Asian Civil Society Conference on Climate Change and Ecology

ICE: Inter-religious Climate & Ecology Conference II

Climate Change, Sustainability and

ResilienceClimate and Poverty, Food Crisis, Energy Innovations, Disaster Risk Reduction, Bio-diversity Conservation, Good

Governance, Reduction and Adaptation Cases, Capabilities Strengthening

April 24-30, 2015

Seoul, South Korea

Background

ICE, or the Inter-religious Climate & Ecology Network, came together as an interfaith initiative to

address the complex and combined challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and human

insecurity. The first conference was held in 2012 in Sri Lanka. ICE emphasizes a combination of

community-based actions for resilience and increasing advocacy to bring political, policy and

awareness changes.

Our purpose is to draw on our diverse experiences of responding to impacts and managing

vulnerabilities, our understanding of science and risks, and drawing on our value systems and

cultures as a source of solidarity and inspiration. This purpose will be approached through joint

education on the science of climate change, exchanges of belief and understanding of our role

within our sacred eco-systems, and discussion and sharing of solutions to improve adaptation, to

mitigate against climate risks, to improve biodiversity, and to overall increase resilience to climatic

change.

ICE Network's goals include an intention for the wise influence of national climate change-related

public policy discourse within Asia, and to stimulate and strengthen diplomatic discussions around

climate change at international level.

We aim to do this in cooperation with an inclusive variety of stakeholders representing a cross-

section of faith-based and civil society organizations, climate scientists and social entrepreneurs.

ICE strives for gender, age and identity-equitable participation. We seek to encourage healing in a

world struggling for equality, justice and wellbeing, as resource/access inequality and complex

vulnerability is intensified by climate change.

Conference Objectives

Explore ways to implement actions and advocacy in response to climate change by Asian

faith-based and civil society;

Increase awareness, cooperation and create a common ground for joint response to climate

change and environmental challenges between civil societies in Asia and in Korea.

Build the capacity of Asian civil societies and faith-based organisations to respond to climate

change and increase resilience; Strengthen & leverage those capacities through ICE Network.

Overview Schedule: Registration Fees

Date Activities Low Income /

South Country

High Income/

North Country

22-25 April Japan Nuclear and Sustainable Energy Tour (in Japan) 80 US$ 150 US$

24-25 April A to Z Climate Change Workshop (in South Korea) 50 US$ 80 US$

27-28 April Exposure Trip & Parade at Wolsong

(near nuclear power plant-South Korea)

50 US$ 100 US$

29-30 April The 2nd ICE Conference (South Korea)

Asian Civil Society Conference on Climate Change and Ecology

Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience

30 US$ 60 US$

1 May Fast for the Climate

2 May ICE Core Group Meeting (by invitation)

Registration fees: including accommodation and foods, local transportation, conference manual and local

gifts. For Korean participants, accommodation will not be included during conference on 29th and 30 th in

Seoul.

Participants: 150 Korean, 70 foreign

Activists working in the fields of community development and environment/ecology

From 15-20 countries including Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia,

Philippines, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Laos, United States,

South Africa, Australia and Korea

Organizers:

Korean Organizing Committee for Asian Civil Society Conference on Climate Change and Ecology

Lotus World

Buddhist Ecological Contents Institute

Korea Brahma Kumaris Association

Won-Buddhist Environment Solidarity

Korean Buddhists’ Foundation for Social-Welfare & Volunteering

Korean Catholic Solidarity for Creation Integrity

Green Asia Network

Peace Village Network

Christian Environmental Movement Solidarity

Citizen’s Movement for Environmental Justice

INEB (International Network of Engaged Buddhists)

ICE Network (Inter-Religious Climate & Ecology Network)

The ICE Network (Inter-religious Climate and Ecology Network)

is a pan-Asia, local-to-local, collaborative network of diverse spiritual

communities seeking to share experiences, learning, and wisdom

that will build resilience and empowerment in the face of climate

change.

Our purpose is to wisely influence national public policy within Asia and to stimulate and strengthen

diplomatic discussions around climate change at international level. We aim to do this in cooperation

with various stakeholders, such as faith-based and civil society organizations, gender and age

based groups, and business networks. We seek to encourage healing in a world struggling with

equality and vulnerability, both intensified by climate change.

