Regional autonomy, local cultures, national integration
On 1-4 August 2000 an international symposium and workshop will be held at the University of Hasanuddin, Makassar (South Sulawesi), in Indonesia. The event is being organized by the editors of the Journal Antropologi Indonesia at the Department of Anthropology, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Indonesia. They are collaborating with four partners: the Department of Anthropology at Hasanuddin University; the Department of Anthropology, RSPAS, of the Australian University; the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka (Japan); and the Center for South East Asian Studies at Kyoto (Japan). The symposium is entitled The beginning of the 21st century: Endorsing regional autonomy, understanding local cultures, strengthening national integration. There will be four panels, with the following themes:

· Local resource management: between ‘productivity’ and ‘sustainability’

· Endorsing regional autonomy: re-empowering local institutions

· Peril in focus: redefining the cultures of bureaucrats and the military

· ‘Unity in diversity’: is it still possible?

The four themes are related to the present situation in Indonesia. At the beginning of the third millennium, Indonesians face a multitude of problems that include national disintegration and other problems of nationhood. Much has to be done to overcome these problems, including a change in the social order. An initial step that must be taken to this end is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the various conditions, potentials and constraints faced by the many segments of society, especially in response to increasing regional autonomy in years to come. Without such understanding, and without the participation of the local communities themselves, then there will be no real difference in the patterns of policies enacted to overcome crises and improve on the people’s welfare.

The organizers call for papers and participation from scholars, researchers, practitioners, observers, decision-makers, donor agencies, the press and any one else in Indonesia or abroad who has an interest in the subject. This year the focus will be on the diverse cultures and social institutions of local communities in Sulawesi, Maluku and Irian Jaya. It is envisaged that the other regions will be similarly covered in subsequent years: i.e., Sumatra, Riau and Kalimantan in 2001; and Java, Bali, and Nusa Tengara in 2002.

Participants are expected to present the findings from their research or facilitative action in one or more local communities, and among various stakeholders, of Sulawesi, Maluku or Irian Jaya. Papers may be theoretical, conceptual or analytical discussions, or present the latest ethnographic and empirical findings on social-cultural phenomena related to the themes.

ABSTRACTS of no more than 300 words must be received by the Steering Committee at the University of Indonesia no later than 31 March 2000. The final date for full papers (if selected) is 30 June 2000. The selected papers will be published in the Jurnal ANTROPOLOGI INDONESIA vol.25 (3 editions) 2001.

For more information, contact: Steering/Organizing Committee of the International Symposium and Workshop - Jurnal ANTROPOLOGY INDONESIA, Dept. of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia, Building B, 3rd Floor (B.306), Depok 16424, Indonesia.

Tel.: +62-21-7888 1032.
Fax: +62-21-7888 7749.

E-mail: antrop@centrin.net.id

See also the website at: http://www.angelfire.com/journal/antrop/index.html

FOR SYMPOSIA AND PAPERS

Ethnobiology, biocultural diversity, and benefits-sharing

The International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) will hold its 7th Congress in Athens, Georgia, USA, 23-27 October 2000. The theme of the congress, symbolized by the turtle, is Earth in the next century. Attention will focus on ethnobiology’s role in maintaining biocultural diversity and ensuring equitable benefits-sharing and open dialogue with traditional and indigenous research collaborators.

Since its founding in 1988 in Belém, Brazil, the ISE has met every two years. Congresses have been held in Kunming, China (1990), Mexico City (1992), Lucknow, India (1994), Nairobi, Kenya (1996), and Whakatane, New Zealand (1998). This is the first time that the ISE will hold its congress in the USA. We expect a strong representation of U.S. and Canadian indigenous groups, as well as traditional peoples from Mexico and other parts of Latin America. Thus far most of the information about the congress has been disseminated via the Internet. This call is meant to reach interested people and organizations—in Africa and elsewhere—who do not have access to the Internet. The organizers hope especially to reach indigenous groups involved in issues of biodiversity, ethnobiology, intellectual property, etc.

You are invited to submit papers on the following subjects:

· Ethnobiology of human health

· Intellectual property rights and ethnobiological research

· Conservation of biological and cultural diversity

· Sustainable development of plant resources

· Collaborative research protocols

· Benefits-sharing and drug discovery

· Initiatives by indigenous, traditional, and local communities and scientists to conserve biological diversity.

Following the traditional format, the 7th Congress will be preceded by a number of pre-congress training workshops which focus on topics relevant to particular geographical areas or specialized interests. The workshop topics include:

Prior informed consent; Ethnobotany and education; Balancing local preservation and global benefit-sharing; People and plants: cultural perspectives on conservation; Ethnobiological knowledge and public health; Ecological change; Cultural transition; and Human health. Other topics may also be volunteered.

Please send your abstracts (no more than 500 words) before 1 July 2000, preferably by e-mail, to rstepp@uga.edu

or by mail to: 7th International Congress of Ethnobiology, c/o John R. Stepp, Department of Anthropology, The University of Georgia, 250 Baldwin Hall, Athens, GA 30602-1619, USA.

For more information please check our website at: http://guallart.dac.uga.edu/ISE

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