The EU faces one of the toughest times of its history, and young people could have a pivotal role to play in improving the situation, writes Jasna Maric Krajacic in the Parliament Magazine.
The European Youth Event will take place this year at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, on May 20-21.
The event comes at an urgent time, one in which the voices of young leaders can make a difference in international attitudes and policy. During the past few years, Europe has been rocked by one crisis after another—Greece’s debt crisis, Russia’s seizure of Crimea and its incursion into eastern Ukraine and the flood of refugees from the Mideast (particularly from Syria) and Africa. Meanwhile, right-wing populism threatens the principle of relatively open borders that has been for years a widely accepted part of the European Union.
What must be avoided in turbulent times is to lose sight of what a unified Europe can achieve. Born out of the ashes of World War II, European unity has brought with it unprecedented peace and prosperity. But European unity must be extended beyond those great achievements. Europe should strive to be a model of generosity and inclusiveness — an example for other regions.
Europe’s young leaders need to champion that cause. Peace, security and democracy are under threat in many parts of the globe, and Europe’s young leaders need to raise their voices in support of those ideals, not just on their continent but elsewhere.
We’re making every effort at the Boston Global Forum to do our part. This year, with the help of our Young Leaders Network for Peace and Security program, we are promoting global cybersecurity. Last year, we focused on peace and security in the Pacific, seeking to promote a just and peaceful solution to disputes arising from China’s aggressive actions in the region. The year before, we highlighted the horrific labor conditions facing garment workers in Third World countries.
Young leaders are progressive and forward-looking. The world needs their voices, and we should widen the forums available to them. The Boston Global Forum commends the organizers of the European Youth Event for providing young leaders with such a prominent venue for addressing crucial global problems and developing solutions to them.
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Thomas E. Patterson is a co-founder and a member of the board of directors of The Boston Global Forum. He is the Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at Harvard’s Kennedy School and has served as the Acting Director of the Kennedy’s School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy since July 1, 2015.
(Jan. 30, 2016) – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent his welcome message in the opening of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit as Japan assumes the Presidency role. Various issues concerning global peace and prosperity will be discussed, including global economy slowdown, terrorism, refugee crisis, territorial disputes.
PM Abe also expressed his hope tot discuss the situation in the Asia-Pacific region with G7 leaders.
Watch his full speech here:
Below is the full translation script of PM Abe:
A warm hello to all. I am Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan.
Japan assumed the Presidency of the G7 summit this year. On May 26 and 27, Japan will convene the G7 Ise-Shima Summit in Mie Prefecture. In Ise-Shima, the stage for the G7 Summit, you can find not only Ise Jingu Shrine with a history dating back to time immemorial, but also marvelous natural beauty including the rich sea spreading out before your eyes, islands large and small, and countless inlets. It is a perfect example of our hearland – a palce dear to many, away from the bustling cities.
In such an environment, I will make this year’s summit a fruitful one by having candid discussions with the other G7 leaders on various issues confronting the globe.
Today,the international community faces numerous challenges. A slowdown in the growth of the global economy, terrorism threatening people’s lives, a surge of refugees, and unilateral changes to the status quo through the use of coercion are all among the challenges affecting the peace and prosperity we enjoy in our daily lives.
The G7 members, which share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, must take a global perspective to provide the most appropriate road map for solving these challenges with a clear vision.
The G7 Ise-Shima Summit is the first G7 summit to be convened in Asia since the summit in Toyako eight years ago.
I hope to discuss the situation in the Asia-Pacifid region with other G7 leaders.
In addition to the G7 Summit meeting to be held in Ise-Shima, we will hold the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Hiroshima and the Finance Ministers’ meeting in Sendai, as well as the Agricultural Ministers’ meeting in Niigata, the ICT Ministers’ meeting in Takamatsu, the Energy Ministers’ meeting in Kitakyushu, the Education Ministers’ meeting in Kurashiki, the Science and Technology Ministers’ meeting in Tsukuba, the Environment Ministers’ meeting in Toyama, the Health Ministers’ meeting in Kobe, and the Transport Ministers’ meeting in Karuizawa.
Scores of journalists from around the world will converge on Japan to cover the G7 Ise-Shima Summit and these ministerial meetings. All of which will be the focus of attention around the world.
I hope to take this opportunity to send out to the world our message about Japan’s unique of appeal, including our culture and traditions, our spirit of hospitality, our world-class washoku cuisine, as well as advanced technologies and our innovation.
With your cooperation and assistance, I will world to lead the G7 Ise-Shima Summit to success.
(Jan.30, 2016) – Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chief Executive Officer of the Boston Global Forum shares his view on Global Citizenship Education which he believes would become one of important element to build sustainable peace and security in the Middle East.
Dr. Carlos Alberto Torress, Chair of UNESCO-UCLA chair on Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education (GCE) discussed with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam about promoting the GCE in Vietnam.
Read Mr. Nguyen’ statement below.
The Boston Global Forum is gratified that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon supports the BGF’s Global Citizenship Education program.
