"Reflect upon the inner realities of the universe, the secret wisdoms involved, the enigmas,
the inter-relationships, the rules that govern all.
For every part of the universe is connected to every other part by ties that are very powerful
and admit no imbalance, nor any slackening whatsoever"

-'Abdu'l-Bahá-

FROM THE EDITORS

This issue of LEAVES is primarily dedicated to give the detailed programmes of the two major IEF activities of the year: the 5th Annual Conference and the IEF seminar at the Orlando conference on social and economic development. We hope that the programmes will inspire those of you who have not yet decided to come, to change your minds! We are also including a couple of conference announcements and the advertisement for an ongoing (September) on-line consultation on the Rio+10 process. As always our final meassage to all members and associates is to send in reports of your activities, conference announcements, book reviews etc.

- Sylvia Karlsson and Christiana Lawson

It is still possible to register for the conference, and also for the electronic version. Deadline: 1 October. See previous sendouts for more information, or our website www.bcca.org/ief

Friday 19 October
12.00-13.00 Registration
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-14.30 Welcome and opening remarks
Dr. Arthur L. Dahl, President of the International Environment Forum
The objective of the conference

14.30-15.30 From Stockholm via Rio to Johannesburg
Introductory keynote Dr. Arthur L. Dahl, followed by a roundtable discussion
15.30-16.00 Break
16.00-18.00 Panel discussion: The major challenges for the WSSD from the perspective of the youth.
18.00-19.00 Dinner
19.30-20.30 Reflections on nature/slide/multimedia show etc.
20.30- Social get-together

Saturday 20 October
8.00-9.00 Breakfast
9.00-9.15 Music and reflections
9.15-10.00 Keynote I: Knowledge for Sustainable Development (title to be specified)
Professor Beldrich Moldan, Czech Republic.
10.00-10.15 Break
10.15-11.00 Key note II: Values as the Foundation for Sustainable Behaviour
Dr. Arthur L. Dahl, Switzerland.
11.00-11.15 Break
11.15-12.00 Key note III: Education: A Constraint or a Catalyst to Sustainable Development.
Ms. Victoria Thoresen, Norway.
12.00-12.30 Discussion and questions with all three key note speakers
12.30-13.30 Lunch

13.30-14.15 Panel I: Knowledge for sustainable development
14.15-15.00 Panel II: Values for sustainable development
15.00-15.15 Break

15.15-16.30 Panel III: Education for sustainable development
16.30-18.00 Working groups in parallel on knowledge, values and education
18.00-19.00 Dinner

19.30-20.30 A project on moral education in Bosnia
Mr. Laurent Mesbah and Mrs. Rebecca Mesbah.

20.30 -21.30 Evening cultural programme

Sunday 21 October
8.00-9.00 Breakfast
9.00-9.15 Music and reflections
9.15-10.00 Reports of the working groups
10.00-12.00 Panel: Synthesis and integration
Chairs and rapporteurs of each group are in the panel.
12.00-12.30 Final consultations on the result and report of the conference.
Closing remarks.
12.30-13.30 Lunch

13.30-15.30 General Assembly of the International Environment Forum

Theme: "Application of Bahá'í Principles in Sustainable Development and the Environment"

Wednesday, December 12
10:30 - 11:15 Facilitators/Presenters: Peter Adriance (USA) and Roxanne Lalonde (Canada)

These offerings will help participants to better understand how the Bahá'í teachings apply to and can influence sustainable development in the global and local contexts. Members of the International Environment Forum will present overviews of Bahá'í involvement in recent international/U.N. environment related activities and of different faith perspectives regarding the environment.

11:15 - 12:00 "The Three Sisters Garden Project: Indigenous Agricultural Values Respectful of the Environment"
Facilitators/Presenters: Sandy Gershuny, Alma Lo (Canada)

14.00-15.15 "Reconnecting Faith with Home" - Part I
Facilitator/Presenter: Bob Zuber (USA)

This workshop examines the disconnects between faith and place and explores some of the faith and place-based resources (including Green Maps) that can help people understand more about local environments. This understanding is a prerequisite to being more effective stewards of the gifts of home. The requirements of faith-based stewardship, a different, more intense level of personal involvement in nurturing local resources, will also be discussed.

