Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

“We practice healing and reconciliation to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.” - URI Principle 9
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.
Search for Cooperation Circles (CCs) with a focus on Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation
FIND CCs

Stories

Thumbnail

My One Hour with Pope Shenouda III

Middle East and North Africa
Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue
Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation

Sixteen years ago today, March 20, I met the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Shenouda, III, in Cairo.  March 20, 1996 as an eventful day for me starting with the news of the death of the Sheikh of al-Azhar. Then I arrived early for another meeting, this one with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr. Muhammed Tantawi.  When we were talking, the telephone rang and it was President Hosni Mubarrak who summoned him for an immediate meeting.   (Tantawi was soon after selected as the Sheikh of al-Azhar.)  As we finished our chat, Tantawi said, "when the light of one religion burns, it is a great blessing.  When the lights of  many religions burn together, it will be radiant and bring abundant blessings."  He counseled that the vision of a United Religions would be for the good of the world if it were "gently presented."