Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 18

PLENARY OVERVIEW Celebrate the 2009 Parliament and its principal theme, Make a World of Difference: Hearing each other, Healing the earth, every evening at inspirational Plenary Sessions. These sessions will draw upon the wisdom and gifts of a wide array of religious and spiritual leaders, speakers and performers, and will include welcome, blessings and keynote addresses, as well as opportunities to participate in observances, music and performances.
Thursday 3 December: Opening Ceremony • Welcome to Country from senior Wurundjeri elder. Joy
Murphy Wandin • Blessings and performances to celebrate the world's
diverse spiritual traditions Friday 4 December: Communities Night • International participants hosted by local religious and
spiritual communities • Opportunities for dialogue, observances and hospitality Saturday 5 December: International Plenary • Discussion of efforts to establish a United Nations Decade of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace • Testimonials by local interreligious practitioners from
diverse religious and spiritual communities • Recognition of Legacy and Inaugural Partner Cities • Presentation of the 2009 Paul Carus Award for outstanding contributions to the international interreligious movement
Sunday 6 December: Sacred Music Concert, . Performances of the world's sacred music and movement by world-class musicians from diverse religious and spiritual traditions Monday 7 December: Youth Plenary • Presentations and artistic performances by contemporary local and international artists, organised by the Australian multi-faith youth committee Tuesday 8 December: Melbourne Plenary • Presentations and performances celebrating Melbourne's religious and spiritual diversity and its
vision for interreligious dialogue and cooperation Wednesday 9 December: Closing Plenary • Call to Commitment and Action' to foster harmony between diverse communities Keynote address by His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama
OPENING PLENARY SESSION Thursday 3 December 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm Welcome to the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions!
The 2009 Parliament opens with a "Welcome to Country
Rabbi David Saperstein from Joy Murphy Wandin, senior elder of the Wurundjeri
Designated in Newsweek's 2009 list people, traditional owners of the land on which
as the most influential rabbi in the Melbourne resides. Through a series of blessings and
country, David Saperstein represents performances, the world's diverse religious and spiritual
the national Reform Jewish traditions will be acknowledged and honoured. Hear the
Movement to the US Congress and urgent call to people and communities of faith, spirit and
Administration as the Director good will to 'Make a World of Difference in the midst of
of the Religious Action Center of the pressing challenges facing the global community
Reform Judaism. Dr. Sakena Yacoobi
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Dr. Sakena Yacoobi founded the
His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Afghan Institute of Learning,
is a renowned spiritual leader and a groundbreaking women-led
multi-faceted humanitarian whose grassroots NGO that supported 80
mission of uniting the world into a underground home schools for girls
violence-free family has inspired in the 1990s and continues to work
millions of people worldwide. His to empower girls, women and the
Holiness is the founder of the Art of disenfranchised across Afghanistan.
Living Foundation, an international
non-profit educational and humanitarian organisation, Jain Education International For Private & Peybaleno more than 140 countries.
www.jainelibrary.org 18 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions