Over the past five years, URI Cooperation Circles have sown the seeds of interfaith respect and trust on a daily basis. They have created strong networks for constructive action. Many have established themselves as a trusted presence to be called on by community and government leaders in critical times.  Here are three examples of how URI circles in The Philippines, Brazil, and Israel are leading efforts to build, out of the division and destruction of the present, a more hopeful future.

In the Philippines on February 14^th, terrorist bombings shook three cities. Immediately, community leaders in Metro Manila asked Marites Africa, URI regional coordinator, and members of the Peacemaker’s Circle CC to convene a meeting to address the increasing violence in their community and country.  The meeting forged a broad based coalition of leaders from different fields and faiths committed to be a “critical mass” of effective agents for conflict resolution and peace.  The Peacemakers Circle will convene a follow-up gathering on March 3^rd to discuss plans of action, and a proposal to formalize and expand a coalition called NATIONAL INTERFAITH ACTION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, composed of organizations, institutions, companies, communities, and individuals in the Philippines collaborating to bring to the fore the highest ideals and values of the world’s religions and faith traditions in various fields of endeavor for the common good.  

In Brazil, the steady work of URI MIR CC in Rio de Janeiro has resulted in interfaith groups becoming broadly recognized as effective agents of social change.  The government and social agencies are increasingly promoting interfaith-based social action to engage the problems of society, such as reducing drug use and destroying handguns.  André Porto, URI regional coordinator, reported that “the Federal Government Special Human Rights Secretariat published a booklet with an excellent text about the importance of peace among religions, presenting interfaith dialogue and cooperation as of highest interest to the state. URI and MIR CC are listed as supportive organizations and URI is cited as a reference for interfaith dialog worldwide. … This booklet is a landmark for URI since it is the first official document by the Brazilian Government that suggests interfaith engagement as a public policy.”

In Israel, the Interfaith Encounter Association MCC responded quickly to the recent violence between Druze and Christians in the village of M'ghar in the Upper Galilee. IEA Greek-Christian and Druze Board members who had personal relationships in this village and Executive Director Dr. Yehuda Stolov wrote letters to Christian and Druze leaders pledging their practical support to create an infrastructure to contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflict. Building on much successful work to date, they will form on-going groups for interfaith encounter in M'ghar, Rame, Osfiya and other communities. These groups will act as safe meeting places for people of all communities and will build a sustainable nucleus of trustful and friendly relations between them, the foundation for enduring peace. “We all feel that we need to do something more sustainable, and as what we know how to do is develop togetherness in community through on-going interfaith encounter, this is what we intend to do.”