| Posted: April 29 2005,00:43 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
Since
commencement of activities, in May 2002, the MFC has made encouraging
progress in promoting interfaith dialogue and intercultural
understanding towards the building of a culture of peace. Positive
feedback of participants have affirmed the helpful role of the Centre
in deepening understanding and respect among diverse faiths, ethnic
communities, and social agencies. Increased interest and commitment
have also been shown by faith communities and government agencies in
the Centre's vision and mission, e.g., increased requests for MFC to
coordinate multifaith prayer services; interfaith dialogue projects for
faith-based schools; promoting greater awareness and solidarity for
refugees and reconciliation with indigenous peoples; establishment of
new partnerships between MFC and institutions/agencies in various
countries especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
|
The
availability of financial resources and staffing posed limitations on
extending the MFC's outreach and implementation of projects within the
larger Australian context and abroad. In regard to promoting interfaith
dialogue for a culture of peace in the "secular" university context,
considerable effort has been required to catalyze an appreciation of
the vital role of integrating spirituality in educational content and
processes. In the wider community, a number of faith communities are
still not as open to interfaith dialogue and a holistic paradigm of
peace.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
|
Centre actions over the period May 2002- Dec, 2004 included :
(1) Inter-Faith Dialogues toward a Culture of Peace focusing on diverse themes, including:
•Gandhi and Peace, Professor N. Radhakrishnan Gandhi Museum, India.
•Spirituality
& Sustainability – Reflections on the Earth Charter, Dr. Nancy
Victorin Vangerud, Murdoch University: Joan Anderson, Soka Gakkai
International & Kamla Choudry, Earth Charter Movement.
•Interreligious
Dialogue: The End of Ecumenism, Associate Professor John D’Arcy May,
Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College, Dublin.
•Conflict
Resolution, Arifah Rahmawati, Center for Security & Peace Studies,
University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
•What is Islam?
Imam Yusuf Peer; Imam Uzair Akbar; Imam Abdul Qudoos Al-Azhari; Iman
Mohamad Abdulla; Dr Julia Howell and Professor Wayne Hudson, Griffith
University.
•Depression & Suicide, Professor Diego De Leo, Griffith University.
•Peace & Environment Symposium, co-hosted with Griffith University EcoCentre, Dr. S. Barakat, Esther Charlesworth.
•Judaism & Christianity Rabbi John Levi, Melbourne and Rev. Dr. Ray Barraclough, St. Francis Theological College.
•Faith
and Human Rights , Afshin A-Khavari, Faculty of Law, Griffith
University; Wei-Ying Ang & Prof. S.H.Toh, Multi-Faith Centre
•A Gandhian Paradigm For Building a Culture of Peace, Prem Kalia, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation for World Peace.
•Faith
& Spirituality at the Grassroots:Stories from a Harlem Community,
New York City, Robert Zuber, Franciscans International, New
York
•First Nations & Indigenous Education:Vision &
Experiences, Dr. Peggy Wilson and Dr. Stan Wilson, Emeritus Professors,
University of Alberta, Canada
•Harmony: Faith, Spirituality and
Multiculturalism, Steve Maguire, Director, Multi-Cultural
Affairs QLD, Nikki A-Khavari, a Solicitor and Member of Local Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahai’s of Brisbane & Tony Kitchen, Qld Catholic
Education Commission
•A sharing on Inter-Faith Dialogue in Okayama
& Brisbane, members of the Religious NGO Network on
Humanitarian Support (RNN)* Japan and Interfaith Multicultural Forum of
Brisbane
•Christianity and Violence / Non-Violence, Dr. James Alison, UK theologian
•Cultivating
Spirituality in a World of Diverse Faiths, Rev. Dr. David Pitman,
Superintendent Minister of Wesley Mission Uniting Church Brisbane
& Dr. Julia Howell, Asian Studies, Griffith University.
•Educating
for a Culture of Peace: Ideas for Schools & Communities , Dr.
Maxine Cooper, Director of the Centre for Professional
Development, & Prof. S.H.Toh, Director, MFC, Griffith
University.
