Video – Reimagining our Common Future

Prof Joe Camilleri at RMIT

Religions for Peace Australia (Victoria Branch) and RMIT Chaplaincy presented a public lecture, “Multifaith Australia – Reimagining Our Common Future” in celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, on 6 February, 2014. Guest speaker was Emeritus Professor Joe Camilleri of Latrobe University’s Centre for Dialogue.

Joseph Camilleri is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University. He has written and lectured extensively on international relations, governance and globalisation, human rights, North-South relations, international organisations, the United Nations, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Emeritus Professor Camilleri is actively engaged in international research, education and advocacy on issues of human rights, civilisation dialogue, global governance reform, peace and security. He is the recipient of St Michael’s Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, and past Australian President of the International Christian Peace Movement, Pax Christi.

You can read the text of Prof. Camilleri’s talk here.

Response

The response was given by Maria Vamvakinou, Federal Member for Calwell, Deputy Chair of Standing Committee on Migration. Maria Vamvakiniou has herself chaired an interfaith network in the northern suburbs of Melbourne.

Maria Vamvakinou, the Federal Member for Calwell, is the first Greek-born woman to be elected to the Parliament of Australia. Born on the small Greek island of Lefkada in 1959, Maria migrated by boat to Australia with her parents in 1963 who, like many post-war European families, were looking for a better life and greater opportunities. Maria grew up and was educated in Melbourne’s Northern suburbs and, as the child of working class migrant parents, Maria shares a lot with many local residents and families.

The Federal seat of Calwell, which is situated in Melbourne’s North-West, is a culturally diverse community, with the largest Muslim community in Victoria, and the third largest in Australia.

Maria was educated at Brunswick South Primary School and Princes Hill High School. Maria went on to attend the University of Melbourne where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Modern Greek and Political Science. Maria also holds a Diploma of Education from the University of Melbourne.

World Interfaith Harmony Week

World Interfaith Harmony Week