Detailed Schedule of the 2nd ICE Conference *subject to change

April 29-30, 2015

April 29: at Jogye Temple, Headquarters or the Jogye Buddhist Order, Seoul

09.00-09.30 Opening & Welcome Messages

Ven. Ja Seung Sunim, Chief Executive of the Jogye Order

Father Kang Wooil, President of Korean Catholic Bishop Conference

Dr. Nigel Crawhall, Executive Committee, INEB

09.30-10.30 Keynote Speech 1: “Climate Change and Sustainability” with Q&A

Speaker: *TBA

10.30-11.45 Panel Discussion: Case Studies on The Impact of Climate Change

o Desertification & Asian Dust (Eco-Asia University)

o Particulate Materials (Citizen's Movement for Environmental Justice)

o Problematic Energy Responses to Global Warming (Japan Network of

Engaged Buddhists)

o Flood & Soil Erosion (Bangladesh Association for Sustainable

Development)o The Great Pacific Garbage Patch confirmed

Moderator: Jonathan Watts (Japan Network of Engaged Buddhists)

11.45-13.30 Lunch

13.30-16.00 Parallel Workshops 1 rep from 3 orgs per workshop

1. Climate and Poverty (Lotus World/South Korea, Sewalanka Foundation/Sri

Lanka, La Via Campesina/Korea*)

2. Food Crisis (Hansalim/South Korea, School for Well-being/Thailand,

Navdanya Trust/India*)

3. Unsustainable Energy Systems Consumption & Types (HanKeore-

Doorae/South Korea, Won-Buddhist Environment Solidarity/South Korea,

Green Peace)

4. Disasters (Korean Buddhists' Foundation for Social-Welfare & Volunteering,

Tsu Chi Foundation/Taiwan)

5. Bio-diversity Loss, (Buddhist Ecological Contents Institute/South Korea,

TILCEPA (IUCN)/South Africa)

6. Corporate Globalization & Climate

16.00-17.00 Parade to Cheongye Plaza

17.00-19.00 Cultural Performance & Exhibition (Cheongye Plaza)

Welcome and Commitment Speech by the Mayor of Seoul City

April 30: at Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral, Seoul

09.30-10.30 Keynote Speech 2 “Climate Change and Action” with Q&A

Speaker: Oh Ki-Chul, Secretary General Green Asia Network

10.30-11.45 Panel Discussion: Cases Studies on Positive Responses

o Organic Food (Brahma Kumaris)

o Bio-gas- Alternative Energy (Kalayana Mitta Development Foundation)

o Action Research (National Institute of Ecology)

o Bicycle Yatra- Education Youth Mobilization (Eco Friendly Volunteers:

ECO-V)

o Grassroots to International Political Advocacy

Moderator: Chun Kwon Hwan*

11.45-13.30 Lunch

13.30-16.00 Parallel Workshops

1. Good Governance (Faculty of Law/Beijing University, Seoul Metropolitans

Government, Green Korea)

2. Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation Cases

3. Cultivating Capacities for Resilience: Spiritual, Ecological Climate

Resilience (Green Asia Network/South Korea, Spirit in Education

Movement/Thailand, Kalayana Mitta Foundation/Myanmar, Gaia Education

& Global Ecovillage Network)

4. The Eco-Spiritual Approach: Religious Models and community energy

systems

5. The New Local: Networks Bringing Local Platforms to Global Space

6. Cities & Climate Change Adaptation

16.00-16.30 Closing Ceremony

16.30-17.30 Press Conference & Statements by Participants

* To Be Confirmed

Exposure Trip: Korea Energy and Environment Tour

April 27-28 (1 night/2 days)

Group 1

Seoul -> Wonju (Socio-Economic Network) ->

Daegwanryeong (Wind Farm) ->

Wolsung (Nuclear Power Plant) -> Seoul

Group2

Seoul -> Namhangang River (affected by 4 Rivers

Project) -> Youngju (stream conservation trust) ->

Wolsung (Nuclear Power Plant) -> Seoul

Group 1 & 2

Parade, Wolsong (near nuclear power plant)

in the afternoon of the April 28th.

Pre Conference Workshop: A-Z Climate Change Workshop *subject to change

April 24-25 at Woljeong-sa Temple

This one and a half day workshop will provide in-depth informative knowledge on these questions:

* What is happening to our planet?

* What will be the impact if the world continues on like this?

* Why is this happening?

* Who are the key players that got us into this crisis?

* Who are the key players to make it better? Can it work?

* What else needs to be done?

* What can we do?

This workshop is relevant to anyone who is interested to know about climate change issues and

particularly for FBOs, NGOs, social and environmental activists, academics, mass media, and

students.

Resource Person: Dr. Nigel Crawhall (South Africa)

Nigel Crawhall holds a PhD in Sociolinguistics from the University of Cape Town. He is currently the Director of

Secretariat for the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee (IPACC) based in Cape Town, South

Africa. He is the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) focal point on faith conservation

and climate change. He is a co-Chair of the IUCN Theme on Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, Equity

and Protected Areas (TILCEPA). He is a member of two inter-religious regional networks for environmental

and climate advocacy. In 2014 he served on the global interfaith liaison committee to the UN Framework

Convention on Climate Change. He is on the Executive Committee of the International Network of Engaged

Buddhists (INEB). 

