Planning Committee Meeting Minutes
Meeting #8
Thursday, 22nd February, 2007

3:00 p.m. – 5:00p.m.

Conference Room 1

 

Committee Co-Chair

 

Richard Jordan

 

DPI Representatives

 

Juan Carlos Brandt

Robin Della Rocca

 

Handouts Distributed

 

Agenda

Minutes from 7th Planning Committee Meeting (08/02/07)

 

Opening Remarks

 

The meeting began with corrections of the previous Planning Committee Meeting Minutes.  The new meeting agenda was adopted, and the previous minutes were corrected and approved.

 

Juan Carlos Brandt mentioned that, according to representatives from the Capital Master Plan, NGOs have been guaranteed access to the United Nations Secretariat while renovations are in process.  NGO Access to the UN will primarily be through the NGO Resource Centre.

 

Sub-Committee Progress Reports:

 

1. Resource Centre Sub-Committee

a. Nothing to report

 

2. Media Sub-Committee

a. The Media Sub-Committee had their first meeting last Tuesday.

b. The Media Sub-Committee got permission from the UN Press to pursue Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

c. They also are attempting to see if the Art Center for Design College can contribute to the PSAs

d. Attempting to publish articles in Environmental Journalists bi-monthly publications

e. Introduced 2 interns from Honors College

f. Next meeting 8th March, 2:00 PM.

 

3. Internet Sub-Committee

a. Nothing to Report

 

4. Networking Sub-Committee

a. Planning on conducting a webcast test in the near future

b. In contact with governor of New Jersey, an ardent proponent of Climate Change issues.

                       i.   New Jersey Governor might be able to both speak at the UN, and provide facilities for future meetings and events.

c. Introduced Reverend Holmes.

                       i.   Reverend Holmes involves faith-based-initiatives in issues such as climate change throughout Africa and South Asia

                     ii.   Planning a trip to South Asia soon.  Possibility of webcast.

d. Planning to involve artists and musicians, in order to raise conference profile and generate public visibility.

e. Bill Gellerman said that there are two dimensions that the Networking Sub-Committee is pursuing:

                       i.   Webcasting – in order to involve people from other areas in the world, such as Africa and Asia, where people are most vulnerable to climate change.

                     ii.   Using the internet as a networking device, before, during and after the conference.

f. Richard Jordan mentioned that the Networking Sub-Committee work with the Events Sub-Committee.  He also asked the Networking Sub-Committee to write something specific on groups that they plan to network with.

g. Juan Carlos Brandt mentioned that the Networking Sub-Committee’s contact with the New Jersey Governor is very valuable.  The New Jersey Governor not only might be able to help with this year’s DPI/NGO Conference, but he might also be able to assist in providing space and facilities for the 2008 DPI/NGO Annual Conference.  However, the conference location has not yet been decided, and there is still a strong possibility that it will take place outside of the United States.

 

5. Midday Workshop Sub-Committee

a. Co chairs:

                       i.   Dr Charles Hitchock, Long Island University

                     ii.   Dr. Mary E Norton, Felician College

                   iii.   Father Brian Muzas, Felician College

b. 10 Interns from Felician College

c. Father Brian ad Dr Norton have also been attending the Thematic and Programme Development Sub-Committee Meetings.

 

6. Multigenerational Sub-Committee

a. It was commented that all sub-committees should include a youth and older persons dimension.

b. Ask participants their age: ie, under 30, older 30

c. Meeting at 1:30 on Thursday.

d. A few years ago, the Older Persons Sub-Committee was merged with the Youth Sub-Committee to form the Multigenerational Sub-Committee.  However, due to some complications last year, a question was raised as to whether these groups should be separated again.  The issue was not decided on.

