On July 16, 2007, CRCS will hold discussion titled ?Reform Movement in Thai Buddhism?. The key speaker will be Dr. Tavivat Puntarigvivat and the respondent will be Dr. John Raines. Dr. Tzuivat Puntigravivat is professor in the Humanities Department at Mahidol University in Thailand and was head of its Comparative Religion graduate program from 1995 to 1997. His lectures and essays on social ethics from cross-cultural and Buddhist perspectives reflect his first-hand experiences as a bhikkhu in the Thai Theravada tradition. Dr. John Raines is professor of religion at Temple University. His area of expertise is Religion and Society. In this discussion, Dr Raines will be respondent from Christian perspective.

The 31st edition of Resonansi, which will be broadcasted live by RRI on June 7, 2007, will discusse ?Reawakening Social Institutions and National Culture?. Besides RRI, Resonansi talkshow can be watched on TVRI-Jogja on Friday and Monday (June 8 and 11, 2007) at 18.00-17.00, or read in Radar Jogja newspaper on June 11, 2007.

Ecological crisis, hardship, social differences, dehumanization, crime, are serious problems now. These problems relate to each other and influence not only general livelihood but also one?s personal life. The rise of divorce cases, drug abuse, depression, psychopaty, schizophrenia, and suicide are called by Fritjof Capra as “civilization diseases” have become part of modern life. Development of science and technology, which has become modernity?s icon does not always have a positive correlation with human prosperity. Social and cultural institutions which can harmonize relationships between human beings with God and human beings with nature slowly but surely are swallowed by time of modernity which more emphasize rationality and advantage compared to conscience.

On June 5, 2007, CRCS will hold discussion titled ?Muslim journalist in Canada?. The key speaker will be Haroon Siddique. Haroon Siddique is a Canadian Journalist and Muslim who received the Order of Canada Award. This award is given to people who have demonstrated excellence, courage or exceptional dedication to service in ways that bring special credit to Canada. Haroon Siddique received this award because of his efforts in struggling fairness and equality of opportunity in Canada.

The discussion will be held in Graduate School Building, GMU, room 306, at 13.00. to 15.00. If you are interested in joining the discussion please register with Iqbal Ahanf. Email. ahnafe7@yahoo.com or send SMS to 085835169940. this event is free of charge, however the number of participants is limited.

Prof. Nawal Ammar

In her presentation about Are Islamic Thinking and Ecofeminism Possible, Prof. Ammar explained that it is not difficult to understand the ecological crisis in its apparent manifestations as polluted air, radiation, contamination of water, and the eradication of entire species of animals and plants.

However, as Foucault (1978) argued we do not live in an ecology but we live in a culture that influences ecology. A number of new episteme have been introduced regarding the relationship between culture and the environment in the past quarter of a century, Ecofeminism is one of those episteme that examines such a relationship.