The
World Civic Forum (WCF), jointly initiated by Kyung Hee University and the
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), will
hold its inaugural forum on May 5-8, 2009 at the COEX in Seoul, Korea under
the main theme of “Building Our Humanitarian Planet.” The WCF 2009 emerges
from the leading collaboration between the UN and institutions of higher
learning, and aims to develop into an ongoing global institution with the
partnership of like-minded actors such as NGOs, international
organizations, governments, private enterprise, and the media. As a venue
for global reflection and dialogue to enhance future civilizations, it will
address the internationally agreed development goals including the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) from various perspectives of education,
research, and practice. The WCF 2009, to be followed by succeeding ones
biennially thereafter, will highlight the following themes.
MAIN
THEME: BUILDING OUR HUMANITARIAN PLANET
Our Earth is calling for a humanitarian regeneration.
Despite scientific and technological progress, today we are faced with
global problems--in particular, national conflicts and insecurity,
environmental destructions and climate change, global injustice and
underdevelopment, and alienation between civilizations--due to the loss of
values of humanity in the course of modern civilization. Redeeming
humanitarian values fully to our lives, however, is a daunting task. It
requires integrative collaboration across sectors, disciplines, and
nations. As much as damage to humanity has generated complicated ills in
every corner of our Planet, we need a holistic initiative transcending
conventional boundaries and scopes and reflecting planetary consciousness
in order to cure the ills. This integrative, collaborative, and
trans-boundary initiative would complement the existing efforts that have
been made within a more bounded range of interests and concerns.
KEY
THEMES: CIVIC VALUES, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND CIVIC ACTION
- - Civic Values for
Global Justice
- - Civic Engagement
in Public and Global Governance
- - Civic Action for the Global Agenda Including
Climate Change
- The themes suggest a
necessity for reflection and dialogue to address the global challenges
facing humanity and future civilizations. Civic Values have to do with
people’s perception, understanding, belief, and judgment that
typically promote but sometimes hamper a maturation of humanity and
civilization. Civic Engagement refers to network, organization,
alliance, and partnership in diverse levels and fashions that may
contribute to public and global governance. Civic Action involves
movement, campaign, and decision-making by a wide range of actors as a
reflection of their endeavor to solve global problems including
climate change.
Along with keynote speeches by
globally renowned figures, the WCF welcomes applications for papers and
panels. In an effort to substantiate the main and key themes, the WCF will
pay particular attention to papers and panels on the following issues:
- -Climate Change
(Global Warming)
- -Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs)
- -Environmental
Protection and Sustainable Development
- -Energy Shortage
- -Economic Prosperity
and Equality
- -Poverty and Foreign
Aid (ODA)
- -Higher Education
for Humane Purposes and Social Responsibility
- -Global Justice and
Social Harmony
- -Political
Development and Political Stability
- -Human Rights Issues
and Human Security
- -Cultural Diversity
and Tolerance
- -Global Peace and
Global Governance
- -Dialogue Among
Civilizations
- -Humane Use of
Technology
- -Crisis Management such as Post-conflict and
Disaster
- The WCF invites and
welcomes submissions for papers and panels on other related themes or
topics so long as they emulate the main and key themes. The WCF will
have preference for proposals that are interdisciplinary or have
practical implications.
This Call for Papers and Panels is open to all members of
the global community--scholars, international organization leaders, NGO
leaders, government officials, corporation representatives, journalists,
etc. Individuals, institutions, or groups may propose papers or panels by completing the Paper and Panel Proposal Form via
on-line at the WCF 2009 official website: http://www.wcf2009.org/callpaper_form.php
. A panel consists of three to four paper presentations, a chairperson, and
discussant(s), or it can take the form of a roundtable. Individually
submitted papers, upon acceptance, will be assigned to appropriate panels
or poster sessions. The WCF reserves the right to refuse proposals or alter
panel proposals. All submissions should be in English. Accepted presenters
must register as conference delegates. All presentations and papers will be
published on the conference website. Presentations and papers may also be
published (with agreement of authors) in the conference proceedings.
Registration fee and incentives for speakers will be announced shortly.
DEADLINE
FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS : January 31, 2009
The deadline for proposal submissions is January 31, 2009.
The WCF will confirm acceptance of submissions, at the latest time, by
February 28, 2009. Acceptance process will proceed on the
first-come-first-serve basis. Proposals received after the deadline may be
considered but are unlikely to be included in the program.
CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR INQUIRIES
WCF 2009 Secretariat, Kyung Hee University
1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea
E-mail: wcf2009papers@khu.ac.kr
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