The 3^rd APTIK INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND POVERTY “HUMAN SENSITIVITY: JUSTICE, SOLIDARITY, AND OPEN VISION”

Background

The COVID-19 lockdown appears to end, and now the “new vision” of living must be prepared in order to face our future. Indeed, the COVID-19 was just one out of the bulk of crisis torturing us, however it has already forced  and pushed almost all parts of this Earth into a totally “new experience.” All activities had to break to stay alive for lockdown. They have had to wait and see what the next to undergo is. Even, some may signify that’s about the time for us to be silent and muse of our previously bad conducts. Meanwhile, APTIK’s concern with “environment and poverty,” which has been implemented in the two international conferences in 2018 (by the topic of “Resilience in Poverty Alleviation and Environmental Mitigation”) and in 2020 (“A Sustainable Recovery for People and the Environment”), is still the fruitful flame for contributing the establishment of a better world for all. It means the show must go on. Our certainty is that the COVID-19, therefore, is just a phenomenon disturbing, but not stopping, APTIK’s will to position human dignity among the evil disruptions towards environment and the good efforts of minimizing poverty. What we need then is about sensitivity on justice, solidarity, and open vision.

Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, as cited by Pedro Walpole, strongly emphasized that injustice is still the greater virus (https://www.ecojesuit.com/learnings-from-a-crisis-in-the-time-of-covid-19). The destructions of environment and ignorant deeds about poverty have been the phenomena, culturally and not naturally, and the struggles of overcoming them are obviously compulsory. The more powerful individual/s and groups must absolutely understand that those have been caused by the exercises of uncontrolled injustice. “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.” (Laudato Si, https://www.vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html). Lack of solidarity is also the painful destiny occurring in this present civilization, called the most advanced modern world. In order to mitigate the worst, the need of community solidarity is prominent, by the myth that everyone is kin (Kotakk, 2015, 198). However, since our civilization is continuing to undergo changes, it is a great hope that they would be in the context of improving human quality and dignity, and the emphasis on the importance of justice and solidarity is the priority. It means open vision is the ideal method or approach how to establish a better world for all, and in accordance with APTIK’s concern, the new vision must be structured together with the World’s struggles to overcome environmental violences and poverty. The newness of vision is prominent since the last hardships given by the COVID-19 have successfully struck any aspects of human life, including the common vision’s perspectives dealing with the fights against injustice and anti-solidarity. It may involve technological advancements, health options, law breakthroughs, behavioural discretions, and any other conversions.

Indonesia, who was successful in standing as the presidency of G20 last year, at present is aiming at the new national capital, called IKN, in East Kalimantan. Interestingly, the first principle, out of 8, in building it is about “the agreement with nature,” as delivered “Designed according to Nature”(https://www.ikn.go.id/en). The government really understands that the position of nature, i.e. environment, is prominent and ultimate to support the future Indonesian livings, and consequently nature stands as the first element to consider. This idea seems to counter the present condition of Jakarta, having complicated hardships dealing with, especially, environment or nature.

Therefore, how to improve and sharpen human sensitivity is the important question or problem for those interested in the better World. Any notions, suggestions, concepts, and contributions to create, or at least to imagine, it are waited. Our vocation of being the participants to save our Earth will be concrete later in the 3^rd APTIK International Conference, hosted by Universitas Sanata Dharma, next September 2023 in Yogyakarta.

Objectives

As the organization of bringing the spirit of Christianity, especially among the members, APTIK aims to provide opportunity those to share the spirit in and by the same flame. Moreover, disturbed by the problems on “environment and poverty” all are invited to deliver their ideas and suggestions to take part in solving them in in building the better World for all to stay. This international conference is also to prepare forum for those coming from any parts of the world to share and discuss their ideas, so the conference really represents our open vision about the new World.

Important Dates

1. Abstract submission deadline : 24 Aug 2023
2. Abstract acceptance notification : 31 Aug 2023
3. Participant registration/payment : 24 July – 4 Sept 2023
4. Conference date : Friday/8 Sept & Saturday/9 Sept 2023
5. Full-paper submission deadline. : 30 September 2023 (after the Conference)