Community mobilisation should go hand in hand with community building. Spiritual power can override the need for massive material power in oppressive regimes. The problem of weapons, being underpinned by a culture of militarism, is basically a spiritual and moral issue. In order to ensure a peaceful future, there is a need for people of different cultures and religions to co-operate and engage in dialogue. The issue of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers was examined in relation to the UN Convention on Refugees which allows the signatories to exercise partiality in the selection of refugees.
Genuine refugees end up as illegal immigrants in search of asylum.
The Australian policy on refugees as expressed in TPV visas, detention centre system, and safe haven visa was seen as being punitive with long term consequences for the persons concerned and society in general. Many new contacts, networks and relationships were forged during the Conference, leading to a deep sense of solidarity among the participants. This contribution to the common good can only be maintained through a constant recapturing of the core values, the essence of the cultural and religious traditions justice, love, compassion, hospitality, dignity, unity in a common humanity, recognition of the interconnectedness of all living realities and an intuitive grasp of the sacred. The diversity of cultures and religions is as important as those core parallel values which unite cultures and religions. This diversity can be a source of great enrichment.