Chronology: Date 2000-0

Chronology of the Bahá'í Faith

World Canada
any all exact phrase

Date 2000-0, descending — sort earliest first

date	event	tags	firsts
2000 19 Sep 200-	In a ceremony, the final earth samples from 26 nations were deposited in the Peace Monument, which was built by the Bahá'í International Community and the Bahá'í Community of Brazil in 1992 for the 1992 Earth Summit. Designed by the renowned Brazilian sculptor Siron Franco, the five-meter concrete and ceramic monument is located near the entrance to the Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro, just north of Flamengo Park and the site of the 1992 Global Forum, the parallel conference of non-governmental organizations held during the 1992 Earth Summit, which was formally known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. [BWNS85]	Earth Summit; United Nations Summits; United Nations conferences; United Nations; Environment; Peace Monument; Monuments; Earth; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Bahá'í International Community; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brazil
2000 18 Sep 200-	The announcement of the opening of the new Pilgrim Reception Centre near the Shrine of the Báb to receive Bahá'í pilgrims and visitors to the Bahá'í holy places in Haifa and Acre. The Centre was housed in two historic buildings that formerly served as a clinic. Remodeling these two structures began in 1998. The larger one was built during the time of the British Mandate and the smaller structure has a more Middle Eastern appearance, with patterned ceramic floors and stone arches. The first Bahá'í Pilgrim House in Haifa was built near the Shrine of the Báb by a Persian believer in 1909 and continued to serve as the primary gathering place for pilgrims until the new facility was completed. [BWNS67]	Pilgrim Reception Centre (Haifa); Pilgrimage; Pilgrim Houses; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); - Bahá'í World Centre buildings, monuments and gardens; - Bahá'í World Centre; Pilgrims; - Bahá'í World Centre; Haifa, Israel	First Bahá'í Pilgrim House
2000 8 Sep 200-	Dr. Techeste Ahderom, then the BIC Principle Representative to the United Nations, addressed the assembled heads of state of more than 150 nations on behalf of the peoples of the world. In his talk, Ahderom reminded the assembled leaders that the very idea of the League of Nations and, later, the United Nations, arose through the participation of civil society in various forms. He closed with the words from the Millenium Forum Declaration: "'In our vision we are one human family, in all our diversity, living on one common homeland …'" [The Cause of Universal Peace]	United Nations; Bahá'í International Community; Dr Techeste Ahderom; New York, USA; New York, USA
2000 6 - 8 Sep 200-	The General Assembly Millennium Summit was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and was attended by leaders of more than 150 nations. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented a report entitled, "We The Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century". In which was presented an overview of the challenges facing humankind and suggested practical solutions. Some of the key themes addressed include health, environment, human rights and other social issues, international law, peace and rejuvenating the United Nations. It is striking that called upon by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to address so historic a gathering was Mr. Techeste Ahderom, the principal representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations, addressed the gathering as the spokesman of civil society. He was accorded this honour because he had presided as cochair at the earlier United Nations Millennium Forum. After all the national leaders had spoken and before the Summit had adopted its declaration on 8 September, Mr. Ahderom made a speech in which he conveyed to that unprecedented assemblage a report of the Forum. The text of his speech is enclosed herewith. On the last day a declaration was unanimously adopted that began by asserting: "We, Heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, at the dawn of a new Millennium, to reaffirm our faith in the Organization and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world." [BW00-01p91-93, Letter from the Universal House of Justice dated 24 September 2000] The text of Mr. Ahderom's speech can be found on the BIC's website and at BW00-01p243-247. Millennium Declaration (in all UN working languages) The Millennium Development Goals are to: (1) eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; (2) achieve universal primary education; (3) promote gender equality and empower women; (4) reduce child mortality; (5) improve maternal health; (6) combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; (7) ensure environmental sustainability; and (8) develop a global partnership for development. UN website.	United Nations Millennium Forum and Summit; United Nations; United Nations Summits; United Nations conferences; - Conferences; Millennium; Bahá'í International Community; Peace; World peace; Security; Disarmament; Wealth and poverty; Social and economic development; Human rights; Sustainable development; Environment; Globalization; Justice; Diversity; Prosperity; Equality; Solidarity; Tolerance; Nature; Collaboration and cooperation; Interfaith dialogue; Techeste Ahderom; New York, USA; United States (USA)
