Charlotte’s Global Initiative Notes from the Charlotte International Cabinet VOLUME III, ISSUE 4 FOURTH QUARTER INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 3 Copenhagen Office Updates Courtney D. Williams Although the accord was “taken greatest challenges of our time” note of,” participating and the urgency to “combat The primary conclusion governments hesitated to climate change in accordance with of the 2009 United Nations 4 CIC Spotlight: unanimously adopt the proposal. the principle of common but Climate Change Conference failed The Copenhagen Accord stresses differentiated responsibilities and Gail to meet the high expectations of “that climate change is one of the respective capabilities” The many attending VanDerVeer document illuminates ambassadors, but the necessity to reduce some analysts foresee carbon dioxide 5 great potential in emissions and keep Sister Cities future environmental temperature increases endeavors. Updates under two degrees The twelve- Celsius. It further calls day conference, more for a global pact to commonly referred implement quantified 6 Arts to as the Copenhagen economy-wide emission Summit, fostered the & targets for 2020. Critics Copenhagen of the proposed accord Entertainment Accord—a agree with the dire “meaningful importance of the agreement” drafted 8 subject at hand, but by the United Carolina question what States, China, News Environmentalists play dead as they stage a demonstration specific measures India, Brazil, and demanding a „real deal‟ in the Bella center during the United South Africa. Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Continued on page 2 9 Education From the Desk of the Executive Director: Alina Z. MacNichol- City of Charlotte and of our city is reflected in the 10 Executive Director Mecklenburg County, to establish group of community leaders MICA The 2010 census is underway! goals, recommendations, and participating in 2020 Vision Plan strategies to guide the public and working sessions and has already Census results will help us private sectors when making resulted in fresh perspectives on understand not only how our growth, development, and issues from transportation to community has grown and investment decisions for Uptown urban living and economic vitality. 11 diversified over the past 10 years and the adjacent neighborhoods. As we look to the future in International but also how our neighborhoods are 2010 Vision Plan Charlotte we must also be aware Organizations likely to develop in the next 10 recommendations that have been of the needs of our local and years. implemented (such as ImaginOn, global community today. On At the same time, Charlotte is the new UNCC Uptown building February 17th the CIC is hosting addressing issues of growth and and the EpiCenter complex) have our annual International 13 Upcoming community through the 2020 had a huge impact on the Organizations meeting, which Events Vision Plan. The plan is being economy and lifestyle of Uptown provides a forum for the many developed by Charlotte Center City Charlotte. international organizations to Partners, in conjunction with the The growing ethnic diversity Continued on page 2 Charlotte’s Global Initiative P A G E 2 VOLUME III, ISSUE 4 News Copenhagen Continued from page 1 the drafters intend to solve the air for real action, is a sign that beforehand. Had Obama not been aforementioned problems. Other global climate talks have moved due to attend, I doubt whether more optimistic analysts praise beyond symbolic rhetoric,” writes the US would have begun the progress accomplished committing on long-term during the summit and hope for finance—which is historical. Had further improvements in the Lula not been due to attend, Brazil future. would hardly have raised its level “The very struggle to of ambitions. Had Wen not been reach agreement at due to attend, China would Copenhagen… demonstrates probably not have opened to that climate policy has finally some level of international insight come of age. The negotiations as to what it is doing—which at Copenhagen were so actually is a globally politically From the desk of the contentious because of the significant admission.” Executive Director: very real impact the As the global population Continued from page 1 proposals will have, not only continues to grow, so does for the environment, the emission of carbon Julia Michalak, Climate Campaigner Greenpeace Poland but also on national dioxide. Even the most economies. China hands over the ‘Greenpeace Demands -Copenhagen brainstorm on issues, share stubborn deniers of global and the United Climate Report’ to Polish prime minister Donald Tusk their concerns and interact climate change admit the States played with the Mayor and elected impact this instills on the hardball—and sent heads