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<body><div>Dear colleagues,</div>
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The following invitation letter was sent to you since Feb. 4, 2012, we haven't heard your response since then. Please, let us know as soon as possible if you will attend the upcoming conference(s) at New York City USA and Accra-Ghana.<br>
The Conference Organizing Committee<br>
<b>================================================================<br>
Conference Theme: <br>
Sustainability in the context of Financial and Economic Volatility<br>
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CONFERENCE DATES AND LOCATIONS:<br>
• 11th – 15th June, 2012 in New York City, USA<br>
• 18th – 22nd June, 2012 in Accra-Ghana<br>
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A/ IRISD.2012/1</b><br>
General Distribution.<br>
Feb 4, 2012<br>
English<br>
A/IRISD.2012/FD0286</div>
<div><br>
<b>Conference Theme: Sustainability in the context of Financial and Economic Volatility</b></div>
<div><br>
"Almost four years after the Lehman Brothers collapsed, we are still struggling to come out of this meltdown as unemployment continues to rise. Are we any safer than we were some years ago? <i><b>How well paved is the road to recovery? Have we learnt our lessons from the global meltdown</b></i>?" Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, UN General Secretary.</div>
<div><br>
The threat of government-debt defaults in Europe also indicates that the economic crisis continues to have consequences. The U.S. government’s efforts to prevent another Great Depression have left it saddled with a serious debt problem that could impede efforts to stabilize the economy for a long time to come. <b>The future is especially uncertain.</b><br>
Countries all over the globe are experiencing worryingly high levels of debt, much of which has been caused by reckless lending. Unsustainable and illegitimate debt is impeding sovereign development and preventing poverty reduction in developing countries. The financial crisis has deepened the problems of sovereign debt. A fair and lasting solution to the debt problem is urgently needed.</div>
<div><br>
The recent United Nations Climate Change Conference has been widely perceived as a failure, while the consequences of global warming continue to mount. <i><b>Weather patterns are changing radically, natural disasters grow more frequent and more devastating, sea levels rise, cultural and biological diversity becomes more endangered, and economic prosperity decreases.</b></i> Despite two years of advance work, the meeting failed to convert a rare gathering of world leaders into an ambitious, legally binding action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.</div>
<div><br>
More than 7,000 people responded to our last economic survey, which measured the impact of these difficult economic times on the nonprofit sector. Among respondents, nearly half were CEOs, executive directors, or presidents—our leaders in the nonprofit industry. The results are compelling:</div>
<div><br>
- Some 40 percent of participants reported that contributions to their organizations dropped between January 1 and May 31, 2011, compared to the same period a year earlier.<br>
- Eight percent indicated that their organizations were in imminent danger of closing.<br>
- Sixty-three percent reported a total increase in demand for their organization's services between January 1, 2011 and May 31, 2011, compared to the same period a year prior.</div>
<div><br>
The International Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRISD) is holding the first largest and most diverse international gathering, dedicated to The Debt, Economic Crisis in its implications on sustainable development with a theme: Sustainability in the context of Financial and Economic Volatility. You are cordially invited to contribute to the success of this event with your effective participation.</div>
<div><br>
<i><b>The international community is now challenged by the severe impact on development of multiple, interrelated global crises and challenges, such as increased food insecurity, volatile energy and commodity prices, climate change, a debt crisis and a global economic crisis.</b></i> The International Research Institute for Sustainable Development offers by far the best analysis of how the financial, economic and debt crisis will affect humanitarian and development funding and how to develop a counter-cyclical strategy building. The conference programme is dedicated to the current situation and offers an open international forum for the discussion of this topic. The aim is to establish new design perspectives and actions through dialogue with representatives from civil society, politics, economics, and science, individuals, etc.</div>
<div><br>
<b>The First 2012 IRISD Annual Conference and Steering Meeting will take place from:<br>
Conference dates and locations:<br>
• 11th – 15th June, 2012 in New York City, USA<br>
