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From: Mark Towfiq Date: Jun 3, 1992, 11:54:29 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: WORLDWIDE BAHA'I COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE HOLY YEAR WORLDWIDE BAHA'I COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE HOLY YEAR With Special Commemorative Program in Israel And 1992 World Congress in New York NEW YORK -- The worldwide Baha'i community -- among the fastest growing and most widespread world religions -- will observe a "Holy year" beginning in April to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. For Baha'is everywhere, the Holy Year represents a time of reflection on the mission and message of Baha'u'llah. Two major events will highlight the Holy Year. On May 29, Baha'i communities worldwide will solemnly mark the centenary of the death of Baha'u'llah. In November, the unity of the worldwide Baha'i community -- a distinctive legacy of Baha'u'llah -- will be celebrated with a World Congress in New York City and with simultaneous gatherings on every continent. Other commemorative activities will take place at local and national levels between April 1992 and April 1993. The 100th anniversary of Baha'u'llah's passing on May 29 will be observed by special devotional programs around the world. Foremost among these programs will be a special gathering near Acre, Israel, at the site of Baha'u'llah's burial. Special delegations from virtually every country in the world would have been invited to the Holy Land for the observance. For the public, the 1992 World Congress in New York is likely to have greater interest. Approximately 30,000 Baha'is from around the world are expected to gather in New York for a four-day celebration of the spiritual legacy of Baha'u'llah's revelation -- a power that Baha'is believe capable of unity all humanity. "We believe that Baha'u'llah brought to the world a great gift: a Covenant between God and humanity that provides the means for realizing the essential unity of all people," said Dr. Wilma Ellis, Administrator General of the Baha'i International Community United Nations office in New York. "The World Congress in New York will celebrate the centenary of the inauguration of this Covenant, providing an occasion for reflection on its historic importance, its uniqueness, and its meaning." The Baha'i World Congress will be the largest single gathering of Baha'is in history, and it will come at a time when the Baha'i Faith is becoming ever more widely recognized. "With more than five million followers, the Baha'i Faith is among the fastest growing religions in the world," said Dr. Ellis. "It is geographically the most widespread religion after Christianity. At the time of the first Baha'i World Congress in 1963, Baha'is numbered just 400,000." Although its importance to Baha'is is primarily as a spiritual gathering, the World Congress will also offer a unique opportunity for the world's media to observe up close this rapidly growing and distinctive worldwide community. As of December 1991, Baha'is from more than 122 countries had already pre-registered for the Congress. The World Congress will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City from 23-26 November 1992. Its program will focus on the life and person of Baha'u'llah and on the accomplishments of the worldwide Baha'i community. The Congress will also feature a number of auxiliary events, including a classical music concert at Carnegie Hall, featuring renowned instrumentalists, vocalists and composers, and a public concert by jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie, who is a Baha'i. -- Mark Towfiq, FTP Software, tow...@FTP.COM ---- From: Mark Towfiq Date: Nov 10, 1992, 4:24:31 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: SATELLITE BROADCAST OF BAHA'I WORLD CONGRESS I think the following press release will be of interest to many people: SATELLITE BROADCAST OF BAHA'I WORLD CONGRESS Thursday, November 26, 1992 7 a.m. until 12 noon EST Satellite Transmission Will Be Carried On KU And C-BANDS; Audio Will Be Carried In Both English And Spanish Languages On November 26, a worldwide live satellite broadcast of the final day of the Baha'i World Congress in New York City will be carried on both C-Band and KU-Band satellites in the United States. The audio portion of the four-hour broadcast will be provided in English and Spanish. The two-hour live feed from Jacob Javits Center will feature a satellite connection to 10 countries on the five continents. Nearly 30,000 Baha'is from 180 countries will convene at the Jacob Javits Convention Center November 23-26 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of Baha'u'llah, prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith. Two hours of taped highlights from the first three days of the World Congress will include excerpts from the main sessions of the Congress; a classical jazz concert at Carnegie Hall; a 75th birthday concert for jazz great and Baha'i, Dizzie Gillespie; a 400-voice international choir; thousands at an international youth forum; concerts and cultural events. The