Announcement of the GNRC Sixth Forum
On behalf of Arigatou International and the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC), I am pleased to announce that the GNRC Sixth Forum will be convened from November 19 – 21, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The Forum will be hosted by our partners, the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities.
The GNRC was inaugurated in 2000 by my father, the late Rev. Takeyasu Miyamoto, out of his strong conviction that it is the moral responsibility of people of all faiths to protect the lives of children and ensure their safe and sound development. He proposed that people of every faith and religion join hands and work together, regardless of differences, to build a better world for children.
Since then, the GNRC has expanded and GNRC forums have grown into major global platforms for addressing children’s issues through interfaith cooperation. We expect at least 600 participants, including 100 children, to attend the Sixth Forum in person, and an equal number of virtual attendees. Children have always had a clear voice in GNRC global forums, and as at previous forums, they will take part in a Children’s Forum before the main Forum.
As we look at today’s world, it is heartbreaking that so many children are losing their precious lives in wars and conflicts that they did not start, and so many others suffer in poverty and other difficulties not of their making, enduring great physical, mental, and spiritual harm. The efforts of religious communities, especially interfaith cooperation for the sake of the world’s children, are more urgently needed than ever, especially in the divisive atmosphere the world is facing now.
I pray that the upcoming GNRC Forum will inspire greater cooperation and dedication among religious communities and other key actors in the international community to shape a better future for children. It is my sincere hope that our shared effort to build a better environment for children will become a major step on the path towards a peaceful world for everyone.
Keishi Miyamoto (Rev)
President of Arigatou International
Convenor of the Global Network of Religions for Children
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A casino is a gambling establishment where customers gamble for money on games of chance. Casinos are most often built in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other locations that attract tourists and have gambling laws. A casino can be run by a corporation or a person and is typically open 24 hours a day. Some casinos feature a wide range of gambling activities while others specialize in particular games or have unique features. Many casinos use security measures to prevent patrons and staff from cheating or stealing.
While musical shows, lighted fountains and shopping centers help lure in customers, casinos would not exist without the games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette, craps, keno and baccarat make up the bulk of the billions of dollars in profits raked in by casinos each year. While some of these games have a small amount of skill, most are purely based on luck and have mathematically determined odds that give the house a permanent advantage over the players. This edge is known as the house edge or vig. Casinos offset this edge by taking a percentage of each bet made, called the vig or rake.
In addition to generating revenue from the house edge, casinos make money by charging players for certain services and by giving out free goods or prizes to their high-spending customers. These freebies are known as comps, and they can include anything from food and drinks to hotel rooms and limo service. Players must be a certain level of player to receive these benefits, and the amount they play is rated by a host or croupier.
Because of the large amounts of currency handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat or steal. While this happens rarely, it is important that casino owners take a variety of precautions to reduce the risk of theft and fraud. Some of these precautions include using security cameras throughout the casino and limiting the number of people allowed in the gaming areas at any given time. In addition, a casino’s staff must be trained to detect and report potential cheating or fraud.
In the early 20th century, Nevada became a popular destination for gamblers because of its legalized gambling, which eventually led to other states changing their laws to allow casino gambling as well. While mobster involvement in casinos was common, real estate investors and hotel chains soon realized the potential of these lucrative businesses, and bought out the mobsters to gain control of their own casino empires. As federal crackdowns on organized crime became more frequent, mob involvement in casinos decreased, and these legitimate business owners are now able to compete with the mobsters for casino profits. As a result, the number of casinos has risen dramatically in recent years. Some of these new casinos are even located outside the traditional casino markets of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
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Mauritius successfully completed the implementation of ethics education nationally through the Ethics Education Fellowship. The impact of this initiative extended to eight schools, involving 24 teachers and 480 school children.
One major challenge the country faces in terms of its national educational framework is the need to identify approaches that address diverse cultural, religious, and ethical perspectives present within Mauritian society. Currently, the existing subjects of Life Skills Education and Social & Modern Studies attempt to address these values. However, their practical application remains limited inside and outside of the classroom.
The integration of ethics education into the schools presents significant opportunities for bridging this missing link. Ethics education can foster critical thinking, dialogue and empathy among learners through transformative learning approaches and experiential-learning activities. By emphasizing values such as respect, responsibility, and integrity, ethics education can contribute to the holistic development of students, preparing them to navigate complex ethical dilemmas in their personal and professional lives.
