guinea in 1954, she climbed steep mountains, drove along tortuous roads, and sailed...","date":"2004-06-29","customDateline":null,"city":"PORT MORESBY","country":"PAPUA NEW GUINEA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424789-bwns5336-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424789-bwns5336-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Violet Hoehnke with some young friends in 1986.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"After Violet Hoehnke introduced the Baha'i Faith to Papua New Guinea in 1954, she climbed steep mountains, drove along tortuous roads, and sailed through sometimes stormy seas to bring the teachings of Baha'u'llah to the local people.\n\nBy accepting the people's invitations to spend the night in their often humble dwellings – a practice rare for Europeans there in the 1950s – Violet Hoehnke demonstrated her commitment to the principle of the oneness of humanity, and she won the hearts of her hosts.\n\nWhen she died, aged 87, on 4 June 2004, the Baha'i community of Papua New Guinea had grown from a solitary individual half a century ago to include 252 Local Spiritual Assemblies and thousands of Baha'is living in more than 3000 villages and towns in all 19 provinces of the country.\n\n\"What seemed at first an enormous challenge, has now become a reality,\" Ms. Hoehnke wrote in a short autobiography penned in 1997.\n\n\"It is the responsibility of every Baha'i, wherever they reside and whoever they may be, to share these teachings of unity with everyone they meet so that peace may come to Papua New Guinea and the world,\" she wrote.\n\nMs. Hoehnke was confined to bed and could not attend the national convention of the Faith here in April this year, but the delegates and observers conveyed to her by telephone their loving greetings as they consulted on the ongoing development of the vibrant Papua New Guinean Baha'i community she had initiated.\n\nViolet Hoehnke, who had remained at her pioneering post for 50 years, passed away less than two months after that message.\n\nFollowing a funeral service attended by hundreds of Baha'is and members of other religions, she was laid to rest in the first grave in a new Baha'i section of the 9-Mile Cemetery on a hillside outside Port Moresby."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A trained nurse who was widely known as \"Sister Vi,\" Ms. Hoehnke was the matron of the first integrated hospital in the country. She maintained impeccable standards in her hospitals.\n\nHer steadfast adherence to the injunctions of her Faith to love all humanity, and her humility, made her a beloved figure – for example, she had many friends among the clergy of other faiths.\n\nThroughout the decades she wrote countless encouraging letters to hundreds of Baha'is and other friends, some of whom later became prominent leaders in the country. In 1975 she became a citizen of the newly independent country.\n\nViolet Hoehnke, born in Australia, became a Baha'i aged 23 after being introduced to the Faith by a Scottish migrant, Jim Heggie, and then hearing more from the first Australian Baha'i, Oswald Whittaker, and three believers who were later designated as Hands of the Cause: Martha Root, John Henry Hyde Dunn, and Clara Dunn.\n\nHer nursing qualifications enabled her to quickly answer a call to take the Faith to the Admiralty Islands, now Manus Province, in Papua New Guinea.\n\nHer arrival fulfilled a goal of a ten-year plan to spread the Baha'i teachings worldwide.\n\nFor this service, the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, bestowed upon her the accolade of Knight of Baha'u'llah.\n\nMs. Hoehnke invited local people to her home in the Admiralty Islands and held first aid classes for them, which prompted criticism from members of the European community, who practiced racial segregation.\n\nAs a result, the hospital authorities quickly transferred her to a hospital in Rabaul on the nearby island of New Britain.\n\nAlthough seemingly a setback, it turned out to be fortunate because she met up with the only other Baha'i in Papua New Guinea, Rodney Hancock, a 21-year-old New Zealander who had arrived in Rabaul about the same time that Ms. Hoehnke had first arrived in the Admiralty Islands.\n\nIn 1956, after being introduced to the Baha'i Faith by Ms. Hoehnke and Mr. Hancock, a teacher on Manus Island, Apelis Mazakmat, became the first Papua New Guinean Baha'i.\n\nIn the subsequent years, as thousands entered the Faith, more than 150 Baha'is from other countries came to Papua New Guinea to assist the local Baha'is as they administered and developed their national community.\n\nIn 1973 Ms. Hoehnke was appointed a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors and it was in that role that she visited, guided, and encouraged many Baha'i communities in Papua New Guinea and elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean. She served in that capacity for seven years.\n\nAfter she retired, she lived in Mount Hagen in the highlands and continued to nurture Baha'is. Her home there was always open to the community.\n\nShe donated the proceeds from her former home in Lae and her most recent house in Port Moresby to the Baha'i community.\n\nEven in latter years, when her eyesight had failed and she was confined to bed, she followed the guidance of the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the world to participate in capacity-building study circles.\n\nThe Universal House of Justice sent a message of condolence to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Papua New Guinea.\n\nIt said that Ms. Hoehnke's record of accomplishment included \"dedicating herself totally to the advancement of the Cause of Baha'u'llah and demonstrating an exemplary willingness to undergo hardship in the pursuit of her noble endeavors.\"\n\n\"Throughout these years, she became known far and wide for the genuine love and respect she offered to the indigenous people of Papua New Guinea,\" the message said.\n\nThe Universal House of Justice asked for memorial gatherings to be held for her throughout Papua New Guinea.\n\nIt called upon the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of Australia to arrange a memorial service in the Baha'i House of Worship in Sydney."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424782-bwns5340-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Violet Hoehnke (1916-2004)."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424782-bwns5339-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ms. Hoehnke with Information Minister John Momis, 1994."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424782-bwns5338-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Violet Hoehnke (center) visiting Baha'is in the West Sepik region, 1985."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424782-bwns5337-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Violet Hoehnke and Rodney Hancock, Rabaul, Bismarck Archipelago, Territory of New Guinea, 1955."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424781-bwns5394-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":""}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":306,"evergreenUrl":"location-unveils-hidden-words","title":"Location unveils Hidden Words","description":"Location, location, location. Those are called the three most important guidelines in real estate -- and taking notice of them has helped boost...","date":"2004-06-28","customDateline":null,"city":"MELBOURNE","country":"AUSTRALIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424759-bwns5335-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424759-bwns5335-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Volunteer staff (left to right) Emilia Tabrizi, Jaklin Rashidi, Betsy Dere.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Location, location, location. Those are called the three most important guidelines in real estate -- and taking notice of them has helped boost visitor numbers at a Baha'i bookstore here in Australia's second biggest city.\n\nThe number of customers, browsers, and window shoppers has increased since the bookshop -- \"Hidden Words: Baha'i Books and Information\" -- moved recently from a small shopping arcade to a nearby prominent location on a main road.\n\nIts new spot is near a busy intersection close to both the Hawthorn Town Hall and one of Melbourne's major universities, and in a restaurant precinct.\n\nMany motorists stopped at red traffic lights spend their waiting time looking into the shop window.\n\n\"At least one third of the customers and browsers are not Baha'is, and many come to the shop from other suburbs,\" says spokeswoman Emilia Tabrizi.\n\n\"It has a growing name among Baha'is as a good source of quality books and resources. Our reputation has spread by word of mouth and as a result we even have some interstate customers who order books from us.\"\n\nThe shop is an information center, Ms. Tabrizi says, that lets the public satisfy its growing curiosity about a faith that bases its work for world unity on Baha'u'llah's teaching of the principle of the oneness of humanity.\n\nCustomers have had many positive things to say about the shop, she says, including comments that it is \"inspirational,\" \"soothing,\" and \"informative.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The number of participants from the general public has also increased at the study circles hosted by the shop. At least half the membership of a new study circle, for instance, comes from outside the Baha'i community.\n\nThe study circles -- an activity now offered by the Baha'i communities in more than 180 countries and territories worldwide -- aim at developing individual capacities in a range of activities, such as reawakening one's spiritual life, teaching values to children, and expressing one's views to others.\n\nAnother popular event is 30-minute \"tranquility zones\" offered on Sunday mornings. They provide music, meditation, and spiritual upliftment through readings and prayers.