Closing speech Aalborg conference

Closing Ceremony
Aalborg July 12th 2008.
President's address.

I would like to start by reminding you of the catch phrase of the Aalborg Commitments…Inspiring Futures.
This in many ways sums up the work of CEI (Caretakers of the Environment International)
If we take the final commitment, we could say, we aim to:

Strengthen the international cooperation of the Caretakers Network
and help to develop local responses to global problems
in partnership with local government, communities and stakeholders.

How should we do this?

As an International Board, we are committed to:
Improving communication
Development of our website
Reactivating and developing our National branches.

We have made the following structural changes:
I am stepping down after 6 very rewarding years as President of CEI. I thank all the Board plus Council members, teachers and young people for all their invaluable support. Birgitta Norden from Sweden will take over as President. Fatima Almeida will replace her as Vice President. We wish them well in their new roles.
I will remain on the Board along with Toni Salamon from Poland and your conference host this year Elisabeth Brun as Board members.
We have appointed two new Board members to reflect both younger educators and regional diversity. Mr Kenneth Ochoa from Colombia as South American representative and Mr Thomas Wong to represent China/Hong Kong.
We have appointed Regional Co-ordinators which will be listed on the website. I think it is important that each delegation here make contact with their regional co-ordinator before they leave Denmark.
o Andrew Cox: Africa
o Toni Salamon: Eastern Europe (including Russia)
o Cris Leibner: North America
o Fatima Almeida: RIACA (with Kenneth Ochoa), Greece
o Birgitta Norden: Asia
o Dan Hoynacki: Australia, New Zealand, Japan
o Joke Wals: Western and Central Europe
o Elizabeth Brun: Scandinavia/Baltic Countries
o Anne Marie Begg: Middle East

I would like to thank the Alumni for all their hard work behind the scenes in liaising between the Board, the conference organisers and you the young people. Thanks to Marie, Ana and Armand. We look forward to their role developing over the coming years.

As Teachers/Educators
I would like to use the slogan of the Grundfors company some of the groups visited yesterday:

Being responsible is our foundation,
Thinking ahead makes it possible,
Innovation is the essence.

Carrying out Joint Educational Projects such as:
o Seeds of Biodiversity (Isabel Abrams and Wayne Schimpff)
o Ecotourism (Fernando Loures)

As Young People
Get the message across…as Dan Hoynacki says: there is no such thing as the answer no, you just have to ask the right question. You have rights and responsibilities. I want you all to contact your local media when you get home and tell them what you learnt and your recommendations for future sustainability. Are you ready for this challenge?
Use a variety of ways (as indicated in your excellent presentations, both the projects and the cultural evening)

I would like to thank our partners:
·Youth school
· Their partners…too numerous to mention but absolutely vital for conference success, including the base here with the excellent quality and diversity of food.
·Organising team for their Quiet Efficiency
· Elisabeth Bruin as Conference Chair. Last year, I used the phrase behind every good man there is a woman. This time, I would say behind every good woman, there is man. Thank you to Elisabeth’s husband, Hans. All those occasions when she was going off around the world, she was developing an idea.

The dream has turned into reality.

Thank you and well done.

I would like to quote a Viking saying that I found at the Lindholm Hoje which we visited on Tuesday on How to preserve friendship

Go you must.
No guest shall stay in one place for ever.
Love will be lost
if you sit too long at a friend’s place.

We must now look forward to the future conferences.
In 2010, we have accepted the kind offer of Indonesia to host.
For next year, 2009, we have accepted Scotland to replace Argentina who could not unfortunately raise sufficient funding.
I therefore would invite Elisabeth to pass on the Statuette, kindly presented by Hong Kong last year, to Anne Marie.

Thank you,
Andrew Cox, (outgoing) President of CEI.