Only if China and India (as well as America) soon start to make the postmodern turn does our planet have hope. —David Ray Griffin

Past Events

2023

1. 16th International Forum on Ecological Civilization & 5th International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization, May 26-27, 2023

2. 15th John Cobb Common Good Award Ceremony, June 9, 2023.

3. Budapest Sustainability and Ecological Civilization Conference, Budapest, Hungary, July 20-22, 2023.

4. The Session on Whitehead and China at the 13th International Whitehead  Conference, Munich Germany, July 26.-29, 2023.

5. International Forum on Process Philosophy, Artificial Intelligence, and Ecological Civilization, Thousand Islands Lake, Zhejiang, August 17-18, 2023.

6. Sino-US Process Summer Academy, Thousand Islands Lake, Zhejiang, August 19-23, 2023.

7. 16th International Whitehead Kindergarten Conference, Beijing, Sep.11, 2023.

8. “Chinese style Psychological counseling from Constructive Postmodern Perspective”, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, Nov.10-11,2023.

9.Shanxi Conference themed Farming and Reading, Yuncheng, Shanxi, Nov.9-13, 2023.

10.International Symposium on Ecological Civilization for a Sustainable Future, Claremont, California, USA, Nov.26-27, 2023.

11.International Symposium on Process Philosophy and Chinese-Style Modernization, December 16 to 18, 2023, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC), Zhuhai, Guangdong

12.7th Pu’er Green Development Forum, Dec.19-22,2023, Pu’er, Yunnan.

16th International Forum on Ecological Civilization

5th International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization

Theme: DEEP TRANSFORMATION FOR ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION

May 25-27, 2023

Morning Section: 9:00-11:45 am, PST

Evening Section: 6:00-8:45 pm, PST

Date: May 25

Topic: Transforming Self

Morning Section 

9:00am-10:30am Pacific, Panel 

Moderator: Andrew Schwartz

Panelists: Thomas Bruhn, Fr. Joshtrom Kureethadam, Sheri Kling, Mary Evelyn Tucker

10:30-10:45 am: Break & Music:Townsend

10:45-11:45 am: Discussion

Evening Section 

6:00pm-7:30pm Pacific, Panel

Moderator: Sandra Lubarsky

Panelists: Dongwoo Lee, Brian O'donnell, Yong Pei, Wangshik Jang

7:30-7:45 pm: Break & Music: Sorry mother, a song from Glacier Love (China's first love story film focusing on global warming)

7:45-8:45 pm: Discussion

Date: May 26

Topic: Transforming Society

Morning Section 

9:00am-10:30am Pacific, Panel 

Moderator: Philip Clayton

Panelists: Violeta Bulc, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Attila Grandpierre, Alexander Kopytin 

10:30-10:45 am: Break & Music: The Gravel Yard Bluegrass Band (Arkansas)

https://www.thegravelyard.com/

10:45-11:45 am: Discussion

Evening Section 

6:00pm-7:30pm Pacific, Panel

Moderator: Sukhyun Park

Panelists: Hiheon Kim, Jonathan Dickstein, Tiejun Wen, Riane Eisler

7:30-7:45 pm: Break & Music: A Place Far Away (China)

7:45-8:45 pm: Discussion

Date: May 27 Youth Forum

Topic: Transforming Future

Morning Section 

9:00am-10:30am Pacific, Panel 

Moderator: Jay McDaniel

Panelists: Jared Morningstar, Corinne Hummel, Rajiv Shah, Céleste M.E. Hogan 

10:30-10:45 am: Break & Music

10:45-11:45 am: Discussion

Evening Section 

6:00pm-7:30pm Pacific, Panel

Moderator: Vivian Song

Panelists: Yookyung Jin, Yi Luo, Dylan Romine, Jessie Green

7:30-7:45 pm: Break & Music: Jun Bum Sun & the Yangbans - Grass (Korea)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmsCrrBAlZk

7:45-8:45 pm: Discussion

2022

The 14th John Cobb Common Good Award Ceremony took place online at 6:30-7:30 pm, June 4, 2022 ( Pacific time), and has reached out to 1,752,903 viewers in China.  

Dr. John Cobb's remark (400,000)

Dr. David Korten's speech（421,000）

Dr. Vandana Shiva's remark （442,000）

Dr. Sheri D Kling's song（487,000 ） 

Reports this event by some of the major Chinese news media such as the followings: 

By Toutiao

By Sohu

By ifeng

2022 14thJohn Cobb Common Good Award Ceremony

6:30-7:30 pm, June 4, 2022 ( Pacific time)

The John Cobb Common Good Award is the world's most prestigious prize for ecological civilization. The award is named after John B. Cobb, Jr., one of today’s most important ecological thinkers, and is given to those who promote this hope in effective and remarkable ways. 

We will present

The 14thJohn Cobb Common Good Award

    to

Dr. Vandana Shiva

In recognition of five decades of service to women, the poor, farmers, and rural communities; her consistent promotion of multiple diversities, both cultural and biological; and her persistent courage in challenging forms of economic and political power that obstruct a flourishing of life and community; and her leadership in working for an ecological civilization.

Vandana Shiva is known and admired globally for her life-long work on behalf of farmers, the poor, women, and the environment. After receiving her master’s and doctoral degrees in Canada, she returned to India to fight for environmental causes. Opposing large agri-businesses, dangerous pesticides, and monocropping, Vandana helped to create dozens of seed banks across India and to educate farmers in traditional methods and organic farming. Among her many books are Stolen Harvest, Water Wars, Biopiracy, and Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace. Vandana is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Right Livelihood Award. In 2003, Time magazine identified Shiva as an “environmental hero,”  and now the John Cobb Common Good Award. 

