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July-August 2003 NGWS in Action Newsletter
Page Two
This page consists primarily of a listing
and description of a few notable Intergroup organizations and initiatives
and programs. These are mostly American or American based. You can be sure
there are many similar organizations all over the planet.
"Through our
efforts and through collaboration and alliances with similar organizations, we
are helping to create a critical mass in society that can help shift from a
worldview that focuses primarily on materialism to one that incorporates social
justice, spiritual values, concern for the environment, and a valuing of human
development in our places of work."
http://www.spiritatwork.com
A fantastic and
fascinating exploration of man's interconnectedness with Nature - a must for
those that are feeling they are losing contact.
"This is David Suzuki's
masterwork. He challenges our cozy assumptions, something all Australians
must do as we approach the 21st Century" Robyn Williams, ABC
Radio.
Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great
Adventure - Daniel
Quinn
Focuses on the
next steps based on a new form of tribalism - not the tribalism of the
hunter/gatherer but one suited to the new emerging sustainable paradigm.
"Beyond Civilization is the most solid, real, practical, and
you-can-really-do-it book you'll find on how to save the world. Daniel Quinn
has again proven he is one of our century's greatest and insightful
thinkers. The re-tribalisation of the world: what an extraordinary
possibility!". Thom Hartman
Events
Palm Springs Riviera in Palm Springs, California
A Call for Collective Wisdom and Spiritual Activism
September 17-21, 2003
As we face tremendous challenges at this defining moment in our global
history, you are cordially invited to participate at this extraordinary
inter-national conference. How do we move from our individualized, personal
practice into a unified field of sharing, listening, learning and knowing?
Is it possible to tap into collective wisdom and consciously awaken a new
call to action? A new kind of activism is emerging that incorporates prayer,
meditation and silence as well as new modes of engaging in the world. Join
our exploration through dialogue, discussion, meditation, music, laughter,
body movement, reflection, and more.
For registration go to
www.agnt.org
General conference info: conference2003@noetic.org
Washington, DC. USA
The Global Renaissance Alliance DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE
September 13-16 2003
Four extraordinary days of education and training in how you can make a
powerful contribution to the transformation of our world. Learn how to apply
spiritual principles to the social and political issues of our time. Work
towards a Dept. of Peace, and a ban against the weaponization of space. Learn
how to lobby your own Congressional representatives. Together we can forge a
genuine pro-democracy movement, harnessing the power of our own wisdom and
intelligence in the service of a better world.
Speakers include Marianne Williamson, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Thom
Hartmann and others. Washington, DC.
Information at-
www.marianne.com,
or
www.renaissancealliance.org
Online
Coalition for
Environmentally
Responsible Economies
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CERES
The CERES
coalition was formed in 1989. It brought fifteen major
U.S. environmental groups together with an array of
socially responsible investors and public pension funds representing more than $150 billion in invested
capital, from the California and New York City public
pension systems to an assemblage of more than 200
Protestant denominations and Catholic orders.
11
Arlington Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02116-3411 USA
Phone: 617-247-0700
Fax: 617-267-5400
Email:
fox@ceres.org
URL:
http://www.ceres.org
United Religions Initiative Charter
Since 1996, thousands of people have shared their visions and
worked together to create the URI. It is an organization for global good
rooted in shared spiritual values. People from many different cultures and
perspectives are working to create an organization that is inclusive,
non-hierarchical and decentralized; one that enhances cooperation, autonomy
and individual opportunity. This co-creative work offered by people of many
cultures is producing a unique organization composed of self-organizing groups
which operate locally and are connected globally.
The purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to
promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated
violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth
and all living beings.
You can reach the United Religions Initiative at
PO Box 29242, San
Francisco, CA 94129-0242.
415/561-2300, Fax: 415/561-2313
Email:
office@uri.org;
Web:
www.uri.org.
Community
Foundations/Intergroup Relations Program
In 1998, the Ford Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
joined forces with six local foundations to launch a major initiative called
the
Community Foundations/Intergroup Relations Program (CF/IR). The
initiative provides support to neighborhood and community projects in six
metropolitan areas to improve race and ethnic relations between recent
immigrants and longtime residents of the United States.
The purpose of the Program is to:
- Support innovative neighborhood and community projects that work to
improve race and ethnic relations between recent immigrants and longtime
residents;
- Strengthen community foundations to effectively address intergroup
relations; and
- Enable community foundations to build capacity, expertise, and support
so that this work can be extended beyond the three years of national
funding.
http://www.capablecommunity.com/projects/cfir.html
WHAT IS
VALUING DIVERSITY?
