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Baha’i publishes new research on widowhood

Deborah van den HoonaardDouglas, New Brunswick, 26 July 2010 (CBNS) — When it comes to ground-breaking research, or any research at all, Atlantic Canada is often overlooked – but not by Deborah van den Hoonaard. The St. Thomas University gerontologist recently published a book about an “exotic” topic: widowers. “They are invisible,” she said. “No one had done it before.”

A gift of a writer’s journal describing the author's first year as a widow sparked van den Hoonaard’s interest in the subject. She said reading it was so moving that she realized there was virtually no research about widows, especially from a qualitative, not statistical perspective. She wrote a book about her research on the issue, published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press in 2001, entitled “The Widowed Self: The Older Woman’s Journey through Widowhood.” This April, University of Toronto Press published “By Himself: the Older Man’s Experience of Widowhood”.

Former Universal House of Justice member to speak at ABS Conference

Former member of the Universal House of Justice Hooper DunbarVancouver, British Columbia, 19 July 2010 (CBNS) — An attractive program and special speaker are in store for those attending this year’s Association for Baha’i Studies Conference. The focus will be on ways Baha’i scholarship can help generate a consensus in the discourse on human nature. “Registration is higher at this time compared to previous years,” said conference coordinator Parvin Rowhani.

Canadian Baha’i summer schools uplift spirits across the country

Artistic presentationAnnapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, 13 July 2010 (CBNS) — For many students, the term “summer school” brings up dread or dismay. Not so for the participants at the Maritime Baha’i Summer School. One of many similar efforts across Canada, it provides a joyful and nurturing learning environment so that this year, 210 people of all ages were attracted to participate from July 2 to 4 at the United Church Camp in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia.

Commemorating the Martyrdom of the Báb

The Shrine of the Bab in Haifa is a special place of prayer for Baha’is and others. The remains of the Bab were laid to rest there in 1909, nearly 60 years after His martyrdom in Iran.Montréal, Quebec, 8 July 2010 (CBNS) — The smoke and dust provoked by the gunpowder was so thick that the entire courtyard was clouded. In Tabriz, Iran, 160 years ago tomorrow, a young man known as the Báb was taken from the cell where he was being kept prisoner, suspended in a public square and executed by a firing squad.

Religious freedom examined at G8 Religious Summit event

Dr. Payam Akhavan, from McGill University, speaking at the "Human Rights and Religious Freedom" seminarReligious leaders call for action on poverty, environment and peace:

Winnipeg, Manitoba, 25 June 2010 (CBNS) — World leaders meeting in Canada have been urged to take “inspired leadership and action” to halt poverty, protect the environment and end violent conflict. The challenge was made by 80 senior religious leaders from around the world meeting in Winnipeg at the G8 Religious Leaders Summit this past week. See the full story from the Baha'i World News Service:
http://news.bahai.org/story/779.

Professor Andy Knight receives Harry Jerome Trailblazer Award

Professor Andy Knight at Harry Jerome awards gala – April 2010Edmonton, Alberta, 22 June 2010 (CBNS) — For Professor Andy Knight, one shouldn’t only help one’s family and friends – we have an obligation to be of service to the world as a whole.

Canadian Senator Roméo Dallaire speaks about the persecution of Baha'is

Senator Roméo Dallaire Ottawa, Ontario, 18 June 2010 (CBNS) — On June 16th, Senator Roméo Dallaire delivered the following statement about the persecution of Baha'is in Iran to Canada's Senate.

Trial of seven Iranian Baha'i leaders appears to have ended

New York, United States, 14 June 2010 (BWNS) — The trial of seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned for more than two years in Iran seems to have come to a conclusion after three days of successive court hearings.

The seven appeared in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, 12 June and returned to Evin Prison shortly after noon.

Ongoing trial of Iran's Baha'i leaders highlighted on global day of action

In Berlin, Germany, a replica prison cell was erected at the city's historic Brandenburg Gate, to draw attention to the case of Iran's imprisoned Baha'i leaders.Brussels, Belgium, 13 June 2010 (BWNS) — On a global day of action highlighting human rights abuses in Iran, the European Union and the Prime Minister of Canada issued strong statements calling for Iran to respect international law.

Court date for imprisoned Baha’i leaders 12 June

Toronto, Ontario, 7 June 2010 (CBNS) — Naeim Tavakkoli, an engineer in Ottawa, faces an excruciating week waiting to see just what the fate of his imprisoned father, Behrouz Tavakkoli, will be. Nika Khanjani, a graduate student in Montreal, waits to see what will happen to her uncle, Jamaloddin Khanjani. They will both appear in court in Tehran on 12 June.