TWEETIE PIE

I filmed a number of short video interviews with members of the Leicester Hebrew Congregation at the end of the Chanukah celebration in the Town Hall this evening. I then uploaded these videos to the Council of Faiths channel on YouTube. Since I've linked our YouTube and Twitter accounts, each time I upload a video, the fact that I have done so gets tweeted to each one of our followers. Leicester Council of Faiths has 130 followers on Twitter.

Shortly after I uploaded the first of these five videos about Chanukah (featuring Mike Jacobs), the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Colin Hall (who attended the Chanukah celebration) retweeted our announcement of its publication. For the uninitiated, "retweeting" is rather like "forwarding"; it is not done automatically, the account holder has to do it by choice. This means that the Lord Mayor chose to announce the availability of the video to his whole list of followers. The Lord Mayor of Leicester has 707 followers on Twitter - all of whom will have received his personal recommendation of this short video clips.

A few minutes later, another retweet, this time by Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent for The Times. The video she retweeted is of Rabbi Pink telling the story of the historical origin of Chanukah. Although Ruth Gledhill is a follower of the Council of Faiths twitterstream, she's never retweeted any of our posts before. Ruth Gledhill has 6,196 followers of her own on Twitter - all of whom will have received her personal recommendation of this short video clip.

Personal recommendations for material on our YouTube channel by our secular Lord Mayor and by the Religion Correspondent of The Times - I'd call that a result for Leicester Council of Faiths!

CHANUKAH LIGHTING AT TOWN HALL

To the Town Hall this evening, for the seventh annual celebration of Chanukah here. There's a good turnout and Council Chamber appears full.. Harry and Grace have come with me. There's a fairly lively 50-minute programme, introduced by Tony Nelson, who represents the Leicester Hebrew Congregation on the Council of Faiths (of which he is the current Vice Chair). There are upbeat contributions from David Parsons, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, and Cllr Colin Hall, Lord Mayor of Leicester.

We get to see two video presentations: one accompanies a rap entitled "I'm a Maccabee", performed vivaciously by two of Rabbi Pink's young sons; the other video presentation takes as its refrain the popular phrase, "Yes we can". During this one, I reflect on the nature of Chanukah as the principal occasion in the Jewish calendar when the community is encouraged to proclaim its identity and celebrate its qualities in the wider world - because they can. Made me think about how this week started, with me being asked for an inter faith response to the "Not Ashamed" campaign, led by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey.

Oh, and I'd forgotten just how much singing goes along with this event - and all the clapping too! Honestly, my hands feel like they'd had six of the best by the end of the evening.

The central feature was the lighting of the lights on the giant menorah which dominated the platform by Rabbi Pink, perched precariously on a ladder, bearing the taper lit by the Lord Mayor. A few concerend whispers about health and safety drift by my ear ...

Latkes and pastries follow, much to the children's delight.

As the evening draws to a close, I manage to carry out five video interviews for the Council of Faiths YouTube channel. Harry joins in, making audio recordings at the same time on his phone. I had to tell him afterward that he was poking his phone a bit too close into the face of his subjects. He said he thought that might be the case when the Rabbi accidentally bumped into the phone while telling the story of the historical origins of Chanukah.

AMPLIFIED LEICESTER PANEL LINEUP CONFIRMED

This is the last day on which I can confirm the line up for the panel I've been asked to curate for Amplified Leicester in March next year. My topic is "Amplified Communities of Faith or Belief". The title, my name and that of the Council of Faiths has been included on the A5 flyer promoting the programme for 2010-11, but I've been asked to firm up the panellists and a description of the kind of contributions they will be asked to make.

I get confirmation of the last member this afternoon: Richard Hopper, Secretary of Leicester Secular Society. Richard has just launched a Facebook page for the society, which currently has 50 fans. Effectively, the Secular society is dipping its toe in the waters of social media. Richard joins the other two members of the panel, Matt Hughes (IT manager at Samworth Enterprise Academy, with special responsibilities to pupils and staff in relation to social media) and Sughra Ahmed (Islamic Society of Britain, who helped organise a series of flashmob iftar meetings in Victoria Park, helping feed homeless people and destitute asylum seekers, all coordinated through Facebook).

