Event Details

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The Power of Compassion
An international, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary conference examining concepts of "The OTHER" from a universal, cross-cultural perspective to promote wider public dialogue about concepts of "Us and Them"

September 4-7, 2008
San Francisco, California

Sponsored by
Common Bond Institute

Co-Sponsored by
International Humanistic Psychology Association, Institute of Noetic Sciences, and Institute of Imaginal Studies

Supported by a growing list of over 90 organizations and universities internationally

www.cbiworld.org

Conference is Open to the Public.

PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE IS 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
  consider how enemy identity is formed, perpetuated, and manipulated, including fear-based belief
  systems, negative stereotypes, projection, prejudice, polarization, and scapegoating. Concepts are
  explored through psychological, sociological, cultural, anthropological, spiritual, philosophical, and
  historical, perspectives.
• Identify and compile fundamental questions, dilemmas, and implications for further deep
  inquiry and examination in an expanding public dialogue, and to recognize and challenge embedded
  negative belief systems that promote dehumanizing, 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, strategies. This includes networking and action planning sessions
  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.

"The most enriching conference experience of my life."
….Sen. John Vasconcellos

FORMAT AND CONTENT:

A 4 day program of:

• Keynote addresses
• Topical plenary panels
• Concurrent sessions of workshops and roundtables to engage concepts and explore practical applications,
• Conference-wide facilitated dialogues groups
• Interactive all-conference experiences
• E-conference addresses by leading visionaries
• Evolving Expressive Arts interpretation of the conference
• Tibetan Sand Mandala Ritual
• Evening social-cultural events and community activities
• Media / Art exhibits and displays
• Rich networking and action planning
• Multi-cultural community

An outstanding international pool of more than 45 presenters

Examples include: Huston Smith, Marianne Williamson, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Don Edward Beck, Geshe Gendun Gyatso, Maureen O'Hara, Satsuki Ina, Corinne McLaughlin, James O'Dea, Tashi Wangdu, Stanley Krippner, Sharif Abdullah, Aftab Omer, John Vasconcellos, Gay Barfield, Barbara Hartford, Michael Nagler, Maha ElGenaidi, Lee Mun Wah, Libby Traubman, Len Traubman, Deborah Koff-Chapin, David Hartsough, Christopher Thoresen, Elza Maalouf, Medea Benjamin, Kim Weichel, Louise Diamond, Skip Robertson, Kirk Schneider, Leah Green, Sandra Friedman, Steve Olweean, Ihsan Alkhatib, Imad Hamad, Mukti Khanna, Nadia Fadel, Pat Allen, Benina Gould, Anna Rodina, Jean Marc Randin.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND FOLLOW UP

• Formulate findings and produce published results (articles, research papers, conference reports,
  and an 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 training curriculum.
• In collaboration with our international network of cooperating organizations, planned development
  of an "Engaging The Other" curriculum for application with schools and universities, community
  organizations, religious groups, political groups, government agencies, and the general public to
  increase public awareness, sensitivity, understanding, inclusiveness, and appreciation for diversity.
• 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.
• Linking ETO program to like-missioned international conferences, as well as seeding local
  dialogue groups, to expand the diversity of representation, build on each event’s processes, and
  promote a wider public dialogue.

DIVERSE REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNITY:

In keeping with core purposes, the conference is an international, multidisciplinary, multicultural event,
bringing together key presenters and participants from various cultures and perspectives. It is also
intended to co-create an intentional learning community to explore conference themes and build a
common ground of reference essential to engaging and integrating formal learning.

LOGISTICS:

Dates: September 4-7, 2008 (Thursday evening opening through Sunday afternoon closing)
Location: San Francisco (San Mateo), California – San Mateo Marriott Hotel
Contact: Steve Olweean, Director, Conference Coordinator, Common Bond Institute
CEU: Continuing Education Units available

FURTHER LINKS:

This conference series is integrated with an edited book project on the same topic, – a compilation addressing the concept of The Other through contributed chapters by authors from various cultural perspectives around the world. It is also programmatically linked to other international conferences to build on the theme and further expand an inclusive, diverse global dialogue, including the Annual International Conference on Conflict Resolution (ICR) held each May in St. Petersburg, Russia for the last 16 years.

Common Bond Institute
12170 S. Pine Ayr Drive, Climax, MI 49034 USA
Ph/Fax: 269-665-9393
Email: SOlweean@aol.com
Web: www.cbiworld.org