COMMITTEES & DEPARTMENTS

Baha'i Information Office

A Hundred Years of Advancing the Equality of Women and Men

This is the latest resource paper made available for the UK Baha'i Centenary. We are sure it will be of interest to Baha'is and non-Baha'is alike, a worthy addition to the resource papers prepared to help your outreach into the wider community.

A copy was sent to each community with the March mailout. If yours has disappeared or if you wish a personal copy for study and/or use, please contact the Baha'i Information Office (SAE appreciated as always). The paper can also be viewed on the World Wide Web at the Centenary Website and those with e-mail can obtain the text by sending a message to: isp@iol.ie

Agenda 21 News

Included in the March mailout to communities is the latest issue of the newsletter of our Agenda 21 - Sustainable Development project. Extra copies of Agenda 21 News can be obtained from the Baha'i Information Office.

Esperantisto?

Some time ago the Baha'i Esperanto League issued two leaflets in La Internacia Lingvo giving the gist of two key Baha'i International Community documents - one on "The Prosperity of Humankind", the other "Turning Point For All Nations". We still have some of these and would like to share them with Baha'is who are Esperantists or who have Esperantist friends or contacts. To obtain a copy of each please send a stamped self-addressed envelope (DL size) to the Baha'i Information Office (note the new address above).

Association for Baha'i Studies (English-Speaking Europe)

To Baha'i students at UK universities

Most of of you will remember that in the past the Association of Baha'i Studies (English-Speaking Europe) had a Baha'i Society Taskforce whose role was to encourage the formation of Baha'i Societies and to co-ordinate their activities. Since this taskforce no longer exists, the ABS-ESE have asked me to get in touch with you in order to re-establish a link between various Baha'i Societies. The aim is to see, with your help and advice, how best we can fulfil the expectations of Abdu'l-Baha, the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice for the youth in general, and Baha'i students in particular.

I know that most of you are already members of well-established Baha'i Societies and are actively involved in various teaching programmes at your universities. However, the main purpose of this correspondence is firstly for my own benefit to catch up with what is going on, and secondly to see how your experiences can help other students who are either the only Baha'i student at their university, or have not yet been able to form a society.

I would therefore be grateful if you would let me have the following information as soon as possible (please reply to my home address), e-mail: P.Foroughi@exeter.ac.uk 33A East Avenue, Exeter, EX1 2DX Tel: 01392 275388 (home) / 01392 263879 (work).

Those of you who have read "The Baha'i Student Handbook", prepared by the Association of Baha'i Studies - English Speaking Europe and the European Baha'i Youth Council, know that this booklet is packed with simple and practical ideas. If you do not have a copy you can find it on the world wide web at: www.breacais.demon.co.uk/BSR/

I look forward to hearing from you. With warmest Baha'i love, Parvine Foroughi

BASED - UK

Current Members of BASED

Tremendous response to Honduran appeal

It was a moving experience to be at the centre of the Honduran Appeal and to witness the British Baha'i community arise in unison to respond to the disaster caused by Hurricane Mitch. It confirmed that we really do have the mechanism and the capacity to do great things.

Donations

Donations reached BASED-UK (Baha'i Association of Social and Economic Development) from all corners of the UK; from the Orkney Islands to Guernsey, from Northern Ireland to Norwich and everywhere in between. People sent parcels and travelled miles in horrrible weather to deliver goods to the collection points.

By the end of January, 464 boxes of food, clothes, and educational materials had been shipped by Fyffes Food plc and a total of œ17,300 donated for hurricane relief, the orphanage, and Bayan. Gifts continue to arrive along with requests from communities and individuals asking how they can fund-raise and keep attention focused on the needs of these people.

The present situation

Michael Richards visited Honduras on 28th December on behalf of BASED-UK. He reported that three Baha'i development specialists would arrive there in mid January to help develop a strategy, with a spiritual focus, for effective use of Hurricane Mitch relief funds. The Honduran Baha'i Humanitarian Commission, set up after the disaster, has decided from now on to focus its efforts on long term development assistance, in particular the rebuilding of Honduran agriculture and the development of micro-enterprises. Among these will be the indigenous Garifuna community who live in the region around Bayan. The aim will be to buy agricultural tools, seeds and expertise to restore cultivation. Where possible these efforts will be integrated with the education programme (SAT) which has been running for the last two years. This is a non-formal secondary education programme with curricula appropriate to rural living and with a strong emphasis on service.