Keynote Speaker

Dr. David Korten

Topic: Vandana Shiva and Ecological Civilization: The Living Earth Alternative

Program

6:30-6:35  Welcome by MC (Dr. Bruce Hanson & Dr. Meijun Fan)    6:35-6:40   Performance by Chinese new farmers in Liantang Eco-village, Hunan Province:

“Keep Our Blue Planet Alive”

6:40-6:55  Keynote Speech by Dr. David Korten

6:55- 7:00  Presentation of Award (Prof. Philip Clayton and Tom Tseng)    

7:00-7:15  Remarks from Dr.: Vandana Shiva

7:15-7:25  Remarks from Dr. John Cobb    

7:25-7:30  Closing performance by  Dr. Sheri D Kling’s song, “We All Are Related.”

Beijing Whitehead Kindergarten’s chorus, “Because We Have Dreams.”

This event is associated with the 15th International Forum on Ecological Civilization, May 26-28, online. This year’s topic is “Ecological Civilization and Regenerative Communities of Communities.” The Institute for Postmodern Development of China, Cobb Institute, Center for Process Studies, Institute for Ecological Civilization, Budapest Center for Long-term Sustainability, etc, cosponsor this event.

 Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87458510541?pwd=UG84aVRXMnY3QjB4MkxhaUJXd29wZz09

Meeting ID: 874 5851 0541

Passcode: 015787

 15th Claremont International Eco-Forum & 4th International Youth Eco-Forum on Ecological Civilization in Relational Context: Building Regenerative  Communities of Communities took place 5:00-8:00 PM, May 26-28, 2022, Pacific Time, online. 

Media reports: 

Roundup: Experts call for boosting ecological civilization cooperation at global forum by Xinhua News Agency

The following 30 videos on the three days Claremont International Forum on Ecological Civilization have reached out totally more than 11 millions viewers in China so far:

1. Ms. Lois Arkin from LA Eco-Village, USA (500,000)

2. Ms. Lois Arkin from LA Eco-Village, USA（380,000）

3. Ms. Lois Arkin from LA Eco-Village, USA (424,000)

4. Ms. Lois Arkin from LA Eco-Village（439,000)

5. Ms. Lois Arkin from LA Eco-Village（362,000 )

6. Mr. Jon Jandai from Pun Pun organic farm, Thailand (370,000)

7. Mr. Jon Jandai (466,000)

8. Mr. Jon Jandai （389,000）

9. Mr. Jon Jandai（486,000）

10.  Mr. Jon Jandai（450,000）

11.  Mr. Jon Jandai (440,000)

12. Ms. Tomoko Arakawa, Director of the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Tochigi, Japan (476,000)

13. Ms. Tomoko Arakawa (427,000)

14. Ms. Tomoko Arakawa （453,000)

15.  Ms. Tomoko Arakawa（383,000）

16. Ms. Tomoko Arakawa（442,000）

17. Mr. Haichao Wang from Sunshine Eco-Village, China (500,000)

18.  Mr. Haichao Wang （384,000)

19. Mr. Haichao Wang  (477,000)

20.  Mr. Haichao Wang （424,000）

21. Mr. Haichao Wang （408,000）

22. Mary Elizabeth Moor from Cobb Institute, USA (460,000)

23. Mr. Jed Leano welcome remark, The mayor of Claremont, USA (395,000)

24. Mr Liu Bo: Chairman of Strategic Alliance of Sponge Municipal Eco-Industrial Technology Innovation, Changsha (CSEC), China (440,000)

25. Ms. Sukhyun Park, Founder of the Sustainable Systems Research Institute, South Korea (450,000)

26. Mr. Ning Kuang, Executive Chairman of Board of the Chengdu Luxelakes Community Development Foundation, China (445,000)

27. Mr. Tshewang Wangchuk, the executive director of the Bhutan Foundation（470,000）

28. Mr. Tshewang Wangchuk（420,000）

29. Ms. Indra Adnan, Co-initiator of The Alternative UK (AUK) political platform（461,000）

30. Ms. Indra Adnan (341,000) 

15th Claremont International Eco-Forum & 4th International Youth Eco-Forum 

Ecological Civilization in Relational Context: Building Regenerative  Communities of Communities

5:00-8:00 PM, May 26-28, 2022, Pacific Time

May 27–29, 2022 (Beijing Time)

Fully Online

Registration

The Claremont International Forum on Ecological Civilization is the earliest and largest forum on ecological civilization in the West. This annual forum began in 2006 to bring together creative scholars, non-profit leaders, governmental officials, and leading activists to explore new worldviews, new models of agriculture and rural development, and new models of education in the transition toward ecological civilization. Thus far, more than 60,000 Chinese and non-Chinese have participated in the Forums and exerted widespread influence.

In keeping with the emphasis on youth and education, the forum has incorporated a youth forum for several years in which young activists are encouraged to develop and share their own projects for change.  

The 15th International Forum on Ecological Civilization& the 4th International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization will be held online from April 26-28, 2022 (Pacific Time). Its theme is “Ecological Civilization and Ecological Communities in the Post-COVID-19 Era.”

What lessons can we learn from COVID-19? Why is it so urgent to create an ecological civilization? What does ecological civilization look like? What is the philosophical foundation of an ecological civilization? Why are Ecological Communities from Eco-villages to urban coops, and more, so crucial to an ecological civilization? What lessons can we learn from one another about building regenerative and equitable communities of communities? What role can traditional wisdom play in creating ecological civilization and ecological communities? What role can science and technology play in creating ecological civilization and ecological communities? What kind of education do we need for ecological civilization and ecological communities?

Experts, policymakers, and creative practitioners from all over the world will explore together the above issues.

You're invited to contribute to creative solutions toward the long-term well-being of people and the planet!

This year, the 15th International Forum on Building Regenerative Communities of Communities & 4th International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization will be held on May 26-28, 2022 online, its main thesis is Building Regenerative Communities of Communities of Communities. It will be fully online and 100% collaborative exploration on 3 themes:

Day 1: Eco Villages

Day 2: Eco-Cities

Day 3: Eco Digital Communities。

Recommended by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, this year's forum was selected as the "2022 National Important Academic Conference" by the Ministry of Science and Technology. PRC.

The co-organizers and co-sponsors of this year’s forum are:

The Institute for the Postmodern Development of China (IPDC)

The Center for Process Studies (CPS)

The Institute for Ecological Civilization (EcoCiv)

Cobb Institute

Chinese Ecological Civilization Research and Promotion Association

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation

Budapest Centre for Long-term Sustainability, Hungary

Please join us to spread the voice of ecological civilization in every corner of the Earth, to make a bright future to this planet. Thank you!

Registration

For more information about the forum, please click here.

2021

  • The 4th children's nature education, Dec. 18, 2021. 

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization/The 13th lecture on Eco-economics by Prof. Xi Ji. Dec. 17, 2021. 

  • Dr. Cobb is the honorable chairperson of Science Committee of China Datong Chehe International Forum on Organic Agriculture, who just delivered a keynote speech the welcome remarks at the Forum, Dec. 6, 2021. 

  • The 1st international process poetry forum, Nov.18-19, 2021.

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 12th lecture on What is happening now and how to change it by Dr. David Schwerin. Nov.12, 2021. 

  • International Symposium on Youth's Psychological Well-Being from the Perspective of Process Philosophy, Nov. 2, 2021.  

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 11th lecture on Eco-Enzyme by Dr. Joean Oon Wen, Oct.29, 2021. 

  • Dr. Cobb speaks at the Second World Rural Revitalization Conference (hybrid),  Shanxi, China.  Dr.Cobb is the co-honorable chairmen of the conference and one of the keynote speakers. Sep.27, 2021.

  • The 2nd international conference on saving Indigenous seeds, Sep.24, 2021.

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 10th lecture on Second Enlightenment and Economic paradigm change by Ms. Yi Huang, Sep.17, 2021. 

  • the international symposium on ecological aesthetics. Aug.27, 2021.  

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 9th lecture on Towards a postmodern education by Dr. Marcus Ford. Aug.20, 2021. 

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 8th lecture on How to build organic community by Mr. Haichao Wang. Jul.20, 2021.

  • The 15th Sino-US Process (Postmodern) Hybrid Summer Academy is taking place at Blueberry Valley, Dalian, Liaoning, Jul.17-21, 2021.

  • Dr. Cobb speaks at Shougang  International Forum on  Carbon Emissions Peak and Carbon Neutrality (Shougang). The forum has taken place right next to the 3rd steel boiler. Jul.15, 2021.

  • International Symposium on Process Philosophy, Anthropocence, and Eco-persons, Jul.15, 2021, Blueberry Valley, Dalian, China

  • The 15th international symposium on Whitehead children wisdom education: Romantic education and Eco children. June 20, 2021. 

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 7th lecture on why beauty is so important to ecological civilization by Dr. Sandra Lubarsky, June 8, 2021.

  • The 13th John Cobb common good award ceremony. May 28, 2021. More

  • The 14th Claremont International Eco-Forum & the 3rd Youth Eco-Forum on Ecological Civilization and Organic Communitarianism, May 21-26, 2021. More

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 6th lecture on how to live a postmodern life by Dr.Zhihe Wang. May 8, 2021. 

  • First Conference on Training Consultant for Natural Education, April 16, 2021. 

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 5th public lecture on the philosophy behind waste by Prof. Song Tian. April 16, 2021. 

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 4th public lecture on  All fields organic agriculture is the great way towards ecological civilization by Prof. Yuegao Hu, March 14, 2021. 

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization / The 3rd public lecture on To change the world needs to change the worldview first by Dr. Andrew Schwartz, Feb.27, 2021. 

  • International Summit Forum on Ecological Civilization and the Second Enlightenment & Celebrating Dr. Cobb 96th Birthday

  • The Series Lecture on From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization/The 2nd public lecture on Chinese philosophy and Process Philosophy by Prof. Haipeng Guo, Jan.30, 2021. 

  • Whitehead’s Philosophy of Nature: An international symposium to commemorate the centenary of the publication of Whitehead’s Concepts of Nature was held in Zhuhai, China, on Jan. 9, 2021.

2020

  • “How to Start Ecological Education with Children?---The 14th International Symposium on Whitehead Children Wisdom Education and the 3rd International Forum on Natural Education was held on Dec. 27, 2020, in Beijing Whitehead Kindergarten.

  • Lecture on Ecological Civilization: From Process Philosophy to Ecological Civilization, Dr. Cobb and Meijun Fan, Dec.4, 2020

  • Forum on Ecological Civilization Health and Art, Fuzhou, Fujian, Nov. 21-22, 2020

  • China Organic Congress, Wuyi Moutain City, Fujian, Nov. 11-14, 2020

  • International Summit on Life Education, Beijing, Oct. 1-7, 2020

  • Indigenous Seeds Conservation Forum, Taigu, Shanxi, Sep. 24-25

  • First World Rural Revitalization Conference, Taiyuan, Shanxi, Sep. 21-22, 2020

  • Taihe Civilization Forum Themed “Science Culture · Future Ethics · Common Values”, Sep. 6-10, 2020

  • Second Wulong International Forum on Green Development Practice, Wulong, Chongqing, Aug. 26-28, 2020.

