Faiths asked for words of peace
By Steve Evans
War in Iraq could inspire people of all faiths in Nuneaton and Bedworth to pen words of peace.
Townsfolk from all religious backgrounds are being asked to write a peace poem or song.
Nuneaton’s MP Bill Olner, and the borough’s mayor, are expected to be among the judges for a competition which will coincide with Nuneaton’s annual Walk of Faith this summer.
The competition and walk are being organised by Nuneaton’s religious Baha’i community and will bring together all faiths in the borough - Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs.
Competition co-ordinator John Neal, of Higham Lane, Nuneaton, stressed: “The competition is not designed as a political platform relative to current world events.
“It is simply an opportunity to show that people in Nuneaton and Bedworth are concerned about peace in our community, peace in our country and peace in the world.”
Mr Neal said the search for a peace poem and song was an attempt to build on the success of last year’s Walk of Faith in Nuneaton, which won first prize in BBC Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday programme for the best inter-faith event held during the weekend of the Queen’s jubilee celebrations.
The walk will start from the George Eliot Memorial Garden in College Street, where the Baha’i community planted a peace tree more than 20 years ago.
It will take in several religious centres around Nuneaton before finishing in Riversley Park, where ex-borough mayor Don Jacques planted trees in 1996 to form a “peace avenue”.
Mr Neal said the competition to find a peace poem and song would culminate in a prizegiving and recital performance of the winning entries on the evening of the Walk of Faith.
The Baha’i faith teaches the oneness of god, the oneness of religion and the oneness of humanity.
The Walk of Faith has been pencilled in for Saturday, June 7.
Entry forms and more details about the competition can be obtained from John Neal on 024 7635 0268 or via email at: john@icneal.worldonline.co.uk
©Copyright 2003, The Evening Telegraph (United Kingdom)
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