Pope Francis made an impassioned plea for urgent action on “scandalous global injustice” and the “shameful scourge of hunger” on the second day of his landmark tour of Bahrain.
The pontiff spoke out about his concerns over self interest and political ideologies taking precedence over the crucial need for the world to unite to tackle its most pressing challenges head on.
He was addressing more than 200 inter-faith leaders and government officials during the closing session of the Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence.
The pope said the stark choice facing the global community was to row together or drift alone into an uncertain future.
“It is a striking paradox that, while the majority of the world’s population is united in facing the same difficulties, suffering from grave food, ecological and pandemic crises, as well as an increasingly scandalous global injustice, a few potentates are caught up in a resolute struggle for partisan interests, reviving obsolete rhetoric, redesigning spheres of influence and opposing blocs,” Pope Francis said at an open-air gathering in the grounds of the Sakhir Royal Palace.
“We are playing with fire, missiles and bombs, weapons that bring sorrow and death, covering our common home with ashes and hatred.”
In a thought-provoking speech, he warned of bitter consequences if the world continued to hurtle down the road of conflict.
The pontiff urged leaders not to shut out the pleas of ordinary people and said it was imperative to co-operate for the good of all.
“These are the choices before us since, in a globalised world, we only advance by rowing together; if we sail alone, we go adrift,” he said.
Education an urgent priority
The pope said that extremist thought thrived in spaces where education was allowed to lie dormant.
“For where opportunities for education are lacking, extremism increases and forms of fundamentalism take root,” he said.
“Yet if ignorance is the enemy of peace, education is the friend of development.
“An education that is not rigid and monolithic, but open to challenges and sensitive to cultural changes; not self-referential and isolating, but attentive to the history and culture of others; not stagnant, but inquisitive and open to embracing different and essential aspects of the one human family to which we belong.”
Tolerant values must be put into action
He listed education and employment of women and protection of the rights of children among key priorities.
“It is not enough to say we are tolerant: we really have to make room for others, granting them rights and opportunities,” the pontiff said.
The approach, he said, begins with education and is one that the world's religions can support.
Bringing faiths together
The historic signing of the Document of Human Fraternity during the papal visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019 helped pave the way for greater harmony and understanding between all faiths.
The pope said all forms of religion must stand against hatred and violence carried out in its name.
“For it is not enough to proclaim that a religion is peaceful; we need to condemn and isolate the perpetrators of violence who abuse its name,” Pope Francis said.
“Nor is it enough to distance ourselves from intolerance and extremism; we need to counter them."
The pope quoted sections from the Document of Human Fraternity that highlighted how it was necessary to stop financial support to terrorist movements.
“On the stormy sea of conflicts, let us keep before our eyes the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which calls for a fruitful encounter between West and East,” he said in his address.
“We are here, as men and women who believe in God and in our brothers and sisters, to reject isolating thinking.
“We want the divergences between East and West to be settled for the good of all.”
He dwelt on the clash between the East and West and how religious leaders could promote dialogue as the uniting path.
“Tragically, East and West increasingly resemble two opposing seas. We, on the other hand, are here together because we all intend to set sail on the same waters, choosing the route of encounter rather than that of confrontation,” he said.
“After two terrible world wars, a Cold War that for decades kept the world in suspense, catastrophic conflicts taking place in every part of the globe, and in the midst of accusations, threats and condemnations, we continue to find ourselves on the brink of a delicate precipice and we do not want to fall.”
While he did not specify the countries, the Russian-Ukraine war and conflicts in other nations were the background to his call to renounce violence and address poverty.
Bahrain's quest for peace
The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, launched in 2017, is a call to fight extremism and terrorism and boost moderation, tolerance and peace.
Stressing the need for self-examination, Pope Francis read out sections of the declaration that commits to protection and respect of places of worship and unhindered prayer.
He spoke out against all forms of religious coercion and how recognising freedom of worship would help reject rigidity, narrow-mindedness and violence.
Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
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Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
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Sector: Online gaming industry
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- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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RESULTS
Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.
Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.
Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.
Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.
Catchweight 80kg
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.
Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.
Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.
Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.
Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.
