Engaging the Moral Imagination in Mindanao

Bringing the Mindanao conflict into a new light to the public has recently become a challenge because of the decades – long reoccurrence of issues and the growth of new problems that have plagued the southern region of he country. However, a group of dynamic grassroots leaders from Mindanao in partnership with Manila - based peace organizations are up for the challenge in developing proactive and creative actions for sustainable peace.

Together with grassroots leaders from conflict affected communities in Maguindanao, Cotabato, Basilan, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur; representatives from the government, civil society, academe, and media will be present during a forum entitled, “Engaging the Moral Imagination in Building Bridges of Interfaith Dialogue & Cooperation between Mindanao & Metro Manila: A Mindanao-NCR Leaders’ Dialogue & Partnership-Building Forum.” This will be held on November 23 (Monday) from 2-6 o’clock in the afternoon at the Mutya Hall of Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

Organized by the Peacemakers Circle Foundation, Pakigdait Inc., and the United Religions Initiative (URI), the forum aims to address the awareness and communication gap between the public, the media, and dominant social and political issues in the country with the issues of Mindanao. There will be a particular focus on the conflict situation among and within the Muslims, Christians, and Lumads/Indigenous there and in building bridges of communication and partnerships in collaborative action using the Moral Imagination.

Moral Imagination is a way of promoting peace and conflict transformation popularized by John Paul Lederach, a leading expert in the field. Peace building using the moral imagination develops the capacity to imagine and generate constructive processes while rooted in the day-to-day challenges of violence and transform them into sustainable solutions for peace. This is the challenge of interfaith grassroots leaders from Mindanao participating in the forum.

Prior to the forum, from November 19-22, the grassroots leaders will undergo a workshop on engaging the Moral Imagination in their respective grassroots peace building work as part of the United Religions Initiative (URI) Travelling Peace Academy through the Peacemakers Circle and Pakigdait. URI is a global organization working with over 450 interfaith grassroots organizations in 70 countries around the world. For more information about uri, visit www.uri.org

SPACE IS LIMITED.

Please confirm your participation-- contact the Peacemakers Circle Foundation mobile phones 09158026949/ 09187822805, or landline 920-7622, email peacemakerscircle_uri@yahoo.com.