Rotary's Climate Change Conversations (Virtual)

As an extension of United Nation's World Environment Day, Rotary Club of Marina City and Rotary Club of Singapore are organizing Rotary's 1st virtual event on Climate Change on 13th and 14th June.

Speakers and Topics:

Date: 13th June

1. Joy Kauffman, MPH

Bio: Joy Kauffman, MPH, is the Founder and Executive Director of FARM STEW International, a recipe for abundant life. She is passionate about equipping families to address the root causes of hunger, disease, poverty and climate change. In the past 6 years, over 240,000 participants have been trained by the 50 full-time African Staff in the FARM STEW principles in 12 different countries and in refugee camps in Africa and now launching in the Philippines, Cuba, Bolivia and Brazil.

Topic: Launching FARM STEW in Southeast Asia; A Recipe for Abundant Life

Synopsis: Joy will help us explain why malnourishment, poor women’s hygiene, imbalanced dietary habits and environmental degradation exist on an incredible scale in Southeast Asia and how all these issues can be addressed using the FARM STEW methodology, which has empowered many communities in rural communities of other countries. This might facilitate opening up opportunities to initiate international community based environmental projects to help empower people in need in the Southeast Asian countries.

2. Nilam Bedi

Bio: Nilam Bedi has over 30 years of policy and operational experience in “connecting the dots” across disciplines and sectors on projects in Africa, Canada, Latin America, Asia and the middle-east. Internationally, Nilam has worked in numerous public and private sectors organizations, the World Bank and the United Nations, where he was Chief of the Technical Cooperation Program in the 13 countries within the Western Asia Region.

Nilam is active in community work that includes the Habitat for Humanity, and the Rotary organization. He was the President of the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club and Chair of the club’s Foundation, engaging in projects to improve the lives of the indigenous peoples, youth, the homeless and other marginalized segments of the community . Currently, he is the Chair of the Environmental Action Committee of Rotary International’s District 7070. He is working closely with the Global Footprint Network to explore how evidence-based information and ecological footprint trackers can be customized for Rotary in a meaningful way that both informs and motivates Rotarians in diverse settings. As well, Nilam has been active in various ESRAG activities, including the Climate Taskforce, discussions on COP 26, among others.

Topic: Climate Change: Connecting the dots between global imperatives and local actions

Synopsis: Climate change and other ecological pressures on our planet are threatening the viability of natural resources necessary for the sustainability of our social and economic fabric. Countries, organizations, communities and individuals are increasingly seeking actions to slow down, and possibly reverse, the negative impacts of human activity on the environment. The presentation will use the concept of ecological footprint to provide the broader context for climate change and explore how various actions can help meet the challenge successfully.

Date: 14th June

1. Gert-Jan van Dommelen

Bio: Gert-Jan Van Dommelen is co-founder and board member of the worldwide EndPlasticSoup initiative for Rotary to solve and prevent plastic pollution.

He is an experienced program manager and was consulting leader technology services Benelux at IBM Corporation. He has a successful track record in the financial, public and industrial sectors.

Gert-Jan is passionate about the Circular Economy, next generation living, learning and building a future of inclusiveness, people matter in his home town and abroad. He is a Paul Harris fellow with Rotary International and an honored Member of the Dutch Royal Order of Oranje Nassau.

Topic: EndPlasticSoup, the worldwide initiative for Rotary to solve and prevent plastic pollution.

Synopsis: 'EndPlasticSoup' is the worldwide initiative for Rotary to solve and prevent plastic pollution. Already supported by hundreds of Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs in 43 countries. Plastic Pollution not only kills animals and shortens our lives, Plastic waste never disappears and breaks down to microplastic which is one of the major threats on our planet for Climate change, Biodiversity and Human health.

Our approach is: Awareness, Action and Alliances.

Gert-Jan will make you aware of the threats, and the required steps we need to take. He will explain actions that you can take yourself and as a club. And he will present some of the international EndPlasticSoup projects Rotary Clubs execute, jointly with our alliances, that are impactful. Young Ambassadors all over the world support the EndPlasticSoup initiative and we see growth of members for Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs.

2. Christopher E. Stein

Bio: Chris is currently the program manager for National Heritage Areas in the Midwest USA. He has been a park ranger with the US National Park Service for the past four decades. As such, he has worked from the urban jungles of New York City to the tropical rainforests of American Samoa, protecting parks in every region of the USA and overseas. He's finally come to realize that protecting "the little things that run the world" - our precious pollinators - is one of the most important things you can do to help save the planet for our children and their children.

Topic: Operation Pollination: A 7th Area of Focus Environmental Framework

Synopsis: Do you like to eat? Do you want to help protect the planet? If you do, then this program is for you. Learn about the Three Easy Steps to help your Rotary Club launch, and achieve, a pollinator project. Be part of a growing Rotary movement when you sign a Pollinator Resolution and Pledge. Currently clubs in the USA, England, Scotland, Wales, Mexico, and India are using this simple framework. Might Singapore be next? With Operation Pollination, YOU can make a 7th Area of Focus difference. I hope to see you at my talk.