wfn.org | WSC-AR Enews, June 2010

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-june-2010

[1]World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)

>P.O. Box 3635, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA

>Phone: 972.985.9591

>E-mail: [2]contact@worldsikhcouncil.org

>Web: [3]www.worldsikhcouncil.org

>[4]

>WSC-AR Enews
>June 2010

>In this Issue (click on article to go to it)

>1. Meeting with White House Representatives

2. Advancing Humane Treatment of Detainees by US
3. 2010 US Sikh Religious Affiliation Congregation Survey
4. Meet the New Chairperson of WSC-AR
5. WSC-AR Continues to be Concerned at Developments in Punjab (India)

6. What Religious Communities Can do to Eliminate Violence Against Childr en?

>1. Meeting with White House Representatives

WSC-AR attended a consultation meeting on April 7 with representatives of  the
[5]White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in
Washington, DC. The meeting was organized by [6]Religions for Peace - USA  and
attended by Rev. Joshua DuBois (Executive Director) as well as Ms. Mara
Vanderslice (Deputy Director) of the White House Office of Faith-Based an d
Neighborhood Partnerships. Rev. DuBois emphasized the importance of advan cing
partnerships between US religious communities and the US government, and  shared
mechanisms through which multi-religious cooperation, diplomacy, and
peace-building can be enhanced by the US government. The meeting was atte nded
by over 20 member organizations of RFP-USA and was held at the [7]Religio us
Action Center of Reform Judaism in Washington, DC. A copy of the recent f inal
report of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhoo d
Partnerships can be accessed [8]here.

>Back to index

2. Advancing Humane Treatment of Detainees by US

[9]On May 25 WSC-AR joined about 50 national religious leaders in appeali ng to
the members of the US Senate and House of Representatives to support
legislation that requires all federal agencies to notify the Internationa l
Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) of all U.S.-held detainees and to allow the  ICRC
access to them.  This requirement was included in President Obama's execu tive
order on interrogations; however, legislation is required to codify this
requirement so that it remains permanent U.S. policy. Mr. Manmohan Singh,
WSC-AR's Secretary General, was a signatory to the letter along with
representatives of [10]United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, [11] New
Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good, [12]Jewish Council for Publi c
Affairs, [13]National Council of the Churches, [14]Islamic Society of Nor th
America, and [15]Union for Reform Judaism, among other member organizatio ns of
the [16]National Religious Coalition Against Torture (NRCAT). WSC-AR has  been a
founding member of NRCAT. It participated in the founding conference of N RCAT
held in January 2006 at Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Tarunjit Sing h,
Chair of WSC-AR Interfaith Committee, was elected recently on behalf of W SC-AR
to the governing board of NRCAT. More information about NRCAT can be acce ssed
[17]here.

>Back to index

3. 2010 US Sikh Religious Affiliation Congregation Survey

[18]WSC-AR will undertake a Sikh religious affiliation population survey  of
Sikh Gurdwaras in 2010 to ascertain the county-by-county Sikh population  in the
US. The survey is being implemented in coordination with [19]Religious
Congregations & Membership Study (RCMS). RCMS 2010 will be a county-by-co unty
enumeration of religious bodies in the US. It is an update of the 1952, 1 971,
1980, 1990, and 2000 studies originally done by the [20]National Council  of
Churches and the [21]Glenmary Research Center. Since 1990, the [22]Associ ation
of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) has sponsored the R CMS.
In 2010 WSC-AR will survey each Sikh Gurdwara in the US for the number of  Sikhs
attending the Gurdwara. The RCMS study is done to coincide with the US ce nsus.
The US Census currently underway is [23]prohibited by law from asking a
question on religious affiliation on a mandatory basis and hence the
[24]US Census Bureau is not the source for information on religion. RCMS  is the
source for such information. In addition, national polls rarely give any
religious data below the national level. This study will give a picture o f
county-level religious affiliation nationwide. The longevity of the study  helps
to identify trends and track religious change. The Sikh religious affilia tion
congregation results will be published by RCMS in 2011 along with those o f
other congregations. More information on RCMS 2010 can be accessed [25]he re.

