ZAMBOANGA CITY Mayor Beng Climaco has joined a group of global mayors for an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama hosted by the “Strong Cities Network,” the first ever global network of mayors, policymakers and practitioners united in building social cohesion and resilience to counter violent extremism in all its forms.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares a smile with Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco. |
And his other advice,
according to the mayor, was to always wear a face mask which prompted Climaco
to quickly put on her mask during the live webcast. Climaco’s immediate
reaction to his advice made him smile obviously amused at the soft-spoken
mayor.
“Muchas
gracias, Your Holiness, for your time, gentle words, and wisdom,” Climaco told His
Holiness.
The January 27 webcast was held from the
residence of His Holiness in Dharamsala in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and broadcast live in
Zamboanga City in the Philippines, India,
Los Angeles and Washington DC in the United States, London in the United
Kingdom, Beirut in Lebanon, Nairobi in Kenya, Surabaya in Indonesia and Melbourne
in Australia.
The 14th Dalai
Lama is the current Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibet, and
considered a living Bodhisattva, an emanation of Avalokiteśvara. The Dalai Lamas
are also leaders of the Gelug school, which is the newest school of Tibetan
Buddhism and was formally headed by the Ganden Tripas.
“Three years ago, the Strong Cities Network
was honoured to have an audience with
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who conveyed a heartfelt need for cities to
cultivate cultures of kindness and compassion. Today, as the world is
struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and the wave of disinformation it
has left in its wake, the role of local leadership in helping to promote this
message and address human suffering is more urgent than ever.”
“It is our pleasure, together with the United States Conference of Mayors, to
present an intimate discussion
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and mayors on how kindness and compassion can
create peaceful societies,” the Strong Cities Network said in the
opening of the rare event.
The Strong Cities Network said it partners with city officials to establish local risk
assessments and design action plans and programmatic responses. From
de-radicalisation programming to youth engagement strategies, to ensure that
local responses address local needs. “We connect cities, towns and
regions around the world to share their local best practice on an international
scale and collaborate at the subnational level to prevent violent extremism and
the conditions in which extremism and radicalisation can take hold in
communities,” it said.
The Strong Cities Network is made up of member
cities in every major global region, each with specific lessons, practice or
challenges surrounding violent extremism. It works with mayors and local
political leaders and frontline practitioners spanning multiple sectors in each
member city. And also work closely with civil society groups and partner
organisations in many areas. (Zamboanga Post)
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