How does URI find an effective voice in a world with so much shouting and so little true communication?
I’ve always begun my efforts to answer this question by taking refuge in the fifth principle of our Charter: “We listen and speak with respect to deepen mutual understanding and trust.”
Two events on my recent trip to Africa gave me a powerful new insight to guide my search for URI’s unique and authentic voice.
The first experience was the opportunity to present Ethiopia’s President Girme Wolde Giorgis with URI’s first Environmental Protection Award, to honor Ethiopia’s extraordinary commitment of planting 760,000,000 trees as the country’s contribution to the UN’s Billion Tree Campaign.
The award was the vision of URI’s Africa Coordinator, Mussie Hailu. Supported by the Standing Committee on behalf of URI’s Global Council, it honored Ethiopia for its sustained exemplary action to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
And it landed URI on the front page of the Addis Ababa daily newspaper and on the evening news – making the award known not only to the people of Ethiopia, but also to the diplomats at the African Union.
URI’s voice was spoken. It was heard. It had an impact – supporting further good efforts by the Ethiopian government and raising URI’s profile in ways that will support URI’s work in Ethiopia and throughout Africa.
The second experience was the presentation of URI Africa’s first award for exemplary work in fulfillment of URI’s Preamble, Purpose and Principles to the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI). ARLPI’s representatives – Sister Mary Tarcisia Lakot, Rev. Lumumba Patrick and Sheik Musa Khalil – were each given a medal and a trophy for the ARLPI office.
Though I had the privilege of participating in the awards ceremony, I could never have anticipated the impact the awards would have. Like gentle rain on parched ground, these awards revived the weary spirits of ARLPI’s long-suffering, dedicated leaders. We heard again and again how much this recognition and the respect, affection and support that accompanied it meant to people dedicated but weary from twenty-plus years of civil war.
Again, URI’s voice was spoken. It was heard. It had an impact.
I will never forget the sight of Sister Mary, emerging from the small airplane that had flown us from Entebbe to Gulu, cradling the trophy as though it were a precious infant. And, indeed, it was. This gives us renewed hope and strength to continue, Sister Mary said. That renewed hope and strength rippled out from Sister Mary to all the ARLPI members to support them in their heroic work of peacebuilding.
URI’s voice – a voice honoring, appreciating, making visible exemplary work to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings. This is a soft but powerful voice in a world where so many only shout.
It is a unique and authentic URI voice with the power to transform.
