Recent Events of the World Future Council
17 October 2008:
Global UN-STAND-UP Event features WFC Councillors’ video appeals
On October 17, more 116 million people around the globe stood up to support the eight Millennium Development Goals defined by the United Nations. The goals aim at eradicating poverty and social injustice until 2015. WFC Founder Jakob von Uexkull took part in a podium discussion at the largest STAND-UP event in Germany in Berlin. Seven WFC councillors demand that people stand up against poverty - you can watch the video appeals by Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Duerr, Bianca Jagger, Frances Moore-Lappé, Hermann Scheer, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Sulak Sivaraksa and Francisco Whitaker. To read more click here.
13-16 October 2008:
“Travelling to Germany was like being transported 20 years into the future. The Germany trip showed how we can create a solar future now” said Jim White, a senior energy service engineer from Washington and one of the 31 participants of the Solar Fact Finding Mission to Germany, co-organized by the World Future Council.
As a result of the Solar Fact Finding Mission the World Future Council is a participating invitee at Solar Power International, North America’s largest Solar Conference and Expo. During more than 60 workshops and sessions, participants can learn about the latest solar technologies and policy developments. WFC Climate and Energy Officer Bianca Barth will present renewable energy and legislative issues from Germany, which is considered to have the most effective renewable energy law in the world. For more information visit www.SolarPowerConference.com.
The Solar Fact Finding Mission brought 31 US utility executives and managers for one week in June to Germany to study the latest in solar energy technology – and to discuss legislative approaches to securing long term renewable energy investments. The report can be downloaded here.
10 October 2008:
WFC Founder Jakob von Uexkull at BBC World Service
In an interview for BBC World Service News, Jakob von Uexkull demanded better regulations as a way out of the current financial crisis. You can watch the video here.
9-10 October 2008:
The first WFC Cities and Climate Change Commission meeting took place in Hamburg. Read more about the Commission here.
22 September 2008:
WFC “Corridor of Hope” hoists Appeals for a Better World
Some 200 flags line the two walkways to the ancient water tower that now hosts the Hamburg Planetarium. Passers-by stop to look at the 2.000 drawings, poems, and appeals printed on colourful flags on bamboo poles. Discussions about the state of the planet and what the future generation hopes for can be overheard as the results of the WFC’s youth campaign “KidsCall” flutter in the wind.
The exhibition features a selection of 14.000 appeals collected by the KidsCall campaign during the last 12 months. They are addressed to the G8+5 heads of state and call for immediate action to protect the environment and to stop climate change.
During the reception, WFC Chair of the Executive Committee Bianca Jagger, Director of the Planetarium Thomas Kraupe and Hamburg Department of City Development and Environment representative Christian Maaß voiced their support for the youths’ appeals.
In her speech, Bianca Jagger stressed the need for the renewal of the age-old pledge that hitherto has ensured the passing on of a clean planet with enough resources from parents to their children. She also called on decision makers in politics and economics to act now. Finally, she appealed to the children and teenagers representing the KidsCall campaign to never stop in their efforts to make change happen. Banners with their appeals to the heads of state of France, Italy and Great Britain were handed over to a courier. WFC delegations had personally delivered the same banners to the governments of Germany, Japan and India in July and August.
Dr Michael Otto, Chairman of the Otto Group, attended the reception as an honorary council member and avid supporter of WFC activities.
The WFC will exhibit the invocation flags in parliaments and at upcoming international conferences to remind decision-making bodies of their responsibility toward future generations.
22 September 2008:
WFC-Founder Jakob von Uexküll spoke about "What we owe our children - global challenges and answers" at an event hosted by the Schweisfurth Foundation in Munich.
September 21, 2008:
Charity concert for WFC in Berlin
At the sold out chamber music hall, some 1,400 guests applauded the appeals by WFC Chair of the Executive Committee Bianca Jagger and WFC Founder Jakob von Uexküll and the performance of Berlin Philharmonic top ensembles. In their opening remarks and during the discussion after the concert, Bianca Jagger and Jakob von Uexküll called upon the audience to actively get involved in fighting climate change.
20-21 September 2008:
E-Parliament/WFC Parliamentary Hearing in Ghana
In Accra, Ghana, the WFC co-organized an interregional hearing on renewable energy.
16-19 September 2008:
WFC Founder Jakob von Uexküll held a keynote speech on Diversity and a Sustainable Livelihood of Future Generations
at the Sardinia G8 preparatory Conference. Councillor Vandana Shiva also participated in the event covering biodiversity, desertification, food, water and human rights.
14 -18 September 2008:
WFC Co-Founder Herbert Girardet gives keynote lecture at the Capital Cities Alliance International Conference
The conference explored the role of national capitals in creating a greener world.
11-12 September 2008:
WFC at Architecture Biennale
WFC Co-Founder Herbert Girardet gave a keynote lecture about Cities and Climate Change at the opening of the Architecture Biennale in Venice, Italy. The 11th International Architecture Exhibition entitled ‘Out There: Architecture Beyond Building’ takes place from September 14th to November 23rd 2008.
