"I got back from my trip to Boulder, Co., in the very early hours yesterday after a most interesting and invigorating few days. Every year the University of Colorado puts on a week featuring excellent speakers and discussion panels covering all possible phases of foreign affairs and particularly featuring the United Nations.” So wrote Eleanor Roosevelt wrote more than half a century ago, after an inspiring appearance at the CWA.

   The annual CWA event, which began in 1948 to focus on international issues, has continually expanded to encompass a broad spectrum of topics including the arts, science, technology, spirituality, politics, human rights and much more.

   Past participants have included such notable individuals as R. Buckminster Fuller, Norman Cousins, Arthur Miller, Henry Kissinger, current U.S. vice president Joe Biden, Ted Turner, and film critic Roger Ebert, who has participated for 37 consecutive years and who, according to the University of Colorado, Boulder, Web site, considers the CWA “the Conference on Everything Conceivable.”

   Since its inception, the conference has been open to students and the public free of charge.

   One distinguishing characteristic of the CWA is that, through some 200 panels and full assembly sessions, conference participants gather to discuss issues on an impromptu basis.

   For the 61st conference, CWA Director Jim Palmer posed this question: What was the most important, mind-altering photograph taken in the twentieth century? His personal choice would be that first snapshot of earth, the breathtaking blue marble, taken from outer space. According to Mr. Palmer, it brought new meaning and resonance to the concept of “Spaceship Earth” and provided a 360-degree perspective of our home. He expressed his hope that “multiple perspectives will lead to civil dialogue and not certainties; to ideas, not ideologies; to intellectual agility, not right agendas.

   Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, Chuck Hagel, who is currently chairman of the Atlantic Council of the United States, was the keynote speaker on Monday, April 6. He spoke before a packed house at the university’s Mackay Auditorium. In his address titled “Twenty-first Century International Relations,” Mr. Hegel referenced noted historian Arnold Toynbee, saying that in order for the civilization to survive it had to go through the process of challenge and response. He applied Dr. Toynbee’s concept to today’s economically trouble world, concluding that on the many fronts of our endeavors we have to collectively come up with a united struggle.

   ICAP members Nestor Torres and Kay Yoshikawa were among the 110 official participants selected for this year’s weeklong conference. Together with Irish poet Liz Weir, they took part in a session titled, “Alternative Peacemaking.” Ms. Weir shared her view of how words can deeply affect the lives of the people. Demonstrating with his flute, Nestor Torres explained the difference between melodies that exert a peaceful and calming effect and those that do otherwise. Kay Yoshikawa spoke about two forms of violence—physical and passive—and how peace is not merely something we leave up to our leaders to establish on our behalf; rather, he said, it is each of us who have both the ability and responsibility to bring peace to wherever we go. These presentations sparked lively discussion among panelists and attendees.

   Mr. Torres and Mr. Yoshikawa also participated in a session titled “In My Solitude,” together with Laura Simms, an internationally acclaimed storyteller and educator; and Allan Peterson, a poet and visual artist. The panel addressed this intriguing question: In this age where so many electronic gadgets like cell phones, iPods, and computers play a major role in our lives, how can we even find time with ourselves to reflect on important things?

   ICAP members Bill Mackay and Joe Anderies also took part in the CWA as session moderators. Mr. Mackay moderated the session titled “Pakistan: Pandora’s Box.” Experts in the field Wendy Chamerlin, Joseph Cirincione, Azmat Hassan and Malou Innocent gave their various outlooks on this vital topic.

   Mr. Anderies led a session titled “Arts for Social Change.” Panelists sharing their unique approach using arts for social change were Laura Simms, and well-known musicians Oscar Castro-Neves, Don Grusin and Nestor Torres were panelists.

   On Tuesday evening, the citizens of Boulder received a special treat in the form of jazz concert at the Mackay Auditorium. Performers included Justo Almario, Bijoux Barbosa, Rony Barrak, Charlie Bisharat, Lillian Boutte, Henry Butler, Oscar Castro-Neves, Brad Goode, Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Patrick Leonard, Mike Marlier and Nestor Torres. Audience members were overheard saying that this was possibly the best jazz concert they had ever attended and that it was the epitome of world peace.

   For more info on the CWA:http://www.colorado.edu/cwa/index.html