COMMITTEES & DEPARTMENTS

Committee for International Pioneering and Travel Teaching

Could you teach English in Peru?

Pioneering or service opportunities exist in Peru for native English speakers qualified to teach English at intermediate/advanced level in a new English institute, commencing September/October 2000. As yet the salary is not  finalised, but will be very good for the area, and rent is to be paid in addition.

The town of Maldonado has very few Bahá'ís, and fewer active, but there are two dedicated friends who are desperate for help with activities, including reaching the native community; there have also been offers to work with various institutions in youth projects.

Volunteers should be able to remain in Maldonado for at least one year (in order to complete one academic cycle in the school). Longer stays are desired, if at all possible. Language requirement: Spanish.

Being a pioneer in Maldonado really does mean that - the Faith is not established here and it is a way into the jungle! There really is a great need for the Faith here and a shortage of servants to convey the healing message of Bahá'u'lláh.

For information or to offer your services, please contact: Mariu (in English or Spanish), e-mail: mailto:mariucerpa@hotmail.com

... or be a Principal in Zambia?

Principal required for Banani International Secondary School, Zambia.

The position will be available in April 2001.  Arrival date in Zambia should be in January 2001.   The position of School Principal is to administer the Banani Secondary School, continually develop its academic standards and physical facilities, and provide support to teacher in charge at Banani Primary School.

For details, please contact CIPTT.

Moral education  - Tanzania

In April 1998 the Ministry of Education of Tanzania wrote a letter encouraging the Bahá'í Community to implement Moral Education in schools across the country. Bahá'ís are currently teaching in more than 10 schools in Dar es Salaam and other areas. The response has been overwhelmingly positive: students and headmasters alike love the classes, and many are getting very close to the Faith.  An additional English speaking volunteer is needed who can be available as soon as possible for a period of one to two years, to help settle and carry on this very exciting long-term project.

For more information contact Mona Imam through e-mail: mailto:monaiman@hotmail.comor Shahnaz Tulsi c/o the National Spiritual Assembly of Tanzania, PO Box 585, DSM, Tanzania.

Papua New Guinea needs mature Year of Service volunteers

The Bahá'í community in Papua New Guinea is growing very rapidly, with more than 2,800 new believers this year alone. The National  Office in Port Moresby is hard pressed to deal with the  correspondence and many other tasks in looking after the needs of  this largest Bahá'í community in the Pacific.

Capable, dedicated and mature Bahá'ís are urgently needed to

serve for at least one year in the National Office. Due to security problems, males would be preferred. Skills and abilities needed are basic computer skills (word processing, data entry), good writing skills in English, and good organisational skills.  Friends who are willing to sacrifice and serve should apply in writing to the National Assembly (Bahá'í Private Mail Bag, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea), including a brief outline of their education, work experience and previous Bahá'í  service. Accommodation will be provided.

In the first instance, please register your interest with the CIPTT or Year of Service Desk, e-mail: mailto:yosd@cix.compulink.co.uk

PLEASE INFORM THE CIPTT if you are considering any of the overseas pioneering/travel teaching opportunities mentioned.

CIPTT - Roohieh Afnan, Tel: 0181 904 7355, e-mail: mailto:roohieh@cwcom.netThelma Batchelor, Tel: 01372 375782, e-mail: mailto:batchelor@clara.netShahram Firoozmand, Tel: 01733-242946 Barbara Winner, Tel: 01162 730181, e-mail: mailto:winners@zetnet.co.ukDion Azordegan, Tel: 0115 9788853, mailto:dionazordegan@hotmail.com Andrew Wilkinson: Tel: 01603-705031 mailto:ajandnswilkinson@tinyworld.co.uk

Children's Bahá'í Education Service

Community Schools Service changes its name (see above)

Please note that the name of the Community Schools Service has been changed It is now called "Children's Bahá'í Education Service"  or CBES.

Please watch this space for details of the work of this committee. For information contact Mitali Peckham, Secretary, Tel: 01223 573873.

Pioneering and Travel Teaching

There is no time to lose - believe it

"There is no time to lose," the beloved Guardian warns us, "the hour is ripe for the proclamation, without fear, without reserve and without hesitation, and on a scale never as yet undertaken, of the One Message that can alone extricate humanity from the morass into which it is steadily sinking."(1)  This statement seems particularly poignant at this moment, 157 years into the Bahá'í Era and at a time labelled by the Universal House of Justice as a "crucial turning point of a juncture, the like of which shall never return".  If, as the Guardian states, there is no time to lose, perhaps our most pressing concern as Bahá'ís should be how we can best proclaim this Message with which we have been gifted.

