universe
leaders’ support is needed an interview with ban ki-moon
UNAOC Global Forum Vienna 2013
“We owe it to the people of the world!”
Explaining the historical significance of where the Global Forum 2013 is held (“It was in Vienna where the Ottomans were stopped in 1683”), the moderator of the Opening Ceremony - Al Jazeera star Ghida Fakhry - charmingly quietened down the expectant crowd of over a thousand invited guests.
Yesterday’s Opening Ceremony at the magnificent Festsaal of the Hofburg showed both the eloquence and concern of the world leaders. It became clear that the topics discussed require mainly one thing: an end to patience and standstills. by Marguerite Meyer photos: natascha unkart
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UNIVERSE Vienna, February 2013
The list of keynote speakers could easily be read as a Who’s Who of world politics. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made his appearance in front of an armada of cameras and journalists in furor scribendi mode. He spoke of how mutual understanding manages to transcend religious and cultural boundaries. Sophisticated speeches Whilst there seemed to be a general consensus that dialogue can only be achieved through education and understanding, there were concrete issues that worried the panel members. The situation in Syria is, naturally, deeply troubling. President of the General Assembly, Vuk Jeremic, found forthright words: “For two years the international community has failed to stop the
carnage in Syria.” Also, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine remains a pressing topic. UNAOC High Representative Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser made sure to highlight the world leaders’ duties: “We owe it to the peoples of the world to fulfil their expectations!” A little less conversation, a little more action Not only Outgoing High Representative Jorge Sampaio’s call for action („What is needed is not so much talking, but doing!“), but also the structure of the United Nations was finally raised to question by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who probably had not noticed the demonstration outside the building that was directed at him. Everyone in the Festsaal sat up straight when he spoke of the bloodbath in Syria: “Why can’t we solve the Syrian problem? Because two members of the Security Council are saying no!” Erdogan was one of the few who chose to speak in his native language. In general, the world leaders made a lot of promises yesterday. Now it is up to them to let actions follow their words.
words of the day “
Culture is an essential value. Only by recognising this value we can start a cultural dialogue. We have to highlight the economic, social and cultural benefits of migration.
Michael Spindelegger, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Austria
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Publisher: biber Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H. Museumsplatz 1, e.1-4, A-1070 Vienna Editor-in-chief: Simon Kravagna Managing editor: Marina Delcheva
Sadly, we live in a world of intolerance. Diversity of culture leads to diversity of dialogue and knowledge.
Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Incoming High Representative of the UNAOC, Qatar
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Do the High Representatives really represent the whole world? We must look at the structure of the members. The permanent members of the Security Council don’t represent the whole world and all religions.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey
Proofreader: Marguerite Meyer Photographers: Natascha Unkart, Amèlie Chapalain
Yesterday, I was intelligent and I wanted to change the world. Today I’m wise and I want to change myself.
Jorge Sampaio, Outgoing High Representative of the UNAOC, Portugal
Editorial team: Franziska Zoidl, Marguerite Meyer, Nina Cranen, Janima Nam, Leila Al-Serori, Prerana Dahal Sharma
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Layout: Kellie Rife Printing: Plankopie Eder Theobaldgasse 15, A-1060 Vienna Contact details: delcheva@dasbiber.at Homepage: www.vienna5unaoc.org www.dasbiber.at biber is a multi-cultural magazine located in Vienna. “Universe” is a special edition on behalf of the Austrian Ministry for European and International Affairs. The editorial responsibility lies on biber.
Statesmen and diplomats spoke to 1,200 participants about the importance of intercultural dialogue. February 2013, Vienna UNIVERSE
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“Leaders’ s needed mo upport is re than ev er”
by Marina Delcheva photos: natascha unkart
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, on why it is important that leaders are seen together.
