CFP: African Environmental Ethics, Philosophy and Education versus Environmental Activism: The Great Debate

The Environmental Ethics Unit in the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos, Nigeria in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Philosophy (CEP) in the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, University of North Texas (UNT), located in Denton, Texas, United States will hold its third annual conference on the above theme.

The search for sustainable living has been assumed to be the preserve of scientists and social scientists. Owing to the technological nature of its phenomena, it is believed to be of scientific methodology. Where human concern is needed, a social science methodology is expected which can easily be put in practice by environmental activists and advocacy groups. The questions have always concerned why humankind continues with the abuse and pollution of the environment when it is believed doing so will endanger their lives? Answers to these are not the province of science but spirituality and the arts.

The conference, therefore, will be more of a conversation among various practitioners of the environmental project. Environmental ethicists and educational specialists argue more for the right consciousness and living springing from personal convictions that would make the human-environmental balance possible. An integration of these varied paths are therefore necessary for the successful restoration of humans and the environment in Africa, where advocates of African pre-colonial ecological principles can share their insights with the global community.

The conference welcomes papers, reports, and presentations from academicians, civil societies groups and activists, governments, etc., on any aspect of the discourse. Themes therefore include but are not limited to environmental justice, education, rights, advocacy, philosophy and ethics, religion and spirituality, the right of animals, conservation, population, poverty issue, hunger, peace studies.

The conference seeks to deepen research on and contribute to an African viewpoint on the global environmental problems, issues and solutions. Papers from other continental perspectives that may be comparative in addressing the themes of the conference are welcomed. In our globalized world, no country or continent is immune to environmental problems. Thus, any comparative viewpoint is complimentary to localized space.

The hope of the conference organizers is to have the papers published in some format as a reference for African environmental philosophy and studies.

Abstracts of not more than 250 words should be sent to the Conference Coordinator, Dr. Chigbo Joseph Ekwealo at [email protected]> or [email protected]>. The deadline has been extended to 27 June 2012.

The conference registration fee is $160 for foreign delegates and N20, 000.00 (Naira) for Nigerian participants, which includes all program materials, lunch for two days. Questions regarding mode of payment, transportation, accommodation and other logistics should be directed to the Conference Coordinator, Dr. Chigbo Ekwealo ([email protected]) or Dr. Gene Hargrove, Director of CEP ([email protected]).

Contact:

Dr. Chigbo Ekwealo and Dr. Gene Hargrove
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]