A video conference linked university students and SF residents with leaders and students in the Philippines, China, Thailand, Papa New Guinea and East Timor, at the J. Paul Leonard Library at SF State.

The student organization - Americans for Informed Democracy (AID) - held the event on March 23, from 5: 50 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m., in an effort to promote global awareness among college students, and to discuss the future of U.S.-Asian Relations.

"Due to the high degree of attention given by the media to the war on terror and the instability
in the Middle East, said Veronica Canton, an AID board member, who received her bachelor's degree in international relations. "We feel US-Asian relations is an area not receiving the time, attention and analysis it deserves.

"We feel the media fails to focus on positive, constructive areas of discourse, thus not focusing on the opportunities that collaboration, instead of dangers, can bring to the forefront," she added.

The video conferences are part of a series called, "America and The World Coming Together."

"AID hopes that this series can help revive American's sense of common purpose and can ensure principled U.S. leadership in the world," said Seth Green, founder and chair of the organization.

The conference addressed the key security, economic and development issues for U.S.-Asian relations in the 21st century, and the best opportunities for the United States to work with countries in the region to ensure a better, safer world. Some of the key issues included the assistance and cooperation in the maintenance of stability in the Middle East, trade and finance, and technological advancement.

"I believe one of the areas where the United States could assist to ensure a better, safer world, are educational programs alongside economic assistance for development of small businesses," said Canton.

Although U.S. relations with Asian countries promises to be some of the most dynamic in the 21st century, only one SF State student attended the conference.

"It's interesting to hear their concerns and perceptions about what's going on in the world firsthand," said Richard Silva, 34, international relationsmajor

Ted Andersen, AID research assistant and campus organizer for the San Francisco Chapter, didn't mind the low attendance.

"The turnout in SF was very small," said Andersen. "But it didn't seem to matter when you looked at the video screen and saw so many people you could directly talk and listen to."

"By coming to these video conferences and panel discussions, students can learn things about world perspectives on issues that may not be talked about much in the mainstream media," said Andersen. "It's a chance to make an immediate difference in the dialogue between this country's citizens and those of others."

Canton echoed Anderson's sentiment.

"As students living in the United States, we have the privilege and duty to be informed and involved in social change, not only in our countries, but also throughout the world," Canton said. "We, as future young leaders, cannot underestimate what we can do, and the changes we can bring about."

Students from other American universities, such as Penn State and Virginia Tech, were also featured in the video conference.

AID was established on the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and it has held other video conferences, most recently, "Imagining Ourselves: Women's Emergent Roles in a Changing World." On April 18, the organization will be holding a panel discussion to discuss the politics of energy and natural resources.