The Ethics Education Fellowship initiative started its local implementation in Mauritius with a National Teacher Training workshop in between March and April of 2023 in Reduit. The 5-day workshop involved 24 educators from eight schools teaching Life Skills Education and Social & Modern Studies and six academics from the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) involved in teacher training.
This workshop was facilitated mainly by the Ethics Education Fellows from Mauritius who underwent multiple capacity-building engagements from the inception of the fellowship, with the support of Mr. Suchith Abeywickreme, Programme Manager of the Ethics Education Fellowship Program Lead and Eleonora Mura, Senior Expert – Ethics Education for Children from Arigatou International – Geneva. The workshop focus and materials were customized to match the context of educators who work with the extended program students, Grades 7 – 9 while exploring the synergies around the subjects of Ethics Education, Life Skills Education and Social and Modern Studies. The workshop also focused on the localization of ethics education approaches allowing better coherence and relevance in Mauritius’ culture and social settings.
During the workshop, thematic areas key to building positive teacher-learner relationships were discussed. Participants reflected on social transformation and learned how to create safe learning environments, including the principles and the use of dialogue. At the end of the training, participants shared how it helped them to step out of their comfort zones as teachers, allowing them to break out of the traditional teaching methods where the teacher decides what happens in the classroom, the topic of discussions and teaching methods. They explored learner-centered approaches where the learning becomes a collaborative engagement. This understanding was paramount for the transformation process that the fellowship was built on and considered to be a great outcome for the participating teachers.
In Mauritius, the Council of Religions functions as a local implementation partner that provides support for the design and activation of ethics education in the country. Through their support, over 480 learners were engaged and empowered to become global citizens who actively participate in the promotion of inclusive and peaceful societies. Through these local interventions, the Fellowship envisions garnering further support from respective decision-making bodies in Mauritius. The fellows aim to transform their national education system to strengthen its core values, particularly the enhancement of life skills through intercultural and interfaith awareness building.
The implementation of the program at the school level started after the teacher training workshops conducted in the beginning of 2023, which capacitated 24 secondary school teachers.
The implementation with children took place in eight schools, targeting learners from grades 7, 8 and 9. Ethics education and its transformative pedagogy were integrated into the Life Skills Education and Social & Modern Studies curriculum. The implementation helped nurture ethical values in children like empathy, respect, and appreciation of diversity. Children were empowered to engage in collaborative actions to positively transform their communities, starting with their school settings.
While the integration of Ethics Education concepts to existing school curricula was taking place, the program also introduced various extra-curricular activities which allowed the learning from and within the community to materialize. Initiatives such as classroom dialogues, cultural and religious field visits, stakeholders’ speeches, etc. took prominence among them and created experiential platforms to build intercultural and interreligious awareness, solidarity, respect and tolerance among young learners and their community members.
It was noted that through these engagements, the relationships between the teachers and learners significantly developed over time. This was also reflected outside of the classroom as the relationships between the learners and their parents and extended community also improved.
Reflecting on this practice, one student shared that, “With the help of this Ethics Education program, my class and I were able to form a stronger bond with our teacher.”
Overall, the program fostered a more participatory learning environment, with students actively involved in discussions and activities. The introduction of ethics education provided learners with fresh perspectives and approaches to knowledge acquisition. It helped to develop their competencies in critical thinking, problem-solving, building respect, equality and solidarity. This contributed to a more peaceful and inclusive environment within the classrooms and beyond.
The teachers also improved their teaching methods, by using transformative pedagogical approaches. By incorporating ethics education into their daily practice, educators received the opportunity to become “role models”, leading to more effective student outcomes.
The Ethics Education Fellowship is a flagship initiative under the collaboration of Arigatou International, the Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace, the KAICIID International Dialogue Centre, the Muslim Council of Elders, the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, and the UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office, in collaboration with the National Commissions for UNESCO of the participating countries.
The program was launched in 2022 and currently functions within six countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nepal and Seychelles, linking the collective efforts of the Ministries of Education. Through the Ethics Education Fellowship program, 323 teachers have been trained, successfully reaching 7,334 children in total.
We would like to acknowledge the great support we have received in the implementation in Mauritius from the local partners, collaborators, educators, government and non-government organizations, and religious and academic institutions. Similarly, we are grateful to the unwavering commitment showcased by the four Ethics Education Fellows from Mauritius; Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Mr. Jay Ramsaha, Ms. Swalehah Beebeejaun and Ms. Seema Goburdhun, without which this success would not have been a possibility.
