28th Apr 2009 Teachers - Professors - Educators Leadership Conference, SMKN 20 Jakarta

GPF Indonesia 2009

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GPF Indonesia 2009 Launching

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GPF Indonesia Launching

Indonesia unveils program for peace

Jakarta, Indonesia — Government and religious leaders in Indonesia have launched a peace initiative aimed at bringing together people of all faiths to celebrate their common humanity. One component of the program will be a dialogue among Islamic scholars on how Islam can contribute to world peace.

The Global Peace Festival is launched in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Jan. 14, 2009, with the release of dozens of doves. The program includes community service and scholarly seminars, and will culminate in a festival in May expected to draw millions of people. (Photo/GPF Indonesia)

Indonesia's state minister for youth and sports, Adhyaksa Dault, along with Professor Din Syamsuddin, chairman of the Islamic organization Muhammadiyah and the Global Peace Festival Steering Committee, together with international representatives, government officials, diplomats and religious leaders from all major faiths unveiled the Global Peace Festival in Jakarta Wednesday.

With the sound of a gong and a lively rendition of the new GPF Indonesia theme song, dozens of doves were released to flight, heralding the beginning of four months of community service and networking, which will culminate in the main festival scheduled for May 10 at Monas, a park in the center of Jakarta. It is expected to draw millions.

So far, six ministers from the national government, a state minister and the governor of Jakarta are on the Board of Advisors for the Indonesian program. "This is amazing," said Su Thye Teh, the director of GPF in Malaysia.

Comparing the level of engagement and ownership from Indonesians, Teh observed, "The foundation for a successful program here in Jakarta is so much stronger, especially because of the VIPs who are really committed to making this event successful."

Makarim Wibisono, a senior Indonesian diplomat and former ambassador to the United Nations, was unable to be present because of the crisis in the Middle East. However, a message read on his behalf by Professor Payaman Simanjuntak, former director general of the Department of Manpower, and co-chairman for GPF Indonesia, highlighted one of the unique aspects of the May event.

"We will invite Islamic scholars and leaders from around the world to Indonesia to discuss and dialogue on the theme, Islam for World Peace," Wibisono’s message said.

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world, with a total population of over 240 million people; 86 percent are Muslim. Yet there is no reference to Islam or special treatment given to Muslims in the Constitution. The founding fathers of this nation decided not to make Indonesia an Islamic state for fear that non-Muslims might find themselves treated as second-class citizens.

The issue was hotly debated at the time of independence. But when the Constitution was drafted, Islamic leaders – who were the majority and had the legitimate power to implement Shariah law – showed self-restraint, considering the position of people of other faiths as well as their own.

This makes Indonesia unique among Muslim nations. The International Leadership Conference, a key component of GPF, will use this forum in May to hold a summit of Islamic leaders.

In Indonesia, Islam has a distinctly Asian aroma.

In 2008, which was only the peace initiative’s second year of existence, GPFs were held on every continent. With more than 20 peace festivals held globally, millions of people – especially youth – were inspired to serve and encouraged to dream of peace once again.

Those who participate in the GPF see the family as the cornerstone of lasting peace and all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality or religion, as part of one global family. One of the program’s themes is that the home is the school of love, and that families should be encouraged to teach their children to love and respect not only their parents and siblings, but also the people of the wider community.

The festival has three main components: an International Leadership Conference with educational seminars that teach universal standards of leadership and good governance, social impact programs which promote a spirit of volunteerism and develop a character of unselfish service, and a public festival that celebrates humanity as one family under the love of a benevolent and merciful God – though known by different names.

Mossimo Trombin, international spokesperson for GPF, explained how the program supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

"The MDGs are really amazing. Never before in the history of mankind have we reached a global consensus to fight poverty, and corruption, and provide maternal and child healthcare and universal primary education," said the Italian-born spokesperson in an interview.

He went on to say, "Yes, you need government structure and financial support, but without the right attitude and heart, it will be very difficult to be effective and sincere. The GPF provides that through its motto, One Family under God.”

Trombin sees the GPF theme as an engine that can change relationships and motivate people to fulfill the goals of the United Nations.

"This means we belong to the same family, the same origin, God," Trombin explained. "So, regardless of your faith, culture, background, or ideological leaning, fundamentally we are the same and have the same dreams, aspirations and emotional needs."

The MDGs cannot be fulfilled by any one organization alone, not even the United Nations. Therefore the GPF partners with humanitarian and faith-based organizations, NGOs, government agencies, educational institutions, businesses and representatives of the private sector in order to raise awareness and stir the conscience of the world to not give up on peace.

It is in the family, after all, that life's most important lessons are learned through experience – the sharing of love, as well as the joy of serving others. Experiencing the world as one global family is the legacy all those who participate in the GPF hope to leave to their children.