A community that Values Diversity should:
- Promote or incorporate diversity as an asset or community strength;
- Demonstrate ongoing appreciation, sensitivity, and respect for those who
are different from the majority;
- Actively promote full participation and representation of all groups;
- Continually take action to address racism, sexism, and other forms of
prejudice;
- Address multiple identities and diversities within the community in order
to maximize the positive potential of diversity;
- Recognize and affirm group identities and affiliations and allows room for
intra-group discussions;
- Understand power, privilege, and oppression and integrate that
understanding into all actions toward diversity enhancements;
- Integrate strategies that value diversity at all levels of
decision-making; and
- Promote partnerships and relationship building across differences.
Valuing Diversity Project
c/o Association for the Study and Development of Community
312 South Frederick Ave
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
1-877-441-9710 ext. 103
ValuingDiversity@capablecommunity.com
Earth Action
 
Intergroup Relations:
Seven Promising Practices
The following are excerpts from this report.
The Blackfeet Youth Initiative
a Montana-based program that connects young people on the
Blackfeet Indian Reservation to a national network of peers to promote
cross-cultural understanding between Native Americans and non-Native Americans.
The Dismantling Racism Institute
a six-day, residential, anti-oppression program focusing on
white privilege and internalized oppression, sponsored by the National
Conference for Community and Justice -- St. Louis region.
The FAITHS Initiative
an interfaith, multiracial collaboration among congregations,
nonprofits, and community organizers that involves people in economic justice
activities in San Francisco.
The Global Action Project
a New York-based youth program that uses media as an approach
to improving intergroup relations.
Hope in the Cities
an organization based in Richmond, VA, that promotes
faith-based community dialogue groups focussing on personal responsibility and
racial reconciliation.
Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations
a Los Angeles-based program that fosters racial and cultural
awareness among community leaders as well as hands-on experience with
multiracial collaborations.
The Multicultural Youth Project
a collaborative project in the Uptown-Edgewater neighborhoods
of Chicago that creates opportunities for refugee and established-resident
youths of different racial and ethnic backgrounds to play and work together.
The work on this entire project occurred concurrently with
that of the President's Initiative on Race (PIR). NCCJ worked closely with the
PIR on its
One
America Dialogue Guide
and other aspects of the Initiative's work. This
volume was compiled by and written by Allison Smith and Sarita Ahuja and edited
by Allison, Renae Cohen and Wayne Winborne at NCCJ. It was made possible by a
grant from the Ford Foundation.
The National Conference for Community and Justice
475 Park Avenue South, 19th floor
New York, NY 10016-6901
Telephone: (212) 545-1300, Fax: (212) 545-8053
The
Encounter World Religions Centre
is based in Guelph, ON Canada.
Their slogan is "celebrating diversity ~ affirming unity ~ pursuing peace."
They are "dedicated to educating people about the world's great wisdom
traditions through experiential learning." J.W. Windland,
Encounter World Religions Centre
North American Interfaith
Network. NAIN "is a non-profit association with a membership of
more than 60 interfaith organizations and agencies throughout Canada and the
United States." North American Interfaith Network at:
http://www.nain.org/
The EDUCATION as
Transformation Project: Religious Pluralism, Spirituality, and Higher Education
is a project of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life of Wellesley
College, Wellesley MA.
The Foundation For A Healing Among Nations
The mission of the Foundation for a Healing Among Nations is to generate
healing among people and nations and to assist with intergenerational relations
fostering a culture of peace. Through transformational programs utilizing visual
oral history testimonies, forgiveness and educational mentor programs, a Healing
Among Nations with a growing respect for human life can be realized in our time.
Manifesting the spirit of love as a saving force will unify the consciousness of
all humanity for the highest good till the experience of peace prevails upon
earth for all.
http://www.healingamongnations.org/
The Alliance for Justice
is a national
association of environmental, civil rights, mental health, women's, children's
and consumer advocacy organizations. Since its inception in 1979, the Alliance
has worked to advance the cause of justice for all Americans, strengthen the
public interest community's ability to influence public policy, and foster the
next generation of advocates.
tp://www.allianceforjustice.org/
The
National Religious Partnership for the Environment
is a formal
alliance of major faith groups and denominations across the spectrum of
Jewish and Christian communities and organizations in the United States.
Its four founding partners include: The
U.S. Catholic Conference, the National Council of Churches of Christ, the
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical
Environmental Network.