\n\nFacilitators change for the tranquility zones, giving a different flavor from time to time.\n\nAlthough Baha'is do not force their beliefs on others, they are keen to offer the teachings of Baha'u'llah to anyone interested in inquiring -- and now the shop has an increased number of those. To satisfy this demand, information evenings are held every fortnight on Friday evenings and they feature a speaker on the Baha'i Faith and a question-and-answer session.\n\nSome 25 local Baha'i volunteers are involved in the operation of the shop, which is open eight hours a day from Monday to Friday and six hours on Saturday.\n\nA newsletter updates customers of forthcoming activities.\n\nThe shop, overseen by the Regional Baha'i Council, takes its name from \"The Hidden Words\" by Baha'u'llah. That volume comprises 150 brief inspirational counsels and admonitions for spiritual life and growth."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424759-bwns5334-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Members of a study circle, who meet at the bookstore, with their workbooks."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424758-bwns5333-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"\"Hidden Words: Baha'i Books and Information.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424759-bwns5332-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Inside the bookshop...volunteers Betsy Dere (left) and Emilia Tabrizi."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":305,"evergreenUrl":"couple-put-their-faith-into-picture","title":"Couple put their faith into the picture","description":"Work on Baha'i service projects here gave screenwriters Mark Bamford and Suzanne Kay the idea for a movie that has recently won international...","date":"2004-06-20","customDateline":null,"city":"CAPE TOWN","country":"SOUTH AFRICA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424732-bwns5326-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424732-bwns5326-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mark Bamford and Suzanne Kay.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Work on Baha'i service projects here gave screenwriters Mark Bamford and Suzanne Kay the idea for a movie that has recently won international media attention.\n\nAfter their arrival here from Hollywood in 2001, the husband and wife team threw themselves into various service projects such as after-school enrichment programs for disadvantaged children and English lessons for refugees from French-speaking African countries.\n\nThose experiences inspired them to make \"Cape of Good Hope,\" a feature film that was screened recently at two international film festivals and reviewed positively by, among others, the BBC and the top show business journal, \"Variety.\"\n\nMr. Bamford and Ms. Kay had left their busy careers as television scriptwriters in Los Angeles so they could pursue their own film projects in Cape Town, a city they had visited a few years earlier and had come to love.\n\nIt was also a place where they wanted to raise their new-born baby and to involve themselves in helping the reconstruction of a newly democratic African nation.\n\nDuring their involvement in the service projects they saw first hand the struggles of ordinary people to make the most of their lives. That prompted them to write the screenplay and then produce and direct the movie.\n\nThe film that emerged, \"Cape of Good Hope,\" won a standing ovation at its premiere in April 2004 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.\n\nFollowing that premiere, the BBC television's \"Talking Movies\" show carried interviews with some of the stars of the film, and described the movie as \"heartfelt and real.\""},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"And the subsequent screening of \"Cape of Good Hope\" at the Cannes Festival -- which highlighted the 10th anniversary of the end of apartheid by showing major South African films -- clearly struck a chord with an influential reviewer.\n\n\"Variety,\" the most widely read film industry journal, hailed the movie's \"warmth and charm\" and said it was a \"good-natured multi-character snapshot of contemporary South Africa.\"\n\nThe reviewer described the film as a \"crowd-pleasing feel-good exercise in love and tolerance,\" and referred to director Mark Bamford's \"fine sense of timing.\"\n\nThe film, cowritten by Mr. Bamford and Ms. Kay, interweaves fictional storylines revolving around a Cape Town animal rescue center.\n\nCharacters include the woman who runs the shelter, a refugee from war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, a single mother trying to educate herself while working as a servant, a young couple unable to have children of their own, and a recently widowed veterinary surgeon.\n\nIn this mosaic of love and hope, filmed on location in South Africa, the human stories replace the intense political focus that is the norm for films set in Africa.\n\n\"There were lots of films about Africa and with epic political messages,\" Mr. Bamford said, \"but we felt they were missing the trees for the forest.\"\n\n\"You actually feel more from a story which is about the reality of people's lives.\"\n\nThrough the stories of individuals, the film highlights themes of love, interracial relations, xenophobia, justice, and -- in an unusual twist for a commercial movie --  kindness to animals.\n\n\"Cape of Good Hope\" is Mr. Bamford's debut as a director of a  feature movie. His previous work includes \"Hero,\" a widely screened short film.\n\nThe positive themes of the movies reflect the couple's philosophy on filmmaking.\n\n\"I think the purpose of art is to uplift the human spirit,\" Mr. Bamford said.\n\n\"In film, entertainment is fine, but a lot of what passes for entertainment is destructive -- it degrades women and glorifies drugs and violence.\"\n\nThe role for Baha'i artists, he said, is not to avoid crucial issues or to be \"nicey-nicey,\" but rather to be optimistic.\n\nMs. Kay: \"Because we say 'uplifting,' we don't mean 'naive' -- we just want to give [audiences] energy to contribute something for the betterment of society.\"\n\nThey quickly acknowledge that business considerations mix with those of art and their Baha'i beliefs.\n\n\"Film is art yet commerce at the same time -- it is very difficult to produce art on demand -- it takes time, patience, and detachment,\" Ms. Kay said.\n\nMr. Bamford and Ms. Kay said they tried to integrate their art and their spiritual beliefs, and felt they saw the outcome in the spirit among cast and crew.\n\n\"Large number of the cast and crew deferred salaries to support us,\" Ms. Kay said.\n\nAmong those actors was Eriq Ebouaney, star of the award winning \"Lumumba\" who told the BBC: \"I think this film is definitely a celebration of South Africa, definitely a celebration of multiculturalism, and I think it's also a celebration of democracy.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424732-bwns5330-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mama (played by Lillian Dube) comforts Lindiwe (Nthati Moshesh)."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424732-bwns5329-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On the set...director Mark Bamford."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424731-bwns5328-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A scene from \"Cape of Good Hope\"...(from left to right) actors Debbie Brown, Morne Visser, Kamo Masilo, Nthati Moshesh, and Eriq Ebouaney."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424732-bwns5327-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"\"Love is what keeps the universe glued together,\" Jean Claude (played by Eriq Ebouaney) tells children in \"Cape of Good Hope.\""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424732-bwns5331-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Kate (Debbie Brown) and Morne (Morne Visser)."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":304,"evergreenUrl":"global-sounds-embrace-audience","title":"Global sounds embrace the audience","description":"The throb of African drums and Caribbean rhythms. The croon of a classical violin and the sigh of its Chinese cousin, the erhu. The trill of...","date":"2004-05-11","customDateline":null,"city":"LOS ANGELES","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424695-bwns5324-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424695-bwns5324-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"KC Porter. Photo by Michael Frank.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The throb of African drums and Caribbean rhythms. The croon of a classical violin and the sigh of its Chinese cousin, the erhu. The trill of a South American flute.\n\nThese sounds, often in thrilling combination, came during Embrace the World, a concert tour by Baha'i musicians.\n\nThe tour went from 15 April to 11 May 2004 and traveled to 10 states of the United States and also to British Columbia, Canada.\n\nThe musicians performed at 20 concerts at packed venues in major cities such as San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, and Houston, as well as in various smaller cities and towns in between.\n\nAudiences from a wide range of religious and ethnic backgrounds responded with standing ovations, singalongs, and insistent requests for encores.\n\nAfter each concert, the musicians slept on a bus as they were driven to the next venue -- they covered more than 8000 kilometers in 26 days.\n\nWhy take on the difficulty of such a demanding tour requiring the harmonizing of diverse musical styles, different instruments, and musicians from different cultures?\n\n\"The general purpose of the concerts was to share the Baha'i concept of the oneness of mankind -- and I feel that sense of oneness was felt deeply by all who attended the concerts,\" said KC Porter, a multi-Grammy award winning producer, songwriter, and keyboardist, who organized the concert series.