Conference Program

The conference will include five affiliated events.  A summary of the conference program is provided in Appendix 1.

1. Interfaith Awareness Youth Camp

Youths from various faiths will be invited to participate in a five-day camp from October 27^th to 31^st 2013.  The focus will be on young men and women between 18 and 30 years who are actively engaged as social activists, community leaders, and religious teachers and practitioners.  The objectives of the youth camp are to create awareness about global issues of common concern and shared values and to develop relationships that can support further collaboration and action.  The young participants will be encouraged to take an active role in the main conference events.

2. Buddhist Muslim Study Tour

Two exposure trips will be organized on October 30^th and 31^st.  The first trip will be to Kelantan, an area that has been ruled by an Islamic party for over 15 years, but provides an excellent example of Islamic governance and inter-faith cooperation.  The second trip will be to the Malaysia?s administrative capital in Putrajaya to meet with representatives from the Department of National Unity and learn about their strategies and programs.

3. Buddhist Muslim Collaboration Platform

On November 1^st, the program will focus specifically on Buddhist-Muslim relations.  It will build on the 2006 Dusit Declaration and result in a clear plan of action with mechanisms for future collaboration. From the results of the Dusit Declaration thus far, it is recognized that a platform is required to build and strengthen relationships between the Buddhist and the Muslims. A platform is needed for the Buddhist and Muslims to collaborate and communicate towards resolving conflicts and building long term mutual understanding and respect to ensure peace and sustainability. This platform will also be a focal point for the development of greater understanding and appreciation of each other?s cultures.

Therefore, a Buddhist-Muslim Collaboration Platform (BMCP) will be initiated by INEB and JUST prior to the conference. Regional Buddhist and Muslim organizations will be invited to be part of the BMCP. High level meetings will be held with representatives of the organizations to drive the formation of an executive committee to plan and decide on the activities of the platform. The first day of the INEB conference will be dedicated to the launching of this platform by inviting Muslim and Buddhist leaders as well as renowned thinkers to participate in a series of talks and forums.

It is proposed that this event be held in InstitutKefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM). The event starts with a welcome by INEB and JUST followed by keynote speeches. At the end of the speeches will officially launch of the the Buddhist-Muslim Collaboration Platform (BMCP) and INEB Conference 2013.

After the official launch, a press conference will be held follow by followed a interfaith panel & dialogue entitled ?Towards Global Peace and Sustainability, The Spiritual Contribution?. Proposed Speakers will consist of DatukVaithilingam (Hindu Sangam), Archbishop of Penang (Archbishop Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam), Chandra Muzzafar, SulakSivaraksa, and Jagir Singh (Malaysian Gurdwaras Council).

Following the dialogue, representatives of the Buddhist community will join the Muslims at the mosque for joint prayers. The Muslims will perform Solat and the Buddhists will sit with them, practicing Metta meditation. This breaks new ground in showing that prayers of different faiths can be held together in harmony.

Whilst the joint prayers are ongoing, the participants of the INEB Conference will leave for FoGuang Shan for a temple introduction and orientation. The participants will then be transported back to IKIM for the public forum.

4. INEB 2013 Inter-Faith Dialog for Peace and Sustainability

The Inter-Faith Dialog for Peace and Sustainability will be held November 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th 2013.  This biennial event will be expanded to invite muslim and other faiths to participate actively in the program. This event will be organized around key INEB program areas and will provide an opportunity for working groups to provide updates, get input, and expand outreach.  The INEB biennial conference provides an opportunity to look beyond regional politics to see issues of common concern and opportunities for collaboration and exchange.

The program schedule is given in Appendix 1.  The event will open with a keynote speaker and a panel on inter-faith dialog and collaboration.  Potential speakers include Lodi Gyari Rinpoche, the Archbishop of Malaysia, SurinPitsuwan, and AshishNandy.   The afternoon and evening sessions on the first and second day will be used for parallel sessions on issues of common concern.  The same topics will be repeated both days so participants have the opportunity to join more than one.  Suggested topics include:

• Planet, People and Profit: Business for a New Economy
• Tradition and Modernity: Spirituality and Religion in a Changing World
• Conflict Transformation
• Faith, Climate, and Ecology: Inter-Faith Response to Climate Change
• Responses to Nuclear and Alternative Energy
• The Pursuit of Happiness: Policy for Wellbeing and ?Gross National Happiness?
• Loneliness, Illness and Death: Spiritual Guidance for Challenging Times
• Half the Sky: Women in Society

< li>Yuppie, Hippie, Dropout: Young Leaders Making New Paths

• Eating is a Religious Act: Mindfulness and Food Systems
• Spiritual Arts

A talk entitled Islam In South East Asia will be conducted on the night of the second day and a Cultural Performance and Exchange will be held on the third night.

The Fourth day starts with a World Caf in the main hall, which is a informal non-structured relaxed open ended discussion regarding topics of the participants choosing and with whom they choose to engage. This is followed by a free and easy discussion where participants can choose to bring up and present to everyone any topic of their choosing and persuade the audience to join his/her discussion. A session for ideas on the collaborative platform will also be held. All participants will then come back together for a facilitated sharing and summary session and a closing ceremony.

5. INEB Advisory Committee and Executive Committee Meeting

The INEB AC and EC meeting will be held November 5^th 2013.  Current AC and EC members will review reports from 2013 and budgets and plans for 2014 and discuss a 5 year strategy for strengthening INEB regional networks, program activities and inter-faith partnerships.