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UNIVERSE Vienna, February 2013
Universe: Your Excellency, the UNAOC Global Forum is held for the fifth time. What has changed in the last five years? Ban Ki-moon: It has mobilised the international community – including governments, civil society, media, the corporate sector, youth – to combat stereotypes, to promote dialogue among those of different cultures, and to engage and support grassroots organisations and projects. The Alliance’s Annual Forum brings together a wide variety of people to
engage in a conversation to further intercultural understanding and develop joint action plans. What do you consider the biggest success of the Forum? From the beginning, we understood the Alliance must be action-oriented. For example, the Alliance has a partnership with Google to train media professionals around the world. The Alliance is bringing together journalists from around the
globe to confront prejudice and misunderstanding. The Alliance of Civilizations is expanding dialogue for young people of different ethnicities in Burundi, promoting mediation and conflict resolution in South Asia, mentoring in immigrant neighbourhoods in Europe, and providing jobs for young people throughout the Middle East and North Africa. A lot of statesmen, organisation and opinion leaders will talk about “responsible leadership”. Can a conference like this one really make a change in society? In areas like education, media and the youth, it can help foster partnerships among governments, international organizations, civil society groups and foundations. At the inter-governmental level, the Alliance can serve as a catalyst for joint action. Addressing global issues requires not only that countries work together, but that they be seen working together. The partnership is, in itself, a potent symbol of what dialogue can achieve when backed by strong political will.
Nice to know!
The topics debated on are religion, media and migration. What do you expect from these debates? The leaders’ support is needed now more than ever. Across the world, intolerance and cross-cultural tensions are on the rise. They demand a collective and broadbased approach that is at the very heart of the Alliance of Civilizations. I believe that this initiative can help build bridges. Promoting tolerance in today’s poisoned atmosphere is, unfortunately, a lengthy and demanding task. But it is also a necessary and unavoidable challenge.
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. He followed Kofi Annan in January 2007. In April 2007, he appointed the former President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio as High Representative of UNAOC. Before becoming Secretary-General, Ban was the foreign minister of South Korea and a diplomat at the UN.
Promoting science together information from the austrian development agency Under the Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education and Research for Development (APPEAR), Austrian Development Cooperation has been systematically promoting scientific cooperation for three years now. The record is impressive: Altogether, 17 supported university partnership projects between Austrian universities and scientific institutions in the countries of the South are underway. Their aim is to raise the quality of teaching and research, make management and administration more effective and foster national and international scientific dialogue. The partnerships strengthen economic and social science competencies and this in turn helps the partner countries to reduce poverty. More information on Austrian Development Cooperation at www.entwicklung.at
February 2013, Vienna UNIVERSE
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“ “There is a small chance that I will be heard” The Princess, known for her impressive background in journalism as a former war correspondent in Iraq, is nowadays a regional beacon in her adopted country, Jordan. As the founder of the Jordan Media Institute, she offers young journalists a Master’s programme and a training programme to ensure high professional standards. “Proper journalism is a major part of a healthy society”, she stated. Born in Cairo, Princess Rym was raised in Great Britain and Algeria, and educated in France and the United States. Her cosmopolitan history helped her in her job, she says: “It is easier to get in touch with people and tell their
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UNIVERSE Vienna, February 2013
It is easier to get in touch with people and tell their story if they can relate to you and vice versa.
by nina cranen photos: natascha unkart
As the founder of the Jordan Media Institute (JMI) and due to her background in journalism, Her Royal Highness Princess Rym Ali attended yesterday’s global forum. story if they can relate to you and vice versa”. In her speech yesterday, she emphasised the necessity of maintaining humanism in journalism by firstly pointing to the importance of journalism education, saying: “There is a need to hammer ethics into practitioners”, and secondly focusing on the duty that leaders have: “They should see to it that humanism remains at the core of journalism education”. Princess Rym is a modern royal who wants to see her input brought to completion: “I am attending this year’s Global Forum as there is a small chance my words will be heard. But of course my words don´t mean much if not transformed into actions”.
Nice to know! Princess Rym Ali founded the Jordan Media Institute in 2007, www.jmi.edu.jo/en. She married Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan on the 7th of September in 2004.
