News

Annual Report, October 2008

This year's annual report is available here

One World Week, Learning to simply care for the planet, 4 October 2008

An imaginative eco-fashion show on Saturday 4th October led by pupils from Villiers School, Southall delivered an urgent plea to care for the planet: Recycle, Reduce and Re-use. Their message was endorsed by former London mayor, Ken Livingstone speaking at the event, “Going Green Together”. A display of work by Lampton School students also illustrated the issues.

People from all faiths shared their deep concerns for the environment and echoed the feeling of a moving film created by the Brahma Kumaris which said “Never does wisdom say one thing and nature another.” Speakers included Hounslow Mayor Councillor Genevieve Hibbs who said: ”God’s love for the world includes all people. We can’t trash the world and love people.”

Ken Livingstone reminded the gathering that in 2003, around 600 people died from extreme heat in London. Urging everyone to consume less, waste less and live sensibly, he said this is the most critical century humanity has faced. “People of faith have always had awareness that consumerism is not a substitute for human relationships. We must get back to valuing the time we spend with others, not the time we spend shopping.”

Speakers suggested these key earth-friendly steps:
Become vegan or vegetarian
Don’t flush toilets unless necessary
Use low energy light bulbs
Cut energy consumption
Think before you open the fridge door
Turn off lights if you’re out of a room for more than 10 seconds
Totally insulate homes
Don’t boil more water than you intend to use
Recycle all plastic
Invest in solar panels and photovoltaic cells
Walk, cycle or use public transport
Live simply.

Titled ‘Going Green Together, what faiths are doing about the environment’, the day celebrated One World Week. Jagdeesh Singh from Sikh Environment Network, Muzamah Hussein of LINE, the London Islamic Network for the Environment and Revd John Hereward, A Rocha Christian Conservation Group, spoke about how the teachings of their faith inspire them to work for change.

Focus on Jewish way of life. Talk at Hounslow Synagogue, 7 July 2008

Basil Mann, Ajit Singh and Rabbi Vogel at Hounslow Synagogue

Around 45 people were welcomed to Hounslow Synagogue in 7th July to hear Rabbi Hershi Vogel talk about “My life as a Rabbi”.

“We all have one common goal: to love our neighbour as ourselves and to make the world a better place,” he urged those present, who included people of many faiths. Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Brahma Kumaris and Jewish people were all encouraged to continue discovering common ground.

“God created the world, but he didn’t complete it. That is our task and we must create peace and harmony,” said the Rabbi from Ealing United Synagogue. He believed that every person is made by God in his likeness and therefore all are connected and should tolerate differences.

The Rabbi spoke about his early life with his family in Stamford Hill before studying in London, New Jersey, Venezuela and New York. He lived and worked among small communities in South America, then he followed in his father’s footsteps and trained to be a Rabbi. “You must study all your lives,” he said. His life as a Rabbi had taught him to share people’s pain and joy.

Rabbi Hershi Vogel is a voluntary member of the chaplaincy team at Heathrow Airport. There he can respond alongside many other ministers of faith, at critical times like the recent crash landing, or be “a friendly face” when passengers face difficult situations.| Photos

Pilgrimage of Peace

At the Laxmi Narayan Mandir

The annual Pilgrimage of Peace and Friendship took place on Sunday 22 June 2008 when more than eighty people of all faiths and none were welcomed to a Russian Orthodox church, a Sikh gurdwara, an Anglican parish church and a Hindu temple. Using a coach for the first time allowed the event to travel further than before, seeing examples of places of worship from all parts of the borough.

Questions of faith, festivals, symbols and worship revealed common interest among the faith communities. The first stop on the journey was at the Russian Orthodox church in Harvard Road, Chiswick, moving on to the gurdwara in Martindale Road, Hounslow for lunch, then to St Dunstan's parish church, St Dunstan's Road, Feltham, with the final visit at the Laxmi Narayan Hindu temple in Neville Close, Hounslow.

Louise and Shammi Vig from Hounslow said for them the day was about growing in understanding: "It's good to see people taking down barriers as they began to meet new friends," said Louise.. | Photos

Interfaith Marriages

Conference held on 2nd March organised in collaboration with Westminster Inter Faith, at St Michael and St Martin’s Catholic Primary School. Press release | Photos

Annual General Meeting

This year's Annual General Meeting took place on 12th February. Chairman's report | Photos

Bishop praises understanding between faiths

Rt Rev’d Colclough, (Bishop of Kensington) with Ajit Singh MBE, (Chair of Hounslow Friends of Faith) who is presenting the Bishop with a gift

More than 50 representatives of different faiths met at the Sikh Gurdwara in Hounslow on 7th January at a gathering for clergy and spiritual heads, the first of its kind, organised by Hounslow Friends of Faith (HFOF). Opening the event, Ajit Singh, chairman of HFOF, praised the leadership role which priests hold among their faith members. By getting to know each other better it should be possible to recognise the truth which lies at the heart of all religions, he said. People of faith could face together common challenges such as lack of morality in society, exploitation, homelessness, crime and caring for the environment, as well as a decreasing popularity of marriage, more inter-faith marriages and how to educate children in their faith – a huge agenda indeed. Sharing celebrations of festivals such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid, Diwali and Sikh gurus’ birthdays could highlight common values.

Bishop Michael Colclough, Anglican Bishop of Kensington referred to the rich mix of people and faiths in west London. If all faiths worked together they could exert great influence. Christians accept that clergy may at times be seen as figures of fun, but, he suggested, there is a danger of losing the sense of holiness of faith which other religions maintain. He praised three basic tenets of Sikhism, an awareness of God, truthfulness in living and a belief in equality and social justice. People mustn’t be afraid to ask questions of those of other faiths as by understanding people you get to know them.

Imam Sulaimani of Hounslow Jamia Mosque said people of all faiths should work together. He thanked HFOF for organising the event. Manny Felberg from Hounslow Synagogue said the majority of people are good and there should be more articles on what good things occur in the world rather than the bad events.

Drawing the gathering to a close, Alfred Agius pointed out that friendship between faiths and between people should never be taken for granted, but must be actively promoted. He hoped this meeting could become a regular occurrence.

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