In 2006, when I was Chief Executive officer and Editor-in-chief of VietNamNet, I developed the idea of encouraging Vietnamese citizens to become global citizens. I believed that such a project would help Vietnam become a developed country. So I conducted a series of articles on global citizenship for VietNamNet.
I have since come to believe that Global Citizenship Education could become one of the most important ways to build sustainable peace and security in the Middle East.
How can we make it happen? The program would
Arrange for leaders of different religions – including Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus — to meet, talk and learn from each other as they discuss how to improve their fellow citizens’ lives, especially through education. The leaders should be encouraged to frequently resume their dialogues in order to continue to strengthen their mutual understanding over months and years.
Make full use of technology, including the Internet and mobile phones, to organize the social networks that would provide a platform for Global Citizenship Education in the Mideast.
Make Global Citizenship Education content very flexible and accessible. For instance, this might include developing learning games to introduce people to the program’s principle.
Identify and nurture idealistic, highly intelligent and competent young adults to become leaders of the program’s educational campaign for peace and security. These young people would include volunteer leaders from G7 countries and the Middle East. They would help people in the region learn about the universal values of human rights as endorsed by the United Nations as well as the practical emotional, organizational and technological tools for applying these values in private life, business, government, schools and elsewhere to promote peace and strengthen a sense of shared community among people of different backgrounds in the Middle East
Persuade the G7 nations to support Global Citizenship Education financially and otherwise to help develop peaceful, tolerant and prosperous civil societies, both for their intrinsic value for individual nations and to promote international peace and security.
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Nguyen Anh Tuan is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Boston Global Forum (BostonGlobalForum.org) and Chair of International Advisory Committee of UNESCO-UCLA Chair on Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education.
Boston Global Forum will host several international discussions to begin a dialog among 50 world-renowned professors from Harvard, MIT, UCLA, Tufts, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Bonn Universities, University of Tokyo and leading cyber security experts and journalists.
Topics of discussion:
Developing strategies to Combat Cyberterrorism
Advancing solutions to resolve the ISIS conflict
Maintaining democratic and other values of the G7 and expanding those values to rest of the world in the 21st century
Establishing new values that are in concert with the G7 in the 21st century
Initiating Global Citizenship Education for the G7 Summit for Peace, Security, and Development.
Every 10-days, a world-renowned government official or scholar will lead a discussion with other participants and guests via online video conferencing. Following the online event, the discussion may be continued via group email.
A special Boston Global Forum Editorial Board will assemble the content and provide a comprehensive report to the leader of G7 summit host country.
Timeline of events
All discussions will be held online from January 26, 2016 to April 21, 2016.
II. Global Cybersecurity Day December 12, 2016
BGF will continue its success in 2015 by further establishing December 12 as Global Cyber Security Day — and having the day universally recognized as the premiere annual event aimed at encouraging global citizens of goodwill to create a safe and secure internet environment. In New England, Global Cybersecurity Day 2016 events will be held at Harvard University Loeb House with ceremonies honoring Outstanding People in Cybersecurity.
Conference Focus
Theme: “Strategies for Combating Cyberterrorism”
Honor the winners of World Leader for Peace, Security and Development 2016 Award
Release the Boston Global Forum report on: Cybersecurity 2017
Release the Boston Global Forum Cyber Threat Index for 2016
Announce the winner of the Online Festival for a Clean and Pure Internet
Report: Global Citizenship Education on educating people about the Ethics Code of Conduct for Cyber Peace, and Security (ECCC)
Venue: Harvard University Loeb House
Timeline of events:
III. World Leaders for Peace, Security, and Development and World Leader in Cybersecurity Awards 2016
The Nomination & Selection process will prolong one month. Winners will be honored in the Global Cybersecurity Day, December 12.
Timeline of events:
IV. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) in Cybersecurity
The GCE will focus on educating people on the Ethics Code of Conduct for Cyber Peace and Security (ECCC).
Timeline:
January 26, 2016: Officially announce the program
December 12, 2016: Report results on Global Cybersecurity Day
V. Michael Dukakis Leadership Fellowship Program (MDLP) 2016 -2017
The Program will seek out leaders in Cybersecurity in three categories: human being, policy, and technology.
Fellows will implement an action plan to encourage people follow the Online Festival and contribute to Global Cybersecurity Day.
Co-Founder; Chairman of The Board of Directors and Board of Thinkers, The Boston Global Forum. Democratic Party Nominee for President of the United States, 1988. Distinguished Professor J.D., Harvard University
Michael Stanley Dukakis was born in Brookline, Massachusetts to Greek immigrant parents. He attended Swarthmore College and Harvard Law School and served in the United States Army from 1955-1957, sixteen months of which was with the support group to the U.S. delegation to the Military Armistice Commission in Korea.
He served eight years as a member of the Massachusetts legislature and was elected governor of Massachusetts three times. He was the Democratic nominee for the presidency in 1988.
Since 1991 he has been a distinguished professor of political science at Northeastern University in Boston, and since 1996 visiting professor of public policy during the winter quarter at UCLA in Los Angeles. He is chairman of Boston Global Forum.
He is married to the former Kitty Dickson. They have three children—John, Andrea and Kara—and eight grandchildren.