Find out more about Amplified Leicester:
http://ampleic.ning.com/

WORLD RELIGIONS 101

At lunchtime today walking through Welford Place, I bump into Chris Minter (photo above), Head of Service for Leicester City Council Adult Skills and Learning Service (LASALS). We worked together recently on Leicester Speaks (AKA Local Democracy Week). Our quick chat (it's much too cold to stand and talk outside for long) moves from Leicester Speaks to National Inter Faith Week and our Highcross exhibition, thence to something that I've been nursing for ages: the possibility of the Council of Faiths offering a "World Religions 101" course, as part of the Adult Skills and Learning programme, in a popular venue such as the Adult Education College in Wellington Street. This wouldn't be like the sort of post-grad course offered by St Philip's Centre, or what we've been discussing at Leicester University Institute of Lifelong Learning, but a beginners' guide for interested members of the general public. I've roughed out versions of just such a course, which could be offered in 10, 16 or 32 sessions in one of my little black books. Chris likes the sound of the idea, asks me to drop him a line and he'll pass it on to his colleagues in Curriculum. Nice!

When I mention to Chris that Leicester City Council gave zero recognition or support to National Inter Faith Week just gone by, he tells me that it sounds like the sort of thing that the Adult Skills and Learning Service should be getting behind and that we should think of ways of working together to promote it in 2011.

LIGHTEN UP ON THE DARK SIDE

Today's Leicester Mercury carries an article about financial difficulties at The Dark Side cafe. I'd like to publicise that here. I hope lots of people can help Lucie Belikova, who runs the cafe (photo above). It's great to have somewhere like this in our city centre - the venue, its staff and clientele add to Leicester's spiritual vibrancy and diversity. Come on, faithful reader: I've bought my raffle tickets - have you?

Fans fight to save cafe for "geeks"

Groups using Leicester's first "alternative cafe" are trying to raise funds to save it from going out of business.

Lucie Belikova has run the Dark Side Cafe, in the Silver Arcade, Cank Street, for the past 10 months.

It is a meeting place for role-playing gamers and science fiction fans.

Now she fears she may have to close down unless she can find another source of income.

She said: "There is nothing like this place in the city – my customers say it is a home from home."

The cafe, which includes a basement for parties and functions, can cater for around 120 people.

It is used by a mothers and children's group, craft groups, Leicester Pagan Alliance, a Dungeons and Dragons club and the Star Base Leicester fantasy and science fiction club.

Sam Eld, from Star Base Leicester, said: "Everyone is rallying to help. There's a raffle, and prizes are being donated for it. It's the only cafe in the city that makes 'geeks' and gamers welcome."

Regular customer Su Clement, an environmental health officer for Leicester City Council, said: "It is a fantastic place and it would be a great shame if Lucie had to close down."

The next fund-raising event for the cafe is a Christmas craft fair on Saturday.

PHILOSOPHY IN PUBS

This evening I'm at PIPS - Philosophy in Pubs - which takes place on the first Wednesday of the month at the Swan & Rushes, Infirmary Square. Our discussion this time could be said to revolve around individuality and social control. The meeting is facilitated by Lezley Finch (who provides the stimulus in the form of a newspaper article), Clare is here, as is Steve (who teaches Sociology at Queen Elizabeth I and Wyggeston College) and Allan Hayes. Allan and I reflect on our radio interview with Jonathan Lampon on BBC Radio Leicester this afternoon. He's listened to it on the BBC iPlayer and seems happy enough with it.

BREAK DOWN BARRIERS

This letter is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Break down barriers

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community staged a peace symposium in Leicester bringing together people of all faiths-and-none to promote peace.

We found plenty of common ground, much that we can build upon if only we come together and break down barriers.

As Ahmadis, we follow Islam purely as a religion of peace. It is hardwired into our very constitution and every single member of our community pledges to respect other people's views and beliefs; we pledge loyalty to the country we live in and to contribute positively to the communities in which we live. For us, Islam offers a perfect model for how to live our lives wherever we may be.

It is all so different to the public perception of Islam and the way extremists and some media distort perceptions of the vast majority of peace loving Muslims. Our motto of Love for All, Hatred for None is in stark contrast to messages of hate from extremists.

By getting together, you learn that most people, regardless of their faiths, subscribe to the same values of peace and aspire to a world where, as the Koran stipulates, there is no compulsion in religion.

And far from trying to change the world, you realise that by changing yourself, and taking practical steps to building peaceful communities, you are playing a part in changing the world.

That is why my community regularly engages in charity-giving as part of the faith, in exemplifying through our behaviour and actions that we stand for peace and equity. Even though in a world ravaged by conflict, the hopes of peace lovers almost seem forlorn, I am reminded of the insurmountable odds faced by the Prophets who succeeded even though all stood against them.

