Peace efforts, past, present and future will be both celebrated and discussed at a one-day symposium at Lincoln University on Saturday 2 August attended by the Minister for the Environment and for Disarmament and Arms Control, Marian Hobbs.
Hosted by Lincoln University s Environment, Society and Design Division, the seminar is titled Peace Offerings 2003, He Tukunga Rongo.
It is the first time Lincoln has held such an event, although in January 1998 the University played a notable world-stage role as the venue for the final round of the Bougainville Peace Talks, which brought an end to the 10-year-long conflict between Papua-New Guinea and Bougainville.
How the links between peace, justice and the environment can be strengthened will be an important theme of the day.
Environmental Management lecturer Dr Roy Montgomery, one of the organisers, believes that Lincoln University is well positioned to contribute to the aim of the day.
"Many academic staff teach and research on environment and peace issues," he says, "and the University also has the largest number of different nationalities among its students of any of the universities in New Zealand."
The day runs from 9am to 5pm and the first address, at 9.15am, is an introduction to some of Lincoln's educational inputs towards linking peace and the environment.
Environment and Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Marian Hobbs speaks at 10am, followed at 11am by Kate Dewes of the Disarmament and Security Centre, Christchurch, and Mrs Pauline Tangiora, who together will talk on Holistic Justice: whose responsibility?
The afternoon programme features workshops led by Canterbury people involved in peace, justice and environment issues. Topics are: Peace Begins at Home: a dialogue; Weaving the Future: activating young people for peace; Wilderness: social and cultural connections; Think Globally, Act Locally: personal ways of incorporating peace, environment and justice into our daily lives; and Communicating Effectively With Decision-makers and Media.
The fee for the day is $20 which includes morning and afternoon teas and light lunch.
Contacts for registration are Dr Roy Montgomery, email address, or Linda Persson, email address, both of the Environmental Management Group, PO Box 84, Lincoln University.
For further information contact
Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury
Tel: (03) 3252811 ext 8549.
Email: Ian Collins