New York City September 22-28 2014 New York City is THE place to be for activists, environmentalists, and everyday people to gather and let their voices be heard about some direly important issues this week.Climate Week is being held at the same time as the UN''s 69th General Assembly, with events in support of the UN Climate Summit. Over 120 events, activities and high-profile meetings will happen throughout New York City. Ban Ki-moon, John Kerry and Tim Cook will speak during this week of activities related to the climate. “We are not here to talk, we are here to make history,” United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at an “unprecedented and important gathering that aims to raise ambition, mobilize resources, and generate action towards a universal climate deal.” “The human, environmental and financial cost of climate change is fast becoming unbearable,” Mr. Ban said at the opening ceremony of a Climate Summit in the General Assembly Hall. “We need a clear shared vision.” US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke at the Morgan Library in New York City on Monday. Kerry announced a US plan to fund a new World Bank program to decrease methane. Tim Cook said that his company is constructing “the greenest building on the planet.” He also stated that boomers must decide ‘if we want to be the first generation who leaves the world worse off.’ Some might disagree with that statement, especially the ever-cheerful Bill Clinton who appeared in an hour-long intereview with Fareed Zakariah on Sunday. He was asked about his thoughts for the future, and said that if we can just work together, that we can use technology and innovation to survive as a species. President Clinton offered two books as food for thought. Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think by Peter Diamandis, and “The Social Conquest of Earth” by E. O. Wilson. The second seems of most interest, it posits that humans, bees, wasps, termites and ants are the most successful species on the planet because we are so socially oriented, and use our social skills to overcome obstacles and solve problems. And gathered over at their impressively modern digs on the Hudson River, the 69th United Nations General Assembly will gather to discuss the world's problems, and hopefully someone will offer solutions that can be agreed upon. Some important days are: 22 September – International Conference on Population and Development 23 September – Climate Summit 22-23 September – The World Conference on Indigenous Peoples 24-30 September – General debate And all this comes when the United States has apparently declared war on the Islamic State and bombed targets inside Syria. Click here to view the article
