Conference: November 3 to 6, 2013
Deadline for Abstract: October 6, 2013
en français

A Bilingual (French & English) International Conference
at Espam-Formation University, Cotonou, Republic of Benin

The African Environmental Ethics and Values Research Group in the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Nigeria and Espam-Formation University, Cotonou, Republic of Benin in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, University of North Texas, located in Denton, Texas, United States will hold its fourth annual conference on the above theme.  The Conference Coordinators are, Dr. Chigbo Joseph Ekwealo at cekwealo@unilag.edu.ng or chigboekwealo@gmail.com and Dr. Gene Hargrove at cep@unt.edu.

The first was at UNT, Denton, Texas in May 2010 on “African Environmental Ethics and Values in the 21st Century.” The second was held from June 30 to July 2, 2011 at the University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos, Nigeria on “Environmental Justice, Restoration, and Sustainability in Africa.” A third conference was held at the University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos, Nigeria on “African Environmental Ethics, Philosophy and Education versus Environmental Activism and Advocacy: The Great Debate.”

Land and water has always been the immediate surroundings of peoples in all existences and continents. It has always been the base on which Man depends on for his existence. Land serves as home, a nutrient-filled and agricultural base, a thoroughfare, a religious base, et cetera. Water is all important beginning with the human body made up of water, water also serves as nourishment, used for cooking and the rivers, streams and oceans are home for very many habitats necessary for life. Wars have been fought to protect and preserve land and water space meaning that they are fundamental resource for human survival. Prevailing civilizations and epochs are chronicled with the effects these constituents have on human life. The conference therefore would like to explore these great connections from the humanities, science and social science perspectives. The hope of the conference is to discuss the interconnectedness or relatedness of these three theatres of life for existence/ living and chart a model or value system for the preservation of the resources and sustainable use by the human society.

The conference welcomes papers and presentations from academics, civil societies groups and natural activists, government, et cetera on any aspect of the discourse. Themes therefore include but are not limited to traditional and contemporary notions of land and water, religious notions, scientific and spiritual qualities of land and water, peoples and culture, science of the cosmos, et cetera. Papers from other continental perspectives that may be comparative in addressing the theme of the conference are welcomed.

To Submit:

Abstracts of not more than 250 words should be sent to the Conference Coordinator, Dr. Chigbo Joseph Ekwealo at cekwealo@unilag.edu.ng or chigboekwealo@gmail.com.

The conference registration fee is $250 for foreign delegates and N30, 000.00 (Naira) for Nigerian participants, which includes all program materials, lunch for two days. Questions regarding mode of payment, transportation, accommodation, and other logistics should be directed to the Conference Coordinator, Dr. Chigbo Ekwealo (cekwealo@unilag.edu.ng), for the French delegates, the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Martial Lipeb (drm_lipeb@yahoo.fr) or the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Esther Tchokouatcheu (tchokoua2000@yahoo.fr), Espam-Formation University, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Select papers will be published in the peer reviewed Journal of African Environmental Ethics and Values, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, Nigeria OR Journal of Intercultural Studies, Espam-Formation University, Cotonou, Republic of Benin.