One Young World Summit 2010

While the rest of the world would have us believe that there is no hope for mankind and the planet we call home, I can honestly say that I am optimistic. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of meeting countless people, who like me, are involved in a project that will positively change the world. The vast majority of them I have never met face-to-face, nor are they well-established business executives or politicians. They are young people under 30 who understand the power of the “Information Age” and have forever changed the way we communicate with each other, founding companies such as Facebook and Google. The youth of today know how to creatively collaborate in order to influence the world to take the steps needed to positively change the world. It is for this reason that I have every confidence in humanity.

Havas Worldwide Global CEO Davis Jones, and Euro RSCG U.K. Group Chairman, Kate Robertson both share my deep respect for today’s youth. They are the founders of One Young World. The Inaugural Summit of One Young World is taking place in London from February 8^th-10^th, 2010. At the Inaugural Summit, 1,500 of the world’s brightest innovators and peacemakers under the age of 25 will come together to offer fresh insights and modern-day solutions to global challenges. The youth delegates come from all 192 countries on Earth making One Young World the most accurate representation of the global youth population.

According to One Young World’s official website, the key issues that will be addressed at this year’s summit include:

• Developing political leadership for a positive future
• Global Business and its role in shaping society through the economy
• Interfaith dialogue on world religion and spirituality
• The Environment and its protection
• The Media: its changing identity and power
• Global Health challenges

Unlike a Model U.N., the youth delegates will debate and vote on draft resolutions on each of the key issues listed above.

The youth delegates will have the support and guidance of some of the world’s most distinguished leaders, including Sir Bob Geldof, Kofi Annan, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former President of Peru Alejandro Toledo, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and Carol Stone, managing director of opinion research agency YouGovStone.

While One Young World is a non-profit event, the cost for each delegate to attend is €3,000. The majority of the delegates are being sponsored to attend the summit.

One Young World is taking a page from its youth delegates, utilizing the power the Internet to encourage discussion and inspire change. The community has been growing for months through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WAYN.Website: www.oneyoungworld.com