Getting into the charitable spirit

THE Festival of Spirituality and Peace and the Edinburgh Interfaith Association are showcasing ten different charities based in and around Scotland's capital this weekend.

The event will take place on Saturday 12 January 2013 in the hall at St John’s Episcopal Church, which is on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road.

Doors open from 1pm through to 5.30pm, giving a chance to faith-based and non-faith related local charities to present themselves and their causes, for people to engage with them, and to learn more about their projects and fields of action.

"If you live in or near Edinburgh, then this coming weekend's Volunteer Charity Fair provides an ideal opportunity to look at the difference you can help make this year," says Annika Wolf from the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, which is extending its activities beyond August each year to spread the spirit of goodwill throughout the year.

The Festival says it is "delighted" to welcome representatives of Edinburgh Cyrenians, L’Arche Edinburgh, the Together-We-Can-Stop-It-Project, Christian Aid, Feed Glasgow, Waverley Care, the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, and Streetwork, among others, to this gathering.

"We will begin with an introduction to all the participating organisations, followed by a tea and coffee break, and further opportunities to talk to all representatives throughout the afternoon at their individual stalls," explains Ms Wolf.

* Others wishing to take part or to find out more can contact Annika Wolf at info@festivalofspirituality.org.uk

Message from the First Minister

SCOTLAND'S First Minister, Alex Salmond, has sent a person message of endorsement and support for the 2011 Festival of Spirituality and Peace, which runs through to 29 August.

He writes: "The Festival of Spirituality and Peace is now firmly established as one of the key Edinburgh International Festivals and I am delighted to see it go from strength to strength with each successive year. Edinburgh's International Festivals don't just allow us to enjoy arts and entertainment from home and abroad, they allow us opportunities to think about our lives and the world we live in.

"This year's theme of Faith, Hope and Reality is a perfect example of thought-provoking and challenging issues discussed in ways which educate, inspire and entertain, and there is no doubt in my mind that everyone attending the events throughout the coming three weeks will be both educated and challenged by what they see and hear.

"Building a better society is not just the work of politicians, faith leaders and community activists. Real change is driven by all people who are ready to challenge injustice, prejudice and discrimination. I know that this year's festival will be exciting and enjoyable for participants and audience alike, and I pass on my best wishes to all.

Re-awakening the spirit of peace

THE Edinburgh-based Festival of Spirituality and Peace, which along with the famous 'fringe' and International festivals, brings tens of thousands of people to Scotland's capital and attracts the interest of millions, seeks to be an occasion of celebration and understanding for people from all faith backgrounds and none.

Moreover, the whole Edinburgh's festival season is not just a 'commercial jamboree', but an an opportunity to recapture the vision of peace in the human community, amidst a world of conflict.

That was the message of the director of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, the Rev Donald Reid, speaking on the BBC Radio 4 'Sunday' this morning (7 August 2011).

He recalled with presenter Roger Boulton that the Edinburgh International Festival was conceived in 1947, after the devastation of the second world war.

Its aim back then was to "provide a platform for the flowering of the hman spirit" - and the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, which will attract some 25,000 people to 300 performances over 200 events in six venues between 6-29 August, seeks to "reawaken the heart of the festival for people who, after 9/11, want to work together for a peaceful future," says Mr Reid.


More here.

Radio 4 Sunday programme

THE Rev Donald Reid, director of the ambitious Festival of (6-29 August 2011) in Edinburgh this year is being interviewed on BBC Radio 4's flagship 'Sunday' programme tomorrow morning, not long after 7am, on 7 August.

The programme, presented by Ed Stourton (pictured),  can be heard for a week afterwards through the BBC 'listen again' iPlayer facility.

The Festival is launched officially on Sunday evening at St John's (at the junction of Princes Street and Lothian Street, fringe venue 127) with an hour-long event at 6pm featuring a range of performers and guests, including Bishop Brian Smith and actor David Benson - along with musicians, the world's premier Tiko drummer, Art Lee, and more.

Peace possibilities after 9/11

WITH the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks less than a month away, the Festival of Spirituality and Peace in Edinburgh is seeking to reawaken a spirit of hope for people of different belief and cultural backgrounds who want to work for a peaceful future.

Among the speakers throughout August 2011 will be Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who has been at the centre of a storm of publicity around the so-called ‘Ground Zero Mosque’.

There are also events looking at change in the Middle East, non-violent responses to conflict, religion and violence, Lockerbie (with the entire Justice for Megrahi campaign committee present), faith and sexuality, and lessons from Bloody Sunday.

With the theme ‘Faith, Hope and Reality’, the Festival of Spirituality and Peace enters its own 11th year – and between 6 and 29 August 2011 will feature 300 performances across 200 events in six venues, attracting around 20,000 people.

More here

Help tell the story of the Festival

WHAT'S a blog for, some people still ask? The answer's simple: a weblog (to give it it's formal title) is an online diary... a day-to-day, moment-to-moment account of what's happening.

The idea behind Spirituality & Peace News, therefore, is to provide the daily, ongoing story of Edinburgh's most exciting and diverse August extravaganza, the Festival of Spirituality & Peace, running from 6 August (yes, just a few days away!) right through to August 29th.

