where to be or not to be
It is difficult to chose. This morning I was split in my mind: should I go to DGI, where there are discussions more to my heart, or go to the BC (Bella Centre), where power, media and real things happen.
So I decided to take a round in the DGI a couple of hours, but ended up later in the BC. First I met our Brazilian WFUNA representative (the international politics professor from RIO), and he got me into a very well attended meeting on the international cooperation on the Congo basin (the third biggest rainforest in the world (no 1 Amazonos (Brazil), 2. Indonesia). There were quite a lot of African ministers – the Congo basin cooperation has 8-10 Sub-Saharan central African states and esp. Germany supports them – also the new German development minister spoke. But, but, but—it was in French. I tried for half an hour, but I had to give up – my French is not what it used to be- or maybe it has never really been there, – so I left my good friend, the Rio professor, who understood everything.
Then I attended a very interesting session given by the Bhutanese delegation on the concept of Gross National Happiness – how GNP with its one-dimensional reliance on material wealth was insufficient, so they told about how ecological sustainability; spiritual aspects; cultural and historical traditions of the country should be the cornerstone of measuring GNH (Gross National Happiness). They also told about the eco-policy of the country: The reliance on hydro-power;
that they have included in their constitution that 60% of the land should be covered with forests.
They were dressed in the national clothes, and their government minister in the panel was called his Excellency.
And after the 1,5 hours session the Bhutanese delegation gave a reception with good food and plenty of drinks.
So I left in good mood with a lot of papers and stuff I would probably not have time to read, but I will try my best.
