Alberta
Peace Education
/Culture
of Peace Program Conference
"BUILDING PEACE - ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME
DEVELOPMENT OF AN ALBERTA CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM AND ALBERTA PEACE EDUCATION STRATEGY"
REGISTRATION
FORM
- click here to register
General
- October 25 - 26, 2008
– Location is the Avatamsaka Buddhist Monastery (
INVITATION
LETTER
- please read
Purpose/theme
- BUILDING
PEACE:
ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME - A
venue for the further development of an Alberta Culture of Peace Program and
Alberta Peace
Education Strategy, connecting with the
development of a Vision and Action Plan for a National
Culture of Peace Program in Canada
, following the principles of the United Nations Culture of Peace
and Non-violence Program.
Agenda:
The main part of the Symposium (October 25 – 26) will utilize the Open
Space Technology ("OST"), an extraordinarily
simple approach which enables groups of people, large and small, to engage
complex, chaotic, confusing and conflicted issues in a Peaceful fashion
(reference further description at http://www.peace.ca/ost.htm
). Participants create a
bulletin board on which to identify issues (guided by the purpose or theme),
open a market place to arrange time and place particulars -- and multiple
dialogues are on their way. In support, there are certain planned
speakers:
Thursday,
October 23 - 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm [Location:
the Avatamsaka Buddhist Monastery] – “Raising
Social Intelligence: The Heart of Peace Education” led by Dr. Larry
Fisk. An opening presentation comparing Karl Albrecht's "Social
Intelligence: The New Science of Success" and Daniel Goleman's "Social
Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships" -- a mention of
S.P.A.C.E. and in what ways are the two SI emphases: "success" as
against "human relationships", contradictory or complementary? Followed
by the suggestive question: “What can we add to, or reinforce in, SI theory
and practice from the fields of "positive psychology, evolutionary
dynamics, progressive Christian theology, Buddhist mindfulness,
prolonged-exposure therapy (Virtual Iraq); Viktor Frankl's logotherapy (the
human "will to meaning"), Gabor Mate on addiction, and other
studies of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, aging, change, suffering
and dying?” In short, how do we live--both act and "be"--as
broadly socially intelligent, non-violent and creative or "peaceable"
persons. In spite of there being plenty of material which might be
presented or suggested, this will be a participant-oriented
"workshop". Questions for
consideration will be posed in groups of two to four. For example,
"When have you acted with the utmost of social intelligence as you now
understand it? When not? Why? Why not? What knowledge and/or skills
do you think you require to be more socially intelligent? What are your
strongest attributes making you "socially intelligent". Where
would you look for strengthening your "low suit".
Friday,
October 24 – 9:00 am – 12:00 noon [Location:
the Avatamsaka Buddhist Monastery] – “Macropeace:
An Overview of a Canadian Culture of Peace Program” led by Robert
(Bob) Stewart. Bob will lead a discussion providing an overview of how a
Canadian Culture of Peace Program, the U.N. Culture of Peace Program, an Alberta
Culture of Peace Program, an
Friday,
October 24 – 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm [Location:
the Avatamsaka Buddhist Monastery] – “Social
Entrepreneurism: a way of the future” led by Rob Porter, Manager of
the Hamilton Peace Cafe and Robert (Bob) Stewart, C.A., C.M.C.
A
social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial
principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change.
Whereas a business
entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a social
entrepreneur assesses success in terms of the impact s/he has on society. While
social entrepreneurs often work through nonprofits and citizen groups, many work
in the private and governmental sectors. This workshop will help
participants to make use of the principles of social entrepreneurism.
Friday, October 24 - 7:30 pm [Location: Parkdale United Church, 2919 8th Ave NW] - "Singing for Peace: Celtic Songs of Life and Laughter" featuring Calgary Folk musician Rod Walsh with Graeme Tait, Kathy Pepers and Christie Simmons. Tickets: $15 at the door, $13 advance, $8 students/low income. Call 403-270-7366 to order your tickets. A benefit concert for Project Ploughshares Calgary www.ploughsharescalgary.ca
Saturday,
October 25, 2008, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (Location:
the Avatamsaka Buddhist Monastery)
1. Introduction
by Richard Shultz, Open Space Facilitator on the dialogue methodology.
2.
Participants create a bulletin board on which to identify issues (guided by the
purpose or theme of an
Sunday,
October 26, 2008, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm (same location; with breaks throughout the
day)
1.
Open Space dialogue continues.
2.
Symposium conclusion, bringing together dialogue highlights into a draft Vision
and Action Plan for an Alberta Culture of Peace Program and Peace Education
Strategy. Results, including planned follow-up, will be distributed to
participants, and will be posted on the Internet.
==========================================
ISSUES
MARKETPLACE
The
following issues have been identified to date, for potential dialogue (in no
particular order):
==========================================
BACKGROUND/ISSUES
PAPERS
Participants
at the Symposium are invited to submit articles and papers addressing our Purpose/Theme
- "Building Peace One Community at at Time - An Alberta
Culture of Peace Program": the desired outcome is the
development of a vision and action for an Alberta Culture of Peace
Program, to help build peace in our communities and world. It is
recommended that you read these articles prior to the Conference.
1. Senator
Douglas Roche's book "The Human Right To Peace". (background reading
is the book, highlights at http://www.peace.ca/rochebookreview.htm
and http://www.peace.ca/humanrighttopeace.htm
)
2. The
Canadian Culture of Peace Program web site at http://www.cultureofpeace.ca
3.
The proceedings of the First
4. Bob Stewart's article "My Vision for the Culture of Peace Program"
5. Bob Stewart article "Alberta Culture of Peace Program Proposal"
==========================================
For
the main part of the Symposium, the early registration price prior to September
30 is $75.00, after which the registration price will be $100.00.
Cancellations are allowed up to October 10 with a 15% cancellation fee.
Though refunds are not possible for cancellations after October 10, registrants
unable to attend can assign their participation to someone else. Note -
places will be reserved for students at a reduced registration
fee of $25.00 CDN (To September 30 $15.00 CDN) and seniors students at a reduced registration
fee of $50.00 CDN (To September 30 $25.00 CDN).
Our
conferences are designed to cover our costs. Any surplus is provided to
the Canadian
Peace Education Foundation.
Anyone
who wishes to participate but can not afford the registration fee may offer to
provide 'services in kind' and attend.
REGISTRATION
FORM
- click here to register
======================
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