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The fifth United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) is to be held in Hanoi, 
Vietnam from 13-17th May in 2008. This is the first ever biggest 
international Buddhist conference in Vietnam. The celebrations are 
expected to draw a gathering of 4500--including Buddhist leaders from 
all traditions, leading scholars, state dignitaries and practitioners 
from all around the world, and in Vietnam.

The celebrations commemorating the 2550th Year of the Birth, 
Enlightenment and Passing Away of the Buddha Gautama will be four-
dimensional--covering Spiritual, Academic, Cultural and Religious 
aspects.

As you may be aware, in a resolution passed by the United Nation's 
General Assembly in December 1999, it was decided to celebrate the 
thrice-sacred day of Vesak in the month of May. The first celebration 
was held back in the year 2000 at the United Nations Headquarters in 
New York. Subsequently, the celebrations for the United Nations Day of
 
Vesak were successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand since 2004.

The United Nations Day of Vesak 2008 celebrations in Vietnam offer a 
welcome opportunity to spread the Buddha¡¦s message of peace, 
reconciliation, harmony, love, progress and development to the world.

The preparations for the event are in full swing. Papers are now being
 
invited for the Conference. We welcome your contributions on the 
following themes:

Main Theme: Buddhist Contribution to Building a Just, Democratic and 
Civil Society.

Sub Themes:
1.       War, Conflict and Healing: A Buddhist Perspective
2.       Buddhist Contribution to Social Justice
3.       Engaged Buddhism and Development
4.       Care for Our Environment: Buddhist Response to Climate Change
5.       Family Problems and the Buddhist Response
6.       Symposium on Buddhist Education: Continuity and Progress
7.       Symposium on Buddhism in the Digital Age

Title proposal submission guidelines:

Please submit a title and abstract of no more than one single-spaced 
page.
Please also submit a one-page CV or a 250-word biography.
Proposals must be received by December 31, 2007. We will send 
confirmation of the receipt of your proposal.
The proposals will be reviewed by the conference organizing committee.
You will receive confirmation of your participation by February 2008.
Please send all title proposals and abstracts in Word Format File via 
email to Ven. Dr. Thich Nhat Tu  at thichnhattu@yahoo.com

Paper submission guidelines:
Word limit: 7000 words
Papers must be received latest by March, 2008.
Please send in all papers and abstracts in Word Format File via email 
to Ven. Dr. Thich Nhat Tu  at thichnhattu@yahoo.com

Note: One person can contribute more than one Paper.
           The Papers may be published during the Vesak Day 2008 
Conference.
           Not all the authors may be invited for the Paper 
presentation.
           Standard Presentation Time including questions period is 20
 
minutes.