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Financial services are the backbone of a healthy economy. They enable people to save, invest and access credit for large purchases like cars or houses. They also help with debt management and personal finances. The sector is a key driver of economic growth, while a weak one can drag down the whole economy. It’s important to understand how different subsectors of the industry operate so that you can select the best option for your needs.
According to Pocketbook Agency, the financial services industry encompasses “anything that touches money.” The different groups include banks (which offer deposit accounts, mortgages and loans), insurance companies (who provide health, home, auto and life insurance coverage), investment firms (like hedge funds, private equity firms and mutual fund companies) and payment providers (like Visa and Mastercard). It also includes credit rating agencies, credit reporting services, debt resolution, tax preparation and filing services, global payment networks, wire transfer services, currency exchange services and stock and commodity exchanges.
It may seem that the lines between financial services sectors are blurred today, but it wasn’t always that way. Before the 1970s, each sector stuck to its own specialty. Banks offered checking and savings accounts, while loan associations focused on mortgages and personal loans. Brokerage companies focused on stocks, bonds and mutual funds. And credit card companies, like Visa and MasterCard, specialized in the cards themselves.
During this time, the financial sector became more interconnected as technology enabled it to expand its offerings and cater to different market segments. For example, digital apps can help with saving and investing, and online platforms have changed how consumers manage their money. The proliferation of these technologies has increased competition and created opportunities for new players to enter the market.
In addition, stricter regulations have made it harder for some financial institutions to serve their customers. Some have also struggled to adapt to the changing economy. Many are trying to increase customer retention and acquisition through innovative tools and features that help them with debt and money management. Others are expanding into new markets, such as lending to millennials and lowering fees to attract more clients.
A career in the financial services industry can be rewarding and exciting. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these jobs can be stressful. People in some roles work 16 to 20 hours a day, and burnout is a real possibility. Additionally, some positions are highly regulated and require extensive knowledge of the industry’s complex rules and regulations.
To get started in the field, start by building your network and applying for entry-level positions at small and midsize firms. Be prepared for interviews by researching the company and having answers ready to about 100 potential questions. During the process, remember to remain humble and show genuine interest in the job and the industry. If you can break into the field, you’ll be able to find your niche and make an impact. Ultimately, you’ll be doing your part to power NYC and the world’s economy every day.
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Home improvement is the work that homeowners or tenants do on their residential property to make it better, safer, more efficient, or more pleasant. It may involve painting, decorating, landscaping, or building additions. It can also include repairing, replacing, or restoring structures and systems in the house. Some common home improvements are installing an alarm system, adding insulation, or renovating a kitchen or bathroom. Other times, it can be a minor repair such as fixing a doorknob or replacing worn flooring.
Home renovations are one of the most popular ways for homeowners to spend their money, and the home improvement industry has shown tremendous growth in recent years. This industry is comprised of the sales of materials, tools, appliances, and decor for home improvement projects and covers construction services offered by contractors and tradespeople. Many people find that completing a home improvement project gives them the motivation to further improve their living spaces.
However, it’s important to note that not all improvements add value to your home. In fact, a majority of remodeling projects do not even recoup their costs. The most expensive projects, such as a full kitchen remodel, usually only add a 20 percent return on investment. This means that, if you are planning to sell your home, it’s not wise to invest in major renovations that don’t add value.
The best home improvement projects can have a significant impact on your property’s value and overall comfort. The most important thing is to focus on projects that will make your home more enjoyable for you and your family. It’s also worth noting that most people don’t plan to stay in their homes forever, so it’s important to think about how the renovations will affect your resale value.
For example, you may want to renovate your kitchen to increase the overall value of your home or make it more comfortable for your family. In this case, it’s a good idea to choose a neutral color palette so that your house will appeal to a broad range of potential buyers.
Ultimately, the best way to determine whether or not your home improvement project will provide a good return on investment is to consult with a professional. They can help you create a realistic budget and choose the right materials for your project. They can also advise you on how to minimize risks and avoid costly mistakes. Homeowners are looking to rework their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, with most of them focusing on improving their bathrooms and kitchens. However, some homeowners are also tackling outdoor projects such as installing fences and decks.
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