High Fidelity
How loyalty to his dream of composing and producing music put Joe Khajadourian on the path to success
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October 19, 2007
AGBU Participates in 60th Annual UN Conference on Climate Change
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Participants settle in for the closing session of the 60th annual UN DPI/NGO Conference on Climate Change held at UN Headquarters in New York from September 5-7, 2007. -
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AGBU representatives pose at UN NY Headquarters on the first of a three-day UN DPI/NGO conference on Climate Change. (L to R): Paul Kayaian, Kim Yacoubian, Anahid KaraHagopian, Astrid Avedissian, Yelena Ambartsumian, and Peter Darakjian.
In the company of over 2000 civil society representatives from 90 countries, AGBU attended the 60th Annual United Nations Department of Public Information/Non Governmental Organization (UN DPI/NGO) Conference entitled "Climate Change: How It Impacts Us All" at UN Headquarters in New York from September 5-7, 2007.
Partaking in a three-day itinerary of roundtables, panels, and workshops were AGBU's representative to the UN Kim Yacoubian, who also served on the Conference's Planning Committee; AGBU HyeGeen's Peter Darakjian and Anahid KaraHagopian from California; and community members from the greater New York area Yelena Ambartsumian, Astrid Avedissian, and Paul Kayaian.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, this year's conference focused on the growing concerns associated with climate change, which United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has identified as a top priority for the UN. The conference reviewed scientific evidence on climate change, including its consequences on indigenous peoples, water security, land use, and the politics of energy. For the first time in the conference's history, participants issued a "Final Declaration" that makes recommendations for individual action as well as collaborative work to combat climate change.
One of the special events over the course of the conference was a screening of a documentary produced by the Conference's Multigenerational Subcommittee entitled "United Differences: Family Impacts on Climate Change," which explores the roles both families and individuals play in preventing climate change. Bringing this issue close to home, one of the families appearing in the documentary was that of AGBU Central Board Member Arda Haratunian. For more information on the documentary, visit www.youtube.com/duduren.
Another important conference outcome, the "Youth Education Outreach Initiative," was designed to foster interactive and informative discussions in worldwide educational settings. Introducing climate change issues to children at an early age, the initiative seeks to encourage advocacy among youth and promote the belief that individual daily actions can make a meaningful difference and effectuate change. Its suggested educational activities, found on the "Youth" section of www.undpingoconference.org, serve as a resource for teachers and students and can be easily integrated into lesson plans or workshops.
For more information on the proceedings of the 60th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference on conference, please visit www.undpingoconference.org.
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