International Convention is under way

by Barney on 29 April 2008

This entry is part 2 of 12 in the series International Convention

So, this amazing Convention is in motion.

Having had a couple of days to pray in the Holy Shrines and visit some of the Holy Places, we are in the Haifa Convention Centre for the first day of the Convention iself. Around a thousand delegates from all over the world are casting their ballots in person. Almost two thousand ballots, from countries from Alaska to Zimbabwe, will be cast altogether.

This afternoon we go to Bahji to celebrate the Ninth Day of Ridvan.

Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, International Convention, religion, democracy, Haifa

Tagged as: Baha'i, democracy, Haifa, International Convention, religion

{ 4 comments }

1 Barmak 29 April 2008 at 16:03: Thank you for your reports from the Holy Land and the Convention, Barney!
2 Bilo 29 April 2008 at 20:45: It is indeed fortunate to be updated on this momentous and highly significant event. Thank you….
3 Kurt Hein 29 April 2008 at 22:44: Thank you for sharing the wondrous light!
4 Steve Cooney 1 May 2008 at 12:31: Actually I have been following the new sreleases from the Bahai World Centre and the report of 29 April 2008 “In a global procession..” (http://news.bahai.org/story/627) states that the total number of eligible delegates was fewer than 1500.

“About 500 of the 1494 delegates could not be present for voting, for personal or other reasons. ”

1494 actaully represents 166 NSA’s (division by 9) which is fewer than the 2003 and 1998 eligible numbers reported in the Plan Summary of Achievement reports for the last two plans which were published by the Bahai World Center:

Ninth Convention 2003: 1602 eligible delegates (96 percent participation, p.107 Summary 2006) = 178 NSA

Eight Convention 1998 : 1575 eligible delegates (98 percent participation p.6, Summary 2001 = 175 NSA

I would be interested if the news report understated the eligible count or whether there was a sense that there might have been fewer NSA’s (for whatever internal/external causes) at this convention?

The Bahai World volume for 2005-2006 published about Ridvan 2007 reported 179 NSA’s at Ridvan 2006 (presumably immediately prior to the elections). Which is 12 fewer than the 166 which would have been eligible at Ridvan 2007.

I’m sure, if the news reports are correct, this is due to disturbed external conditions in the world but I would be delighted to hear otherwise of a delegate number number closer to 2000. That would mean more than 200 National Spiritual Assemblies! Fantastic.