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On Monday, 21st September 2015, COMMON (Centre of Melbourne Multifaith & Others Network) supported by WIN (Womens Interfaith Network) Foundation and Youth For Human Rights gathered at the Church of Scientology, Melbourne to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. Over 150 attendees from various religious, faith and human rights groups attended the event. The theme for this year’s International Day of Peace was ‘Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for all.’

Vegetarian Lunch was served at 11.30am. At Noon, a gong was struck leading to a one-minute silence to commemorate the event.

Master of Ceremonies Gareth Evans acknowledged the original inhabitants of the land, the Kulin Nations and introduced the entertainment segment.

Australian superstar: Kate Ceberano sang three songs of peace. Strongest ingredient for Peace is Love. Kate spoke briefly - Peace within first is most important. That brings peace around you.

Jessiee Singh the President of COMMON addressed the audience and spoke of the challenges towards world peace and the need for continual effort on the part of all towards world peace as one community of humanity and also within each faith group gathering. A special gift of a garden plant was then given to Kate Ceberano and her two group members who are volunteers in the Scientology movement.

Jamel Kaur-Singh and Abe Schwartz represented the Aboriginal peoples by talking about and paying their respects to former President of COMMON, Reg Blow, who passed away two years ago.

Various videos were screened by Elana Saks, the representative of Youth for Human Rights International on the subject of Human Rights and also the role played by the Church of Scientology in Human Rights endeavours globally.

Faith Offerings: Faith representatives made religious offerings from their faiths Some touched on the role of education towards peace and initiatives within their faith groups towards world peace.

Faith (and non-faith leaders) inluded: Christian – Frank Di Blasi, Bahai – Faezah Parkes, Hinduism – Nawal Noel Moudgil, Human Rights - Elana Saks, Humanist – John Russel, Islam – Imam Mohsin Mohammed, Judaism – Abraham Schwartz, Scientology – Glenda Walsh, Sikh – Dya Singh, Zoroastrian – Dilnaaz Billimoria

2015 Power of Peace Awards were bestowed to the following for volunteer work towards human rights, peace and multicultural harmony: Dr. Berhan Ahmed – African Think Tank, Maria Jeffries – Planetary Healing Artists Association, Deepak Vinayak – South Asia Community Link Group, Rev. Phuoc Than – Quang Minh Temple, Satinder Kaur – United Voice of Australia, Gurinder Singh – Australian Multicultural organisation, Andrew Gason – Careers World, Pam Mamouney – Casey Multi-Faith Network, Kalpana Trivedi – Brahma Kumaris, Dilnaaz Bilimoria – Whitehorse Interfath Network, Yasseen Musa – African Australian Multicultural Youth Service, Berhaan Jaber – Eritrian Australian Humanitarian Aid, Dr. Sonia Singh – South Asia Community Link Group – Youth Ambassador, Nawal Kishore Moudgil – Sangam Kala Group, Hari Yellina – Festivals of South Asia, Frank De Blasi – Moonee Valley Interfaith Network, Rehmat Mohammed – Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Victoria, Bom Yonzon – Nepalese Association of Vic., Ellana Saks – Youth for Human Rights, Alhadi Abbas - Dr. Dinesh Sood - Indian Senior Citizens Association, Bhagat Kawal Singh – Indian Senior Citizens Association, Katrina Horvath – Volunteer Minister Disaster Response Team

The children attending then came in and showed off pictures about world peace they had drawn and spoke individually of salient features of peace like Harmony, Love, Compassion, Equality and so on.

The proceedings ended by a rendition of a Multichant – various chants from various faith groups. The attendees then filed outside to release white doves to signify peace for all humanity.

The use of premises and also logistical support from the Church of Scientology is gratefully acknowledged.

Report by, Jamel Kaur and Dya Singh, Centre of Melbourne Multifaith & Others Network