Who We Are

ACWR - An Interfaith Peace Organization combining meditation practice, dialogue and a concrete peace and social justice agenda

A Spiritual Agenda for World Peace

From a new international, decentralized security concept to massive disarmament to development for all

WORK PLAN:

A CENTRE FOR THE WORLD RELIGIONS

2009 – 2010

                                          PREAMBLE:

                                      WHO WE ARE

ACWR is an interfaith, spiritual organization that seeks to serve the human family as ONE because the Divine Essence permeates all forms and resides in every human heart. Love and service are the way to inner peace and will radiate to all nations and peoples of the world.

MISSION STATEMENT

ACWR seeks to

- promote collaboration between the world’s faith traditions in equal partnership

- cultivate the time-honoured, universal practice of silent meditation or worship in the Spirit

- engage in sincere dialogue to explore the common core of our sacred scriptures

- engage in service to those in need in the shape of humanitarian projects

PREVIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS

a) what has already been done: a list each for similar humanitarian projects in India and Ghana

b) previous conferences at UN, New York

c) organizational sessions in New York

d) interfaith research, meditation and seminars in Germany

e) support of medical aid projects in India from Germany (doctors, medicine etc.) (to be completed – work in progress)

1.   Long-Term Goals:

I.              Regular interfaith peace conferences at and in collaboration with United Nations, New York, with growing size and impact to promote “World Peace Agenda”

II.            Interfaith grassroots dialogue and shared spiritual practice:

a steadily increasing number of regular grassroots gatherings practising silent meditation and engaging in dialogue on sacred scriptures to explore common spiritual ground and to foster mutual respect.

Will initially focus on New York City, Boston and vicinity

Also: at United Nations Headquarters

III.           Pilot “love in action” projects

in Northern India

in Africa - with a first focus on Ghana, snowballing to neighbouring countries. Co-operation with NGO sector in African Union has already been established and will be deepened

2.   Projects 2009-2010:

I.              Peace Agenda Conference, UN, 2010

II.            A minimum of 10 regular interfaith meditation and dialogue circles in and around New York City and Boston

III.           Offering classes in non-sectarian, silent meditation in cooperation with psychologists, physicians as well as individuals and organizations that address stress, anxiety and burnout, especially in the helping professions

IV.          regular non-sectarian silent meditation sessions at United Nations, New York City, to help peacemakers find peace inside themselves

V.           monitoring 1^st medical care camp in Accra, Ghana – with physicians from US and Germany – in cooperation with ACWR branch for Africa in Accra, Ghana

VI.          India? (Shall we list ongoing work in India to show sustained efforts?)

3.   Means 2009 – 2010:  

Introductory Remarks:

While so far the projects promoted in and from the US have relied on volunteer work alone and to a great extent will continue to do so, a sustained effort will henceforth require moderate stipends and grants for staff and volunteers.

Further, ACWR US will have to rent office space for its day to day work as well as conference space for meetings of staff, volunteers and NGOs it cooperates with.

Since ACWR follows the principle that spiritual instruction is a gift of God and therefore must be free, it will not charge or accept any fees from participants in meditation classes. Hence, this part of its activities will also entail, if little, expenditure rather than being a source of income.

In the interest of transparency, the budget for 2009 and 2010 will be split up into two sections:

A.   Continuous work and expenditure

B.   Cost for single event: International World Peace Conference in New York City in 2010

A.   CONTINUOUS WORK ACWR, US:

ANTICIPATED BUDGET FOR ONGOING WORK PROMOTING LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM TARGETS: WORK IN PROGRESS

B.   INTERNATIONAL WORLD PEACE CONFERENCE AT UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, Fall 2010

The conference in the fall of 2010 is planned to gather appr. 200 participants:

-       120 from the US

-         80 from other countries and continents

It is designed as a 2 ½ days event in New York City. While a final communiqué and celebration shall be held at the UN Headquarters, the actual work and exchange will take place at a venue nearby.

Participants:

-       emphasis on active, committed grassroots peacemakers resolved to promote a bold, but feasible agenda for peace

-       the support of VIPs is sought in so far as they will engage in active collaboration at grassroots level

-       UN representatives (e. g. from UN Missions)

-       African Union delegates

    Intended Results:

-       Entering into collaboration with likeminded individuals, NGOs and other agencies both in the US and at international level in any of the main areas addressed by Agenda: recovering religions as prime source of love and peace; empowerment of UN; disarmament and social justice proposal

-       Pledge to help revive original vision of UN as effective, multilateral peace agent

-       Inspiring research on common mystical core of world’s sacred scriptures, in conjunction with silent meditation practice

-       Establishing an annual conference schedule at and around UN to broaden the basis of dialogue on and support for World Peace Agenda

ANTICIPATED CONFERENCE BUDGET: WORK IN PROGRESS

*    Travel expenses, policy:

Since this is the most expensive part of an international conference budget, participants will be asked to contribute either by coming up for their own travel expenses or by making joint efforts to raise funds for flights (e. g. African ACWR branch may be requested to jointly apply for funding through appropriate donors through African Union, etc.)

**   Printed material will be provided free by professional printing dept. ACWR, Germany