Sharjah: Human beings should be the centre of development for it to be sustainable – and not the other way around.
That's the common theme echoed at the sixth annual International Government Communication Forum (IGCF), which kicked off Wednesday at the Expo Centre Sharjah, with delegates calling for sustainable development.
The two-day event was inaugurated by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who addressed the gathering.
Sustainability, climate change and other issues encapsulated in UN Sustainable Development Goals are the focus of this year’s IGCF.
In his speech delivered in the opening ceremony, Dr Shaikh Sultan explained that the true meaning of sustainable development is to care for all members of society. In Sharjah, he said, the focus on development is on individuals, starting from their birth.
He said care was a lifelong commitment, drawing attention to the setting up of a ‘Parliament of Children’; model schools where mothers accompany children; a University City for higher education; and mobile clinics and social services for the elderly in Sharjah.
Also speaking during the opening session was Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad Al Qasimi, chairman of Sharjah Media Centre.
He announced the established of a new initiative called the International Government Communication Centre, which has an initial five-year mandate of launching 15 initiatives for enhancing government communications and serving as a local and global reference centre in this field.
One of its academic department programmes will be an accredited diploma in government communications, he added.
Shaikh Sultan Bin Ahmad said communications was key in raising awareness on the magnitude of world crises.
Former US Vice President Al Gore said during his talk that climate change can be “threat to peace and order” in the world, citing examples of instability caused by droughts in Syria and high food prices in Tunisia.
He warned that current emission rates, if left unabated, will lead to a rise of five degrees Celsius in Sharjah in the coming 75 years.
Wednesday’s agenda will culminate in an awards ceremony for best practices in communications.
