Athens Democracy Forum 2020 “The New Abnormal: Reimagining Democracy”
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Athens Democracy Forum 2020 “The New Abnormal: Reimagining Democracy” The ADF 2020 Themes Even before the current crises, democracy was taking a beating: from hijacked elections to the spread of extreme ideologies to the increasingly sophisticated tactics of strongmen. The effects have become alarmingly apparent: migration shifts, climate change, economic uncertainty and general global unrest, for a start. Since the pandemic hit and the world struggles to get out from under it, the assaults have become even more prevalent, and calls to reinvent democracy are more urgent than ever. Operating for the second year under the aegis of the Democracy and Culture Foundation, in association with The New York Times, the Athens Democracy Forum will convene leaders from government, business, civic society and the nonprofit sector to debate -- and enact -- real solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. The Foundation’s focus on impact is designed to produce the two outcomes of "better governance" and "citizen engagement." Kim Conniff Taber, Editorial Director, Athens Democracy Forum Serge Schmemann, Editorial Board Member, The New York Times and Program Director, Athens Democracy Forum Wednesday, September 30, 2020 ALL TIMES LISTED ARE ATHENS TIME (GMT +3) Hotel Grande Bretagne Studio 1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. Bespoke Panel Discussion: “Business for Purpose” Roundtable Sponsored by Mishcon de Reya and National Bank of Greece What does “business for purpose” really mean? What are the different ways that businesses can acknowledge systemic problems and build toward more systemic change? This session will wrestle with these questions and more. Valerie Keller, Co-founder and CEO, Imagine (P) Alexander Rhodes, Head of Mishcon Purpose (V) Costas Michaelides, Chairman of the Board, National Bank of Greece (P) Mete Coban MBE, Founder and Chief Executive, My Life My Say (P) Moderated by Alison Smale, Journalist and former UN Undersecretary General for Global Communications, and former Executive Editor of the International Herald Tribune (P) Hotel Grande Bretagne Studio 3:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Council of Europe Affiliated Event on Human Rights, Climate, Migration How are human rights impacted by the “pandemics” of our time: climate change, migration, and Covid-19? The Council of Europe has an augmented role to play as a watchdog for human rights, and must act both as a collective consciousness and as an active defender. 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Introduction by Achilles Tsaltas, President, Athens Democracy Forum (P) Opening Keynote address: The Conscience of Europe by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General, Council of Europe (P) Keynote address by Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hellenic Republic (P) 3:30 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. BREAK 3:35 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Panel Discussion I: Migration and Human Rights Wars, economic dislocation and climate change have pushed people from their homelands, shifting migration patterns along the way. What has the impact been on social cohesion and human rights, especially for children and youth? How does (or could) education come into play? Ambassador Drahoslav Štefánek, Special Representative on Migration and Refugees, Council of Europe (P) Chaker Khazaal, Author, Reporter and Speaker (P) Sofia Kouvelaki, Chief Executive Officer of The Home Project (P) Antigone Lyberaki, General Manager, SolidarityNow (P) Moderated by Alison Smale, Journalist and former UN Undersecretary General for Global Communications, and former Executive Editor of the International Herald Tribune (P) 4:15 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. BREAK 4:20 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Panel discussion II: Climate Change, Covid-19 and Human Rights When the world came grinding to a halt this year, climate change – and its causes – were brought into even starker relief. The panel will discuss the importance of climate change as a global event with a global impact. What lessons has the pandemic taught us about what progress might be possible? And what are the implications for human rights? Aron Cramer, President and C.E.O., BSR (V) Paul Polman, Co-Founder and Chair, IMAGINE (V) Clover Hogan, Founder & Executive Director of Force of Nature (P) Moderated by Daniel Holtgen, Director of Communications and Spokesperson for the Secretary General, Council of Europe (P) 4:50 p.m. – 5 p.m. BREAK Parallel Sessions: 5 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. Hotel Grande Bretagne Studio Virtual Conversation: Covering the U.S. Elections The United States and the world are facing what many describe as the most fateful election in modern American history. In a few quick years, Donald Trump has turned the conventions, ethics and image of the American presidency and American politics inside out. Joe Biden promises to restore a more benevolent America. Is that possible, or is Trump the herald of a new reality? Serge Schmemann, Member of Editorial Board, The