[S-C] Conference: Earth's Waters in Crisis

[Kevin Shrieve]

http://www.iras.org/conference.html

Institute on Religion in an Age of Science, Inc.

Working for a dynamic and positive relationshipbetween religion and
science since 1954.


The Fifty-first Annual Star Island Conference

Saturday, July 24, to Saturday, July 31, 2004

Earth's Waters in Crisis: a Scientific, Spiritual, and Moral Challenge

     Water is wondrous, scientifically and spiritually, and is
essential to life on our blue planet.  Water inspires the human
imagination in religion and the arts.  It is a major source of ritual
and symbol in religious traditions.  Yet, today, our waters are in
crisis due to population, pollution, climate change and a multitude of
competing local, regional and global demands.

     On Star Island, where the experience of conserving fresh water
shapes our daily lives, we will explore the roles science and religion
can play in developing ethical approaches and moral commitment to
actions on critical water issues. Among the questions to be considered
are:

*  What are water's origins and unique physical and chemical
properties?  What are the relations between the global water cycle,
climate and sea level change?

*  What is the current situation of the world's water supplies? Which
water uses are not sustainable? To what extent can conservation and
technologies help improve the situation?

*  How does water serve as symbol and substance in various religious
traditions?  Has a loss of reverence for water as precious gift and
sacred symbol contributed to the current crisis?  How can new
scientific knowledge inform religious practice?

*  How do we mediate competing demands such as those of agriculture,
industry, energy production and domestic use?

*  What are the tensions created by market forces, socio-political
interests, and the demands for human rights and just water policies? 
How can universal access to adequate clean water be achieved?


The conference site itself, with its dependence on imported fresh
water, rain and salt water, will provide a symbolic microcosm for the
emerging planetary crisis. 

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS: Sol Katz (U.Pennsylvania),  George Fisher (Johns
Hopkins),  Jeanie Graustein (M.Div.)

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS TO DATE: Owen Gingerich  (Harvard) Water in the
Universe; Holmes Rolston III (Colorado State) Environmental Ethics;
David Haberman (Indiana U. Bloomington) Hinduism and Sacred Rivers;
Barbara Rossing (Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago) Biblical
Perspectives on Water and Ecology; Ursula Goodenough (Washing U. St.
Louis) Emergent Properties of Water and their Role in Biology;
Frederick Denny (Colorado) Water in Islam; Sol Katz (U. Penn) Water in
World Cultures; George Fisher (Johns Hopkins) Living Water; Les
Roberts (Johns Hopkins) Water Technologies, Development and Health.

CHAPEL SPEAKER: V.V. Raman, Water in World Religious Traditions.

MINISTER OF THE WEEK: Rev. Barbara Whittaker-Johns, UU.

COST: CONFERENCE FEES: adults $125/person  ($100 for IRAS members who
register by March 10 & non-members who apply for membership by March
10) and $100/ youth ages 3-17; children under 3 are free, but parents
are responsible for their care at all times. PLUS room and board
deposit of $100/person over age 2; maximum registration/family $500,
plus room deposit. ROOM AND BOARD: (tentative) are payable in American
currency on the island and range from $506-656 /adult, depending on
accommodations, and $110-432/child, depending on age. Checks and cash,
but NOT credit cards, are accepted. Transportation to the island is by
ferry from Portsmouth, New Hampshire

 
PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH: Now in its 10th year, Archi Pelagos, a
professionally designed curriculum of fun activities during the adult
program, will make this an outstanding family conference. Ages 3-17.

REGISTRATION: Contact our registrar via email
(http://www.iras.org/reginote.html) to receive a registration form by
mail, or download it here (http://www.iras.org/reg2004.pdf -- Adobe
Acrobat PDF format) (a simple text version is also available --
http://www.iras.org/irasreg.txt); don't forget to include your full
mailing address. (You can also download a copy of the conference flyer
in PDF format -- http://www.iras.org/conf2004.pdf -- which contains
all of the above information.)