Baha'i World Congress offers the media an opportunity to see the Baha'i Faith in action, to understand its principles and to take note of its accomplishments. Because the transmission will be carried on both C-Band and KU-Band satellites, anyone in the U.S. who has a satellite dish should be able to receive the World Congress broadcast. The broadcast will occur 7 a.m. to 12 noon EST. Test signals will be transmitted from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. EST. At 8 a.m. two hours of recorded activities of the first three days of the Congress will be broadcast. At 10 a.m., the two-hour final Congress session will be broadcast. Following is technical information required for radio or television stations to receive the satellite broadcast: BROADCAST INFORMATION BROADCAST DATE: Thursday, November 26, 1992 BROADCAST TIME: 7:00 am - 12 Noon, EST (New York City time) SATELLITES: SBS-6, transponder 8, KU-Band. Audio: 6.2 Hz - English; 6.8 Hz - Spanish Video: 4 Mhz Galaxy 6, transponder 7, C-Band. Audio: 6.2 Hz - English; 6.8 Hz - Spanish Video: 3840 Mhz - Horizontal downlink BROADCAST SCHEDULE: 7:00 am - 8:00 am EST: Test signals 8:00 am - 10:00 am EST: Congress highlights 10:00 am - 12 Noon EST: Live broadcast of the closing session of the World Congress 12 Noon Broadcast concludes NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To obtain media credentials for the World Congress, contact Sally Wallace at the Baha'i World Congress Media Task Force office, 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: 212-756-3500; FAX 212-756-3573. For more information about the World Congress or to obtain a press kit, contact the U.S. Baha'i Office of Public Information, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Telephone: 708-869-9039; FAX 708-869-0247. -- Mark TOWFIQ| Mail: W:tow...@Microdyne.COM H:towfiq%justic...@uunet.uu.net ---- From: John Chesley Date: Nov 14, 1992, 12:29:00 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: Re: SATELLITE BROADCAST OF BAHA'I WORLD CONGRESS As a supplement to Mark Towfiq's posting giving details of how to receive the Broadcast live from the World Congress in New York, Canadians (and anyone else) who have access to the Vision TV channel (on most cable networks in Canada) will be able to see the broadcast at 4 different times: Nov. 26th at: 7 pm EST Nov. 27th at:Midnight, :10 am EST, and : 3 pm EST Be sure to watch this and to tell your friends. I am sure it will "knock your socks off". Regards, John Chesley Dartmouth, N.S. Canada Jo...@hfx001.ns.istc.ca ---- From: jo...@uafphpl.uark.edu Date: Nov 12, 1992, 11:53:28 PM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: World Congress Media Advisory 1 THE FOLLOWING MEDIA ADVISORY WAS ISSUED BY THE WORLD CONGRESS MEDIA TASK FORCE AT THE END OF OCTOBER. MEDIA ADVISORY No. 1 The World's Largest and Most Successful Race Unity Experiment The 1992 Baha'i World Congress Colorful Pageantry as 30,000 Baha'is from 180 Countries Gather in New York City A Cutting-Edge Movement with a Unique Vision for the Future WHAT: Once obscure, the Baha'i Faith is now the second-most widespread independent religion in the world, according to the "Encyclopedia Britannica." Its members come from more than 2,100 different racial, ethnic and tribal backgrounds -- making the Baha'i Faith among the most diverse groups on the planet and at times referred to as "the world's largest and most successful race unity experiment." The Baha'i Faith is an extraordinary demonstration of cultural and ethnic diversity. Underscoring that fact, more than 30,000 Baha'is will gather in New York City (November 23-26) to celebrate the distinctive unity of their worldwide community. In a world torn by ethnic and racial strife, this gathering will provide dramatic and visually uplifting evidence of the Oneness of Humanity --the central teaching of the Baha'i Faith. As a news event, the Congress will provide a microcosm of two cutting-edge trends: global interdependence and multiculturalism. WHO: Baha'is come from virtually every walk of life, from every racial, ethnic, tribal and religious background - - and this diversity will be represented at the Congress. Individuals from more than 180 countries have pre-registered, and the Congress will be a window on this distinctive worldwide community. There are five million Baha'is around the world, residing in more than 205 countries and territories, and their Faith is among the fastest growing religions in the world. Available for media interviews will be a wide range of articulate Baha'is from respected academics to remote villagers who have never left their own province, let alone traveled to a city like New York. WHY: The Baha'i Faith has managed in 100 years to do something that no other religion has been able to accomplish: to remain unified. Alone in this achievement among world religions, only the Baha'i Faith has remained free of sectarian division and schism. The 1992 Baha'i World Congress, in the simplest terms, will be a celebration of this accomplishment and an explanation of what unity can mean to the world, underscoring the pressing