 

7. Events Sub-Committee

a.  Journal:

                       i.   The NGO Journal is in the process of securing funds from both the private and public sector.  NGO Contributions will be low, relative to the private sector.

b. Events:

                       i.   If you have any ideas for a cultural event, please contact Sheryl Kazan as soon as possible.

                     ii.   Planning on an event related to the 800th Anniversary of Rumi

 

Discussion of Roundtable Blurbs and Vision Statement:

 

Each Roundtable blurb was read out, and comments or suggestions on the content were made.  For any corrections pertaining to wording and small details, please email Robin Della Rocca at dellarocca@un.org.  The first draft of roundtable blurbs have been emailed in an attachment along with these minutes.

 

1. Roundtable 1:  Climate Change: The Scientific Evidence

c. It was suggested that the roundtable should discuss hurricanes and floods, to make the discussion sound more urgent.

d. It was suggested that the roundtable should also address the other side of the scientific debate, which claims that the human impact to global warming is negligible.  Michael Crichton has also claimed that an overemphasis on global warming will lead to a detraction of funds from other important goals, such as fighting hunger and disease.

e. However, it was also pointed out that, after the IPCC meeting, there was no more question as to whether climate change is occurring.  The question, rather, was on the types of solutions necessary to combat it.

 

2. Roundtable 2: Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Traditional Knowledge

a. It was decided that the indigenous roundtable, alongside the scientific evidence panel, would help to set a good tone for the conference.

 

3. Roundtable 3: Water Security and Climate Change

a. No comments

 

4. Roundtable 4:  Coping with Climate Change: Best Land Use Practices

a. No comments

 

5. Roundtable 5:  The Politics of Energy and Climate Change

a. It was suggested that the term ‘economics’ be included in the title, as either, ‘The Politics and Economics of Energy and Climate Change’, or ‘The Economics and Politics of Energy and Climate Change’.

b. It was suggested that environmental caps and environmental trading be included in the roundtable.

c. It was also suggested that the roundtable discuss issues surrounding geo-engineering, deliberate manipulation of the weather, and weather as a weapon of war.  A handout on these issues was passed out to Planning Committee members.

 

6. Roundtable 6:  Streamlining the System

a. No comments

 

7. Roundtable 7:  Sustainable Development and the Responsibility to Protect

a. As the scarcity of resources is closely linked to violence, it was suggested that this roundtable should discuss the ability of the government, the private sector and NGOs to take on responsibility of managing these scarce resources.

b. It was also suggested that this roundtable discuss issues of nuclear testing.

c. Finally, it was suggested, as this is the final roundtable, that it be strongly solutions-oriented.

 

Closing Remarks:

 

Juan Carlos concluded by stating that while an attempt to include all issues in the roundtable will be made, not everybody will be happy.  For topics not included in roundtables, an attempt will be made to include them in midday workshops.  It is very important that we continue to work together, and that we agree on the overall themes of the conference.

 

Attendance:  Lois Beilin, Josephine Brecht, Elizabeth Carll, Noema Cahplin, Choon-Whe Cho, Mary W. Covington, Joan Davis, Bill Gellerman, Virginia Hazzard, Jeff Huffines, Sherrill Kazan, Joan Kirby, Eileen Labiner, Gloria Landy, Judy Lerner, Joan Levy, Masako London, Arielle Messuti, Mary E Norton, Estelle Perry, Anne Riccitelli, Joanne Robinson, Nadia Shmigel, Janet T. Stovin, Bircan Unver-culkin, Joan Woods, Moses Williams, Anne Zanes, Jerry Spivack, Charles Hitchcock, Juanita Carrillo, Jenniffer Zanowiak, Yin-Chu Jou, Pauline Cantwell, Sandra Weinacht, Angela Curmi, Samreen Nayyer, Gwen Moten, Loretta Dumas, Fr. Brian Muzas, Maiciej Fraczela, David Gethings, Boris Shabovta, Martin Havelykke, Armin Tandir, Arielle Messuti, Ayako Wakao, Gahee Woo, Richard Jordan, Robin Della Rocca, Brittany Carter, Mary Christina Pennisi, Alivia Osborne, Ella Kim, Marc Jorgensen, Nicholas Rees

 

 

Next Meeting:  Thursday, 1st March, 2007. 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Conference Room tba