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 reconciliation, appreciation
of diversity, 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.
1
page Color Conference Poster - larger size (in PDF)
1 page Color
Conference Flyer - standard size (in PDF)
An
important, timely dialogue
....everyone
needs to be part of.
FORMAT AND CONTENT:
An outstanding pool of 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, Presentations,
and Roundtables
- Ongoing
Conference-wide Facilitated Dialogue Groups to engage the concepts,
invite diverse perspectives, and explore practical applications.
- Interactive All-conference Experiences
- E-conference Addresses by Leading Visionaries
- In-Process
Expressive Arts Interpretation
of the conference as it evolves each day.
- Tibetan Buddhist Sand Mandala Ritual
- Evening
Performances, Social-Cultural Events, and
Community Activities.
- 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.
~ Program to be
posted soon ~
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?
Conference
FEE and REGISTRATION Information
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. Like the ICR 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) In collaboration with our international network of
cooperating organizations, 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).
3) 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.
4) 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.
5) Create a joint conference resolution to publish
and post widely.
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.
A diversity of spiritual traditions is represented in the program,
including but not limited to Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu,
Jain, and Native American.
LOGISTICS:
Dates: September 4 - 7, 2008
Location: San Francisco (San Mateo), California USA, San
Mateo Marriott Hotel
Length: 3
1/2 day Conference (Thurs. eve. 4th opening to Sun. 7th closing).
CEUs: Continuing Education
Units available
Exhibit Space: Available
2008 ETO Conference Information:
Main
ETO Conference Page
'08 List
of Presenters
'08 ETO
Program Sessions
'08 Presenter
Biographicals and Photos
FEE and
REGISTRATION Information
Site
and Travel Information
Press
Room
1
page Color Conference Poster - larger size (in PDF)
1 page Color
Conference Flyer - standard size (in PDF)
Presenter
Proposal Form
Advertize
in On-Site Conference Program
Exhibit
Space is Available
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.