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"The spirit of unity was reflected not only in the music, but with the diversity that was represented on the stage, featuring artists and musical styles from around the globe,\" he said.\n\n\"The events also provided an opportunity for concertgoers to come together in a spirit of oneness.\"\n\nMr. Porter won a Grammy for his contribution to Carlos Santana's \"Supernatural\" -- named the album of the year in 2000 -- worked with popular music artist Ricky Martin, and was named producer of the year by the Latin Grammys in 2001.\n\nSharing the stage with Mr. Porter was Lin Cheng, a singer and erhu virtuoso whose albums have sold by the millions in China, and Iranian-born Farzad Khozein, a jazz-influenced classical violinist.\n\nAlso touring were Colombian singer Leonor Dely with her family's flute-and-percussion group, Millero Congo, and backing musicians from the United States and Scotland.\n\nBaha'i communities and Baha'i college clubs promoted the concert and organized venues all along the path of the tour, often with the help of local organizations such as the local Community Race Relations Coalition in Waco, Texas.\n\nCivic officials in several areas recognized the uplifting message of the events. Former Washington Governor Mike Lowry, the chief executive of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Michelle Sanidad, and the chairperson of the Duwamish Tribe, Cecile Hansen, attended the Seattle concert at the invitation of local Baha'is. In Scottsdale, Arizona, Mayor Mary Manross proclaimed May 11 \"Embrace the World Day.\"\n\nThe concert won positive reviews, including by the executive director of the Arts Council in Lake County, California, Xian Yeagan:\n\n\"It was the integration of these styles in the hands of the masters that made the concert so moving,\" the review said.\n\n\"And that was what the concert was all about, embracing and unifying the world through art.\"\n\nLocal musicians also had the opportunity for exposure as opening acts for some of the concerts. They included hip-hop group Justice Leeg in the Los Angeles area, the Duwamish Tribe drumming group in Seattle, and a 100-piece choir, Getting Higher, in Vancouver.\n\nAudience members of Chinese background in particular reacted warmly to Lin Cheng's interactive performances.\n\n\"Some of them had grown up [in China] with the songs of  Lin Cheng on the radio and sang along with her,\" said Anne Perry, after a concert at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she is a faculty member.\n\nAs well as music, the concerts included presentations of selections from the Baha'i writings.\n\nQuestion-and-answer sessions after each concert promoted understanding of the Baha'i Faith, and of why its teachings encouraged these musicians from such varied backgrounds to perform together.\n\n(Contributed to by James Humphrey, editor, \"The American Baha'i.\")\n\n(Photos by Alistair Eagle and Michael Frank.)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424693-bwns5323-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Lin Cheng. Photo by Alistair Eagle."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424702-bwns5322-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Musician Eric Picotte-Harper. Photo by Michael Frank."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424692-bwns5321-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Family of percussionists... (Left to right) Shango, Istvan, and David Dely. Photo by Michael Frank."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424693-bwns5320-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"On stage during the Embrace the World tour. Photo by Michael Frank."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424695-bwns5319-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Leonor Dely with Millero Congo. Photo by Alistair Eagle."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424695-bwns5318-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Farzad Khozein. Photo by Michael Frank."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424693-bwns5317-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Erhu virtuoso Lin Cheng. Photo by Alistair Eagle."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424701-bwns5316-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"KC Porter at the keyboards. Photo by Michael Frank."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424694-bwns5315-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Two of the stars of the Embrace the World tour...Lin Cheng (left) and KC Porter. Photo by Alistair Eagle."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":303,"evergreenUrl":"spiritual-legacy-now-paying-dividends","title":"Spiritual legacy now paying dividends","description":"Cynthia and Edgar Olson initially won fame on this Pacific Island for introducing \"Swedish pancakes\" but their enduring legacy is a contribution...","date":"2004-05-02","customDateline":null,"city":"HAGÅTÑA","country":"GUAM","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424667-bwns5305-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424667-bwns5305-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Cynthia and Edgar Olson.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Cynthia and Edgar Olson initially won fame on this Pacific Island for introducing \"Swedish pancakes\" but their enduring legacy is a contribution far more precious.\n\nThe couple, originally from Delaware in the United States, brought the teachings of Baha'u'llah here, and from that foundation the Baha'i Faith has since spread across the four inhabited islands of the archipelago of the Mariana Islands.\n\nSome three years after their arrival the Olsons opened a Swedish pancake house, which became so popular that families drove from the far corners of the island to taste the exotic concoctions.\n\nThe building later functioned as a Baha'i center and it was from there that the plans to firmly establish the Faith were made.\n\nToday the community includes seven local spiritual assemblies, and is experiencing a surge in enrolments as its devotional meetings, children's classes, and study circles attract attendance from the wider community.\n\nThe dramatic story of the Olsons was recounted on 2 May 2004 at Mrs. Olsons' graveside, in a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Faith in the Mariana Islands.\n\nThe Olsons were unlikely pioneers -- a journalist and  storekeeper, both middle-aged: the thin, frail Cynthia and the burly, balding Edgar -- and they almost didn't make it by the target date of 2 May 1954.\n\nAs part of a decade-long (1953-1963), highly successful strategy to spread the Faith around the world, the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, had set that date as the goal for Baha'is to arrive in their place of service. This  act usually involved, as it did with the Olsons, Baha'is voluntarily leaving their country to settle in one where there were no Baha'is.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"At the time of the Olsons' arrival, the Mariana Islands were still a military area, controlled exclusively by the US Navy. Even short-term visitors needed special security clearance and a very good reason for coming -- a Navy-approved reason.\n\nCynthia Olson came first, completing the last leg of her 12,000-kilometer journey on a rare Pan Am civilian flight to the islands. She had convinced the Navy that she could be useful on Guam. Her husband had stayed behind to close up their store, and was anxiously awaiting word of her safe arrival.\n\nShe landed on 2 May 1954 after the telegraph office had closed, so she waited up all night to send a cable first thing the next morning. Her message was immediately read to a cheering audience at the US Baha'i National Convention halfway around the world.\n\nShoghi Effendi named Cynthia a Knight of Baha'u'llah for her efforts.\n\nHer first job was as host of a popular daily program called \"Women's World\" at the island's only commercial radio station. Edgar, widely known as \"Olie,\" followed a year later and became a popular TV executive and presenter -- as well as an owner of the pancake house.\n\nThe Olsons quickly fell in love with the friendliness and generosity of the indigenous people, the Chamorros. Other ethnic groups there include Filipinos, Micronesians, Asians, and a tiny minority of US mainlanders, often called \"haoles\" or \"statesiders.\"\n\nIn a message read to the commemoration event, Mrs. Madeleine Bordallo, Guam's present US Congresswoman, lovingly recalled Cynthia's support and encouragement for her as a fellow radio presenter, and later in Mrs. Bordallo's official role as the First Lady of Guam.\n\n\"As we remember Cynthia, let us remember a lady who was kind with her words, abundant with faith and hope, and generous with her love,\" wrote Mrs. Bordallo.\n\n\"She came to our islands, as I did, fell in love with it, its culture and traditions, but most of all, its people,\" she said.\n\nMrs. Olson later became a journalist for the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific, and then a supervisor responsible for arranging scholarships for island students. Many of those students, some of whom stayed in the Olsons' home, later became prominent members of Guam society, including legislators, teachers, and businessmen.\n\nIn her memoirs, Mrs. Olson wrote about the first Baha'i Feast on Guam, when she and Robert Powers, a young Baha'i sailor who had been posted there temporarily, said prayers and had a picnic at the water's edge in the southern village of Inarajan. Mr. Powers also received the title Knight of Baha'u'llah.\n\nThe first Micronesian islander to become a Baha'i was Joe Erie Ilengelkei, who became the ninth member of the community, thus meeting the required number to form the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Guam. It was established on 21 April, 1956.