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Hi all,
I'm posting conference information submitted by a colleague.  Please
reply to the e-mail address below.
Don Richardson



          RURAL FUTURES '97 CONFERENCE:

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     COLLABORATING for GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

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               Four major themes:
               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

             >>> Community Building <<<

            >>> Development of Women <<<

          >>> Agriculture and Extension <<<

        >>> Development for Communication <<<




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          Thursday and Friday, March 6 & 7, 1997
               OMAFRA  Conference Facilities
                  Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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          Department of Rural Extension Studies
          Phone:    (519) 824-4120  Ext. 6239
          Fax:      (519) 836-9941
          Email:    rfutures@tdg.uoguelph.ca
          http://tdg.uoguelph.ca/rural_futures

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This conference will strive to provide participants
with a participatory forum in which to share and learn
about the inter-related themes of community building,
agriculture and extension, the development of women,
and development for communication.

This conference is based on the belief that each of us
have a wealth of experiences and views which can
benefit each other --all that is necessary is excellent
facilitation in a supportive, dynamic conference
format.  It is also based on the belief that knowledge
is shared, rather than imparted.

Information shared by resource people about
international and Canadian projects and programs will
be the catalyst for discussion in small groups.  This
will be equally balanced with time to share personal
experiences and raise issues for discussion.  With the
assistance of a facilitator, each small working group
will take its own path to learning about its theme.
Participants from the four themes will mix together in
catchmen groups to reflect and expand upon these
learnings and discover inter-relations between themes.

Participants will be challenged to re-examine their
worldviews, assumptions and learnings.  Together we
will meet the overall objective of deepening our
individual and collective understanding of global
sustainability in an international perspective.


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                    Conference Costs:

          $85 before February 15, 1997

                    Student Rate:

          $45 before February 15, 1997



       NEW ONE DAY FEE: 25$ STUDENTS/ 45$ OTHER


NOTE:  Payment must be made by cheque and payable
               to the University of Guelph.  Thank you.

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*  WHAT IS RURAL FUTURES '97 ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...An interactive conference designed for
international/ rural development practitioners,
students and the community to collaborate and dialogue
on issues of importance to rural futures around the
world.
_______________________________________________________

*  CONFERENCE FORMAT in a nutshell:

*    Registration & workshop selection:  8:00-9:00 am
                                         on March 6

*    Key note speaker:  George Sefa Dei,
                         Sociology Professor; Director,
                         Centre for Anti-Racism
                         Studies, O.I.S.E.

*    Resource people for each of the 4 themes will
     share their experience and understanding of the
     theme under discussion.  Assisted by professional
     facilitators, they will help to provide a catalyst
     for further discussion in small groups.

*    Catchment groups --small discussion groups
     combining participants from all theme areas.  This
     will expand on opportunity to reflect, analyze and
     synthesize connections ~between~ the themes.

*    Lunch is available on-site at the OMAFRA
     cafeteria, or at nearby restaurants

*    An evening of music and drama on March 6th

*    Plenary wrap-up session

*    Opportunities for ongoing discussion, feedback and
     evaluation will maximize the participatory nature
     of the conference
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AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE

*    Display area

*    International marketplace

*    Access to Internet resources and email

*    Opportunities board --advertise events, jobs, etc.

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CONFERENCE THEMES:

*    COMMUNITY BUILDING:  How can we build true
     community in places of work, homes, and
     communities?  A profile of special programs
     explores the individual and collective actions
     which nurture ideals of participation.  Ideas will
     be applied as we strive to build community within
     the conference itself.

*    DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNICATION:  What potential do
     the emerging technologies offer for sustainable
     development?  What is the "fit" between these new
     technologies and the needs of rural communities,
     organizations and workplaces?  A look at
     communications issues, opportunities and
     challenges facing rural communities across the
     globe.

*    DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN:  The 1995 U.N. Conference on
     women in Beijing revealed that equality between
     men and women is low in priority on national
     agendas... Yet the development of women is key to
     rural development.  Which approaches are
     successful in changing attitudes and patterns in
     gender communication?  What discourse style is
     most appropriate to achieving change?

*    AGRICULTURE and EXTENSION:  Agriculture is the
     basic economy, yet many people are not aware of
     where their food comes from.  Is it important for
     consumers to know how agricultural products reach
     their tables?  How is the abundance of food in
     some sectors of the world related to hunger and
     starvatio in others?

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====Please visit our Web site for more information=====

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