Source: Worldwide Faith News
http://www.wfn.org/2007/05/msg00255.html
The 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions will be an international interreligious gathering spanning seven nights and six days from December 3rd to 9th - bringing together an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 persons.
The city of Melbourne, Australia has been selected to host the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions.
A multi-religious, multi-lingual, and multicultural city, Melbourne is an ideal place to hold the world's largest interreligious gathering. Culturally vibrant, Melbourne and Victoria are home to indigenous and aboriginal spiritualities, as well as diverse world religious and spiritual traditions, including Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian.
Since September 11, 2001, Australia has committed to further an inter-religious and multicultural social agenda.
Melbourne has demonstrated collaboration among its religious communities through inter-religious councils, school programs, and solidarity in times of stress and crisis. Melbourne has formed a council that works to ensure ongoing collaboration between religious leaders and police.