Carmelite Monastery to follow Bahai Temple

Garden will span an area of three hectares and will feature numerousstatues, religious artifacts and a large amphitheatre overlooking aspectacular view Ofer Petersburg Published: 02.19.07, 19:32 / Israel Travel<http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-3087,00.html>

The order of the Carmelite Monastery in Haifa, Israel, a 19th-centurymonastery located on the slopes of Mount Carmel, became envious of thebeautiful Bahai Temple gardens in Haifa and decided to follow suit bycreating its own. The Carmelite gardens will be built on the mountainside of the Stella Marisneighborhood, where a military army based was located until recently. Thegarden will span an area of three hectares and will feature numerousstatues, religious artifacts and a large amphitheatre overlooking aspectacular view. As in the Bahai gardens, the Carmelite garden will also have a visitors'center that will be open to the public. An American landscape architect washired to design the garden. The cost for building the garden is estimated $200 million, while theinitial investment totals $50 million. This week, an official from the Carmelite Monastery submitted a buildingplan to the district planning committee for a complex in the Stella Marisneighborhood comprising 350 housing units, an elderly citizen's home, asmall commercial center and a hotel comprising 100 rooms. The apartments will not only be sold to Carmelite community members, but tothe general public. Revenues incurred from the sales of the apartments willbe used for funding the Carmelite garden. The Carmelite Order is an enclosed Catholic order founded in the 12thcentury by a group of Europeans led by a man commonly called Saint Bertoldon Mount Carmel, Israel, where the order received its name.

BAD MERGENTHEIM, Germany, 25 April 2007 (BWNS) --

A Baha'i memorial removed when the Nazis were in power has been restored by municipal authorities in this resort town in southern Germany.

The stone commemorates the visit in 1913 of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the successor of Baha'u'llah as head of the Baha'i Faith.
The original memorial was erected in 1916 but removed in 1937 at a time when the Baha'i Faith was outlawed by the Nazis.
'Abdu'l-Baha took an extended trip to Europe, North America and back to Europe between 1911 and 1913 and took a side trip from Stuttgart to Bad Mergentheim - a small, quiet town known for its health spa - on April 7-8, 1913.
He spent the night there at the invitation of Consul Albert Schwarz, a government official who was the owner of the hotel and mineral bath and also a member of the Baha'i community.
The new memorial was unveiled earlier this month, on 7 April, by Mayor Lothar Barth accompanied by Bahman Solouki, a representative of the Baha'i community of Germany.
"Bad Mergentheim can be proud that 'Abdu'l-Baha came here," the mayor said at the ceremony. "The Baha'i Faith is one of the six major world religions -- there is no other way to put it -- and this should be honoured accordingly."
He continued: "I consider this a good sign. It shows that in Bad Mergentheim we are a tolerant society, that we integrate people of different faiths in our town and are cosmopolitan enough for that."

The original monument in Bad Mergentheim, pictured here, was removed during the Nazi regime
Dr. Solouki noted that the German Baha'i community two years ago marked its 100th anniversary, and that 'Abdu'l-Baha's time in their country was a significant part of their history.
"'Abdu'l-Baha's visit of 1913 was a milestone for us German Baha'is," he said. "We are greatly blessed by it. He was in Stuttgart; He was in Esslingen twice, each time for a week, and two days of that time He spent here in Bad Mergentheim."
Sussan Rastani, a Baha'i who lives in Bad Mergentheim, thanked local authorities for putting up the monument.
"In these times of religious intolerance and even religious fanatism, it is exemplary of the town authorities and the resort administration to re-erect this memorial stone in remembrance of 'Abdu'l-Baha, who served as an example of love and tolerance towards all religions and people," she said.
-- German Baha'i News Service
GBN-HF-07 04 25 -1-GERMANMONUMENT-524