  • International Symposium on “Covid-19 and Process Philosophy”, online, Aug. 23, 2020

  • Sino-US Ecological Civilization Construction Symposium, Zhejiang University, Jun. 7, 2020.

  • “Ecological Community Development Summit Forum,” Beijing, May 22, 2020

  • 2020 First International Life Education Summit Forum, 7:30 pm, May 2nd, Beijing time.

  • The 3rd Global Chinese Voice Spring Festival Gala, Feb.5, 2020. (Cobb, Clayton, Anelski, Han, Fan, Zhihe, Attila, Sheri Liao, Haicao Wang)

2019

Taian Conference on Ecological Agriculture and eco-civilization, Shandong Agriculture Univ., Nov.3-4, 2019

Jinan Forum on Paradigm Shift to Eco-civilization, Jinan, Shandong, Aug. 2 - Oct.31, 2019 

First Yeoju Forum on Interfaith Dialogue and Ecological Civilization, Yeoju, Korea, Oct.3-5, 2019

Second Puer International Forum on Ecological Civilization and Green Development, Puer, Yunnan, Sep. 25-29,  2019.

Third Liandu International Forum on Green Development, Liandu, Lishui, Zhejiang, September 21-24, 2019.

First World Congress on Resurgence of Villages, Taigu, Shangxi, Sep.18-20.

12th International Whitehead Conference,  August 27th, 2019 – August 30th, 2019

Process philosophy has championed the idea that the universe is in the making. There is no ultimate controlling body or ruling set of laws that can make justice to what is concrete. As Whitehead put it in Modes of Thought, concrete reality is not to be reduced to a barren tautological absolute where life and motion are nothing but dreams. As a consequence, creativity is placed by Whitehead as the ultimate behind all forms, inexplicable by forms, and conditioned by all its creatures.

Learn More

13th Whitehead Wisdom Education Conference, Beijing, Aug. 5-6，2019.

14th Sino-US Process Summer Academy, Liancun Village, Fujian, July 28-Aug,2, 2019. 

“Process Philosophy, Neo-Confucianism,  Eco-Wisdom in Chinese Tradition, and  Becoming Eco-persons”, Liancun Village, Fuan, Fujian, July 26-27, 2019.

Wulong Forun on Green Development, Wulong, Chongqing, July 23-25.

13th International Forum and 2nd International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization,  April 19 – April 20, 2019, Claremont, California, the United States

As a positive vision of human flourishing, ecological civilization is about more than what we can do, it involves who we can become. It’s not merely about having more or doing more, but about being more. Being an “eco-person” speaks to the deeper motivations behind the kinds of actions we need to take in response to our complex social and environmental crisis. The development of eco-persons is connected with the qualitative measure of meaningful relationships, and not simply with quantitative measures of carbon, money, or degrees in temperature. Who we are is more than what we do. It’s this something more that lies at the intersection of the ecological civilization movement and holistic human development and serves as the theme for the 13th International Forum on Ecological Civilization.
Know More and Registered
 

The 2nd International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization.  April 19 – April 20, 2019, Claremont, California, the United States

The 2nd International Youth Forum on Ecological Civilization, in conjunction with the 13th International Forum on Ecological Civilization, will be held on the topic of “Ecological Civilization and Holistic Human Development.”
Read More
 

12th Cobb Common Good Award Reception and Banquet Dinner,  April 19th, 2019.

Includes access to the conference banquet for 1 person, but NOT access to the conference sessions, lunches, or break time refreshments.
Learn More and Register
 

2018 and Earlier:

Forum on ecological civilization mulls China's role in way forward

CLAREMONT, the United States, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The 12th International Forum on Ecological Civilization, an initiative to create and promote new modes of development in China and the West, kicked off in Claremont, Southern California, Friday. Themed "Ecological Civilization and Symbiotic Development", the two-day conference is hosted by the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, a non-profit organization.
More

11th International Forum on Ecological Civilization

1th International Forum on Ecological Civilization took place in the late April of 2017, Claremont. More

Media Reports

Some top Chinese media such as The People’s Daily and Xinhua News Agency have shown strong interest in our project. They sent reporters to our events, especially our Claremont June Whitehead Congress. 16 newspapers including the No. 1 Chinese Newspaper The People`s Daily and some provincial newspapers such as Tibet Daily, Inner Mongolia Daily, etc, reported our June Whitehead Congress, “Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization.”
More

DR. PHILIP CLAYTON MEETING THE LEADERS AT CENTRAL COMPILATION & TRANSLATION BUREAU

Dr. Philip Clayton, the president of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, has meet Mr. Haisheng Wei and Dr. Jinhai Yang, the leadars of Central Compilation & Translation Bureau, Beijing, July 13, 2015.
More

JOHN CHURCHILL, DAVE WETZEL MET HAOTAO HUANG, THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

On July 24, an interesting and important event occurred in Beijing. Haotao Huang, General Secretary of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, whose position is equivalent to a minister, met with John Churchill, Dave Wetzel, assistant mayor of London, England, and me for a conversation on humanities and constructive postmodernism in China. Prof. Xiaoxi Wang, Vice-director of Sociology Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Prof. Yuehou Qu attended this meeting. Minister Huang treated us lunch after the meeting.

PROF. JAY MCDANIEL IN CHINA

On July 18, Jay McDaniel, having just arrived in China for the summer academy (see below) gave a talk at East China University in Shanghai on process thought as a constructively postmodern option for China and the world.
On August 1 in the evening, Jay McDaniel met with Prof. Xiaoting Liu at Beijing Normal University to discuss future cooperation between a center Jay runs, called the New Horizons: Center for Science and World Religions, and a center Professor Liu runs, called Beijing Center for Science and Faith.

