CONCEPT NOTE

ESTABLISHING & SUSTAINING THE CULTURE OF COEXISTENCE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING 2

This forum is organized by

NEJASHI ETHIO-TURKISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS

with the cooperation of

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

MINISTRY OF FEDERAL AFFAIRS OF FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

POLITICAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

INTER-RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF ETHIOPIA

Addis Ababa May 11, 2013

A. BACKGROUND There are many ongoing conflicts across the globe and some of which have been continuing since the end of the World War II. One is caused by an occupation, whereas another is driven by a deliberately constructed hatred of the other on the basis of religion, belief or ethnicity. While, in one of them, the people are fighting for their fundamental rights, freedom and dignity, in another a few are perpetuating the conflicts just to be able to cling onto their privileges and powers. In fact, the conflicts are no longer confined to the battlefields. The racism, xenophobia, bigotry, and hatred have transformed an individuals heart and mind into the potential battlefields as well. A little more than a decade into the 21st century, the humanity has already achieved an unprecedented level of advancement and wealth which could not have even been imagined only two decades ago. The digital media has given the individual an ability to communicate the ideas and images with the millions around the world through a couple of finger movements. The barriers between the individual and the information have almost become non-existent. The transportation revolution has made the distance an antiquated concept. Every aspect of our life has been changing constantly, exponentially, and ever more rapidly as the time passes but causes of the presence, pervasiveness, and destructiveness of the conflicts. Unfortunately, this massive change has brought to the fingertips of an individual not only the world of knowledge and wealth but also a potential nuclear doomsday. No matter what the nature or the scale of the conflict is, at the core of it lies the individual. It is the individual that decides choosing hatred and love; it is the individual that prevents the millions of others from enjoying their birthright freedoms, and it will be an individual that will make the decision to either cause or prevent a nuclear disaster that can perish the nations. Therefore, given that the individual lies at the core of every conflict, is it possible to eliminate the ongoing conflicts and prevent the potential ones by educating the individuals? Given that the terrorists, criminals, and troublemakers of today were the children of some twenty years ago, could the education of the children and youth be an effective tool to prevent conflicts and build sustainable peace? Time has shrunk, and distances are closing up. In a world of online connections and faster transportation, political borders are much less separating than before. Homogeneity will always be there, but each passing day we are reserving more room for differences as we realize we cannot escape from them. Opportunities of civility, mutual understanding, experiences of sampling different tastes, and positive engagement are burgeoning rapidly. Nevertheless, engagement does not always take place peacefully. Many sad incidents of the recent past have showed that violence continues to accompany us along our journey to the future. We have seen in this journey that when a calamity or violence strikes everyone is affected in one way or another, directly or indirectly and there is no absolute immunity against its tragic results. From the poorest regions to the most developed ones in our World, all
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nations have grown economically, politically, and socially much more interdependent, and this brings us an awareness of the need for establishing/sustaining the culture of coexistence. Peace building, broadly defined, include activities like education, interfaith and intra-faith dialogue, advocacy, conflict resolution, and peace education which can create trust and cooperation over ethnic, religious and other divisions. By focusing on peace building and preventive diplomacy, an environment of mutual understanding and trust is built so that, when conflict arises, peace is highly valued and a conflict can be more easily resolved in a nonviolent way. A culture of peace and coexistence can be significantly enhanced by inter-cultural, inter-civilization and interfaith dialogue and cooperation which further promotes mutual understanding, respect and tolerance among cultures, civilization, faiths and peoples. B. THEME The theme of the 2nd of Annual Dialogue Forums in African Union is ESTABLISHING & SUSTAINING THE CULTURE OF COEXISTENCE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. C. OBJECTIVES To generate a forum for discussions concerning the modern human condition in which we face many questions and challenges as to how we can coexist in peace, mutual understanding. To transform our encounters with one another into enriching experiences, rather than as hateful gatherings. To inculcate the spirit of understanding of the other and the culture of empathy To make dialogue bring satisfaction rather than a formality to bear To seek ways for the education of the / young generations and make them understand the importance of some essential keywords such as dialogue, love, mutual understanding and respect. To teach our generations how to respond to the rise of global dynamics vis--vis local identities and cultural richness. To explore the peace building efforts/impact of the Hizmet (Glen) Movement institutions worldwide. (Peace building, broadly defined, include activities like education, inter-faith and intrafaith dialogue, advocacy, conflict resolution, and peace education which can create trust and cooperation over ethnic, religious and other divisions. The Hizmet Movement established hundreds of educational and communal organizations and institutions in over 140 countries, most of which suffer from internal conflicts and communal divisions, such as Sudan, Philippines, Kosovo, Northern Iraq, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Tajikistan, South Africa, and Nigeria. These organizations and institutions engage in various peace building initiatives that foster inclusiveness, build capacity, and create shared spaces).