need for worldwide racial, ethnic and national harmony. WHERE: The 1992 Baha'i World Congress takes place at the Javits Center from Monday, November 23 to November 26 (Thanksgiving Day). In addition to main plenary sessions each day, there will be numerous musical and cultural performances and other events held in conjunction with the Congress, at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall (November 22 and November 25) to the New York Hilton Hotel. Javits Convention Center Monday through Thursday Congress Sessions 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Press Center, Level E [Telephone No. to be announced] Open daily 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. VIDEO AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES -Parade of Nations A stunning visual display of representatives from 180 countries representing scores of tribes, ethnic and national groups. Javits Center: Monday, November 23, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. -Daily Congress Sessions: Two sessions are held daily to accommodate the enormous number of attendees. Both sessions each day are identical, with four separate programs planned Monday through Thursday. Each session will take Congress participants on a spiritual journey, using live music (a 400-voice choir has been assembled with members from 36 countries), speeches, short films, and other audio-visual elements. Sessions are open to the media. CUTTING-EDGE INTERVIEWS Because of the Baha'i Faith's modern and progressive teachings, its distinctive globalism, and its uniquely diverse world community, the Baha'i community is rapidly becoming known for its cutting-edge, future- oriented approach to the world's social problems. Baha'i experts on a wide range of social issues will be available for interview at the Congress. Among the topics of contemporary interest that Baha'is have special expertise or points of view on are: -THE ENVIRONMENT: The Baha'i International Community was chosen to address the plenary session of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro last June on behalf of all the world's religions and spiritual traditions. In this role, it was the only religious organization to address UNCED. -FAMILY LIFE: Because of its distinctive moral principles and the diverse nature of its membership, the worldwide Baha'i community is increasingly seen as offering a new model for family life in a multi-cultural and ever more interdependent world. For example, there is no "head of the household" in Baha'i families and husbands and wives jointly share family responsibilities. -RACE UNITY: The Baha'i community's view on racial and ethnic unity is motivated by simple but revolutionary principle: the idea that all humanity is one race -- a premise that all Baha'is accept without equivocation. Baha'i teachings, for example, promote and strongly support interracial marriages. -WOMEN'S ISSUES: Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, explicitly stated that women and men are equal. Among the Founders of independent world religions, He is the only Prophet to have made such a statement. THIRD WORLD DEVELOPMENT: Baha'i communities worldwide operate more than 1,300 small-scale grassroots social and economic development projects -- projects that are on the cutting edge of thinking about how to improve social and economic conditions for the vast majority of the world's peoples. PRESS CREDENTIALS: To arrange for pre-registration, or for more information, contact: Sally Wallace Phone (212)756-3500 Fax (212)756-3573 Press rooms at the Javits Center and New York Hilton are open daily and working press can receive their credentials on-site. However, pre-registration is recommended. By pre-registering, reporters can make specific appointments in advance to interview experts, arrange for video footage, obtain information and more. -30- ---- From: Mark Towfiq Date: Dec 3, 1992, 1:53:55 PM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: Broadcast of Baha'i World Congress UPCOMING CABLE TV BROADCAST OF BAHA'I WORLD CONGRESS Vision Interfaith Satellite Network (VISN), which provides religious programming carried by cable television networks throughout the country, will broadcast a one-hour program about the Baha'i World Congress on Saturday, December 5, 1992. The program will air at 2 p.m. EST. Check with your local cable television system to see if VISN is available in your area. ---- From: Michael Kalantar Date: Dec 4, 1992, 3:42:07 PM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: New York Times Editorial [December 8, 1992] The New York Times today contained the following editorial in the "Topic of the Times" section on the Editorials page. [typos are, of course, my fault] - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Kalantar Department of Computer Science kala...