Kyung Hee University celebrates the 44th Peace BAR Festival, honoring the United Nations' International Day of Peace.
The Kyung Hee University System is set to host the 44th Peace BAR Festival (PBF) from September 15-20, 2025, with a focus on "The Moment of Chaos: Planetary Consciousness and Future Politics." The event will culminate with an international conference on September 19-20, held at the Grand Peace Hall and the Seoul Campus.
The conference will feature a variety of intriguing activities. On September 19th, a commemorative ceremony will delve into pathways to peace and coexistence amidst this era of chaos. This will be followed by a special panel discussion titled "The Moment of Chaos: The Future of Planetary Politics," featuring prominent figures such as Kyung Hee University System Chancellor Inwon Choue, Professor Naomi Oreskes of Harvard University, and others.
The roundtable discussion, "Breakthrough or Breakdown: Planetary Consciousness and Transformative Politics," will gather global intellectuals and practitioners. While the participants for this discussion are yet to be announced, it promises to be an enlightening event.
Professor Oreskes will also deliver a keynote speech titled "From Global to Planetary Society: A New Pathway Toward Human Civilizations." Another significant event will be the Havel Dialogue, highlighting the spirit of Václav Havel and featuring leading international scholars.
In addition to these, the week-long event will include a colloquium and a Youth Peace Forum on September 20. The colloquium will address "Climate Justice and Intergenerational Justice: A Road Toward Planetary Citizenship," while the Youth Peace Forum will provide a platform for young minds to discuss and shape the future of peace and coexistence.
Parallel activities during the festival include commemorative activities for civil society and students, a digital short-form contest, global citizenship booths, and a Humanitas writing contest.
Notable speakers for the festival include Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norway's first woman Prime Minister, and Paul Shrivastava, Co-President of the Club of Rome. Their presence adds an air of authority and prestige to the event.
The United Nation's International Day and Year of Peace were initially proposed in 1981 and have been observed annually since then. The International Day of Peace is observed on September 21st since 2001. This year's festival falls within the International Day of Peace Week, further emphasising its significance.
The Peace BAR Festival at Kyung Hee University promises to be an enriching and thought-provoking event, bringing together global leaders, intellectuals, and young minds to discuss and shape the future of peace and coexistence.
