ISC 69 THEME:
"Be a Pioneer of the Next Generation:
Action Towards Diversity, Sustainability, and
Respect."
In this post-COVID world, the current international society is undergoing some unusually turbulent times, which makes it difficult to gauge the future direction. While a number of countries have been gathering efforts to return to the "pre-COVID-19 era," there still exist barriers to active and unconstrained international exchanges. We also have been witnessing new bursts of violent conflicts across the borders of the world, which not only influence the countries directly involved but also their geopolitical neighbors and economic partners - resulting in global inflation, food shortages, and intensified security concerns. Such a world today could be best explained by the term "VUCA" (an abbreviation of "Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity"), which societies across the globe inevitably have to deal with.
Nevertheless, the current global society is continuously calling for worldwide cooperation for achieving common goals, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Such a trend implies how consistent international dialogue and cooperation are still important actions to take to maintain peace in the world. There is also a rising importance of fostering prospective leaders among the younger generation, discovering those who can lead the next generation towards the common goal while respecting the diverse international society.
In response, the 69th International Student Conference (ISC69) invites students from various parts of the world to prepare themselves to become the pioneers of the next generation. This year's conference aims to encourage the participants to grow their global awareness and actively discover possible ways to innovate the world, taking collective and meaningful actions towards common goals. ISC69 will try to fulfill its annual goal based on the following three keywords: diversity, sustainability, and respect. Considering how the international society is approaching "peace and prosperity for people and the planet," the future global society should be sustainable for everyone across diverse communities, and the value of respect would allow each of us to recognize and get along with the differences we have.
With this being said, ISC69 would like to invite international students to our in-person conference in Tokyo, Japan, in the summer of 2023 to start thinking about our future - ISC69 would be a great place for all of us to explore our intersecting values and take action together!
ISC 69 TABLE TOPICS
T1
DIGITAL NATIONALISM
Decentralization of the internet; Formation of National Digital Ecosystems, Cybersecurity in China
Led by Akiko Orui
While digital technologies and the role of the internet has been regarded as one of the antecedents of globalization and the age of information, contemporary forms of nationalism challenges the idea of the free internet. Nation states are proposing to have their own and separate database, network and set of rules for their own nationalistic interests.
The question of “Who governs the internet?” becomes an issue when the fear of borderless communication possibly compromising the domestic digital economy takes place. An instability in cyberspace is just as damaging as climate change; therefore, an analysis of contemporary nationalism with its link to the global communication ecology is essential to solve this issue.
T2
GENDER AND LGBTQ+
Combating Gender and Sexuality based discrimination
Inclusivity is essential in our diverse world. The theme for this table will revolve around, - Now and Future Progress Beyond the Gender Binary and Sexuality. This table aims to investigate the present and potential progress and dynamics of genders, spanning from the role of states and organizations in establishing gender space to the modern gender discussion. It starts small, from media representation of the stereotypes to brutal gender-based violence. What can be done to protect the rights of the non-binary?
Will promoting the rights of LGBTQ and non-binary have setbacks in the future? These are the few questions this table will tackle and explore various possibilities. Being the youth, it is our responsibility to find the key to such global issues even a small change can create a ripple effect. People have limited knowledge about gender and sexuality. Simple activities can be stewing for people who don't fit in the gender binary column. They experience harassment and other crimes daily. Less awareness and education create stereotypes and taboos that make them feel out of place. Further, suffer from mental health issues.
T3
MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT DURING WORLD HEALTH EMERGENCIES
Addressing mental health impacts of world health emergencies
Led by Purvasri Das
Led by Chhavi Mahaur
Public health emergencies have been occurring through the course of history in human civilization. Be it in terms of war, natural calamities or the recent COVID pandemic. As a result, mass suffering is visible which often brings out the gaps and loopholes in health systems across the nations. These insufficient and inaccessible health systems often deepen disparity and inequities – further exacerbating the burden on the people and society as a whole. This burden often translates into mental health implications which often remain invisibilized due to the stigma attached to mental health (especially in the southeast Asian, Middle-eastern context, among many and interplay with cultures across diverse countries in the world) and lack of awareness – thus, deepening mental health concerns and leaving them unaddressed.
The globe is a diverse place with different issues, challenges which often see systems collapse at the time of emergency and there comes the disparity in reaction and damage control. These often take a toll on the citizens as they get reduced to digits and carry the burden of emergencies alone. Moreover, the disparity between the socio-economically secure people and the others widens. This directly and severely impacts their mental health without addressing the prevalent problem.
T4
GREEN ECONOMY TRANSITION
Building resiliency through digital innovations
The earth has been seeing unprecedented changes in the context of environmental sustainability. This is evidenced by climate change, the increasing level of deforestation, the rapid decline of clean water, soil erosion and many others. To mitigate the risks and dangers posed by deteriorating environment conditions, the concept of sustainable development has been refined within the past decades, from only discussing the pathway to sustainable forest management, to becoming a holistic approach and strategy that prioritizes desirable living conditions in the long term. This concept aims to create solutions for the well-being of humans, which was measured by, such as but not limited to, health and the fulfillment of material needs, such as clean air and water, opportunities for education and employment, and access to sufficient nutrition.
A green approach for the economy aims for net zero carbon emission, efficiency in using resources, and creating a more inclusive society. To achieve a green economy, resources are not used minimally, but optimally to boost growth in employment, income, and welfare, while preventing the deterioration of biodiversity and ecosystem. Meanwhile, the digital economy focuses on transforming economic activities into a non-physical world through internet connections between people, devices, businesses, government, and et cetera.
T5
COVID-19
COVID-19 and Inequality
Inequality has been one of the greatest challenges of our society, and income inequality is possibly the vital one of the branches. Its impacts like unemployment, poverty, and strict social restrictions, rose further into related inequalities starting to appear, and even deaths caused by Covid-19 also indicate the movement of quarterly GDP, which led to contraction, or even recession. Many were forced to work or study at home, resulting in social ostracism, but new services benefitted some to gain their profit by attempting to monopolise the market, thus widening the gap between the poor and the rich even more.