Bali, Indonesia - Upon the invitation of the International Ecological Safety Cooperative Organization (IESCO), Mr. Taj Hamad, UPF Secretary General, and Mrs. Genie Kagawa, Deputy Director of the Office of UN Relations, participated in a World Ecological Safety Assembly in Bali, Indonesia, Dec. 10-12, 2012. Mr. Hamad represented UPF in presenting a vision for environmental protection. Five hundred distinguished guests, representing politics, governments, NGOs, science, media, and academe, engaged in constructive dialogue and made tangible commitments.
IESCO encourages governments to deal with the threat of climate change and global warming, believing that the stakes are higher than in current political or economic crises. Environmental protection has drawn the attention of many governments. For example, the ruling party of Communist China proclaimed a vision for China as a moderately prosperous society, governed by justice and fairness, in a physical environment conducive to stability and social harmony.
The assembly had three outcomes:
- It built a large coalition of Asian nations that can work together for climate change;
- It brought together leaders, experts, statesmen, and specialists to dialogue about climate change; and
- It formulated a declaration with concrete action steps for “green” governance.
Distinguished speakers included: H.E. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, former President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and High Representative Designate for the UN Alliance of Civilizations; former UN Under-Secretary-General Dr. Anna K. Tibaijuka; former UN Under-Secretary-General Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury; Mr. Andrei Abramov, Chief of the Office of UN ECOSOC Support and Coordination; Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., Founding Chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International; Hon. Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. Sheila Copps, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada; and several former presidents and prime ministers, government ministers, senators, speakers of parliament, congressmen, CEOs of large corporations, and media personalities.
They unanimously approved the Bali Declaration, which includes concrete steps to protect the environment. It emphasizes increasing awareness and self-discipline, drawing on material and spiritual elements that contribute to a healthy environment. It calls on political parties, parliaments, governments, and international organizations to promote an ecological civilization through legislation, scientific research, education, and training.
During the Assembly, Dr. Mingjun Jiang, Founder and Executive Director of IESCO, and Mr. Hamad signed an agreement to work together in partnership.
To read the text of the Bali Declaration, click here.