5th Spirit of Humanity Forum - 3-5 June 2021

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Collective Well-being.

2020 has provided a unique opportunity for humanity to re-envision a better world for all. As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads, it has unveiled deep-seated structural inequalities, making us aware of how divided our societies have become.

Announcing the programme for the fifth Spirit of Humanity Forum:

“Towards a Loving World - Leadership and Governance for Well-Being”

  • Wednesday 2nd June at 18.00 GMT

    WELCOME RECEPTION Getting to know each other www.wonder.me (Registered participants)

  • Online from Thursday 3rd June to Saturday 5th June 2021, daily from 13:00 – 17:30 GMT
  • The Forum is hosted by the City of Reykjavik in collaboration with global partners.

Since 2012, the Spirit of Humanity Forum has brought together, on a global platform, leaders and change-makers seeking to contribute to lasting transformation through values-based decision-making. Despite the covid-19 pandemic continuing, we are beginning to shape our future together. This is an opportunity to bring new energy and awareness to our decision-making, our systems and structures, and our relationship with each other and with the natural world. Together we can move towards a loving world.

The Forum's programme will feature a wide range of activities, including inspirational sharing, panel dialogues, experiential workshops, collective narrative and storytelling, case studies and exemplars, contemplative reflection, informal conversations, and rich natural, cultural, and artistic experiences.

PROGRAMME

All times are GMT

Registration only applies to invited participants for dialogues, workshops and networking spaces.

Everything else is streamed live and open to the public with no registration request.

YOU ARE WARMLY WELCOME

For registered participants:

Wednesday 2nd June

  • 18:00 GMT

Welcome reception - getting to know each other

We welcome registered participants to network and connect during the Forum
The SoH Forum lounge will be open 24/7 during the Forum
Registered participants will receive a link via email

 

Facilitated by Dr Thomas Bruhn, Research Group Leader, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), Potsdam & Carolin Fraude, Research Associate, IASS

 

Thursday 3rd June: VISIONS OF GLOBAL WELL-BEING

  • 13:00 GMT

Opening Plenary

  • Music presentation by Aurora Chamber Choir, professional young singers
  • Jóhanna Vilhjalmsdottir, Director, Spirit of Humanity Forum
  • Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland
  • Dagur Bergþóruson Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavík
  • Ella Gregory, High School Graduate, UK

Prayers and Blessings

  • Sister Jayanti, European Director, Brahma Kumaris
  • The Most Revd Dr Thabo C. Makgoba, The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town

Overview of the Forum

‘A Narrative of Love’

A series of conversations with leaders about their understanding of the significance of love in our personal and public lives

  • 14:00 GMT

Personal reflection:

  • What can we be to awaken hope and faith in others?
  • What are your hopes for the Well-Being of humanity?

Facilitated by Stefanía Ólafsdóttir, Chair, Spirit of Humanity Forum

  • 14:15 GMT

Plenary II: Visions of global well-being

  • How do we understand collective human well-being?
  • What is the interconnectedness between our collective well-being and the wellness of the planet?
  • What is the shift in consciousness needed to nurture inter-connectedness and well-being?

Facilitated by Mark Milton, Founder, Education 4 Peace

Convening in Switzerland

  • Yves Daccord, Executive Chairman Edgelands Institute @ Harvard, former CEO of the International Red Cross
  • Madeleine von Holzen, Chief editor, “Le Temps”; editorial director, “Heidi.news”
  • Amin Khosravi, Urbanist, Co-founder urbz Geneva, Member of the collective "Territoire Vivant"

Convening in Argentina & Brazil

  • Gabriela Michetti, Former Vice President of Argentina (2015-19); President, Ser Consultancy
  • Inés Sanguinetti, Co-founder and President, Fundación Crear Vale la Pena
  • Myrian Castello, Co-founder of Dream Factory and Right to Dream Movement
  • 15:30 GMT

Refreshments break

  • 15:50 GMT

Meditation experience

For registered participants:

  • 16:00 GMT

Well-being Conversations

  • 17:00 GMT

Leaders' Dialogue:

  • Kamlesh Patel, Founder, Heartfulness
  • Prof Azza Karam, Secretary General, Religions for Peace
  • 17:15 GMT

Closing remarks

Music presentation by Ragnheiður Gröndal, Singer and Composer
A song specially composed for the Spirit of Humanity Forum

For registered participants:

Networking spaces open in the Spirit of Humanity lounge www.wonder.me

Friday 4th June: LOVE IN LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

  • 13:00 GMT

Opening

Music presentation by Renara Akhoundova

A Fridays for Silence moment by Lotta Arbman, Secretary, Spirit of Humanity Forum

Message from Prof Ursula King Professor Emerita of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol

‘A Narrative of Love’

  • 13:35 GMT

Plenary III: Love in Leadership and Global Well-being

  • What is the role of love in leadership?
  • How might leaders actively nurture global well-being by embracing love?
  • How does love in leadership and governance manifest in our shared lives?

Facilitated by Mohammed Mohammed, Senior Programme Officer, Fetzer Institute

  • Peggy Dulany, Founder and Chair, Synergos
  • Dr Kelly James Clark, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul
  • Sister Jayanti, European Director, Brahma Kumaris

For registered participants:

  • 15:00 GMT

Reflection and insights from the Plenary (in breakout rooms)

  • 15:40 GMT

Refreshments break

  • 16:00 GMT

Plenary Session IV – Well-being in Education

Introduced by Dr Scherto Gill, Senior Research Fellow, Guerrand-Hermès Foundation for Peace

Adolescents present their perspectives on educational transformation in dialogue with:

  • Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Minister of Social Affairs and Children, Iceland
  • Ella Gregory, High School Graduate, UK
  • Ariba Hafeez, Student, India
  • Karam Jaber, Secondary School Student, Lebanon
  • 16:45 GMT

Leaders' Dialogue:

  • Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in Iraq at the United Nations
  • John, Lord Alderdice, House of Lords, UK; Senior Research Fellow, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford; Director, Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict, Oxford

For registered participants:

  • 17:00 GMT

Workshops

Interactive and engaging options related to ‘a loving world’

Networking spaces open

Saturday 5th June: SPIRITUALITY AND GLOBAL SYSTEMS

  • 13:00 GMT

Opening

Music presentation by Ragnheiður Gröndal, Singer and Composer

  • In honour of World Environment Day
    A presentation by Jean-François Clervoy French engineer and a CNES and ESA astronaut. A veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle missions

  • Message from Karam Jaber Secondary School Student, Lebanon

‘A Narrative of Love’

  • 13:40 GMT

Plenary V: Spirituality and Global Systems

  • How might spirituality help contribute to shifting global systems towards becoming more sensitive to holistic well-being and healing?
  • What might characterise our social and political institutions when leaders integrate spirituality in their approaches, processes and practices? What impact would this have on global systems?
  • How could spirituality be integrated into systems of leadership and governance?

Facilitated by Dr Thomas Bruhn, Research Group Leader, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)

  • Dr Martin Frick, the Deputy of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Food System Summit 2021 and former Senior Director of the Climate and Environment Division at the UN FAO
  • Nicole Schwab, Co-Director, Nature-based Solutions, World Economic Forum
  • Zhang Lanying, Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of Rural Reconstruction of China, Southwest University, Chongqing
  • 15:00 GMT

Refreshments break

  • 15:20 GMT

Meditation experience

For registered participants:

  • 15:30 GMT

Reflection and insights from the Plenary (in breakout rooms)

  • 16:15 GMT

Philosophers' Dialogue

  • Prof David Cadman, Quaker Writer, Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity St. David
  • Anne Baring, Jungian Analyst, Historian and Author
  • 16:30 GMT

Final Plenary: Towards A Loving World

Co-Creating a Loving World with Transformative Leaders of Integral Organisations from all Continents

Facilitated by Rama Mani and Alexander Schieffer, Co-Founders, Home for Humanity

  • Thais Corral, Founder of Sinal do Vale, A Regenerative Earth Campus in Brazil, Co-Founder of WEDO Women’s Environment and Development Organisation and environmental leader from the Americas
  • Dr Vinya Ariyaratne, President of Sarvodaya, the largest Community Development organization in Sri Lanka, and public health specialist, from Asia
  • H.E. Haifa Najjar, Senator in the Jordanian Parliament, Superintendent of Ahliya and Mutran International Schools, and Convenor of Tanweer: A Societal Renaissance Movement and Integral College in Jordan from the Middle East
  • Father Dr Anselm Adodo, Founder of Pax Herbals, An Integral Enterprise producing African indigenous medicines, and initiator of Pan-African Action Research Network for African Indigenous Knowledge in Nigeria, from Africa
  • Professor Alexander Schieffer, Co-Founder of Trans4m Academy for Integral Transformation, Professor of Integral Development at South Africa’s Da Vinci Institute, Co-Founder of Home for Humanity in France, from Europe
  • Dr Rama Mani, Founder of Theatre of Transformation Academy, and Councillor of World Future Council, Co-Founder of Home for Humanity in France, from Europe/Asia

Closing remarks

  • Kristín Vala Ragnarsdóttir, Professor of Sustainability Science University of Iceland
  • Karen Bjork Eythorsdottir, Project Manager, Sustainability in the City of Reyjavík  
  • Alan Gegenchatz, Entrepreneur, International Business Partner, Argentina: Renaissance Executive Forums

Culmination with music from Iceland and South Africa

  • Music presentation by Aurora Chamber Choir, professional young singers
  • Pops Mohamed, Multi-instrumentalist, jazz musician and producer live from South Africa
  • 17:45 GMT

For registered participants:

Networking spaces open

Download Programme PDF

5th SoH Forum 2021 - Workshops