IYGU代表のBenno Werlen さんからです。明日UTC (Coordinated
Universal Time)午前9時(日本時間午後6時)に、ダーバンで開催中
のWorld Social Science Forum at Durbanで、2016 年を International
Year of Global Understanding とすることが宣言されます。国連総会
は結局動いてくれませんでしたが、世界の学術界の強力な支援を
得ることができ、IYGUは科学年として正式に発足することになりま
した。
氷見山
―
Dear all,
I hope this email finds you well, and my apologies for the long silence!
I’m pleased to announce, that next Sunday, September 13, the three
sciences councils (ICSU; ISSC and CIPSH) will proclaim at the World Social
Science Forum at Durban, South Africa, 2016 as the International Year of
Global Understanding. The session of proclamation is scheduled for 11:00
am -12:30 pm local time. A press release will also be issued at that time
and I will forward it to you (with translation into French, Chinese,
Spanisch, Portuguese and German) once it has become official, Sunday 9:00 am
UTC, 11:00 am CEST.
My thanks go once again to the presidents of the three science
organizations ( Gordon McBean (ICSU), Alberto Martinelli (ISSC), and Chao
Gejin (ICPHS) ) as well as to their Executive Directors Heide Hackmann
(ICSU) and Mathieu Denis (ISSC), and Secretary-General Luiz Oosterbeek
(CIPSH). They were all most helpful and their support was absolutely crucial
for getting plan B off the ground. The declaration in Durban will present
the first time that the three organizations jointly proclaim an
international year.
The background:
There have been a few ups and downs concerning the IYGU application’s
status at the UN in New York. For quite some time things were up in the air
and I had no definite information on the progress concerning the negotiation
of the IYGU draft resolution. Despite an intensive preparation on the
diplomatic side and the strong support assured, , including efforts by the
Association of American Geographers to mobilize U.S. representatives at the
UN since the AAG meeting in Chicago in April, the IYGU application remained
an object of conflict between the G77 and the Western European and Others
Group (WEOG) member states. I finally received a message on August 15 from
a representative of the Rwandan Permanent Mission saying that it is highly
unlikely that the draft resolution will be adopted in this or the next
session as there is still a lack of consensus among the member states
concerning the exact wording of the resolution.
Now, while these are certainly no good news from New York, this deadlock and
resulting problems weren’t entirely unforeseeable, which is why I started
developing a plan B in case the UN does not adopt the IYGU draft resolution.
In my last email to you from July 13 I already outlined the idea of having
an international year declared by the three global umbrella organizations of
the natural, social, and human sciences (ICSU, ISSC, and CIPSH) and attached
the letters from ICSU, ISSC and CIPSH. In addition I attach some highly
important statements that have been made for the press release.
The outlook:
There are further reasons to be optimistic about the unfolding of
possibilities in the context of the IYGU in 2016. My recent business trips
to Moscow and Rio de Janeiro resulted in the acquisition of new contacts and
the strengthening of existing ones; they will all be very helpful in further
promoting our project and advancing its objectives. There is a big chance
that IYGU could be mentioned in the opening ceremony of the Olympic games in
Rio de Janeiro. The IYGU also enjoys strong links with the Future Earth
program; the cooperation with UNESCO will be discussed in Durban; has
already several memorandums of understanding for environmental law and
transdiciplinary research and teaching cooperation; it is well set up to
start its international activities via its Regional Action Centers
throughout the world; and its opening will be celebrated in several
ceremonies throughout the world planned for early 2016. For all these
activities it would be great if we could continue our common efforts to make
IYGU a global and sustainable success!
With this positive outlook I thank you once again for your support and
crucial efforts in making this project happen.
Best wishes,
Benno