To make this personal and up-close, this is something YOU can help with. If you want to send us a quick reaction to an event or talk you have attended, or perhaps a photo, or a quotation (something you heard), or even a lengthier report, we'd be delighted to run these - or excerpts, depending on space - as guest posts on this blog.

We are particularly keen to get people with mobile phones snapping away, or taking 30-60 second video shots for use on YouTube, if you have the facility. Please send all offerings to me here.

We do hope you can get involved in making this a continuous record... and as diverse as the Festival itself.

Tonight's preview event

TONIGHT at 5.30pm there will be an exclusive preview of the Festival of Spirituality and Peace 2011 for people in the media and good friends - before the whole extravaganza kicks off at the weekend.

This is a chance for those who are helping with publicity to get a taste of the Festival before it begins. With performances and introductions from many of our main contributors, it's the best way to sneak a peak at what will be going on in the next three weeks!

Appearing will be Coreen Scott, Gail Bryden who runs the Laughter Yoga, and Art Lee, the Taiko Drumming master.

Not only is this a first look at FoSP but it's also a chance to explore the sumptuous Persian Tent (illustrated). Its beautifully decorated and is a guaranteed passport to the delights of the region. The invitations have gone out, and we'll look forward to seeing some of you this evening - and many, many more over the coming three weeks!

An exciting and diverse Festival

THIS year the Festival of Spirituality and Peace will feature some 300 activities in 200 events across 15 venues between 6 - 29 August 2011. 

There will be top-quality speakers, conversations, performances, film, food, exhibitions, family activities, workshops, art, culture and more.

The Festival is now in its eleventh year. Here are the full details...

Festival opening event on 7 August

OVER the course of three weeks the Festival of Spirituality and Peace will look at human reality – including controversial and difficult issues - from a variety of cultural perspectives, seeking convergent wisdom and signs of hope.

You can join us in our celebratory opening event on Sunday 7 August 2011, with various upcoming Festival performers and special guests – including Bishop Brian Smith, actor David Benson, world no1 Taiko drummer Art Lee, singer Coreen Scott, poet Tessa Ransford, musician Mio Shapley, and the Loud and Proud Choir.

There will also be a message of strong support for the Festival and its aims from Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond.

Participants will be invited to tie a 'ribbon for peace' onto the railings of St John's Church, the venue. The address is: Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ. The events runs from 6-7pm, and will be followed by refreshments (until 9pm) with a number of artists and contributors present. All are welcome!

The anticipation builds

THIS year the Festival of Spirituality and Peace will be bigger than ever! From small beginnings in 2005, FoSP has grown to one of the highlights of the (ever-busy) Edinburgh festival calendar.

It will feature some 300 activities in 200 events across 15 venues between 6 - 29 August. There will be top-quality speakers, conversations, performances, film, food, exhibitions, family activities, workshops, art, culture and much more. The Festival is now in its eleventh year. Here are the full details...including a conveniently downloadable brochure (*.PDF Adobe Acrobat format).

A Festival first look

THROUGHOUT the course of of Festival of Spirituality & Peace we intend to make short video clips, as well as photos, available.

Here's a little visual taster...


FoSP '11 First Look from The Festival of Spirituality and on Vimeo.

Faith, hope and reality

THE theme for the 2011 Festival of Spirituality & Peace is Faith, Hope and Reality.

In an often troubled world, how do we build up real trust (which is what the word 'faith' betokens)? Where are our sources and foundations of hope as people and communities? And how do we face the harsher realities of the world without being dragged down into despair? 

One answer is that can we learn together by responding positively to the spirit of change embodied in the 'Arab Spring' - and in many other movements for cultural renewal, social justice, bridge-building and peacemaking across the world.

This year's Festival - which runs from 6 - 29 August - will offer many glimpses of a 'new world coming': through a range of conversations with change-makers and opinion formers; in performance, art and music; and in events designed to bring children and families together across cultures.  There will also be special events, film, and talks and workshops.

We look forward to meeting you there...

Twitter, Facebook and social networking

YOU can follow the Festival of Spirituality & Peace 2011 on Twitter and also on Facebook, as well as on this blog and at the home page. There's also a YouTube channel from last year, so that you can get a flavour of what's in store.

New to online social networking?  There's a brief introduction here. Technologically it may also seem bright, shiny and new. But it's actually something human beings have been involved in for a long time...

"What you think upon grows. Whatever you allow to occupy your mind you magnify in your life. Whether the subject of your thought be good or bad, the law works and the condition grows. Any subject that you keep out of your mind tends to diminish in your life, because what you do not use atrophies." - Emmet Fox, Make Your Life Worthwhile, 1942.

Spirituality and peace after 9/11

THE Festival of Spirituality and Peace, which runs this year in Edinburgh from 6 - 29 August 2011, seeks to reawaken the heart for people who, ten years after 9/11, want to work together for a peaceful future. 

In this short preview, the Festival's director, Donald Reid, introduces its main theme. Read the full article here.

Welcome...

THIS site is under development and is in the process of being launched. It will be providing news, updates, features and links related to this year's exciting Festival.

In the meantime, the full programme for the Edinburgh Festival of Spirituality of Peace can be viewed and loaded at our official website, which is at: http://www.festivalofspirituality.org.uk/  Also, tickets are on sale at the hub here.