Ahmadis hold interfaith peace conferences across Britain to express our understanding of Islam as an inclusive, tolerant and universal faith. This was also cited in a recent Parliamentary debate where MPs extolled the contribution that Ahmadi Muslims had made to the fabric of life in Britain. As one of the oldest Muslim communities in Britain, it was heartening to hear a succession of MPs lauding the work of the Ahmadis.

Much work has been done in Leicester to break down barriers between faiths and this paper has played a major role in building community cohesion. As our peace symposium demonstrated, there are many people who want to build better communities divested of prejudice and strife.

Together, we can work to build on the foundations of peace and tolerance that must weather the storm of hate from zealots and extremists whether they claim to be of a religious or political motivation.

Ghulam Ahmed Khadim, regional missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Leicester

BBC RADIO LEICESTER: NOT ASHAMED

An unexpected phone call this morning from Jonathan Lampon, who hosts the 1200-1400 slot on BBC Radio Leicester. He leaves a message saying that he’s going to be talking about the “Not Ashamed” campaign on his show today and he’d like me to provide on inter faith response on air. Thank goodness I missed the call and he left a message because I have no idea what the “Not Ashamed” campaign is!

I call back and leave a message saying that I’d gladly speak about this – though not before I look up “Not Ashamed” online and speak to Julie-Ann Heath and Barry Naylor (my friends and contacts at the Cathedral), who give me a bit of a steer on the topic.

In the message I leave for Jonathan, I say that if I don’t hear from him by 1100, I’ll call back. I do so several times, but never get past his voicemail. But I’m not going to let thqat get in my way, faithful reader! Since BBC Radio Leicester is so close, I walk down there, arriving about 1150. I present my card at reception, introduce myself, explain why I’m there. I am shortly introduced to a couple of production staff, then ushered into the waiting room for the studio. I’m in there for 1200 and am told I’ll be on air just after 1230. Listening to the show, I’m surprised at the prominence that this topic is being given. I get the impression that religion or belief is not Jonathan’s specialist subject (he has a bit of trouble pronouncing “Bahá'í” when he’s listing religions followed locally on air – it comes out something different both times he tries. When it comes to doing the same list again later in the programme, he leaves that one out). When he emerges from the studio to introduce himself, I ask if he knows that we’ve just had National Inter Faith Week, with our exhibition in Highcross. When he says he knew nothing about it, I show him a few photos on my phone.

Jonathan helps me settle in and has me put on the studio headphones ("cans" as we call thm in the profession) to check for level. He explains that I don't have to keep them on during the broadcast, which reduces the Allan Partridge vibe I'm getting into.

Shortly after 1230, Allan Hayes (of the Secular Society) arrives. We’ll be sharing this slot. That’s appropriate, since the “Not Ashamed” campaign seems to be a response to the perceived marginalisation of Christianity on two fronts: increasing secularisation of society and the plurality of faiths in modern Britain. Allan is asked to comment on the former; I, the latter. Jonathan’s questions are fair and don’t go for the lowest common denominator, as often happens in these situations. It’s a very convivial and civilised quarter of an hour (things usually are when Allan and I meet up). There’s certainly no sense of conflict between the two of us. Hopefully, Allan and I will meet up later this evening at Philosophy in the Pub in the Swan and Rushes, Infirmary Square. I make sure that gets mentioned on air too.

Centre of Excellence in Community Cohesion (4)

At the St Philip's Centre, Evington, for the latest meeting of our sub-group working on proposals for the Centre of Excellence in Community Cohesion. The meeting is led by Jasbir Mann (Head of Learning Services, Leicester City Council). There's another four of us in this meeting: Nick Carter (Chair, Leicester Multicultural Advisory Group), John Hall (Director, St Philip's Centre), Resham Singh Sandhu (Chair, Sikh Cultural and Welfare Society) and me.

Our main tasks today: to convert a paper (already written by Jasbir and presented to the wider group working on this project at its last meeting) into a proposal with two audiences - internal and external; to make progress on mapping work already being done in this field; to decide what we mean by "community cohesion" (we might end up saying "what used to be called 'community cohesion'.")

At moments, bashing out the form of words around the table makes me imagine that we're in the dullest ever episode of The West Wing. Rob Lowe and Richard Schiff made doing all that copy amendment stuff look so cool!

FAITHS GATHER TO RESIST EXTREMISM

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Faiths gather to resist extremism

Muslims held a peace event to show their commitment to the fight against extremism.

A number of different faith groups attended the Ahmadiyya Muslim community event in Braunstone Civic Centre, part of a week-long interfaith project to encourage community cohesion.

President of the city's Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Dr Habib Akram, said: "There is so much more that unites us than divides us and it is through events like this that we build networks of friendship and solidarity against the extremists and hate-mongers."