New York Times David Sanger, National Security Correspondent and Senior Writer, The New York Times 5 p.m. – 5:45 p.m Hotel Grande Bretagne Golden Room Workshop – Pandemics, Collective Action and Human Rights (in-person only) 5:45 p.m. – 6 p.m. BREAK Hotel Grande Bretagne Studio 6 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. Official Opening of the Athens Democracy Forum Introduction by Achilles Tsaltas, President, Athens Democracy Forum (P) Opening Remarks by H.E. The President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou (V) 6:20 p.m. – 6:40 p.m. Global Institutions: What Purpose in the Modern World? Keynote by Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University (V) 6:40 p.m. – 7:20 p.m. Panel Discussion: The Strong and the Weak It has been 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall seemed to put an end to history, liberating humankind to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Turned out it doesn’t work that way, and a new breed of strongmen have thrown up new walls built on nationalism, intolerance, fear and nostalgia for the illusion of a simpler past. Authoritarian impulses have in turn wrought concerns like mass migration, climate change and economic inequality, and starkly contrasting reactions to the current crises. What is the antidote? Andreas Bummel, Executive Director, Democracy without Borders (P) Elhadj As Sy, Chair of Kofi Annan Foundation and Former Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (V) Alison Smale, Journalist and former UN Undersecretary General for Global Communications, and former Executive Editor of the International Herald Tribune (P) Moderated by Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Europe, The New York Times (V) 7:20 p.m. – 7:25 p.m. BREAK 7:25 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. The City of Athens Democracy Award Presented by Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens, Hellenic Republic (P) to Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former President of Brazil (V) Thursday, October 1, 2020 ALL TIMES LISTED ARE ATHENS TIME (GMT +3) Hotel Grande Bretagne, Studio 11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Welcome Remarks Achilles Tsaltas, President, Athens Democracy Forum (P) 11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Opening Provocation: The Age of Citizens Jon Alexander, Co-Founder, New Citizenship Project (V) 11:30 p.m. – 11:35 p.m. BREAK 11:35 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Panel Discussion: Democracy in a Time of Crisis The coronavirus pandemic and protests against racial inequality have tested leadership models around the world and have brought unexpected changes. But it is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that democracy has collided with a crisis. This discussion will look at historical precedents as well as how various political models have gained or lost legitimacy in the face of cataclysmic challenges. Dubravka Suica, Vice President, European Commission, Democracy and Demography (V) Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary General of International IDEA (V) Hind Ziane, Founder and C.E.O., Génération Politique (P) Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore (V) Moderated by Nathan Gardels, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor, Berggruen Institute (P) 12:15 p.m. – 12:20 p.m. BREAK 12:20 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Conversation: Beyond “Big Bad Tech”: A Search for Solutions In times of unrest – from protests to pandemics -- technology can play a crucial role in disseminating information. It is also being used to help track and contain the virus. But there’s no question that privacy can also be compromised, and that autocratic forces are continuing to harness restrictive measures and social media in the service of their own nefarious goals. As we look to the future, how can technology help find a way out of the quagmire? Azeem Azhar, Founder, Exponential View (V) With David Sanger, National Security Correspondent, The New York Times (V) 12:45 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. BREAK 12:50 p.m. – 1:25 p.m. Panel Discussion: Information Wars In recent months the multi-front battle between social media platforms, its users and authorities who would regulate them has accelerated even further. What role does or should government play in keeping platforms honest and their users safe? And what tools can help citizens be more engaged? Dan Shefet, Attorney, Paris Court of Appeal (P) Wietse Van Ransbeeck, Co-Founder and C.E.O., CitizenLab (P) Orit Farkash-Hacohen, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs (V) Moderated by Liz Alderman, Chief European Business Correspondent, The New York Times (P) 1:25 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. REPLAY: “Global Institutions: What Purpose in the Modern World? Keynote by Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University (V) Panel Discussion: The Strong and the Weak 2:25 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Conversation: From “Elite Charade” to Real Change Anand Giridharadas, Author and Founder of The.Ink (V) With Roger Cohen, Athens Democracy Forum Host and Op-Ed Columnist, The New York Times 2:50 p.m.