MR.HERMAN GREEN LECTURED IN CHINA

On July 11, Mark C. Modak-Truran and Herman Greene delivered lectures at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which were very well received.

Dr.David Schwerin and Mr.Henry Goodspeed in BNU

July 13, Henry Goodspeed and David Schwerin were invited to give speeches to a class of business people who were part time MBA students of Beijing Normal University. Zhan Han, vice president of Beijing Normal University, also the director of Beijing Process Center, met with Mr. Goodspeed before his lecture.

Prof. Philip Clayton lectured in China, Oct.16-24, 2010

About Philip David Clayton Interim Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean Ingraham Professor of Theology Philosophy of Religion and Theology, Claremont Graduate University
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Mr.Clifford Cobb's lectures in China. Oct 20-Nov.20, 2010

About Mr. Clifford Cobb Mr. Clifford Cobb is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a master\'s degree in public policy. He is author of Responsive Schools, Renewed Communities, A Communitarian Proposal for Systemic Education Reform; co-author of The Green National Product, An alternative measure of the national economy, co-editor of The Path to Justice, Essays on the Philosophy and economics of Henry George, contributor to For the Common Good, and author of several articles on social indicators and environmental taxes.
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Mr.Clifford Cobb's lectures in China. Oct 5-Nov.8, 2005

About Mr. Clifford Cobb Mr. Clifford Cobb is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a master\'s degree in public policy. He is author of Responsive Schools, Renewed Communities, A Communitarian Proposal for Systemic Education Reform; co-author of The Green National Product, An alternative measure of the national economy, co-editor of The Path to Justice, Essays on the Philosophy and economics of Henry George, contributor to For the Common Good, and author of several articles on social indicators and environmental taxes.
More

Dr. David Schwerin and Ms. Jan Rigsby lecture in China, October 16- 28, 2009

About David Schwerin: David A. Schwerin, Ph.D. is the author of Conscious Capitalism: Principles for Prosperity (Butterworth-Heinemann 1998) and Conscious Globalism: What’s wrong with the world and how to fix it (Digital Junction Press 2005). Conscious Capitalism has been translated into Portuguese and Chinese and is in its second printing in China. Conscious Globalism was published in China in October 2005. In addition, he contributed to the anthology The New Bottom Line: Bringing Heart and Soul to Business.
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Dr. David Schwerin lecture in China, 2007

David A. Schwerin, Ph.D., is the author of Conscious Globalism: What's wrong with the world and how to fix it (Digital Junction Press, 2005) and Conscious Capitalism: Principles for Prosperity (Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998). Conscious Capitalism has been translated into Portuguese and Chinese (2001) and is in its second printing in China. Conscious Globalism was also published in China (Social Sciences Publishing House, 2005).
More

Dr. David Schwerin lecture in China, 2005

Dr. David Schwerin lectures in China, 2005 and generates considerable interest: The Development Center of the Chinese State Department cites Schwerin\'s work on socially responsible business. Articles published in the journals, Seeking Truth, Marx and Reality and New China Digest. A chapter on Schwerin\'s Conscious Capitalism is included in Jinan University professor\'s new book. Lecture at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is published in Social Science Abroad. Guangming Daily, the second largest newspaper in China, announces the Chinese publication of Conscious Globalism. Book reviews appear in People.com, China Reading Daily, Science Times and New Beijing Daily.

Chinese officials visited Claremont

On March 21, 2004, Karen Torjesen met and hosted six officials of Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) including Qi Xiaofei, vice-minister, Guo Wei, Director of Foreign Affairs at SARA, Pei Yong, director of Religion Policy at SARA.
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Dr.John Buchanan and Dr. Marjorie Kiewit cut ribbon for Shandong Center for Process psychology

On October 11, 2005, Dr.John Buchanan and Dr. Marjorie Kiewit cut ribbon for Shandong Center for Process psychology, then delivered a public lecture. Zhang Zhigang, Vice-president, Dean of Education School of Shandong Normal University, and more than 100 students and faculty joined this event.

Ron Phipps cut ribbon for Yancheng Center for Process Education

On April 7, 2005, Ron Phipps cut ribbon for Yancheng Center for Process Education. President Chen Jingan, Cheng Changchun and 400 students and teachers from Yancheng Teacher University participated this opening ceremony.

International conference on Conference on Constructive Postmodernism and China’s Modernization

Sponsored by The Institute for Postmodern Development of China and China Project, Center for Process Studies, Claremont Graduate University and Claremont School of Theology, a mini-International conference themed Constructive Postmodernism and China\'s Modernization to be held from Dec. 17-18, 2006, in Claremont, CA. It is no secret that China is facing many disturbing problems as she marches toward modernization. Finding an alternative to current form of modernization has become an urgent issue. How can China continue to develop economically without repeating the mistakes the West made? How can China avoid the ecological crisis, the expanding gap between the rich and the poor, the destruction of local community, and the alienation and dehumanization that have occurred in the West? The purpose of the conference is to contribute to fresh reflections on this question from a constructive postmodern perspective. A small ground of Chinese leading scholars concerning modernization in China, will join this meeting, including Prof. Ping Ren, vice-chancellor of Soochow University, Huibin Li, the Director of Center for Marxism and China’s Issues Studies, Chief editor of Marxism and Reality, Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, Dr. Jianying Zhao, the chief editor of China Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Science. Dr.Cobb and Prof. Charlene Spretnak will deliver plenary speeches.

