INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR WORLD EQUILIBRIUM

January 27th to 29th, 2003
Havana Convention Center
Cuba

The 150th anniversary of the birth of JosTheta Marti will be celebrated on January 28th 2003. Marti is undoubtedly one of the outstanding figures in American history that through the universality of his thoughts, writings and socio-political project has become a personality of true world significance.

The celebration of this event inspires us to both delve into the past and to meditate on the challenges of today using Marti's world vision as our starting point. Here we will find a wealth of ideas to aid us in our understanding of the contemporary world and in our struggle to transform this for the supreme good of all humanity.

The culmination of the program of events that is being developed around the world to commemorate this great event will be the International Conference FOR WORLD EQUILIBRIUM to be held in the Havana Conference Center from January 27 to 29, 2003. This Conference is co-sponsored by UNESCO, the Organization of Iber-American States and numerous other international bodies and organizations, universities and institutions. This event aims to bring together intellectuals from the most diverse currents, disciplines, institutions and countries, together with students and all those interested in the life and work of Jose Marti, all joined in the common concerns arising from the challenges humanity faces today. In his work, Marti gathered together the very best of Hispanic culture, reworked it, imbued it with an American character and broadened its appeal. He also internalized the traditions and cultures of the native populations of America (including that of the blacks or so-called "subrogated natives") whom he identified as fundamental parts of the Latin American and Caribbean personality. Marti was familiar with, internalized and spread the cultural values of many different countries the world over. He studied in Europe, lived and worked in different Latin American and Caribbean republics and spent many years in exile in the United States, a country he came to know and describe with a clarity that still amazes today. He was a journalist, diplomat for Latin American nations, teacher and translator. In this pilgrimage he produced a vast literary output (poems, plays, novels, literary criticism, articles, children's stories, speeches, a vast collection of letters and numerous essays on the most diverse social, economic and political themes) that confirms his status as one of the masters of Spanish letters. At the same time he dedicated his very existence to the organization and leadership of the fight for Cuban independence and to the fomenting of liberty in Puerto Rico. Marti strove for the construction of a Republic that, in his own words, should include everyone and be for the good of everyone. We can only fully comprehend this desire within the context of another of Marti's statements, defining the essence of his life and heartfelt commitment to social justice: "With the poor of this world I cast my luck."

He condemned the drive for domination of the economically and militarily powerful countries and allied together the peoples of Our America as sons and daughters of one history and one cultural heritage. His life-long commitment to Cuban independence and to Latin American and Caribbean integration did not limit his universal vision and projection, clearly demonstrated in his declaration that "Homeland is humanity".

The identification of culture and education as core components in the character and soul of the people makes Marti's texts a powerful weapon in the current war of ideas, the fight for the preservation of cultural diversity and heritage, the eradication of poverty, education for all and free access to universal culture as, in Marti's words, an indispensable condition for the exercise of freedom: "to be cultured is the only way to be free". Marti's was a visionary of his time and his ideas on equitable economic growth and environmental protection emerging in the XIX century, when these issues barely troubled the rest of humanity.

These brief references are sufficient to demonstrate the high level of parity with the paradigms and serious motivations behind todayAEs universal thought; behind the men and women dedicated to the construction of a balanced, diverse, educated, cultured, ecologically sustainable, socially just, inter-dependent world where national sovereignty is respected; dedicated to the fight to alter the current course of globalization and to strip it of its tendencies to exclusivity and hegemony.

A great diversity of spurs and motivations to carry on these fights are to be found in the work of JosTheta Marti, as well as links to the best of Iber-American, Caribbean and universal social and cultural thought. The last century witnessed many advances but also left a vast moral and ethical deficit in the spiritual life of the majority. It is crucial to place culture and intelligence at the top of the scale of knowing and feeling. History has clearly shown that science and cold reasoning are not enough; human spirituality and ethics, both present in the best utopian traditions, are completely indispensable.

The International Conference FOR WORLD EQUILIBRIUM specifically sets itself the task of offering a platform for the widest reflection and debate on these themes and hopes to contribute to the development of theories capable of facing the numerous and complex challenges of the XXI century.

