[Tlc] TLC-conference

[justinm at ucr.edu]

FYI.
Thanks,
justin

2nd Annual Arizona State University Graduate Conference on Asian Studies

Sustainability in Asia, Sustainability and Asia

Southeast Asia is home to some of the last remaining rainforests in the world.  India is facing a tremendous natural resource drain due to a growing population. China is becoming the world’s leading consumer of coal and has 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities. Numerous ethnic cultures throughout Asia are disappearing with the inroads of modernization. Diseases and viruses have swept across parts of Asia endangering the health and well being of communities. Given the growing influence of Asian countries in the world economy, combined with the continuing industrial development of particularly China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, it is timely and necessary to pose the question: What does sustainability mean in and to Asia?

Asia is important to the international community and new to the sustainability discourse. Sustainability in Asia can introduce potential alternative models to sustainability.  In most western discussions, sustainability, or the more debated “sustainable development,” refers to “socially responsible economic development that protects the resource base of future generations.” (UN website). Sustainability points to the human-nature and human-human relationships that must be considered to provide an “ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible” environment (Kottak 2004). Does this notion of sustainability fit the situation in Asia? Do the economic, industrial, social, political situations in Asian countries call for a redefinition of the western notion of sustainability? Is sustainability even possible in most Asian countries?

ASU is recognized as a groundbreaking institution in incorporating sustainability into its academic mission and the classroom. Considering that sustainability can no longer be seen as simply a local issue, but a global one, we must bring new approaches and new voices to the table to understand how sustainability works throughout the world. The 2nd Annual Arizona State University Graduate Conference on Asian Studies seeks to achieve that goal by bringing graduate students working on sustainability issues in Asia to ASU.  In addition to providing a forum for these voices to come together at an institution uniquely suited for discussions on sustainability, we hope these students will develop relationships that will continue to mature throughout their careers, relationships that will provide stimulus for further research on sustainability.  

The 2nd Annual Arizona State University Graduate Conference on Asian Studies aims to engage the above questions from all fields of the humanities and social sciences.  Proposals may address but are not limited to the following areas:
                                               i.     Environmental/Ecological Sustainability
                                             ii.     Economic Sustainability
                                            iii.     Cultural Vitality and Preservation
                                            iv.     Health and Well-being
                                             v.     Community Building and Civic Engagement
                                            vi.     Gender Roles and Relations
                                          vii.     Theoretical & Definitional Issues
                                         viii.     Methodological Issues 

Interested graduates students currently enrolled in Masters or Doctoral programs are welcome to submit proposals.  Proposals will include an approximately 250 word abstract, a 150 word biography, name, university, departmental affiliation, and current contact information.  Please send proposals in word format to asianstudiesconference at gmail.com.

The conference is scheduled for October 16th and 17th, 2009, and the deadline for submissions is August 1, 2009. 

> *********************************
> Graduate Associate
> Religious Studies Department
> Arizona State University
> brooke.schedneck at asu.edu



______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu