CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

Register for the conference here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OBOAFdklTSmzSbvz8aczwQ#/registration  
Upon registration, you will receive one Zoom link which will work for all the conference events. Conference participation is free and everyone is welcome.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

There will be two conference sessions every day, except for Saturday 17 October which has only one conference event. Generally, each 2-hour session is divided into two parts.

These are the starting times of the two sessions in different time zones:

Ethical Crisis

1. SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

08.00–09.00 London; 09.00–10.00 Central Europe

Welcome and introduction to the conference (IEF president Dr Arthur Dahl) 

Presentation: Replacing economic assumptions with ethical alternatives
Presenter: Dr Arthur Dahl, Environmental scientist, specialist in complex systems, retired Deputy Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. 

09.00–10.00 London; 10.00–11.00 Central Europe

Presentation: The Future of Agriculture - Rethinking Agriculture as a Social Ecological System: Lessons from Community Based Examples 
Presenter: Babak Farrokhzad, A specialist in measuring the resilience of computer and automation systems

2. SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

20.00–21.00 London; 21.00–22.00 Central Europe; 3 - 4pm EDT (Boston)

Presentation: The Nature of Laws, and the Laws of Nature: Towards a Planetary Jurisprudence 
Presenter: Payam Akhavan, Inaugural Chair in Human Rights at Massey College, University of Toronto, Barrister at Twenty Essex in London, and a former UN prosecutor at The Hague. 

21.00–22.00 London; 22.00–23.00 Central Europe; 4 - 5pm EDT (Boston)

Presentation: Climate change obligations of States: What can we learn from the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice?
Presenter: Halldór Thorgeirsson, Chair of the Icelandic Climate Council, served in strategic positions at the UN Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC) in Bonn 2004–18; former climate negotiator for Iceland
 

Healthy Environment, Healthy Communities

1. SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

08.00–09.00 London; 09.00–10.00 Central Europe

Presentation: Exploring how faith communities and interfaith organisations can contribute to critical discourse and engagement on the climate crisis
Presenter: Maureen Sier, Formerly Director of Interfaith Scotland, currently working with the Bahá'í Office of Public Affairs, Scotland

09.00–10.00 London; 10.00–11.00 Central Europe

Presentation: Convergence of Agriculture, Health & Education: Exploring Practical Means for Better Human Health and a Natural Environment (A Focus on Junior Youth)
Presenter: Faraz Maani, Managing director at Praxis Agricultural Co., in Dali, China

2. SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

20.00–21.00 London; 21.00–22.00 Central Europe; 3 - 4pm EDT (Boston)

Presentation: Lost in Translation: Approaches for Effective Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Presenter: Ilona Kater, an Institute Affiliate at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, and Director of Studies in Geography at Christ’s College, Cambridge

21.00–22.00 London; 22.00–23.00 Central Europe; 4 - 5pm EDT (Boston)

Presentation: Rethinking Progress for the Common Good: Our Sustainable Planet in a Technological Age
Presenter: Monica Maghami, Founder and CEO of SUSTAIN-NOBILITY ADVISORY, regulatory lawyer specialising in AI, sustainability and technology governance
 

Reading Our Reality: Pressing Issues

1. SESSION (One 1-Hour Conversation and Two 1/2-Hour Conversations)

08.00–09.00 London; 09.00–10.00 Central Europe 

Presentation: Building Resilient Rural Communities: Ethics, Education and Agriculture in Pursuit of Social Change
Presenter: Steve Worth, Honorary Associate Professor at University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; over 40 years’ practical experience in agricultural and rural development in Southern Africa

09.00–09.30 London; 10.00–10.30 Central Europe

Presentation: Spiritual roots of care of the environment
Presenters: Wendi Momen, social activist and advocate, author, book editor, and Moojan Momen, historian, author and retired family doctor

09.30 - 10.00 London; 10.30 - 11.00 Central Europe

Presentation: Ethics in Pursuit of Social Change: The Example of the Work of the YANA Foundation
Presenter: Nandana Wijelal, Founder and Executive Director of the YANA Foundation in Sri Lanka

2. SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

20.00–21.00 London; 21.00–22.00 Central Europe, 3 - 4pm EDT (Boston) 

Panel Discussion: Local Environmental Actions from civil society and business community perspectives

• Presentation: Developing Unified Action within a Diversity of Needs
  Presenter: Christine Muller, Teacher of music and the environment, IEF General Secretary
   
• Presentation: Uniting People, Nature, and Spirit: Local Environmental Action as a Pathway to Community Building and Social Progress
  Presenter: Valarie Atwood, Mom, wife, educator, environmentalist, and Bahá’í passionate about helping people connect with nature, care for the Earth, and build stronger communities
   
• Presentation: Cooperative De werkhaven: from a conversation to a regional cooperative for a regenerative future
  Presenter: Sjoerd Luteyn, Co-founder of soul.com, Representative of ebbf - ethical business building the future

21.00–22.00 London; 22.00–23.00 Central Europe, 4 - 5pm EDT (Boston)

Presentation: Learning to walk the path of transformation: the role of knowledge, justice and reflection. 
Presenter: Sylvia Karlsson Vinkhuyzen, Associate Professor with the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University, the Netherlands. researching global public governance of the environment.
 

Current Actions in the Face of Global Crises

1. SINGLE SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

08.00–09.00 London; 09.00–10.00 Central Europe 

Presentation: Healthy environment, healthy communities 
Presenter: Laurent Mesbah, Actively involved in education, youth empowerment, and sustainable development projects with international organizations in the Balkans and around the world

09.00–10.00 London; 10.00–11.00 Central Europe 

Presentation: The Pacific Under Pressure: Super Typhoons and Ocean Governance in the Mariana Islands
Presenter: Nava Khorram, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Climate Education Centre and an EU Climate Pact Partner
 

Integrating Spiritual Principles in Issues that Matter

1. SESSION (Two 1-Hour Conversations)

08.00–09.00 London; 09.00–10.00 Central Europe 

Presentation: Mindsets that galvanize ethical alternatives
Presenter: Victoria Thoresen, Adjunct professor, University of Fort Hare, South Africa, UNESCO Chair and emeritus, Center for Collaborative Learning for Sustainable Lifestyles, Inland Norway University

09.00–10.00 London; 10.00–11.00 Central Europe 

Presentation: Energy security at a time of global energy crisis
Presenter: Roya Meshki Kataria, An energy policy advisor and an expert in urban climate action, currently working in energy security policy as an advisor for the UK energy regulator

Presentation: Women and widows as agents of change in their communities 
Presenter: Wendi Momen, social activist and advocate, author, book editor

2. SESSION (One 2-Hour Conversation)

20.00–22.00 London; 21.00–23.00 Central Europe; 3 - 5pm EDT (Boston)

Presentation: A Systems Perspective on Disintegration and Integration in Our World 
Presenter: Amin Moghaddam, program and project manager responsible for structural development projects centered around business process and information technology transformations

The IEF warmly thanks the following conference partners: 
ebbf – ethical business building the future; BASED-UK (Baha'i Agency for Social and Economic Development, UK); Advance - a Baha'i-inspired organisation that promotes education, justice, and entrepreneurship for women; Ashworth Charitable Trust, and Widows Rights International.