Technology and Environmental Conflict Resolution Planning Conference

Greetings: I was honored to be the token Ludite--and one of several EPP standard-bearers-- at a conference convened by USIECR May 6-8 to develop a strategic plan vis the use of technology in Environmental Conflict Resolution. A number of other EPP members participated. I’ll hit on some of the highlights in this post.

Starting w/ the (draft) ending: the draft report from the planning session can be viewed at: http://sites.google.com/site/ecrtech2009mtg/draftoutput. If you have an interest in the use of technology in ECR, we encourage you to review the draft and submit comments.

The Redlands Institute has developed a an on-line catalog of tech tools: www.spatial.redlands.edu/toolsgallery. Check it out! The catalog's creator--Jordan Henk-- has graciously agreed to let us post a link to the catalog on our EPP site.

The Google.maps folks gave a very interesting presentation re how groups are using google.maps. A very powerful tool! And free. For more info: http://earth.google.com/outreach/index.html

Much of the discussion at the conference was about how to expand the use of technology. Skeptics and those with concerns re social justice will be relieved to learn that the group also gave voice to concerns about social justice and appropriate use of IT, and access issues (internet access, unfamiliarity, discomfort, clash with cognitive and spiritual connections to the situation, disability, and generational issues). The potential in tech-based processes of over-emphasizing scientific ways of understanding the world and making decisions (as opposed to more values-based approaches) was also discussed.

We EPP folk may want to consider convening a follow-up session in 2010. If you have thoughts, reactions, and/or comments, please be in touch.