Listening before speaking: conference participants meet local communities in Chiang Mai

Listening before speaking: conference participants meet local communities in Chiang Mai

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Thu, 10/08/2026 - 17:57

Listening before speaking and walking before leading set the tone for the Joint Conference of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commissions and Reference Groups on Life, Justice, and Peace, taking place in Chiang Mai, Thailand this week.

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Conference participants arrive at the Chiang Mai Breath Council, working with civil society, government, academia, and the private sector to decrease the air pollution that affects the region.

Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC

Participants started with encounters with seven civil society and faith-based organisations in and around Chiang Mai. These "sacred journeys of listening, learning, and accompaniment" tied the conference's theological and ethical reflection to local realities.

At the Chiang Mai Breath Council, participants learned how civil society, government, academia, and the private sector work together on the seasonal haze and air pollution that affect the region. The council's vision is sustainable clean air in Chiang Mai – which means addressing outdoor…