Exposure Tour: Japan Nuclear and Sustainable Energy Tour

April 22-25 in Fukushima and Tokyo, Japan

Societies of Sustainability and Sufficiency:

Learning from Fukushima & Building Green Temple Communities

Summary of Goals:

Expose foreign Buddhists, other religious professionals, activists, and media to: a) the realities

of life in Fukushima, b) the dislocations caused by nuclear energy in wide sectors of society, c)

community support and activism by Japanese Buddhists and other religious professionals

throughout Japan, d) renewable energy initiatives by Japanese Buddhist groups and other

religious organizations.

Share through experiential workshops the perspectives and skills of: a) South and Southeast

Asian Buddhists in community development and b) Japanese Buddhists and other religious

professionals in anti-nuclear activism and renewable energy.

Create an international network for sharing best practices on building “green temples” and

“green temple communities”

Program: April 21-25

April 21 (Tues): Arrivals at Narita or Haneda International Airports

April 22 (Wed): Orientation the Japanese Energy Issue and

Exposure to Juko-in Solar Temple (Tokyo)

April 23-24 (Thu-Fri): Fukushima Exposure: meeting nuclear power plant workers, internal

refugees, Buddhist priests and community activists involved in child

healthcare, food security, and community restoration

April 25 (Sat): Networking meeting of Buddhists, other religious groups, social

activists and other persons involved in the nuclear and renewable

energy issue (Tokyo)

Participants: 8-13

All participants for the INEB ICE conference in Seoul are welcome to register for this study tour.

However, we would like participants to join not from curiosity but from the basis of their own work in:

1) grassroots Buddhist or religious community development especially in sustainable energy, ideally

with a temple/church/mosque base, or 2) anti-nuclear activism, ideally with religious identity and

interest in sustainable energy activities; or 3) newspaper or media profession with an interest in

reporting on and promoting these activities. General priority will be given to participants from the

global South (as similar events will be organized for East Asians and Westerners at another time).

About the Organizers:

The main organizer for this event will be the Japan Network of Engaged Buddhists (JNEB), which

provides an informal network and umbrella for a wide range of Buddhist social activists to engage in

social activities. The Interfaith Forum for the Review of National Nuclear Policy and The AYUS

International Buddhist Cooperation Network and its Buddhist NGO Network will also be providing

support to the organization of the project. Within Fukushima, these 3 organizations above work with

a wide range of civic and religious groups who will support this project, such as Team Nihonmatsu,

Dokei-ji Temple, and the JIPPO Rape Seed Project. The project will collaborate with Juko-in

Temple, the Edogawa Citizen’s Network for Thinking about Global Warming (ECNG), and the

Religious and Scholarly Eco Initiative (RSE).

Fast for the Climate

May 1, Seoul, South Korea

When Typhoon Haiyan had just devastated the Philippines in November last year, climate

commissioner Yeb Saño was at the UN climate talks in Warsaw. His own family was caught up in

the disaster that killed thousands and destroyed homes and livelihoods across the country.

In a moving speech he said he would not eat until countries at the Warsaw conference delivered

actions that would ‘stop the madness’ of the climate crisis. Hundreds of others from around the world

chose to fast with him in solidarity. Despite this, the Warsaw meeting saw countries, like Japan,

actually winding back their climate commitments, seemingly in denial that all countries will need to

commit and contribute to the comprehensive, global climate action plan which is due in Paris in

2015.

The Fast For The Climate has grown into global movement with participation of youth groups,

environmental groups and faith-based groups, who all want urgent action on climate change by

governments this year.

INEB and ICE Network is a part of this initiative

Registration and Contact Information:

For the Main Conference and Events in Korea:

For International Participants, please contact:

Ms. Narumon Paiboonsittikun (Mon)

E-mail: coordinator@inebnetwork.org

International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), Bangkok, Siam(Thailand)

www.inebnetwork.org

For Korean Participants, please contact:

Ms. Junghee Min

E-mail: mitra@lotusworld.or.kr, or mujin21@gmail.com

Tel: 82-(0)2-725-4277, or 82-(0)10-5612-7504, Fax:82-(0)2-725-4287

Address: Lotus World, Rm 707 Doosan We've Pavilion, Sambongno 81, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

For the Japan Energy Tour Only:

Mr. Jonathan Watts

Japan Network of Engaged Buddhists

E-mail: ogigaya@gmail.com

URL: http://jneb.jp/english/activities/buddhismnukes/international-project-energy/energytourapril2015

Payments for all events—except Japan Energy Tour—may be made in the following manner

1) Paypal or Credit Card via the Lotus World Homepage

2) On arrival at conference registration

3) Bank Transfer

Bank Name: Industrial Bank of Korea

Branch: Dong Suwon

Account No.: 287-202985-56-00014

Account Name: Lotus World

Swift Code: IBKOKRSEXXX

Address of Bank: Kwon Kwangno 213, Paldal-gu, Suwon city, Kyunggido, South Korea 

For the Japan Energy Tour, payments can be made in cash on arrival in Japan