Asia’s Religious leaders urge Religions to teach peace

(Oct.23, 2008):Religious leaders from 25 countries in Asia and around the Pacific Ocean, ended their five-day assembly in Manila – the capital of the Philippines, by outlining concerns related to peace in the region, and actions they could pursue in their countries. The five-page declaration approved by the Seventh Assembly of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP), encouraged members to visit places hit by war and disaster, and to assist in reconciliation efforts. The assembly proposed a United Nations Decade of Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation, and urged members of the regional conference to call on their governments to support the initiative at the U.N. General Assembly. Of about 400 participants in the Oct. 17-21 assembly, 124 were official delegates of principal religious communities in Asia, including Buddhists,Christians,Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Shintoists. The theme of the Assembly was “Peace making in Asia”.
Speakers cited the need to build greater understanding among Asia's many religions. Indian Archbishop Felix Machado of Nashik, Maharashtra State,and former undersecretary at the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, in his keynote speech said : “Lack of dialogue results in religious conflict or prejudice. The world ardently desires peace," said the Indian prelate, in whose country, tens of thousands of people have been displaced because of conflicts along religious lines in recent years. "No conflict or war should ever be engendered by religion or faith," said Archbishop Machado, stressing that the parties involved need to develop "new energies for peace."
The Assembly’s final declaration urged members to undertake and support peace education in schools and religious formation institutions. It encouraged members to call on their respective governments to sign the global treaty against cluster bombs and to further support nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament efforts toward a nuclear-weapon-free world by 2020.

ACRP, founded in Singapore in 1976, seeks understanding among followers of various religions in Asia, and promotes peace, justice and human dignity through cooperation. It is the regional affiliate of the World Conference of Religions for Peace and holds assemblies every five years from its establishment through 2006.