>Back to index

>4. Meet the New Chairperson of WSC-AR

WSC-AR's Regional Committee (governing board) appointed Dr. Satpal Singh  as its
new Chairperson for 2010. The WSC-AR Regional Committee consisting of 16
governing board members is elected by the member organizations of WSC-AR.  Dr.
Singh has spoken widely on Sikh philosophy and the Sikh way of life at mu ltiple
forums including invited lectures, camps for Sikh children, leadership
retreats, and Sikh symposia. He has been a member of various
organizations including the Amherst Community Diversity Council, which ad vised
the Amherst (New York) supervisor on matters of diversity, religion and
peace. In particular, he has raised voice against violence targeting wome n.
Professor Satpal Singh is currently on the faculty of [26]University at B uffalo
School of Medicine, where he teaches and conducts research in Pharmacolog y. He
can be reached at [27]chair@worldsikhcouncil.org.

>Back to index

5. WSC-AR Continues to be Concerned at Developments in Punjab (India)

WSC-AR condemns the Indian government for its suppression of freedom of
expression and protest by Sikhs in Punjab to commemorate the 26th anniver sary
of the Indian Army?s pre-planned attack on Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple)  and
more than 40 other Sikh shrines throughout Punjab, India in the first wee k of
June 1984.

On June 5, 1984, the Indian Army (with 15,000 troops supported by tanks,
artillery and helicopters, and with 35,000 paramilitary forces in reserve )
attacked the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) and more than 40 other Sikh shr ines
throughout Punjab, India. The full-scale military invasion of Darbar Sahi b
(Golden Temple) was launched on the anniversary of the Martyrdom of Siri  Guru
Arjan Sahib, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs. Thousands of Sikhs ? men, wom en and
children ? who had congregated for prayers were brutally gunned down, u nder
complete news blackout. The Akaal Takhat, the Sikh seat of sovereignty, w as
destroyed in the attack and the Sikh Reference Library and Museum were lo oted
and burned to ashes.

?The army went into Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple Complex) not to elimina te a
political figure or a political movement but to suppress the culture of a
people, to attack their heart, to strike a blow at their spirit and
self-confidence? wrote Dr. Joyce Pettigrew in her 1995 book titled The  Sikhs of
Punjab.

The 1984 attack on the Golden Temple and other Sikh places of worship was  the
beginning of a formal assault on Sikhs and their places of worship by the
Indian Government. In the last two and a half decades, more than a quarte r
million Sikhs are reported to have been killed in Punjab and rest of Indi a.

WSC-AR is committed to honoring the Sikhs who sacrificed their lives in
defending the sanctity of the over forty Sikh places of worship attacked  26
years ago by the Indian Army, recommits itself to upholding justice and
equality, and regaining the sovereignty of the Sikh nation.

[28]ENSAAF, a US nonprofit organization, is working to end impunity and a chieve
justice for mass state crimes in India, with a focus on Punjab by documen ting
abuses, bringing perpetrators to justice, and organizing survivors. More
information on ENSAAF can be accessed [29]here.

>Back to index

6. What Religious Communities Can do to Eliminate Violence Against Childr en?

[30]UNICEF and [31]Religions for Peace recently released a report titled
[32]From Commitment to Action: What Religious Communities can do to Elimi nate
Violence against Children.  This joint guide, produced with input from
religious leaders and child protection specialists, aims to help religiou s
communities harness their spiritual, moral and social strengths to preven t,
respond to and eliminate violence against children. Children are ? too  often
? not protected. Violence affects millions of children every day. Often , even
in places that should provide safety and nurturance ? homes and schools  ?
children experience fear and abuse. This is deeply wrong. Religions for P eace
and UNICEF are committed to a stronger alliance to combat this violence.  The
guide aims to channel the collective energies of religious communities to
advance a shared vision of a future free of violence against children. Th e
guide has been developed as a tool to support religious communities? wo rk to
promote child rights and to prevent and respond to rights violations, in
particular violence against children. The guide can be accessed [33]here.

>Back to index

>About WSC-AR

The [34]World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR) is a representative  and
elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States. Its
members include 45 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh
institutions, across the nation. WSC-AR works to promote Sikh interests a t the
national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, educatio n, and
well-being of humankind.