The memory of Jose Marti, with his love for Humanity, his noble ideals, his uncompromising democratism, his invaluable legacy and the validity of his thought create the perfect conditions for this undertaking.
Havana, January 28th, 2002

Organizing Committee of the International Conference FOR WORLD EQUILIBRIUM

CENTRAL THEMES OF THE CONFERENCE

I. Economic imbalances

*The globalizing modernity project. North-South conflict and the so-called "peaceful" recolonization of the world .

The Group of 7 and the attempts to restructure the system of world domination

Neo-liberal economic policies and their effects.

*The instruments of control of large capital.

*The role of speculative capital and the world economic crisis.

*The alleged defense of the environment as a means of technological and commercial exclusion.

*The real and growing dangers and threats to the environment and its chief environment: human beings.

*Character and consequences of the US policy of hegemony before the challenges humanity faces in the XXI century. Options for these challenges.

II. Social imbalances

*The growth of social polarization and the restriction on consumption by the masses.

* Current forms of domination of marginal sectors: workers, rural workers, women, blacks, indigenous groups and others.

* Racial discrimination, discrimination against immigrants and religious intolerance.

* Survival amidst environmental problems and the effects of globalization.

*Identity conflicts in the face of homogenizing tendencies.

*The limited and exclusive practice of human rights.

*Restricted democracies in the uni-polar world.

*Exclusive access to the latest science and technology.

III. Cultural and theoretical imbalances

*The instruments of cultural domination: homogenization.

*Information totalitarianism in the formation of public opinion.

*Technology and science as commercial instruments of domination and exclusion.

*The logic of the market and profit maximization as the basis of the single, hegemonic thought.

*Deformation of education: exclusion, formation solely for the market and the affirmation of the single thought.

*The politics of war and disrespect for national sovereignty. So-called humanitarian intervention.

IV. Jose Marti: historic and literary figure.

Rescue and refinement of Marti's texts. The critical publishing of his work.

Contributions made for the study of Jose Marti's life and the relation with the arts, literature, pedagogy and their contexts.

Analysis of his literary work. The renaissance of Hispanic language and literature. The crossover of genre and style. The literary construction of reality.

New literature for a new world.

Marti and non-Hispanic literature. Marti's contributions to translation.

Literary and artistic thought and the culture system.

Marti and Cuban literature.

The reception and universalization of his knowledge and liberating thought. Martiss image in the media.

Links between his ideology and worldview with universal thought.

Essence and validity of Marti's thought.

V. Jose Marti and world equilibrium

Search for and construction of a new social utopia.

Critique of Trans-national and neo-colonial domination.

Colonies right to independence. The case of Puerto Rico.

Recovery and recreation of humanism and social utopia.

Democratization and emancipation theory.

The right to equal opportunities: access to education, culture, health services and information.

The right to equitable development.

Humanistic values: ethics for liberation and development.

Jose Marti and practical actions towards world equilibrium: the fight against neo-liberal globalization, resistance movements against hegemony and environmental destruction.

Jose Marti, revolutionary leader. The role of ethics, the law and politics in the XXI Century. Political culture. Overcome the policy of divide and rule and foment the idea of unity for victory.

Identity, civilization and universality--coordinates where the economic, social and political struggles of the XXI century meet.

The need to assert equilibrium in international relations based on peace, dialogue and respect for the self-determination and sovereignty of all peoples. Democratization of the international system.

Working languages in the Conference:

The foreseen working languages are Spanish, English and French.

Pre-registration and abstract:

Those interested in participating in the Conference should send the pre-registration form to the Organizing Committee before September 25th 2002. The format of participation will be specified on this form. Those interested in presenting papers or open themes should accompany the form with an abstract of no more than 100 words that reflects the central idea of their study. The Scientific Committee of the Conference will decide the type of presentation of the proposed papers, which may include oral address or posters. Two categories of poster will be available:

Electronic format Presentation on Power Point of no more than 15 pages.

Traditional format Presentation on paper or card of 82 x 120 cm.

Registration, as either participant or speaker, can be made on arrival at the Conference. Presentation conditions for papers or open themes. The first page every presentation should include the title, the principal author (name and address of the institution represented, telephones, fax, E-mail and a curriculum synopsis of no more than 10 lines), speaker and other authors, name and address of the institution represented, if appropriate; and country of residence.

