Join us as we celebrate the International Day for Tolerance
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - 21:39
 Today is the International Day for Tolerance. What are you going to do about it? (tell the Dalai Lama Center) In 1995, UNESCO's Member States adopted a Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. The Declaration affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. Tolerance recognizes the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. People are naturally diverse; only tolerance can ensure the survival of mixed communities in every region of the globe. One of the UN's five pillars of tolerance is education. Through education, tolerance can be taught at a very young age. By teaching children to accept and embrace the differences of others, we can sow the seeds of interconnectedness that leads to a more tolerant world. This type of education is a central focus of the Dalai Lama Center. Through our programs, we hope to see more compassionate and tolerant children. We are inspired by the positive human qualities of the Dalai Lama, and his strong commitment to educating the hearts of children. At the 2006 Vancouver Dialogues, the Dalai Lama spoke of the imprortance of tolerance. "Difficulties, differences and disagreements are a natural part of our life and tolerance is also a natural part of our faculty to really deal with these situations," he said. (watch the video) It's up to each of us to promote tolerance through our interactions in our daily lives as one form of compassion and a recognition of our interconnectedness. Another way is by making a gift to the Dalai Lama Center to support programs and initiatives that promote compassion.      |