2000 28 - 31 Aug 200-	The Millennium Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders was held in New York and involved more than 1,000 attendees. The "very specific purpose" of this meeting was "to further the prospects for peace among peoples and nations, and within every individual." The outcome of this Peace Summit was the adoption and signing of a declaration committing the participants to global peace. Noting that "the United Nations and the religions of the world have a common concern for human dignity, justice and peace," accepting that "men and women are equal partners in all aspects of life and children are the hope of the future," and acknowledging that "religions have contributed to the peace of the world but have also been used to create division and fuel hostilities," the declaration resolved to "collaborate with the United Nations and all men and women of goodwill locally, regionally and globally in the pursuit of peace in all its dimensions." The Baha'i' International Community was represented by its Secretary-General, Mr Albert Lincoln. Laurence Arturo and Bani Dugal-Gujral also attended as BIC representatives. [BW00-01p89, Letter from the Universal House of Justice dated 24 September 2000; One Country]	United Nations Millennium Forum and Summit; United Nations; United Nations Summits; United Nations conferences; - International peace conferences; - Conferences; Millennium; Bahá'í International Community; Peace; World peace; Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders (2000); Interfaith dialogue; Albert Lincoln; Laurence Arturo; Bani Dugal Gujral; New York, USA; United States (USA)
2000 22 Aug 200-	The passing of Knight of Bahá'u'lláh Audrey Robarts (née FitzGerald) in her 96th year. She was buried with her husband, Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts, in the Ecumenical Cemetery in Rawdon. He had predeceased her on the 18th of June, 1991. [BW00-01p272] After the passing of her husband she travelled to four countries in southern Africa in response to a request from the National Spiritual Assembly of Botswana where she was known as the "beloved mother of our country".	Audrey Robarts; - Knights of Bahá'u'lláh; - Births and deaths; - In Memoriam; Rawdon, QC; Quebec, Canada; Canada
2000 29 Jun 200-	A first Earth Charter benchmark Draft was issued in March 1997 and a second Draft was issued in 1999. Each one of them was translated in various languages, circulated widely and received significant contributions for improvement. After numerous drafts and after considering the input of people from all regions of the world, the Earth Charter Commission came to consensus on the Earth Charter in March, 2000, at a meeting held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. On June 29, 2000, the Earth Charter Commission with the support of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands formally launched the Earth Charter at the Peace Palace in The Hague. [EarthCharter.org]	Earth Charter; The Hague, Netherlands; Netherlands
2000 Jun 200-	The Universal House of Justice sent an update to the to the National Assemblies regarding the publication review practice and to advise that the International Bahá'í Library holds the principal depository collection of Bahá'í and Bahá'í related publications in the world. The letter included an updated list of the materials to be sent to the Bahá'í World Centre as well as the number of copies. [Publishing, Bahá'í, Memorandum on: Materials to be Deposited with the Bahá'í World Centre Library]	Publishing, Review; Publishing, Policy and practice
2000 22 - 26 May 200-	The United Nations Millennium Forum was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. It attracted 1,350 participants from more than 106 countries and many others participated remotely via Internet. The purpose was to give organizations of civil society an opportunity to formulate views and recommendations on global issues to be taken up at the subsequent Millennium Summit in September to be attended by heads of state and government. Convened by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Forum's overarching theme - "The United Nations for the 21st Century" - encompassed six main sub-themes in its declaration: 1) Peace, security and disarmament; 2) Eradication of poverty, including debt cancellation and social development; 3) Human rights; 4) Sustainable development and environment; 