Source : Brunei Direct, Brunei, 27 Jan '07
By : Khairunnisa Ibrahim
  

ISB director David Taylor told The Brunei Times yesterday that renowned scientist and environmentalist Professor David Bellamy from Britain, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and Green Belt founder Wangari Maathai, and former executive director of World Wildlife Fund Malaysia Dr Mikaail Kavanagh would attend the fifth BGIC and speak on issues regarding the importance of forests for the future of the planet in support of the Heart of Borneo project.

They would also make presentations on environmental issues during the conference's Green Gala Dinner, where the school's Million Trees project will also be launched - to plant one million trees across Borneo.

"(This year's BGIC) comes at a time when the Heart of Borneo has become a top priority in Brunei," said Taylor.

He said that the school has approached the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources to offer the conference as a platform for showcasing Brunei's commitment to the conservation project.

The project, which was endorsed by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during the recent Asean Summit in Cebu, Philippines, involves the conservation of 22,000 square kilometres of biodiversity-rich equatorial rainforest that stretches across the shared borders of Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Taylor pointed out that Brunei is actually ahead of the other countries - Malaysia and Indonesia- in its efforts to designate the areas for conservation under the Heart of Borneo initiative.

"Brunei is also unique amongst the three as it is the only nation that has attractive land for conservation that goes from the highlands right down to the coast," he added.

The BGIC, to be held at the International Convention Centre from March 2 to 5, will feature secondary school students locally and from around the region.

The participants will be assigned to committees - the Economic and Social Council, human rights, political, and environment-and will discuss, debate, lobby and draw up resolutions on various topics.

The event, a simulation of the United Nations, is meant to provide a forum for "international conference, understanding and world citizenship among young adults at a time of increasing globalisation", according to an ISB brochure.

"In essence, it is like a mini UN conference," said Taylor.

Among the issues to be discussed by the students are eradication of poverty and hunger with reference to Zimbabwe, the attainment of universal primary education in Burkina Faso, which holds the world's lowest literacy rate at 27 per cent, integrating sustainable development principles in China, and devising a plan for sustainable supply of water in view of climate change.

A defining feature of the conference is that "it is run completely by students, for other students", Taylor said with pride.

He said the conference is receiving strong support and sponsorship from various agencies, including MIPR, BLNG, the British and Australian High Commissions, HSBC, Alcoa and Asia lnc.