Melbourne Hosts 2009 Parliament Of The World’s Religions
More than 5000 people from 80 nations are expected to converge on Melbourne next week for the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions, the world’s largest multifaith gathering of religious and spiritual communities.
Joining Council for the Parliament of the World Religions executive director, Reverend Dirk Ficca to outline program highlights at the Immigration Museum today, the Premier John Brumby said securing the Parliament in Melbourne was a major coup for the State.
“Melbourne is the major events capital. Our rich cultural and religious diversity make our city a prime location for hosting this exciting global event,” Mr Brumby said.
“The Parliament of the World’s Religions will showcase Melbourne to the world – it will reinforce the strong values of peace, cultural and religious diversity that are such an important part of who we are and what we stand for in Victoria.
“As part of the week-long program visiting faith and cultural leaders will work cooperatively with others and within their own traditions on matters such as indigenous reconciliation, global poverty and global warming, environmental issues, migration, spirituality and young people.”
The Parliament of the World’s Religions was first held in Chicago in 1893, bringing together the world’s religious and spiritual communities, their leaders and their followers to discuss matters of peace, cultural and religious diversity and sustainability. The Parliament has met every five years in a major international city since 1993.
The Parliament will run from December 3 to 9 in Melbourne with more than 450 events including keynote addresses, seminars, conferences, debates, performances, concerts and exhibitions across themes including climate change, poverty and development, religious co-operation and tolerance, indigenous reconciliation and peace and conflict.
Mr Brumby and Rev. Ficca today visited the Immigration Museum to launch Talking Faiths – an exhibition of interfaith dialogue by secondary students.
Mr Brumby said the exhibition complemented well the Parliament of World’s Religions goals of promoting social harmony.
“Our Government understands the importance of interfaith and intercultural dialogue in creating a harmonious and respectful society. That’s why we maintain a strong commitment to our multifaith and multicultural initiatives, “he said.
“Talking Faiths goes a long way to promoting social harmony by educating and encouraging young people to embrace a multicultural perspective,” he said.
“This exhibition is a great reflection of the momentum building in Victoria in the lead-up to the Parliament of World’s Religions.”
Talking Faiths is a component of the Parliament’s off site program of events and is a collaborative project to support intercultural and interfaith dialogue in the community.
Students from a range of denominational and non denominational schools in Melbourne came together and documented their activities through film, video and online discussion.
The material that was obtained will provide online tools to initiate, facilitate and guide multicultural and interfaith discussion with secondary and tertiary students, adult learners, community and faith groups.
The Victorian Government provides funding to support a range of projects, services, programs and initiatives that promote, enhance and secure harmony and social cohesion in the Victorian community and counter the risk of racial and religious vilification. This includes $6.1 million since 2006 to specifically support the promotion of multifaith and multicultural harmony.
Topics: culture, Economy, envrionmental issues, global poverty, global warming, Governance, Immigration Museum, indigenous reconciliation, Melbourne, migration, multifaith, Parliament of the Worlds Religions, peace, religion, religious diversity, social harmony, spiritual communities, Talking Faiths, tolerance, young people, youth
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