Pioneering and travel-teaching are two areas of service that hold a special place in the Bahá'í Faith. The Blessed Beauty, Himself states His longing "to announce unto every spot on the surface of the earth, and to carry to each one of its cities, the glad tidings of this Revelation."(2) Unable to fulfil His desire, Bahá'u'lláh has gifted his followers this honour, advising them to be "light as the spirit", "pure as air","blazing as fire" and "unrestrained as the wind". As the Guardian states, the summons to these virtues is "directed not to a select few but to the entire congregation of the faithful - let them scatter far and wide, proclaim the glory of God's revelation in this Day..."(3)   So then the call to international service is not one for "good teachers" or those without attachment to their home country. Rather it is an area of service to which every single Bahá'í can contribute. From going to live in one of the forty goal territories in Europe, to a summer teaching trip, to providing the means for others to serve, every single British Bahá'í has something to directly offer to the world-wide expansion of the Faith. However, we are constantly warned that time is short. In 1953 the Guardian urged the believers to act "ere the present opportunity is irretrievably lost". (4)  How much greater the urgency forty-seven years on! Bahá'u'lláh Himself advises: "Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more." (5)

If you feel that you would be interested in offering service by pioneering, travel teaching or deputising, please contact Thelma Batchelor or Barbara Winner of the CIPTT.

References:

1. Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America, no 139.3

2. Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh

3. Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p120

4. Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá'í World, p49

5. Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words, Persian, no 40

Indian Sub-Continent Committee

Can we help you?

The Indian Sub-Continent Committee exists to promote the systematic proclamation and teaching of the Bahá'í Faith among UK communities which have cultural links with the Indian Sub-Continent.

The Universal House of Justice, at the beginning of the Four Year Plan, urged the Bahá'ís of Europe to "consciously approach every stratum of society". In the UK we are blessed with many different ethnic, cultural and religious communities, many of whom could be receptive to the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. Among these are those of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan backgrounds.

In the United Kingdom there are about two million people in these groups, and they are particularly concentrated in some areas. For example in Leicester, the 75,000 strong Indian community accounts for a quarter of the whole population. There are also large Indian communities in parts of North West London and the West Midlands. The largest Pakistani/Bangladeshi community is in Birmingham, with over 150,000 people, although Tower Hamlets, Bradford and Newham have higher concentrations.

If your community is one of those mentioned above, then maybe you should think about contacting the Indian Sub-Continent committee to find out how we can help your teaching efforts. Of course, we are here to assist any Bahá'ís Assemblies, groups or individuals - who wish to focus teaching efforts on people from Indian or Pakistani backgrounds. And we would also like to hear from you if you could contribute to such efforts, whether you have particular skills and experience, or you would just like to travel teach. For example, youth who have served as guides at the Bahá'í House of Worship in Delhi might be able to give an interesting fireside.

On these or any related issues, please feel free to contact any of the members of the committee. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Indian Sub-Continent committee - contact Jim Jenkins (secretary) Tel: 020 8682 3394 e-mail: mailto:jim@tooting.u-net.comNalina and Shatru Jiwnani Tel: 020 8420 1241 e-mail: mailto:jiwnani@compuserve.comNassrin Afnan Tel: 01564 703176 e-mail: mailto:nassrin.afnan@virgin.netRuth Glassock Tel: 020 7501 9233

Year of Service Desk

Life on a Year of Service - at Banani School, Zambia

Well, things here are going fine. I am really enjoying it, although it is a bit crazy sometimes! The first month or so was hard, I never thought I would be so homesick! But now I am settled in and working hard. Physically, things are a lot easier than I expected. The water is fine and we usually have electricity. I expected I would have big problems with the insects and snakes, but I have pleasantly surprised myself by being tougher than I thought.

Work at the school is very busy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so I don't get much time to myself. This has meant that I have not been able to go out to the villages or do the kind of Bahá'í activities that I would like very often. But it is nice to be living and working in an environment with so many other Bahá'ís, it makes things much easier knowing that everyone has the same agenda and we are all working for the same thing.

The Feasts here are great (at least compared to my home community!), there is always lots of singing and games and there are always people visiting from other countries because of the institute programme, so there are lots of interesting people to meet.