Dr. Tiejun Wen’s Visit to the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College

Dr. Tiejun Wen’s Visit to the Institute for Postmodern Development of China and Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College
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Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization

Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization
10th International Whitehead Conference; 9th International Conference on Ecological Civilization
Thursday-Sunday, June 4-7, 2015, Claremont, CA, USA

Report on Dr. Cobb’s 2014 Fall Trip to China

From October 27-Nov. 4, Dr. Cobb took a trip to China. Dr. Carol Johnston, Dr. Evaggelos Vallianatos, Christina Lee Brown, Yi Luo, and I joined in this trip. Carol has worked with us in China before. She teaches at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Evaggelos worked for the EPA for 25 years. He is the is the author of several books, including Poison Spring, published in April 2014 by Bloomsbury Press.
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Fools Rush In Where Angels Fear To Tread

I want to express gratitude to Maryknoll for the missionary training I received; to dear friends Lynne Juarez and Charlene Tschirhart and my dear life partner, Terry Donnelly, for their loving support; and to Professors Wang Zhihe and Fan Meijun for opening the gate for me to village life in China.
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A Postmodern Journey: Greetings from John B. Cobb, Jr.

It is a pleasure to greet friends around the world who are drawn to process thinking, as I am. My colleague Jay McDaniel, editor of JJB, has asked me to share a bit of my own journey in process or \\\"Whiteheadian\\\" thinking. You know from this website that process thinking is growing in many different parts of the world, providing a promising, relational alternative to more mechanistic and modernist approaches to life. China is a place where this growth is occurring most deeply, and I begin with a word about my own relation to this ancient land, rich with potential for helping guide the world's future
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First Cobb Common Good Award Honors Sheri Liao

The Institute for Postmodern Development of China (IPDC). Is presented to. Ms. Sheri Liao (Xiaoyi). In honor of her tireless efforts to promote the ecological movement.
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Cobb Common Good Award Honors Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Oct 25th, 2008, Claremont

The 2nd Cobb Award for the Common Good to Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker in recognition of her profound understanding of Chinese culture and her tireless efforts to promote the ecological movement worldwide.
Dr. Tucker is a specialist in Confucianism, who is co-founder of the Forum on Religion and Ecology. With John Grim, she organized ten conferences at Harvard (resulting in ten books) on “World Religions and Ecology.” From 1997-2000 she was a member of the International Earth Charter Drafting Committee. She teaches at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and in the Yale Divinity School.

3rd Cobb Common Good Award Honors Dr. C. Dean Freudenberger

The 3rd Cobb Common Good Award Honors Dr. C. Dean Freudenberger, May 3rd, 2010, Claremont IPDC Third Annual Banquet Time: MONDAY, THE THIRD OF MAY, 2010
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The 4th Cobb Common Good Award Honors Mr.Mark Anielski , April 28, 2011, Claremont

Jeanyne Slettom Presiding
6:00 p.m. Reception
6:20 Welcome and Instructions --- Slettom
6:30 Dinner
7:30 Introduction of special guests, Mayor Sam Pedroza and of David Griffin (Vice President of IPDC) by Slettom, with greetings from Pedroza
7:35 Griffin, Vice President of IPDC, “From Process Philosophy to Constructive
Postmodernism”
7:55 Music by The Winsor Brass introduced by Slettom
The Heavens Are Telling the Glory of God by Franz Joseph Haydn and four Chinese folk s songs.
8:10 Presentation of John Cobb Common Good Award to Mark Anielski by Tom Tseng, secretary of IPDC, and response by Anielski, the author of The Economics of Happiness
8:25 Introduction of Philip Clayton, Treasurer of IPDC, and Zhihe Wang, Executive Director --- Slettom
8:30 Clayton, “The Role of Chinese in the Claremont University Project”
8:40 Wang, “Becoming Part of History in the Making”
8:55 Request for support – Cobb, President of IPDC
9:00 Closing

5th Cobb Common Good Award Honors Dr. Zongchao Liu, April 27th, 2012, Claremont

Karen Torjesen (the board member of IPDC) and Chen Kun (professor at Cal Poly Pomona) Presiding
6:00 p.m. Reception
6:20 Welcome and Instructions
6:30 Dinner
7:20 Move to Decker Hall
7:25 Greeting from Peter Yao （the former mayor of Claremont）
7:30 David R. Griffin, Vice President of IPDC, “Whiteheadian Constructive Postmodernism and Ecological Thinking”
7:55 Music by James Manley & Pilgrim Pickers In our time, a new earth rages; Hunker down; Tuval; Mo Li Hua.
8:10 Presentation of John Cobb Common Good Award to Liu
Zongchao by Joe Hough , advisor of IPDC, to recognite of his tireless efforts and remarkable achievements over many years in promoting ecological civilization, and in emphasizing the crucial importance of ecological agriculture. and response by Liu, President of the Chinese Academy of Beijing Ecological Civilization
8:25 Philip Clayton, Treasurer of IPDC, “Harmony of Chinese Scholars, IPDC and Claremont Lincoln University”
8:45 Zhihe Wang, Executive Director, “The Fate of the Planet Lies in the Hands of I and Thou”
8:55 Request for support – Cobb, President of IPDC
9:00 Closing

Reports on 7th International Forum on Ecological Civilization “Rural Development”

