Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 168

PROGRAM
Friday, December 4, 2009
Naga Chants
Visier Sanyü
Reg Blow
Tom Duncan
Room 201
Artistic Performance
Naga mystical chants are blessings by the clan elders and prayers to their female God Ukepenuopfü. These chants are originally from Khonoma village in Nagaland and are in the Tenyidie language. The Nagas live in Nagaland in Northeast India and Burma and speak over fifty languages, all of which belong to the Tibeto-Burman language family. Though there are over a thousand chants, songs, prayers and blessings in Khonoma village, these chants and prayers are known by only a few. The presenter is the brother of the late Niyiehu Sanyü, one the most knowledgeable masters of these chants and prayers, who passed away of cancer before his chants could be recorded. His death is a sad reminder that this priceless legacy of an ancient civilisation is in great danger of becoming lost forever and reinforces the importance of keeping the tradition for posterity.
Visier Sanyu is a Naga chanter and singer. He was a cast member of Song of Asia, a musical revue of Asian songs and dance that toured Asia and Europe. In 1996, he came to Australia as a Visiting Fellow at La Trobe University in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology. He is currently the Project Manager for Refugee, Act for Peace, Victorian Council of Churches and the director of Naga Yoga Institute in Melbourne. Reg Blow will be accompanying Visier Sanyu on the didgeridoo. Tom Duncan will be accompanying Visier Sanyu on the drum. Taize Chants Sung in the Gunai Kurnai Indigenous Language by the Lavalla Catholic College Liturgical Choir
Lavalla Catholic College Liturgical Choir Room 201
Choir Performance
The Lavalla Catholic College Liturgical Choir of Traralgon, Victoria, has gained permission from the Indigenous Language Elders to translate chants and prayers from the Taize Community in France into the Gunai Kurnai Indigenous language and to sing the chants at public performances. The project was initiated by Choir Director Shane Reid, who sought to find both meaningful and respectful ways of recognising and celebrating the local Indigenous culture through music and song.
Shane Reid is the Director of the Lavalla Catholic College Liturgical Choir.
Lavalla College holds the traditions of the Marist Brothers, founded by Saint Marcellin Champagnat in post-revolutionary France; the Brigidine Sisters, founded by Bishop Daniel Delany in Ireland in 1807; and the Presentation Sisters, founded by Nano Nagle in 1718. Through these combined traditions, the college aims to provide an education that nurtures and encourages the dignity, uniqueness and goodness of each person and that strengthens the Christian community.
164 PWR Parliament of the World's Religions Jain Education International
2:30-4:00pm ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Convening Session Conflict Resolution
Dharma Master Hsin Tao
Fr Leonel Narvaez Dr William Vendley Room 203
Convening Session
Is religious commitment a source of conflict and violence or of harmony and peacefulness? While there are ardent believers in-and evidence for-both points of view, the Conflict Resolution Sessions will focus on how religious and spiritual communities, no matter how different, can still serve a common cause and support our natural, human instinct for peace. We will hear real-world scenarios from teams working in Afghanistan, Israel (the West Bank and Gaza), Colombia, Liberia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Thailand, all of whom will show how aggression, once begun, can be mediated, transformed and resolved. Led by internationally esteemed leaders Dharma Master Hsin Tao, Father Leonel Narvaez and Doctor William Vendley, the Convening Session presents an overview of the 24 sessions that comprise a key focus of the 2009 Parliament.
Dharma Master Hsin Tao was born in Burma in 1948 and came to Taiwan at age 13. He became a monk at age 25 and established the Wusheng Monastery on Ling-jiou mountain in 1983. He founded the Museum of World Religions and is president of the Global Family of Love and Peace. The series of Buddhist-Muslim dialogues he initiated in 2001 has been conducted in ten countries, including the UNESCO Paris and UN in New York.
Father Leonel Narvaez is a Catholic missionary. He initially worked with the nomadic tribes in Eastern Africa and currently works in the forest of the South Amazon area of Colombia. In 2000, he established the Schools of Forgiveness and Reconciliation (ESPERE is the Spanish acronym). He was a key figure in the Goldin Institute's 2007 global gathering on the topic of reintegration of former child soldiers.
Dr William F Vendley has served as Secretary General of Religions for Peace since 1994. He has mobilised and equipped religious communities in war-torn regions worldwide. He was a participant in His Majesty King Abdullah's historic interreligious meeting in Madrid, Spain in 2008 and has been requested by the Muslim World League to serve on its Follow-up Committee. Dr Vendley is also an advisor to US President Barack Obama.
Reconciling Religious Values and the Universal Entitlement to Human Rights
Helen Szoke
Cardinal George Pell
Mark Durie
Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry Room 204
Panel Discussion
In 2006, the State of Victoria introduced a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, and Australian legislators are currently investigating whether a similar charter or bill should be introduced at Federal level. This continues to be a subject of debate between religious and human rights leaders in Australia. During this presentation, Dr Helen Szoke will suggest that with a progressive approach, we can encourage human rights and religion to engage in dialogue as a way to reconcile what are seen as