USC Upstate – Rotary World Peace Symposium

USC Upstate – Rotary World Peace Symposium

UN International Day of Peace

Friday, September 21, 2012 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Sansbury Campus Life Center, USC Upstate

Welcome by USC Upstate Vice Chancellor Dr. Charles F. Harrington

• Rotary Scholarship Opportunities – Elizabeth Belenchia, Rotarian
  

• Keynote Speakers:
  
  • Rachel Rafferty, Rotary Peace Fellow from Northern Ireland, Class X at Duke/UNC Rotary Peace Center-Culture of Conflict in Northern Ireland
    

   

  • Kozue Araki, Rotary Peace Fellow from Japan,
    Class X at Duke/UNC Rotary Peace Center-Cultural dialogue Middle East/Japan
    

   

• USC Upstate Student Panel-conflicts of Chile, China, Germany and Tanzania
  

  Moderator: Dr. Dirk Schlingmann; Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
  

• Peace Essay/Poster Contest Awards: Spartanburg Scholars Academy
• Musical Interludes by University Singers.
  
• International Student Reception (all invited) hosted by the Center for International Studies arranged by Dr. Deryle HopeUnveiling of Peace Pole at Upstate Rotary Peace Park -Dedication of Trees in Park by 2012 donors coordinated by University Advancement Office

R.S.V.P 503-5661, International Studies Office

Citizen Engagement

Jaime Lerner, former Mayor, Curitiba, Brazil,
Ida Auken, Minister of Environment, Denmark
Meir Wiking, Business Development Director, Sustania, moderator

Either make or develop the Political Will for Sustainability-use technology to enhance. Leaders need people to follow but people need education to open their thoughts. Do it before the birds begin Tweeting!

Creativity starts when you cut the budget whether at home, office, community region or world.
Curitiba built a model transportation system. City bought garbage by offering tokens to residents for bringing their garbage to recycling centers. Fisherman were paid to fish the garbage. Then there was more room for fish and garbage was collected creating a beautiful community. All children were taught to recycle for 6 months in all schools, they taught their families today #1 in world in recycling. EDUCATION!

Vision for politics should be long term and turn problems into opportunities. Leaders propose a dream or idea then engage small groups in discussion. Never have all the answers.

Get citizens or clients to envision the dream. Speak to common sense. Live your vision now. Is the cleaning lady riding her bike beside the CEO?

Sustainia

Rob Bernard, Microsoft appears in brainstorming session at Rio+20. We have to get sustainability conversation deployed to the streets. Sustainia builds on the research that is behind closed doors. Financial crisis demands philanthropy to step up and supersede government and business. All platforms must converge to an imbedded partnership in energy conversation. Your footprint goes into your home where intelligence begins!
 

Food Safety

This is a report from the front line in Rio where over 500 discussions are being conducted simultaneously. 40 flights were cancelled for tomorrow as world leaders arrive. 20,000 security forces plus the Navy on the water are contributing to the traffic congestion. Metro cannot be completed soon enough! Sustainable Transportation is coming to a neighborhood near you!

No matter how successful you are, being ill because your family bought food that was contaminated will cost you time and money away from work. The global supply chain is now being certified from farm to market. The Chain of Custody must not be allowed to be altered by corruption. This is not about making money it is about survival and the possibility of ingesting pesticides, hormones or genetically modified seeds. Major food processors are subject to rumors on the Internet about their products which can generate devastating financial results. This necessity opens a new service for some business sector. Certification verifies Best Practices and Market Transformation. Major shifts are driving change!

Caring For Climate (Rio 6/17)

Sinopec Chairman, Fu Chengyu is the latest Climate Signator to the UN Global Compact. He was recognized at the private Caring For Climate, Signatories Only, Luncheon which I am honored to be a member of the 400 initial companies. Several CEO’s who are saving significant energy cost and having their Boards address the risks of Climate Change spoke briefly to the members present. Lunch was on the rooftop of the Windsor Barra Hotel on the coast in Rio. Clouds are floating over clusters of beautiful new buildings that reach higher than our 17th floor perch! This is a Real Estate Mecca!

News from Rio+20

 (photo link)

Today I spent embracing the Brazilian Culture! Tour of city architecture, gliding up Sugar Loaf. Met young people from Cambridge U working on Land Registration Globally. They are part of RICS Education and excited to meet colleagues in Rio. On the Tram to Sugar Loaf I met Claire Tutenuit, General Delegate to Enterprises Pour L’environment from Paris. She is part of World Business Council and will join us at the UN GC meetings next 4 days. The more we try to just enjoy Rio the more Global Network jumps in our face! We tasted the finest fresh seafood in a traditional Brazilian Restaurant with continuous tidbits of crustaceans, fillets and caviar, fresh Parmesan (Brazilian Style) chocolate in seven varieties. You would never enjoy the Brazil Nut Miniature Meringues we savored with 5PM Espresso! Walking Ipenama Beach tonight to prepare for a glorious restful night with the crashing waves.

See some more of my photos, check out the Rio+20 website, and head over to RICS for further posts from me in Rio and news about sustainability.

UN Global Compact Corporate Sustainability Forum

UN Global Compact Corporate Sustainability Forum.