The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has handed nine wooden Buddha statues donated by an Australian national over to the Thai Ministry of Culture’s Fine Arts Department in a ceremony on 26 January.
News
Canberra’s Sikh temple to get a new building as community doubles in last five years
Construction of a two-storey building is underway in Canberra’s only Sikh temple (gurdwara) to serve the needs of the growing Sikh community in the Australian Capital Territory. The proposed plan is expected to accommodate 1300 worshippers.
Women help religions share wisdom, Pope says
The world’s religious traditions and their followers are called to offer wisdom to the world and to “infuse it with a spirit of warmth, healing and fraternity,” which requires the participation of women as well as men, Pope Francis said.
2022 ACU Parliamentary Interfaith Breakfast
Since 2014, Australian Catholic University has hosted six parliamentary interfaith breakfasts, bringing together parliamentarians and the leaders of many faith communities in a spirit of mutual respect and dialogue. The most recent breakfast was held on 24 November 2022 at the National Press Club in Canberra and featured addresses from the federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and renowned journalist Stan Grant.
Wisdom for the common good as regards 26 January and an ‘Australia Day’
Bishop Philip Huggins is Director, Centre for Ecumenical Studies, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Canberra. Here, Bishop Huggins writes reflections on multifaith activity, the multicultural nature of our nation, and the wisdom for the common good which may well prevail in resolving conflict about 26 January and when we might celebrate who we are as a nation, going forward together.
National School Chaplaincy Program report backs name change, choice of wellbeing officers
An independent evaluation of The National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) has found there are benefits of having chaplains in schools, but has endorsed plans to broaden the scheme to include secular support staff.
South Australia: Australia Day Address
Ms Philippa Rowland, Chair – Religions for Peace Australia and President – Multifaith Association of South Australia was invited by the Ahmadiyya Association of South Australia to give one address at their Australia Day Celebrations, on 26 January 2023.
Women building a Culture of Encounter Interreligiously
The Dicastery for Promoting Interreligious Dialogue hosted a conference in Rome on the importance of women building a culture of interreligious encounter on January 25-27 Pontifical Urbanian University in Rome.
Interfaith Alliance releases report: “Big Tech, Hate, and Religious Freedom Online”
The Interfaith Alliance, based in the USA, has published a new report, “Big Tech, Hate, and Religious Freedom Online,” that works to educate people about the uniquely damaging impact of bigotry and hate.
Eradicating modern slavery in Australia
In 2018, the Modern Slavery Act was introduced to reduce the risks of labour exploitation in Australia. Larger businesses – those with annual consolidated revenue of at least AU$100 million – are now required to report on the risks of exploitation in their supply chains and the actions they are taking to eliminate them.
The term ‘modern slavery’ describes situations where offenders use coercion, threats or deception to exploit victims and undermine their freedom.
“Inspired by love and anger”: Oil CEO heads UN COP28
Perceptions aren’t everything but they can be very powerful. On the face of it, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) appointment of an oil company chief as the next President for the UNCOP28 is not a good look. That’s putting it mildly! There has, in fact, been much colourful criticism. “This appointment goes beyond putting the fox in charge of the henhouse”, said Teresa Anderson of ActionAid, a climate justice charity.
9th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-Based Organizations in International Affairs
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) acting on behalf of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on Religion and Sustainable Development (currently chaired by UNFPA, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations and includes 27 entities within the UN System conducts the annual symposium with the Theme: Securing People’s Wellbeing and Planetary Sustainability on 24 January 2023, 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM EST. This is a Virtual Event. Religions for Peace Secretary-General will be one of the Moderators.
