Global Engage

The EARCOS Global Issues Network conference 2012 will be held at the International School Manila during the period 17-19 February 2012.

Those with knowledge of the Global Issues Network will be aware that it is a loose collaboration of individuals and organizations inspired by the ideas of the former VP of the World Bank Jean Francois Rischard as expressed in his book High Noon: 20 Global Problems, 20 years to solve them, written 10 years ago.

Rischard’s key idea is that population, economic and technological growth curves are exponential but the global institutional capacity to manage these phenomena are not. Rischard proposed the establishment of Global Issues Networks; organic, flexible and dynamic collaborations of the private, public and non governmental sectors as a means to better keep pace with global trends.

The Global Issues Network is a manifestation of Rischard’s ideas. Born out of a collaborative service project involving several international schools in Europe, GIN has blossomed into a truly global network with representation in every major region of the world. EARCOS is the administrative center of GIN in SE Asia and for the past 5 years an EARCOS member school has held an annual conference for students and teachers from within the region.

GIN Manila 2012 aims to support the vision of Rischard and the mission of GIN by making this academic year’s conference action based and sustainable in method, hence the theme ‘Compassionate Action’. Those aware of Compass Schools will no doubt notice the purposeful reference to the ideas of Alan Atkisson, founder of the Atkisson Group, our opening keynote speaker and methodological guide.

As well as featuring keynote speakers and global issues workshop presentations from all GIN delegates GIN Manila 2012 will include sustainable action planning workshops (SAPs) that will be facilitated by ISM students who have been trained in the use of Atkisson’s ‘Pyramid‘ strategic planning tool. Furthermore, GIN Manila 2012 will have a day of action in Manila during which delegates will have the opportunity to participate in projects, such as PCF, geared towards addressing the global issues that they discuss during the conference.

Teacher delegates of GIN Manila 2012 will not be left out as they will have the benefit of a series of sessions with Michael Furdyk, the founder of TakingITGlobal, our closing keynote speaker. Michael’s organization may just provide the platform through which the sustainable action plans developed by the  student delegates during the conference can live, breath and come to fruition post conference.

Finally, the most exciting part of GIN Manila 2012 is that it continues to grow and evolve. Alan Atkisson has been so inspired by our conference vision that he is using GIN Manila 2012 as a launch pad for a truly global event, Pyramid2012. During the weekend of the conference organizations all around the world will be developing SAP Pyramid’s of their own. Although this project is still in it’s infancy there are confirmed events occurring in 9 other countries; Indonesia, Costa Rica, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Iceland, UK, Senegal, Thailand and Germany. Each of these events will revolve around the ‘hub’ in Manila and all will feature on a web platform that connects them.

If you are not fortunate enough to come to GIN Manila 2012 then sign up to Pyramid 2012 and be part of its global influence.

We look forward to your involvement in person or virtually!

Tom McLean

International School Manila