(2) International Day of Peace, 2003
The
Centre celebrated the International Day of Peace on September 21st,
2003 as a day to encourage all peoples and countries to observe a
moment of world unity for global ceasefire and non-violence. This event
was a creative opportunity for individuals, communities and
organizations to witness and participate in a multi-faith prayer for
peace; listen to and share ideas in an inter-faith dialogue on faith
and spirituality in building a culture of peace at all levels of life;
and learn from educational displays exhibited by diverse faiths and
peace advocates. The day began with a multi-faith prayer from
representatives of the indigenous peoples, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism,
Islam and Baha’i. The dialogue for the International Day of Peace
celebration focused on the central theme of Faith and Spirituality:
Building a Culture of Peace, with panellists speaking from a Buddhist,
Indigenous, Muslim, Christian, Ecological and Inter-Faith perspective.
Many positive responses and evaluations were provided by participants,
who felt that the dialogue had helped to deepen their awareness and
understanding of faiths and inter-faith dialogue in building
peace at inner, social , local and global levels of life.
After
the Dialogue, participants viewed the exhibition of educational display
set up by fifteen different faith and community groups. The
participants had the opportunity to learn more about the diverse faiths
as well as social and educational activities of communities and groups
on display. As with the dialogue, the exhibition was very well received
by participants and contributed to the overall success of the
International Day of Peace celebration.
The Centre also participated
in the Rhythm of Peace Celebration organized by the United Nations
Association of Australia in collaboration with the Brisbane City
Council and many faith and community groups. The celebration
included a youth march of flags of many countries represented in
Brisbane’s multicultural population and musical and dance performances
of several ethnic communities. By participating in this City
event celebrating the International Day of Peace, the Centre has
initiated helpful and friendly relationships with many different
cultural, faith and peace-building communities and groups in Brisbane.
(3) International Day of Peace, 2004
The
MFC cooperated with the Queensland College of Art by organizing a A
Multi-Faith Prayer Service conducted at the Opening of the
“Aftermath” Photographic Exhibition Photography by Tim Page, Megan
Cullen and Adam Ferguson to celebrate International Day of Peace 2004.
This exhibition featured photographs describing how Cambodia has been
rebuilding a culture of peace after decades of armed conflicts and
human rights violations. The MFC also hosted Cambodian sculptors
and European facilitators of the Peace Art Project Cambodia
(PAPC) which trains local artists to convert decommissioned
weapons used in the Cambodian armed conflicts into sculpture pieces of
artwork.
(4) Asia-Pacific Youth Inter-Faith Dialogue Workshop (April 14 to 18, 2004)
Twenty
Australian youth and another 20 from 9 other Asia-Pacific countries
from diverse faiths and cultures gathered at the MFC to share their
ideas and experiences in inter-faith dialogue toward the building of a
culture of peace.
The Workshop sought to:
•explore and dialogue on issues and questions within and across faiths that pose challenges for building a culture of peace
•raise
awareness of participants on complex issues, problems, and conflicts of
interfaith relationships and their impact on societal peace
•promote
sharing of ideas, experiences, and stories on initiatives and practices
in interfaith dialogue for building a culture of peace.
•facilitate
the formation of a network of youth in Australia and the Asia-Pacific
region that will promote the principles and values of interfaith
dialogue.
Multiple activities including sharing of
ideas/experiences and participatory sessions facilitated by resource
persons on various themes on direct violence, post 9/11, just war,
local and global inequalities, human rights, intercultural/interethnic
conflicts, environmental sustainability, cultivating inner peace and
spirituality, building democracy and global citizenship.
(5) Symposium on “Pathways to Peace”
The
Centre also participated in a symposium focusing on diverse Pathways to
Peace. The symposium program included keynote addresses and many
workshops looking into specific issues and strategies of peace
education, conflict resolution education and cultivating inner peace.
The Centre provided the venue for several workshop sessions as well as
an art exhibition of the paintings of world famous sumi-e artist,
Andre Sollier, who paints through his inspiration from Zen
Buddhism and meditation. The MFC Director talked on “Learning
Compassion, Living Solidarity: Nurturing the Roots of a Peaceful
World,” which examined the root causes of conflicts and violence
worldwide and the role of education based on values of compassion and
solidarity, to build a peaceful world and selves.
(6) Commencement Service
The
Centre jointly organizes with Griffith University Chaplain an Annual
Commencement Service featuring a multi-faith prayer service in which
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and different faiths delivered
their own readings from respective faith traditions to bless a
successful academic year. Guest speakers for 2004 and 2005 were
respectively Mr. Amjad Ali Mehboob, Chief Executive Officer, Australian
Federation of Islamic Council and Dr. Rachel Kohn, well-known
Australian Radio Broadcasting producer of the religious program The
Spirit of Things. Both delivered addresses related to the theme of
educating for peace. The Commencement Service was closed with a
Multi-Faith Prayer for Peace first endorsed and read by
representatives of thirteen religions and faith groups at the Rhythm of
Peace concert organized by the United Nations Association of
Australia-Qld Division.
