There are people in both camps – those who believe that we will not achieve the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) by the set target of 2015, and those who believe we can. But overwhelming was the commitment by the individuals and the NGOs (Non Government Organizations) at this conference, that whether we meet these goals or not, we should not give up trying.

I learned much from my two days at this United Nations conference. I experienced both worry and hope – worry that poverty and climate change are not being addressed enough by the governments of our world, and yet hope that we, as individuals and as part of NGOs, can indeed make a difference. It is so important that we hang on to that hope and continue to work and move forward.

There were two sorts of sessions that ran at the conference. The first was a ‘round table’ – a panel of experts on a particular topic of discussion who addressed the conference en masse and responded to questions from the floor. The second type of session was the workshops. These took place in the smaller rooms of the Melbourne Convention Centre and you could attend the ones whose topic of discussion interested you most, again hearing from a panel and having the opportunity to ask questions.

One round table talked of the collection and use of data – how is it best gathered and how can it be used most effectively. Whilst the data was usually collected with the cooperation of the communities that require the study and the aid, these communities were growing tired of data being collected and then not acted upon, or for it to be acted upon without their consultation. Many speakers at the conference said that the data is useful, but unless a plan of action is developed in conjunction with the local community and its leaders, then the research can be poorly interpreted and the aid misdirected. Working with the people and empowering them to make the change was a message that came through loud and clear during this conference.

Most governments the world over committed to seeing the MDGs achieved and yet not all have followed up on their commitment; not all government aid has gone through, and the international community is not insisting on this or the correct distribution of aid to the people living under corrupt governments. This is a real concern and is why the NGOs play such a pivotal role. They are the people on the ground working with communities in need, to ensure that aid and support are getting through. Government aid is essential. NGOs carrying out this work (installing fresh water sources, building schools, educating the communities on good health and hygiene) are essential and need our ongoing support.

One workshop I attended looked at youth engagement and involvement. A panel of young people spoke about their own experience in NGOs, how young people can be effectively involved, and why it is so important for young people to be part of this work and these organizations. Nick, representing the Oaktree Foundation, spoke about ‘youth-led action’ and how young people need to be equipped to be successful in this field; young people need to be given the skills to do this work – how to coordinate a campaign, how to fundraise, manage funds, etc. – and that this needs to be deliberate and will require some time investment. He discussed the benefits for the organization of having young people on board. Nick spoke about the passion and ambition young people bring to a campaign. Their big dreams and their willingness to take risks can truly bring about great change in our world. Nick described it as ‘Passion, anger and urgency’ that fuel young people in such work, and all of these things can be wonderful assets to an organization if they are utilized and directed. Young people are responsible for developing and continuing work of the Oaktree Foundation, the Make Poverty History campaign and Youth Empowerment against HIV/AIDS (Y.E.A.H), They can also be valuable in established organizations run by older people. The panel stressed that the role of a young person in an NGO must not be token but valued and utilized if that young person is to be engaged committed for a period of time. The importance of young people in NGOs is apparent for the present and the future.

Attending this conference increased my awareness of the inequity in our world. It astounds me that global spending on warfare is $1.46 trillion annually, whilst the cost to achieve the MDGs is $135 billion. It is shocking that children continue to die from easily treatable illnesses like diarrhea because their community has no access to hospital. And the horrifying fact that every minute, 6 more young people will become infected with HIV because the education needed for individuals and communities to prevent spread of this disease is not available More funding and advocacy are needed if such statistics are to be decreased. How can we make a difference? Firstly, we need to be aware. Then we can petition our governments, donate to NGOs and volunteer with them. With everyone making even a small difference, together we can move closer to achieving those important goals.

The Parliament of World Religions was held in Melbourne, Australia, December 3-9. It was an exciting and exotic experience. In addition, it was also inspiring.

This Parliament originated at the Chicago Exposition in 1896. It did not meet during the two World Wars. It has begun to meet every 5 years, more recently in Barcelona and in South Africa. The purpose is to stimulate inter-religious cooperation to deal with the issues facing the planet and the poor. The meetings, covering the first week of December, took place in the enormous Melbourne Exposition Center.

The Opening Ceremony was a kaleidoscope of colour, sound and music as 12 major religion groups presented their thoughts, prayers and blessing for the work of the Parliament all in their own style, costume; some by word, others, song  and/or movement. The framework was provided by the Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra and 150 strong chorus with music. The indigenous instrument the didgeridoo gave it a clear Australian  indigenous flavour.

We were “welcomed to country” in a beautiful ceremony by Aboriginal elder Professor June Murphy Wandin with her little granddaughter, in her role as the senior woman of the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of the land on which the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne now stands. We were prayed over by rabbis, bishops, priests and shamans, Hindu, Muslim, Shinto and Zoroastrian leaders and challenged by several Keynote addresses to seize the moment and take up our responsibility for the earth and its poor. As was pointed out several times in the next week, our generation is the first to be able to consciously shape the course of the development of the world, & this planet.

Up till now we have been passengers in the evolutionary process and in global development. But now we can take an active role in shaping the whole process and with that comes responsibility to all its creatures to assist the growth of all creatures and species to their fullness. This is the “Great Work” of which Passionist Ecologian Thomas Berry spoke and wrote so passionately. Several Panels and workshops focused on Berry’s message and significance at this time of global crisis as we struggle to become “a communion of subjects rather than a collection of objects”.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) featured strongly in workshops and panels. In the year 2000 all member states of the UN pledged themselves to use these practical goals to break the hold of extreme poverty and want on the lives of billions of people. The target date for reaching these Goals is 2015. More than half way through the timeline, many of these goals look like not being met. So poverty, infant and maternal death, lack of opportunity for children to go to school, the continued spread of malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS, increasing environmental degradation and insufficient commitment to a global partnership to pay for and meet these goals. Religions and religious traditions were called by the Parliament to take a more active role in making it clear that poverty is not an accident, but is the result of faulty decisions based on greed and selfishness.  To learn more of the MDG http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals 

It was truly inspiring to see a vast array of diverse religious groups seriously working together in a cooperative and respectful manner for the good of the earth. Concerns about food and water scarcity, and the impact of climate change and extreme weather on brothers and sisters forced to live in poverty were made so explicit. There was a palpable concern and mutual respect for each other’s efforts. Seeing and hearing the world in all its colour and wonderful diversity was a powerful parable of how religion and spiritual belief can be a force for good in our troubled world.  

Throughout the duration of the Parliament groups of Buddhist Monks gathered all day in the foyer to sing, chant, drum or meditate. We were invited to drop in on them at any time– a reminder that there is interior work to be done.

As the fruit of the sharing, many resolutions to be brought to our governments and to the United Nations were forged from our shared religious convictions and our commitment to the Earth as our common heritage and our mother.