The challenge ahead

Having responded to the initial appeal, our sustained help over the months and years ahead is essential if the opportunities offered by the catastrophe to rehabilitate and build afresh in a new and different way are not to be lost.

How can we help?

We can all continue to raise awareness and funds. As BASED-UK is a registered charity (No 1029888 - Registered Office: 27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD) and all funds are being used solely for the relief of poverty and the promotion of education, money does not only have to come from Baha'is. Indeed, a proportion of the money already donated (5%) has come from the friends and relatives of Baha'is who are pleased to give money where they feel there is a high level of integrity, a close link with the recipients, and very little being spent on administration (at present all BASED-UK workers are voluntary).

Fundraising suggestions

The following are a few ways that some communities have already raised money:

Jazz for Honduras A Non School-Uniform Day at school A Cream Tea afternoon Selling African baskets Pop Up Maps in Bath are contributing all profits from a new special pop-up map of the world's time zones Thomas Breakwell School bring and buy sales

A video of the effects of the hurricane is available on request. Anyone wishing to make an exhibition can get photos from the Honduran Embassy websites: www.hondurasinfo.com (for information) and: www.sre.hn (for photos).

Earmarked donations

You can earmark your donations for the work of one or both of the following Baha'i-inspired development institutions in Honduras:

Bayan: An NGO (non-governmental organisation) run by Baha'is which is working for educational and medical improvements of the people living in a remote and deprived area of Northern Honduras. While Bayan has a very extensive agenda of service, from running the only hospital in a huge inaccessible area, to implementing the SAT educational project, the present appeal for funds is specifically to enable Bayan to help with the long-term rehabilitation of cultivation in the hurricane-damaged northern part of Honduras in a bid to restore food security in the region.

El Hogar Tierra Orphanage - It costs œ25 to feed, clothe and care for one child per month. If a community or individual could sponsor this amount monthly it would be an enormous help to them.

Cheques should be made payable to: BASED-UK and sent to the Treasurer: Ardeshir Laloui, 30 Cypress Avenue, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. AL7 1HN. If anyone wants to covenant a donation this can be done through the National Spiritual Assembly, earmarked for BASED-UK.

As the old world order crumbles we get a distinct feeling that this was just a taster of what is to come and that we really do need to prepare ourselves in order to be able to respond on a grand scale to whatever may next be required of us.

With warm and loving thanks to everyone for such an uprising of sympathy and support.

Susie Howard, Geeta Kingdon, Sarah Richards BASED-UK

BASED-UK Contact: Susie Howard, 22 East Saint Helen Street, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5EB, Tel/fax: 01235 533278 email: srhoward80@hotmail.com

Year of Service Desk

Rama Mahboubi from London is a Year of Service volunteer in Honduras. She writes:

I'd like to say a little about how the disaster affected Tegucigalpa, the capital city. The rains came, the rains went, the floods rose. The water dries out. That which was not touched stands tall and proud, but all in the path of the overflowing river, which swelled to fifty times its normal size, has become a long landfilled site. Imagine a bomb hit an area, creating a large crater, destroying every house, shop and building in that area. There are still piles of rubble and junk heaps downtown. I saw people in the streets cleaning tables and blackboards that were caked in dried mud, houses gutted and uninhabitable, cars half swallowed by the ground. But the saddest and most horrible thing was seeing vultures circling around the sites of the disaster area, where it is possible and most likely that bodies are still burried under the mud.

The people seem to be getting on with their lives and their jobs. Those who lost their homes stay with family or friends and the very poor have built shanty houses out of the debris of previous homes. Here at least 75% of the population is poor. The rest are living comfortable lives with reasonable to big homes and decent cars and there are a few very rich people.

Fruit and vegetables are sparse and not of very good quality. Meat, beans and tacos make up the main diet. (If you are rich then everything is available). When we went to the supermarket I was shocked to see so many imported products, mostly those promoted by Proctor & Gamble and Unilever, eg Pringles, Sunny Delight, Philadelphia, Colgate etc. But these are not cheap and cost the same or more than they do in England. The average working Honduran earning about œ30 per week, cannot afford these.

