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Fiji Cabinet Approves Hosting of IofC Conference

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

The Fijian Cabinet has approved the hosting of the Initiatives of Change International Peace Conference in Suva in November 2006. Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and National Reconciliation and Unity, Ratu Meli Saukuru.

Cabinet Media Release October 12th, 2006  Fiji to host initiatives of change conference Cabinet has approved the hosting of the Initiatives of Change International Peace Conference in Suva in November 2006. Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and National Reconciliation and Unity, Ratu Meli Saukuru. Ratu Meli informed Cabinet that based in Caux, Switzerland, Initiatives of Change International is a Non Government Organisation which has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and Participatory Status with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. “Its mission has been to promote moral and spiritual rearmament as the way to build a “hate free, fear-free and a greed-free world’ and gained momentum after World War 2. “It is an international network of people from many cultures and faiths, working in such areas as reconciliation, tackling the root causes of corruption, poverty and social exclusion, and strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations for democracy.” In the Asia Pacific region, Initiatives of Change has membership in Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji. The first conference for this region was held in Suva in June 1989. Ratu Meli said that the theme of the second conference will be ‘Can Fiji and the South Pacific surprise the world? New Hope from Fiji: Making this a Vision Possible’. He said that the conference will focus on sharing experience, through interactive sessions, workshops, a women’s peace circle, a youth peace circle, discussion groups, music and the arts.