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