Leaders at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions Offer Urgent Call for the Amazon
On Wednesday 16 August 2023, the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative and the Parliament of the World’s Religions hosted a critical discussion on Indigenous peoples, their spiritualities and the shared moral responsibility across faiths to protect the Amazon and the rights and cultures of Indigenous peoples and traditional communities at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago.
Moderated by Lewis Cardinal and Zaya Guarani, this assembly featured keynotes from some of the most prominent Indigenous leaders of the Amazon sharing the urgent call to protect the forest and the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples, as well as highlighting the vital role of multilateral interfaith action to support the critical and often dangerous work of the leaders of the Amazon.
Explore the Main Stage Sessions at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions
At the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions, the voices of local and global luminaries answered the call to conscience to defend freedom and human rights as part of our Main Stage programming.
Hear keynotes from luminaries like Mayor Brandon Johnson, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Rev. William Barber II; enjoy performances from diverse cultures and inspiring ceremonies addressing the critical issues facing our world.
Media Coverage of 2023 Parliament Shares Call to Conscience to 2.5 Billion
Seen and covered across the world, the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions captivated the news and religion sections of powerful news brands as a global media event. The internationally reaching print and online stories for newspaper, TV and radio saw reporters covering for distinguished news names bring 2023 Parliament to platforms including the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Washington Post, Religion News Service and prestigious national and religious media from Chicago Tribune to the The Times of India.
Special Feature | A Call to be Vigilant: The Reverend James Lawson’s Message for Defending Human Rights and Freedom
by Prof. Veena R. Howard, Ph.D. Professor of Asian Religious Traditions in the Department of Philosophy at California State University, Fresno, she also holds the Endowed Chair in Jain and Hindu Dharma.
The late Congressman John Lewis offered the highest praise to the Reverend James M. Lawson, Jr. when he called him the “architect of nonviolent movement of the United States of America.” In a recent conversation with me, the Reverend Lawson reflected on the focus of the 2023 Parliament, “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights.”
Lawson praised the Parliament for this theme, which calls on people of faith [and no faith] traditions to defend precious freedom and human rights. He told me that in the United States, securing freedom and basic human rights required hard work, sacrifice, and millions of Americans’ defiance of the racist Jim Crow laws and other xenophobic and sexist systems. He reminds people to remain alert of the insidious structures of violence, what he calls, “racism, sexism, militarism, and plantation capitalism,” which hold the power to deprive fellow humans of their rights, dignity, and freedom.
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