5) Facing the challenges of globalization: achieving equity, justice and diversity; and, 6) Strengthening and democratizing the United Nations and international organizations. The document was divided into three main areas: recommendations for governmental action; proposals for the United Nations; and actions to be undertaken by civil society itself. The Bahá'í International Community as an NGO representing a cross-section of humankind acted as a unifying agent in major discussions. Our principal representative at the United Nations, Techeste Ahderrom, was appointed to cochair a committee of non-governmental organizations. Lawrence Arturo and Diane 'Alá'í represented the Bahá'í International Community. [BW00-01p87-89, Letter from the Universal House of Justice dated 24 September 2000]	United Nations Millennium Forum and Summit; United Nations; United Nations Summits; United Nations conferences; - Conferences; Millennium; Bahá'í International Community; Peace; Security; Disarmament; Wealth and poverty; Social and economic development; Human rights; Sustainable development; Environment; Globalization; Justice; Diversity; Prosperity; Equality; Solidarity; Tolerance; Nature; Collaboration and cooperation; Interfaith dialogue; Techeste Ahderom; Lawrence Arturo; Diane Alai; New York, USA; United States (USA)
2000 Ridván 200-	The National Spiritual Assembly of Indonesia with its seat in Jakarta was restored. A ban had been imposed on Bahá'í activities in August 1962 that severely restricted the actions of the Indonesian Bahá'í community. [Ridván Message 2001]	National Spiritual Assembly, formation; Jakarta, Indonesia; Indonesia
2000 Ridván 200-	The launch of the Twelve Month Plan (2000-2001). [Message from the Universal House of Justice 26 November, 1999] See One-Year Plan, 2000: Introductory Letter by the Universal House of Justice. For the definitive report see the publication entitled The Four Year Plan and the Twelve Month Plan, 1996-2001 Summary of Achievements prepared under the supervision of the International Teaching Centre. In its Ridván Message the Universal House of Justice introduced the concept of the "Area Growth Program".	Twelve Month Plan (2000-2001); - Teaching Plans; Area Growth Program; - Bahá'í World Centre
2000 Apr 200-	For a summary of achievements of the Four Year Plan see Ridván 2021 Message paragraphs 4-6 for a synopsis of the Plan. See The Significance of the Four Year Plan by Andrew Alexander. See A Personal Consideration of the Four Year Plan and its Legacy from an Irish Bahá'í Perspective by Brian Corvin. See The Four Year Plan and the Twelve Month Plan, 1996-2001 prepared under the supervision of the International Teaching Centre and published by the Bahá'í World Centre.	Four Year Plan (1996-2000)
2000 23 Mar 200-	The publication of the document entitled Training Institutes and Systematic Growth by the International Teaching Centre as a sequel to the one dated April 1998. [Mess86-01p710] See also TP343.	Training Institutes; International Teaching Centre; - Institute process; * Publications; - Bahá'í World Centre; Training Institutes, documents
2000 23 Mar 200-	The election of Kiser Barnes to the Universal House of Justice to replace Mr Adib Taherzadeh. [BWNS948] Mr. Kiser Barnes was born in the United States, and held degrees in political science and law. He practiced law and held senior positions in human rights organizations and in labour relations in the United States, before moving to Africa where he held senior academic posts at universities in Benin, Togo and Nigeria. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Benin, an Auxiliary Board member and a Continental Counsellor until appointed to the International Teaching Centre in 1993. [BWNS208]	Kiser Barnes; Adib Taherzadeh; Universal House of Justice, Members of; Bahá'í World News Service (BWNS); Auxiliary board members; Continental Board of Counsellors; - Bahá'í World Centre
2000 23 Feb 200-	In a message from the Department of the Secretariat to an individual, the Universal House of Justice explained the principle behind the application of Bahá'í law. [23 February 2000]	Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Most Holy Book); Laws; - Bahá'í World Centre
2000 17 Feb 200-	The passing of Mildred Mottahedeh in New York. She had been elected to the International Bahá'í Council, the first globally elected Bahá'í body and was the first Bahá'í International Community representative to the United Nations. She was born in Seabright, New Jersey, on 7 August 1908 and was 91. [One Country Jan-Mar 2000 Vol 11 Issue 4; TP705-706; BW99-00p307-308] See Blogspot.	International Bahá'í Council; Bahá'í International Community; Mildred Mottahedeh; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Firsts, other; New York, USA; Seabright, NJ; New Jersey, USA; United States (USA)	first representative of Bahá'í International Community to UN
