Parliament of Worlds Religion 2009 Melbourne Australia

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

Page 204

PROGRAR
Saturday, December 5, 2009
11:30am-1:00pm INTERRELIGIOUS SESSION
can fulfill their ethical responsibility to build a culture of peace at the local, national and international levels. Examples of major issues facing humanity and the earth including violence, local/global injustices, human rights violations, intercultural conflicts, environmental destruction and inner peacelessness will be touched upon during the interactive portion of the workshop. Toh Swee-Hin (S H Toh) is Professor and Director, Griffith University Multi-Faith Centre in Australia, which seeks to promote interfaith dialogue for a culture of peace. He is active in peace education and interfaith dialogue movements including a Parliament of the World's Religions, Religions for Peace, and the Asia-Pacific Interfaith Meetings for peace and cooperation, as a member of the Australian delegation. Swee-Hin was awarded the UNESCO prize for Peace Education in 2009.
Selections from the New Film Journey of the Universe' Mary Evelyn Tucker, Executive Producer John Grim Room 213 Film and Discussion
the Indigenous people of the Philippines, the Aetas. The Interfaith Spiritual Church has had a particularly successful relationship with the Aetas, devoting resources to build schools and provide much-needed poverty relief. Danilo Robles Valerio, a leader of the Aetas will join Rev Cazar to talk about his community, belief systems, and relationship with the Interfaith Spiritual Church. By hearing and responding to the needs and wisdom of the Aetas, a community that is closely tied to the land, the church honours the land and the earth itself. Honouring and supporting those who still move with the rhythms of the earth provides healing for the earth and all peoples. There will be a question and answer period at the conclusion of the discussion, as well as a brief demonstration of magnetic aura healing using a blessing of hot oil. Danilo Robles Valerio, representative of the ancestral domain claims of the Aetas, was born on April 5, 1957 in Mariveles, Bataan Philippines. He became Vice President of the Provincial Association of Aetas in Bataan (Panalalawigang Asosasyon ng mga Aetasas sa Pilipinas PASAMAB). He was chosen as tribal advisor of the Aetas in Mariveles, Bataan and is a very active member in this non-governmental organisation. He practises one of the traditional spiritual practices of the Aetas called Kagun Rev Ruel Cazar was born into a long lineage of Filipino healers. Recognising his natural abilities and enthusiasm at an early age, his grandparents and elders of the church began teaching him healing techniques. He began his formal theology training in 1986 at the Interfaith Spiritual Church, where he studied with Monsignor Marcos L Orbito, a noted faith healer in the Philippines Monsignor Marcos L Orbito was born in Balungao, Pangasinan, Philippines in 1925. He served in World War II and witnessed the carnage of war. In 1955 he attended the congregation of the spiritualists where his parents were involved in a healing ministry. He later became a preacher under the banner of the Spiritual Church. Since that time he has been committed to supporting interfaith efforts throughout the Philippines
The current environmental crisis has its roots in humanity's divisions and lack of planetary consciousness. This new film reconnects us with our shared roots by providing the longest possible view of our common heritage. Beginning with the Big Bang, through the formation of stars, galaxies and planets, and the emergence of life on Planet Earth, this film provides a scientific context for the critical nature of the present moment in human history, The film was directed by David Kennard. Mary Evelyn Tucker is a Senior Lecturer and Senior Scholar at Yale University, where she has appointments in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, the Divinity School, and the Department of Religious Studies. Specialising in Asian religions and ecology, she has been a committee member of the Interfaith Partnership for the Environment at the United Nations Environment Program since 1986 and is a member of the Earth Charter International Council. John Grim is currently a Senior Lecturer and Scholar at Yale University He is Coordinator of the Forum on Religion and Ecology with Mary Evelyn Tucker, and series editor of World Religions and Ecology. from Harvard Divinity School's Center for the Study of World Religions. He has taught at Bucknell University and Sarah Lawrence College and is widely published on the subjects of religion and ecology.
Outreach to Indigenous Aetas in the Philippines Rev Ruel Cazar Monsignor Marcos L Orbito Danilo Robles Valerio Room 214 Seminar Since 1980, the Interfaith Spiritual Church has led a successful outreach program in the Philippines, which is home to approximately 2,000 religions. Rev Cazar of the Interfaith Spiritual Church will lead a discussion with slide presentation depicting his church's work with
Ending Legalised Violence Against Children - A Religious Imperative Christine Dodd Rev Cecilia Wikström Mali Nilsson Room 215 Interactive Workshop Violence blights the lives of children and has serious, long-term effects. Children who experience violence often become violent in their own relationships and as adults. As religious communities we cannot promote peace and justice unless we address the problem of violence against children, including corporal punishment. Corporal punishment violates the physical, emotional, and spiritual integrity of the child. It breaches fundamental rights to respect and human dignity, and its legality breaches children's right to equal protection under the law. There is growing faith-based support for halting violent relationships with children. This workshop will discuss the religious imperative to end all corporal punishment of children. It will address the role of religious leaders and communities as advocates for children. Participants will receive resources including information on nonviolent discipline, law reform, and a pack for taking action at
200 PWR - Parliament of the World's Religions