PEACE in any country under the sun can only thrive if the new generation is bequeathed with the spirit of mutual respect and brotherly love, former Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal said at the weekend.
Addressing participants of the 14th International Festival of Language and Cultures (IFLC) in Dar es Salaam, Dr Bilal, who was the chief guest said; “it is unfortunate that many countries are busy promoting the disintegration of culture and traditional customs and condoning negative practices which spread like bushfires using modern communication systems like the television, radio, newspapers, internet, and social media misleading the youth.”
“It is the presence of networks like the International Festival of Culture and Language (IFCL) which aim at bringing the youth together and instilling in them ways of mutual respect and loving one another as members of one family that will make conflict and bad behaviour among the youth disappear, leaving behind an ethical society led by wisdom,” he said.
“I prays to our government to ensure that such efforts are encouraged and enhanced,” he added.
“I have learnt that upbringing that gives room to incitement is the root cause of crimes against humanity and radicalism among the youth. We elders of this country promise our full co-operation in the quest for making the world a peaceful place to live for all,” he told the participants who came from at least different 16 countries.
He said the event and the participants are ambassadors of peace and encouraged more events to held.
He also praised the University of Dar es Salaam, the Alliance of Businessmen and Industries of Tanzania and Turkey (ABITAT), the ambassadors of various countries and local companies for their sponsorships of the event which was organised by Kilimanjaro Dialogue Institute, Feza Schools, and Ishik Medical and Education Foundation.
“This event is clear testimony of the fact that our country is recognized as the land of peace, friendship and hospitality. The participants will make good ambassadors of our country from the good experience they have had here,” added the former VP.
“All over the world, culture is what identifies people of a nation. This is what makes culture and language very important agents for unifying different people,” he went on to say.
He said the fact that the event was televised live and watched by more than forty million people worldwide, it helped to promote the country and its resources as well as attracting tourists and investors.
Dr Bialal said the event served to open the brains of youth to the reality that they don’t live on an island and builds instead, the spirit of self-confidence, co-operation and love for their fellow youth the world over.
“It is my hope that this festival gives another chance to the youth to appreciate the fact that language and culture constitute another opportunity for addressing unemployment,” he said.
“Political clashes are taking place in different countries and these have their root cause in selfishness and divergent opinions from different groups. This bad seed has been planted over a long time and has led to distrust and fear among nations,” Dr Bilal said.
Organised by Kilimanjaro Dialogue Institute, Feza Schools, and Ishik Medical and Education Foundation the IFLC aims at uniting youth as world citizens and targets to reduce, if not end altogether, hatred and disintegration and open a new page for co-operation and renewed strength for joint address to problems.
Language and culture, if properly engaged, build unity and friendship, tribal inter-relationships grow through cross marriages and going to school or working with people who speak a different language;“through speaking different languages we paint our world into many and attractive colors,” he summed up.
Pparticipants were from among other cuntries US, Angola, Albania, South Africa, India, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Peru, France, Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, Thailand, Ukraine, Mozambique, Senegal and Romania.
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