Food from Oceans, Rivers and Lakes

“Food from Oceans, Rivers and Lakes”

Taking place on Friday 28^th January 2022

Date and time: January 28, 2022, London 06:00- 07:35; Geneva, Lagos, Rome 07:00-8:35, Cairo, Johannesburg, Lomé 08:00-09:35, Nairobi, Antananarivo 09:00-10:35, New Delhi 11:30-13:15, Bangkok, Jakarta 13:00- 14:35; Beijing, Manila, Taipei 14:00- 15:35, Honiara, Sydney 17:00-18:35, Suva 18:00- 19:35, Apia, Auckland 19:00- 20:35 & Tahiti – January 27 20:00- 21:35

An upcoming webinar will offer speakers’ insights on “Food from Oceans, Rivers and Lakes.” Offered on 28 January, the webinar will explore the vital role of blue, or aquatic, foods in the wellbeing and livelihood of 3 billion people in the world. But the health of the water bodies is being degraded by climate change, pollution, unsustainable overfishing, and mining.

Speakers will offer insights on how communities of faith must be at the forefront if we are to see a sustainable future. They will discuss decisive steps in restoring and protecting marine and freshwater ecosystems, and reducing pollution that contaminates those systems. The audience will hear about innovative approaches and ways to adapt food preferences and lifestyles to uphold creation as a gift.

The year 2022 has been declared by the UN as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The Webinar will be held in English and French.

Register for the Webinar

Background documents in English & French

For additional information, please go to this link: Webinar: “Food from Oceans, Rivers and Lakes” | World Council of Churches (oikoumene.org)

Sophie Dhanjal

Project Assistant

Economic and Ecological Justice

World Council of Churches

150, route de Ferney

1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

Phone: +41-22 791 67.05

Email: sdl@wcc-coe.org

_________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on CoNGO–the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations, visit www.ngocongo.org. For specific information about how CoNGO and its substantive committees (also known as NGO Committees) work on matters related to the subject of the event on this page, visit NGO Committees.

International Day for Biological Diversity

Biological diversity is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms, but it also includes genetic differences within each species — for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock — and the variety of ecosystems (lakes, forest, deserts, agricultural landscapes) that host multiple kind of interactions among their members (humans, plants, animals).

Biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which we build civilizations. Fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people. Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare.

But loss of biodiversity threatens all, including our health. It has been proven that biodiversity loss could expand zoonoses – diseases transmitted from animals to humans- while, on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics like those caused by coronaviruses.

While there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities. Given the importance of public education and awareness about this issue, the UN decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity annually.

________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org.

What the World Wants: A Briefing on the UN75 Global Consultation

On Friday 15 January, from 1630 to 1745 GMT / 1130 to 1245 EST, the UN’s 75th anniversary team will partner with UN entities based in the UK to hold a policy briefing on the findings of the global consultation conducted to mark the Organisation’s milestone at this turbulent time for the world.

The event will be hosted by the United Nations Association – UK, a charity devoted to providing information and analysis of the UN.

Join the Zoom webinar here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83991850723

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity was grappling with the paradox of diminishing global cooperation against a backdrop of ever more challenges requiring global cooperation: from the climate crisis to deepening inequalities. The pandemic has added to this suffering and exposed long-standing fragilities in our societies and economies.

In this context, the UN75 initiative was an opportunity to for the Organisation to listen to the people it serves. Over 1.5 million people took part, sharing their hopes, fears, priorities and solutions for the future.

This event will see Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on UN75, Fabrizio Hochschild, present the results.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@gmail.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org.

ecosystems