Speakers
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DANIEL PERELLBaha'i International Community’s UN RepresentativeDaniel Perell is the Baha’i International Community’s UN Representative. His areas of work include social and sustainable development, climate change and the environment, global citizenship, human rights, and the role of religion in society. He is formerly a Global Organizing Partner of the NGO Major Group and Chair of the NGO Committee for Social Development. In 2010, Mr. Perell received a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and an MA in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and was admitted to the New York State Bar Association.
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DR. MANOJ KURIANWCC ECUMENICAL ADVOCACY ALLIANCE, COORDINATOR
Dr Manoj Kurian is Coordinator of the World Council of Churches-Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, where he leads two Campaigns- Food sovereignty & sustainable agriculture and HIV and AIDS. A medical doctor from Malaysia, trained in Community Health and Health Systems Management, with 30 years experience working in the healing ministry from the grassroots, national and International arena. From 2015, apart from Coordinating WCC-EAA, he also Coordinates the WCC’s Section on ‘Ecological & Economic Justice’ and is the focal person responsible for Asia. Following his postgraduate training in Community Health in India, he worked for seven years in church-related institutions across India.
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H.E. MARIA FERNANDA ESPINOSAGWL VOICES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa is the Executive Director of GWL Voices. She was the President of the seventy-third session of the General Assembly, has more than 20 years of multilateral experience in international negotiations, peace, security, defence, disarmament, human rights, indigenous peoples, gender equality, sustainable development, environment, biodiversity, climate change and multilateral cooperation. She has served Ecuador as Minister of Foreign Affairs (twice), Minister of National Defence, and Coordinating Minister of Natural and Cultural Heritage. She chaired the work of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Geneva, and at COP21 Paris.
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KEHKASHAN BASU, M.S.M.Green Hope Foundation, Founder-President
Kehkashan Basu, M.S.M. is an iconic environmentalist, champion of women and
children’s rights, TEDx speaker, author and musician. She is the recipient of
Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal and only Canadian to win the International
Children’s Peace Prize. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30, youngest Trustee of the
Parliament of the World’s Religions and United Nations Human Rights Champion.
Kehkashan is Founder-President of Green Hope Foundation, which works across
28 countries, empowering 500,000+ people in the sustainable development
process. She has spoken at over 500 United Nations and other global fora. She
is currently an MBA Candidate at Cornell University. -
STEVE CHIUBUDDHIST TZU CHI FOUNDATION, UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Steve Chiu is Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s Main Representative at the United Nations. In alignment with Tzu Chi’s work in disaster relief, climate action, education for global citizenship, sustainable development and gender equality, Steve works to build relationships, share best practices and develop programs with other organizations to make tangible impacts on the ground, with the mission of alleviating the suffering of those in need. With over 19 years of experience in community based development and local interfaith partnership, Steve seeks to connect the importance of grassroots action to policies that are being developed on the international level.
Interfaith Feminist Climate Justice for the Human Right to a Healthy Environment – Green Hope Foundation and WCC Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
Nearly every community—religious, indigenous, or spiritual—impacted by climate change-induced disasters views nature as the primal maternal deity of giving and sustenance, and yet, they continue to exploit the environment, leading to gender inequity that disregards their human right to a safe society and environment. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is projected to cause 250,000 additional yearly deaths from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress, having an amplified gendered impact on climate-vulnerable communities with weak health infrastructure. This event will host an interfaith and intergenerational panel to share positive interfaith actions being undertaken in climate-vulnerable communities globally.