With over half the world’s population now living in cities, and cities making a disproportionate contribution to climate change, urbanisation is one of the “crucial agendas” of our time.
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.
This will be the second post I write about this Forum and I'm actually -pretty- excited about the information and news I'll be sorrounded.(!).
This year’s fifth World Urban Forum (WUF5 or spanish FUM5) in Rio de Janeiro will explore the right to the city and will feature open debates and key dialogues addressing; sustainable urbanization, governance and participation, the urban divide, cultural diversity, equal access to shelter and finally, taking forward the right to the city. President Lula da Silva of Brazil is expected to officiate the opening of the event for which around 16,000 people have already registered.
Amongst those confirmed to attend the Forum are President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifah of Bahrain, Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon, Vice President Noli de Castro of the Philippines, and US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan. (I'll try to get a clean shot).
The World Urban Campaign will also be launched providing a platform for public, private and civil society sectors to join forces around a common focus and on a set of shared goals: elevating the importance accorded to sustainable urbanization; sharing practical tools that work; raising awareness about the public policies which make smarter public and private investments possible.
And finally, if you are also going you must know you have to choose a Training event and do it quickly because this won't be available too much longer (LIMITED CAPACITY), I've got to choose between four of my favorite topics, and finally I chose this one by WORLD BANK INSTITUTE (Room # W2-14): WORKING TO IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CITIES IN THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL MARKET - WORLD BANK INSTITUTE & INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION (ICMA). So wish me luck!:)
More info at http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=584