WORLD PEACE FORUM IN SYDNEY BRINGS RELIGIONS TOGETHER
TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ORDINARY AUSTRALIANS
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A recent national survey conducted on behalf of the World Peace Forum revealed that although most Australians believe world peace to be a distant goal, they believe it can be achieved by demonstrating religious and cultural tolerance in everyday life. This religious and cultural tolerance adopted by Australians every day will be the inspiration behind the World Peace Forum to be held at Darling Harbour on March 29th.

As one of the world's few true multi-cultural societies Australians from all communities, faiths and walks of life live peacefully side-by-side every day. Why is this not possible on a larger scale? As Margaret Mead said (and 44% of Australians agreed): "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has".

Only 18% of Australians defined 'peace' as the absence of violent conflict, whereas 82% defined it as a much more holistic state of well-being encompassing compassion, justice, inner peace and relationships with other cultures, life and the environment.

The Forum will therefore bring together religious leaders, politicians, environmental and humanitarian speakers from Australia and around the world to communicate practical solutions we can adopt in everyday life to help to overcome the current peace crisis and realise a state of peacefulness in everyday life.

Presented by the humanitarian organization, Yoga in Daily Life and its founder Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swamiji), the Forum represents the Asia Pacific version of the first World Peace Forum held in Vienna in October 2002 attended by two thousand participants from 40 countries.

Speakers are all respected international and Australian leaders from the social, environmental, humanitarian, spiritual & indigenous communities, drawn together to acknowledge unity in diversity and to determine the necessary steps forward for a peaceful and sustainable world.

His Excellency Most Reverend William Morris, Catholic Bishop of Toowoomba; Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, Spiritual Leader & Founder of Yoga in Daily Life; Monsignor David Cappo, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide; Imam Sheikh Mansour Leghaei, Director of Imam Husain Islamic Centre Australia; Sri Bawa Jain, Secretary General of the World Council of Religious Leaders; Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp (Netherlands), founding member of Green Cross International and Lama Choedek Rinpoche (Tibetan Buddhist Master).

The Forum is an accredited event by The Earth Charter, a United Nations backed blueprint for world peace, developed over ten years, that involves thousands of people worldwide. At the Forum, opinion leaders from participating communities will bring the principles from The Earth Charter to life, applying their wisdom to build practical steps towards world peace. All participants will be offered the opportunity to create the Resolution for Unity - a resolution that will be delivered to Canberra after the Forum.

All proceeds from ticket sales help to offset the cost of bringing the World Peace Forum to Australia. For tickets and more information call 02 9518-7788 or visit www.worldpeaceforum.org.au

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