How to follow the Conference on World Affairs online
Today and tomorrow, April 13 and 14, you can follow the 75th annual Conference on World Affairs online at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
I write this quick note just before speaking in one of the three panels I will be participating in, which are all related to climate change. So this is just to inform you about this conference and the possibility of following it live.
So let's start with a brief introduction of this unique and diverse conference that brings together a broad range of experts from various fields to engage in discussions and presentations on global issues. The conference has a rich history, dating back to its founding in 1948. The idea was then to create a forum for students to engage with experts on global issues, and the first conference featured 25 speakers from various fields, including journalism, politics, and the arts. The meeting was successful, drawing over 5,000 attendees and generating national media attention.
Over the years, the conference has grown and evolved, attracting renowned speakers such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry Kissinger, and Carl Sagan. One of the unique aspects of the Conference on World Affairs is its format. The conference is free and open to the public, with no formal presentations or papers. Instead, speakers engage in informal discussions and Q&A sessions, allowing for a more informal and dynamic exchange of ideas.
The conference has always been a trailblazer in promoting diversity and inclusion and seeks to amplify underrepresented communities' voices. In addition, the Conference provides a platform for students and community members to engage with experts on critical global issues. It has helped to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness.
This year, the panels focus on a diverse range of issues relating to climate change, all selected by the students with input from a core group of community volunteers.
I hope you will be able to follow some of the debates online. Here are the links to get you started:
This is the schedule of events; just scroll down, find an event, and click "watch live."
https://www.colorado.edu/cwa/attend/cwa-week/2023-schedule
If you want to listen to me, I will be speaking at these events (all times in MT, so that is two hours earlier than ET and eight hours earlier than CET)
THURSDAY 4/13
11:00 AM - 12:10 PM: How Climate Change Impacts National Security
Other Panelists: Michael English, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Shackelford
3:30 PM - 4:40 PM: Sustainable Cities: Urban Design for a Green Future
Other Panelists: David Barrett, Marianne Holbert, David Orr
FRIDAY 4/14
9:00 AM - 10:10 AM: Competition to Collaboration: Can Climate Issues Unify Rivals?
Other Panelists: Mercy Orengo, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Shackelford
All panels and events are live-streamed and recorded and will be available to share through the CWA Archives after the Conference.
If you got this far, please read this too:
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Thanks Rita. I will look it up
Thanks for sharing, Alex. I listened to the panel on Green Cities. What struck me was the overriding theme of interconnectedness. This panel has lived in cities around the world and comes back to the idea of protection of the past is one of our greatest lessons. To truly reconnect with nature. To reconnect with each other. David Orr, from Arizona State University, made a poignant point I thought when he said his students were texting each other all through class yet were lonely. Their loneliness does not go away because of their devices.
I liked the combined wisdom of the panel and I believe it resonated with the audience. I think with age, comes wisdom, and this panel was wise to be more concerned about future generations and how to listen to their offerings because they surprise us every time with their truths. I attended a platica yesterday from La Cultura Cura in LA and the theme was generational trauma and the lessons learned. We were told to "Live life in a good way. Honor our ancestors. More blessings, less suffering."
I believe if we respect nature, honor our past and connect with each other, we have fulfilled some of what this august panel was saying: Nature is an amazing blessing. Well done Alex.