The culture and the people are warm, friendly and lively, as one might expect in a Latin country. When we went to the mall, loud music was on and children were running about and playing. It felt like a big party was happening. I asked Maria (my cousin's wife) if it was a special occasion. She replied: "No, this is everyday life in the Latin countries, lots of noise and loud music!"

Two and a half months later ... I finally started doing what I came here for. I am working in a Baha'i orphanage in a rural area, which is about an hour and a half from the main city. I am staying in a very poor area. The orphanage has a very foreign lifestyle to me. There is no clean water, muddy river-like water comes out of the taps for washing and there's just a little brick shelter in the yard for having a wash, and no flushing toilets! So I buy purified water to drink and wash in. The conditions are hard and the first two days I was convinced I was going to die. But I m slowly getting used to it and it's probable that I will live! However, short of dying due to conditions, there is no way that I could feel lack of love, as the children are so friendly, kind and loving, that being with them makes up for the lack of everything else.

Hasta la vista amigos, love Rama

Teaching project in Hawai i

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Hawai ian Islands is seeking Youth Year of Service volunteers for a large-scale teaching project which the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Makawao on the island of Maui will be hosting. There will be training institutes for all participants. The minimum period of service will be for six months. The cost of living is around œ130 per month, per person. Deputisation can be arranged for those who are not able to provide for living expenses. Individuals will need to purchase their own round trip airline ticket to/from Hawai i.

Volunteers should be mature, deepened and in good Baha'i standing. They will need to possess a spirit of service and strive to fulfil the standards of the Baha'i Faith in their daily life. Youth with musical abilities would also be greatly valued.

Hawai i is an area where many different racial groups have been living harmoniously and intermarrying for centuries. Prominent groups in the islands include Japanese, Filipinos, Chinese, Samoans, Tongans, Caucasians, Latinos and Micronesians.

If you might consider a period of service in Hawai i and would like more information please contact YOSDesk!

The Office of the Board of Continental Counsellors - Luxembourg

A year of service volunteer post is currently available at the Office of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe in Echternach, Luxembourg. Candidates should have an excellent command of English, and be able to serve for a period of at least 3 months. Accommodation and a small "pocket money" allowance are available but the candidate will primarily need to be self- supporting. The position involves office administration and secretarial work, amongst other duties. Flexibility and willingness to serve in a variety of ways are required.

Contact: Continental Board of Counsellors for the Protection and Propagation of the Baha'i Faith in Europe, 90 Route De Luxembourg, L-6450 Echternach, Luxembourg. Tel: 352 728604, Fax: 352 728580. e-mail: 101722.1565@compuserve.com Please inform YOSDesk if you are interested.

YOSDesk Team - Sylvia Miley, 97 Waterloo Road, Southport PR8 4QN. Tel/fax: 01704 551514. Esmyr Koomen, tel: 01865 407887 e-mail: yosdesk@koomen.demon.co.uk http://www.warble.com/Bahai/ YearOfService

Association of Baha'i Women

One World Family competition

The Bristol Baha'i Women's Group (formed in March 1998) for their first project, decided to run a drawing/painting competition for all junior schools in Bristol. An advert was placed in the "Our Schools Magazine" schools magazine (distributed free to local schools) inviting children aged 7-11 to draw/paint their interpretation of "One World Family". First prize was a mountain bike, second prize "50 Computer Vouchers and third prize œ25 WH Smith vouchers.

The Group planned a prize-giving ceremony at the Parkside Hotel in Bristol on 21st November for the occasion of Universal Childrens Day. The entries trickled in at first and the Group decided that if fifty entries were received it would be a great achievement. Suddenly, we had 100 entries in a box sent by one school whose art teacher decided to use the competition as a class project!! In total, 160 pictures were received and judging proved to be quite a hard task. All the pictures were so good!

The prize giving day came and the hall was filled to capacity with school children, their families and Baha'is who came to support the event. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were invited to present the prizes and a local theatre/dance school also gave a dance performance for some entertainment. A real spirit of happiness and amity was felt by all as children recited prayers and poems and guest speaker Christine Abbas gave a talk. A special trophy for outstanding participation was awarded to the school which sent 100 pictures.

Lots of refreshments were available for all to enjoy whilst socialising, and the Bristol Observer, which had already printed a pre-event story, also sent a photographer for a follow-up article, Kids prove it's a small world , with a photo of the three winners and the Mayor. The group feels it was a real success and plan to follow up the contacts established with the schools.