We recently had a two week break for the Easter holidays so Marguerite Sabour and I went to Livingston to stay with some other youth. We had a great time and I made some really good friends. We did all the touristy things, we visited Victoria Falls (an amazing experience), went for a drive through the game park and I even did my first Bungee jump off the Victoria Falls bridge (equally amazing!). But the best thing about the trip was that we were able to mix more with the real Zambian people, go to the markets, dance to the music and eat the real food.

It is difficult sometimes being at Banani, because it is so isolated and far from anywhere, its like a little island full of Bahá'ís. I really like it here but it was my travelling over the past couple of weeks that really made me fall in love with this country. I am going to be very sad to leave and the thought of going back to "normal" life in the UK is positively frightening!  I am making plans to come back next year, if my student loan comes through in time!

Elena Kerr

Self-learning through teaching and service in Ecuador

January 21st.  That's the day I arrived in Ecuador. It was also the day the revolution reached its height, overthrew the president and put Gustavo Naboa in his place.

Providing a Bahá'í back-up system

I felt giddy and light-headed from the altitude in Quito when I arrived, exhausted from the long journey, but excited about my next seven months. I am serving in Project Badasht, and along with 25 other youth, about ten of which come from outside the country. In small teams of two or three all over Ecuador, we are doing similar things - working alongside the Bahá'ís, studying with them, establishing and continuing regular community activities and supporting the young local assemblies. The aim is that these communities will then become self-sufficient and the project will then move on to new areas that need assistance.

Treated like family by pure-hearted people

Before my permanent placement, I went on a two-week teaching campaign in the most rural part of Esmeraldas in the north of Ecuador. The people for miles and miles around are black, so black that they appear to be blue. This is the only black region in the country and the people are the warmest and most open I have ever come across. You can pass several days here not noticing the difference in colour because its simply not made an issue. Most know very little about the life beyond their own village, which has no electricity or running water, yet treat me, not only a stranger to their region but to their country, like a member of their own family. As we travelled from place to place, we were always offered food and shelter by these most humble and pure-hearted people.

The local bath is the murky river by which the village lies, which also leads them, by wooden boats, to shops and to their work in the fields. The women sit by the riverside and wash clothes together while the children collect water in buckets and bottles to take back to their houses. Every child seems to belong not to one family but to the whole village, and is fed by whichever household he happens to be in at mealtime. Many can't even remember how many siblings they have, nor the little education they received. But when we gave children's classes we only needed to walk along the main street and call out "clase de nios" and 50 kids would stop what they were doing and come running out of their houses screaming excitedly. And every time we left the village to move up the river to the next, we were waved off by a host of new friends and could hear the children singing "Oh God Guide Me", overwhelming us with a true sense of achievement. It became clear throughout this campaign that if you gained the trust of these wonderful people they believed what you believed and many declared their faith in that short time.

Patience required as well as enthusiasm

Now I am in the coastal province of Manabi, in a poor, small town called Tosagua. I serve with an American girl called Jennie and we work in five different communities organising activities. It's tough travelling from place to place every day and it seems that we endlessly invite people to meetings and feasts, only to have one or two show up. You learn to be patient and persistent in all that you do, and the rewards eventually come when unexpectedly, a host of Bahá'ís manage to come to feast and start talking about fundraising activities!

We're also having success in primary and secondary schools teaching morals and spiritual qualities, the Faith and the potential that youth have to change the world.

I've been here four months now and have two months left. The time has flown by and I don't want to leave so soon. There is still so much to do, so many people to teach. It seems to me that whenever we mention the Faith to someone, there is a chance that someday they'll come across it again. Perhaps they will become a Bahá'í, perhaps their children will attend Bahá'í classes, and who knows, maybe all they need is you.

Shadi Doostdar

For information on Year of Service opportunities  contact YOSDesk Sylvia Miley, 97 Waterloo Road, Southport PR8 4QN. Tel/fax: 01704 551514. Esmyr Koomen, Tel: 01865 407887 e-mail: mailto:yosdesk@koomen.demon.co.uk http://www.bahai.org/yosdesk/

 

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a Bahá'í youth, (standing on the left), teaches the Faith to villagers during the Great Nicobar Project, held during June and July last year. As a result of the campaign, 18 people embraced the Faith and 25 Bahá'ís started attending an institute course. Photo supplied by Bahá'í International News Service (BINS) 31/01/00.

