MONTREAL

TORONTO

MUSLIM PRESENCE TORONTO

Reading Circle

At all times people had known greed: but at no time before this had greed outgrown a mere eagerness to acquire things and become an obsession that blurred the sight of everything else: an irresistible craving to get, to do, to contrive more and more — more today than yesterday, and more tomorrow than today: a demon riding on the necks of men and whipping their hearts forward toward goals that tauntingly glitter in the distance but dissolve into contemptible nothingness as soon as they are reached, always holding out the promise of new goals ahead — goals still more brilliant, more tempting as long as they lie on the horizon, and bound to wither into further nothingness as soon as they come within grasp: and that hunger, that insatiable hunger for ever new goals gnawing at man’s soul: Nay, if you but knew it you would see the hell you are in… – Muhammad Asad, Road to Mecca. Join a small group of interested readers who will be reading approx. 40 pages every 2 weeks of Muhammad Asad’s book, Road to Mecca, and will meet to discuss this rare and powerful book – all are welcome Where: Masjid Toronto, 168 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON M5G 1C6, (1 Block East of St. Patrick subway station, on the North East corner of Dundas and Chestnut) When: Starting 14 March 2010 – meeting every 2^nd Sunday – ending: 13 June 2010

Meeting Time:  10am – 12 Noon, Info: muslimpresencetor@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

  

  

OTTAWA

                              

 

 

 

Thanks to Project Accompagnement Québec-Guatemala and special guest Gregory Lassalle, you are invited to attend a unique immersion into the heart of a region greatly troubled by the Canadian mining industry…

  

Come to the opening in Ottawa and view an excerpt of the film Le business de l’or au Guatemala: chronique d’un conflit annoncé and meet Director and film-maker, Gregory Lassalle; a French Journalist and specialist on the question of mining in Guatemala. 

June 28 at 12:00 PM at the PSAC, 5th floor Board room (Social Justice Fund floor)-233 Gilmour, Ottawa.

  

 RSVP @ 613-560-2974.  Limited space.

For information in Ottawa: 613-560-8494 cassell@psac-afpc.com/ Montréal: 514-495-3131 www.paqg@paqg.org 

                                                   

PAST EVENTS

“The Charter for Compassion is a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community. Bringing together the voices of people from all religions, the Charter seeks to remind the world that while all faiths are not the same, they all share the core principle of compassion” Ottawa Events Thursday November 12, 2009

“First reading of the Charter of Compassion”

 Live web feed at www.charterofcompassion.com The first reading of the Charter will happen on November 12, 2009 at linked press briefings in seven cities around the world Friday November 13

“ An Evening of Compassion”

Depanneur Sylvestre Featuring an evening of food, performances and poetry 9 rue Fortier, Gatineau Time: 5:30pm-10:00pm Telephone:  819 77… Information: http://www.depanneursylvestre. net/bulletin/index.htm Saturday November 14, 2009

“A Dialogue on Compassion”

Saint Paul University After viewing portions of the film, “The Imam and the Pastor”, panelists and audience members will dialogue on compassion  Panelists Shelina Merani (Muslim Presence Ottawa ) Richard Weeks (Initiatives of Change) David Abbey ( Temple of Israel ) Asif Rehman (Asif Rehman Photography) Roger Blanchette ( St. Paul University ) Moderated by Ginette Gratton (Host of « Pour tout  l `amour du monde, » Rogers T.V.) Auditorium, 223 Main Street , Ottawa Time: 6:30pm-9:00pm Telephone:  (613) 8… Information : http://muslimpresence.com/? page_id=4 Friday November 13

“An Exhibition on Photography:

The Essence of Humanity”

“While we are inundated by images of conflict and messages about the differences between people on a daily basis, the untold story is that people share the same emotions and are connected by an underlying humanity and compassion.”