\n\nWhen the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the North West Pacific, which included the Mariana Islands, was formed in 1972, Mrs. Olson was elected a member. In 1978 she became a member of the newly formed National Spiritual Assembly of the Mariana Islands.\n\nDuring the past 50 years the Mariana Islands has welcomed many distinguished Baha'i visitors, including Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, and two other Hands of the Cause, Rahmatullah Muhajir, and Collis Featherstone.\n\nCynthia Olson passed away in 1988, and Edgar Olson a year later.\n\nThe Mariana Islands Baha'i community will hold another celebration in November, this one a formal banquet, as part of their jubilee celebrations of the Faith that this stalwart couple brought to these islands.\n\n(Report by Tom Howe.)"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424664-bwns5311-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Collis Featherstone (center) and Mrs. Featherstone with the Governor of the the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Pedro Tenorio, 1985."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424665-bwns5310-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Mariana Islands at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1998."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424665-bwns5309-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Eight of the nine members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Mariana Islands, 1978."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424665-bwns5308-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The first Local Spiritual Assembly in the Marianas, 1956. At rear, left, is Robert Powers. At front, left, is Joe Ilengelkei."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424664-bwns5307-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At the memorial gathering...(left to right) Holly Luganob, Reina Stalker, Parvaneh Namazi."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424665-bwns5306-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some of the Baha'is at the memorial gathering at the graveside of Mrs. Olson."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424665-bwns5312-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":""}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":302,"evergreenUrl":"new-site-offers-extensive-collection-bahai-scripture","title":"New site offers extensive collection of Baha'i scripture","description":"The Baha'i International Community yesterday launched a Web site that includes the sacred writings of the Baha'i Faith in English, Arabic, and...","date":"2004-06-01","customDateline":null,"city":"HAIFA","country":"ISRAEL","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424645-bwns5303-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424645-bwns5303-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The front page of the new site in Persian.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The Baha'i International Community yesterday launched a Web site that includes the sacred writings of the Baha'i Faith in English, Arabic, and Persian, as well as other Baha'i publications.\n\nThe Baha'i Reference Library offers an extensive collection of Baha'i holy scripture, which includes the writings of Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha.\n\nIn addition, the Web site contains works by Shoghi Effendi, the Universal House of Justice, and Baha'i authors.\n\nThe launch of the Baha'i Reference Library marks the first time that a voluminous authoritative library of Baha'i scripture and other Baha'i publications has been available on the Internet."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The launch is the first stage of the development of the Reference Library. Other materials will be added as they become available.\n\n\"The site is expected to assist researchers, students of religion, and the general public worldwide in gaining greater access to the Baha'i holy texts,\" said the director of the Office of Public Information of the Baha'i International Community, Douglas Moore.\n\n\"It joins the family of Baha'i International Community sites including, among others, the general information site, the news service, and the Baha'i International Community's statement library,\" Mr. Moore said.\n\nThe address of the Baha'i Reference Library is [http://reference.bahai.org](http://reference.bahai.org)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424645-bwns5302-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The front page of the new site."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":301,"evergreenUrl":"sailing-jubilee","title":"Sailing in for a jubilee","description":"The President of Kiribati and more than 200 Baha'is overcame a storm at sea to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the arrival of the...","date":"2004-03-04","customDateline":null,"city":"ABAIANG","country":"KIRIBATI","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424625-bwns5298-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424625-bwns5298-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Baha'i children in Kiribati, 1997.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The President of Kiribati and more than 200 Baha'is overcame a storm at sea to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in Kiribati.\n\nThey traveled the 15 kilometers from the main island of Tarawa to the island of Abaiang on 4 March 2004 to attend the festivities being held where the Baha'i Faith was introduced.\n\nPresident Anote Tong and Madam Tong set out in a police boat and had just arrived at the lagoon when the storm hit. They made it ashore safely.\n\nHowever, more than 200 Baha'is were in the open ocean on the 50-foot catamaran \"Marawanraoi\" and had to persevere through high seas and rain to reach Abaiang.\n\nThey arrived safely and in time for the celebrations to begin as planned.\n\nThe events included a speech by President Tong, performances of singing, dancing, and drama, and a feast of roasted fish, taro, breadfruit, pork, chicken, and coconut.\n\nThe joyous celebrations were fitting for a community that has seen more than 10,000 local people join its ranks over the last 50 years. The Faith has spread to 115 localities in Kiribati, and there are 38 Local Spiritual Assemblies.\n\nThe social and economic development projects of the community include the Ootan Marawa Baha'i Vocational Institute, the only teacher training institution for pre-school teachers in Kiribati. It is open to all, regardless of religion, and is assisted by the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"There are five pre-schools administered by Baha'i Local Spiritual Assemblies on Tarawa and the outer islands. They accept pupils of all religious affiliations.\n\nThe Elena Marsella Institute is a national permanent Baha'i training institute that develops human resources needed in the growth of the Faith.\n\nThe jubilee festivities, which were covered by two national newspapers and two national radio stations, were opened with a welcome by Baha'i spokesperson Teinabure Taukoriri.\n\nIn his address to the participants, President Tong said that the different religions worshipped the one and same God. He also gave advice on the role of secular and religious leadership.\n\n\"Governments of the land and spiritual governments should work hand in hand for the welfare of the people,\" President Tong said.\n\nA report from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kiribati was  read to the participants by Atita Atanrerei.\n\nThe report recounted that the Faith was introduced by Elena and Roy Fernie, who left their home in Panama and arrived to live in the village of Tuarabu, Abainag, on 4 March 1954.\n\nFor this service, both Mr. and Mrs. Fernie were named Knights of Baha'u'llah by the then head of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi.\n\nThe report said that the Fernies brought with them a piano and a radio, then very rare in the islands, and that Mr. Fernie was an amateur magician.\n\n\"They became friends of the people of Tuarabu village and people kept coming back to see more of Roy's magic tricks and to listen to the piano and radio they had brought,\" the report said.\n\n\"Among the people [coming for the entertainment] was Peter Kanere Koru, a Catholic teacher, who spoke English and he came to the attention of Roy and Elena when he said a sentence in English from the crowd when he was translating for the local people -- he soon became the first [Baha'i] believer in Kiribati.\"\n\nThe report said that opposition to the Faith from some quarters led to the deportation of Mr. Fernie. It also prompted the banishment of Mr. Kanere, via Tarawa to his home island of Tabiteuea. He was forced to leave his sick wife behind in hospital and she died a short time later.\n\nMr. Kanere did not meet Baha'is again until four years later, but he remained steadfast in his beliefs. By the time Baha'is were eventually able to come to visit him, he had introduced the Baha'i Faith to nine people on his island, the report said.\n\nActivities by local Baha'is, by foreign traveling teachers and by visiting Hands of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone and Rahmatullah Muhajir-- as well as by Auxiliary Board member Mosese Hokafonu of Tonga -- led to the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in 1967.\n\nAmong those participating in the jubilee celebrations were Taukoriri Eritai, who became a Baha'i at the time the Fernies were on Abainag, and Baha'is pioneers in Kiribati, Joe Russell and John Thurston.\n\nAlso attending was a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand, Michael Fudakowski, who lived for some 17 years in Kiribati with his wife, Robin White, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia, and their family.\n\nMr. Dominic Tabuaka represented the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Marshall Islands.