WE INVITE
YOU TO:
an extraordinary international conference to address
the roots of fear based belief systems and negative stereotypes, prejudice, polarization,
enemy images, and artificial barriers of misunderstanding and distrust that divide
us.
JOIN
an international list of presenters and visionaries, and engage in 3 1/2 days
of focused, facilitated dialogue, bridging the divide and cultivating our capacity
for appreciation of diversity, reconciliation, and peace.
PURPOSE
AND GOALS:
Overall
Goals of the Conference are to:
Raise the level, depth, and breadth of public dialogue and awareness on
core issues. The conference examines dimensions and dynamics of "The
OTHER" on individual and group levels, and considers how enemy identity is
formed, perpetuated, and manipulated - including fear-based belief systems, negative
stereotypes, projection, prejudice, and scapegoating.
Identify and compile fundamental questions, dilemmas, and implications
for further deep inquiry and examination in an expanding public dialogue, and
to challenge embedded negative belief systems that promote adversarial perceptions
of the "The Other."
Tap our shared wisdom, compassion, and responsibility as a community - from
the local to the global - in developing practical applications. Participants
are encouraged to develop and share practical recommendations and strategies for
applying results to the current state of local and world relationships to promote
increased understanding, sensitivity, and compassion as a means of countering
and neutralizing hostility, particularly inter-group hostility.
Create Networking Opportunities
to promote collaboration and action planning.
Formulate findings and products to make available to all - through publications,
media, the Internet, training programs, networks, dialogue groups, etc.
See:
ETO
'08 Facilitated Dialogue Group Notes
1
page Color Conference Flyer (in pdf)
1
page Black & White Conference Flyer (in pdf)
1
page Color Conference Poster - 8 1/2 X 14 size (in pdf)
An
important, timely dialogue
....everyone needs to
be part of.
FORMAT AND CONTENT:
An outstanding pool of over
60 Presenters gather with extensive experience in addressing concepts
of The Other from diverse perspectives - psychological, social, cultural,
anthropological, historical, spiritual, philosophical, and ecological.
Structure of the ETO Conference.
A 3 1/2 day program of:
-
Keynote Speakers
-
Topical Plenary
Panels with leading
speakers on theory, philosophy, and historical aspects
-
Concurrent Break-out Sessions of Workshops and Roundtables
- Ongoing
Conference-wide Facilitated Dialogue Groups to engage concepts, invite diverse
perspectives, and explore practical applications.
- Interactive
All-conference Experiences
- E-conference Addresses by Leading Visionaries
- Evening
Performances, Social-Cultural Events, and
Community Activities.
- Evolving
Expressive Arts Interpretation
of the conference as it evolves each day.
- Tibetan Buddhist Sand
Mandala Ritual
- Media / Art Exhibits and Displays, including
an expanding exhibit of "Touch Drawings" reflecting the daily conference
experience, a media room, and much more.
- Rich Networking Opportunities
- Cross-cultural Community. Participants experience the conference
program and community as a living learning laboratory, to explore conference themes
and create a common ground of reference essential to engaging and integrating
formal learning.
- Final Action Planning Dialogue for beyond the
conference.
Some
Examples of Areas of Inquiry to Explore Within the Program:
The Other - as humankind's oldest and most resilient foe.
Our shared identity as The Other.
The role of inherent sin and exclusive dogma in requiring the presence and
embodiment of innate evil in the world, and vilifying an ever-present Other as
it's expression.
Dynamics of the energy of fear and exclusive group identity in formulating
devaluing, dehumanizing and demonizing stereotypes that allow "good"
people to do "bad" things to others by objectifying entire groups to
the point of justifying inhumane treatment.
Paradoxical dynamics of (mutual) victim identity, and victim becoming perpetrator.
The inter-generational inheritance of unresolved trauma as part of cultural
ethos (heroes, martyrs, and collateral damage).
What happens to a society - short and long term - when the energy of fear,
revenge, and victimization become systemic and are manipulated to galvanize a
process of demonizing and dehumanizing a perceived Other to justify oppression,
inhumane treatment and violence?
Are there cultural myths that trigger reactionary rather than rational,
proactive behavior? If so, what is the character of those myths?
How can we better recognize and consciously transform negative belief systems,
both on an individual and cultural level, and, in doing so, transform cultural
ethos?
What are effects of direct person to person contact on innate fear of the
unknown and mysterious, and are there practical methods for experiencing this
quality of contact in a global community?
