FABC News
Support the Interfaith Paris Climate Statement
On 10 November, the signatures on the COP22 Interfaith Statement will be delivered at handover event and the COP22 President has been invited to receive it. In addition to eminent faith leaders signing the Statement, we are also inviting all people of faith and goodwill to sign to show their support to our Statement. Add your voice to show your support of this important statement.More information can be found at www.interfaithstatement2016.org
Condolences on the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
17 October 2016
His Excellency Mr Chirachai Punkrasin
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Royal Thai Embassy
111 Empire circuit
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Dear Ambassador,
Please accept the sincere and heartfelt condolences on the passing of King Bhumibol from all member groups and members of The Federation of Buddhist Councils of Australia.
His Majesty King Bhumibol was a great leader of Thailand and the Thai people for seven decades, and used his compassion and wisdom and great leadership skills combined with Buddhist principles to guide the Nation through many challenges. He will surely be deeply missed.
We fellow Buddhists from all traditions in Australia, have deep faith that these guiding principles of Buddha’s teachings will endure and continue to light the way of the future for His Majesty’s successor.
As you know, there are strong links between people of all faiths in both our countries, but especially within the Buddhist communities, and ethnic Thai communities living in Australia, where exist many long and deep ties which will continue always.
May the memory of the excellent qualities of His Majesty warm our hearts into the future.
Yours faithfully,
(signed)
Cecilia Mitra (LLB Singapore, LLM UWA)
President
Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils Inc.
e:
w: www.buddhistcouncil.org.au
Statement on the Proposed Plebiscite on Same Sex Marriage (SSM)
The FABC does not support the Proposed Plebiscite on SSM.
The Federal Parliament already has the Constitutional mandate to legalise SSM as per the 2013 High Court Decision of The Commonwealth of Australia v The Australian Capital Territory [2013] HCA 55. Hence a plebiscite is not necessary.
The FABC’s position is that marriage between two consenting adults is a basic human right.
The FABC is of the view that holding a plebiscite on SSM will bring more pain and suffering to the LGBTI community based on a similar experience in the Republic of Ireland. Holding a plebiscite on SSM would be providing a platform for the incitement of more discrimination against the LGBTI community.
For the reasons stated above, it would be according to the teachings of the Buddha that such a plebiscite would be unethical.
Statement on section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act
The FABC does not support Senator Cori Bernardi’s proposal to amend section18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.
18c relates only to race and not religion and should not be watered down to remove the words “insult or offend”. One has no choice in the color of his/her skin, race, ethnicity or origin and should be protected by the law against harmful or hurtful speech and not merely hate speech that is directed to race.
We are the view that section18c in its original form is a good law and should remain unamended. Whilst it prevents bigotry against race (something a person cannot change), it protects freedom of speech against unacceptable religious practices.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT 1975 - SECT 18C
Offensive behaviour because of race, colour or national or ethnic origin
(1) It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group.
Buddhist Life Stories of Australia - Project Completed!
The FABC is a proud supporter of this project which was a video snapshot of Buddhism in Australia. Please click here to watch video interviews of some of the major Buddhist personalities of Australia. These videos were conducted by Deakin University. Project by Dr Anna Halafoff, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and project co-workers Edwin and Praveena. Camera & Editing by Freeman Trebilcock.
Census Night - Tuesday the 9th August
Tuesday the 9th of August 2016 is Census night in Australia. The Census provides a snapshot of the nation at that point in time. It collects vital information on the social, economic and housing characteristics of everyone in Australia.
It is important for all Buddhists that we tick the right box under religious affiliation rather than the “no religion” box. The benefits we receive from the government in terms of funding etc. will ultimately depend on our numbers. If we can still continue as the largest minority religion, we will be more likely to be heard by the government.
The website to go to for details is as follows;
www.census.abs.gov.au and the phone number to call is 1300 214 531 (toll free).
Please see below for a link to how-to videos in languages such as English, Vietnamese, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese:
https://www.youtube.com/user/CensusAustralia/videos