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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Global Encounters Festival took place in Dubai, |
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United Arab Emirates, from July 20 through 27, 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, Organized by the Ismaili Muslim community with the |
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collaboration of several UAE organizations, the festival is |
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dedicated to promoting tolerance and coexistence while showcasing |
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the power of the arts and sports to build bridges between cultures; |
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the event marked the first time that the Jubilee Arts and Jubilee |
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Games have been staged at the same time, and it brought together |
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4,000 artists and athletes from more than 50 countries and drew an |
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audience of over 25,000 visitors; and |
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WHEREAS, The festival featured more than 250 works of art |
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from artists across the globe through the International Art |
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Gallery, film screenings showcasing international filmmakers and |
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their stories at the International Film Festival, and numerous |
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music and theater performances at the International Performing Arts |
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Shows; in addition, the event included interactive exhibitions, a |
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cultural marketplace, multimedia development initiatives, |
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interactive workshops, guided tours of the Ismaili Centre Dubai, |
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and a pop-up exhibit curated by the Aga Khan Museum showcasing |
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centuries of Muslim artistic innovation; and |
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WHEREAS, Emphasizing fair play, teamwork, and intercultural |
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unity, the Jubilee Games showcased 17 sports, including football, |
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cricket, basketball, squash, chess, and swimming, at venues such as |
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the ICC Academy, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Emirates |
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Golf Club; over the course of the games, a total of 508 gold, |
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silver, and bronze medals were awarded to athletes across the 21 |
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competing national teams; and |
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WHEREAS, The festival is committed to sustainability efforts |
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such as zero-waste targets and low-emission transport; the event |
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partnered only with vendors that met specific sustainability |
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criteria, and sourced all energy used at its venues from 100 percent |
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renewable sources, supported by the procurement of renewable energy |
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certificates; the festival also promoted the Roots for Change |
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campaign, which aims to plant one million trees worldwide in |
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support of the Aga Khan Development Network's 2030 pledge; in |
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addition, the fashion show Climate on the Catwalk exhibited |
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sustainable clothing; and |
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WHEREAS, Global Encounters as an institution operates across |
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three domains; the first domain of Youth Leadership and Development |
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includes its Global Encounters camps and international internships |
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with AKDN institutions; the second domain of Arts, Culture, and |
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Heritage promotes the arts as a means of celebrating and engaging |
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with history and culture; and the third domain of Sports and Fitness |
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emphasizes the importance of physical fitness and the spirit of |
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competition and teamwork; altogether, the Global Encounters |
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Festival highlighted all three of the organization's major tenets; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Global Encounters Festival was hosted by and |
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supported through the efforts of over 3,000 volunteers on site, and |
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countless more across the world, demonstrating the virtue of khidma |
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(service) and the spirit of volunteerism; and |
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WHEREAS, The Global Encounters Festival brings together |
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individuals of all ages for a joyous celebration of empowerment, |
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tolerance, and environmental stewardship, and it is a pleasure to |
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join in honoring this spirited event; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 2025 Global |
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Encounters Festival and extend sincere appreciation to all those |
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who helped bring this year's celebration to fruition. |