patth@ccnysci (Patt Haring) (06/09/89)
University for Peace * Republic of Costa Rica
SEEKING THE TRUE MEANING OF PEACE
A CONFERENCE AND A COMING TOGETHER OF THE WORLD FAMILY
FOR PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet
and
Dr. Oscar Arias S., President of Costa Rica
Winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize
June 25-30, 1989, SAN JOSE
THE UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE AND THE GOVERNMENT OF COSTA RICA
INVITE YOU TO THIS UNIQUE GATHERING IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE
IN:
o Sharing different visions, and identifying viable options
to create effective mechanisms that will promote peace and
sustainable development.
o Developing guidelines in education for peace and
sustainable development.
o Planting the seeds for specific collaborative projects
for the accomplishment of the above goals through better
uses of institutional, human and technological resources.
o Preparing a Declaration of Human Responsibilities for
Peace and Sustainable Development to be presented by the
government of Costa Rica to the General Assembly of the
United Nations.
CONFERENCE RATIONALE
It is based on the recommendations made by the World
Commission on Environment and Development to the General
Assembly of the U.N. and its resolution of December 11,
1987, in which it asks all governments to reorient their
policies towards environmental sustainability and equitable
development as a fundamental condition to achieve long-term
peace and security. The conference is also based on the
premise that the kind of development we are looking for is
possible if each human being assumes specific responsibil
ities. This concept implies a vision of peace as an
individual and collective state of consciousness that it is
possible to develop. In brief, we seek to identify
mechanisms to achieve justice and equality and the
satisfaction of basic necessities without damaging the
stability of the planet.
COSTA RICA: HOME FOR PEACE
Costa Rica is already considered a living laboratory from
which the paradigms for a civilization where peace and
sustainable development can be expressed integrally. This
concept arises from Costa Rica's demilitarization, its
advanced democratic government, which looks after the
general well-being of its people, and its environmental
leadership in Latin America. In addition, the Costa Rican
Government has decided to elaborate a National Conservation
Strategy for Sustainable Development through its Ministry
of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mines.
PARTICIPATION
We invite people from all over the globe, without
distinctions of any kind, to participate. We also invite
everyone to send one page abstracts on their vision of the
conference theme, as well as suggestions to be included in
the Declaration of Human Responsibilities before May 7,
1989.
Working groups have already been set up for the following
topic areas: education for peace and sustainability; natural
resources and sustainable development; ethical principles;
the role of the family; communication for peace (arts,
science, and mass media); human rights and responsibility;
and security and conflict resolution. For those participants
who wish to come with their families, there will be an on-
going program for children, in which diverse approaches in
education for peace will be explored. Those participants
with a computer and a modem can read the draft of the
Declaration of Human Responsibilities and make commentaries
through the electronic networks "PeaceNet", "Econet", or
"GreenNet". The declaration can be found under
"up.declaration." General information on the conference can
be found under "up.general".
REGISTRATION
Please fill out the enclosed form and send immediately. A
fee of U.S. $300 will be charged to all forms postmarked by
the 25th of May and U.S.$350 thereafter, and we highly
recommend that the money orders, made out to: "University
for Peace, Peace Conference," be sent via registered mail.
All correspondence or inquiries should be directed to the
Conference Director, Dr. Abelardo Brenes, University for
Peace, P.O. Box, 199-1250, Escazu, Costa Rica, Tel.: (506)
36-89-97, Fax: (506) 36-89-98. Contributions from sponsors
are welcomed and very appreciated.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Three excellent hotels have been chosen to house the
international participants:
Single Double Triple
Europa $34 19 16
Costa Rica 38 24 18
Bouganvillea 42 25 19
All prices are per person, per night, in U.S. dollars.
Children under 12, with two adults, do not pay, except for
the Europa Hotel where the triple rate applies. Please
note that the hotel payment and the conference payment
should be in separate money orders.
TRANSPORTATION
LACSA and BRITISH AIRWAYS are the official carriers for
the conference and will provide discounted fares for
participants showing an accepted registration form.
PRE AND POST CONFERENCE TOURS
There are quite a large variety of tours available for the
participants at a discounted rate. Information will be
provided upon arrival,, but if you wish for advance
information, please contact TIKAL TOUR OPERATORS at P.O. Box
6398-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica, Fax: (506) 23-19-16,
Tel.:(506) 23-28-11 or Telex: 2138 TIKAL CR
NAME AND TITLE:
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP CODE:
TELEPHONE: FAX: TELEX:
MAKE A RESERVATION IN HOTEL:
NO# AND TYPE OF ROOMS:
I ENCLOSE A MONEY ORDER FOR U.S $
I ENCLOSE A MONEY ORDER TO COVER THE HOTEL FOR U.S.$
I CANNOT GO, BUT AM ENCLOSING A CONTRIBUTION OF U.S.$
PLEASE SEND THE REGISTRATION FEE AND THE HOTEL DEPOSIT IN
SEPARATE MONEY ORDERS.
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PRELIMINARY PROGRAM OF THE CONFERENCE
The program consists of three phases:
FIRST PHASE ORIENTATION AND CREATION OF THE FRAME OF
REFERENCE ON PEACE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sunday, June 25, 1989:
First coming together of the global family: orientation
and coming together of all national and international
participants, in the Hotel Costa Rica. It will begin at
7:00 pm. From 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm conference material will
be distributed among the pre-registered participants and
last-minute registration accepted.