\n\nMessages came from a range of Baha'i communities including those in Australia, Canada, Hawaii, the Solomon Islands, Ukraine, the United States, and Western Caroline Islands."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424626-bwns5300-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kiribati, at the Baha'i World Centre, Haifa, Israel, 1998."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424625-bwns5299-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Roy Fernie."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424624-bwns5301-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"bwns_5301-0.jpg"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424626-bwns5297-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The President of Kiribati, Anote Tong (left), being greeted by Iotebatu Tiare, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Kiribati. Photo courtesy of \"Te Uekera\" newspaper."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":300,"evergreenUrl":"comedian-wins-major-award","title":"Comedian wins major award","description":"One of the ways award-winning Inder Manocha handles hecklers when he is onstage doing stand-up comedy is this response: \"Sir, if I embarrass...","date":"2004-05-25","customDateline":null,"city":"LONDON","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424614-bwns5295-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424614-bwns5295-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"\"Think!\" gestures comedian Inder Manocha, urging members of his audience to use their brains.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"One of the ways award-winning Inder Manocha handles hecklers when he is onstage doing stand-up comedy is this response: \"Sir, if I embarrass you it's called comedy. If you embarrass me it's racism.\"\n\nThe retort works because of Mr. Manocha's diverse heritage - and its play on political correctness.\n\nA member of the Baha'i Faith and born of Indian and Iranian parents, Mr. Manocha is currently winning rave reviews for his multiethnic comedy, which is popular here in the racially diverse United Kingdom.\n\nMr. Manocha yesterday capped off his recent string of successes by  winning an award at a major award ceremony that celebrates diversity and excellence in the media.\n\nInder Manocha, 36, who turned his back on a career in psychotherapy just four years ago, was named best comedian at last night's EMMA -- Ethnic Multicultural Media Achievement Awards -- ceremony.\n\nThe BBC2 television channel will screen the award ceremony on 30 May 2004.\n\nAs an award winner, Mr. Manocha was in high-profile company. Other recipients of awards included actor Tom Cruise, who accepted his with a videophone message, and the star of hit movie \"Bend it Like Beckham\" and TV show \"ER,\" Parminder Nagra, who arrived from the United States to attend the ceremony and receive an award.\n\nThe EMMA awards aim to reward professionals who have made a contribution to the cultural diversity of Britain and have maintained \"high human values.\"\n\nManocha's interest in performing comedy began at an early age, but until recently it had remained a hobby.\n\n\"I had done some comedy while at university and the interest had always been there,\" he says.\n\n\"Then, after many years of studying and working as a therapist, I began writing the occasional sketch and speaking at friends' weddings -- and someone said that I should really try stand-up. And I did.\"\n\nThe most grueling part followed, with five-minute slots in comedy clubs where audiences are notoriously hard to please.\n\n\"But if they like you, they invite you back -- for ten minutes!\" laughs Mr. Manocha.\n\nAt the 2003 Edinburgh Festival, Manocha was invited to perform twice at the \"Best of the Fest Show\" and then for the show's whole run at London's Bloomsbury Theatre.\n\nIn February 2004 he made his successful debut at a top venue, London's Comedy Store, and he returns for more shows this year.\n\nThe inspiration for his comedy, he says, stems from growing up in a multiethnic Baha'i family in north London.\n\n\"My father is Indian from a Sikh background, my mother is Zoroastrian Persian, and I had a very English education at Oxford,\" Mr. Manocha says.\n\n\"So it was natural for me to do a kind of cross-cultural satire. I know both British and Asian cultures very well and I enjoy the way their idiosyncrasies play off each other.\n\n\"The Baha'i teachings on unity and cultural diversity inspire the comedy, and then the high ethical standards of the Faith set the parameters,\" he says.\n\n\"Obviously when you're up there on the stage, you want to make people laugh and it could be so easy to mock or denigrate others or resort to bad language for a quick and easy response.\n\n\"But being a Baha'i calls you constantly to moderation and respect --that's a wonderful thing but a very challenging thing in this environment.\"\n\nFrom a Baha'i viewpoint, he says, laughter plays an important part in the spiritual life of the individual.\n\n\"Often, a highly spiritually developed person will have a great sense of humor,\" Mr. Manocha says.\n\n\"I suppose it's about having a right approach to life and keeping things in perspective. The Baha'i teachings talk about joy giving us wings, and laughter being spiritual relaxation. I think giving people the opportunity to laugh together is an immensely uniting and joyful thing.\"\n\nMr. Manocha's unique approach has also led him to enjoy success in Durban, South Africa, where he has now appeared twice -- at the \"East Coast Radio Ha Comedy Showcase\" and in the \"India's Kings of Comedy\" show.\n\n\"Durban is about 80 percent Asian, and they got all the jokes,\" he says.\n\n\"Multiracial comedy bills are relatively new there and they are very much trying to promote it and make it work as a symbol of the new South Africa.\"\n\n(For the winners' list see [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3744147.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3744147.stm).)\n\nNote: The EMMA Awards ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday 30 May on the BBC2 television channel at 2145hrs GMT.\n\nReport by Rob Weinberg."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":299,"evergreenUrl":"celebrations-principality","title":"Celebrations in a principality","description":"Guests from 25 countries joined the Baha'is of Monaco to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in the principality....","date":"2004-05-24","customDateline":null,"city":"MONTE CARLO","country":"MONACO","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5314-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5314-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Florence Kelley in Monaco, 2004. Photo courtesy of Hawai'i Baha'i News.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Guests from 25 countries joined the Baha'is of Monaco to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Baha'i Faith in the principality.\n\nMore than 320 participants came from a range of countries that included Albania, Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Italy, and Uruguay.\n\nThe jubilee celebrations on 24-25 April 2004 were held at the Theatre des Varietes in Monte Carlo, and opened with the reading of a welcoming message from the National Council of the Principality.\n\nIn September 1953 Nellie French, 85, became the first Baha'i to arrive in Monaco, but she passed away a few months later. For her act of service in bringing the Faith to the country, she received the accolade Knight of Baha'u'llah from Shoghi Effendi.\n\nSome of the other Baha'is who first brought the message of the Baha'i Faith to Monaco 50 years ago were present at the jubilee, together with members of their families.\n\nOne was Shamsi Navidi who had arrived from Iran with her daughters Vida and Guilda, in February 1954. Mrs. Navidi's husband, the late Aziz Navidi, a distinguished Baha'i lawyer, joined his family a few months later. Shoghi Effendi named both Mr. and Mrs. Navidi Knights of Baha'u'llah.\n\nIn March 1954 Florence Ullrich (later Ullrich-Kelley), a young college graduate, and Olivia Kelsey, an accomplished Baha'i author and poet, arrived from the United States. Ms. Ullrich and Ms. Kelsey were also named Knights of Baha'u'llah.\n\n\"We didn't know their language nor did we know their culture,\" Ms.Ullrich-Kelley told the conference while recounting her memories of her first days in the principality.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Ms. Ullrich-Kelley said the Baha'is initially found it difficult to establish contact with the locals. However, they made the effort to learn the language and soon met people who were interested in the Faith.\n\nThe first person to become a Baha'i in Monaco was Margaret Lantz, of Luxembourg. Soon after her a Frenchman, Mr. Charbonnet, who owned an antique shop in Monaco, also accepted the Faith. Charlottte Campana was the first person of Monegasque nationality to become a Baha'i.\n\nThe first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Monaco was established in 1955.\n\nSince then, as the representative of the Swiss National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of Switzerland, John-Paul Vader, told the jubilee, the Monaco community has sent out Baha'is who assisted and taught the Faith in other countries, and also worked for the Faith in international institutions and in defense of the persecuted Baha'is in Iran.\n\nBaha'i writings translated into Monegasque were officially presented to Crown Prince Albert in 2001, and one highlight of the jubilee was the reading of a prayer in that language.\n\nStephane Valeri, President of the Monaco National Council, sent representatives to the jubilee: a member of the National Council, Christophe Spiliotis-Saquet, and Christian Berti. Also present was Henri Doria, the representative of the mayor of Monaco.\n\nThe guests of honor at the jubilee were former member of the Universal House of Justice, Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, who addressed the participants on spiritual matters, and his wife Violette, who described the visit in the 1980s to Monaco of Madame Rabbani, a Hand of the Cause of God and the widow of Shoghi Effendi.