New Horizons for Learning: October 2000

What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for humanity? Last summer I participated in two conferences that dealt with these questions on a global level. The first, held in Seattle and convened by the Foundation for the Future, brought together an international group of fifty scientists. For four days we discussed the future of humanity considering scientific and technological developments; outer space; the planet (environment, resources, population); biological, genetic, and environmental factors in health, behavior, and intelligence; globalization and governance; and the evolution of humanity. The final discussions focused on three topics that the group decided were the most critical factors related to future outcomes. They included ethics and human potential, sustainability of the environment, and science and technology. The question, "Is knowledge now in control of us?" was considered at length. Finally, there were heated discussions on the nature/nurture controversy which it appears is far from over, although most of the scientists believe both are equally important.

The second conference was the week-long State of the World Forum, held simultaneously with the UN Millennial meeting in New York. The topic was Globalization, and presenters included world leaders including Mikhail Gorbachev and Queen Noor of Jordon as co-chairs, as well as scientists, artists, authors, philosophers, environmentalists, economists, representatives from non-governmental organizations, and industrialists. Participants came from all over the world to hear region by region reports on current states and trends related to environment, population, economy, and scientific and technological developments, and to discuss ways to bring about positive change. Many of the same issues discussed at the previously mentioned conference were debated, and it was clear that globalization is bringing about both positive and negative effects on the present and future health of the planet and its people. There were profound discussions on the roles of individuals, organizations, and governments in capacity building, sustainability, promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts, and finding ways to address some of the threatening and even devastating conditions in the world today.

In both of these conferences, education was mentioned in most of the discussions and lifelong learning was considered to be essential; however, it seemed to be a major omission that there was no key presentation or panel on education at the State of the World Forum. When education was discussed, it was frequently pointed out that people from different cultures have different ways of learning and processing information, and that "one size fits all" education cannot meet the needs of an increasingly interdependent world. Many leaders from the Third World stressed the importance of accessing knowledge and information that can have critical effects on peace efforts, population growth, the environment, health, economy, and scientific and technological developments. There was also much discussion on the critical importance of helping people of all ages to use knowledge wisely and ethically, especially related to such rapidly developing fields as genetic engineering and other powerful new technologies. Great hope was offered as new means of communication and sources of information were discussed including the Equal Access Project, which makes access to the Internet available to countries with no electricity or telephones. (See article on Equal Access in this Journal.)

The views and information offered by presenters at these conferences give us much to consider as we prepare students for the vast changes that continue to take place in the world which has been described as a global village.

The United Nations NGO Reporter offers this view of the world as a Global Village that consists of (out of 100 people):
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 people from the Western Hemisphere (north and south)
8 Africans
52 females and 48 males
70 non-whites and 30 whites
70 non-Christians and 30 Christians
6 people would possess 59% of the wealth
80 people would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer some effect of malnutrition
Only 1 would be college educated
Only 1 would own a computer.

For permission to redistribute, please go to:
New Horizons for Learning Copyright and Permission Information