From gwelker@mail.lmi.orgThu Oct 27 15:09:07 1994 Date: Thu, 27 Oct 94 11:45:36 -0700 From: gwelker@mail.lmi.org Reply to: indknow@u.washington.edu To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: PRESS RELEASE - Please distribute PRESS RELEASE (27th Oct 1994) ESTABLISHMENT of the "ECOTECH Network" ************************************** As the organizers of the Asian Conference on Ecotechnology for Sustainable Development (19-26th Oct), we are honored to make the following announcement. The 9-month long ECOTECH'94 Computer Conference, which was conducted via Internet to debate the opportunities of ecotechnologies, has resulted in the presentation of 43 papers from several countries including developing countries like Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Nepal, Czech Republic, The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This resulted in the formation of an informal electronic network of more than 2000 members. The organization of a face-to-face regional conference in Beijing, China, as the concluding activity of the "International Conference on Ecotechnology for Sustainable Development", was joined attended by several Chinese and international experts in all facets from ecotechnologies. 45 papers and a dozen video tapes were presented with their discussions. Field trips to "eco-sites" (villages, communes and counties) offered foreign guests a unique exposure to the pragmatic experiences in the country. The integrated use of ecotechnologies to achieve multipurpose objectives in China's efforts in moving towards sustainable development were seen on the ground. This year, the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a series of symposia, and concluded it yesterday with an international gathering of distinguished guests for its "Information Technology Week". Together, through a teleconference, we concluded both activities. This made it a truly historical event, and the first between Sweden and China. The dialogue discussed the concepts of ecotechnology for sustainable villages and cities with a live report on field trips, activities in China and the presentation of follow-up plans of the "ECOTECH Network". The video conference was most inspiring for all participants. We concluded here that the "ECOTECH Network", supported by this electronic network, wishes to pursue its work through : (1) a continued expansion of electronic activities via Internet, (2) publication of the proceedings of the conference and a "ECOTECH Newsletter" (3) development of curricula for training courses on ecotechnology for sustainable development, to be conducted in China and other countries, on selected topics for specific target groups, with the creation of a multimedia library of training materials; and (4) development of R&D projects in cooperation with other organizations. The Network wishes to inform interested parties of this ground-breaking initiative. They are invited to join this effort to realize common objectives. If anyone is interested, we would be most willing to send more detailed information and materials. Prof. LI Wenhua Eng-Leong Foo President, Special Commission on ECOTECH'94 Network Manager Sustainable Development, CSSTSD, eng-leong.foo@mtc.ki.se 19 Zhongguancun Road, Beijing 100080, China Forwarded from: ET-ANN%SEARN.BITNET@SEGATE.SUNET.SE List