Whole Foods Market, which claims to be “the leading natural and organic food retailer”, is celebrating Hindu festival Diwali with a festive cooking class and sampler dinner. An announcement of Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA) store of this Austin (Texas, USA) headquartered grocer suggests to “Recreate the festive atmosphere of Diwali” with a hands on Diwali cooking class and sampler dinner on October 22.

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MINNEAPOLIS (August 22, 2011) — For the second year in a row, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on Swedish appliance manufacturer Electrolux to grant legally-mandated religious accommodation to Muslim employees at its St. Cloud plant during the Ramadan fast.

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The Venerable Palden Gyatso.

One of the world’s longest serving political prisoners will again visit Minnesota on Sun., Aug. 21, 2011 at 4 p.m. at the Tibetan Community Hall, 1096 Raymond Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55108. The Venerable Palden Gyatso is an 80 year old Tibetan monk and former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience. He is one of the world’s longest serving political prisoners after surviving 33 years of confinement in the Chinese gulag where he was constantly exposed to various forms of indoctrination and torture.

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People of all faiths are invited to one of eight Ramadan dinners organized by the Minnesota Council of Churches and metro-area mosques.

As our Muslim neighbors prepare for the sacred month of Ramadan this August, the Minnesota Council of Churches is excited to announce a series of open houses at area mosques organized by the council’s Taking Heart program. Eight mosques and Muslim Community Centers throughout the Metro area will be welcoming their non-Muslim neighbors for a traditional Ramadan Iftar, or fast-breaking meal.

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President Barack Obama meets with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House, Saturday, July 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

WASHINGTON (July 16, 2011) — President Barack Obama held a meeting with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama last week at The White House Office, according to the Press Secretary who released an office statement. The President reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world. He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 23, 2011) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender today released a report based on available data and interviews with experts that documents growing Islamophobia in the United States and offers recommendations about how to challenge the troubling phenomenon.

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks with Democrat House Leader Nancy Pelosi at left following a July 7, 2011 meeting at the U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. (Pelosi office photo)

Washington, D.C. (July 7, 2011) – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined House Speaker John Boehner at a brief press conference today following their meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Capitol.

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AAP staff report

Kunihiro Shimoji, an international student from Okinawa, Japan studying Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict’s and Saint John’s University, said the March 11th earthquake and tsunami left him in shock and, but that he and others were inspired into a two and a half month relief effort with students, faculty and local community under the slogan “Work as one and make a difference.”

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he Venerable Royal Pundit Witiyala Seewalie Thera

The Venerable Royal Pundit Witiyala Seewalie Thera, chief incumbent of the Minnesota Buddhist Vihara, the temple which serves the Sri Lankan community and provides course and outreach to the mainstream community, was recently appointed  Deputy Chief Sangha Nayaka of the North America with the title of “Dharmakeerthi Sri Pragnarama” by the Malwatta Maha Vihara, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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Barry K. Thongvanh (1950 – 2011)

AAP staff report

Pastor Barry K. Thongvanh, 60, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died June 7, 2011 in Storm Lake. He was a founding member of the Central Asian Pacific Islander Commission and Iowa Commission on Asian Pacific Affairs.

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