3:30 - 5:00 "And All Life is Sacred: First Nations Reflections on the Environment"
Facilitators/Presenters: Sohnela Wiji (East Coast) and Honour All Nations (West Coast) drum groups

In this presentation, members of two sister "Baha'i Drums" come together in celebration of the Teaching "And All Life is Sacred" - Sohnela Wiji (East Coast) and Honour All Nations (West Coast). Drawing on East Coast First Nations Teachings and the Baha'i Sacred Writings on Agriculture and the Environment, Sohnela Wiji Drum Keepers speak to the role of First Nations women as keepers and teachers of the wisdom of Mother Earth. Members of Honour All Nations Drum Group give voice to the interrelationship of sacred place and song in Northwest Coast culture and its role as a tool for transformation, community healing, and building relationships. Together, presenters will share songs they have received during their travels and set Baha'i Sacred Texts to the drum.

Saturday , December 15
14.00-17.00 "Reconnecting Faith with Home" - Part I (reprise) and II,
Facilitator/Presenter: Bob Zuber (USA).
Featured Artists: Members of the Sohnela Wiji and Honour All Nations drum groups

This workshop begins with a brief summary of the Wednesday afternoon session, followed by an interactive workshop that applies some of the tools and ideas presented. Participants will be involved in an introductory Green Map exercise, experiencing how faith-based and other community resources can be applied in promoting investigation/assessment of local communities. We will cover the use of ecological/cultural icons to symbolize important sites, finding and using a "base map," community investigation skills, and using maps as resources for promoting community sustainability initiatives.

Your chance to speak out on 'What Earth Summit 2002 should be trying to achieve?' Key writers and thinkers on sustainable development will start the debate. Everyone is encouraged to join in.
WHEN: Throughout September 2001.

Questions
Week 1 (3 - 9 September)
How can cities be made part of a sustainable future? What are the key barriers, good models, roles and responsibilities involved in improving 21st century urban life? How should Earth Summit 2002 address this issue?

Week 2 (10 - 16 September)
How can marginalized people participate effectively in todayís globalised world? What are the roles and responsibilities of key actors? What obstacles and processes should be addressed at Earth Summit 2002 to tackle this issue?

Week 3 (17 - 23 September)
HIV/AIDS is a great threat to sustainable development; how can multi-sectoral responses be developed to influence government policies and pharmaceutical companies on this issue? How can Earth Summit 2002 tackle the wider question of equitable health care?

Week 4 (24 - 30 September)
How can multi-national companies be influenced to adopt corporate citizenship and accountability for sustainable development? Who are the key actors and what are the main barriers? What strategies could Earth Summit 2002 develop to address this issue?

If those questions trouble you, please join us to discuss them.

We will produce weekly summaries and a final report of the discussions, analysing the results and different viewpoints and recommendations. The report will be widely disseminated to policy-makers and all other interested stakeholders engaged in the 2nd PrepCom of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (New York, January 2002) and be made available online.

More information is available at www.lifeonline.org

The event will be held in Warsaw December 9-11, 2001. The conference is promoted by the Polish Ministries of: Science, Economy, Environment, and Agriculture and Rural Development. It will gather 300 persons representing research and development institutes, international organisations, authorities, producers and investors in renewable energy sector. It will comprise three plenary sessions on December 10 and eight technical sessions on December 11.

There is an opportunity for selected speakers to present a paper within on of the eight technical sessions: biomass energy, solar energy, wind energy, small hydro plants, geothermal energy, renewable energy sources in agriculture, renewable energy sources in architecture, general issues of renewable energy sector.

If you are interested in submitting a paper in an area of the session, or in attending the conference, please complete the enclosed application form. If you would like further information please contact either Joanna Dudzilska or Ludmila Lakomiec
tel/fax: 0-22 848 48 32, 646 68 50, 646 68 54
e-mail: joannad@ibmer.waw.pl, ludlak@ibmer.waw.pl
http://www.ibmer.waw.pl/ecbrec

The 10th GIN conference will explore the social dimensions of sustainability. In recent years we have witnessed a transition in discussions on industrial greening in which corporate environmental behaviour is connected more and more to the social dimensions of sustainable development and to issues of social responsibility. The Greening of Industry Network conference in Goteborg will offer a meeting place and platform for exploring how business might meet the social dimensions of the sustainability challenge.

There are two openings for Biologists (must have a PhD) at the University of the South Pacific. Other departments will also be hiring soon. The Chronicle of Higher Education should have details about these and other openings at this regional South Pacific University.
Contact Austin Bowden-Kerby at bowdenkerby@is.com.fj