December 2-3, 1994
Auburn University, in cooperation with the Government of
Panama and Alabama State agencies, will host an international
meeting to explore opportunities for environmentally sound
development in the coming years.
The conference will focus on the next quinquennium, during
which Panama will integrate the Panama Canal and U.S. military
bases into its territory, consolidate its democracy, continue the
process of privatization, grapple with environmental dilemmas,
encourage business initiatives that can replace U.S. operations,
forge a new international role, address severe social problems,
and skew the distribution of income more toward its poorest
citizens. Any government would be challenged to achieve these
goals in a five-year term. President Ernesto Perez Balladares
faces them with a mandate of only a third of the votes cast in
the May election and in a climate of world opinion at best
ambivalent toward Panama.
PANAMA 1994-1999 will bring together a wide variety of
specialists who work in that country and on international
development. They include Panamanian leaders in many fields,
businessmen, representatives of environmental NGOs and PVOs, U.S.
academics, officials of U.S. state and federal agencies, and
experts from multinational organizations. While programmed
around special themes, the conference will allow broad and
uncensored debate on all issues. All papers and discussions will
be off-the-record. The intent is to allow frank exchanges of
ideas and information that feed into more effective policy-
making strategies.
GOALS OF THE CONFERENCE:
Serve as a forum for leaders in Panama's new government to assess
their first three months in office and to formulate or revise
plans for sustainable development in the remainder of their term.
Provide an opportunity for government officials, scholars, NGO
and PVO leaders, private sector representatives, and
multinational experts to interact and design plans for Panama's
development efforts.
Develop ideas and strategies for Panama's presentation at the
Summit of the Americas meeting 9-10 December
Engage Alabama's leaders in the hemispheric dialogue now taking
place on development, environment, and democracy in the Americas
Present information about Auburn University's programs for
technical assistance and training
SPONSORS:
Auburn University
Colleges of Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine,
Liberal Arts, Business; Schools of Forestry, Architecture,
Human Resources; Institutes for Environmental Studies, Latin
American Studies, and Economic Development; and Centers for
Highway Research, International Aquaculture, International
Commerce, Water Resources, and Technology Management
Government of Panama
State of Alabama
Alabama Development Office
Alabama State Docks
Governor's Office
GENERAL TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED
Engineering the Tropics: Transportation and Infrastructure
Demands in Panama
Global Trade and Intermodal Shipping in Panama
Agro-Forestry, Tropical Timber, and Wood Products Manufacturing
Tropical Fauna, Public Health, and Veterinary Medicine
Telecommunications and Internet: Options for College and Private
Sector Training
Environment and Culture: Sustainable Tourism in Panama
Listening to Mother Nature: Geographical Information Systems
River Basin Ecology: The Chagres and Panama Canal Watersheds
Canal Security During the Transition and Beyond
*A detailed program will be available for participants at the
conference or upon request.
FOR REGISTRATION AND
OTHER INFORMATION:
Institute for Latin American Studies
508 College of Business
Auburn University, AL 36849-5236
tel. 205-844-4161; fax 844-3409
internet ilas@mail.auburn.edu