@cs.cornell.edu Upson Hall, Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-7501 (607) 255-1181 ====================================================================== The Courage of the Bahais Only in New York would a gathering of 30,000 people from 180 countries get lost during Thanksgiving festivities. Even so, last week's second world congress of the Bahai faith sent a ringing message of courage to persecuted minorities everywhere. Iran's clerical despots regard the Bahais as blasphemous criminals and deny them legal protection give Christian and Jewish minorities. Even as the Bahais convened at the Javits Center to press their case for equality and social justice, the United Nations Human Rights Commission reported that Iran continues to jail Bahais because of their beliefs. One Bahai leader was executed in March; two more now face capital sentences. What drives this intolerance is the belief of some mullahs that the Bahai faith is a heretical offshoot of Islam. Its founder and prophet was Baha Ullah, a Persian noble who died 100 years ago. "The earth is but one country," he said, "and mankind its citizens." Criminalizing this pacific creed has not prevented its spread. Firuz Kazemzadeh, an emeritus professor of history at Yale, said with justifiable pride last week that the Bahai community now extended from "yesterday's headhunters in Papua New Guinea to the most materialistic businessman in New York City, to the gauchos from the pampas of South America." Hatred, in this instance, has not triumphed. ---- From: Mark Towfiq Date: Dec 11, 1992, 7:54:45 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: World Congress message of the Universal House of Justice (November 26, 1992) NEW YORK -- In a global satellite broadcast, the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith said today that only the application of "spiritual principles" can provide solutions to the grave social problems confronting all societies of the world. The Universal House of Justice, addressing some 30,000 Baha'is gathered in New York for the 1992 Baha'i World Congress, and thousands more at downlink sites in over 50 countries, called on the world to recognize the oneness of humanity as the pivotal principle in establishing a new world order. "The storms battering at the foundations of society will not be stilled unless and until spiritual principles are actively engaged in the search for solutions to social problems," said the Universal House of Justice, in a statement read by Dr. David Ruhe, a member of the body. "Disunity is the crux of the problems which so severely afflict the planet," the statement said. "More serious still, disunity is common in the relations between religions and within religions, vitiating the very spiritual and moral influence which it is their primary purpose to exert." The Universal House of Justice said the oneness of humanity must be the pivotal spiritual principle in healing disunity and establishing a new global order. "This principle means far more than the reawakening of the spirit of brotherhood and goodwill among people: It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced," said the statement. The growth and development of the Baha'i worldwide community and its demonstration of this ideal of human oneness, the Universal House of Justice said, "encourages our expectation that all of humanity can and will be united." The Universal House of Justice said that the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, provide the instrument for creating this unity. His teachings "impress upon us the indispensability of justice in human relations and emphasize the importance of adhering to principle in all matters," said the statement. "They inform us that human beings have been created 'to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.'" The Baha'i community, representing only 15 countries at the time of the passing of Baha'u'llah 100 years ago, is now embraced by at least five million followers in 205 countries and territories around the world -- the second-most widespread religion, after Christianity, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The broadcast concluded the four-day Baha'i World Congress, which brought together Baha'is from 180 countries in the largest and most diverse gathering of Baha'is ever. The satellite broadcast provided a dramatic demonstration of the worldwide scope of the Faith. As Baha'is listened in the packed Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and around the world, a Baha'i in Western Samoa read a message from that nation's head of state, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, who is a Baha'i. The Malietoa urged others to listen to the unifying teachings of Baha'u'llah. "In view of the current state of human affairs, I pray that more and more leaders will listen to the call of Baha'u'llah in order that world peace be established, which has been the purpose of all religions of the past," he said. The broadcast, using a state-of-the-art network of eight satellites to reach all parts of the world, included a two-way video hook-up with the world center of the Faith in Israel and audio links to Australia, Argentina, India, Kenya, Panama, Romania, Russia, Singapore, and Western Samoa. Preceding the live broadcast, two-hours of videotaped highlights from the previous three days of the Congress were broadcast to viewers around the globe. The program