THE WORLD FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY, TECH AND HUMANKIND - SHAPING OUR FUTURE, SAVING FREEDOM
THE WORLD FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY, TECH AND HUMANKIND - SHAPING OUR FUTURE, SAVING FREEDOM
Panel Discussions:
Justice, Human Rights and Rights of the Future Generations
The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind
18 & 19 February 2024 - Berlin
How to Define Crime Against Democracy?
This panel discussion delved into the matter of defining crimes against democracy and countering authoritarian threats globally. Panellists debated the relationship between democracy, technology, and human rights. They highlighted erosion of free speech, media polarisation, and exclusion of opposing views as risks to democracy. Panellists proposed defining democracy as an international human right and establishing an International Constitutional Court to invalidate rigged elections and strengthen opposition to dictatorships. The discussion addressed protecting whistleblowers, who expose crimes and threats against democracy.
Political Correctness in Open Societies - New Rules for Language, Humor, Science and Behavior in the 21st Century
This panel provided insights into the complex relationship between societal norms, freedom of expression, and the digital realm, together with an evaluation of the intersection of free expression, censorship, and social justice. Nicholas Bruckman moderated the conversation, focusing on topics such as the balance of political correctness and censorship, cultural differences in free expression approaches between the US and Germany, and boundaries regarding speech issues like jokes, satire and sexual harassment. Jillian C. York, Director of International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, provided context on her work promoting online freedom of expression and analyzed the evolution of "political correctness" as a term used in its inception by conservatives. Jennifer Mather-Saul, professor of language and feminist philosophy, pushed back on framing the issue as a debate between political correctness and censorship, proposing education and technology-focused solutions to resist extremism.
How to End Extreme Poverty by 2030?
The panel discussion “How to End Extreme Poverty by 2030” was moderated by Dana Gold. Keynote speaker Sir Bob Geldof argued that poverty underlies global issues and will persist without systemic economic and political reforms. Panellist Bruce Friedrich from the Good Food Institute outlined developing alternative proteins through cultivated meat and plant-based options to increase food access and security. Finally, Peter Eigen, founder of Transparency International, advocated for multi-stakeholder cooperation between governments, civil panelits society and businesses through deliberative decision-making models.
How To Stop Climate Change For Real
The discussion panel on "How to Stop Climate Change for Real" highlighted the vast potentials of regenerative agriculture, soil carbon sequestration, alternative proteins, sustainable diets, and an ethical global transition towards clean energy for combating the continual threat of climate change. Eamon Ryan, the Irish Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, delivered a keynote speech that highlighted the need to redirect resources to renewable projects across the Global South. Finian Conor Makepeace, producer of the renowned documentaries Kiss the Ground and Common Ground, detailed regenerative agricultural practices that rebuild soil health and maximise carbon sequestration potential. Common Ground was released as the sequel of Kiss the Ground to great critical acclaim and was awarded the International Green Film Award by Cinema for Peace in 2024. Its glowing cast including Jason Momoa and Donald Glover, and profiles an innovative movement of farmers utilising alternative “regenerative” models of agriculture that enable all the carbon in the atmosphere to be put back into the soil to fight climate change. Bruce Friedrich, Co-founder and President of The Good Food Institute (GFI), addressed innovation opportunities in alternative proteins and emphasized the policy support needed to curb projected increases in global meat consumption. The session concluded with a call for united, innovative thinking to safeguard communities, biodiversity, and the planet for future generations.