BAHA'I SCHOOLCHILDREN IN IRAN INCREASINGLY HARASSED AND ABUSED BY SCHOOL AUTHORITIES
BAHA'I SCHOOLCHILDREN IN IRAN INCREASINGLY HARASSED AND ABUSED BY SCHOOLAUTHORITIESNEW YORK, 5 April 2007 (BWNS) -- Baha'i students in primary and secondaryschools throughout Iran are increasingly being harassed, vilified, and heldup to abuse, according to recent reports from inside the country.During a 30-day period from mid-January to mid-February, some 150 incidentsof insults, mistreatment, and even physical violence by school authoritiesagainst Baha'i students were reported as occurring in at least 10 Iraniancities."These new reports that the most vulnerable members of the Iranian Baha'icommunity -- children and junior youth -- are being harassed, degraded, and,in at least one case, blindfolded and beaten, is an extremely disturbingdevelopment," said Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the Baha'iInternational Community to the United Nations."The increasing number of such incidents suggests a serious and shameful escalation in the on-going persecution of Iranian Baha'is," said Ms. Dugal."The fact that school-aged children are being targeted by those who shouldrightfully hold their trust -- teachers and school administrators -- onlymakes this latest trend even more ominous."Ms. Dugal said the Baha'i International Community has been aware ofscattered reports of abuse directed at school children but has only recentlylearned that young Baha'is are now widely being forced to identify theirreligion -- and are also being insulted, degraded, threatened withexpulsion, and, in some cases, summarily dismissed from school."They are also being pressured to convert to Islam, required to endureslander of their faith by religious instructors, and being taught and tested

on 'Iranian history' in authorized texts that denigrate, distort, andbrazenly falsify their religious heritage," said Ms. Dugal. "They are alsobeing repeatedly told that they are not to attempt to teach their religion."According to Ms. Dugal, one Baha'i has reported that the school-age childrenof a relative in Kermanshah were called to the front of the classroom, wherethey were required to listen to insults against the Faith."Another student, accepted at an art institute, has been followed by theauthorities and on three occasions seized, blindfolded, and beaten," saidMs. Dugal."While a few of these may be isolated attacks, the extent and nature of thisreprehensible activity has led the Baha'is in Iran to conclude that this isan organized effort," said Ms. Dugal.

on 'Iranian history' in authorized texts that denigrate, distort, andbrazenly falsify their religious heritage," said Ms. Dugal. "They are alsobeing repeatedly told that they are not to attempt to teach their religion."According to Ms. Dugal, one Baha'i has reported that the school-age childrenof a relative in Kermanshah were called to the front of the classroom, wherethey were required to listen to insults against the Faith."Another student, accepted at an art institute, has been followed by theauthorities and on three occasions seized, blindfolded, and beaten," saidMs. Dugal."While a few of these may be isolated attacks, the extent and nature of thisreprehensible activity has led the Baha'is in Iran to conclude that this is an organized effort," said Ms. Dugal. Of special concern, she added, was the fact that a high proportion of the attacks against high school students have been against girls."While the attacks reported to have taken place in elementary and middleschools were leveled evenly against boys and girls, those at the high-schoollevel targeted girls to a far greater degree: of 76 incidents, 68 wereagainst Baha'i girls," said Ms. Dugal.The reports of attacks on innocent Baha'i schoolchildren come at a time when a growing number of older Baha'i students seeking to enter Iranian universities have been expelled solely because of their religion.
So far this year, at least 94 college-age Baha'i students have been expelled from institutions of higher education.
That figure is up from 70 as reportedin late February.Since the Islamic Republic of Iran was established in 1979, the300,000-member Iranian Baha'i community has faced ongoing and systematicpersecution. In the early 1980s, more than 200 Baha'is were killed, hundreds were imprisoned, and thousands were deprived of jobs and education, solely
because of their religious belief.

At the present time, more than 120 Baha'is are out on bail and awaiting trial on false charges, solely because of their religious beliefs andactivities. Over the last year, as well, international human rights groupshave expressed concern at the Iranian government's efforts to step-up theircovert monitoring
and identification of Baha'is.

