Nonviolence and Social Justice Form Inc.
Declaration – Mission Description
1. The name of the organization shall be NONVIOLENCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FORUM, INC. ; hereafter called: “The Forum”.
2. Nonviolence and Social Justice Forum is an independent organization.
3. The purpose of the Forum shall be to work for Social Justice, by nonviolent and peaceful means; and to conduct and carry on fellowship and discussion on Peace and Nonviolence.
4. Safeguarding economic rights stands as a prime responsibility for a democratic government. Thus, elimination of poverty occupies an unparalleled demand for citizens. A world without poverty is the slogan for development. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organizations, all have such goals but lag in achievement. The Forum seeks to address local, national, and international peace organizations to pledge for the growth of just economic and social development.
Gandhi found economic inequality is because of such factors as caste, racial and gender discrimination, and for society to evolve it must overcome such divisions, which extended throughout the whole political, economic, social, and cultural life of the people. As Gandhi believed, the Forum is for a comprehensive view of change, and for an actualization of liberation through a nonviolent opposition against oppressing forces.
5. Another concern of Gandhi was to improving the status of women, and to decentralize the political and economic power; he believed in nonviolence and encouraged craft – oriented education. He promoted an educational strategy that was beneficial for intellectual development as well as for a healthy body. Three factors that he found crucial in life were truth, love, and nonviolence. Gandhi’s prime and ultimate goal in life was the development of ideal communities and their entities in the formation of a harmonious nation. The Forum accepts such Gandhian principles as it goal.
6. The main intention of the Forum is to publish peace and nonviolence literature and to involve in social justice activities: for instance, already edited are three volumes in the Global Peace series (and the fourth one is in the editing process and is entitled: Technology and Globalization, Peace in the Covid-19 Epidemic).
5. Other intentions are charity works, such as financial aid to the sick, particularly a program for youth with chronic illness who need financial support and have no health insurance. Already the Forum has distributed financial aid to two individuals with hypokalemic periodic paralysis and brain tumor.
6. The Forum seeks to promote Peace and Nonviolence Education in communities and to provide financial support to low-income groups for skills development and self-employment.
7. One program of the Forum has been conducting Peace Seminars locally, nationally, and internationally with organizations that have similar peace-making goals toward a vision of building peace communities.
A recent program was International Peace Conference, organized by the Forum, as a joint-program with the Social Science Institute, New Delhi, India; this was part of Gandhi Revival Era celebrations. The zoom International Peace Conference was enriched by the participation of professors, professionals, and scholars from England (Cambridge), Brazil, Mexico, India, Dubai, Japan, Canada, the United States, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. The conference continued for 24 hours globally and there were hundreds of listeners who were enriched by the presentations.
8. The Forum collects and raises funds for its approved programs.
9. The Forum also will share its funds with organizations that have similar intent.
10. Anyone who believes that peace and nonviolence is the way to build human community is qualified to become a member of the Forum and get involved in its activities.
11. The vision of the Forum is a world where a balance between the conception of peace and reality go hand in hand. Human development, global development, and economic justice have to work in one line of transition. Our life is not just a search for economic existence rather it is the struggle to find a world of a peaceful, economic, and social existence. Environment and health, production of farm and industrial goods, labor supply, marketing of goods and services, are important factors in the economic progress of a nation. While peace is an organizing principle in human experience.
12. The purpose of the Forum is people using the wealth that comes from globalization for economic justice, not for spreading economic injustice across the cultures. Topics like Climate Change, Oil Crisis, Labor Force, school Violence are serious issues that need to be addressed.
13. If for any reason the Nonviolence and Social Justice Forum, Inc. ceases to exist, subject under section 501 (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, it will be subject to a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of California.
Signed by Karitkottuchira Kuriakose,
Nonviolence and Social Justice Forum, Inc. , 2330 Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94709.
Nonviolence and Social Justice Form Inc.