(7) Workshop by Professor Johan Galtung, Conflict Transformation and Terrorism: Implication for Democracy
On
March 17, Johan Galtung, the Director of TRANSCEND, a Peace
and Development Network and a widely known as a founder of the academic
discipline of peace research hold a One Day Workshop at Multi-Faith
Centre. The event was organized by the Multi-Faith Centre,
EcoCentre and Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance
(KCELJAG).
(8) Effective Policing in a Multicultural Society
On
May 5, Commissioner Bob Atkinson from the Queensland Police Service
presented an overview of his vision for Effective Policing in a
Multicultural Society and outlined some of the strategies being
implemented by the Queensland Police Service. Imam Tariq Syed
from Bald Hills Mosque also shared ideas for promoting harmonious
community/police relationships and the importance of building peace in
a multicultural society.
(9) An Inter-Faith Witness for
Reconciliation by representatives of diverse faith communities and
spirituality traditions to celebrate National Reconciliation Week
(2004.05.27 – 2004.06.03)
Representatives of diverse faith and
spirituality communities expressed statement in support of
reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of Australia in order to
create a more peaceful society. This event was held in solidarity with
the vision and mission of the Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation to
promote a process of reconciliation between Aborigines and Torres
Strait Islanders and the wider community and the fostering of an
ongoing national commitment to co-operate to address Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.
(10) Professorial Lecture
Series :Professor Toh Swee-Hin, Director, Multi-Faith Centre Uprooting
Violence, Cultivating Peace: Education for an Engaged Spirituality
This
lecture held on June 17, seeks to share some insights, lessons,
signposts and questions flowing from Prof. Toh’s personal journey in
peace education through various South and North contexts. Through
critical reflection on and analysis of these personal and social
experiences gained as part of a wider educational and peacebuilding
community, notably in the Philippines but also in Australia, Canada and
other global networks, Prof. Toh presented a case for education for an
engaged spirituality. Using exemplars from Prof. Toh’s journey
and inspiration by other peace educators, this talk explored the
complexities, challenges and hopes of educating for an engaged
spirituality to build a culture of peace, a conceptualised as a
multi-dimensional framework of six inter-related themes: dismantling
the culture of war; living with justice and compassion; promoting human
rights and responsibilities; building cultural respect, reconciliation
and solidarity; living in harmony with the Earth; and cultivating inner
peace.
(11) Gandhi, King & Ikeda Photographic Exhibition
This
dialogue and forum on June 17 , co-sponsored by Soka Gakkai
International Australia, was delivered by Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter
Sr. who is a Professor of Religion, College Archivist, Curator and the
founding Dean of the Martin Luther King International Chapel of
Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia, USA and founder of the Gandhi
Institute on Reconciliation at Morehouse College. In conjunction
with this dialogue, the photographic exhibition depicting the
peacebuilding contributions of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and
Daisaku Ikeda was also held.
(12) Solidarity for Refugees
In
2003, an officer of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) gave his view on how to create a safe environment and place for
the refugee when their emotions are filled with anxiety and insecurity.
Representatives of faith communities joined together with the
audience in reading the Religious Leaders’ Statement on Refugees to
express solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers coming to
Australia. This was followed up on September 22, when Julian
Burnside QC from The Justice Project along with three faith
respondents: Rabbi Uri Themal, Gold Coast Shalom Temple; Michelle
Knight, Christian World Service Coordinator, Queensland Churches
Together; and Ms. Rashida Joseph, Refugee Case Work and a Multicultural
Consultant gave a dialogue and forum to discuss issues concerning the
refugee and asylum seekers in Australia. The speakers emphasized the
vital need for Australia and other countries to protect the rights of
refugees as part of building a peaceful and just world community.
(13)
The Parliament of the World’s Religions Barcelona, July 2004, “Pathways
to Peace: the Wisdom of Listening, the Power of Commitment”
On
August 25, Prof. Toh Swee-Hin, Director of Multi-Faith Centre gave a
dialogue and forum on his recent participation in the 4th Parliament of
World’s Religions in Barcelona to continue the Parliament’s vision and
mission to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual
communities and foster their engagement with the world and its other
guiding institutions in order to achieve a peaceful, just and
sustainable world. About 8,000 participants representing diverse
faiths and spirituality traditions attended and shared ideas and
lessons in promoting peace, justice, human rights, sustainability and
spiritual growth. Prior to the Parliament, a three day Assembly
of the Council of the CPWRs was also held in Montserrat Monastery to
prepare a statement on the role of faith and spirituality communities
on four themes: increasing access to clean water; eliminating
international debt for developing countries; supporting refugees
worldwide; overcoming religiously motivated violence.
