At One Earth Future Forum, Thought Leaders Set Sights on a World Without War
Denver, CO (PRWEB) October 30, 2014 -- Is global peace possible in the 21st century? This was the question du jour at the One Earth Future Forum in Aspen, Colo. Oct. 13 - 15, where noted thinkers including Steven Pinker, Paul Collier, Sanam Anderlini and others discussed research on trends in violent conflict, the key drivers affecting global stability and what individuals and institutions can do to diminish violence and promote peaceful alternatives.
The One Earth Future Foundation plans on releasing a complete report on the topic in 2015.
"The conversations were intended to share developments in what we know about the trends in violence and possibility of peace internationally, and identify what can be done to help support peace,” said One Earth Future Foundation (OEF) Deputy Director of Research Conor Seyle. "In recent years there has been a quiet explosion of what we know about the drivers of peace and conflict, leading us to a better understanding of what works, and what doesn't, in efforts to reduce armed conflict. The Forum was a place to bring together the champions of these ideas, discover common ground, and begin the process of formulating a cohesive, practical strategy that can take us closer to a world without war."
The Forum was an initial step toward the creation of OEF's report on the subject, that will provide an empirical look at trends in war and violence, and what steps humanity can take toward creating a more peaceful world.
Leaders at OEF acknowledged that warfare has deep and complex origins. Forum participants had a wide range of opinions on the topics at hand, which included the role of economic systems, global warming, gender equality, technology, resource management, and a host of other factors known to spark armed conflict throughout the globe.
Despite varying degrees of skepticism among participants, an overall sense of optimism and hope for peace endured. By the Forum's close, the participants had begun to shape common principles that can provide a realistic and practical path toward a world without war.
"There is no question that this is a difficult endeavor," Seyle said, "But our participants agree that if world peace is at all possible, then it is a goal worth pursuing."
About One Earth Future Foundation:
OEF is an organization which leads initiatives aimed at improving systems and services that prevent and stop armed conflict. OEF's current areas of focus include:
Enhancing maritime cooperation: Oceans Beyond Piracy works to facilitate such cooperation around maritime piracy, and Secure Fisheries brings attention to global trends around illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Creating sustainable jobs in fragile economies: Shuraako vets small- and medium-sized enterprises in Somalia and works to connect them with no- or low- interest capital so they can grow their business and hire more employees.
Raising awareness about the role of the private sector in atrocity prevention: R2P & Business showcases the private sector ‘s role in the prevention of mass atrocities.
Actively contributing to thought leadership in global issues: OEF’s research focuses on systems that solve global problems. OEF’s approach is flexible, imaginative, and yet carefully grounded in intellectual and practical analysis that informs policy-oriented applications.
OEF provides active operational, research, and strategic support, allowing its programs to focus deeply on complex problems and create constructive alternatives to violent conflict.
Tom Boyd, Flat Earth Media, http://www.flatearthmedia.com, +1 (970) 331-3715, [email protected]
Share this article