Int'l Forum on Ecological Civilization held in Southern California

LOS ANGELES, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Sixth International Forum on Ecological Civilization kicked off Friday in Claremont, Southern California, attracting over 100 U.S. and Chinese scholars.

The forum will focus on the topic "The Place of Harmony in Ecological Civilization."

"The topic of this series is of utmost importance, but it is hardly being discussed in Western societies. The interest in it of the Chinese is one of the most hopeful developments in the world," said John B. Cobb, Jr., who plays a crucial role in the development of process theology and postmodern studies in the United States, at the opening of the two-day forum.

Author of "Is It Too Late?" and co-winner of the Grawemeyer Award for "Ideas Improving World Order," Cobb is now president of the Institute for Postmodern Development of China, which hosts the forum.

"In classical Chinese thought, the harmonious society was a major focus. The idea of harmony plays a major role in (Alfred North) Whitehead's philosophy as well. ... The conference will consider the relevance of traditional Chinese thought to contemporary needs for a harmonious society," Cobb said.

Scholars from institutions and universities in China as well as the United States such as the Center for Process Studies, the Claremont Graduate University, the China Society for Dialectics of Nature and Beijing Normal University are attending the forum.

The forum will present the fifth "John Cobb Common Good Award" to Chinese ecological agriculture expert Liu Zongchao, who is also the president of the Chinese Academy of Beijing Ecological Civilization, for his efforts and achievements in promoting ecological civilization.

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