Vietnamlawmagazine

Three days of national Buddhist rituals and discussions for the fifth international United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations 2008 ended in Hanoi on May 16 with a declaration on the environment, world peace and human rights.

The declaration made special reference to protecting the environment and the over-exploitation of natural resources, especially at a time of climate change; promoting world peace through mutual trust and respect; preventing conflict through disarmament and banning tests on nuclear weapons; and acknowledging that socio-economic development cannot be secured without peace and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Vietnam’s hosting of Vesak showed its respect and support of the thrice-sacred day of the Buddha as a United Nations Day of Religion and Culture, President Nguyen Minh Triet said at the opening of Vesak 2008 on May 14.

“It also shows that the State of Vietnam cares for and respects the importance of religion’s moral values, including those of Buddhism,” he said.

Vesak 2008 offered a great opportunity for monks, nuns and people from Vietnam and abroad to share their experience and knowledge with scholars from across continents, according to Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhism Sangha, His Holiness Thich Pho Tue.

More than 600 delegations and 5,000 delegates from 74 countries attended the celebrations of Vesak 2008.-