07-01-2007, 11:35 PM
<b>Hindus launch first pan-European body to speak to EU institutions</b>
Jun 30 2007 7:44AM
http://news. sulekha.com/ newsanalysisdisp lay.aspx? cid=174853
Launched at the European Parliament in Brussels and HFE aims to be a
first point of contact for the European Commission, European
Parliament and other EU institutions in dealing with issues like
participation of European Hindus in public policy, interfaith
cooperation and EU legislation.
In the presence of senior Parliamentary presence from Britain,European
MEPs and Ambassadors, the launch event is hosted by British MEP Robert
Evans, and supported by MEPs from many EU nations. Home Office
Minister of State for Security and Policing from the UK, Tony McNulty
MP, who hosts one the country's largest Hindu population in his
constituency, will be one of the key-note speakers at the event
Organisat ions that have joined together to form the Hindu Forum of
Europe (HFE) include the Hindu Council of the Netherlands, Hindu Forum
of Belgium, Hindu Forum of Britain, Italian Hindu Union and the
National Council of Hindu Temples UK.
Sudarshan Bhatia, President of the National Council of Hindu Temples
UK, was elected the President of the Hindu Forum of Europe by its
Administrative Council. Mahaprabhu Dasa from the Hindu Forum of
Belgium was elected the Secretary and three Vice Presidents were also
elected on the HFE Board, and they include Harilal Halai, Chair of the
Cultural Committee of the Hindu Forum of Britain, Swamini Hamsananda
Giri, Secretary of the Italian Hindu Union and Bikram Singh, Secretary
of the Hindu Council of the Netherlands.
Sudarshan Bhatia, President of the Hindu Forum of Europe, said: "The
organisation was formed as a result of several meetings between Europe
wide Hindu bodies held in Belgium and London, which identified a gap
in communication between EU institutions and the 1.5 million Hindus
living in Europe. "We have four areas of interest: EU legislation and
community consultation; interfaith cooperation in Europe; and
promotion of positive images of the European Hindu community; and
protection of human rights and security issues. Now, European
legislators and policy makers will have a forum to communicate
effectively with a community that has made such a substantial
contribution to the European way of life."
Harilal Halai, Vice President of HFE, added: "The British Hindu
community, which numbers 750,000 is the largest in Europe. We hope
that our experience of engaging with the British government in
contributing to the cohesion and integration agendas of this country
will go a long way in making a difference in Europe."
Bikram Singh, another Vice President of HFE commented: "Holland has
the second largest Hindu community in Europe, and already has five
state-funded Hindu schools and a TV channel dedicated exclusively to
Hindu programmes. We hope that the HFE can make a big difference in
how Dutch Hindus reach out to the rest of Europe."
Other guests at the launch include the Ambassadors of South Africa and
Mauritius, leading figures from the European bodies of other faith
communities and officials from EU institutions
Swamini Hamsananda Giri, who speaks on behalf of the Hindu community
at several interfaith events, said, "We believe that the Hindu Forum
of Europe will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to speak to the
other faith communities at a pan-European level. This will help in
increasing bilateral and multi-lateral dialogue between Hindus and the
other faith communities in Europe."
Mahaprabhu Dasa, concluded. "It is with great pleasure that the Hindu
Community of Belgium welcomes the creation of a European Hindu body
and since Belgium is at the heart of Europe we hope that we can
facilitate the dialogue between the Hindu Communities around Europe
and the European institutions like the Parliament, Commission and
Council. We also hope that Europeans will perceive Hindus as a
positive contribution to the multi cultural European society."
Jun 30 2007 7:44AM
http://news. sulekha.com/ newsanalysisdisp lay.aspx? cid=174853
Launched at the European Parliament in Brussels and HFE aims to be a
first point of contact for the European Commission, European
Parliament and other EU institutions in dealing with issues like
participation of European Hindus in public policy, interfaith
cooperation and EU legislation.
In the presence of senior Parliamentary presence from Britain,European
MEPs and Ambassadors, the launch event is hosted by British MEP Robert
Evans, and supported by MEPs from many EU nations. Home Office
Minister of State for Security and Policing from the UK, Tony McNulty
MP, who hosts one the country's largest Hindu population in his
constituency, will be one of the key-note speakers at the event
Organisat ions that have joined together to form the Hindu Forum of
Europe (HFE) include the Hindu Council of the Netherlands, Hindu Forum
of Belgium, Hindu Forum of Britain, Italian Hindu Union and the
National Council of Hindu Temples UK.
Sudarshan Bhatia, President of the National Council of Hindu Temples
UK, was elected the President of the Hindu Forum of Europe by its
Administrative Council. Mahaprabhu Dasa from the Hindu Forum of
Belgium was elected the Secretary and three Vice Presidents were also
elected on the HFE Board, and they include Harilal Halai, Chair of the
Cultural Committee of the Hindu Forum of Britain, Swamini Hamsananda
Giri, Secretary of the Italian Hindu Union and Bikram Singh, Secretary
of the Hindu Council of the Netherlands.
Sudarshan Bhatia, President of the Hindu Forum of Europe, said: "The
organisation was formed as a result of several meetings between Europe
wide Hindu bodies held in Belgium and London, which identified a gap
in communication between EU institutions and the 1.5 million Hindus
living in Europe. "We have four areas of interest: EU legislation and
community consultation; interfaith cooperation in Europe; and
promotion of positive images of the European Hindu community; and
protection of human rights and security issues. Now, European
legislators and policy makers will have a forum to communicate
effectively with a community that has made such a substantial
contribution to the European way of life."
Harilal Halai, Vice President of HFE, added: "The British Hindu
community, which numbers 750,000 is the largest in Europe. We hope
that our experience of engaging with the British government in
contributing to the cohesion and integration agendas of this country
will go a long way in making a difference in Europe."
Bikram Singh, another Vice President of HFE commented: "Holland has
the second largest Hindu community in Europe, and already has five
state-funded Hindu schools and a TV channel dedicated exclusively to
Hindu programmes. We hope that the HFE can make a big difference in
how Dutch Hindus reach out to the rest of Europe."
Other guests at the launch include the Ambassadors of South Africa and
Mauritius, leading figures from the European bodies of other faith
communities and officials from EU institutions
Swamini Hamsananda Giri, who speaks on behalf of the Hindu community
at several interfaith events, said, "We believe that the Hindu Forum
of Europe will provide a wonderful opportunity for us to speak to the
other faith communities at a pan-European level. This will help in
increasing bilateral and multi-lateral dialogue between Hindus and the
other faith communities in Europe."
Mahaprabhu Dasa, concluded. "It is with great pleasure that the Hindu
Community of Belgium welcomes the creation of a European Hindu body
and since Belgium is at the heart of Europe we hope that we can
facilitate the dialogue between the Hindu Communities around Europe
and the European institutions like the Parliament, Commission and
Council. We also hope that Europeans will perceive Hindus as a
positive contribution to the multi cultural European society."