Association for Bahá'í Studies, English-Speaking Europe

Conference on Foundational Issues in Bahá'í Studies

Merton College, Oxford, 31st March - 2nd April 2000

Approximately sixty Bahá'í scholars from Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America, as well as representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom and of the Auxiliary Board for Protection, attended a conference on Foundational Issues in Bahá'í Studies at Merton College, Oxford over the weekend of 31st March - 2nd April 2000.

The conference addressed a number of major issues in Bahá'í scholarship, including methods of  Bahá'í scholarship and Bahá'í studies, Bahá'í apologetics, the role of the Bahá'í scholar and the relationship of Bahá'í scholars to the institutions and the Baha'i community in general, and the future of Bahá'í studies.

One notable feature of the conference was a guest lecture by Professor John Hick, a Christian and one of the most eminent academics in religious studies. Professor Hick, who opened his

remarks by stating that he finds he has much in common with the Bahá'í concept of the relationship between religions and the divine reality, offered some interesting thoughts and reflections on the nature of religious scholarship and made some suggestions for directions in Bahá'í scholarship. He concluded that Bahá'í scholars should not turn their backs on modern academic methods, that they should dialogue with scholars in other faiths and that they should encourage a high level of philosophical discourse within the Bahá'í community.

Presentations were also made by Dr William Collins, Professor John Hatcher, Dr Graham Hassall, Prof Will C van den Hoonard, Dr Stephen Lambden, Dr Todd Lawson, Dr Franklin Lewis, Dr Susan Maneck, Dr Moojan Momen, Dr Wendi Momen, Dr Udo Schaeffer, Professor Peter Smith and Dr Robert Stockman.

The presentations set off a great deal of lively discussion on a number of important issues including the importance given to scholarship by the Central Figures of the Faith and the Universal House of Justice, the challenges facing Bahá'í scholars in the face of sometimes unhelpful attitudes by parts of the Bahá'í community (often based on ignorance of the Bahá'í teachings and of the work done by scholars), the role of Bahá'í scholars in serving the Cause by providing materials for the propagation and protection of the Faith, for deepening and to help the Bahá'ís understand their faith from a range of perspectives, and the vital work of Bahá'í scholars in helping to underpin and support the external affairs work, in assisting dialogue with other faiths, and in building good relationships with the rest of the academic world.

The relationship between Bahá'í scholars and the institutions was seen to be an evolving one, rooted firmly in the Covenant and in the understanding that the scholars, like all believers, must be obedient to the institutions. A number of people commented on the serious commitment by the Universal House of Justice and some National Spiritual Assemblies of human and financial resources to Bahá'í scholarship.

Some interesting and exciting prospects were put forward for the development of Bahá'í scholarship at professional and community levels. The new global technologies of knowledge production and dissemination will play a central role in increasing the possibilities for greater collaboration between scholars and in ensuring that Bahá'í scholarly work is widely published and read. It will be ever more important for scholars to correlate the Bahá'í teachings to issues of major concern to (particularly in service to the work of external affairs); much has been achieved in the past twenty years, but an enormous amount remains to be done. And Bahá'í scholarship will change greatly with the increasing involvement of non-Bahá'í  scholars and centres of study, such as Professor Sharon at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Bahá'í scholars acknowledge that they must help the wider Bahá'í community understand the importance of scholarship and the work of scholars. Scholarship is not an esoteric activity to be condemned as beginning and ending in words but is, rather, a normal part of the life of any healthy community.

Participants expressed the hope that further such conferences could take place in the next two or three years, and the organisers were warmly and deservedly congratulated on having put together such a high quality conference. The presentations and discussions were generally measured and mature. Difficult issues were not avoided, but participants clearly understood that Bahá'í scholarship is evolving as the Faith unfolds and that this important activity takes its place alongside everything else that Bahá'ís do within the Covenant.

One of the scholars reminded participants of the appeal by the late Hand of the Cause Hassan Balyuzi to Bahá'í scholars to maintain their links with and to function as full members of the Bahá'í community.

Barney Leith

Bahá'í scholarship

In the Ridván 2000 message to the Bahá'ís of the world, the Universal House of Justice commended Bahá'í scholarship in this the year in which the network of Associations for Bahá'í Studies celebrates its 25th anniversary:

"Particularly gratifying has been the gathering momentum ... of Bahá'í scholarly activity, which forged ahead with the vital task of reinforcing the intellectual foundations of the Faith's work. Two invaluable results have been the impressive enrichment of Bahá'í literature and the production of a body of dissertations examining various contemporary problems in the light of Bahá'í principles."