China Daily http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2013-04/27/content_16457442.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2013-04/27/c_115574680.htm International Daily http://www.chinesetoday.com/zh/article/740884 Science & Technology Daily http://roll.sohu.com/20130428/n374312791.shtml China Press http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/news/usa/uslocal/chinapress/20130427/03504493162.html CNC http://www.xhstv.com/show/iahpEwiaqQAD6hH4c.html http://marx.ruc.edu.cn/xynews/news_show.asp?news_id=645 http://opinion.huanqiu.com/opinion_china/2013-05/3924226.html http://www.ccocco.cn/newswork/czrw/2013-05-07/762.html http://www.iae.org.cn/NAAS/article_content.jsp?ColumnID=95&TID=20130507152421862424636 http://www.xjklmy.com/news/news.asp?id=773254 http://www.njfu.edu.cn/newsshow.php?cid=116&id=743 http://www.njci.edu.cn/Item.aspx?id=22141 http://jiangfan.ujs.edu.cn/xwzx/read.php?id=19953

6th Cobb Common Good Award Honors Prof. Wen Tiejun, April 26, 2013, Claremont

The Sixth “John Cobb Common Good Award” Ceremony & Annual Banquet Location: the Abernethy Dining Room, Pilgrim Place，Claremont IPDC has presented The Sixth of “John Cobb Common Good Award” to Tiejun Wen and his team in recognition of their passion for the well being of Chinese peasants and their remarkable achievements.
Prof. Tiejun Wen is the leading figure in the New Rural Reconstruction Movement and a leader in both thought and action in the whole movement toward sustainable rural community in China.

Menu

DINER SERVED BUFFET STYLE AND ACTION STATION FOR VEGETARIAN DISH)
Caprese Salad
(Italian Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Baby Basil)
Miso orange glazed wild salmon
Curried Lentils
Garlic Orzo (Pasta)
Tricolor Beets (Vegetarian)
Dessert: Fruit and Mousse
Drinks: Coffee, Hot Water, Lemonade, Sharon Snowiss (professor at Pitzer College) Presiding

6:00 p.m. Hors d\'oeuvre at the tables
6:20 Welcome and Instructions
6:30 Dinner
7:20 Move to Decker Hall
7:25 Greeting from Prof. Clayton
7:30 Jay McDaniel, Ecological Civilization-East and West: A Constructive Postmodern Approach
7:55 Music by Jim Manly; Pilgrim Pickers We Shall Overcome, What the Forest Teaches, Garden Song, Tuval, Mo Li Hua.
8:15 Presentation of John Cobb Common Good Award to Wen Tiejun and his team by Joe Hough, advisor of IPDC, and response by Prof. Wen, Dean of the School of Agronomics; Rural Development, and Director of the Institute of Rural Finance, at Renmin University of China.
8:35 Zhihe Wang, Executive Director, Keep our roots
8:55 Request for support – Cobb, President of IPDC
9:00 Closing

Report on 2013 Summer Trip to China

This trip was full of excitements and very fruitful, on which we went to Beijing, Harbin, Changchun, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Chongqing, Songyuan, Tianjin, and Yongji, and 9 conferences and one summer academy were held, a dozen lectures were delivered, a new process center named “Center for Process Philosophy and System Management Studies” was established in Guangzhou, plus an interview by Chinese Social Sciences Newsv

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Reports on 7th International Forum on Ecological Civilization “Rural Development”

Media Links/新闻报道链接 http://www.chinesetoday.com/big/article/871571 http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=214975 http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-04-26/200230019420.shtml http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/culture/2014-04/26/c_133291869.htm http://stock.sohu.com/20140426/n398841628.shtml?flashget_edu_jsp http://news.uschinapress.com/2014/0425/975675.shtml http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2014-04/26/content_32216000.htmMedia Links/新闻报道链接 http://www.chinesetoday.com/big/article/871571 http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=214975 http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-04-26/200230019420.shtml http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/culture/2014-04/26/c_133291869.htm http://stock.sohu.com/20140426/n398841628.shtml?flashget_edu_jsp http://news.uschinapress.com/2014/0425/975675.shtml http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2014-04/26/content_32216000.htmv

Dr. Zhihe Wang, Constructive Postmodernism in China Today, CSUSB Modern China Lecture Series

CSUSB Modern China Lecture Series Friday, April 18, 2014, 12-2pm, PL-4005, Dr. Zhihe Wang Lecture Title: "Constructive Postmodernism in China Today" "Constructive Postmodernism" based on Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy refers to a pluralistic but integrative thinking, worldview, and practice. Eighteen years ago, almost no Chinese had heard the term "Constructive Postmodernism," which was coined by David Ray Griffin. The only kind of postmodernism with which they were familiar was the deconstructive postmodernism of French philosophers such as Derrida and Foucault. But today "Constructive Postmodernism" has become an influential movement in China, which is gaining a following among intellectuals and politicians alike. Why has Constructive Postmodernism been so well received in China recently, and what is the deep convergence between Constructive Postmodernism and Chinese tradition? What is its impact on China today, and what kinds of challenge is it facing? This lecture will address these questions and explore China's current shift toward an ecological civilization.
Speaker Bio:
Zhihe Wang, born in Beijing, China, is director of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, and the executive director of the China Project, Center for Process Studies, Claremont. He is also director of Center for Constructive Postmodern Studies and Professor of Philosophy at the Harbin Institute of Technology. Dr. Wang received his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy from Peking University in Beijing, China, his PhD from the Claremont Graduate University. His areas of specialty include process philosophy, constructive postmodernism, ecological civilization, and second enlightenment. His most recent publications include: Green Development and Innovation From Global Perspective (with Jianjun Zhao, 2013); Process and Pluralism: Chinese Thought on the Harmony of Diversity (2012); Second Enlightenment (with Meijun Fan, 2011); and The Roar of Awakening: A Whiteheadian Dialogue Between Western Psychotherapies and Eastern Worldviews (co-edited with Goerge Deffer and Michel Weber, 2009). He was senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the vice-chief editor of the journal, Social Science Abroad. Since 2002 he and his team have established more than twenty research institutes for constructive postmodern studies in China at universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guilin, Harbin, and other cities. He has helped organize more than seventy international conferences on ecological civilization, sustainable urbanization, ecological agriculture, postmodern law, science and spirituality, education reform, social responsibility in business, land and social justice, and, management. He has arranged more than 300 lectures by non-Chinese scholars in China. All of these efforts are ultimately aimed at helping encourage the greening of China and the world as well.
Co-sponsors include the History Department, History Club, Pfau Library, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the Intellectual Life Fund, the University Diversity Committee, and the College of Extended Learning. Coordinator, Jeremy A. Murray, Assistant Professor, CSUSB History Department. Special thanks to Joyce Hanson, Elizabeth Viramontes, James Trotter, and Iwona Contreras.