Rachael Saebnoori, on behalf of Bristol Baha'i Women's Group

Women's retreat in the Isle of Wight

During consultation of the first Isle of Wight study circle, it was thought that a need existed for a weekend retreat for women.

The venue was the summer home of Baha'i friends from the mainland. Their encouragement and generosity allowed us the privilege of sharing the teachings in the most peaceful and beautiful setting. With two non-Baha'is attending, good food, friendliness and respect for each other, our weekend was truly inspiring. Five people stayed overnight, one friend travelled from London and three local friends attended the day sessions.

Comments from participants were: "Very inspiring, I'll be back", and "as a non-Baha'i I found the generosity and kindness shown to me overwhelming. I look forward to participating in future events". We welcome visitors to our events, so keep your eyes peeled for our advertisements in Baha'i Journal UK.

Excellent websites for women

The Baha'i International Community United Nations Office Statement Library has a page of statements on the advancement of women: www.bic-un.bahai.org/i-e-wom.htm Find out what the UN is doing on behalf of women world wide and exchange ideas on: www.un.org/womenwatch

Association of Baha'i Women, Secretary: Sally Dacey, Caisson House, Combe Hay, Bath BA2 7EF Tel: 01225 832454 Fax: 01225 339170 email: sally@popoutmaps.com

The lucky winners of the One World Family competition with the Mayor and Mayoress

The Committee for International Pioneering and Travel Teaching

Please note: the International Goals Committee has changed its name to "The Committee for International Pioneering and Travel Teaching" in order to make our aims and duties clear. Through the Journal we will continue to list the needs of the various countries.

Volunteer help needed in Malta

A recent goal given by the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of Malta, was to open a Baha'i Centre on the Island. The good news is that the Local Spiritual Assembly of Malta is in the process of completing the purchase of a centre which is in Malta's capital city of Valletta. The beautiful old building is situated in the heart of this historical walled city. Because it is a very old building it will be necessary for it to be refurbished to an acceptable standard before it can be used.

If you can volunteer skilled help in any of the fields of building for any length of time, please contact: the secretary of the Baha'is of Malta, PO Box 12, Sliema, SLM, Malta, or CIPTT.

Travel teachers

"Contemplate the significance of teaching the Faith in the islands of the Mediterranean" (The Universal House of Justice, Ridv n 153 Message to Europe).

The Continental Board of Counsellors have appealed for help in Malta. English- speaking travel teachers from the UK and Ireland and (particularly those from Catholic backgrounds), would be of great assistance. Ideally, it would be wonderful if the person or persons could stay for a period of three months, but shorter visits would also be very welcome. For details please contact the CIPTT.

Pearls of the Caribbean

The Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of French Guiana is hosting the French "Sparks of Peace" teaching project in August. Youth who can speak French well are required. They also need French speakers experienced with theatre, dance workshops, visual arts and musicians who can train and organise youth for proclamation shows. The youth will have to be recommended by their NSA or LSA. For information and registration forms please contact: Mrs Lia Hoen, Fax: 0594 318974 email: ruhiya@nplus.gf

Spanish-speakers for Puerto Rico

The Board of Directors of the Amoz Gibson Baha'i Centre in Puerto Rico is looking for a pioneer person/family to live at a Baha'i owned facility, near the town of Arecibo. The centre is used for Baha'i schools and teaching activities. Applicants must speak Spanish. Responsibilities are general upkeep at the site and helping develop teaching activities.

The post includes rent and all utilities as well as a small monthly stipend of approx œ220. The cost of living is comparable to the USA so a small secondary income would be helpful. Contact Fritz Kersting, Tel: 001 787 791 3578 e-mail: fritzk@caribe.netThe

Faroe Islands - a "priority" goal

Pioneers and travel teachers are needed in the Faroe Islands to help maintain the two existing assemblies of Thorshavn and Toftir. In addition they are forging ahead with plans to form two new assemblies this Ridv n at Runavik and Klaksvik. - For details please contact the CIPTT.

Arts project in Guadeloupe

There is to be a nine-day Arts project from 21st-28th August, in Guadeloupe. Participants who can demonstrate the teachings of our beloved Cause by means of words, drama and music are very welcome. For details please contact the CIPTT before 28th March.

