UPCOMING EVENTS

Learning Policy Action Group Steering Committee Retreat

Wasan Island, Ontario
July 6-10, 2002
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The Steering Committee of the Policy Action Group on Learning (PAGL), developed by Commissioner Paul Cappon and colleagues, will meet at the Breuninger Foundation estate on Wasan Island, in the Muskoka Lakes of Ontario, Canada, on July 6 - 10, 2002.

This first gathering will bring together 10-15 members of the PAGL Steering Committee to explore and develop strategies to broaden the work on seven selected themes and two focus groups. The meeting will also be a key step in the process of producing implementable recommendations for learning on a global basis.
The PAGL seeks to critically review issues surrounding education and learning, as well as the impact of the forces of globalization.

The following seven broad issue areas have been proposed for review:

1) The opportunities, challenges and problems associated with the use of information and communications technologies;

2) The articulation of the roles and areas of prime involvement for the private sector in traditional and non-traditional learning;

3) The examination of the roles, mandates and operating philosophies of major multi-lateral bodies within the UN system and among the Bretton Woods organizations, among others, to ascertain areas of common purpose, divergence, overlap and duplication; and to identify ways of raising the profile of education and learning in general on their respective agendas;

4) The review of issues related to the relationship between learning and cultural preservation and diversity, multiculturalism, linguistic preservation and the promotion of basic human rights throughout all aspects of learning;

5) The review of the dichotomy between learning for sustainable development and learning as an individual intellectual pursuit;

6) The assessment of the opportunities and challenges surrounding life-long learning, the inter-relationship between formal and non-formal ways of learning, new approaches to formal learning that reflect varying social and economic conditions and the roles that formal and non-formal learning can play in combating poverty;

7) The review of the intellectual and resource requirements of the agents of the transmission of knowledge (teachers, etc), including the means by which various stakeholders can assess the results of their actions and interventions.

In addition to these seven issue areas, transverse considerations such as gender equality, the impact of the transformation of education and learning systems on LDCs and on Africa in particular, and the role that youth themselves can play in shaping new solutions will also be taken into account.

To view an Executive Summary: Globalization and Learning - Putting Humanity First!, an Introductory Discussion Paper of The Policy Action Group on Learning, please click here.

World Summit on Sustainable Development: Rio + 10

Johannesburg, South Africa
August 27 - September 3, 2002

The Commission on Globalisation will convene a series of activities with various partners during this special UN summit designed to raise issues pertaining to environmental global governance and related issues to sustainability.

Additional information on Commission-organized events will be available in the coming weeks.

For additional information on the World Summit for Sustainable Development, please click here.

Second Annual Conference of the Commission

Mexico City, Mexico
December 4-7, 2002

The second annual conference of the Commission on Globalisation will be held in Mexico City at the El Presidente Hotel December 4-7 2002. This meeting will provide a unique opportunity for Co-Chairs and Commissioners, representing a diverse and international multi-stakeholder community, to come together to discuss the current state of the debate concerning globalisation and global governance, particularly as it pertains to transitional economies.

Mexico was selected principally because it is a prime example of a country making the transition from a "developing" to a "developed" nation. In addition, the Forum has maintained a long-standing relationship with President Vicente Fox, who is scheduled to deliver the opening keynote address on December 4.

The Mexican Foreign Ministry is involved in helping to shape the conference, and will directly participate in the event. Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002) and Co-Chair of the Commission, will chair the two-day proceedings. Among the many Commissioners currently confirmed to participate, Co-Chairs include Mahnaz Afkhami, Lloyd Axworthy, Carl Bildt, Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado, Rebeca Grynspan, Jose Ramos Horta, Mary Robinson, Juan Somavia and Manuel Tello.

Also attending the meeting will be Mexican and other Latin American Government Officials, Business Leaders and Civil Society Activits and representatives from the media and foundation communities.

The conference is designed to allow the participants to come together in uncensored dialogue to discuss various global issues of common concern, including regime change in Iraq and the clash of civilizations; human rights, the war on terrorism and the globalization agenda; managing risk in the global economy; migration and the displacement of peoples in the global economy; free trade and social equity; US power, national sovereignty and the future of the global system and pathways to a sustainable civilization. The meeting will also provide the opportunity to review the development of the Commission's policy action groups and special initiatives through special plenary presentations and afternoon roundtable sessions.

We expect a significant delegation from the business sector at this event, possibly the largest representation to date. Booz Allen Hamilton will be presenting our closing session on "Pathways to a Sustainable Civilization" and we are in final discussions with a number of other major international and local Mexican corporations regarding their participation in the plenary sessions and two afternoon business-related roundtables.

Televisa is in discussion with the Forum regarding coverage of the event. It is expected that President Fox's keynote and several of the plenary sessions will be broadcast live throughout Mexico. In addition, Televisa will be inviting select Commissioners to appear on various news related programs they are hosting during this time. The Forum is also in discussions regarding the filming and dissemination of the Commission deliberations to major universities in Mexico.

The Forum is working with the Co-Chair and Commissioner network in the development of the agenda. Long-time Forum events producer, e2k, will produce this event.

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