Monday, June 26, 1986
Morning Session (place: The National Theater)
Theme: OUR COMMON FUTURE- Inaugural speech by the President
of Costa Rica and recipient of the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize,
Dr. Oscar Arias S.
- Statement by Monsignor Roman Arrieta, Archbishop of San
Jose.
- Statement by former president, Lic. Rodrigo Carazo O.,
President Emeritus of the University for Peace.
- Statement by Dr. Alvaro Umana, Minister of Natural
Resources in Costa Rica.
- Statements by Dr. Jaime Montalvo Correa, Rector of the
University for Peace, by Dr. Robert Muller, Chancellor
of the University, and by representatives of other
- Presentation of OUR COMMON FUTURE by a representative of
the World commission of Environment and Development
(still to be defined) and a welcoming greeting by Mrs.
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Coordinator of the Commission and
Norwegian Prime Minister.
- "From Assisi to Costa Rica, What Have We Learned?" by
Dr. Gerardo Budowski.
First Afternoon Session Theme: VISIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD
- Presentation of the Global Forum of Spirituality and
Parliamentary Leaders in Human Survival.
- Presentation of the Global Cooperation Bank, a Peace
Messenger project dedicated to the U.N. and organized by
Global Cooperation for a Better World.
Second Afternoon Session
Theme: COSTA RICA AS A LIVING LABORATORY FOR A
SUSTAINABLE AND PEACEFUL CIVILIZATION
- Presentation of the guidelines of the National
Conservation Strategy for Sustainable Development, by
Dr. Carlos Quesada, Ministry of Natural Resources.
- "Costa Rica as a Model for a Harmonious and Sustainable
Development." by Dr. Alvaro Umana, Minister of Natural
Resources, Energy, and Mines.
Evening CONCERT
Tuesday, June 27, 1989
First Morning Session (place: The National Theater)
Theme: VISIONS OF THE UNITY OF LIFE
This first session will be held by a panel of
distinguished scientists:
- Dr. Thomas Berry (author of The Dream of the Earth) on
the topic "The New Cosmology".
- Dr. Elizabeth Sahtouris (author of Gaia: The Human
Journey from Chaos to Cosmos) will speak on the "The
Vision of the Planet as Gaia".
- Dr. Stanley Krippner (author of Millennium: Glimpses
into the 21st Century), will present "The Holographic
Paradigm".
- Hazel Handerson (author of Creating Alternative
Futures: the End of Economics), will speak on "The
Economics of Sustainable Development".
Second Morning Session (place: The National Theater)
Theme: THE PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSAL RESPONSIBILITY-
Presentation by His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the XIV
Dalai Lama of Tibet.
First Afternoon Session (place: The National Theater)
Theme: CONTRIBUTION OF RELIGION TOWARDS PEACE AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1) Panel on Religion in Latin America (participants to be
defined).
2) A panel of representatives from key global interfaith
organizations.
- World Conference on Religion and Peace, represented by
its General Secretary, Dr. John Taylor.
- Temple of Understanding (representative to be announced).
- Presentation of the World Council of Churches and its
program on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation
(representative to be announced).
3) To be held at the Basilica de los Angeles in Cartago:
Interfaith prayer for peace and the sustainability of the
planet, with messages of religious leaders of the traditions
represented.
Second Phase of the Program: Activities of the working commission.
Wednesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 29, 1989
During these two days, the second phase will be held at
the University of Costa Rica. There are at this time seven
working groups which are defining the criteria for the
development of workshops, seminars, master classes, and other
activities.
The topic areas of these groups are:
* Education for peace and sustainable development
* The environment and sustainable development
* Universal ethical principles and new holistic paradigms:
an ecumenical vision.
* The role of the family in the development of a new vision
of fraternity and global stability.
* New visions on security: security models and the
resolution of conflicts.
* Communication for peace and sustainability (arts,
science, and mass media communications).
Following the principle of universal responsibility,
the working objective of these groups will be to respond
to two sets of questions:
1) What is the nature of the responsibility of the
individual, the family, communities, and the national
and international systems to achieve peace and
sustainable development? What relationship exists
between peace and sustainable development for the
effective accomplishment of human rights and global
security (at an individual, social, national, and
international level).
The second set of questions refers more to the methods
and institutions which we may use to achieve these goals:
2) What role could education for peace and sustainable
development play in the fulfillment of a peaceful planet
and the promotion and defense of human rights and the
environment? Similarly, what role can be played by
religion, ethics, the new scientific paradigms, the
resolution of conflicts, the arts, and communications?
Third Phase of the Program
Friday, June 30, 1989
Morning session: a visit to the University for Peace campus.
The President of Costa Rica, Dr. Oscar Arias S. will
present to the public the Declaration of Human
Responsibilities for Peace and Sustainable Development.
Following this, the global family for peace and
sustainability will participate in an invocation of
the mission of the University and Costa Rica for world
peace.
Afternoon Session (place: Costa Rica Country Club)
Closing ceremony and celebration.
The seven working groups will present their conclusions
and recommendations. There will also be the children's
program presentation, as well as artistic presentation to
celebrate the spirit of union and fraternity.