"Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

GAIALOGUES: INTERFAITH EDUCATION FOR ACTION

GAIAlogues are defined as dialogue plus action for a better world. GAIA has been organizing interfaith dialogues, both formal and informal, since 1997. The next GAIAlogue will bring a delegation of Muslim leaders to travel to India for informal dialogue with H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet, in the spirit of his well-documented dialogues with Jewish leaders in 1990 and 1996. Other dialogues and community building programs uniting Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sufis and others are also planned.

Goals and Objectives

• Increase understanding and forge relationships of mutual respect, trust, support and solidarity across cultural, linguistic, religious, political, gender and geographical barriers.
• Engage spiritual leaders and learners in substantive and productive dialogue on solutions.
• Leverage technology and media to share the stories and content of these dialogues with the global public.
• Recruit participants into proactive peacemaking and other forms of active service.

Participants

• Spiritual leaders of diverse traditions.
• Representatives of communities whose populations currently live in tension or suffer from historical conflicts.
• Members of the media, political figures, and other influential people whose presence as witnesses might extend the benefits of these encounters to wider audiences.
• The global public, whose ideas about the "other" are often misinformed by historical prejudices, biased media reports, and ordinary innocent not-knowing.

Locations

Primarily Dharamshala, India (the exile home of the Dalai Lama of Tibet); also Israel and the Palestinian territories; the San Francisco Bay Area and other U.S. locations; and globally via the Internet.

Timeline

Programs have been running on a periodic basis since 1997. The next GAIAlogue is planned for 2003-2004 in India. Future events are planned through Summer 2005.

SUPPORT GAIALOGUES

GAIAlogues are supported completely by charitable gifts and donations from the global public.

Project funding required: $36,000 in 2003 (for a single GAIAlogue in India); $80,000 in 2004 (one in India and one in Israel/Palestine); $160,000 in 2005 (one in India, one in Israel/Palestine, and one in the US).

Detailed proposals are available upon request. For information about making a contribution by check or making in-kind donations, or to request a current proposal for review by your philanthropic organization, contact us here.

If you prefer, you can make a tax-deductible donation securely and conveniently (and anonymously, if you wish) online by clicking on the "donate now" button below, which will take you to our donation page at the Network for Good website. Please remember to put "GAIAlogues" in the "designation" field on the donation page.

MAILING LIST

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GAIA PROJECTS

GAIAlogues

Ohr Olam Project

PeaceConnection

Sulha Peace Project

Tibet Empowerment Circle

GAIA ALLIES

For information on joining or supporting the alliance, click here.

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