Accra, May 17, GNA - About 500 people from the US, Korea, Europe and Ghana are expected to attend the 10th annual conference of the Global Awareness Society International (GASI) from May 24 to 28, next year, in Accra.

The Conference is aimed at forging mutual understanding between the different nations of the world, Professor George Agbango of the Department of Political Science, Bloomsburg University, US, announced on Tuesday.

Prof. Agbango, who is also the African head of GASI, said the world is becoming smaller and smaller, while its problems are becoming more and more complicated. He noted that these problems were affecting the global society, hence the call for a joint effort in finding solutions to them.

GASI is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that has no political, religious or ethnic affiliation. About 80 per cent of its membership is made up of university professors while the remaining 20 per cent are other professionals.

The main objective of GASI is to promote awareness of the diversity of cultures within the global community and to recognise that all human beings are included in the process of globalisation.

It also aims at enhancing understanding of political, economic, social, demographic, technological and environmental issues and developing a mutual support network of scholars, professionals and organisations.

Prof. Chang Shub Roh, founder of GASI, said the idea was conceived 15 years ago to bring the world together to understand the essence of community spirit. He said during his childhood in a rural environment, he came to respect the religious, cultural and tribal tolerance of people from different backgrounds living in the same community and thought it would be a good idea to promote such an ideal at the global level.

Prof. James C. Pomfret, President of GASI, noted that the understanding of different social, cultural and religious backgrounds of people is the basis for world peace. He said one of the tools of GASI is to use education to spread the importance of peace, adding, "education is the key to world peace".