UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for accelerated steps to bridge the divides, from eliminating feelings of racial or religious superiority to “unlearning” stereotypes in a forum in Rio de Janeiro.

“In communities where symbols of religious minorities are seen as something to oppose or fear, we need continued engagement,” he told the Alliance of Civilizations, a five-year-old Spanish-Turkish initiative set up under UN auspices to overcome prejudice among nations, cultures and religions, as it opened its third forum in Rio de Janeiro.

He urged that there is more work to be done; especially in places here people are screened out of opportunity because of race, faith, gender, or even their name. He praised the Alliance, which now includes 100 Member States, for work already accomplished in a bid to break down barriers such as bringing journalists together from around the globe to confront prejudice and misunderstanding, including the first-of-its-kind joint reporting from Israel and the Arab world.

He underscored the prime importance of education, stressing that education is more than learning. “Sometimes it is also unlearning,” he said. “We must let go of the stereotypes of the monolithic ‘other.’ We must put an end to labels that do more to divide than define.”

Turning to globalization, which can both connect and alienate, he warned that “fears and hatred are just a mouse click away.”

The gains of globalization are more visible, but, also, too are the feelings among many that those benefits are out of reach, he added. He noted that division often sells, it wins votes, it gets ratings, and it is much easier to blame others than to think for oneself. He discouraged that pattern of thought, and said “We are a single global family with many members and no monoliths. We are not there yet. The journey is long.”

Following the opening of the forum, the Secretary-General met with Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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