Click here
for: Conference
FEES and REGISTRATION
COORDINATION
WITH OTHER EFFORTS:
This
new conference series occurs in conjunction with an edited book in progress titled
"Engaging The Other", examining psycho-social concepts of "The
OTHER" from a multi-cultural perspective, and raising important questions
for fuller exploration. It is also programmatically linked to other international
conferences, including the
International Conference on Conflict Resolution (ICR),
held for the last 16 years, and the International
Conference on Religion, Conflict, and Peace (RCP). Like the ICR
Conference, the RCP Conference, and edited book, the ETO Conference is a cross-cultural
collaboration for true global representation.
EXPECTED
OUTCOMES AND FOLLOW UP:
1) Formulate
findings and produce published results (articles, research papers, conference
reports, and edited volume), recorded proceedings and interviews, media
and art images, and a proposed documentary film geared toward both
the global professional and lay public to increase awareness, expand public dialogue,
and support the creation of a training curriculum.
2) Create
and promote a working network of activists advancing the mission of the
conference to explore practical collaborations addressing the elements of polarization
and enmity, and to nurture the seeds of mutual belonging and compassion.
3)
Link ETO program to like-visioned international conferences and
seed local dialogue groups to expand the diversity of representation, to build
on each event's processes, and to promote a wider public dialogue.
4)
Create a joint conference resolution to publish and post widely.
5)
In collaboration with our international network of cooperating organizations,
plan and develop an "Engaging The Other" curriculum for a training
program intended for application with schools and universities, community organizations,
religious groups, government agencies, political groups, and the general public.
(see description below).
EXAMPLES
OF PARTICIPANTS:
Anyone from the public
Community leaders and activists, NGO representatives, Spiritual leaders,
Peace activists, Cultural/Ethnic Community Representatives, Human Service providers,
Government representatives, etc.
Visionaries and front-line thinkers in human consciousness and psycho-social-spiritual
dynamics.
Academics, Social Science researchers, and Representatives of university
departments, professional associations, and academic groups around the world (including
Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Education, Religious studies, Philosophy,
Peace studies, International studies, Anthropology, History, Political Science,
Government, Law, Media and the Arts, etc.).
Key participants from current or recent regions of turmoil in the world.
Diverse spiritual traditions, cultures, and races represented in the program.
LOGISTICS:
Dates: November 12-15, 2009
Location: San Francisco (San Mateo), California, San Mateo
Marriott Hotel
Length: 3
1/2 day Conference (Thur. 12th opening to Sun. 15th closing).
CEUs:
Continuing Education Credits available
Exhibit Space: Available
2009 ETO Conference Information:
Main
ETO Conference Page
FEES
and REGISTRATION
Site
and Travel Information
Program
Overview, Guidelines for Proposals
and Dialogue
Presenter
Proposal Form
Submit by July 1
Dialogue
Group Facilitator Application Form
'09 ETO Program Sessions
(to be posted)
'09 List of Presenters
(to be posted)
'09 Presenter Biographicals
and Photos
(to be posted)
Continuing
Education Credits (CECs)
Press
Room
1
page Color Conference Flyer (in pdf)
1
page Black & White Conference Flyer (in pdf)
1
page Color Conference Poster - 8 1/2 X 14 size (in pdf)
Conference
Staff Contacts for information
Updates:
'08
Conference Evaluation Form - We invite
'08 conference
participants
to download and submit an evaluation form
(see
instructions at bottom of form for submitting).
Advertize
and Display:
Advertize
in On-Site Conference Program
Advertize
on Participant Tote Bag
Exhibit
Table Space is Available
Join
our conference Volunteer Team.
Contact: Common
Bond Institute
TRAINING
PROGRAM:
"Engaging The Other"
Training Project: A planned effort growing out of the ETO Conference
series for conducting ongoing "Engaging The Other" training programs
in various locals to nurture capacity for sensitivity, understanding, inclusiveness,
and appreciation for diversity. The curriculum will be designed for all age groups,
to be culturally sensitive, and made available to schools and universities, NGO's,
community organizations, religious organizations, government agencies, political
groups, etc.
Public Education: In line
with this effort, program concepts will also be promoted to the general public
through established and alternative media in various documentary and "pop
psychology" formats to "generic" the process for wider public awareness,
sensitivity, and understanding.
*
Previous ETO
Post-Conference Proceedings
~ from
2006,
2007
, and
2008
~
Touch
Drawing interpretation of all ETO Conferences
by
Deborah
Koff-Chapin
All images
are available for purchase through Deborah's website, whether as signed archival
fine art prints or originals.
*20% of proceeds from sale of prints is donated to Common Bond Institute
in support of our programs. We encourage you to visit the Touch
Drawing
website to enjoy these and hundreds of more amazing images
created by this artist, including drawings from both the '06, '07, and '08 ETO
Conferences.
(* Please
contact Deborah directly at: deborah@touchdrawing.com
)