To view the photos and additional features click here:http://news.bahai.org/index.cfm?src=se--8-bp-070405-1-IRANSCHOOLS-515-S------------------------------------------------------------Advance release: Please check our website for the final version of thisarticle.------------------------------------------------------------Copyright 2007 by the Baha'i World News Service. All stories and photographsproduced by the Baha'i World News Service may be freely reprinted,re-emailed, re-posted to the World Wide Web and otherwise reproduced by anyindividual or organization as long as they are attributed to the Baha'iWorld News Service. For more information, visit http://news.bahai.org./----------------------------------------------------------

tsusami and earthquake in solomon island

A BISHOP and three worshippers were killed by the Solomon Islands tsunami when it struck the island of Simbo during a church ordination service, the United Church has confirmed.
Bishop Rowlington Zappo was conducting the ordination ceremony early yesterday when the wave hit the church on Simbo, near Gizo, in the Solomons' Western Province, a church spokesman said.

He and three other people died, but there were said to be up to 100 others in the congregation at the time.
Simbo was one of many islands hit when yesterday's magnitude 8.0 quake created a tsunami wave several metres high.
With around 20 people feared killed, witnesses to the tsunami that pounded into the Solomons Islands early Monday described how the towering waves swept over tiny villages before surging inland, wreaking destruction on its path.
A state of emergency was declared this morning, With officials saying an estimated 4,000 people were sheltering in the hills amid warnings that quake aftershocks could generate more tsunami waves in coming days.
Islanders were in desperate need of water, food and tents, Western Province Premier Alex Lokopio said.
"For the next three days or four days, if there is not anything coming from Honiara or any other parts of the world, there are people here in Gizo who will be sitting down underneath the trees day and night,'' he added.
A wall of water, triggered by a 8.0-magnitude undersea earthquake, swamped Gizo, capital of the western province popular with tourists for its pristine beaches and diving, locals reported.
"The sea is rising up to five metres high... the houses are sunk,'' ferry driver Nixon Silus told Australian radio.
"All the houses on the islands are under water and all the houses are being pulled down and most of their kitchen utensils and all things like that are floating on the sea.''
Silus, speaking about 60 kilometres northwest of Gizo, said the islanders were unsure of what to do when the giant wave hit.
"Some of the people ran out to the bush, some of the people on the islands don't know where to go at the moment,'' he said.
Residents said there was no warning of the approaching tsunami but reports indicated locals noticed significant changes in the sea level after the quake, a typical sign of an impending wave. Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the government had made an initial offer of up to $2 million in emergency and reconstruction assistance to the Solomon Islands government.
However, Australia is still waiting for advice from the Solomon Islands on what level of assistance it needs and the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has already been mobilised to help with the disaster.

This morning the death toll stood at 20, including two children.
The Pacific, from Hawaii to New Zealand, was put on alert for the tsunami as early as 7am yesterday.
Last night Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said he expected the toll would continue to climb.
The worst-hit regions include the town of Gizo, the capital of the Western Province, and the village of Sasamunga in the Choiseul Province.
Dorothy Parkinson, an Australian living in the popular dive centre of Gizo, said the wall of water had left a wide trail of devastation.
"It's a catastrophe,'' she said. ``(There was) very little warning. It was just a noise like an underground explosion and the next thing it just ... began rocking the whole hill. The wave came almost instantaneously.
"Everything that was standing is flattened. It threw a piano to the ground. Everything's on the ground smashed.''
Police said witnesses reported the waves triggering landslides after smashing inland.
Chief government spokesman Alfred Maesulia said islanders first noted a change in the sea level - a classic tsunami warning sign.
"People found out the sea was moving away and the shoreline was dry, and then people realised there would be a problem,'' he said.
Australia has offered $2 million in aid and the immediate dispatch of tarpaulins, blankets and clean water - while disaster teams could also be sent.
And Gary Gibson, a senior seismologist with the Seismology Research Centre in Melbourne, warned the Solomons should brace itself for a second big aftershock earthquake in the next few weeks.