The Big Hope

Liverpool summit ponders key issues
01/06/2008

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Development Minister Shahid Malik

Around 1,000 international delegates attending a week long conference in Liverpool are to be given the opportunity to quiz some of the world’s political, business and spiritual leaders on a range of topics.

Billed as a mini-version of the United Nations, delegates at The Big Hope will hear keynote speeches from some of the world’s most influential people and debate a wide range of issues including human rights, global co-existence, international development, education, arts, sport and culture – all critical topics of the day.

Hosted by Liverpool Hope University between 4th and 11th June 2008, The Big Hope is the University’s official contribution to Liverpool’s European Capital of Culture celebrations.

Event organisers say that world events and the pace of change are overwhelming young people and encouraging apathy. The Big Hope aims to provide a much-needed opportunity to bring together potential future world leaders to inspire and motivate them to make a difference in the world.

Major international names confirmed so far include:
•Cherie Booth, QC, wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
•President of the Republic of Ireland Mary McAleese
•Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor
•Chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks
•Stephen Green, Group Chairman HSBC
•Archbishop of York, John Sentamu
•Bryan Sanderson, former Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank
•Dr Abdul Kalam, former President of India

Muhammad Ashafa, the Iman of Kaduna and his co-director from the Inter-Faith Meditation Centre in Nigeria Rev James Movel Wuye; Sir Stephen Wall and Professor Stanley Wells are also included in the impressive line up.

Professor Bill Chambers, Director of The Big Hope said: “This event is a truly global congress, which has attracted some of the biggest names in politics, religion, business, the environment, human rights and culture. Never before has such an event taken place for young, future leaders to gather together and learn from world experts and inspirational leaders.

“Disengagement and apathy are two of the main factors preventing the next generation of world leaders developing. We believe that the dynamic of putting together 1,000 young delegates and a range of today’s world leaders, will generate serious and sparky debate the like of which is uncommon in today’s world.

“I look forward to welcoming both speakers and delegates to Liverpool, to what I’m sure will be one of the highlights of the European Capital of Culture Year.”

The congress is expected to attract 250 UK delegates and 750 from 44 countries around the world. It will run from 4th June to 11th June 2008 and will use a range of venues in Liverpool including the Philharmonic Hall and both breathtaking cathedrals.

As a major sponsor and sharing key priorities, the Department for International Development (DFID) welcomes the opportunity to support Liverpool Big Hope. Development Minister Shahid Malik will call upon young people of all faiths to combine forces, irrespective of faith, background and political persuasion to work together to help combat poverty in developing countries.

Source: ALARAB ONLINE

World leaders gather in Liverpool for ‘mini-United Nations’
Jun 4 2008
by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

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LIVERPOOL’S biggest ever summit for young people opens today (Wed June 4) at the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral.

Billed as a mini-United Nations, the week-long conference will see around 1,000 young delegates from more than 50 countries descend on Liverpool.

They will be addressed by dozens of the world’s most influential leaders including Irish president Mary McAleese, HSBC group chairman Stephen Green and Cherie Booth, Merseyside-born wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Dubbed The Big Hope, Liverpool Hope University organised the events as their official contribution to Capital of Culture.

The university’s Professor Bill Chambers, director of The Big Hope said: "This event is a truly global congress, which has attracted some of the biggest names in politics, religion, business, the environment, human rights and culture.

"Never before has such an event taken place for young, future leaders to gather together and learn from world experts and inspirational leaders.

"Disengagement and apathy are two of the main factors preventing the next generation of world leaders developing."

Organisers hope the 1,000 young delegates will listen to and then debate with the world leaders who address the conference.

Today’s line up includes Cherie Booth, who spent more than a decade in Downing Street with her husband. Ms Booth is speaking on the topic A More Humane Global Society.

The Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales, will follow Ms Booth, delivering a speech titled Integrity In Public Life.

Tomorrow Britain’s chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks will make a keynote speech on peaceful coexistence.

And next week the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu – who returned to the headlines recently after removing and cutting up his dog collar in protest at Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe – has prepared an address called Christian Opposition to Oppression.

The congress is expected to attract 250 UK delegates and 750 from 55 countries around the world.

After today’s opening ceremony, a display of the flags from all the nations represented at The Big Hope will be paraded on the cathedral’s steps.

The conference will close with a grand finale next Wednesday, during which Gerry Marsden will sing Ferry Cross the Mersey and his Liverpool FC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Throughout the week the delegates will get together in themed forums at venues across the city to discuss the issues that have been raised by the keynote speakers.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

‘World is safe in the hands of our youth’
Jun 5 2008
by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

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CHERIE BOOTH and Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor helped open Liverpool’s biggest ever summit for young people yesterday.

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Summit protest planned
Jun 7 2008
by Ben Turner, Liverpool Echo

LECTURERS are to disrupt Liverpool Hope university’s global human rights congress in protest against redundancies.

The mini-United Nations-style Big Hope summit, which runs until Wednesday, will be addressed by dozens of the world’s most influential leaders.

To coincide with the event, up to 50 placard-waving lecturers will gather outside the Hope Park campus at 12.30pm on Monday for an hour long protest.

University staff are furious at plans to make seven out of 16 people in the computer studies department redundant and fear job losses in other departments could be on the cards.

A spokesman for the University and College Union, said “We have met with management on this, but there is no resolution.”

Today a university spokesman condemned the protest and branded those conducting it “a handful of troublemakers.”

Source: Liverpool Echo