Depanneur Sylvestre 9 rue Fortier, Gatineau Time: 5:30pm-10:00pm Telephone:  819 77… Information: http://www.depanneursylvestre. net/bulletin/index.htm Exhibition Dates: Friday November 13th to Thursday November 19th Opening: Friday November 13th, 6pm

“The Charter for Compassion is a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community. Bringing together the voices of people from all religions, the Charter seeks to remind the world that while all faiths are not the same, they all share the core principle of compassion”

Partners Initiatives of Change: http://www.ca.iofc.org/ The Jewish Reform Temple: http://www.templeisraelottawa.ca/index.html The Canadian Council for Muslim Women http://www.ccmw.com/ Asif Rehman Photography: http://www.asifrehman.com/ Depanneur Sylvestre: http://www.ca.iofc.org/ Muslim Presence Ottawa: www.presencemusulmane.com

Charter of Compassion Trailer: http://vimeo.com/6774085

OTTAWA PEACE FESTIVAL PROMOTES PEACE, UNITY AND HARMONY

  September 21 – October 03, 2009 Together with Ottawa peace and justice civil society groups, the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI) and the United Nations Association of Canada – NCR Branch invite you to take part in a 13-day Festival of Peace.  The annual Third Peace Festival with the theme of Peace, Unity and Harmony will mark the two important UN International Days of Peace and Nonviolence, September 21 and October 02. (All events are open to the public, admission is free.  Events are subject to change due to weather/unforeseen circumstances.)  P R O G R A M Monday Sept. 21: 11.00 – 12.30 p.m: Pacifest – UN’s International Day of Peace at Victoria Island with Circle of the All Nations. The event hosted by City of Peace Ottawa, Circle of the All Nations, and Canadian Department of Peace Initiative will commence with a Peace Walk at the Peacekeeping Monument on Sussex Drive and end at Victoria Island where Proclamations on the International Day of Peace and Ottawa as a City of Peace will be read. (Peter Stockdale, peterstockdale@rogers.com , 613- 852-4527 and Anita Rizvi, arizvi@rogers.com, 613-841-9785) Tuesday Sept. 22: United Nations Association of NCR to launch ‘Dear United Nations Secretary-General Writing and Art Contest’ for secondary students (Grades 9-12). Information will be forwarded to educators in all coterminous school boards in the national capital region. (Pino Buffone, Pino.Buffone@ocdsb.ca, 613-596-8211/ext 5211) 7:00 – 9:30 p.m: Civilian Peace Service Canada Forum, Amphitheatre, Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street.  Program will have peace songs, poetry and a presentation on CPSC with a focus on the Accreditation programme. (Gord Breedyk, gbreedyk@rogers.com, 613-721-9829) Wednesday Sept 23: 7.00 – 9:30 p.m.: Dialogue with Diversity and Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution present a Forum: ‘How can our world religions promote/advocate for peace?” Saint Paul University Auditorium, 223 Main Street. (Qais Ghanem, dialoguewithdiversity@rogers.com, 613-265-4654 and Brian Strom. edcicr@ustpaul.ca, 613-235-5800) Thursday Sept 24: 7.00-900 p.m: Forum on ‘Corporatism and Peace’, hosted by ‘No War- Paix’. 150 Isabella Street (just south of the Queensway, corner of O’Connor), 9th Floor, Executive Boardroom, National Component, PSAC. Three peace activists will present their views on the roles that corporations play in society’s efforts at achieving peaceful coexistence with our natural environment and among populations. (Larry Rousseau, rouslar@gmail.com , www.no-war-paix.ca, 613-565-1915). 6.30 – 9.30 p.m.: A Music Concert for Peace at Amphitheatre, Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street.  (Daniel Mauro, peacefest@sympatico.ca, 418- 934-2661) Friday Sept. 25: 6.00 – 9.00 p.m.: 35th Annual General Assembly Trade Show by Native Women’s Association of Canada, Crowne Plaza Ottawa Hotel, 101 Lyon Street. The show in support for the “Sisters in Spirit” initiative features a wide range of Aboriginal female artists and artisans, their artworks and traditional crafts.  (Deborah Chansonneuve, chansonneuve@travel-net.com ) Saturday Sept. 26: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.: Soka Gakkai International Association of Canada(SGI) together with the UNAC- NCR hosts a forum: “Buddhism In Action – A Proposal for Peace” at 237 Argyle Street. The forum will include discussion on shared actions on environmental problems, responsibility through international cooperation on global public goods; and nuclear weapons abolition. (Monica Bachmann, monicabachmann@rogers.com , 613-232-1100) 1.00-5.00 p.m.: An exhibition of ‘Meditation as Art’ paintings at TRIKArts851 Gallery on 1390 Clyde Ave., Room 206 (near crossing of Clyde and Merivale Rd). (Shiban Raina, shibanraina@trikarts851.com , www.TrikaArts851.com, 613-224-9179) Sunday Sept. 27: 2.00 – 4.30 p.m.: Mahatma Gandhi Society of Ottawa: Celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s 140^th Birthday and UN International Day of Nonviolence, Kailash Mital Theatre, Carleton University. Free parking: Lot P1. The program includes reflections on Gandhi’s legacy by High Commissioner of India H.E. Mr. S.M. Gavai, and a talk on ‘The Influence of Vaishnavism on Mahatma Gandhi’ by Dr. Harsha Dehejia as well as a play entitled, “Truth is auspicious and beautiful”. (Jagmohan Humar, email: Jag_humar@carleton.ca, 613-736-0783) 1.00-5.00 p.m.: An exhibition of ‘Meditation as Art’ paintings at TRIKArts851 Gallery on 1390 Clyde Ave., Room 206 (near crossing of Clyde and Merivale Rd). (Shiban Raina, shibanraina@trikarts851.com , www.TrikaArts851.com,  613-224-9179) Monday, Sept. 28: 5.00 – 8.30 p.m.: Ottawa Quakers and Canada Without Poverty offer supper and self-discovery in a playshop entitled: “Can we be both rich and free of war?” 91A, Fourth Ave.  Doors open at 5.00, supper at 5.30, playshop begins at 6.30. Discover linkages between our human needs, personality strengths, and desire for peace. (Gianne Broughton, qpasc@cfsc.quaker.ca, 613-798-8182) Tuesday Sept. 29: 7.30 am – 9 am: National Capital Peace Council (NCPC) to host Murray Thomson,O.C. to speak on “What have Ottawans been doing to prevent Nuclear War? What can you do?” under its monthly Breakfast Speakers series at Donna’s Express cafe, 322 Churchill Avenue, North on the corner of Scott St & Churchill Ave. (Daniel Stringer, thestring@rogers.com, 613- 792-1431) 5.00 – 8.00p.m: “Arctic Future Forum : Cooperation or Confrontation”. Hosted by Rideau Institute with Friedrich Ebert Foundation hosts at National Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street (Steven Staples, sstaples@rideauinstitute.ca , 613- 565-9449 ) Wednesday, Sept. 30: 7.00-10 p.m: A Seminar: “This precious Life–My Conscious Creation”. The importance of the knowledge of the principles of the creative process and their conscious application in your life. Public Library, Emerald Plaza, 1574 Merivale Road ( Vesna Scott: vesna@sympatico.ca, 613 224 5489) Thursday, Oct. 01: 6.00 – 9.00 p.m.: Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI) to host screening of NFB film ‘The Strangest Dream’ on Nuclear Disarmament Movement, Ottawa Public Library, 120 Metcalfe Street. (Iman Ibrahim, imanibrahim@rogers.com, 613-276-6764) Friday Oct. 02: 5.30 -7.30p.m.:  Rideau Institute to host Panel Discussion and Book Launch on “Afghanistan and Canada: Is There an Alternative to the War?” Colonel By Room, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West. (Steven Staples, sstaples@rideauinstitute.ca , 613- 565-9449 ) Saturday, Oct. 03: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: 7th Annual Friends for Peace Day at Ottawa City Hall. A full day program of music, speeches, food and display tables, and presentation of peace awards. (Ian Prattis, 613-726- 0881, iprattis@cyberus.ca , www.friendsforpeace.ca); 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Islamic History Month Canada will launch a Multicultural Expo at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, and will offer information on the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative. (Iman Ibrahim, imanibrahim@rogers.com, 613-276-6764) Throughout the Festival period, special exhibitions with peace focus will be mounted: * Sept. 15 – 30: An Exhibit on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. collated by National Capital Peace Council at Ottawa Public Library, 120 Metcalfe St. (Daniel Stringer, thestring@rogers.com, 613 792-1431) ; * Sept. 21- Oct03: “No War-Paix Conceptual Art” An outdoor Peace Exhibit, 250 Range Road, Sandy Hill (Terry Stavnyck, terry.peace@gmail.com, 613-565-1915) Note: All Peace Fest activities are public events without admission fee. Also note that all events/dates are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. For further information, please contact Festival convenors: Bill Bhaneja, billbhaneja@rogers.com , 613-244-1979 and Peter Stockdale, globalbridge@rogers.com, 613-863-4527, and for individual events, respective coordinators identified in the program. Program also posted on