\n\nOthers Hands of the Cause who visited Monaco during the past 50 years included Abul Qasim Faizi, John Ferraby, Djalal Khaseh, Adelbert Muhlschlegel, and Tarazullah Samandari.\n\nPresent at the jubilee were representatives of the National Spiritual Assemblies of France, Italy, and Switzerland. Congratulatory messages arrived from other Baha'i communities, including Germany, Hawaii, Luxembourg, Morocco, and New Zealand.\n\nA member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Nosrat Tirandaz, delivered the message of the Board of Counsellors for Europe to the Monaco Baha'i community.\n\nParticipants enjoyed viewing slides prepared by Rochan Mavaddat which depicted the history of the Monaco Baha'i community.\n\nLinda Youssefian-Marshall of Italy paid a tribute to the most prominent Baha'i to have resided in Monaco, the late Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery, who spent his latter years there with his wife Angeline. A short film of the Giacherys made by Gregoire Foucher was also shown.\n\nThe celebrations, which were chaired by Paul Hakim, also featured many artistic presentations. Ranzie Mensah from Italy sang excerpts from the Baha'i writings put to music and a Tunisian-born singer Hatef Sedkaoui, also known as Atef, performed European and North African songs. One of the Baha'i youth, Melodie Kahl played the cello. Guitarist Serge Merlaud and pianist Francine Astani also performed.\n\nThe joyous celebrations ended with a dinner party for 300 at the seashore restaurant of one of the local Baha'is, Eric Chauvet.\n\nThe Monaco postal authorities issued a special postal mark to commemorate the 50th anniversary.\n\nFollowing the event a local weekly magazine, The Monaco Hebdo, published an article about the jubilee."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424588-bwns5313-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"At the gravesite in Monte Carlo, Monaco, of Angeline Giachery, the wife of the Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery. (Right to left) Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani, Mrs. Florence Kelley, Mr. Larry Kelley. Photo courtesy of Hawai'i Baha'i News."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5294-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":""},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5293-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"An early Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Monaco."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424587-bwns5292-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Aziz Navidi."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424589-bwns5291-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Olivia Kelsey."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5290-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Nellie French."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5289-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Ranzie Mensah, originally from Ghana and now of Italy, singing excerpts from the Baha'i writings."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5288-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mrs. Violette Nakhjavani addressing the gathering."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424588-bwns5287-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Prince Albert of Monaco receives a Baha'i prayer in Monagasque from (at left) Brenda Abrar of France and Paulette Bodansen of Monaco, 2001."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424585-bwns5286-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Ali Nakhjavani at the celebrations."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424588-bwns5285-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Some of the early Baha'is of Monaco: (seated from left to right) Guilda Navidi-Walker, Florence Ullrich-Kelley (with husband Larry Kelley), Shamsi Navidi (with granddaughter Alexandra Walker.)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424586-bwns5284-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Many of the participants at the jubilee celebrations in Monaco. (Photo by Francois Lambert.)"}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":298,"evergreenUrl":"paintings-peace-unity-display","title":"Paintings of peace and unity on display","description":"Peace and unity were themes of paintings in an exhibition by a Baha'i artist at a prestigious venue here. Uruguayan artist Sima Baher titled...","date":"2004-02-29","customDateline":null,"city":"BUENOS AIRES","country":"ARGENTINA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424555-bwns5276-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424555-bwns5276-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Sima Baher with her mural \"The Dawn of a New Era.\"","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Peace and unity were themes of paintings in an exhibition by a Baha'i artist at a prestigious venue here.\n\nUruguayan artist Sima Baher titled the exhibition \"The Earth Is But One Country,\" an excerpt from a quotation by Baha'u'llah.\n\nSponsored by the embassy of Uruguay in Argentina, the exhibition opened at the Borges Cultural Center.\n\nSimultaneously with Ms. Baher's exhibition, the gallery featured works by Salvador Dali and is now displaying images by renowned French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.\n\nLaunching Ms. Baher's exhibition, Uruguayan author and radio presenter Angela Caceres spoke about the importance of peace and unity, the principles that inspired the paintings.\n\n\"Peace and unity are abstract words and it is only when we move from the noun to the verb that they concert into action,\" Ms. Caceres said.\n\n\"Peace in the heart, peace in the soul, unity in the being, peace and unity in the family, peace and unity in the major family which is humanity – all these are the essence of the teachings of the Baha'i Faith,\" she said.\n\nAt the exhibition, held between 5 and 29 February, 2004, Ms. Baher also displayed two of her books, which feature similar themes to her paintings."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"From Uruguay to the World\" and \"Lazos,\" both edited and published by Ms. Baher, include poems and articles written mostly by Uruguayan authors.\n\nSpeaking about the themes of her books at the event, Ms. Baher said that peace is one of the essential characteristics of a mature society.\n\n\"The concept of peace is much more profound than the end or absence of wars,\" she said.\n\n\"Peace is the stage during which we can develop and manifest our latent potential for the good of the society. Peace is believing that we are noble and distinguished beings.\"\n\nMs. Baher said that artists have a responsibility towards humanity.\n\n\"Artists are educators who touch the hearts of people directly – they help people see, feel, and understand the realities of the world.\"\n\nMs. Baher, also a poet and an art teacher, organizes classes and gatherings in Uruguay where participants explore the arts with the help of the Baha'i writings.\n\nIn the coming months the classes will also be held in Argentina, under the auspices of the Center of Art, Culture, and Development, a foundation that she established in 1996 with her husband, Alejandro Caballero, to focus on art as a means of personal and social development.\n\n\"Art is a spiritual issue,\" Ms. Baher says.\n\n\"Baha'u'llah said that the arts, crafts, and sciences elevate the world of being and lead to its exaltation. The arts can awaken noble qualities and sentiments in us and make us want to become better people.\"\n\nMs. Baher completed her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in L'Aquila, Italy, and later studied architecture in Rome.\n\nIn 1981 she received the Premio Foro award at an international art competition, organized by the Forum Interart Gallery in Rome.\n\nHer paintings have featured in many exhibitions in Montevideo, in other cities in Uruguay, and in Italy, Argentina, Brazil, and the United States.\n\nMs. Baher's exhibition will open again in June at the Cultural Center in Adrogue, a city near Buenos Aires."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424553-bwns5281-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Sima Baher beside the poster of her exhibition at the Borges Cultural Center in Buenos Aires."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424555-bwns5280-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The mural \"March for Peace\" by Sima Baher. (Artwork © Sima Baher. Used with permission.)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424556-bwns5279-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"\"Deep Blue\" by Sima Baher."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424553-bwns5278-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Sima Baher with her husband Alejandro Caballero, in front of the entrance to her exhibition in the Borges Cultural Center in Buenos Aires."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424555-bwns5277-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The mural \"The World is but One Country\" by Sima Baher. (Artwork © Sima Baher. Used with permission.)"},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424553-bwns5282-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":""}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":297,"evergreenUrl":"youthful-experience-inspired-service","title":"Youthful experience inspired service","description":"Throughout his whole life Aziz Ismayn Yazdi was inspired by the time he spent as a young boy in the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Mr. Yazdi died...","date":"2004-04-19","customDateline":null,"city":"VANCOUVER","country":"CANADA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5275-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5275-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Aziz Yazdi (left) and Mrs. Yazdi (second from right) with Therese and James Elijio, Dominica, West Indies, 1991.