| |
Global Action in Melbourne, Australia
Centre for Dialogue
The Centre, founded in 2005, fosters interaction and dialogue between organisations representing diverse religious traditions, professional associations and non-governmental organisations more generally, research institutions, think-tanks, and representatives of key constituencies, including government, industry and international organisations (e.g. World Bank, WTO, UNDP, UNHCR other UN agencies, EU, ASEAN).
The Centre for Dialogue, in close consultation with other institutions, seeks to establish a multi-nodal Global Network for Dialogue, with Melbourne as one of its central nodes. The basic idea is that a global network be formed, comprised of partner organisations, principally research institutes and university-based centres. This is the long-term aim, but collaboration is beginning between institutions and individuals located in such centres as Naples, Oxford, Heidelberg, Moscow, Hawaii, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Shanghai, Nagoya, Tehran, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Athens and Nicosia.
The Centre is also currently in the planning stages of a two year-project jointly run with the Hiroshima Peace Institute on creating a dialogue on differing views about nuclear weapons policies.
Professor Joseph Camilleri is Director of the Centre for Dialogue, and is also a member of the International Steering Committee of Global Action to Prevent War.
 The Centre for Dialogue embodies and strives for the following:
• To operate in an inter-cultural (exploring a great many religious and cultural traditions) and inter-disciplinary way (bringing together the insights of many disciplines, including cultural studies, religious studies, education, international relations, sociology, law, philosophy, history, and economics).
• Community development and empowerment nurtured by the application of the dialogue method across ethnic, religious and cultural divisions;
• Educational projects (designed to promote the philosophy, practice and method of dialogue and better understanding of different societies, cultures and faiths in schools and institutions of higher and continuing education);
• Pure and applied research of international standing that addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by cultural, religious and political diversity and conflict – locally, nationally, regionally and globally;
• International networking, exchanges and co-operative projects, with an emphasis on Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, China and Southeast Asia;
• Policy advice to community organisations, governmental bodies, and international agencies. |
|
Projects that have been running for some little time include:
• Australia 's handling of tensions between Islam and the West since September 11
• Religion and Conflict: implications for Southeast Asia and Australia
• Schools Dialogue Project (which has as its core a pilot scheme involving 6 to 8 schools) designed to assist teachers to develop study programs and extra-curricular activities informed by the dialogue method and multicultural values
• A series of consultations and workshops involving key sectors of the community, including educators, religious and community organisations, and media
• La Trobe Cyprus Project (fostering interaction between the two Cypriot communities). |
|
For further information contact:
Dr. Michális S. Michael
Tel: 61 + 3 + 9479 2140
Email: m.michael@latrobe.edu.au
~Information and photographs provided by Benjamin Zala.
|
