WORLD PEACE FORUM to take place in Baia Mare, Romania

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

Baia Mare, Romania. From May 7 to 10, 2015 will take place the ninth edition of the WORLD PEACE FORUM. The event is held annually by the Schengen Peace Foundation (President Dominicus H. Rohde) of Luxembourg, an NGO founded in 2005 and approved in 2007 by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The meeting to be held this year in Romania is organized by TEAM BM | Advocacy (Baia Mare's NGO coalition which includes Rotaract TEAM Baia Mare).

President of the World Peace Forum - Romanian Chapter (host of the meeting), Mr. Dan Adrian POP, stated for the Masonic Press Agency that: "The event is supported by voluntary contributions of participants and other international organizations. At the local level, in Baia Mare, currently the largest sponsorship was that of the Mayor, Mr. Catalin Cherecheş, Rotary clubs and Maramures County Council".

Also, President Dan Adrian POP noted that "the participation in the event is not subject to payment of a fee but, given that we are a non-profit organization, contributions suggested to cover costs are between 39 and 499 euros". Payments are made through EVENTBRITE.

The topic of this year's meeting is "Finding Common Global Values". For this event already announced their presence delegations from USA, Pakistan, Ukraine, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Peru, India, Portugal, Norway, Croatia etc.

Among the speakers are: Vicki Hansen (ex Vice President of the Democratic Party, Advisor to President Obama), Martha Llanos (UNESCO Ambassador), Patricia Pellegrini (Minister of Education of Argentina), Jordi Molto (Catalan Government representative), Prof. José Felix Bentz Oliver (President of the Royal Art Circle of Spain), Prof. Dr. Raphael Pitti (Army General (r) & peace activist in Syria), Naveed Elahi (Advisor to the President of Pakistan) etc. The official press release and the Forum program will be published in the coming days.

Historical event: Grand Master of Spain is the new president of the IMC

Thursday, 23 April 2015

Madrid, Spain. From 10 to 14 April 2015 took place the General Assembly of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation (founded in April 14, 1947), an event organized by the Grand Lodge of Spain  in the Auditorium Hotel of Madrid.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Grand Lodges of Latin America and Europe (IMC members) and representatives of the Grand Lodges in Europe, recalling here the Grand Chancellor of United Grand Lodge of England, and the Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Grand Lodges, Radu Balanescu (Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania). A total of 51 Grand Masters together with 120 officials of over 50 Grand Lodges and Grand Orients.

This was a double historical event for the oldest, most active and largest regional Masonic organization in the world (IMC) because it was for the first time in history that the General Assembly was held outside Latin America and it also was for the first time in history that the President of the confederation is from Europe: Oscar de Alfonso Ortega, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Spain. The Executive Secretariat was taken by the Past Grand Master of Bolivia.

At only 47 years old, Oscar de Alfonso made history with the revitalization of the Grand Lodge of Spain, the restoration of the relations with the Supreme Council for Spain and for being the first European in history to occupy the position of President of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation.

Conference of Grand Masters of North America: Freemasonry in Bulgaria is moving towards unification

Vancouver, Canada. The Conference of Grand Masters of North America took place this year in Canada. According to the report issued by the Commission on Information for Recognition, Bulgarian Freemasonry made significant progress towards the unification of the Grand Lodges in dispute and it was estimated that this would be done this summer.

Regarding the situation in Serbia, the United Grand Lodges of Serbia came into contact with the Commission in order to submit a report in Vancouver. On 11 February, the United Grand Lodges of Serbia announced that they will not be present at the meeting in Vancouver. The Commission considers that the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia (Grand Master Ranko Vujacic) is still the representative of Freemasonry in Serbia. The situation in Serbia was presented last month by the Masonic Press Agency and Masonic Times.

Annual Communication of the Grand Orient of Italy - 2015

photo: www.loggiagiordanobruno.com

Rimini, Italy. From 10 to 12 April 2015 took place the Annual Communication of the Grand Orient of Italy attended by many Grand Lodges from Europe and not only. The event was held at the Palacongressi. The Grand Orient of Italy (GOI) is the most active, numerous and powerful Masonic organization in the peninsula and is currently headed by Most Worshipful Grand Master Stefano Bisi.

As a result of the new approach of Grand Master Bisi, GOI is constantly developing both at national and at European and international level. The topics discussed during the conferences were centered on the needs of Italian society and not only. The debate was attended, among others, by Gian Maria Fara (Eurispes Chairman), Renato Soru (founder of Tiscali) etc.

The Masonic Press Agency has a new Editorial Policy

The Masonic Press Agency conducted from 30 March to 21 April 2015 a series of internal and external reports, for which the Agency's public activity was reduced. Starting with April 21, 2015 the Agency adopted a new editorial policy.