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Throughout his whole life Aziz Ismayn Yazdi was inspired by the time he spent as a young boy in the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha.\n\nMr. Yazdi died of natural causes here, aged 95, on 19 April 2004 after a life consecrated to service to the Baha'i Faith in many parts of the world.\n\nAziz Yazdi lived in Egypt, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Great Britain, Uganda, Kenya, Israel, and finally Canada. But his travels for his religion took him to countries all around the world -- and he is remembered with affection by generations of Baha'is.\n\nIn 1973 Mr. Yazdi was appointed as an inaugural member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa, an institution created by the Universal House of Justice to attend to matters of propagation and protection of the Faith throughout the world.\n\nIn this capacity, he had the opportunity to recount to pilgrims his experiences with the Master, as 'Abdu'l-Baha is commonly referred to by Baha'is.\n\nHis face beaming with his characteristic smile, Mr. Yazdi would recall that on one occasion in his youth, he had the privilege of being the sole witness of the Master as He knelt and prayed in the Shrine of the Bab. Mr. Yazdi often talked about the intense stillness in the room and the incredible feeling of peace.\n\nHe would sometimes tell a humorous anecdote of how, as a young boy, he had tried to sneak into 'Abdu'l-Baha's kitchen for candy but unexpectedly ran into the Master, Who patted him on his head, gave him an apple, and kindly sent him on to the kitchen for the sweets.\n\nMr. Yazdi had a fund of such stories that he told when he conducted his extensive and sometimes difficult travels as a Counsellor to encourage and advise Baha'is in often remote areas of the world."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Born in 1909 in Alexandria, Egypt, Aziz Yazdi was the son of devoted Baha'i parents. His father and his grandfather had the honor of visiting Baha'u'llah.\n\nMr. Yazdi received his name from 'Abdu'l-Baha, Who Himself went to Alexandria in 1910 on a brief sojourn.\n\nDuring World War One, the Yazdi family moved to Damascus on the instructions of 'Abdu'l-Baha.\n\nIn response to a call by 'Abdu'l-Baha, the family moved to Haifa in 1919, and so young Aziz was often in the Master's spiritually uplifting presence until His passing in 1921.\n\nMr. Yazdi studied banking in Egypt and electrical engineering in England before working at management level in the oil industry in Iran. In 1941, he married Soraya Khamsi and they had four children. Mrs. Yazdi passed away in 1997.\n\nMotivated by service to the Baha'i Faith, the Yazdis moved to Iraq, back to Iran and then, in response to a call by Shoghi Effendi, to Kenya where Mr. Yazdi ran his own import business for two decades.\n\nHe was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Central and East Africa, and later of Kenya. In 1954 he was appointed as a member of the Auxiliary Board in Africa, and in 1968 he was appointed to the Continental Board of Counsellors in Central and East Africa.\n\nAfter Mr. Yazdi's retirement from the International Teaching Centre in 1988, he moved with his wife to Canada but kept up his tireless travels for the Faith.\n\nWhen he passed away, the Universal House of Justice sent a message to all National Spiritual Assemblies describing Mr. Yazdi as a \"dearly loved, devoted promoter of the Cause\" who lived a life \"characterized by an imperishable record of selfless service, steadfast action and instant obedience.\"\n\nThe message advised National Spiritual Assemblies to hold memorial gatherings in his honor in all Baha'i Houses of Worship and in Baha'i communities throughout the world.\n\nAziz Yazdi is survived by his children Vida Yazdi Ditter, Mona Yazdi Grieser, Jamileh Yazdi, and Aziz John Yazdi, and by his seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5274-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Mr. Yazdi (back row, second right) with members of the Continental Board of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members of Central and East Africa, Kenya, 1969."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424514-bwns5273-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Hand of the Cause Dorothy Baker with Aziz Yazdi, Kampala, Uganda, 1953."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5272-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The Hands of the Cause with Counsellors of the International Teaching Centre, 1973: (front row, left to right) Mr. Ali-Akbar Furutan, Mrs. Florence Mayberry, Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani, Mr. Abul-Qasim Faizi, (back row, left to right) Mr. Paul Haney, Mr. Aziz Yazdi, Mr. Hooper Dunbar."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5271-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Aziz Yazdi."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5270-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Aziz Yazdi (seated left) with Hand of the Cause Martha Root (center) and Esperanto students, Cairo, Egypt."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424513-bwns5269-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Aziz Yazdi with a group of Carib children and youth, Bataka, Carib Territory, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies, 1991."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":296,"evergreenUrl":"catalog-comes-online","title":"Catalog comes online","description":"A comprehensive catalog of Baha'i sacred literature as well as Baha'i books on history, social teachings, and other aspects of the Baha'i Faith,...","date":"2004-03-31","customDateline":null,"city":"ATLANTA","country":"UNITED STATES","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424487-bwns5268-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424487-bwns5268-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"The first page of the site of the Baha'i Distribution Service.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A comprehensive catalog of Baha'i sacred literature as well as Baha'i books on history, social teachings, and other aspects of the Baha'i Faith, is now available on the World Wide Web.\n\nThe new e-commerce site also carries Baha'i-inspired music, videos, calendars, and other materials.\n\nThe Baha'i Distribution Service, an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, launched the site.\n\nMore than 2000 titles representing the efforts of hundreds of publishers around the world are available through the site.\n\nThe Baha'i Distribution Service is the primary distributor for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and its agencies; the Baha'i Publishing Trust of the United States; and Baha'i World Centre Publications.\n\nThe site is [http://www.BahaiBookstore.com](http://www.BahaiBookstore.com)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":294,"evergreenUrl":"one-world-cafe-puts-unity-menu","title":"One World Cafe puts unity on the menu","description":"When, as a child, Diana Gray watched her parents cook in the South American nation of Guyana, she acquired skills that came in useful many years...","date":"2004-05-05","customDateline":null,"city":"SASKATOON","country":"CANADA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424433-bwns5267-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424433-bwns5267-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"A quotation on one of the menu cards in the One World Cafe.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"When, as a child, Diana Gray watched her parents cook in the South American nation of Guyana, she acquired skills that came in useful many years later.\n\nAt the One World Cafe, which she opened here in 2000, Mrs. Gray includes dishes from Guyana in her wide-ranging menu.\n\nThe dry grasslands of Western Canada are about 7,000 kilometers from the tropical rain forests of Guyana and sometimes colder by 80 degrees centigrade. It is hard to imagine more different environments -- or more different diets.\n\nThe Indian-style cuisine typical of Guyana is nothing like the traditional meat and potatoes of the Canadian prairies, but customers in Saskatoon have responded warmly to it and to the other international dishes provided by the One World Cafe.\n\nIn fact, says Mrs. Gray, it seems that the more exotic the dish, the faster it sells.\n\nDiana Gray has a dual mission for her cafe. A top priority is to offer fresh, high-quality dishes from around the world, a kind of global cuisine Diana has devised in collaboration with her co-workers.\n\nAnother is to introduce her clientele to Baha'u'llah's teaching of \"unity in diversity.\"\n\n\"I became a Baha'i back in Guyana at an international youth conference in 1989,\" Mrs. Gray said.\n\n"},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"\"I was impressed with the Baha'is I met because they knew so much about religion. I was a Hindu but they knew more about my religion than I did.\"\n\nOne of the Baha'is she met was her future husband, Doug Gray, a Canadian who was in Guyana working on a Baha'i project.\n\nAfter they married in 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Gray made their home in Canada.\n\nMrs. Gray says that the global fusion menu of the One World Cafe has become an effective way for people of different backgrounds to appreciate each other's cultures.\n\nOn any given day, One World's feature menu may include spicy rotis from Guyana, chicken enchiladas from Chile, Thai fried vegetables, North African cauliflower, Arab falafel and hummus, nicoise salad from France, vegetable masala from India, Russian borscht, Greek donair, and fusili alla salsa di Pomodoro from Italy. And every once in a while, customers can order a Canadian mainstay -- hamburgers.