Nonviolence and Social Justice Form has three kinds of activities:
1. Peace Conferences, (2) Publications, (3) Charity work
Peace Conferences. The Foundation organizes peace conferences, and seminars, also some times it organizes conferences and seminars jointly with other peace organizations. This year is significant for Peacemakers because of Mahatma Gandhi Revival Era, which was announced on Gandhi’s birthday on October 2, 2019. Many conferences are planned globally in South Africa, Dubai, London, New York, and Berkeley, California. In addition, there are conferences arranged in Ahmadabad, Bihar, Wardha, and New Delhi with a sponsorship of Bajaj business enterprise, Mumbai. Some conferences were postponeded because of Covid-19, which was scheduled in 2020.
In the United States of America, two conferences were planned: one in Berkeley, California, on Thursday/Friday, 2/3 Octobor 2020; another one at the United Nations, New York, and reserved a conference hall at the UN for Friday/Saturday, 8/9 October, 2020. As social distance regulations were not lifted due to Covid-19, the United Nations, conference was postponeded. But a zoom conference, in Berkeley, California, organized jointly with the Social Science Institue, New Delhi, India; the zoom speakers met for 24 hours as split into two groups Himalaya and Greenlands. See video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63U6N3_X5sM
Publications: Three volumes of Terrorism and Global Peace series were edited and published:
Religion, Terrorism, and Globalization, Nonviolence, a New Agenda
Terrorism, Religion, and Global Peace: From Concepts to Praxis
Globalization and Economic Justice: From Terrorism to Global Peace (released at the United Nations, NY; see video: www.bookrelease/peacestudies/kuriakose
Fourth volume Spirituality, Technology, and Globalization, From Terrorism to Global Peace (the volume is on publishing process due in Fall 2021).
Books in Education: Timeless Teachers and Ethical Visions, Human Development and Educational Policy, Charlott: Information Age Publishers
De Magistro- Educational Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, Exposition and Commentary, San Francisco: St. Ignatius Press
Charity work: Nonviolence and Social Justice Forum has different charity works
A homeless ministry
Sick Aid program: This program is mainly for youths, who has no medical insurance coverage
Educational scholarship for low income groups, who has difficulty to complete High School
Skill development programs for low-income group population.
Support to organizing self-employment production units (among low-income groups)
Family Counselling programs: The Foundation provides financial support to conflict resolution programs of Peace Organizations to give counseling to couples.
Professor Karikottuchira K. Kuriakose
President, Nonviolence and Social Justice Forum Inc
2330 Virginia Street, Berkeley, Califorrnia 94709
International Peace Conference October 2-3, 2020
Group 1- Himalaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63U6N3_X5sM
Webinar on
Gandhi Revival Era
Programme
Himalaya Group
Friday 2 October 2020, New Delhi
7 am to 7.40 am Inaugural Session (Himalaya and Greenland Group)
7 am to 7.05 am Introductory Remarks
Prof. K.K. Kuriakose
Visiting Scholar, GTU Berkeley, USA
7.05 am to 7.10 am Welcome Address
Dr. George Mathew
Chairman, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Greetings
7.10 am to 7.20 am Cardinal Mar George Alencherry
Major Archbishop, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kerala
7.20 am to 7.30 am Dr. Mary Elizabeth King
Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the United Nations affiliated University for Peace, USA
7.30 am to 7.40 am Dr. A. K. Ouchi
Hon. Deputy Chairman, Bharat Soka Gakkai, New Delhi
7.40 am to 9 am Session 1: Peace in Covid-19 Era (Himalaya and Greenland)