Engineers for Lesotho

An engineering firm - FM Associates, owned and managed by Baha'is, may be able to provide employment for experienced and junior engineers in the fields of structural, roads, water and environmental engineering. We may also be able to find employment for other professionals. Please send your detailed curriculum vitae for the attention of the Engineering Manager, FM Associates, PO Box 1054, Maseru 100, Lesotho, Africa or via e-mail to: fmassoc@lesoff.co.za

Committee for International Pioneering and Travel Teaching - contact: Edgar Boyett, 12 Lapwing Grove, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7DZ. Tel: 01483 568926, e-mail: 106131.1062@compuserve.com or http://www.warble.com/Bahai /YearOfService If you are interested in any of these opportunities to serve please contact us for more information.

THE FAST

Fast magic

The miles rolled away steadily as he headed north on the M40. An unexpectedly sunny day was at last coming to a close. A huge orange ball of a sun dashed and flickered through gaps in the trees on the left as it began settling towards the horizon. It would be nice for once to actually watch a sunset during the Fast, and savour the moment when he could take that first delicious cooling draught from the carton of fresh orange juice in the boot. It had been there since noon, in the company of a cheese and tomato roll bought at a newsagents near the airport.

After a hot and wearying day in city traffic, the freedom of the motorway was painlessly easing away the last minutes of the day. The sun was sinking quickly, and it seemed there would be no chance of leaving the motorway in time. Suddenly a sign came up. Three miles to the next exit. The car clock showed 6.05pm. He was sure the Journal had said 6.16 for Birmingham, but this wasn't Birmingham and you couldn't argue with the sun, the sustainer of all physical life on earth, now glowering, blood-red and settling quickly. It was just beginning to kiss the horizon as he pulled into the gateway of a field, switched off the hot engine and climbed quickly out. As he leaned over an old five-barred gate, savouring the cooling country air and watching, transfixed, the reluctant firey death of the day, he found his thoughts turning to Galileo. The great man had been required to deny his conviction that the sun was stationary and that the earth did the moving. He had been right all along, of course, at least 133000 sunsets ago. What was happening now was not the sun going down, but the earth coming up. Even that was imprecise. Nothing was "going down" or "coming up". At the day's end an observer facing west is carried backwards, and the sun is becoming hidden by the rotating earth.

Concentrating now on the dark line rolling up a melancholy sky, he felt slightly queasy. Planet earth may be a tiny spec in our galaxy but it suddenly felt very big and he felt very little. He tightened his grip on the top bar of the old gate. Perhaps people shouldn't meditate alone down a country road at dusk.

The horizon gently pulled a dark duvet over the tired day. A sense of both peace and loss seemed to pervade the air with timeless feelings of tranquillity, acceptance, the inevitability of things, and resignation, and regret. The familiar source of light and life, ignored and taken for granted the live-long day, now gone. The sky would glow a wistful goodbye, but the darkness was coming. Was this what human beings experienced at the end of a Revelation? At the last moment, sensations of regret, guilt, even panic, that they had paid so little attention to the light so freely given, had neglected to bring themselves to account each day ?

He remained motionless, gazing into the distant gloom. Gradually a new scenario began to form in his mind. If you stayed facing the same way, hanging on to the memory of what might have been, locked and lost in the past, you might miss the signs of a new dawn. You would have your back to the future. Yet again, with the undeserved promise of a new day, with yet another chance to make amends, you would miss the splendour of the new light, as if caught asleep by a thief in the night. It had happened before, times without number. All you had to do now was keep looking and listening. Some already knew where to look. You just had to turn completely away from the old world, face new directions, investigate for yourself. Somewhere in the deepness of night, when all the universe seemed to be holding its breath, you had to be alert, attentive. Before the tiniest glow of a new dawn, a sincere seeker might just catch the first notes of a dawn chorus. It might be the song of a nightingale.

He suddenly felt chilled by the slight breeze that had sprung up. Hurrying to the car boot, he opened the carton of orange juice and took a long cool draught. The slightly stale cheese and tomato roll was truly delicious. A little fasting had worked miracles for the taste buds.

Back on the motorway the afternoon headache was a fading memory, and the last 60 miles slipped away swiftly, like a night's sleep during the Fast.

Arthur Kendall
(Uncle.Arthur@btinternet.com)