At first glance, Fire in the Forest may seem intended to introduce participants to a variety of serious, real current issues, all of which are receiving attention in global media, e.g. environmental protection, exploitation of indigenous peoples, American business practices or sustainable agriculture.

However, there is a deeper and broader purpose. Those who enter into this exciting fast-moving dialogue will develop skills in the form of lasting personal awareness and experience by identifying themselves with those whose backgrounds and convictions are different from their own. They will do this well enough to understand and negotiate from these positions, while at the same time safeguarding their own legitimate concerns and convictions.

We hope that participants in this simulation will carry their skills of awareness and experience into larger settings where these and other issues are being worked out on both the local and global stage and that in so doing they will contribute to fruitful policies and courses of action.