TAIPEI, Taiwan - Over 60 religious and cultural leaders representing 34 countries will meet today in Taiwan to discuss how to take a more active and rigorous role in protecting religious sites. The International Conference on the Preservation of Sacred Sites coincides with the opening of the Museum of World Religions, a museum dedicated to increasing understanding of all the world's religions.
"Our aim in hosting this International Conference is to bring to life the museum's mission of promoting respect, tolerance and love among people. The museum can be a catalyst for inter-religious action and education throughout the world," noted Dharma Master Hsin Tao, founder of the Museum of World Religions. "An activist inter-religious approach to protect religious sites is essential if we are to prevent violence and intolerance in societies."
The International Conference to take place at the Grand Hotel in Taipei on November 9 and 10 will address such issues as:
* How can the world community respond to early warning signs that sites may at risk?
* When sites are destroyed, what should be the response from religious and cultural leaders?
* How can a network be formed to prevent destruction of sites?
* How can steps be taken to mobilize religious leaders to support the rebuilding of a site which is sacred to another religion?
For the International Conference, the Museum commissioned an independent study detailing the problem of destruction of religious sites. According the study, 350 churches, mosques, temples and synagogues have been destroyed or attacked in the past three years in 55 countries. It is a problem that transcends regions, nationalities, and religious affiliation and often serves as a barometer of social unrest and discord in the country.
Bawa Jain, Secretary-General of the Millennium World Peace Summit and a partner with the Museum in launching this conference noted, "Religious leaders have tremendous influence in their communities. We need to harness this influence for stronger interfaith efforts that can be mobilized to protect religious sites."
Among the participants at the conference, are:
Abdul Rahman Al-Aifan, Director, World Muslin League, Saudi Arabia
Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, President, European Council of Rabbis', The Netherlands
Archbishop Yephrem Tabakian, Armenian Catholicosate, Lebanon
Sri Sri Swami Dayananda Sarawati Ji, Arsha Vidya Gurukula, India
Father Maximillian Mizzi, The International Franciscan Center for Dialogue, Italy
John Stubbs, Vice President, World Monument Fund, United States
Larry Sullivan, Director, Center for the Study of World Religions,
Harvard University Divinity School, United States<
Dr. Domminique Ponnau, Director of the L'Ecole du Louvre, France
Mr. ML Mittal, Chairman, Hindus Leaders Forum, United Kingdom
Mr. Ifet Mustafic, Inter-religious Relations, Islamic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Conference plans to issue a declaration at the conclusion of the meeting on Saturday, November 10.
Contact:Millicent White
Ruder Finn
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