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PIELC 2014 Opening Ceremonies Keynote 1: Dr. Wen Tiejun and Dr. Zhihe Wang, Lierre Keith

Dr. Wen Tiejun.
Wen Tiejun is a renowned scholar at Renmin University of China. He holds multiple positions at Renmin includ-ing the Executive Dean of the Institute of Advanced Studies for Sustainability, the Director of the Institute of Rural Economy & Finance, and the Director of the Center of Rural Reconstruction. He is also the Executive Dean of the Institute of Rural Reconstruction of China, Southwest University and the Executive Dean of the institute of Rural Reconstruction of the Straits, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.From humble beginnings,Wen spent 11 years as a worker, a peasant, and a soldier since 1968 before working on rural policy research and reform. He is a distinguished expert on social-economic sustainable development and rural issues, especially in policy studies on macro-economic and geo-strategy of south-south cooperation, and inclusive growth of rural and urban areas. He has received multiple awards, including the State Council's Award for Outstanding Contribution in 1998, the Central TV Annual Award of Top 10 Eco-nomic Talent in 2003, and the Beijing Mu-nicipal Government Award of Outstand-ing Study Outcome in 2010. In addition, Wen is a member of the State Consultant Committee of Environmental Protection. Currently, he is leading China's grassroots movement to revive rural economies and communities.

Dr. Zhihe Wang.
Zhihe Wang, born in Beijing, China, is di-rector of the Institute for Postmodern De-velopment of China, the executive director of the China Project, Center for Process Studies, Claremont. He is also director of Center for Constructive Postmodern Studies and professor of philosophy at Harbin Institute of Technology. His areas of specialty include process philosophy, constructive postmodernism, ecological civilization, and second enlightenment. His recent publications include: "Green Development and Innovation From Glob-al Perspective" (with Jianjun Zhao,2013); "Process and Pluralism: Chinese Thought on the Harmony of Diversity" (2012); "Second Enlightenment" (with Meijun Fan, 2011). "The Roar of Awakening: A Whiteheadian Dialogue Between Western Psychotherapies and Eastern World-views" (co-edited with Goerge Deffer and Michel Weber,2009 ), "Ecological Civilization and Marxism" (with Huibin Li and Xiaoyuan Xue, 2008); "Whitehead and China" (co-edited with George Derfer and Wenyu Xie, 2008), and "A Study of Postmodern Philosophical Movement" (2006).Dr. Wang received his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy from Peking University in Beijing, China, and his PhD from the Claremont Graduate University, USA. He was senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the vice-chief editor of Social Science Abroad, a journal at national level.Since 2002 he and his team have es-tablish more than 20 research institutes for constructive postmodern studies in China at universities in Beijing, Shang-hai, Nanjing, Guilin, Harbin, and other cities. He has helped organize more than 70 international conferences on ecologi-cal civilization, sustainable urbanization, ecological agriculture, postmodern law, science and spirituality, education reform, social responsibility in business, land and social justice, and, management. He has arranged more than 300 lectures by non-Chinese scholars in China. All of these efforts are ultimately aimed at helping encourage the greening of China and the world as well.

Lierre Keith.
Lierre Keith is a writer, small farmer, and radical feminist activist. She is the author of, The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, and is coauthor, with Derrick Jensen and Aric McBay, of Deep Green Resistance: Strategy to Save the Planet.

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Process Thought: Constructive Postmodernism in China

Dr. Meijun Fan and Dr. Zhihe Wang, scholars from China currently in residence as Claremont School of Theology, lead a conversation on the growing influence of the thought of Alfred North Whitehead in China Today.  There are now over 30 centers of scholarship on process philosophy and theology at universities in China. Process thought is a bridge between East and West, between science and religion, and is a philosophical platform for the development of ecologically sustainable civilization.

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NPR Affiliate interview with Zhihe Wang, Meijun Fan, and Jay McDaniel

Listen to the interview here.

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John Cobb Visits China

From October 27-Nov. 4, Dr. Cobb took a trip to China. Dr. Carol Johnston, Dr. Evaggelos Vallianatos, Christina Lee Brown, Yi Luo, and I joined in this trip. Carol has worked with us in China before. She teaches at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Evaggelos worked for the EPA for 25 years. He is the is the author of several books, including Poison Spring, published in April 2014 by Bloomsbury Press.

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7th Cobb Common Good Award Honors Prof. Jay McDaniel

From October 27-Nov. 4, Dr. Cobb took a trip to China. Dr. Carol Johnston, Dr. Evaggelos Vallianatos, Christina Lee Brown, Yi Luo, and I joined in this trip. Carol has worked with us in China before. She teaches at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Evaggelos worked for the EPA for 25 years. He is the is the author of several books, including Poison Spring, published in April 2014 by Bloomsbury Press.

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