Written by Peter Lazenby. Posted in News.

The 'Peace Heroes'

Drama, music and film will be used at a Leeds event to celebrate religious leaders who have made a contribution to peace.

Martin Luther King and the Dalai Lama will be featured alongside leaders from Pagan, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and other faiths at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on Sunday.

The prestigious event will be attended by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding and city MPs.

"Peace Heroes" have been nominated by religions represented in Leeds. A member of each religion will introduce the leader chosen. The aim of the event is to show how different faiths and religions can work together in common cause.

This event is a partnership between the Education Dialogue Charity, Leeds Faiths Forum, the Concord Inter Faith Fellowship, The Peace Museum and the Royal Armouries.

It is associated with Leeds Together for Peace Festival. The festival ended on Sunday last week but a number of events are still being staged which are linked to the festival.

The organisers said: "At a time when faith is perceived to cause conflict, Leeds' faith groups will each nominate their 'peace hero' at this multi-media family event.

"It shows how major faiths can share fundamental ethical values like peace.

"The reputation of Leeds has recently suffered from a handful of individuals who would use religion as an excuse for violence. Leeds has a strong tradition of faith communities working together. This event shows clearly that faith groups within the city recognise the peace traditions within their faith, and work together to promote peace."

The chosen 'peace heroes' are: Abdu'l-Bahá (Bahá'i Peace Proclaimer); Dadi Janki (Brahma Kumaris Visionary); Dalai Lama and Daisaku Ikeda (Buddhist Spiritual Leaders); Martin Luther King (Christian Civil Rights Leader); King Ashok (Hindu Man of Wisdom); Yitzhak Rabin (Jewish Nobel Peace Laureate); Fethullah Gülen (Muslim Interfaith Scholar); Starhawk (Pagan Peace Activist); Bhai Sahib Bhai Mohinder Singh Ji (Sikh leader in the UK).

Tickets to the free event, which starts at 2 pm, ran out earlier this week. Peter Lazenby, Leedstoday.net, 25 November 2005

Created on 25 November 2005.