Global Greens, Nairobi 2007-2008

Global Greens conference
to be held in Kenya in May 1-4, 2008

preceded by
Global Young Greens, January 16-19, 2007
African Greens, January 18-19, 2007

Announcement by the Global Greens Coordination, March 2006
Updated November 2006

We are delighted to announce that the second Global Greens conference will be held on 1-4 May 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya, preceded in January 2007 by meetings of the Global Young Greens and the African Greens.

The Global Greens Nairobi meetings will be action-oriented, aiming to coordinate our work on important global issues and strengthen Green politics internationally.

We are extremely honored that Professor Wangari Maathai has agreed to co-host the second Global Greens gathering. As the first Green and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize her participation is a wonderful opportunity for both the African and the Global Greens. Her lifelong commitment to the environment, women's rights, peace and democracy is an inspiration for Greens around the world. Her example as founder of the Green Belt Movement, one of the most important African NGOs, and founder and member of the Mazingira Green Party, gives hope to all people across Africa with Green sympathies.

The Global Greens year will be launched in January 2007 with meetings of the Global Young Greens and the African Greens. They will be exciting opportunities for young people from around the world to meet each other and to get to know Africa and the Greens. As well, the African Greens meeting will enable the host federation to consolidate and organise its participation in advance of the Global meeting. Both will be vital preparatory events for Global Greens 2008, just as the first Asia Pacific Greens meeting in 2000 was for Global Greens 2001.

This year-long Global Greens 2007-08 program has been agreed between the Global Greens Coordination, Prof. Wangari Maathai, the African Greens, the Global Young Greens, and representatives of the Green-linked foundations.

In the coming weeks, we will be establishing a steering group and starting to prepare the organization, including setting up an office in Nairobi, establishing a web page and asking for ideas about issues and themes. A major fundraising effort will be needed to ensure participation from low income countries and of young people. On this front, your ideas and proposals are also most welcome.

In fulfilling the Canberra 2001 commitment for the next Global Greens conference to be in Africa, the Nairobi meetings will give new impetus to the development of the Greens as a global movement.

Watch for more announcements, volunteer your help, and plan to be there!

Caroline Ayling
Global Young Greens

Juan Behrend
European Greens

Margaret Blakers
Asia Pacific Greens

Arnold Cassola
European Greens

Maarten Coertjens
Global Young Greens

Solomone Fifita
Asia Pacific Greens

Grazia Francescato
European Greens

Ralf Fücks
Green linked foundations

Catherine Gréze
European Greens

Wangari Maathai
Green Belt Moveent

Jean Nke Ndih
African Greens

Jorge Gonzales Torres
Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Americas

Viana
Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Americas

Satoko Watanabe
Asia Pacific Greens

Julia Willebrand
Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Americas