All over the world, Bahá'ís have contributed to the in-depth study of their Faith, and have established reputations for research of the highest calibre. As it emerges from obscurity, Bahá'í scholars have a vital role to play, combining devotion to the Faith with a profound understanding of the Teachings, to answer the call of Shoghi Effendi:

"The Cause needs more Bahá'í scholars who have a deep grasp of the Teachings and their significance and who can correlate its beliefs with the current thoughts and problems of the people of the world."  (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)

Bahá'í scholarship is an endeavour open to everyone. It is a process that spans from a systematic deepening in the Bahá'í scriptures to applying the Teachings in one's  work.  Defending the Faith in writing was specifically praised by Bahá'u'lláh.  As Bahá'ís we are called on to apply the Teachings to the problems of individuals and society, and work hard to make the Bahá'í solutions heard in the world. Bahá'í scholars can do this through articles and other publications on contemporary issues written from the Bahá'í perspective. The ABS (ESE)

One of the strongest Associations for Bahá'í Studies is our own, designated for English-speaking Europe: the ABS(ESE) which is reputed to be one of the leading and most respected affiliates. We are keen to retain this status and encourage ever greater endeavour among those inclined to scholarship by offering.

The quarterly newsletter, The Associate An annual journal, The Bahá'í Studies Review Special issues of the Bahá'í Studies Review A programme of regional, national and international conferences and study workshops Special Interest Groups: Religious Studies, International Law and Politics, Education, Science Networking with other Bahá'ís Links and support for University Bahá'í Societies Website:http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/BSR/BSR.htm

In addition, the ABS (ESE) is increasingly finding opportunities to serve the wider Bahá'í community by working with the Office for External Affairs and the Office for the Advancement of Women, under the guidance of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Bahá'í Societies

We want to encourage budding scholars in particular, to help nurture their skills and bring their potential to fruition.  Many (although by no means all) such people spend time studying or working in an academic environment, and may already be involved in the Bahá'í Society at their University or College.  The ABS(ESE) Executive Committee has set up a special link with all the Bahá'í Societies in the UK, and recently appointed Sonja and Ramin Frazanafar as contacts.  They will distribute the Bahá'í Students Handbook (also available from the Web site) and can offer support and advice to Bahá'í Societies (and students). Don't forget to contact them if you are starting University in September - they can let you know who else will be there!

Bahá'í Studies Review

The next issue of the Bahá'í Studies Review will be available shortly. It contains articles by Ian Semple (Bahá'í Scholarship), Udo Shaefer (Infallible Institutions), Moojan Momen (the history of the Faith in Asia), Frank Lewis (poetry and revelation), Stephen Lambden (Bahá'í interpretations of Millennium and Armageddon), and a first, provisional translation of Bahá'u'lláh's Mathnavi in English.

All this for a modest annual subscription of £15 per year!

Jane Aldred for the Executive Committee, ABS (ESE)

Further information about the Association for Bahá'í Studies (English-Speaking Europe) from: ABS(ESE) (Membership), 27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD

BOREA - Bahá'í Office for Religious and Educational Affairs

It's time to get moving ...

The National Spiritual Assembly recently approved a list of communities in England, to be the representative communities in areas where there are County Local Education Authorities (LEA's). This list is available on e-mail by request.

Some of these communities are already involved with their local Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE); others have been informed only recently. If you live in a neighbouring community, covered by the same County LEA, but have not yet been contacted by your representative community, then please contact that community immediately. Each representative community is empowered to contact the SACRE on your behalf. However, BOREA is encouraging those communities to consult with the other communities in its County, in order to provide a truly coordinated and united front to the County SACRE.

