Climate change and the ecological devastation wrought by our global industrial civilization are an urgent reality. That reality demands profound reflection on everything we have taken for granted, including our beliefs and desires, and our perceptions and culture. What exactly must we do about the historical task that confronts us in this era?
We need insight into the heart of the crisis. We need to focus on the reality that confronts us in connection with the universe, the planet, and humanity. These limitations cannot be superseded through narrow-minded, human-centered modern knowledge that separates the human from the other, and culture from nature. What are we, and what should we seek? These are the questions we must examine along with the wellspring of human existence.
We must ponder what our role is on this planet that is being destroyed by humanity. We must correct the environmental and ecological evils that humanity has triggered and go out in search of new horizons for values oriented on future sustainability and new potential. That will necessitate a perceptual shift leading to a transformation of our daily lives.
We need to open new horizons for a politics oriented on the future of global citizens. We need global civic society to show solidarity and unity and action so as to surmount the myopia of realpolitik and the survival logic of "every man for himself." We need the wisdom and action to rise above greed and the delusion of infinite growth and pay attention to the devastation of our planet. We need to open future horizons that will enable humanity and our civilization to coexist with nature and the planet and to thrive together.
By organizing this Peace BAR Festival to celebrate the 41st UN International Day of Peace, Kyung Hee University System seeks a plan of action to overcome the crisis as we contemplate the watchword of our era: "evolve or perish." As future citizens, we urge you to join us on our journey toward the opportunities that await beyond this crisis.
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Date: Wednesday, September 21th, 2022
Host | Kyung Hee University System |
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Organizer | Kyung Hee University System Miwon Peace Academy, Kyung Hee University Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee Cyber University Global Academy for Future Civilizations, Kyung Hee University Healthcare System Global Academy for Medical Science and Civilization |
Sept. 21th (Wednesday) 10:00-10:45
(Korean Standard Time)
The 2022 Peace BAR Festival includes events to celebrate the 41st UN International Day of Peace and commemorate the 10th anniversary of the passing of Dr. Young Seek Choue. Under the main theme of "Peace or Collapse: In Search of New Horizons for Geopolitics," the festival seeks to diagnose the crisis of civilization that confronts us all. This is a call for an expansion of civic consciousness that can open new horizons for civilization while focusing on the planetary aporia facing us at the end of an evolutionary journey of millions of years. Those challenges include the unprecedented climate crisis, the threat of nuclear war, gradually escalating state violence, the population explosion, the food crisis, the water crisis, and polarization. While reflecting upon the tradition of "unfolding cultural worlds for humanity" and "academe and peace" that Kyung Hee has cultivated since its establishment, we will explore the possibility of holistic thinking and a world of action that can open new horizons for geopolitics.
Opening Announcement
Progress Report on the International Day of Peace
Video Screening
Ceremonial Presentation of the Founder's Book
Commemorative Music
Sept. 21 (Wed) 10:45-11:45 am (Korean Standard Time)
Under the main theme of "Peace or Collapse: In Search of New Horizons for Geopolitics," the festival seeks to diagnose the crisis of civilization that confronts us all. This is a call for an expansion of civic consciousness that can open new horizons for civilization while focusing on the planetary aporia facing us at the end of an evolutionary journey of millions of years. Those challenges include the unprecedented climate crisis, the threat of nuclear war, gradually escalating state violence, the population explosion, the food crisis, the water crisis, and polarization. While reflecting upon the tradition of "unfolding cultural worlds for humanity" and "academe and peace" that Kyung Hee has cultivated since its establishment, we will explore the possibility of holistic thinking and a world of action that can open new horizons for geopolitics.
Theme
Panel
Sept. 21 (Wed) 1:00-1:50 pm (Korean Standard Time)
On the 10th anniversary of the passing of Dr. Young Seek Choue, founder of Kyung Hee University System and the person who first proposed the establishment of the UN International Day of Peace and International Year of Peace in 1981, we are holding a symposium to shed light upon Dr. Choue's conception of peace. That conception was shaped by his unique system of thinking and scope of action, which adopted a holistic perspective on the universe and humanity, on nature and the world, and on matters both great and small. Through this symposium, we will explore how the new path that Dr. Choue proposed for humanity and for global civilization offers a message for human society today as it confronts a crisis unprecedented in the history of civilization.
Theme
Panel
Sept. 21 (Wed) 2:00-3:30 pm (Korean Standard Time)
The round table discussion that has been organized to commemorate this year's International Day of Peace will seek solutions for our crisis around the theme of "Onset of Disaster: In Search of the Gateway of New Life." Human society today is overshadowed by the prospect of collapse as we face the onslaught of the total catastrophe of global warming. It is time to prepare for the worst-case scenario of this global catastrophe. Earth is turning into a planet that is no longer capable of supporting humanity. Heat waves as high as 50°C sweep locations around the globe, including Europe, the Americas, and East Asia; fierce fires consume lush fields and forests; the cryosphere is rapidly melting; torrential downpours flood the deserts; extreme droughts lay bare riverbeds around the world; and pandemics proliferate. In addition, geopolitical instability among the great powers, in Ukraine, in East Asia, and in the Middle East has made nuclear war more likely than ever before. We have no more time to delay; we are running out of time. We need to seek out the gateway for new life that can make this emerald planet safe and sustainable again. We are in urgent need of a transformation if we are to evade the climate catastrophe and the crisis of nuclear annihilation. We need to take action and adopt a new perspective on humanity, nature, civilization, and the universe. It is critical that we halt the rampage of our material production and consumption, our greed for endless growth, our rash conflicts, and our hegemonic rivalry, and that we develop an ethics of mutual care and consideration that will enable the coexistence of life on our planet in all its precious forms.
Theme
Thematic Video
Panel
September 19 (Mon)-October 14 (Fri), 2022 (four weeks)
Message: Capturing the Life of Dr. Young Seek Choue
By reflecting upon the significance of the message left by Dr. Young Seek Choue, founder of the Kyung Hee University System, on the 10th anniversary of his passing, the Kyung Hee University Archives and Central Museum seek to recall his life, thought and vision while expressing the Kyung Hee spirit.
Locations
Materials in Exhibition
Content of Exhibition
Organizer
Peace BAR Festival celebrates humanity's efforts towards overcoming conflict and confrontations to work towards peace and mutual prosperity. This festival began in 2004 with the groundbreaking ceremony for the UN Peace Park and Global NGO Complex, which was an extension of the 1999 Seoul International Conference of NGOs co-hosted by Kyung Hee University, UN NGO/DPI, and CoNGO.
BAR is an acronym for the 60-year tradition of pursuing a 21st century society that is "spiritually Beautiful, materially Affluent, humanly Rewarding."
The Peace BAR Festival seeks to create a global community founded on the common values of peace and mutual prosperity by bringing together academia, the UN, NGOs, business partnerships, and the public in various programs such as academic conferences, art and culture festivals, social service projects, and youth forums.
In 2009, which marked the University's 60th anniversary, Kyung Hee celebrated the UN International Day of Peace by holding the Kyung Hee Peace Workshop. This event was organized by the Kyung Hee University Global Academy for Future Civilizations