Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

URI Cooperation Circles work at every level, from influencing policymakers to providing training at the grassroots, to build peace, heal existing tensions, and prevent new conflicts.

Examples of our work in this Action Area:

EcoPeace/Friends of the Earth Middle East CC gathered Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians to join their voices in calling for cooperative restoration efforts in the Jordan River.
In Africa, Shalom Ghana CC ended a 10-year feud between Christians and Muslims by getting youth from both sides together to plant trees the village badly needed.
After an increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in California, USA, the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County CC co-sponsored a "Ring of Solidarity" where over 200 people joined hands around a mosque to show community support for their Muslim neighbors.

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Stories

Abraham Karickam: Success at the 2015 Holy Books Conference

Twelve years ago when we started the Holy Books Conference series, we never expected it to become so important an international interfaith event.

Bishop Swing: Responding to George Shultz's Testimony

As Founder and President of URI, I would like to build on former Secretary of State George Shultz's testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services to say a little more about our mission.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Former Secretary of State praises URI in testimony before US Congress

“There is a man in San Francisco named Bill Swing, the retired Episcopal Bishop of California, and he started something called the United Religions Initiative,” said Dr. Shultz.

Fourth African Union Summit: Report

A report from the 4th African Union Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the theme of “2015 Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063.”

Cooperation Circle partners in event to speak out against extremism

“This event will not make it to the headlines,” Koca said, highlighting the challenges that Muslims face when they do speak out against extremism. “But God does not judge us by the headlines, but by what we do here and now.”

Victor Kazanjian: URI Fulfills Dream of Interreligious Understanding

As I read the paper this morning in Kerala, India, I was startled to read the following: “If we can have a United Nations Organization, can we not have a United Religions Organization?”

CC Leader Receives Person of the Year Recognition

Rosalia Gutierrez, Of The Indigenous People of Argentina Cooperation Circle leader, received a great honor from Argentinean daily newspaper Cronica.

Sally Mahe: Interfaith Collaboration – Walking the Talk

In its early years URI embraced cooperation and collaboration. But we also found that “walking the talk” of collaboration – to develop ingrained organizational habits and practices of collaboration – didn’t come so easy.

The Weekly Shot: Honoring the Spirit of Fire and Indigenous Traditions

Representatives of 11 indigenous Cooperation Circles from Latin America and the Caribbean took part in “Honoring the Spirit of Grandfather Fire," a forum on native spirituality.

URI North America Prepares to Celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week

URI Cooperation Circles across North America — and the world! — will be celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW) from February 1-7.

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