IEF 2007

BACKGROUND

Faced with the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its impacts on global society, the conference will allow professionals concerned with the environment and sustainable development, students and the public to explore the ethical considerations framing a response to global environmental change. Specifically, the conference will explore the spiritual principles, educational approaches and practical actions of individuals and communities of diverse cultures facing global environmental change. Questions of lifestyle, choice and the very nature of “community” will be examined.

Reflections on modern science and universal spiritual principles will shape the conference theme, and in recognition of the International Polar Year (2007), specific attention will be given to the wisdom, knowledge and experience of indigenous peoples. The conference is a contribution to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and builds on previous IEF conferences on related themes.
This parallel electronic conference is planned for participants from around the world who either cannot attend physically or choose not to travel to Ottawa in order to reduce their environmental impact. To register, send your name, country, e-mail address and a short one paragraph bio to j_fienieg @ hotmail.com. You will receive conference summaries and notices of postings of conference materials on the web site e-conference page.

Abstracts of talks, mp3 recordings of the keynote presentations (for download), PowerPoint presentations, digital photos and video clips and summaries of the discussions will be posted under the main conference program sections as they become available before and during the conference.

As there will be simultaneous translation, some materials may be distributed in French.