Creating Our Common Future

Looking back at the last century with its devastating wars, genocides, environmental disasters, more often than not caused by humans, an urgent need for a paradigmatic shift in human relationships suggests itself. Other factors point in the same direction, such as movement towards globalization, reflected in greater fragmentation of society, of growing migration of persons across state boundaries, resulting in ethnic clashes of culture and competing claims over territories. This means that greater social cohesion is needed while at the same time a heightened awareness of difference and mutual respect has to be fostered.

It is widely accepted that education is a crucial agency in developing a new awareness of "the self" and "the other" - education at the formal, informal and non-formal level. The essays in this collection reflect on the possibilities of a "common future" and on educational programs and projects that are aimed at transforming the vision of a more humane world into reality.

Looking back at the last century with its devastating wars, genocides, environmental disasters, more often than not caused by humans, an urgent need for a paradigmatic shift in human relationships suggests itself. Other factors point in the same direction, such as movement towards globalization, reflected in greater fragmentation of society, of growing migration of persons across state boundaries, resulting in ethnic clashes of culture and competing claims over territories. This means that greater social cohesion is needed while at the same time a heightened awareness of difference and mutual respect has to be fostered. It is widely accepted that education is a crucial agency in developing a new awareness of "the self" and "the other"—education at the formal, informal and non-formal level. The essays in this collection reflect on the possibilities of a "common future" and on educational programs and projects that are aimed at transforming the vision of a more humane world into reality. Contents: Preface * J. Campbell: Introduction * C.N. Power: UNESCO&rsquos Response to the Challenge of Establishing Unity in Diversity * J. Campbell, M.M. McMeniman, and N. Baikaloff: A Working Consensus on a Desirable Future: An Australian Case-Study * W.N. Oats: Nurturing the Human Spirit * B.V. Hill: Educating for Moral Responsibility * R.J. Bawden: Educating for Unity through Diversity of Knowing: A Systemic Perspective * E.M. Campbell: Educating for a Humane Society * J. Fien: Educating for a Sustainable Future * B. Keepes, J.M. Maling: A Weaving of Threads: The Warp and the Weft of the WEF Project * Index

Booknews

"The overarching theme of this book is that if education is to avoid the risk of condemning itself to irrelevance, it must contribute to ... the achievement of unity while retaining, respecting, valuing and and encouraging diversity." So states Campbell (emeritus, U. of Queensland) in his introduction to nine essays on educating for a sustainable future. Published jointly with UNESCO as part of a World Education Fellowship project. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)