>Member Gurdwaras of WSC-AR

1. Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society, Stockton, CA
2. Gurdwara Sahib Fremont, Fremont, CA
3. Guru Nanak Sikh Mission, Livingston, CA
4. Sikh Gurdwara of LA, North Hollywood, CA
5. Sikh Gurdwara Riverside, Riverside, CA
6. Colorado Singh Sabha, Denver, CO
7. Guru Singh Sabha of Augusta, Augusta, GA
8. Sikh Study Circle of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
9. Sikh Religious Society of Chicago, Palatine, IL
10. Sikh Society of South, New Orleans, LA
11. New England Sikh Study Circle, Boston, MA
12. Singh Sabha of Michigan, Canton, MI
13. Sikh Gurdwara of Michigan, Rochester Hills, MI
14. Sikh Society of Michigan, Madison Heights, MI
15. Guru Nanak Foundation of Jackson, MS
16. Sikh Gurdwara of North Carolina, Durham, NC
17. Sikh Sabha of Upper Valley, Hanover, NH
18. Garden State Sikh Association, Bridgewater, NJ
19. Guru Nanak Sikh Society of Delaware Valley, Sewell, NJ
20. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Glenrock, NJ
21. Sikh Sabha of New Jersey, Lawrenceville, NJ
22. Gurdwara Baba Deep Singh, Las Vegas, NV
23. Sikh Cultural Society Inc., Richmond Hills, NY
24. Sikh Cultural & Edu. Society of Western NY, Buffalo, NY
25. Sikh Religious Society of Dayton, Dayton, OH
26. Guru Nanak Found. of Greater Cleveland, Richfield, OH
27. Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Society, Bedford, OH
28. Guru Nanak Religious Soc. of Central Ohio, Columbus, OH
29. Sikh Sadh Sangat, Easton, PA
30. Philadelphia Sikh Society, Millbourne, PA
31. Tristate Sikh Cultural Society, Monroeville, PA
32. Mid South Sikh Sabha, Memphis, TN
33. Sikh Center of Gulf Coast, Houston, TX
34. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Richardson, TX
35. Sikh Gurdwara of North Texas, Garland, TX
36. Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Fairfax, VA
37. Sikh Association of Central Virginia, VA
38. Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin, Brookfield, WI

>Other Sikh Institution Members of WSC-AR

>1. Siri Guru Granth Sahib Found., Anaheim, CA
>2. Sikhs Serving America, Topeka, KS
>3. Sikh Youth Federation of North America, White Plains, NY
>4. Sikh Heritage Foundation, Long Island, NY
>5. Sikh Educational & Religious Foundation, Dublin, OH
>6. Sikh Youth Federation of USA, Toledo, OH
>7. Academy of Guru Granth Studies, Arlington, TX

>References

>1. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>2. mailto:contact@worldsikhcouncil.org
>3. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>4. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>5. http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ofbnp
>6. http://www.rfpusa.org/
>7. http://rac.org/index.cfm?
>8. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ofbnp-council 
>-final-report.pdf
>9. http://www.nrcat.org/
>10. http://usccb.org/
>11. http://www.newevangelicalpartnership.org/
>12. http://engage.jewishpublicaffairs.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/conte 
>nt?content_item_KEY=2205
>13. http://www.ncccusa.org/
>14. http://www.isna.net/ISNAIntroDesign/flash.html
>15. http://urj.org/
>16. http://www.nrcat.org/
>17. http://www.nrcat.org/
>18. http://www.rcms2010.org/
>19. http://www.rcms2010.org/
>20. http://www.ncccusa.org/
>21. http://www.glenmary.org/grc/
>22. http://www.asarb.org/
>23. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/religion.htm
>24. http://www.census.gov/
>25. http://www.rcms2010.org/
>26. http://www.buffalo.edu/
>27. mailto:chair@worldsikhcouncil.org
>28. http://www.ensaaf.org/
>29. http://www.ensaaf.org/
>30. http://www.unicef.org/
>31. http://www.wcrp.org/
>32. http://www.unicef.org/media/files/What_Religious_Communities_can_do_t 
>o_Eliminate_Violence_against_Children__(UNICEF_Religions_for_Peace_Guide) .pdf
>33. http://www.unicef.org/media/files/What_Religious_Communities_can_do_t 
>o_Eliminate_Violence_against_Children__(UNICEF_Religions_for_Peace_Guide) .pdf
>34. http://www.worldsikhcouncil.org/
>This message was sent by: World Sikh Council - America Region, POB 3635,  
>Columbus, OH 43210

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