• 18th – 22nd June, 2012 in Accra-Ghana</b><br>
<br>
Participants are highly encouraged to attend the entire conference. This will give the best opportunity to exchange of ideas and to further develop the conference programme while enhancing the collaboration between the different participating institutions.</div>
<div><br>
<b>Venue:</b> The conferences will take place in two selected different host countries: one in one in High Income Country (United States of America) and the second in a Middle and Low Income country (Ghana). The conference in New York City – USA will take place at NYC Seminar and Conference Center. The conference in Accra-Ghana will take place at Accra International Conference Center (AICC). There are excellent hotels in nearby distances from these venues.</div>
<div><b><br>
The International Research Institute for Sustainable Development background</b>: The International Research Institute for Sustainable Development is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution devoted to the study of world economy and Sustainable Development. The Centre provides timely analysis, and concrete solutions to a wide range of international economic and financial problems. The pursuit of sustainable development requires adequate attention and interactions among the environment, society and the economy. As such, our organization explores how the environment is valued; how public policy instruments can be designed better; and how abject poverty can be addressed sustainably. Background documents and information are available on the IRISD website.</div>
<div><br>
<b>Conference Methodology:</b> The conference is organized as an open discussion forum and provides scope for participants to explore the ins and outs of the economic crisis and it implications on sustainable development. Presentations by acclaimed experts from different fields of knowledge during the first half of the conference will form the starting point of the subsequent discussions. In the second half of the conference, participants will be divided into groups to work out the core issues from the focus points of the conference. The results and recommendations from the groups will be presented in plenum, discussed and finally made available to the participants;</div>
<div><br>
The Conference will also provide various opportunities to engage participants in sharing experiences and articulating perspectives on how to enhance their activities in the financing of their various projects, especially the NGOs/CBOs including round table panel discussions and break-out sessions, interactive dialogue, workshops, caucuses and other activities.</div>
<div><br>
<b>Call for papers:</b><br>
The conference will welcome submissions from non-profits, NGOs, CBOs, CSOs, scholars, financial experts, policy makers, and other practitioners. Participants will be able to enjoy shows, attractions, activities, and tours available in host cities.<br>
The following topics can be covered in your submission and presentation:<br>
# Causes of the Debt Crisis and proposed solutions<br>
# The impact of the economic crisis on the nonprofit sector<br>
# The Economic Crisis and the Climate Change<br>
# Where does the world’s climate now stand with respect to global warming? Are we already at or beyond the “tipping point” beyond which there is no return?<br>
# What can economists tell us about the costs and benefits of mitigation policies? What measures are most efficient from an economic perspective and in terms of carbon reduction?<br>
# The Impact of the Financial and Economic Crisis on MDG's<br>
# The Impact of the Financial and Economic Crisis on Developing Countries<br>
# How can we best address the employment effects of these diverse climate proposals given the fragile states of the world economies?<br>
# Proposals include cap and trade, carbon tax, development of renewable energy, new technologies, energy efficiency and changing the patterns of consumption.<br>
# How does international policy ensure justice and fairness in global warming policy measures? To what extent do the proposed measures imply a just distribution of burdens and benefits for developing countries?<br>
# If mitigation policies are too little and/or too late, what are realistic adaptation strategies that address the needs of poor countries and poor areas of rich countries burdened more than others?<br>
# Any other related topic<br>
Instructions for submission of papers:<br>
# Please note that your submission is not limited to the above-mentioned topics and cross-disciplinary works are highly encouraged.<br>
<br>
# The deadline for submitting papers is May. 18, 2012 and early submissions are welcomed.<br>
# Notification of acceptance of paper along with comments will be on or before May 28, 2012.<br>
# Final papers expected by June 4, 2012 for inclusion in the Conference Proceedings.<br>
# All papers should be submitted by email to organizing.committee@secretary.net<br>
<br>
