Love And Peace, Family And Friends.
Amidst the recent announcement regarding the open bidding for hosting the next Parliament, I pose to you the question: where do you think the next Parliament should be held?
Up to this point, the Parliament is respectively held in Chicago, Cape Town, Barcelona, and Melbourne. The Parliament is initially planned to be hosted by Brussels this year, but those plans subside, as apparently do plans for the Parliament to be hosted in México next year. So, given this history, where should the Parliament be held in its next scheduled iteration 3 years from this point?
1 glaring option is continental Asia: perhaps India, with its richness of religious tradition and pluralism, as well as interFaith activism. Can China effectively host such a conference, perhaps in Hong Kong or Shanghai? What about Singapore, Thailand, or Malaysia?
Then, there is the often overlooked Southwestern Quad (South America or South Taínoterranea). Should Brasil (perhaps São Paulo or Rio) host another major World event, amidst the current World Cup, the next Olympics (in 2 years), and the annual Rio Earth Summit? What about Buenos Aires or another try with México, a little further North?
Then there is the question, is the Middle East ready to host such an event of reconciliation and camaraderie? Qatar is scheduled to host the World Cup in 8 years; is Doha an option for the Parliament? Or perhaps the UAE? The king of Jordan is a strong supporter of interFaith reconciliation; does that make Amman a viable option, amidst the nearby turmoil? Or can a Parliament actually be convened within the infrastructure of Israel, perhaps in Tel Aviv?
What fortitude must Parliament attendees have to travel to a location that may be increasingly challenging? Do Parliament attendees have a responsibility for stretching our comfort zones in visiting locations that may be increasingly challenging for us?
Is the Parliament due to be hosted, again, within the ample arms of the United States or Canada? What about the similar welcome of Northern Europe? Or is it another moment for Africa, perhaps Ghana or Kenya?
That seems to cover many of the bases. What do you think about any of these options? Aside from the obvious concerns of facility capacity, security, and infrastructure, what additional characteristics should be considered in determining the next host? Is diversity of location and culture relevant? Should the location be English-speaking or another language or does it make a difference? Are you planning to attend the Parliament in 3 years? Where would you like to go?
Love And Peace,
Peter.
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