2000 17 Feb 200-	Iran's Supreme Court rejected death sentences imposed upon Sirus Zabihi-Moghadam, Hadayet Kashefi-Majafabadi and Manucher Khulsi. They had been arrested in 1997 in Khorasan province accused of unspecified anti-security acts. (Chapter one, Article 498 of the Islamic Penal Code.) A flood of protest followed from Western leaders. [HRW] See message from the Universal House of Justice dated 29 September, 1998.	* Persecution, Iran; - Persecution, Court cases; - Persecution; Court cases; Human rights; Khurásán, Iran; Iran
2000 26 Jan 200-	The passing of Adib Taherzadeh (b.29 April 1921 in Yazd, Iran). He was buried in the Bahá'í Cemetery in Haifa. He was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles (1960-1971) and was elected the National Spiritual Assembly of Ireland when it formed in 1972. He was appointed as a Counsellor in 1976 and served as a member of the Universal House of Justice between 1988 until his passing. [One Country; BW99-00p211-312] His publications were: Trustees of the Merciful (1972) The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh Vol.1 (1974) The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh Vol.2 (1977) The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh Vol.3 (1983) The Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh Vol.4 (1987) The Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh (1992) The Child of the Covenant (2000) Wikipedia Bahaipedia Bahá'í Chronicles.	Adib Taherzadeh; Universal House of Justice, Members of; - In Memoriam; - Bahá'í World Centre
2000 19 Jan 200-	The passing of Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum (born Mary Sutherland Maxwell) in Haifa. She was born in New York on 8 August 1910. [One CountryVol.11,Issue4, Mess86-01p699-700, 19 January, 2000] Shoghi Effendi had appointed her as a Hand of the Cause of God after the passing of her father, Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell on the 26th of March, 1952. [MoCxxiv] See A Tribute to Amatu'l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum by Violette Nakhjavani. Photo of her Resting Place. See as well Rúhíyyih Khánum by Hussein Ahdieh and Hillary Chapman.	Amatul-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khanum; Mary Maxwell; - In Memoriam; - Births and deaths; Hands of the Cause, Births and deaths; - Basic timeline, Expanded; Haifa, Israel
2000 1 Jan 200-	The publication of The Lab, the Temple, and the Market: Reflections at the Intersection of Science, Religion, and Development by IDRC (International Development Research Centre) edited by Sharon Harper with essays about development issues and process from the perspectives of four different religious beliefs, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'i Faith. The authors — each a scientist as well as a person of faith — show how religious belief and personal faith can be deeply motivational and strikingly fruitful in scientific pursuits. Further, they emphasize how their faith has brought them a profound understanding of interconnectedness and compassion, and thus a wider perspective and loaded from the IDRC site.	- Science; International Development Research Centre (IDRC); Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP); - Hinduism; - Christianity; - Islam; Interfaith dialogue; Social and economic development; Sustainable development; Social action
2000 Jan 200-	The establishment of a high school at the Malagwane hill site in Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland, a small cosmopolitan city of about 90,000 inhabitants. The school, located on the outskirts of the city, was named "The Setsembiso Sebunye High School." In Siswati, the language of Swaziland, it means "the promise of unity." It opened with a double stream (two sections) with 120 students in Forms One and Two (the 8th and 9th year of school). In subsequent years a minimum of 70 new students were admitted. A two-story, twelve-room building was completed just before the opening of school. This building contains 7 classrooms, a science lab/classroom, and a modern computer room, a library and an administrative/staff room. Each classroom was equipped with computer capabilities to provide both access to a network in support of the curriculum and the internet. This building was the first of a complex of facilities to serve the needs of a modern high school, eventually having about 400 students. The total enrolment for all of the schools (high, primary and pre-primary schools) later exceeded 500. [Home Page]	- Bahá'í inspired schools; Setsembiso Sebunye High School, Swaziland; Mbabane, Eswatini; Swaziland
2000 (In the year) 200-	The Furutan Academy was founded by Shahrokh Monjazeb. It was an organization devoted to the post-secondary study of the sacred Writings and the history of the Bahá'í Faith. It had branches in Ottawa and Vancouver. [BBS9]	Furutan Academy; Shahrokh Monjazeb; Ottawa, ON; Vancouver, BC; Canada


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