Presentation of the Minutes of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations"
On Tuesday, 1st December 2009, the presentation of the Minutes of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations", which was realised in Athens in June 2009, under the initiative of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and President of the "Foundation for the Child and Family", Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, and the Chairman of the "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change", Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri, took place at Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall.
The publication was presented by the former Director-General of UNESCO, Mr KoΓ―chiro Matsuura, the European Commissioner for Environment, Mr Stavros Dimas, President of the National Observatory of Athens, Professor Christos Zerefos, and the Chairman of the First Department of Pediatrics of Athens University Medical School, Professor George Chroussos, who had also participated as keynote speakers in the Conference. The Minister of Environment, Energy and Green Development, Mrs Tina Mpirmpili, was also present in the event and addressed a greeting.
The publication includes data, research and studies regarding:
- the impacts of climate change on nature, people, the economy and the society,
- the need for multidimensional collaborations aiming at the adoption and application of new strategies and policies for the environment so that further destruction of the planet can be prevented,
- the importance of new technologies and renewable forms of energy that can end the coal era which lead us to this point, Β
- the green, sustainable energy, as well as
- the commitment of the developed countries, which are the main contributors to climate change, to help the developing countries with the know-how, technology and economic resources, so that they face the problem. Β
As Mrs Vardinoyannis underlined inter alia in her opening speech: "These are issues which are classified as the most important and urgent of our ages and strengthen our responsibility towards the new generations as we have the obligation to teach and convince them to view life with a different perspective from ours, a more ecological and human one, to live in a new way of living respecting people and the environment".
All speakers stressed out the great importance of organisations such as the Conference for Climate Change and publications like the current one for raising citizens' awareness, as well as their accurate informing, particularly when this comes from scientists of the level of those who participated in the Conference. They were also referred to the problems that summit in Copenhagen is called to provide solutions, that should be legally bound with ratifying consequences in the case that they are not complied with by the countries which will sign them.
After the completion of the speeches Mrs Vardinoyannis symbolically handed the first two books of the Conference Minutes to the Minister of Environment and the Danish Ambassador, Mr Tom Norring, who was invited and attended the event, and said:
"Dear Minister, as you are representing our country in Copenhagen, where in a few days the heart of the world will be beating, we would like you together with your luggage and your agenda to carry our own voice, as it was heard sound and clear in June Conference, doubtlessly pointing to the need that we all act united now! Also, on behalf of all of us, dear Ambassador, I ask you to do whatever possible so that these texts – our concern and hope- reach the hands of the political leaders of your country who literally decide for our future as well as the worlds.
Mrs Mpirmpili thanked Mrs Vardinoyannis and congratulated her for her initiative, saying: "Last June, I attended as a delegate the works of the Conference that you organised, and today I feel particularly honoured to receive the publication of the Conference Minutes. In fact, seizing this opportunity, I would like to reassure you that we, as a government, are ready to go to Copenhagen and undertake clear commitments". Β
Furthermore, the Danish Ambassador, Mr Tom Norring, reassured Mrs Vardinoyannis that it will be a great honour as well as a holy duty, to deliver this publication to those hands that are responsible for the future of the planet.Β
The event was coordinated by the editor-journalist Mr Nikos Chatzinikolaou.
The publication of the Minutes of the Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the future generations" was realised with the noble sponsoring of "Libani" Publishers and attended to by the journalist and board member of the Foundation Institution for the Child and Family, Mrs Ino Konstantopoulou.
In the frame of the event, the forthcoming foundation of the "Observatory for the Planetary and Climate Changes" was announced, which will function within the Foundation for the Child and the Family, in collaboration with Professor Christos Zerefos, the Academy of Athens and the University of Athens.
- 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 Β«Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the WorldΒ» 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.