(14) “A
Harmonious Universe, the World as One Family”: Inter-Faith Dialogue for
World Peace: Reflections & Proposal (October 18, 2004), Venerable
Master Chin Kung, Duniv Griff, Pure Land Learning College, Toowoomba
For
several decades, Venerable Master Chin Kung has been promoting harmony,
respect and understanding among diverse religions and faiths in many
countries and regions worldwide. Guided by the teachings of
Sakyamuni Buddha, Master Chin Kung has been promoting education and
action for the dissolution of enmity, peace and stability. In this
Dialogue and Forum, Master Chin Kung presented the goals and outcomes
of his recent journeys to encourage dialogue and harmony among diverse
faith communities and to give advice to leaders of governments to work
for inter-faith dialogue toward building peace in their societies and
in the world, including Indonesia, Japan, China, Egypt and the Vatican,
and also some proposals for collaborative action.
(15) Visit of Archbishop Fernando Capalla, Davao, Philippines
The following four events are organised jointly by the following groups:
Multi-Faith
Centre, Griffith University and Office of Ecumenism & Inter-Faith
Relations of, Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of, and Centre
for Multicultural Pastoral Care of Archdiocese of Brisbane.
The
Most Rev. Fernando R. Capalla D.D., Archbishop of Davao, Mindanao,
Philippines. President of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) has been strongly committed to the building of a
culture of peace and justice, especially in promoting inter-faith
dialogue for peace in Mindanao and the wider Asian region. He
co-convened the Bishops-Ulama Forum that has played a significant role
in enhancing respect, reconciliation and solidarity among Muslims,
Christians and indigenous peoples. A member of the Pontifical Council
for Interreligious Dialogue since 1988, Archbishop Capalla was
appointed President of the CBCP in July 2003. His talks during
his visit to the MFC and the Brisbane Archdiocese included:
Christian-Muslim Dialogue & Building of Peace in Mindanao ( November 10, 2004)
In
this Dialogue/Forum, Archbishop Capalla shared his extensive
experiences and commitment in promoting peace, respect, understanding
and reconciliation in Mindanao among Christians, Muslims and indigenous
peoples. In the Archbishop’s view, “to grow and develop totally
as a person and as a community in the present situation of social
unrest and political turmoil, every Christian, Muslim, Lumad and
religious has to undergo a moral and spiritual, nay even physical
healing through mutual repentance and forgiveness because the wounds in
the human spirit manifested in hatred and prejudices are already wide
and deep. This is the only way to bring about true and genuine
reconciliation and consequently durable and lasting peace”.
Archbishop Capalla also presented talks focusing on the themes of :
Justice,
Peace, Human Rights & Inter-Faith Dialogue: the Role of the
Church (co-hosted by Believing Women for a Culture of Peace )
Peace,
Justice & Development in the Asia-Pacific Region: Implications for
the Role of Australia and other North Nations (co-hosted by Social
Action Office, Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes Queensland
)
(16) Belief Exhibition
The Belief
project is a photo documentary project produced by Griffith
University’s documentary photographer, Karen Kindt, that explores
the lives of individuals from different religions as they interact in
the wider community. It was first commissioned in May, 2002, as a part
of the celebration of the opening of the Multi-Faith Centre. From June,
2003, in partnership with the Queensland Arts Council, and funded by
Multicultural Affairs, Queensland, the MFC’s Belief project will be
exhibited throughout Queensland to promote the ideals and values of
multiculturalism. In his foreword to the exhibition Guidebook, the MFC
Director, Professor Toh, expressed his “heartfelt hope that the
experience of viewing Belief will help nurture a spirit of respect,
dialogue, tolerance, understanding and peace, while also celebrating
the diversity, passion and freedom of peoples to practice their beliefs
and share the wisdom of their civilizations”.
