On 6-7 April 2009, the second Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (AoC) was held in Istanbul, Turkey. The Forum is the world’s premier event aimed at advancing intercultural understanding. Michael Slaby participated in the Forum and reached out to the assembled global leaders, heads of international organizations, media representatives, civil society and youth groups. Here is his report:

The newly renamed Jacob Soetendorp Institute for Human Values (former the Jewish Institute for Human Values) created by Earth Charter Commissioner Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp, launches its new website, which can be visited at www.soetendorpinstitute.org.

At the Earth Charter Scholar’s Consultation that was held end of February 2009 in Florida, leading members of the Earth Charter Task Force on Religion, Spirituality, and Ethics prepared their Plan of Action.

The Final Bonn Declaration, a key outcome of the UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development, makes a reference to the Earth Charter and an Earth Charter Special Event takes place.