From right to left:
Nicolas Hulot, Ségolène Royal, Cardinal Turkson, Bartolomeo Ist, François Hollande, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Michael Higgins, Kofi Annan, Jean-Paul Delevoye, Andrea Riccardi.
photo by: Jean Luc LUYSSEN/CIRIC
People from many of the world’s religions and wisdoms met in Paris on July 21, 2015, for the World Summit of Conscience to answer the question "Why do I care about the planet?” and launch a “Call to Conscience for the climate”. His Eminence Cardinal Turkson was the Catholic representative among the key religious and cultural figures attending the Summit, and spoke during the Opening Session.
More on: www.whydoicare.org
The AGENDA:
8h45-10h: Introductory Session (speaking order to be confirmed)
- Opening speech from M. Jean-Paul Delevoye, President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council
- Speech from M. Kofi Annan, Chair of “the Elders”, Chairman of the “Kofi Annan Foundation”, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Speech from His Excellency M. Michael Higgins, President of Ireland
- Speech from His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco
- Speech from M. François Hollande, President of the French Republic
Polyphonia Quartet, Israeli and Palestinian musicians (12-15mn)
10h-11h: Opening session: Why We Should Care
- Introduction by M. Nicolas Hulot, Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for the protection of the planet
- H.H. Bartholomew 1st, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
- H. Em. Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
- Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee
- Prof. Abdou Filaly-Ansary, Director of the Institute for the Study of Muslims Civilisations – Aga Khan University
- Prof Tu Weiming, International Confucian Ecological Alliance, China
- Ms Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO
- Ms Marina Silva, Senator from the State of Acre, Brazil
11h-11h30: Coffee Break
11h30-12h45: First plenary: Why do I care? – The fight against climate change, a personal situation, a universal challenge.
Personal reflexions based on the experiences, philosophies and religious beliefs of participants
Text sung by Venerable Chang Ji and Venerable Chang Zao, Dharma Drum Mountain, Taiwan
11h30 – 11h45: Keynote addresses
- Fr. Rigobert Minani-Bihuzo, Director of Jesuit Social Center in Africa, DRC
- M. Mohammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank (Bangladesh)
11h45- 12h30: Discussion between panelists (here presented in alphabetical order)
- M. Ghayth Abduldjabbar Abdullah al-Timeemi, Founder of the Center for Racial, Religious and Cultural Diversity (Iraq)
- Ms. Nandita Krishna, Director of C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, Director and Founder of the Center for Environmental Education CPR (India)
- M. Mahamandeshwar Swami Avdeshanand Giri, religious leader of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, India
- M. Andrea Riccardi, Founder of the Sant’Egidio community (Italy)
- Ms Alina Saba, Environnemental activist (Nepal)
- Ms. Vandana Shiva, environmental activist (India)
- M. Trin Xuan Thuan, Astrophysicist (USA)
12h30-12h45: Discussion within the audience
12h45-13h45: Buffet Lunch
13h45-15h: Second plenary: How Do I Show that I Care? – What am I already doing that shows my involvement in the struggle on climate change?
- Testimonials, actions and commitments to act by participants and religious communities
- Dance performance : Ms. Nobuko Kashiwagi. Traditional Japanese dance in honor of nature
13h45-14h: Keynote addresses
- Ms Susan George, Honorary President of ATTAC,
- Master Zhang Xueling, China Daoist Association
14h-14h45: Discussion between panelists (here presented in alphabetical order)
- Reverend Takayuki Ashizu, Chief priest of Munakata Grand Shrine (Japan)
- M. Jean-Luc Fauque, President of the Supreme Council of the European Confederation – the Scottish Rite
- Rev. Fletcher Harper, Director of GreenFaith (USA)
- Sister Chan Khong, representative of the Thich Nhat Hanh Community (France)
- Fr. Dominique Lang, Chaplain of Pax Christi France, Author of the blog “Churches and Ecology”
- Mr Henrik Madsen, CEO DNV-GL, Norway
14h45-15h: Discussion within the audience
15h-16h15: Third plenary: What do I do ? – How to fight climate change
Testimonials, actions and commitments to act by participants and religious communities
15h-15h15: Keynote addresses
-M. Sebastiao Salgado, Photographer, co-founder of Instituto Terra (Brazil - France)
- Bishop Nathan Kyamanywa, Bishop of Bunyoro Kitara (Uganda)
15h15-16h: Discussion between panelists (here presented in alphabetical order)
- Dr Vinya Ariyaratne, Director of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement (Sri Lanka)
- M. Swami Amritasvarupananda, Amma’s representative (India)
- Sheikh Khaled Bentounes, Spiritual Guide of the Alawiyya Sufi brotherhood (Algeria)
- M Sailesh Rao, Director of “Climat Healers Initiative for Transformations” (USA)
- Ms Alina Saba, Environnemental activist (Nepal)
- H.Exc. Bishop Frederick Onael Shoo, Founder of the Lutheran Movement for the Environment in Africa (Tanzania)
16h-16h15: Discussion within the audience
16h15-16h45: Coffee Break
16h45-17h: Two stories from Amazonia
- From Sarayaku: Ms. Patricia Gualinga, daughter of Shaman Don Sabino and sister of José Gualinga, former president of the Sarayaku community with M. Felix Santi, President of the Sarayaku Community ( Equator)
- From Guarani-Kaiowa: Ms. Valdelice Veron, spokeswoman of the Guarani-Kaoiwa People, with M. Natanel Vilharva Cáceres, cacique of the Guarani-Kaiowa People (Brazil)
17h-18h: Fourth plenary : “Inspiring the World to care – igniting the will to act for the climate
How to carry the message beyond this Summit from now until COP21. How to ensure other Summits of Consciences are organized elsewhere in the world, by public figures and non-denominational and religious institutions/organizations.
For this session, as well as for the closing ceremony, accredited ambassadors will be invited.
17h-17h15: Keynote addresses
- Ms. Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation- Climate Justice
- M. Nigel Savage, President of Hazon (USA)
17h15-17h45: Discussion between panelists (here presented in alphabetic order)
- M. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Oulemas League (Morocco)
- M. Oumar Abdi Deputy executive director of UNICEF
- Senator Loren Legarda (Philippines)
- Ms. Masami Saionji, President of “The World Peace Prayer Society” (Japan)
- Dr Rajwant Singh, EcoSikh (USA)
17h45-18h: Piece of Violin interpreted by Zhang Zhang
18h-18h30: Closing session
- Official launch of the “Call to Conscience for the climate” for all persons involved in the climate negotiations, and official submission to the ambassadors present.
- Presentation of the new commitments made by the participants and “The Green Pilgrim Age” initiative
- Speech from Ms. Ségolène Royal, Minister of Ecology, the Sustainable Development and Energy
- Speech from M. Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the International Development
- Speech from M. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Founding Chairman of R20
- Speech from M. Janos Pasztor, Assistant Secretary General on Climate Change speaking on behalf of the UN Secretary General
18h30-18h45: Closing ceremony with young readers from Bayard for the Youth, projection of a short video "A story told by Children" and delivery of a Planet to Personalities.
- Cheikh Lô, Senegal