(17) Requiem Exhibition
In
collaboration with Griffith Artworks, the Multi-Faith Centre sponsored
the only Australian showing of works by war photographers who died or
went missing while working in Vietnam and Indochina between 1945 and
1975. Requiem, organised by world-renowned photographers Tim Page and
Horst Faas and on laon fromGeorge Eastman House, New York, was
displayed at the Queensland College of Arts gallery from June 6 to July
20. During the opening ceremony, Buddhist prayers and
blessings were offered by the Venerable Vanna Chgoum, Khemarak
Ratanaram Wat and the Venerable Kongmy Khouangrichit, Lao Wat. After
viewing the exhbition, MFC Director Professor Toh felt that Requiem
reflects a very empowering experience, challenging all peoples and
leaders to work for peaceful solutions to crises and conflicts, rather
than strategies based on tragic wars and violence.
(18) Humanitarian Aid Training Workshop with Red R and Architects Without Frontiers
On
June 16-17, 2003, the MFC sponsored a two-day intensive workshop for
architects, planners, environmentalists, engineers and others
wishing to work in the humanitarian field. Partner organizations in the
workshop were Architects without Frontiers and RED R (Registered
Engineers for Disaster Relief). The participants came from
various different backgrounds, from students to architects and
town-planners. The RED R facilitator, Mark Prasopa-Plaizier, used
extensive overheads as well as interactive group exercises, such as the
simulation of building a refugee camp and also provided reading and
reference materials for the participants to keep. The Executive
Director of Architects without Frontiers, Dr. Esther Charlesworth,
presented a lecture in which she shared interest and valuable insights
and knowledge on the role of architects and community projects involved
in reconstruction in war-torn cities in Lebanon, Northern Ireland,
Bosnia, Cyprus, and Israel/Palestine.
(19) “Messages from Water” Lecture by Dr. Masaru Emoto
On
August 9, 2003, the MFC hosted a lecture by well-known Japanese
researcher and educator, Dr. Masuru Emoto, Chairman, IHM General
Research Institute, Japan on the theme of “Messages from Water”.
Dr Emoto is a pioneering Japanese researcher who has been using
Magnetic Resonance Analysis to study crystallized micro-cluster
water. His research, published in over 11 major scientific papers
and a bestselling book, concludes that the crystalline
structure of water changes according to human consciousness. In
his lecture, Dr. Emoto showed how water molecules (which make up
70% of our bodies and the surface of the Earth) are influenced by our
thoughts, emotions, words, prayers, by sounds, chemicals and pollution.
In Dr. Emoto’s view, this finding has profound and far-reaching
implications for humanity and world peace
(20) United Nations University for Peace Courses/Workshops (Costa Rica and Thailand)
During
July, 2003, the MFC sponsored a total of six delegates from Griffith
University to participate in short courses/workshops conducted by the
United Nations University for Peace. Four attended workshops held
in Mahidol Unievrsity, Bangkok, Thailand -- two in an executive
program organised by The Network of Universities and Institutions for
Asia-Pacific Peace-Building and Conflict Prevention and two in a
program focusing on Natural Resource Conflicts and Environmental
Security. The workshop benefited the delegates in deepening their
understanding of conflicts over natural resources, and peaceful
strategies for resolving such conflicts. Another two MFC sponsored
participants attended a two-week course on “Human Rights
and Religion” at the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica. Following
their return to Australia, these MFC sponsored delegates have been
requested to share their learning and experiences with other staff,
students and community members.
(21) International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE)
The Multi Faith Centre also sent a delegation to the 2003 International Institute on Peace Education (IIPE) conference
organized
by the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International
Understanding held in August in Seoul, South Korea. The IIPE 2003
theme, "Educating for Peace in Divided Societies," confronted the
challenge of educating toward justice, peace and sustainable
development considering peoples, nations, and regions deeply divided by
political, ideological, cultural and religious differences, and
people-planet conflicts, as reflected in environmental destruction.
Multiple perspectives on cases were explored and various ways of
teaching toward healing of such divisions, the overcoming of violence,
and the achievement of ecological balance, economic justice, and
democratic participation toward a culture of peace were presented. The
MFC Director, Professor Toh and Tony Kitchen, Executive Officer for
Curriculum, Queensland Catholic Education Commission, presented plenary
papers related to the theme of Education for Healing and Solidarity.
Professor Toh also conducted workshops focusing on globalization
and the resolution of inter-cultural conflicts in the Philippines
through dialogue and peace education. Other MFC delegates
included Wei-Ying Ang, project manager, MFC, and Darmawan Mufti, a
teacher in Al-Izhar High School, Jakarta, Indonesia.
