Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Tony Blair gives a lecture on "Faith and Globalization" to students from all over Ukraine in Kyiv on June 6, 2011. AFP Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair believes that religion and globalization will be the most important social issues in the 21st century.

“With faith and with globalization there is an opportunity and also a danger,” Blair told students in Kyiv on June 7. “Globalization is pushing the world together into a common space.”

The event took place at Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and was co-sponsored by the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation. Blair and Pinchuk announced that they will be collaborating to bring two new faith-themed programs in schools and universities in Ukraine.

Inside a cathedral-like auditorium, with its vaulted ceiling and tall windows, Blair sounded like a preacher at the podium. He spoke passionately about the role that religion will play as the world grows smaller. He believes that fostering understanding between various religions is the key to avoiding conflict.

Blair spent much of his 35-minute talk detailing how his organization, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, has been working to promote faith education and social action, including better health care. For instance, he wants to improve the treatment of malaria in African communities by basing health care in churches or mosques because they are ubiquitous in every village.

Blair also touched on the need to combat religious extremism with peaceful dialogue, calling this “the fundamental struggle of the 21st century.”

Blair’s foundation has also been partnering with a network of universities around the world to develop research and curricula about faith and globalization. The foundation works with younger students through their “Face to Faith” program which connects teenage students of different cultures through digital technology.

Blair and Pinchuk said that they will be introducing these programs in Ukrainian schools and universities, but did not name specific institutions.

“You have a great opportunity as a country,” he said. “In the end, it is your generation that will make this country fulfill its potential.”

Kyiv Post staff writer Alissa Ambrose can be reached at ambrose@kyivpost.com