Interfaith News Network

May 2003- Updated 28 November 2004

The weapons are active care, compassion, concern and focused efforts to confront the causes of violence, bigotry, hatred and depravity. The vehicle encompasses successful initiatives that address the ills of conflict, ignorance, poverty and disease.

Utilizing a strategic plan similar to the one used during contingency planning for the Year 2000 conversion, Humanitarian Resource Institute's vision encompasses (1) infrastructure analysis in each country, (2) assessment of NGO's and relief organizational capacity to address the size and scope of humanitarian needs, (3) the provision of data to enhance the strategic planning, project development and allocation of financial and inkind donations.

THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE
by S.M.Apatow, Founder, Humanitarian Resource Institute and the Interfaith News Network

In Christianity, the true test of a connection with divinity is the manifestation of love (agape: Greek) in the context of care, concern, compassion and benevolence. The significance of this character trait is found in the bible, I Corinthians 13: 1-3:

1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity (love: agape), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2. And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love:agape), I am nothing.
3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love: agape), it profiteth me nothing.

To comprehend the significance of love (agape), we need only to refer to the scripture that explains the substance of God, I John 4:8: "God is Love." It is in this divine conception that the importance of every human being is expressed, Matthew 25:40: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

In Buddhism, as expressed by the Dalai Lama: "Compassion and love are not mere luxuries. As the source both of inner and external peace, they are fundamental to the continued survival of our species." -- The Four Immeasurables: Love, Compassion, Sympathetic joy, Rudy Harderwijk, A View on Buddhism.

In Baha'i: "You must manifest complete love and affection toward all mankind. Do not exalt yourselves above others, but consider all as your equals, recognizing them as the servants of one God." -- Abdu'l-Baha: Promulgation of Universal Peace, page 453.

In Confucianism: Chang Tsai’s Western Inscription (eleventh century) was inscribed on the western wall of hang Tsai’s study and was enormously influential in Neo-Confucian thought. Describing the essential kinship of all beings with heaven and earth, it maintains that compassion is the highest expression of kinship. -- Confucianism Sacred Texts, Harvard University Center for the Environment, Forum on Religion and Ecology.

In Judaism: The Torah commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18), which Rabbi Akiba described as the essence of the Torah. -- Judaism 101, Love and Brotherhood.

In Hinduism, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself'-- because thy neighbor is thyself; God is in both thee and thy neighbor, and both are in God. He who acts in this spirit need not fear that his acts will bind him to further existence." -- The Bhagavad Gita, trans. Franklin Edgerton, p. 165. Hinduism: Ethics and Society, World Religions Area/Country Studies Cultural Awareness Language Resource.

In Islam: "You will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another." Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, Selected and Translated by Kabir Helminski.

In Jainism: Nonviolence is based on love and kindness for all living beings. Nonviolence in Jainism is not a negative virtue. It is based upon the positive quality of universal love and compassion. One who is actuated by this ideal cannot be indifferent to the suffering of others. -- Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas), Complied by Pravin K. Shah, Jain Study Center of North Carolina.

Love inspires an interest and focus on every need, plea or cry for help and prompts a desire to provide assistance. This standard, applied to a local community is a microcosm of the application needed for a state, country or global region, and includes:

(1) the need to recognize the importance of every individual;
(2) to understand the full scope of every individuals needs, mentally, physically and spiritually;
(3) to place ourselves in the shoes of the suffering and afflicted and;
(4) to provide help in the same capacity as if we were in their circumstance.

In the grand picture of divinity at work in all facets of the interfaith community, love is the common theme that unites and encompasses the true potential through which the scope of suffering and affliction can be alleviated and peace achieved (International Interfaith Peace Declaration).

THE THEME OF EASTERN AND WESTERN CULTURAL RELIGION

The work of divinity in all faiths is embodied in the golden rule as the universal objective of the interfaith community:

Christianity: "So in everything, do to others, what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets" -- New Testament: MT 7:12 NIV

Buddhism: Treat not others in ways that yourself would find hurtful.-- Udana-Varga 5.18

Baha'i: Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself. -- Baha'u'llah Gleanings

Confucianism: One word which sums up the basis for all good conduct...loving kindness. Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself. -- Confucius Analects 15:23

Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. -- Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam: Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. -- The Prophet Mohammed, Hadith

Judaism: What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole torah; all the rest is commentary. -- Hillel, Talmad, Shabbat 31a

Native Spirituality: We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive. -- Chief Dan George

Janism: One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated. -- Mahavira, Sutravitanga

Sikhism: I am no stranger to no one; an no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all. -- Guru Granth Sahib, pg.1299

Taoism: Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbors loss as your own loss.-- T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Unitarianism: We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent of all existence of which we are a part. -- Unitarian principle

Zoroastrianism: Do not unto others what is injurious to yourself. -- Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29

THE CHALLENGES

In developing countries, 91 children out of 1,000 die before their fifth birthday. By comparison, in the United States 8 children in 1,000 will die before turning five years old. (State of the World's Children 2000. UNICEF)

More than 800 million people in the world are malnourished—777 million of them are from the developing world. 2 And 177 million of them are children. (State of the World's Children 2000. UNICEF)

Each day in the developing world, 30,100 children die from mostly preventable and treatable causes such as diarrhea, acute respiratory infections or malaria. Malnutrition is associated with over half of those deaths. (Mapping of the Food Supply Gap 1998. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

In the last 50 years, almost 400 million people worldwide have died from hunger and poor sanitation, according to the report. That's three times the number of people killed in all wars fought in the entire 20th century. (Bread for the World Institute on Hunger and Development)

Virtually every country in the world has the potential of growing sufficient food on a sustainable basis. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has set the minimum requirement for caloric intake per person per day at 2350. Worldwide, there are 2720 calories available per person per day. 54 countries fall below that requirement; they do not produce enough food to feed their populations, nor are they able to afford to import the necessary commodities to make up the gap. Most of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. (State of the World's Children 2000. UNICEF)

The wealthiest fifth of the world's people consume an astonishing 86 percent of all goods and services, while the poorest fifth consumes one-percent. (World Development Report 1998. World Bank)

Of the 6 billion people in today's world, 1.2 billion live below $1 per day. (State of the World's Children 2000. UNICEF)

2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. (Human Development Report 1998. United Nations Development Programme)

900 million people lack access to adequate health services. (Global Challenge, Global Opportunity 2002. United Nations)

1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Contaminated water kills 2.2 million people per year. (Human Development Report 2002, Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World, United Nations Development Programme)

In the United States requests for emergency food jumped 17% in 2000, while need for emergency shelter climbed 15%. The increases in demand for both services were among the highest the survey has recorded in the past decade. 62% of people requesting food were from families, and 32% were employed. About 13% of requests for food were unmet; 23% of requests for shelter were unmet. (2000 US Conference of Mayors Hunger and Homelessness in American Cities Survey)

There are 1.3 million runaway and homeless youth in the United States. 5,000 runaway and homeless youth die each year of assault, disease, and suicide. (National Runaway Switchboard Statistics)

It is in pursuit of strategic planning and project development, to address the size and scope of unmet needs that exist in the global landscape, that Humanitarian Resource Institute exists today.
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