8 September 2008:
Climate Energy Director Stefan Schurig took part in a podium discussion at the Hanseatic University Lectures on Climate and the Environment in Hamburg. Contact Stefan Schurig.
31 August 2008:
Introductory address by WFC Co-Founder Herbert Girardet at Rythms del Mundo Concert in Berlin
8000 people came and listened to top German rock bands like Silbermond, Culcha Candela and 2Raumwohnung performing together with musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club. The record Rhythms del Mundo Cubano Aleman supports the Artists’ Project Earth Charity, which funds climate change and renewable energy projects, including the WFC.
21 - 23 August 2008:
World Future Council''s US Policy Officer Randy Hayes spoke at the American Renewable Energy Day
The conference took place in Aspen, Colorado. From August 25-28, Randy Hayes attended the Democratic Convention in Denver and an NGO forum called The Big Tent.
16 August 2008:
World Future Council delegation meets Indian Prime Minister.
Representatives of the World Future Council voice the concern of thousands of young people and demand action regarding climate change. Read more here.
2 July 2008:
World Future Council youth delegation and Bianca Jagger present G8 appeal to German and Japanese governments
Kids pledge to do everything they can to save the planet – and expect nothing less from the G8 leaders
Kids call on G8 heads-of-state during Japanese Prime Minister Visit in Berlin: “Save our World! Act now!”
download press release
During talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, KidsCall kids wave Japanese-inspired invocation flags in front of chancellery in Berlin.
June 13, 2008
WFC invites US Utilities Decision Makers to Germany for Solar Fact Finding Mission
Germany is not known for its blue skies and sunny weather. Nonetheless, 31 US utilities executives and managers spent one week in June in and around Freiburg and Munich to study the latest in solar energy technology – and to discuss legislative approaches to securing long term renewable energy investments. The event was co-organized by the solar Electric Power Association and the Northwest Solar Center at Washington State University, and sponsored by PV module manufacturer First Solar.
June 10-12, 2008:
WFC endorses China Power & Alternative Energy Summit 2008 in Beijing, China.
As one of the most important conferences on renewable energy in China, the China Power & Renewable Energy Summit 2008 has invited WFC Climate & Energy China Director Stefan Schurig as a key note speaker. It has also asked the WFC to endorse the summit.
During the two-day conference, some two hundred experts representing the sciences, politics and business will learn about the latest renewable energy technologies and policies.
The WFC will introduce its renewable energy campaign.
01 June 2008, Berlin:
While German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minster Yasuo Fukuda met in Berlin Sunday afternoon, 20 children presented their demands for a sustainable future to the upcoming G8 summit on Japanese-style invocation flags in front of the chancellery.
“We ask for action from the world’s leaders to assure that we have a future,” says 13-year old Niclas from Hamburg. He is one of thousands of youngsters in 35 countries who have joined in the World Future Council’s international “KidsCall” campaign. They have a single demand: “Let us stop acting today as though there was no tomorrow.” read more
18-21 May 2008, HAMBURG:
2nd Annual General Meeting of the World Future Council.
One year ago, 50 respected personalities from around the world met in Hamburg, Germany, for the first time for the founding congress of the World Future Council. Now, the foundation presented its first annual report – and is looking forward to its second annual general meeting. It will bring the WFC’s members back to Hamburg between May 18 and 22, 2008, to celebrate achievements – and to plan and agree on new activities, expert commissions and projects. read more
12-16 May 2008, BONN:
Vandana Shiva and Ibrahim Abouleish and Jakob von Uexküll will speak at the World Congress on the Future of Food and Farming as part of the Planet Diversity project. Contact Jakob von Uexküll.
18-20 May, HAMBURG:
Children’s Conference: The Future in Our Hands, Hamburg, Contact Caren Herbstritt.
19 - 30 May 2008, BONN:
The WFC will be sending a delegation to the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 9) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, Bonn, Germany. Contact Alistair Whitby.
20 May 2008, HAMBURG:
Public event: The Future in Our Hands. Galerie DG HYP, Gertrudenstr. 3. Hamburg, Contact Miriam Chafik
22 May 2008, MUNICH:
WFC Deputy Chair Beate Weber, Founder Jakob von Uexküll and Councillors Vithal Rajan and Chico Whitaker will be taking part in the seminar "Ethics and pratice of sustainability in the field of intercultural dialogue", at the Goethe Institute in Munich.
11 April 2008, SANTA BARBARA:
The WFC is holding a public seminar entitled "Towards Future Justice: Protecting the Rights of Future Generations". The event will take place on Friday the 11th April in the McCune Conference Room at the University of California in Santa Barbara.
WFC in the US
4-7 March 2008, Washington:
The WFC sent a delegation to the WIREC convention in Washington. We hosted a side-event and presented the Feed-in Tariff system tailored to the US market together with congressman Jay Inslee.
WFC Launch in India
5-6 February 2008, DELHI:
At the India International Centre, Vandana Shiva and Herbert Girardet will hold a seminar on the relevance of Ghandian thinking in an age of rapid economic development, in an event which will also mark the launch of the WFC in India.