Universal call for the climate change
The Founding Board of the Global Humanitarian Forum.
Following the invitation of the Founder and Chairman of the Global Humanitarian Forum, H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, 360 leading personalities from all over the world, as well as experts and representatives of governmental and non governmental organisations, were assembled in Geneva in June 2008, in order to join their forces and seek solutions to the problems caused to humanity by the climate change.
The President of the "Foundation for the Child and the Family", and Foundimg member of the Global Humanitarian Forum, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, was also present.
H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan.
At the beginning of the first Annual International Meeting, organised by the Global Humanitarian Forum, H.E. Mr Kofi Annan said inter alia: "Hurricanes and floods, heat waves and frost, that are getting more and more frequent and often affect more and more parts of the Earth, leaving behind dead, missing and homeless people, creating enormous immigration waves and condemning millions of people to live below the limits of poverty, constitute the human face of climate change". He then concluded: "The challenge of the 21st century is that the global community is called to come up with direct and effective solutions regarding the impacts of the climate change on the poor and vulnerable groups of people". This is precisely the challenge to which those participated in the Meeting were called to respond."Our intention", Mr Annan pointed out, "is to bring together on the same picture, many different protagonists who do not usually work together, so that joined together they could tackle the challenges of humanity and restore "climate justice" more effectively: For that polluters must pay, the ones that caused the problem –the environmental pollution; not the poor and vulnerable countries and populations. The wealthy countries have the luxury of time; they can face climate change as an imminent danger and negotiate on the reduction of carbon dioxide emission. Meanwhile, poor countries suffer because of the wealthy ones, so it is urgent that we seek practical solutions that will strengthen the vulnerable communities and protect them from the already present consequences that the changes have caused. It is urgent that we are all bound together against this common threat, and be strengthened in a frame of solidarity, so to begin the construction of a better world. We owe this to the people that suffer; we owe this to our children".
H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan and Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
During the Meeting, the experts presented the results of the most recent researches regarding the climate change, the size of the impact today and their forecasts for the following years, creating, thus, a platform of knowledge on which the strategy of Global Humanitarian Forum will be based in the very near future.
It was pointed out that:
- The more the climate change is intensified the more the danger of the destruction of humanity grows.
- A failure to come up with effective solutions which will terminate the progress of climate change is equivalent to failure of development, failure of the efforts for poverty reduction.
- There in no country in the world that will remain unaffected from the devastating impacts of the temperature increase of the planet, no matter how wealthy it is.
- The climate change destroys every opportunity for development and progress and extends the inequality gap between the poor and rich populations.
- We are already at the critical point beyond which the ecological destruction is inevitable and irreversible.
- However, a small opened window to prevent the total destruction still exists, but in very short time this window will close for ever. Humanity has a maximum of a decade to change course and be saved.
- Nowadays we have the knowledge, the means and the resources to act dynamically. We lack the alertness, collective interest and human solidarity.
- Our world may be separated in continents, states and small countries, but all these are definitely interacting ecologically. We all share the same planet. This means that each one of us is separately accountable for the ecological destruction, but also has the ability to save the planet.
- The leaders and the citizens of rich countries should, more that anyone, realise their historical responsibility for this problem and undertake immediate initiatives to drastically decrease carbon dioxide emission and forests destruction.
- The salvation of the planet requires collective as well as individual action, vigilance, collective vision, and collective respect to human rights as well as to the rights of the next generations.
H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan and Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
During the two days of the Meeting in Geneva, major topics related to climate change were discussed in separate panels, such as "Climate justice and globalisation", "Technology and climate change", "The role of mass media and the responsibility for the climate", "Health and climate change", etc. Solutions and actions for the reinforcement of the populations vulnerable to the changes of climate were also proposed.
The testimonies and calls of five young people from Brazil, India, Canada, Togo and Marshall Islands were particularly touching as they described in a shocking way the problems, losses and agony of their people, who already experience the consequences of climate change.
Among the speakers there were: the President of Maldives, Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Mr. Bernard Kouchner; the Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden, Mrs. Gunilla Carlsson; the Minister for Development, Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, Mr. Jean-Louis Schiltz; the Chairman of the Virgin Group, Mr. Richard Branson; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Antonio Guterres; the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Jakob Kellenberger; the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Mr. Michel Jarraud; the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Mr. Pascal Lamy; Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and special advisor to United Nations Secretary-General; Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, Mr. E. Neville Isdell; the President and CEO of Sony Ericsson, Mr. Carl-Henric Svanberg and many others.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.