included scenes from a concert honoring Baha'i musician Dizzy Gillespie, footage from the Congress' opening ceremonies featuring hundreds of representatives from six continents in their native dress, special commemoration for the 200 Baha'is who have been killed in Iran in recent years. In addition to the message from the Universal House of Justice, the Congress received statements from U.S. President George Bush and New York Governor Mario Cuomo. "All of us can learn from the central message of the Baha'i Faith," wrote Governor Cuomo, in a statement read at the Congress today, "which teaches that there is really only one race -- the human face. The world would be a better place if your belief in universal equality and your rejection of prejudice guided the conduct of everyone." In a letter read Monday, President Bush expressed hope that Baha'is in Iran would soon be able to practice their faith freely. "Baha'i teachings on religious tolerance, the unity of mankind, the elimination of prejudice, equality of the sexes, and universal peace embody principles that all people of goodwill support." New York Mayor David Dinkins, who addressed the Congress in person on Monday, noted that New York was chosen by Baha'is as the site of the Congress in part because of its great diversity and internationalism. "Our city is a cultural crossroads and a center of tolerance, a gorgeous mosaic of 178 different ethnic groups, and the proud home of the United Nations," said Mr. Dinkins. "We are pleased that you have chosen New York as the venue for the Baha'i World Congress -- celebrating racial and ethnic unity. ---- From: Ted Romer Date: Jan 5, 1993, 6:20:51 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: World Congress This newsgroup has been much too quiet lately. Maybe people would like to share their experiences of the congress in New York in November with those who couldn't be there in person? Anything that comes to mind would be good to hear, from personal anecdotes to deeper impressions. Ted ro...@moray.cs.washington.edu ---- From: David Head Date: Jan 7, 1993, 8:20:11 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: Re: World Congress Some of my impressions of the Baha'i World Congress: 1. Walking into the large auditorium area of the Javits Center on the first day and looking upon a sea of Baha'is! As a 2 year old Baha'i, I have never seen so many Baha'is in one place (some 15,000 per session), and I was totally overwhelmed and could only stand and stare! 2. Seeing the members of the Universal House of Justice for the first time. I saw these men walking in on the satellite link and I had to ask my friend if they were who I thought they were! 3. Seeing the 3 surviving Hands of the Cause live! They all spoke, but Ruhiyyih Khanum was absolutely wonderful! She just enraptures you! 4. Being almost blown out of my seat by the tremendous power of the 400 voice Baha'i choir. 5. Hearing "Allah 'u' Abha" everywhere you went in New York City! ["Allah-u-Abha" is a Baha'i greeting which means "God is Most Glorious".--mmt] 6. Seeing so many people from every part of the world all gathered in one place at the same time for the same reason! I could travel for years and not meet such a diverse group of people as I did in those 4 days. 7. Visiting the Abdu'l-Baha pavillion and looking into a small display case which contained a nondescript leather handbag and several writing implements. Then having the realization that I was gazing at actual items which had belonged to Abdu'l-Baha and which he had actually held in his hands! 8. Having my hotel key fall out of my pocket somewhere in the huge Javits Center and knowing that it would be at the lost and found the next day. Sure enough, it was! For me, the World Congress was like trying to drink out of a firehose! I would have a significant experience and barely have time to reflect on it and internalize it before something else would happen. It was a truly wonderful and amazing 4 days, and the 24 hour ride each way from St. Petersburg, FL with a busload of other Baha'is just added to the overall experience! David Head dh...@comanche.ess.harris.com ---- From: John Trinterud Date: Jan 8, 1993, 1:21:42 AM To: soc.religion.bahai Subject: Re: World Congress My wife Colene, our daughter Katrina, and her friend John all went to the World Congress. All three came back moved forever by their spiritual and personal experiences. > David Head (dh...@comanche.ess.harris.com) mentioned: > > 4. Being almost blown out of my seat by the tremendous power of the 400 > voice Baha'i choir. A personal note here - Hugh Rowley, the much loved "People of Baha" choir director (Northern California - Colene and many of our friends are involved) and his wife Verna both sang in the World Congress choir. They tragically lost their 22 year old son to an untimely death just two weeks before the Congress started. Their participation in the choir was part of their healing process. We saw Hugh joyously singing on the Bahai Newsreel video of the Congress - very moving. They're wonderful friends, and very special people. John Trinterud -- jrt...@srv.PacBell.COM