In the lead-up to the Parliament, a pre-Parliamentary event for Sydney was held on Sunday 2 August at Old Government House, Australia’s oldest public building, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
This event offered a taste of the Parliament experience in a festive atmosphere.Members or all faiths and none were invited to take part.
PROGRAM
10.00am Fasting and Feasting: A forum organized by the Faith and Ecology Network
Fasting is common in most religions. In a time where climate change is telling us that the Earth has had enough of excessive consumption, how we fast and feats takes us to the heart of the key themes of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in a practical and personal way.
FEN is a Sydney based network of people from different faith traditions who are interested in faith and ecology
12.00 noon Sacred Music concert
Featuring accomplished performers from several traditions
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| Dahlia Dior is a singer of enormous vitality and energy, whose unique vocal talents have gained her international acclaim. Dahlia trained at London’s Royal Academy and La Fayette in Paris, and is equally proficient in concert hall or intimate cabaret. | Leo Novikov studied violin in Russia. As a member of one of the world’s best orchestra – the Moscow Philharmonic – Leo performed in the most prestigious concert halls with internationally acclaimed musicians. | Sydney born Helena Sindelar has an extensive career, having performed both in Sydney and around the world with featured performances in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lucerne, Interlaken, Paris, England and Wales with a broad variety of companies and venues such as La Madeleine in Paris, Canterbury Cathedral, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney's State Theatre, Angel Place, Sydney Town Hall, Modus Operandi, Opus Minor in their successful “Opera in the Pub” series and The Opera and Arts Support Group. |
1.15 pm Vegetarian Lunch
2.00 pm Forum: Making a World of Difference: Hearing Each Other, Healing the Earth
Chaired by Dr Rachael Kohn (The Spirit of Things, ABC Radio National), the forum included:
* Welcome to Country
* Introduction to the Parliament by the Revd Dirk Ficca, Executive Director of the Parliament of the World’s Religions
* Keynote address by Professor Larissa Behrendt, Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, UTS Sydney
* Young people’s inter-faith panel, chaired by Dr Rachael Kohn, discussed the key topics of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.
* Musical performance