Since August 1999, BOREA has been compiling statistics on the involvement of communities with SACRE and local education in general. At the National Convention, we added to them when members of communities who had not replied to the questionnaire, kindly completed them. This information is vital, as it enables BOREA to feed back statistics to the local communities, that can be used as a lever to open the doors of less broad-minded SACREs. If your community has not yet replied to the questionnaire, please do so soon. If you need a new questionnaire contact Jenny Lockwood, Tel: 01242 676597;

e-mail: mailto:lockwood@oxenton.demon.co.uk

Finally, BOREA needs volunteers to write materials for the classroom and assemblies. It is very important that the writers have experience of preparing materials for primary and secondary schools, as they will ultimately be used in non-Bahá'í institutions. If you are interested, please contact Jo Constantine, Tel: 01890 818200; e-mail: mailto:xdragonladyx@yahoo.com

BOREA, Bahá'í National Office, 27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD e-mail: mailto:nstricks@yahoo.com

BASED-UK

- FAITH IN ACTION  ACTING LOCALLY

BASED-UK Second Annual Conference UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL Friday 8 Sept 4pm Sunday 10 Sept 4 pm

". Although the time has not yet come for the building of local Mashriqu'l-Adkhars, the holding of regular meetings for worship open to all and the involvement of Bahá'í communities in projects of humanitarian service are expressions of this element of Bahá'í life and a further step in the implementation of the Law of God ." Universal House of Justice 29th Dec 1999

This conference will seek to address this latest directive from the Universal House of Justice in the form of participative exercises, discussions and workshops aimed at stimulating sustainable Bahá'í inspired initiatives at a grass roots level that will benefit whole communities throughout the UK. It would be wonderful if there were a representative present from most UK local Assemblies and Groups.

Accommodation is in single rooms in a hall of residence in an attractive, quiet, leafy setting, 2 miles from the city centre. Non-residents are welcome. All meals will be provided. Information from the Secretary.

Statistical Social and Economic Development data for the Bahá'í World Centre

Most Bahá'í social and economic development efforts are simple activities of fixed duration in which Bahá'ís around the world address the problems and challenges faced by their local communities through the application of spiritual principles. The activities include those initiated by Bahá'ís as well as those in which Bahá'ís provide support for other organisations.

Among such activities are workshops and seminars, short-term training courses, tree planting and clean-up projects, planting gardens or common plots, health camps and gatherings to promote racial untiy or the advancement of women.

There are other categories of the project which are sustained over a longer period such as schools, hospitals, vocational training centres, radio stations etc.

PLEASE TELL US as soon as possible about any  activities in the first category that are going on in your communities. THANK YOU.

British Association of Bahá'í Esperantists

News update

A new book - "The Bahá'í Faith and Esperanto - Making World Peace Happen" the work of Australian Bahá'í Esperantist Paul Desailly, has recently been published in both English and Esperanto editions. In this book Paul puts on record the little-known but interesting similarities and parallels of the vicissitudes and fortunes in the progress of both Esperanto and the Bahá'í Faith since Bahá'u'lláh revealed the principle of an auxiliary universal language and Dr Zamenhof made his life a sacrifice to the implementation of this aspect of world unity.

A further link between Esperanto and our Faith was established by the fact that Paul Desailly's book in its Esperanto edition was launched during a congress organised by the Esperanto Federation of Queensland at the Gold Coast Bahá'í Centre. Justice Ken Enderby, the current President of the Universal Esperanto Association, himself an Australian and present at that gathering, spoke positively of the links between Esperanto and the Bahá'í Faith, particularly referring to "our mutual aspirations and endeavours towards world peace."

This welcome and positive co-operation between the Bahá'í Faith and the Esperanto movement was recently echoed here in  Scotland, when the Bahá'í Centre in Edinburgh was the chosen location and most appreciated venue for this year's Scottish Esperanto Congress. As the Edinburgh members of the British Association of Bahá'í Esperantists (BABE) had charge of the Sunday morning service of worship, the participants became acquainted with a Bahá'í way of conducting a devotional meeting, and several pleasing references to the Faith by speakers during the weekend programme helped to contribute to a greater understanding and pleasure in our mutual collaboration.

As a memento of this first Scottish Esperanto Congress linked to the Faith in recent times, all present received the attractive new colour pamphlet produced in Esperanto by BEL (Bahá'í Esperanto League), entitled "Modelo por la homara unuigo" ("A model for the unification of mankind"). In addition to explaining the Bahá'í commitment to the principle of a universal auxiliary language and our positive action towards this end with the United Nations (as set out in "Turning Point for all Nations") it clarifies and presents the characteristics of the Baha'í world community as the progressive fulfilment of the ultimate objective of the noble strivings of Dr Zamenhof, who was fully convinced that not only was a common language an essential ingredient of world peace but also was likewise a common religion, and he devoted his later years to an initiative with this objective in view.

For further information contact Irene Bennett, Rossignol, Glaitness Road, Kirkwall KW15 1TW Tel: 01856 875033.