Debates on issues of our common future

"On the threshold of the third millenium humankind is facing major challenges when it comes to developing solutions for the ecological, economical, social and cultural issues involved in creating a more sustainable develoopment on planet earth. How can we achieve compatibility between economy and ecology? Could it perhaps, be already too late for achieveing sustainable development? What will be the future role of work in our lives and our societies at the beginning of the 21st century? What impact will molecular medicine and modern biotechnology, or more generally science and technology have on the future development of individual human beings as well as on food production, population growth, etc? Which role will the access to information and knowledge play in an age of electronic communication? These are just a few out of many questions which come to mind when one tries to take a closer look at the challenges ahead, and they are precisely the reason why the Volkswagen Foundation decided to organize a series of symposia preceding the World Exposition 2000 which will take place in Hannover from 1 June until 31 October 2000. Its major topic is going to be "Humankind - Nature - Technology", and the thematic area as well as a series of" Global Dialogues" will pick up and elaborate further on several of the issues raised in the presentations and deebates of the symposia." -- Back cover