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Live comments, criticism, discussions and photos from the event – Social Media opened up the UNAOC to a broader audience: Lucien Castex @LucienCastex Want to share thoughts on #migration, #media #diversity and #plualism? join the discussion #unaoc2013 Alexander Fanta @Al_Fanta Erdogans provocative call to consider “fascism, zionism and anti-semitism” crimes against humanity sure caused raised eyebrows #unaoc2013
#UNAOC2013: digital dialogue
by Leila Al-Serori photo: natascha unkart
The young Nigerian activist, the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the Canadian journalist have one thing in common: their dialogue was not only fueled within the pompous setting of the Hofburg, but also on Twitter, Facebook and other Social Media platforms. Hundreds of tweets were sent with the official hashtag #unaoc2013 on the first day of the conference.
Isabella Poeschl @isabellapoeschl Off topic, but simply too obvious: Where are the women at the opening panel of the #unaoc2013? #howmanymoreyears Michael Suen @poetichentai The first step to intercultural harmony is not cutting the lunch line. #unaoc2013 Ajarat Bada @ajaratbada Princess Ali of Jordan speaks about Journalism and its ethics to do no harm. Can true non-malficence in global media be achieved? #unaoc2013
“Murder is the ultimate form of censorship” The Breakout Session “Back to the basics – Freedom of the media matters” focused on restrictions on media and the freedom of speech. by Leila Al-Serori
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‘16 journalists were killed worldwide since the beginning of 2013’. The russian journalist and chairperson of the International Press Institute, Galina Sidorova, accents a main problem journalism is still facing today. The topic of that afternoon’s session is freedom of the media, but for Sidorova the safety of reporters comes along with it: ‘Murder is the ultimate form of censorship’. “If press freedom is limited, it’s lost” The media contributes to social and political development and can provide a basis for conflict resolution and dialogue. But this power depends largely on the human right to freedom of speech. “If press freedom is limited, it’s lost“, Galina Sidorova explains. And it is not just a journalistic debate: freedom of expression should be a right for every citizen and is fundamental for democratic societies, is the general consensus in the debate. Internet: a place for independent investigations In the age of media innovation, blogs and social media have become an important place for independent investigations. “Citizen journalists are now the first to ring the bell”, emphasises Sidorova.
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The discussion about the regulation of media is controversial: “If the dignity of a human being is harmed, it should be able to limit the freedom of media”, Turkish politician Hadi Adanali says. A statement that Gulya Akhundova from Azerbaijan criticises: “Only tolerance and education can avoid hate speech”.
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Media is the place to share diversity and different opinions. Journalism, therefore should be the freest of all professions. - Frank La Rue, UN Special Rapporteur
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February 2013, Vienna UNIVERSE
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Here are some of the people who are changing the world.
Yetunde Aweda - Nigeria I founded the Organisation for African Youth. We target youngsters aged 12 to 25. We teach them craftsmanship, organise foster homes and provide them with education.
World leaders excel in giving elaborate speeches. The participants of the Global Forum shine through their actions. They are ambitious, innovative, and full of aspiration. by nina cranen photos: natascha unkart
Jean Paul Brice Affana - Cameroon My organisation, Vital Actions for Sustainable Development, is based in Cameroon. Involving young green entrepreneurs on environmental issues in urban and rural areas, the NGO aims to promote eco-citizenship among people in Cameroon in order to bring each citizen to become an eco-citizen in his daily activities.
Michael Suen - United States The Learning Games Network is committed to the development and distribution of games informed by research in the learning sciences, creative design, and technical development. From electrostatics to Shakespeare, our work spans a vast range of subject areas. We are partners of the UNAOC.
Orli Setton - Cape Town I have founded, with five friends, the organisation Rethink Leadership. We try to inspire young people aged 16 to 19 to become active citizens and change agents.
Tudor Clee - New Zealand I just received an award for my children’s book: Touchable Earth. It is the first digital world book for kids being taught by kids.
Sana Shah - United Kingdom I have Austrian and Pakistani roots and I live in London. I am currently working on the political participation and lobbying of the Pakistani diaspora in London & New York. I support the UNAOC as it is the only UN unit that builds bridges between the Islamic and Western world.