News

Interfaith Synergy for the Environment @Kamayan Forum


On 3rd Friday, June 17, 2011 The Peacemakers' Circle was invited to participate in the monthly environmental forum, Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan, whereby the theme chosen for the month was Interfaith Views and Efforts for the Environment.

Three of the Peacemakers' Circle board members comprised the panel of speakers, namely: Dr. Abdulhusin "Jo" Kashim (for Islam); Dr. Shakuntala Vaswani (Hinduism); and
Ms. Tomomi Shima (Shumei -Japanese spiritual organization).

Each of them shared about basic teachings from their faiths regarding care for the Earth, and also answered the question:"How have the various Religions and Faith Traditions led and helped their respective flocks become more loving and effective stewards of God's Creation? Is Inter-Faith Synergy possible?"

Truly, synergy and cooperation among different faiths is possible while the forum saw a universal teaching of stewardship and respect for the integrity of creation across religions and spiritual traditions.

Given the opportunity to speak by passing the microphone, each one contributed his/her own views and insights on the topic. Among the highlights of the sharing from the participants was on the wisdom of local indigenous culture and spirituality that demonstrates deep and direct care and sacredness of the environment.



Kamayan para sa Kalikasan is convened jointly by CLEAR Communicators for the Environment and SanibLakas ng mga Aktibong Lingkod ng Inang Kalikasan (SALIKA), with full sponsorship from the Kamayan Restaurant. It has been held on the Third Friday of every month, since March 1990, at the Kamayan-EDSA, near SEC/Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It runs in three distinct portions, and everyone in attendance is given time at the microphone. SALIKA Founding President Marie R. Marciano moderates.