To explore how the media, education and cultural activities could play a role in building the culture of coexistence, mutual understating, dialogue, mutual respect, hope and love as demonstrated elsewhere in response to the transforming ideas of M. Fethullah Gulen. To seek how cultural richness and coexistence experience of Ethiopia (as a symbol of coexistence experience and mutual understanding throughout the history) can be shared and brought in to daylight in other parts of the World. To seek methods that can be implemented to achieve tangible results out of theoretical discussions and good wishes uttered so that a culture of coexistence and mutual understating can be established or sustained in Africa and the whole World.

D. EXPECTED OUTCOMES Dialogue and mutual understanding should be an integral part of community processes, especially in multi-cultural and multi-religious societies. Education, widely conceived, is a determining factor in establishing and sustaining the understanding and cooperation for peaceful coexistence. On the contrary, ignorance is the breeding place for mutual suspicion, stereotyping, and conflict. Therefore, greater access to opportunities for all segments of the society should be encouraged. Religious precepts are not sources of conflict within communities, rather in-contextual interpretations of religious precepts, misunderstanding of religious doctrines, and/or manipulations of religious principles are sources of conflict and violence. Therefore, religious and opinion leaders should endeavor to live above board. Religious thinking and positive sciences are two aspects of the same truth. It is essential to reach a harmonious understanding of the two. An education based on this principle of harmony of religion and science does not adopt proselytization as a paradigm of teaching. Hence, popularization of science is important factor in doing away with ignorance, superstition, and obscurantism. The role of the media in mutual understating, dialogue and mutual understanding is very critical for it shapes the public opinion, the media should therefore endeavor to report with a sense of social responsibility, decency, and mutual respect. These kinds of conferences stimulating love, mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures should be organized in all levels of the society. A deeper understanding and partnership established by the contributions of educational institutions, religious bodies and organizations, governmental and private organizations, African Union, United Nations and individuals to act together to establish and sustain a culture of coexistence and mutual understanding in any way they can. Participants are expected to introduce practical methods for advancing intercultural, intercivilization and interfaith dialogue in their own communities to promote a culture of coexistence, peace, security to object extremism. Youth shall be motivated/organized, guided and given chance to participate so that they can act together with other participants to prepare their own futuristic environment where they can
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practice and develop the culture of coexistence and mutual understanding better and more experienced. E. PARTICIPANTS Participants will include the representatives of the Federal and Regional Ministries in Ethiopia, African Union Commission, the Community of Elders of Ethiopia, all the Embassies in Addis Ababa, Interreligious Council of Ethiopia and the religions practiced in Ethiopia, Nejashi Ethio -Turkish International Schools, Addis Ababa University, Women and Youth Organizations, local and international NGOs and Charities, Ethiopian and Turkish businessmen, international academicians and other distinguished guests invited by the organizers of the forum. F. ORGANISATIONAL MATTERS Nejashi Ethio-Turkish International Schools will be responsible for logistics and all expenses, whereas the agenda, program and documents will be done in consultation with African Union Commission and other distinguished partners. G. DURATION & VENUE A 2 - hour forum is to be organized by Nejashi Ethio-Turkish International Schools in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Federal Affairs, African Union Commission, and Inter-religious Council of Ethiopia between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2013 in Large Conference Hall, African Union HQ, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. H. LANGUAGE The language of the forum shall be English. I. FURTHER INFORMATION 1. Mr. Erol Dede, E&D Coordinator, Nejashi Ethio-Turkish International Schools. email: erolztn@hotmail.com www.ethio-turkish.com