The challenge to Parliament participants: "Pay more attention"

New Thought News Service


Climate change, discrimination, the protection of sacred places, cultures, languages, human remains and artifacts, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the doctrine of Christian discovery.
These were top concerns among leaders of the world's indigenous people, who gathered for a first-ever, day-long international indigenous assembly held as part of the Parliament activities this week.
Nearly two dozen of the leaders appeared on stage during the closing ceremony to present a statement regarding their role as traditional stewards of land and resources and to support action out of the Copenhagen climate change summit.

Issues facing indigenous people were a strong and consistent theme throughout Parliament talks and presentations this week. Aboriginal, Native American and other indigenous populations were represented in workshops, performances and the large ceremonies that took place each evening.
"They have gained energy" by coming together, Joy Murphy Wandin, a Wurundjeri elder, told attendees at the closing ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
Bob Randall, an Aboriginal elder taken from his parents during a period of Australia's heaviest discriminatory action against its indigenous population, advised attendees at the closing ceremony to practice right and environmentally sound living.
"You are walking the wrong way" otherwise, he said. "I'm asking you to reassess."
The note sounded by the indigenous leaders was echoed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
"If we are relying for some answer on material things ... you can't solve these problems," he said. "We are facing some moral crisis."
All of the spiritual traditions represented at the Parliament have answers for the world, he said, drawing laughs when he noted that his Christian friends consider him a good Christian while he thinks of them as good Buddhists.

And the issues raised by the indigenous leaders want attention, he said.
"Now, I have some small feeling you should take a more active role ... You should pay more attention after this meeting."
Here's the Parliament by the numbers drawn from the closing ceremony talks:

• More than 16,000: years the Aboriginal people have lived in the area of what is now known as Melbourne
• 2014: the year of the next Parliament; the location hasn't yet been determined
• More than 1,500: number of presenters at the Parliament
• 662: programs presented
• 550: volunteers who staffed booths, answered questions and helped with workshops and programs
• 248: nations represented among Melbourne's residents
• 235: languages among the city's residents

"Let there be peace behind you, peace before you, peace all around you," Wandin said, blessing Parliament attendees at the close of the event. "May we walk in peace."


Samoan dancers take part in a workshop during the Parliament. New Thought News Service photos.