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Peace and Security Cluster, 7 Sept. 2004 Asia-Europe People's Forum.
DIALOGUE OF CIVILISATIONS, CULTURES AND RELIGIONS IN EUROPE AND ASIA
Background
In the past Asia-Europe People's Fora, the subject of spiritualities and identities was
introduced as an additional important dimension in the Asia-Europe dialogue. More
particularly in Seoul (2000), it was taken up in relation to globalization, or more
precisely as a reaction to the single, dominant thinking imposed by economic and
financial globalization, pushing forward the importance of the human dimension and
the diversity of cultures and approaches.
For the Forum in Hanoi, the organizers propose to continue with the reflection and
debate with a workshop on Dialogue of civilizations, cultures and religions in Europe
and Asia. The reality of this question has always been present in Asian and European
societies and it has become all the more central with 9-11 and its aftermath, whereby
the demonization of Islam, and the US' war on terror has had grave consequences on
people's lives in Asia and Europe.
However, we who are involved in the different struggles for social transformation
should look at the dialogue of civilizations not only as an approach to resolving inter-ethnic
or inter-religious conflicts, nor to simply limit or prevent war. It goes further
as it looks into the real causes of such conflicts on the one hand, and into constructing
a new vision and a new humanity on the other, nourished by historical experiences
and diverse approaches.
Its basis is the diversity of cultures wherein dialogue contains more than simply
talking to each other. It means there is not one dominant civilization. It looks at
particular identities but also at the essence of global humankind. It comes within the
universal aspiration for peace and security; but it also means the diversity and
complementarity of approaches, concrete responses. As civilizations refer to groups
of people who share certain ways of organizing their societies, this dialogue cannot
ignore people’s struggles against poverty and exclusion.
Suggested topics
First Part
Towards clash, exclusion or dialogue?
(Topics for discussion: Religious fundamentalism and relationship with the economic
interests of global finance and markets ; ethnic and religious conflicts, and preventive
war on terror; militarization and the so-called clash of civilizations; responses
against racism and exclusion)
Second Part
Cultural diversities and globalization : responses at national,
regional and Euro-Asian levels
(Topics for discussion: challenges, threats posed by cultural differences and
identities in the era of globalization; relations between minority and dominant
cultures for peace and security for all; the positive contribution of Euro-Asian
relations and the particular role of migrants)
Speakers
Chandra Muzaffar (JUST, Malaysia)
Duong Trung Quoc (Vietnam Historical Science Association, Vietnam)
John Brinkman (Maryknoll UN ECOSOC NGO, Japan)
Francois Houtart (Centre Tricontinental, Belgium)
Alim Bandara (Timuay Justice and Governance, Philippines)
Effendie Tanumihardja (Yogyakarta Interfaith Forum, Indonesia)
Minata Samake (OMRI, France)
Nyima Tsering (China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, China)
Commentator
Gothom Arya (Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, Thailand)
Moderator
Stephanus Djuweng (Union for the Empowerment of the Dayak Peoples, Indonesia)
Report of the workshop
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