That’s the question being discussed in a series of interviews on Passion for the Planet radio this December.
The interviewees have been drawn from a range of leading experts from all over the world;
Sicily in the 12th century provides us with an insight into a country where Muslims and Christians lived in harmony side by side. It’s a fascinating story and one that John Tolon professor of medieval history and author of the book “The Saint and Sultan” uses to inspire us in the 21st Century.
British Muslim MP Mohammed Sarwar praises the religious freedom that Muslims enjoy in the UK, but also how their lives have changed since 9/11 and 7/7.
Michael Barry, Chairman of the Department of Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York looks at the relationship between art and religious expression and why the same symbols, past and present, keep recurring.
Fatima Sadiqi, Director General of the Spirit of Fes Foundation explains how artists and musicians from all over the world celebrate their spirituality at the annual Fes Festival of World Sacred Music.
Our idea of the sacred has changed over the centuries and Daryush Shayegan, who was professor of comparative philosophy at the University of Tehran before the revolution, urges us to understand what the sacred means in the 21st century.
These interviews were recorded at this year’s Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco where Passion for the Planet was first ever UK media partner.
Keeping to the themes of understanding and integration Passion for the Planet will also be featuring interviews with novelist Sandy McCutcheon about his experiences of living in the medieval medina of Fes and why vet Dr Denys Frappier came to Fes for a six month sabbatical and is still there over a decade later caring for the city’s animals at the American Fondouk.
Passion for the Planet’s listeners are also being encouraged to make their own views known by voting on the web site.
Passion for the Planet is the UK’s only radio station focused on our health and our environment. The station broadcasts on DAB across London and the south of England and nationwide via the Internet at www.passionfortheplanet.com
The interviews and the voting go live on Monday 1st December 2008 and will continue until 31st December 2008.
Notes to editors:
For more information/
Passion for the Planet: Chantal Cooke, 020 8544 0091 / 07788 184 649 or chantal@passionfortheplanet.com
Photographs are available on request – please let us know your requirements.
Passion for the Planet broadcasts to London and the south of England on DAB Digital Radio. It is one of only a small number of independently owned DAB radio stations in the country. It is also the UK’s only radio station to focus on health, the environment and alternative solutions. It is also the only station to play a mixture of music from around the world (a proportion of the music is non-English language) aimed at an adult (30+) audience.
The Fes Festival 2009 takes place between 29th May and 6th June. It has many fans including rock superstar Bono and Sir Nicholas Pearson, Chairman of The Temenos Academy; “Fes and its sacred music festival has a unique opportunity to become the place where Islam meets the West in open and fair-minded dialogue,” says Sir Nicholas. For more information visit www.fesfestival.com