(22) Inter-Faith Dialogue on the Role of Faith/Religious Education in Building a Culture of Peace, Seoul
After
the IIPE conference, the Multi-Faith Centre co-sponsored with APCEIU an
Inter-Faith Dialogue on the Role of Faith/Religious Education in
Building a Culture of Peace on August 11, 2003. During the
dialogue, fifteen scholars from Australia, South Korea, India, Canada,
Indonesia and the Philippines shared insights and experiences on
faith/religious education and inter-faith dialogue for promoting peace
at local, national, international and global contexts. Various hopeful
exemplars of inter-faith dialogue in resolving conflicts (e.g.
Moluccas, Indonesia; Mindanao, Philippines) were also highlighted in
the dialogue.
A range of issues were covered in the roundtable
discussion, including the goals and principles in religious/faith
education with respect to physical violence in the community, educating
for global justice from economic marginalisation and for ecological
sustainability and the issue of faith and religious education and human
rights. Through this dialogue, the Multi-Faith Centre has established
valuable and significant contacts with many educators, researchers and
advocates for inter-faith dialogue and educating for a culture of peace
in the Asia-Pacific region.
(23) Collaboration with Indonesian educators and faith leaders
During
2004 and 2005 visits to Indonesia and the pilgrimage of an
inter-faith delegation to Egypt and the Vatican, Prof. Toh Swee-Hin,
Director, MFC, collaborated with Indonesian faith leaders and educators
in promoting inter-faith dialogue toward the building of a
culture of peace. One outcome of an International Seminar on
Multi-Faith Education for Harmony and Peace organized by Syarif
Hidayatullah Islamic State University is the establishment of an
International Association of Multi-Faith Educators for cooperation on
projects and programs to build peace through interfaith and
intercultural understanding. During the pilgrimage to Egypt and
the Vatican in June, 2004, the MFC Director joined Indonesian delegates
in dialogues with members of Al Azhar University in Cairo, the oldest
Islamic institution of higher learning in the world, and with the
Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue at the Vatican.
(24) Third Diversity Forum, Kolkatta, India (Feb, 2005)
The
MFC Director, Prof. S.H.Toh, presented a paper on Local and Global
Responsibilities in Promoting Diversity at the Third Diversity Forum
organized by the Australian multicultural Foundations and the
Commonwealth Foundation. In his paper, Prof. Toh emphasized that
promoting cultural and social diversity needs to be holistically
integrated with the multiple dimensions of building a culture of peace.
The forum included delegates from various Commonwealth nations
and representing universities, government agencies, and civil society
organizations. One recommendation of the Forum was to propose to
the Commonwealth Heads of States to establish a council of faith
leaders who can contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflicts
within the commonwealth and the wider world community.
(25) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
On
March 21, 2005, the MFC organized a multi-faith prayer service to
reflect the support of diverse faith communities for the values and
principles of overcoming racism and all forms of discrimination.
A workshop was also held with high school students and teachers
to integrate anti-racist understanding and education with s holistic
framework of educating for a culture of peace.
|
ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
Our
advice is for the UN to (a) significantly increase its support for the
role of education in promoting a culture of peace and nonviolence, (b)
to motivate all faith communities and cultures to engage in interfaith
dialogue as well as intra-faith dialogue. Specifically, UNESCO should
(a) sponsor a world commission on interfaith dialogue for building and
educating for a culture of peace; (b) implement curriculum and teacher
education projects for integrating interfaith dialogue and the
contributions of faith and spirituality traditions to a nonviolent and
sustainable solution to conflict and violence.
|
PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
UNESCO,
Australian/Indonesian/Korean/The Netherlands National Commissions for
UNESCO, Pure Land Learning College, APCEIU, APNIEVE, World Council for
Curriculum and Instructions, Parliament of the World's Religions,
Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Multicultural Affairs
Queensland, Australian Faith and Interfaith Councils, etc.
|
PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
(1)
International Symposium on "Cultivating Wisdoms, Harvesting Peace.
Educating for a Culture of Peace through Values, Virtues, Principles of
Diverse Cultures, Faiths and Civilizations, august 10-13, 2005,
Mutli-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
(2) Multifaith/Multicultural Values Education Institutes for Teacher Educators
(3) Interfaith Dialogue workshops for youth at local, regional and international levels
(4) Continuing series of intefaith dialogue forums
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Postal address of organization
|
Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia
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E-mail address of organization
|
Multi-Faith-Centre@griffith.edu.au
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Website address of organization
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http://www.gu.edu.au/centre/mfc/
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
|
Education for a culture of peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
|
Understanding, tolerance, solidarity
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
|
Australasia
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Second priority country of action (or international)
|
International
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