Sydney, Australia - We held a special consultation on August 28 on the proposal for an interreligious council at the UN which was first proposed by Rev. Moon in 2000. We took turns reading from the historic speech where the idea was first proposed; then we looked at the structure of the UN and discussed the feasibility, obstacles, and potential scenarios for moving the idea forward.

Participants were interested in the work of the Focal Unit for interreligious dialogue at the UN and wanted to know more about it. One suggestion for overcoming obstacles to forming an interreligious council would be for an interreligious body to take up conflict in places such as the Middle East where conventional approaches have not brought resolution.

A Buddhist participant in the consultation proposed employing "soft power" rather than traditional "hard power" diplomacy, such as tea ceremonies, to develop rapport and break down barriers.

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