The Partnership is integrating care for
God's creation throughout religious life: theology, worship, social
teaching, education, congregational life, and public policy initiative. And
we seek to provide inspiration, moral vision, and commitment to social
justice for all efforts to protect the natural world and human well-being
within it.
http://www.nrpe.org/
Co-op America
Co-op America, a
national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, provides the
economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for
businesses and individuals to address today's social and
environmental problems. While many environmental organizations
choose to fight important political and legal battles, Co-op America
is educating and empowering people and businesses to make
significant improvements through the economic system.
1612 K Street NW,
Suite 600,
Washington, DC 20006
phone (800)58-GREEN or (202)872-5307; fax (202)331-8166
E-mail:
info@coopamerica.org
URL:
http://www.coopamerica.org/
The World
Business Academy
is
founded on the understanding that business is the dominant institution in
society today and the one most capable of responding to rapid change. As
such, business must adopt a new tradition of responsibility for the whole.
It must do this by defining business interests within the wider
perspective of society in order to create a positive and sustainable
future.
The
Academy’s mission is to explore and clarify the fundamental paradigm
shifts underway globally. Its goal is to enable Academy Members to
integrate this knowledge into their lives and business practices and to
disseminate it into the world to rekindle the human spirit in business.
"The Academy is not just
another association of business people to exchange information and foster
collegiality. It is about investing ourselves in a task of historic
proportions. Some will be called to this task and many will not. Those who
are will find it to be extremely gratifying and fulfilling." -- Willis
Harman, Co-founder
http://www.worldbusiness.org/connections.cfm#
Union of
Concerned Scientists
UCS is an
independent nonprofit alliance of 60,000 concerned citizens and scientists
across the country. We augment rigorous scientific analysis with innovative
thinking and committed citizen advocacy to build a cleaner, healthier
environment and a safer world.
From that beginning, UCS has become a powerful voice for change. Our core
groups of scientists and engineers collaborate with colleagues across the
country to conduct technical studies on renewable energy options, the
impacts of global warming, the risks of genetically engineered crops, and
other related topics. We share the results of our research with
policymakers, the news media, and the public.
http://www.ucsusa.org
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National
Headquarters
2 Brattle Square
Cambridge, MA 02238-9105
Phone: 617-547-5552
Fax: 617-864-9405
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Washington Office
1707 H St NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006-3919
Phone: 202-223-6133
Fax: 202-223-6162 |
West
Coast Office
2397 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 203
Berkeley, CA 94704-1567
Phone: 510-843-1872
Fax: 510-843-378 |
The state
Public Interest Research Groups
are an alliance of
state-based, citizen-funded organizations that advocate for the public interest.
We uncover threats to public health and well-being and fight to end them, using
the time-tested tools of investigative research, media exposes, grassroots
organizing, advocacy and litigation. The state PIRGs' mission is to deliver
persistent, result-oriented activism that protects the environment, encourages a
fair marketplace for consumers and fosters responsive, democratic government.
http://uspirg.org/
U.S. PIRG
 218 D St., SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-546-9707 ph
202-546-2461 fax
uspirg@pirg.org
The Association for Spirit at Work
is a non-profit association of people and organizations who are interested in
the study and/or practice of spirituality in the workplace. The mission of the
Association for Spirit at Work is to provide community, information,
and education, for those who are integrating their work and their
spirituality and for those who are called to support societal transformation
through organizational development and change. Through our
efforts and through collaboration and alliances with similar organizations, we
are helping to create a critical mass in society that can help shift from a
worldview that focuses primarily on materialism to one that incorporates social
justice, spiritual values, concern for the environment, and a valuing of human
development in our places of work.
http://www.spiritatwork.com/
OneWorld.net
OneWorld brings together more than 1,500 organizations from
across the globe — to promote sustainable development, social justice and human
rights.
http://www.oneworld.ne t
World Resources Institute
WRI is an independent, non-partisan organization that works closely with
governments, the private sector, and civil society groups in more than 100
countries around the world.
Its strength is the ability to catalyze permanent change through
partnerships that implement innovative, incentive-based solutions founded
upon hard, objective data. WRI believes that harnessing the power of markets
will ensure real, not cosmetic, change.
WRI demands measurable results from its work; ideas must lead to action.
World Resources Institute
10 G Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
http://www.wri.org/
World Service Intergroup
The World Service Intergroup is an international network of Ageless Wisdom
groups committed to developing intergroup contact, cooperation and synthetic,
subjective work. We have been meeting each year since 1996 during one of the
Three Spiritual Festivals in various locations around the world, including the
five planetary centers of New York, London, Geneva, Darjeeling and Tokyo.
The purpose is to generate a focused, conscious and deliberate intergroup
effort to specifically assist the Externalization of the Hierarchy and the
Reappearance of the Christ.
World
Service Intergroup
URL:http://www.synthesis.tc/
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