The original and a copy of the papers should be presented on 8.5 x 11 paper, double-line spaced, 30 lines per page with a 2.5cm margin on each side accompanied by one copy on disk (on word processor programs Word or WordPerfect in any of their PC versions).

Papers presented should not exceed 10 pages including appendices.

The Scientific Committee of the Conference will inform interested parties on the nature of the presentations.

The complete papers will be delivered to the editorial group of the Organizing Committee on the first day of the Conference and will form part of the records of the event. Electronic and other forms of publication may be considered and the authors should deliver, along with their paper, a letter authorizing the Organizing Committee to publish and circulate said paper.

Work Program:

The work program will include committee debates, panel conferences, round table discussions, seminars, workshops, panels, and presentations of open themes contributing to the central theme of the Conference. The overall vision of the Conference is based on participation in debates, on collective reflection, which shall be recorded in the minutes.

Discussion of points I, II, III, IV, and V of the agenda will begin with an initial presentation to engender debate. Point V will depend completely on the papers to be presented.

Technical Media:

Various rooms will be equipped with OHPs and computers for presentations using data show or video beam. Nevertheless, where a speaker wishes to utilize one of these media in his/her presentation, the required equipment and any other accessories needed, should be specified on the pre-registration form, so that the Organizing Committee can guarantee their availability.

Participation Certificates:

All participants have the right to contribute to the debates of the different commissions and in the other types of work, discussion and reflection. All will receive the corresponding Certificate from the Organizing Committee accrediting their participation in this important Conference.

REGISTRATION FEE:

The registration fee is $200 (USD) for both speakers and participants. This includes participation as a delegate in the opening and closing ceremonies; in all the scientific events throughout the three-day forum; in the welcoming cocktail party; in a cultural gala to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Marti; credentials, documentation, Participation Certificate and the right to receive, on publication, the records of the meeting. COMPANIONS DelegatesAE companions, on payment of the $60 (USD) registration fee, may participate u with the corresponding credentials u in the opening and closing ceremonies, the welcome cocktail party and the cultural gala. In addition, the Tourist Office will offer city tour options and other activities of cultural, historic, and scientific interest.

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE ORGANIZORS:

Hector Hernandez Pardo
Executive Coordinator of the Conference and Vice
Director of the Marti Program Office
Calzada No. 807 esquina a 4, El Vedado, La Habana,
Cuba.
Tels. (537) 30 3188 (537) 55 2298 ext. 109 (537) 30 4493
Fax: (537) 33 4672
E-mail : hpardo@ceniai.inf.cu and
jmarti@cubarte.cult.cu

Eva Paula Bravo
Conference Organizer
Havana Conference Center
Ave. 146 entre 11 y 13, Cubanacan, Playa, La Habana,
Cuba
Tel: (537) 208 7541
Fax: (537) 208 7996 / 208 3470 / 202 8382
E-mail: eva@palco.cu

FACILITIES FOR TRAVEL TO CUBA

For more information, the interested parties may contact the representatives of the Convention Center or travel agencies associated with CUBATUR, the responsible agency:

The CUBATUR representative for this event is Mr. Nelson Ramos Mesa:

fax: (537) 333104
tel: (537) 334121,
E-mail: nelson@cbtevent.cbt.tur.cu

Aside from the work program available during the Conference, the delegates and their companions may also enjoy some of the various tourist, cultural, historic and scientific activities offered by the different agencies on the basis of the wide experience Cuba has acquired in these areas.


International Conference FOR WORLD EQUILIBRIUM PRE-REGISTRATION FORM


Name and surname(s):...................................................................................................
Postal address:.............................................................................................................
FAX:..........................................
Tel:............................................

Institute represented or worked in:..................................................................................
Position:.......................................................................................................................
Professional E-mail:.......................................................................................................
FAX:..........................................
Tel:............................................

Form in which participation is requested: PARTCIPANT ( ) SPEAKER ( )

If participating as a speaker, include all audiovisual requirements:........................................................................................................
...........................................................


Note: This form is only designed to ascertain organizational details. It may be sent by E-mail, fax or post, to arrive before September 5th 2002. The registration fee may be paid on arrival at the Conference.

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Olga Fernandez
First Secretary
Cuban Interests Section
2630 16th St. NW
Washington DC 20009
Phone: 202 797 8518 ext. 123
Fax: 202 797 8521