Join the South-East Asia Regional Symposium 2023

In parallel with the in-person 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago this August 14-18th, a series of hybrid online and in-person sessions have been organized specifically for faith communities in South-East Asia. The South-East Asia Regional Symposium 2023 addresses the theme of “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights” and will also contribute to informing the future engagements of the Parliament of World’s Religions.

Schedule for the Symposium, Central Standard Time:

7:00-7:15pm | Opening + Prayer

7:15-8:00pm | Session 1: Medical Care for Vulnerable Populations

Session Description: Access to quality medical care is a major issue for vulnerable populations in South and East Asia and around the world. In this session, panelists will discuss medical access and technology for vulnerable populations in the region, including senior citizens, Rohinga refugees, and refugee populations in Thailand.

8:00-8:10pm | Break

8:10-9:00pm | Session 2: New Technologies and Human Rights

Session description: Advancements in technology often have a profound impact on the development of human society. On the one hand, automation and improved technologies increase productivity and facilitate the production of goods and services. On the other hand, it might remove job opportunities, aggravate inequalities and injustices, and affect social stability.

A recent such potentially disruptive technology is artificial intelligence (AI), which may bring about high levels of automation of previously uniquely human tasks including writing, decision making, and opinion dissemination. This technology, as well as other recent technologies such as the development of humanoid robots, also begins to prompt questions about the uniqueness of human consciousness and nature.

In this session, panelists will discuss the impacts of these new technologies from a variety of cultural and religious perspectives.

9:00-9:10pm | Break

9:10-10pm | SEA Performances and Reflections

10:00-10:10pm | Break

10:10-11:00pm | SEA Interfaith Reflections on the Environment and One Health

Session description: The industrial and technological development of the past century has brought about unprecedented improvements in living standards, productivity, food security, and many other areas of life. At the same time, this development has also brought about a triple environmental crisis of climate change, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, which threatens the very fabric upon which our lives depend.

The ancient wisdom of religions and indigenous populations contributes unconventional approaches toward the resolution of this crisis and enables bringing a sense of health and balance, not only to people’s lives, but also to the planet.

In this session, panelists will share solutions and methods from their respective faith traditions, weaving a tapestry of South-East Asian approaches toward the problems plaguing our world.

Featured Speakers:

Prof. Chao-yu Wu, Yuan Ze University
Prof. Kent Lin, Tzu Chi University
Prof. Upendra Rao, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Dr Jacinta Tangil, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Vox Nativa Children’s Choir

The Symposium is free to attend for all registered attendees of the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions. Interested in just the Symposium? $30 Southeast Asia Regional Symposium 2023 – Online tickets can be purchased at app.powr.org