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This special issue aims to examine some of the factors that drive some individuals and groups to resort to violence in their action. Departing from their analysis on the roots of violence, the articles are expected to suggest possible solutions to the problem. Areas of interest for this special journal issue include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Media and Violence
• Parenting and Violence
• Religions and Violence and Non-Violence
• The Justice System and Violence
• Poverty and Terrorism
• Morality and Violence
• Internet's Impact on Violent Behavior
• Psychology of Violence
• Environmental Crisis and Violence

The planet is inexorably being violated and poisoned by its inhabitants. This special issue aims to examine some of the factors that cause to the emergence of environmental crisis. Departing from their analysis on the roots of the problem, the articles may suggest possible solutions. The Fountain is especially interested in the articles investigating the potential contribution of spirituality and religious values for the construction of a healthy relationship between the nature and the people. Areas of interest for this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Economy and Environmental Crisis
• Religious Perspectives and Environment
• The Deep Ecology
• Raising Environmental Awareness
• Education and Environmental Consciousness
• Man-Nature Dualism and Environment
• Gender and Environment

Developments in communication and information technology are currently playing a growing role on many activities in our daily lives. This special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers and writers interested in the use and impact of advancements in communication technology to present their thoughts on their social consequences. Areas of interest for this special issue include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Intellectual Property and Copyright
• Cybercrime and Security
• Social Networking and Privacy
• Virtual Worlds and Online Gaming
• Internet Addiction
• E-learning and New Era in Education
• Internet and Freedom of Expression
• Internet's Impact on Social Life

The need for social and moral development must be recognized to enable the majority of mankind living in dire conditions to benefit from the knowledge and expertise in science and technology. In this regard, The Fountain magazine invites the submission of intellectual articles that will bring forth unique and applicable ideas to help spread scientific information, knowledge, and expertise to many corners of the globe that are still in material and moral darkness. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Preventive medicine and its reach to or use by the masses
• Can the spread of scientific and technical expertise prevent terrorism and social degradation?
• How can scientific knowledge and technology reach out to wipe out poverty, ignorance and moral degradation?
• The role of NGOs in health services in less-developed countries

Ever growing pace of globalization has brought us to the point that a peaceful and happy future for anyone on this planet is dependent on everyone else. Interfaith dialogue is an effort we cannot afford to miss at the current context of the world events. However, this dialogue is not an herb that can grow roots spontaneously; rather it is a harvest that needs meticulous care. The impact of the rising efforts of interfaith dialogue is yet to be assessed and evaluated.

The current state of the interfaith dialogue efforts is promising, but needs to be broadened to larger audience, and also be converted to cooperation among members of different faiths in finding solutions to problems that affect all of us. All this must be done despite the destruction afflicted by the actions of enemies of peace. In order to start and publicize the discussion in the related matters, The Fountain invites submissions for topics that fall under the broad umbrella of challenges and opportunities for interfaith dialogue. Topics of interest include, but not limited to:

• Real life events, testimonials related to interfaith dialogue
• Obstacles to a healthy communication between members of different religions
• God, His Divine attributes, and how we understand them, and implications on how we interpret life and universe
• How to set aside differences among faiths
• Pain inflicted upon each other by the actions of the extremists and ways to alleviate them
• Freedom of speech and the future of global community
• How can we accept others as they are
• Who represents a religion: extremists or moderates

In the last several decades of the modern life, we witnessed emergence of new concepts. Individuality, human rights, changing dynamics of world politics with globalization, advancements in communication technologies are only a few to name. Unfortunately, family has not been one of these highlighted concepts. Even in the countries that are considered most traditional, the erosive effect of the emerging concepts has downgraded the effectiveness and well being of the family. Being an individual's larger family, the society had to endure the consequences of the fate of the family. In order to evoke consciousness on this issue, we are calling articles to address the concept of family and society in the modern context. Interested authors are invited to submit articles in the related topics as given, but not limited to, below:

• Roles and rights of spouses in a family
• Individuality, self realization vs. family solidarity and commitment to each other
• Distance relationships and their impact on the health of a family
• Communication technologies (TV, cell phones, internet, etc.) and their impact on relationship between spouses, children, and neighbors
• Roles and rights of the elders
• Rights of children
• Education in the family environment
• Education of family values in the society
• Living spirituality at family level and role of religion for a happy family union
• Natural disasters and the global community
• Current economic crisis and its impacts on family, and society at large
• Divorce: its impact, causes, solutions
• Consumerism and its impacts on individual, family and society
• Substance abuse, children and parenthood
• Who is your neighbor in the 21st century?

Persistent and recurring forms of intolerance such as border disputes and prejudice against other 'traditional minorities' have in recent years been compounded by increasingly negative attitudes toward members of other religions or races, discrimination and violence against immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees. In the years ahead, the challenge of integrating the oppressed into societies will become all the more complicated, as attitudes and legislation have hardened, xenophobic political and media discourse has become mainstream in many countries, and security concerns have often been invoked to justify discriminatory practices.

We are only now beginning to come to grips with the impact of the global economic crisis on racism and intolerance. The most vulnerable groups are often minorities and newcomers, and these groups are often targeted by those seeking to peddle fear and locate scapegoats for current difficulties. In order to evoke consciousness on this issue, we are calling articles to address the concept of intolerance in the setting of today's economic crisis. Interested authors are invited to submit articles in the related topics as given, but not limited to, below:

• Real life testimonials related to the economic crisis and intolerance
• The role of international aid organizations in alleviating economic injustices throughout the world
• Religious and moral values providing cure for economic inequalities in the society
• How to increase global awareness on poverty, economic hardships
• Consumerism and its impacts on individual, family and society