<b>Participation and target groups. We expect participants from:</b><br>
Governments and international organizations: Representatives of international organizations including the World Bank, IMF, WTO, the United Nations, top regional organizations and development banks, Government representatives including, ministers of finance and economy, and ministers of social welfare, Political decision-making bodies (parliamentary committees, ministries both national and foreign).<br>
<b>Civil society:</b><br>
Leaders from national and international NGOs/CBO's, Activists and trade union leaders, Religious and faith community leaders, Human Right Organizations, Microfinance institutions, private philanthropists, foundations.<br>
<b>The business sector:</b><br>
CEOs and board-level executives, Social Entrepreneurs, Leaders of the world’s most influential industry associations, particularly from developing countries.<br>
<b>Academics institutions and leaders:</b><br>
Experts from a wide range of fields, Presidents of the world’s top universities, Leaders of the world’s top think tanks,<br>
Individuals: interested in knowing how the economic crisis is impacting their daily lives and how to cope with it.<br>
Media: Publishers, editors-in-chief, top columnists and economic editors</div>
<div><br>
<b>NOTE:</b><br>
(i) Organizations: Delegates from NGOs and diverse not-for-profit organizations will benefit from the International Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRISD) sponsorship package. These organization(s) can nominate up to three (03) of their members to benefit from the sponsorship package.<br>
(ii) Individuals: It is not necessary to be affiliated to any organization before taking part in the summits(s). The Conference Sponsorship packages are available for individuals that are interested to attend the conference.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><b>Financial Support Acknowledgement and Sponsoring:</b> It is gratefully acknowledged that the Local Organizing Committee receives financial support from private philanthropists, foundations, banks, and international non-governmental organizations for the participation of delegates from middle and low income countries (World Bank classification). As a result, the Center will provide sponsorship for up to three (03) International delegates from selected organizations and individuals in low and middle income countries. However, each delegate is required to pay a registration fee of 290 Euro or its equivalent currency. The sponsorship package covers accommodation, travel, access to the conference plenary meetings and parallel sessions, exhibition, Per Diem, meals and refreshment during the conference and a delegate bag with conference documentation. The sponsorship package excludes all other personal demands including medical expenses and recreation after the conference sessions. The IRISD conference committee will assist delegates to acquire Visas and/or any other travelling documents where applicable.</div>
<div><br>
<b>Registration:</b> Please email the conference Organizing Committee at: organizingcommittee.ny@usa.com with copy to reg.office.usa@nycmail.com<br>
and request for the registration form and the registration modalities. Further information including a detailed timetable with task distribution and materials for discussion will be communicated to you.<br>
<br>
<b>The extended deadline for late registration is NO LATER THAN MONDAY 21st MAY, 2012 to ensure timely receipt of registration forms, processing and allotting of sponsorship packages to eligible delegates.</b><br>
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We encourage NGOs that intend to submit projects for financing to request the Project Guide at the Office of International Relations by fax at + 1-425-920-4760 or by email: organizingcommittee.ny@usa.com<br>
<br>
In order to encourage a large participation in the forthcoming summits, we would greatly appreciate if you can circulate the Conference Invitation as widely as possible to individuals, groups, and networks who may show interest for the topics covered in the case you cannot personally take part in the events.</div>
<div><br>
Due to time constraints, interested participants are urged to confirm attendance beforehand. In order to facilitate effective and interactive communication, we require you to provide us with your full contact details including your telephone (office, mobile) and fax number(s) when replying to this invitation. While we anticipate your response at your earliest convenience, please do not hesitate to contact us for further information. We look forward to your participation in the upcoming conference(s).</div>
<div><br>
Best Regards,<br>
--<br>
Jennifer Smith-Grubb (Mrs.)<br>
The Intl Organizing Committee Secretariat<br>
475 Riverside Drive<br>
New York, NY 10115<br>
Phone: +1-425-920-4760<br>
Fax: + 1-425-920-4760<br>
Email: organizingcommittee.ny@usa.com<br>
New York (USA)</div>
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