Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

Author(s): Parliament of the World’s Religions
Publisher: USA Parliament of the Worlds Religions

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Special Events
for the Council to recognize those who have made unique contributions in support of the 2009 Parliament, and to set in motion the expansion of Partner Cities Network over the course of the next five years.
Indigenous Reception 3 December 2009 2:00-4:00pm Room 105 This Reception is a private event for all international Indigenous speakers, their spouses, Indigenous Peoples in the community, local dignitaries, affiliated boards and staff of the Parliament of the World's Religions. The International Indigenous Task Force and the Indigenous Australian Planning Committee of Melbourne are very pleased to greet such a sizeable and excited group at the Indigenous Reception. The high calibre of these Indigenous speakers will undoubtedly initiate and cultivate some very thrilling endeavours. We anticipate that the bond among all the Indigenous attendees from worldwide will continue to grow and inspire the innovative ideals of the Parliament as well as their surrounding communities.
Landscape of Faith: Sharing Wisdom for a New Vision of Community 5 December 2009 9:30am-6:00pm Room 220 This special event is presented in partnership with the Temple of Understanding. This interreligious educational one-day seminar seeks to provide a context for community building by addressing the challenges of prejudice, injustice and alienation from the earth while weaving the possibility of transformation through the arts throughout the day. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions. See back of book for full descriptions. Schedule: Part I: Living in Community 9:30-11:00am Part II: Living in Community in the Shadow of Injustice 11:30am-1:00pm Part III: Addressing Alienation within the Human Family and with the Natural World 2:30-4:00pm Part IV: The Arts as Transformation 4:30-6:00pm
Paul Carus Award 5 December 2009 7:30-9:00pm Plenary Hall The Award will be bestowed at the International Plenary on Saturday 5 December. The Council is again honoured to announce the 2009 Paul Carus Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Interreligious Movement, to be presented by the Carus Family on the occasion of the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions. This award will be given in the amount of $100,000 (USD) to an individual, community or organisation that has contributed in an extraordinary way to the international interreligious movement. Join us for the dedication of this award during the International Plenary as a way of recognizing the nominees and the selected winner. As a capstone special event, the Paul Carus Award will emphasize and celebrate the power of interreligious action to effect change around the world. Members of the Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions' International Advisory Committee have advised the Council for the Parliament of the World's Religions on criteria and selection of the current and future recipients of this prestigious award. The first Paul Carus Award was presented to Bishop McLeod Baker Ochola Il and the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative at the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona. This year's award will add yet another deserving recipient to this distinguished list.
International Partner Cities and 2009 Ambassadors Reception 5 December 2009 2:30-4:00pm Room 212
Indigenous Assembly 7 December 2009 9:00am-7:00pm Abbotsford Convent Because the Assembly is designed as a working session, attendance is by invitation only. The gathering, hosted by the Indigenous Australian Planning Committee of Melbourne, will provide a much-needed forum for the Indigenous representatives from several countries to discuss common issues and to strategize on ways to address some of these issues. The Assembly will begin with an of ficial "Welcome to Country" by Indigenous Australian Elders, followed by roundtable discussions covering several key topics, including issues such as shared loss of heritage, identity. language, natural resources and land, as well as desecration of sacred sites. During the Assembly, the Indigenous Australian representatives will also have an opportunity to acquaint attendees with their local history: survival challenges, and current efforts to preserve their land, culture, language and spiritual practices. The roundtable discussion groups will include Indigenous leaders who can address issues, provide models and work to formulate programs that could be shared in future gatherings.
Attendance at this Reception is by invitation only. This special reception will honour Legacy Partner Cities, 2009 Parliament Ambassadors and Pre-Parliament Event hosts from over 70 cities around the world. This unique event provides an opportunity
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