Author: Pratibedan Baidya

Source: Nepal News

http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2006/others/feature/may/news_feature07.php

Last Thursday, within hours of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) proclaiming curtailment of royal powers and bringing the army under the purview of the parliament, among others, victory rallies were carried out across the country. But the proclamation of the HoR to declare Nepal a secular country...

Source: catholic.org/UCA News

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=19942

On May 23, 2006 UCA News reported, "About 2,500 young people from six religions took part in an interfaith prayer service held to reinforce the climate of interreligious harmony in North Sulawesi province. The Interfaith Youth Celebration held May 15 was organized by the recently formed Interfaith Youth Forum of North Sulawesi. It took place at the...

Source: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA

http://www.hssus.org/content/view/139/108/

On May 22, 2006 Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA reported on its Web site, "On the occasion of Shri Guruji Birth Centenary, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh is organizing [an] exhibtition on Hindu Culture and Dharmic Traditions of India. The purpose [of] this exhibition is to spread awareness about Hindu Dharma and traditions from India. Hindu civilization is one of the most ancient civilizations of the world....

Source: USA Today

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20060522/cm_usatoday/howoneschooldistrictfoundreligion

On May 22, 2006 USA Today published an opinion piece by religion professors Emile Lester and Patrick S. Roberts: "In 2000, the religiously diverse community [of Modesto in Northern California] took a risk and, in an almost unheard-of undertaking for a public school district, offered a required course on world religions and...

Source: todayonline.com

Wire Service: AP

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/119743.asp

On May 22, 2006 the Associated Press reported, "Up to 100,000 people jammed streets in the Indonesian capital yesterday, shouting slogans and hoisting banners in support of a proposed anti-pornography law that critics fear will erode the mostly Muslim nation's secular traditions. The protesters, who arrived in buses organised by mosques and conservative...

Source: The Star online

Wire Service: AP

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/5000986.stm

On May 21, 2006 BBC News reported, "Organisers of a conference bringing together religious and community leaders in Swansea say they hope to increase understanding among faiths. The public have been invited to Sunday's event, which will include addresses from representatives of six major faiths and an open debate. The meeting has been promoted with the motto 'Love for all, hatred for none.'...

Source: The Blade

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4996708.stm

On May 19, 2006 BBC News reported, "The state governor of India's western state of Rajasthan has refused to sign a contentious religious freedom bill.

Pratibha Patil's refusal comes amid widespread criticism of the bill, which would ban people from being converted to religions against their will.

The state assembly passed the bill, which would see offenders fined or...

Source: Hindu American Foundation

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/media_press_release_uscirf_2006.htm

On May 16, 2006 Hindu American Foundation reported, "The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed support over portions of the annual report released by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on May 3, 2006. The report, which aims to draw the U.S. government's attention to countries with systematic...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4965580.stm

On May 16, 2006 BBC News reported, "Malaysia is considering its multi-cultural credentials after a crowd of Muslims on Sunday broke up a meeting called to defend the rights of religious minorities.

The country's leaders condemned the disturbances, but the BBC's Jonathan Kent in Kuala Lumpur says non-Muslims feel increasingly beleaguered.

'I'm becoming an alien in...

Source: World Council of Churches

Source: United Press International

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060515-061443-5941r

On May 15, 2006 the United Press International reported, "Nepal's prime minister announced Monday that the government would change from a Hindu kingdom to a secular state, with equal rights for all.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said Monday that the declaration, to be proclaimed by the House of Representatives later, would protect the...

Source: Hinduism Today

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/hpi/2006/6/23.shtml#4

On May 14, 2006 Hinduism Today reported, "Anoopam Mission is pleased to announce that it will be hosting a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha Gnanyagna ('Bhagwat Saptah') from July 17 to July 23, 2006 at its temple located in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, just north of Allentown. The Bhagwat Saptah will consist of week-long discourses on the Shrimad Bhagwat by Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya, a world-...

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/4768431.stm

On May 14, 2006 BBC News reported, "Members of Bradford's Hindu community are celebrating their prosperity in the city by unveiling the foundation stone of a new £3m temple. The building on Leeds Road will be one of the largest Hindu temples in the north of England. Work on the structure, which will also include a community and sports centre is expected to begin on 1 June. Baldev Bhardwaj, of...