of TIME magazine. officials. More information is lives of millions. government to do the Danish Prime Minister available through our office. TIME also reports, “the talking—precisely because Lokke Rasmussen adds that “the The greatest need in the toughness of the negotiations only they had something to lose. top leaders were taking global community today is in demonstrates that climate policy The onset of a kind of climate Copenhagen seriously as their Haiti, where there is such has moved beyond hot air into realpolitik which eschews hot deadline and delivered tremendous devastation economic reality. .” following January’s earthquake. There are many fine relief organizations at work there; a list of contact Global Gender Gap Index information is available through our office. Courtney D. Williams countries according to gender claimed fiftieth, Russia fifty-one, equality instead of women’s China sixty, and Ghana eighty-one. The Global Gender Gap empowerment. Yemen’s overwhelming lack of Index, an annual publication of The World Economic Forum gender equality landed the the World Economics Forum, calculates the gaps by analyzing devastating lowest ranking on the measures the figurative gap credible, qualitative, hard data index. between men and women in four regarding the four main Klaus Schwab, founder and essential categories: economic categories, while perpetually executive chairman of the World participation and opportunity, considering the three basic goals. Economic Forum, stresses the education attainment, political The Index then ranks the importance of attaining gender empowerment, and health and countries in ascending order from equality and utilizing the skills of survival. The index serves to those with the smallest gaps in all to successfully conquer the frame the scope and track the access to these resources, current economic crisis. progress of international gender- regardless of each country’s “It is clear that the recovery biased disparities. developed levels of resources. will require, among other things, The three basic concepts of In 2009 Iceland conquered the the best of talent, ideas, and the Global Gender Gap Index list at first place. Of the 134 innovation,” says Schwab. focus on measuring gaps instead countries listed, the United States For the complete Global of separate gender levels, ranks thirty-one. Germany Gender Gap Index and more capturing the gaps in outcome attained the twelfth spot, France information on the research variables or as the result of earned eighteenth, Peru forty- process, please visit current actions, and ranking fourth, Israel forty-fifth, Poland www.weforum.org. Charlotte’s Global Initiative P A G E 3 Office Updates VOLUME III, ISSUE 4 Dr. Nini Samantha Jo Edwards the Charlotte international community, Dr. Nini has always Congratulations are in order stood out in the crowd. Choosing to the International Cabinet’s to study nuclear engineering versus Executive Committee member, the family favorite of medicine, she Dr. Nini RB Bautista de Garcia, went on to work as a nuclear or as you may inspector know her, Dr. Nini, for the International Education Recently, She United Carolinas, founding the Miss was honored by the Nations. Asian Festival Pageant, being Week Spirit Award ‘09 Filipina Women’s 15 years a member of the Network as one of later she left International Cabinet, co- Michelle T. McNulty the 100 most Vienna for a founding Taste of the influential Filipina warmer World Restaurant The Charlotte International women in the climate, Showcase, along with Cabinet congratulates Zoi Karavokyri United States, for Charlotte, countless other activities. for receiving the International her pioneering NC. Since When asked about how Education Week Spirit Award from work as the Chair of the Carolinas coming to Charlotte, Dr. Nini has she felt about receiving this the International Teacher Exchanges Asian-American Chamber of played an active part in the award, Dr. Nini said, “I am Services (ITES). Currently, Karavokyri Commerce . community by sitting on numerous honored and humbled at is an exchange teacher from Greece As an author, nuclear boards, serving as president of the the same time for being working at Socrates Academy in scientist, and active member of Filipino American Community of the selected.” Charlotte, North Carolina. Karavokyri incorporated Aesop Fables, such as “The Hare and the Tortoise,” into her second grade class Meet Our Interns curriculum. By reading and writing their favorite fables in Greek and A fresh assembly of interns from a military background she learned a in both Corporate English and creating comic strips and graced the desks of the Charlotte lot about leadership, dedication, and team Communications and posters of the stories, her students International Cabinet