\n\n\"My customers love international foods,\" Mrs. Gray says.\n\n\"If they don't reserve the daily feature in advance, it sells out before they get here.\n\n\"Even little appetizers, like Japanese sushi, Indian samosas or pakora, or Vietnamese salad rolls, are gone before I can wrap and put them in the cooler. Whatever the price, they just buy it.\"\n\nThe One World Cafe is an unpretentious, 60-seat cafeteria primarily for the 200 workers in the National Hydrology Research Institute building at Innovation Place, Saskatoon's science research park.\n\n\"I also get a lot of customers by word-of-mouth. People who work in the building invite people for lunch, including a lot of out-of-towners.\"\n\nMaking money is not Diana's major objective for the cafe and catering business. Her main income comes from her commercial property maintenance and cleaning service.\n\nShe says she wanted to open the cafe to give the opportunity to people to inquire about the Baha'i Faith, though makes it clear that \"Baha'is are not allowed to push their faith on anyone.\"\n\n\"The cafe provides a way to meet people and talk about Baha'u'llah if people are interested. Everyone knows we are Baha'is and I would say about 50 percent of customers ask questions.\"\n\nQuestions are also prompted by menu cards, which include excerpts from Baha'u'llah's writings.\n\n\"People are curious about my background and religion and I am not afraid to tell them,\" Mrs. Gray says with a laugh.\n\n\"My staff has included Persians, a Russian -- people from different cultures -- which also arouses curiosity,\" she says.\n\n\"To me, everyone belongs to the same race, the human race.\"\n\n[Report by Paul Hanley.]"}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424436-bwns5266-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Customer Rick Fedorchuk with staff member Marina Harbord."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424436-bwns5265-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Customer John Headly receiving his order from Diana Gray."},{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424436-bwns5264-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"One World Cafe owner Diana Gray (left) with staff member Marina Harbord."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":293,"evergreenUrl":"bahai-holy-site-destroyed-iran","title":"Baha'i holy site destroyed in Iran","description":"Government authorities in Iran have destroyed a Baha'i holy site, the Baha'i International Community has learned. The gravesite of Quddus, a...","date":"2004-04-22","customDateline":null,"city":"NEW YORK","country":"","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1687959778-bwns-default-missing-image-endslate-still-8-1-1.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"Government authorities in Iran have destroyed a Baha'i holy site, the Baha'i International Community has learned.\n\nThe gravesite of Quddus, a prominent figure in early Baha'i history, has been razed to the ground, despite protests from Baha'is at the local, national, and international levels.\n\n\"The destruction and desecration of this holy place were carried out with the knowledge of the national government to which appeals had been made beforehand,\" said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations.\n\n\"This act represents yet another example of the ongoing persecution against Iran's 300,000 member Baha'i community, utterly contradicting the government's claim that the human rights situation in Iran is improving,\" said Ms. Dugal.\n\nDestruction of the gravesite began in February but was temporarily halted after local Baha'is demanded to see a legal permit for the demolition work.\n\nThe Baha'is were referred to national authorities and for a time it appeared that the desecration had been halted. More recently, it was discovered that the dismantling of the gravesite had continued surreptitiously over a period of days until the structure was entirely demolished.\n\nThe house-like structure marked the resting place of Mulla Muhammad-'Ali Barfurushi, known as Quddus (The Most Holy). Quddus was the foremost disciple of the Bab, the Prophet-Herald of the Baha'i Faith.\n\n\"It would be the least that the Government could do at this point to return to the Baha'i community his sacred remains,\" said Ms. Dugal. \"We ask for the international community's support in this goal.\"\n\nMs. Dugal added that the destruction of the gravesite came soon after the international community failed this year to offer a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran.\n\nSince the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded in 1979, more than 200 Baha'is have been killed by the Government. Hundreds more have spent time in prison and thousands have been deprived of education, property, and employment, solely because of their religious belief.\n\nThe killings and imprisonments of Baha'is have abated in recent years in the face of increasing international outcry, such as a series of resolutions in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressing concern over the treatment of Baha'is.\n\nOver the last two years, however, the CHR has failed to pass such resolutions owing to efforts by Iran to pursue a \"dialogue\" with Western nations.\n\n\"Unfortunately,\" said Ms. Dugal, \"the Baha'is of Iran still face, day after day, systematic deprivation of their rights as Iranian citizens -- not only in terms of their civil and political rights, but also in terms of their economic, social and cultural rights.\""}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null},{"storyNumber":292,"evergreenUrl":"audience-treated-world-class-recital","title":"Audience treated to world-class recital","description":"A recital to mark the Baha'i new year (Naw-Ruz) here attracted a distinguished audience of business leaders, diplomats, academics, teachers,...","date":"2004-03-30","customDateline":null,"city":"BRATISLAVA","country":"SLOVAKIA","thumbnail":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424402-bwns5261-0.jpg"},"featureAudio":null,"feature":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ImageRecord","image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424402-bwns5261-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Members of the audience in the Mozart hall at the Austrian embassy in Bratislava.","imageStyle":"body-right","imageLink":""}],"storyContent":[{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"A recital to mark the Baha'i new year (Naw-Ruz) here attracted a distinguished audience of business leaders, diplomats, academics, teachers, musicians, government officials, and other community leaders.\n\nProminent Austrian violinists Martha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh performed at the Austrian embassy in the historic Mozart hall where a plaque notes that the great composer played there when he was six-years-old.\n\nOrganized by the Baha'i community of Slovakia and the Austrian Cultural Forum of Bratislava, the concert to celebrate Naw-Ruz (which falls on March 21) was held on 30 March 2004.\n\nA welcome from the cultural attache at the Austrian embassy Susanne Ranetzky was followed by an introduction by the internationally prominent Slovak violinist, Peter Michalica.\n\n\"These two young artists bring you a spiritual message which is very much in line with my thinking,\" Mr. Michalica said.\n\nMartha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh, who are sister and brother, are both prize-winning musicians who perform internationally and who have recorded their own albums.\n\nThe performance featured works by Charles de Beriot, Louis Spohr, and Werner Pirchner. Mr. Khadem-Missagh told the audience that he and his sister had once visited the late Mr. Pirchner, and that they were inspired to choose his composition because it symbolized the development of the human being through the different stages of life.\n\nThe Khadem-Missaghs are both artists-in-residence with Allegro Vivo, the International Chamber Music Festival in Austria. It was founded by their father, Bijan Khadem-Missagh, who is its artistic director. He is an internationally distinguished violinist, recording artist, and conductor and the recipient of Austrian cultural awards."},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_InlineImageRecord","slideshowImageNumber":2},{"__typename":"DatoCMS_ParagraphRecord","paragraphText":"The three Khadem-Missaghs are members of the Baha'i Faith and all three performed at the May 2001 opening of the majestic garden terraces of the Shrine of the Bab at the Baha'i World Centre on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.\n\nAfter the Naw-Ruz concert, 100 copies of Das Musische als Lebensweise, a book on music by Bijan Khadem-Missagh, translated into Slovak, were presented to members of the Slovak Radio Orchestra on behalf of the Slovak Baha'i community.\n\nThe orchestra has recorded and toured with an international Baha'i choir, the Voices of Baha.\n\nFor more information on the Khadem-Missaghs see\n\n[http://www.allegro-vivo.music.at/](http://www.allegro-vivo.music.at/).\n\nFor more on the Baha'i community of Slovakia, see\n\n[http://www.bahai.sk/](http://www.bahai.sk/).\n\nThe English language newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, published a report of the concert. It can be seen at\n\n[http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok-15736.html](http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok-15736.html)."}],"disableInlineCaptions":false,"slideshow":[{"image":{"url":"https://www.datocms-assets.com/6348/1543424402-bwns5260-0.jpg"},"imageDescription":"Martha and Vahid Khadem-Missagh with (at left) Peter Michalica. Photo by Omeed Jahanpour."}],"pushRelatedContentDown":null,"relatedContent":[],"updatedContent":false,"excludeFromHomepage":false,"category":[],"highlightClip":null}],"lang":"en","language":"en","location":"/archive/70/"}},"staticQueryHashes":["2762707590"]}