Moderator
7.40 am to 7.50 am Dr. George Rutherford
Head, Department of Epidemics, University of California
San Francisco, USA
7.50 am to 8 am Dr. Thomas M Philip
MD, Internal Medicine, Asst. Clinical Professor MUSC School of Medicine, South Carolina, USA
8 am to 8.10 am Dr. Zach Varghese
Health Science Center, University of Houston and Faculty at UT McCombs School of Business, Austin, Texas, USA
8.10 am to 8.20 am Dr. Sharlene Sara Babu
Associate Professor Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
8.20 am to 8.30 am Wilson Savino
Immunologist, principal researcher and Coordinator of the Regional and National Integration Strategies at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Brazil
8.30 am to 8.40 am Joelynn Stephen
Associate Director, Center for Career Management
8.40 am to 8.50 am Dr. Moni Abraham Kuriakose
Director, Cochin Cancer Research Institute, Kerala, India
8.50 am to 9 am Dr. Joel Jacob
KGN New York
9 am to 9.30 am Break
Time Zone - Himalaya and Greenland meet separately
9.30 am to 11 am Session 2: Human Rights and Peace (Himalaya Group)
9.30 am to 9.45 am Dr. Syeda Hameed
Former Member, Planning Commission
Government of India
Theme: Gandhi and Women Empowerment
9.45 am to 10 am Dr. Varsha Das
Former Director, National Museum, New Delhi
Theme: Gandhi perspective of Religion and Peace
10 am to 10.15 am Rajni Bakshi
Journalist and Author, Mumbai
Theme: Freedom from resentment as the basis of non-violence
10.15 am to 10.30 am Shri V. T. V. Damodaran
Socio-Cultural and Humanitarian Activist
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Theme: Influence of Gandhian Thoughts in Gulf Countries
10.30 am to 10.45 am Dr. Gita Dharampal
Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra
Theme: Gandhi: The Political Healer
10.45 am to 11 am Question and Answer
11 am to 11.30 am Break
11.30 am to 1 pm Session 3: Peace and Justice (Himalaya Group)
11.30 am to 11.45 am Dr. Ash Narain Roy
Director, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Theme: Gandhi: The most radical dissenter
11.45 am to 12 pm Dr. Jeevan Kumar
Hon. Professor, Karnataka State Rural Development & Panchayat Raj University, Karnataka, India
Theme: Gandhi and Sustainable Development
12 pm to 12.15 pm Prof. John Varghese
Principal, St. Stephan’s College, New Delhi
12.15 pm to 12.30 pm Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty
Former Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi
Theme: Gandhi and Global Faultiness today
12.30 pm to 12.45 pm Mr. G. Palanithurai
Professor (Retd.), Gandhigram University, Tamil Nadu
Theme: Neo-Gandhians in Action
12.45 pm to 1 pm Question and Answers
1 pm to 3 pm Break
3 pm to 4.30 pm Session 4: Religion and Peace Building (Himalaya Group)
3 pm to 3.15 pm Prof. Anand Kumar
Former Professor of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Theme: Gandhian Experiment for Peace Building
3.15 pm to 3.30 pm Mr. Irfan Engineer
Social Activist, Mumbai
Theme: Gandhi and Communal Harmony
3.30 pm to 3.45 pm Mr. Ganesh N. Devy
Chairman, People’s Linguistic Survey of India, Karnataka
Theme: Gandhi and Nomadic Tribes, marginalized communities
3.45 pm to 4 pm Dr. James Arputharaj
Senior Fellow, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Theme: Gandhi’s vision for a peaceful world
4 pm to 4.15 pm Mr. K.M. Natarajan
Chairman, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Madurai
Theme: Gandhi and Panchayats
4.15 pm to 4.30 pm Question and Answer
Group II, Greenland Group:
Webinar on
Gandhi Revival Era
Programme
Greenland Group
Friday 2 October 2020, New Delhi
7 am to 7.40 am Inaugural Session (Himalaya and Greenland Group)
7 am to 7.05 am Introductory Remarks
Prof. K.K. Kuriakose
Visiting Scholar, GTU Berkeley, USA
7.05 am to 7.10 am Welcome Address
Dr. George Mathew
Chairman, Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Greetings
7.10 am to 7.20 am Cardinal Mar George Alencherry
Major Archbishop, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Kerala
7.20 am to 7.30 am Dr. Mary Elizabeth King
Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the United Nations affiliated University for Peace, USA
7.30 am to 7.40 am Dr. A. K. Ouchi
Hon. Deputy Chairman, Bharat Soka Gakki, New Delhi
7.40 am to 9 am Session 1: Peace in Covid-19 Era (Himalaya and Greenland)
Moderator
7.40 am to 7.50 am Dr. George Rutherford
Head, Department of Epidemics, University of California
San Francisco, USA
7.50 am to 8 am Dr. Thomas M Philip
MD, Internal Medicine, Asst. Clinical Professor MUSC School of Medicine, South Carolina, USA
8 am to 8.10 am Dr. Zach Varghese
Health Science Center, University of Houston and Faculty at UT McCombs School of Business, Austin, Texas, USA
8.10 am to 8.20 am Dr. Sharlene Sara Babu
Associate Professor Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
8.20 am to 8.30 am Wilson Savino
Immunologist, principal researcher and Coordinator of the Regional and National Integration Strategies at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Brazil
8.30 am to 8.40 am Joelynn Stephen
Associate Director, Center for Career Management
8.40 am to 8.50 am Dr. Moni Abraham Kuriakose
Director, Cochin Cancer Research Institute, Kerala, India
8.50 am to 9 am Dr. Joel Jacob
KGN New York
Time Zone - Himalaya and Greenland meet separately
Friday, 2 October 2020, 11 AM (NY Time) – Session 2: Human Rights and Peace
Blessings/Greetings
His Eminence Yeldo Mar Titus
Archbishop, Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church, North America
Theme: Peace and Human Rights
Opening Address
Monsg Bruno-Marie Duffé
Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Vatican
Moderator:
Prof. Azril Bacal-Roij
Sociologist, Peru, Professor of Peace education, Sociology Department, Uppsala University, and CIPAE-Puebla, México
Speakers:
Prof. John Varghese
Principal, St. Stephan’s College, New Delhi
Prof. Beatriz Bisso
Department of Political Science, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies on Africa, Asia and South-South Relations, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Andrea Vlahusic
Lawyer and Activist, Argentina
Dr. Makram Khoury-Machool
Palestian Scholar at Cambridge University, Director of the
European Centre for the Study of Extremism
Friday, October 2, 2020, 1 PM (NY) - Session 3: Peace and Justice
Moderator:
Father Thomas Massaro, S. J.
Fordham University, New York
Opening address:
Mr. Mark Hoda
Director, Gandhi Foundation, London
Theme: Gandhian Economy
Speakers:
Fr. George Madathiparampil
St. Berchman’s College, Changancherry, India
Theme: Social Justice and Academy
Alessandra Gaidargi
Journalist and Social Communicator, Brazil
Luis Alberto Padilla Menendez
Scholar and activist, Guatemala
Mr. Kashif Sheikh
Arab Pearls, Dubai
Thomas Mathew
New York, USA
Theme: My fight with Corona virus in New York City
Friday, 2 October 2020, 3 PM (NY Time): Session 4: Religious Peace Building
Opening address
Mar Awa Royal
Metropolitan, Church of the East, Western diocese, USA
Moderator
Prof. Marianne Farina
DSPT/GTU, Berkeley, CA
Speakers:
Prof. Pietro Ameglio – Uruguayan
Mexico
Dr. Rayappan Issac
Capecomarin CSI diocese, South India
Magad Badir
Egypt
Concluding Session (Himalaya and Greenland Group)
Saturday 3 October 2020, New Delhi
7 am to 7.30 am Moderator:
Prof. Liyakat Takim
McMaster University, Toronto, Canada
Speakers:
Prof. Beatriz Bisso
Department of Political Science, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies on Africa, Asia and South-South Relations, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Dr. Nimalka Fernado
Lawyer and Activist, Sri Lanka
Joe Varghese
Oil and Gas professional, Calgary, Canada
Theme: Impact of Corona virus on Oil Industries
