rOUNDTABLES

Monday, June 19th - 15:00 - 18:00 Title: Ministers' Roundtable - Vancouver + 30: The Changing Role of Cities and Global Sustainable Development (Closed session) Description: Ministers addressed key issues relating to the changing role of cities in a globalized world. Sustainable urbanization was discussed in the context of experiences/lessons learned from national, international and other jurisdictional perspectives: How can national governments support sustainable cities? How can national governments partner with other jurisdictions to support urban sustainability? How can national governments link their international agendas to the local level - e.g. working with cities to address the MDGs? Featuring: Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Government of Canada, Canada - Co-Chair John Pombe Magufuli, Minister of Housing, Lands and Human Settlements, Government of Tanzania, Co-Chair WUF 3 - Co-chair Huguette Labelle, Chair, Transparency International, Chancellor, University of Ottawa, Canada - Moderator Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT; Under-Secretary General of United Nations, Kenya - Remarks
Monday, June 19th - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: VCEC - Ballroom B Title: Parliamentarian Roundtable Human Settlement Legislation Developments + 30: Good Laws for a Better Habitat (By Invitation only. Observers are welcome) Description: Almost twenty years after the formal inauguration of the Global Parliamentarians on Habitat in 1987, this session provided parliamentarians an opportunity to take stock of key milestones, successes and challenges in their contribution to human settlements, urban development and affordable housing around the world. Looking to the future, new priorities for supporting urban sustainability were identified at both global and domestic levels and opportunities for collaboration on legislative initiatives explored. Featuring: Ernesto Gil Elorduy, President, Global Parliamentarians on Habitat, Mexico - Co-Chair Lee Richardson, Member of Parliament, The Government of Canada, Canada - Co-Chair John Reynolds, Former Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition, Conservative Party of Canada - Moderator
Monday, June 19th - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: Pan Pacific - Crystal Pav C Title: Private Sector Roundtable - Business Roundtable on Corporate Leadership for Sustainable Urbanization (Open to the public) Description: The Business Roundtable at WUF3 was an invitation-only event which brought together a select group of leading corporations, public policy thinkers and leading commentators committed to the private sector being a part of the solution for a sustainable urban future. The roundtable explored how private companies could play a leading role in providing solutions, products, technology/infrastructure, employment and innovative ideas to meet the urban challenge as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals. The Business Roundtable profiled the leadership of corporations worldwide with respect to urban challenges, such as: dwellings, urban infrastructure, transport, communications and other issues. A particularly prominent feature of the roundtable was the examination of the role of the private sector in creating economic activity and employment through sustainable urban development approaches. Featuring: John Wiebe, President and Chief Executive Officer, GLOBE Foundation of Canada, Canada - Chair Christopher Henderson, Chief Executive Officer, The Delphi Group, Canada - Moderator
Monday, June 19th - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: VCEC - Ballroom C Title: Women's Roundtable - Empowering the MDGs: Grassroots Women Meet the Challenge-Women's Life, Women's Decision (Open to the public) Description: In the interest of supporting efforts to speed up the achievement of the MDGs, the roundtable discussed how to build and foster grassroots women's contribution and their role in the overall development process. It identified the support that is needed to create the conditions and environment for realizing womenï¿½s full potential to contribute to national, political, economic, social and cultural development, and to benefit from the results. The session gave recognition to grassroots women who have made a difference in contributing to the achievement of the MDGs, and drew from their practices and specific strategies for turning ideas into action. Participants were invited to react and share their experiences in supporting grassroots women's initiatives. Featuring: Erna Witoelar, Special Ambassador, MDG for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations, Indonesia - Chair
Monday, June 19th - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: Pan Pacific - Crystal Pav A Title: NGOs Roundtable - Assets and Struggles: 30 years after Vancouver Habitat Forum - Realizing the Right to Adequate Housing, Sustainable Habitat and Inclusive Cities (Open to the public) Description: Prior to the roundtable, an on-line debate was held to review the efforts towards "building community with the people" and its current meaning in the context neo-liberal policies, as well as a critical review of international commitments and plans of action following UN conferences, councils and forums aimed at the progressive realization of the Right to Adequate Housing. It also prompted a review on the gender approach in defending the right to the city, land and housing. The results of this on-line discussion were presented at the roundtable. Case studies were discussed on peopleï¿½s efforts in defending their right to live in peace and dignity HIC (such as the Harare evictions, Katrina and the post-tsunami rehabilitation). Also, the MDG 7 - Target 11 on "Cities without Slums" initiatives was reviewed in the light of Vancouver 1976 and further international commitments and plans of actions. Featuring: Michael Shapcott, Senior Fellow in Residence, Wellesley Institute, Canada - Co-Chair Evaniza Rodrigues, Regional Representative of SERVIP, Uniao Nacional de Moradia, Brazil - Co-chair
Monday, June 19th - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: Pan Pacific - Crystal Pav B Title: Researchers Roundtable - Planning and Managing Sustainable Cities: From Research to Practice (Open to the public) Description: Participants discussed ways and means of strengthening links between research and action in the area of sustainable urban development through the presentation of illustrative experiences/case studies from both developing and developed countries. Experiences were presented with a focus on the ways in which research has contributed to the planning and management of environmentally, economically and socially sustainable cities. A major component of the roundtable was the launching/presentation of the recommendations of the "Nanning International Conference on Sustainable Urban Development: From Research to Action". Featuring: Paula Jiron, Housing Institute, University of Chile, HS-Net, Chile - Chair Patrick Wakely, Professor, Development Planning Unit, University College of London, United Kingdom - Moderator
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: Wosk - AP Hall Title: Mayors Roundtable - Local Government at the Crossroads: Approaching the Millenium Development Goals Through Practical Innovation and Local Action (Closed session, no observers permitted) Description: Local governments are crucial to local implementation of the MDGs. Local governments are responsible not only for the provision of services directly linked with MDG targets, but for strengthening governance through the engagement of civil society and partnership with the private sector. By invitation to 115 participants, the Mayors Roundtable gathered elected local government officials, UN-HABITAT Governing Council members and donor representatives. With a focus on actions and solutions required to address the challenges facing local governments in achieving the MDGs, this mix of leaders and decision-makers from the developed and developing world ensured a lively and productive discussion. Featuring: Dominique Dennery, President, Dennery Resources, Canada - Moderator Gerald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal, Canada - Co-chair Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Co-President, United Cities & Local Governments; Councillor of Tshwane, South Africa - Co-Chair Inga Bjork-Klevby, Assistant Secretary General, United Nations; Deputy Executive Director, UN Habitat, Kenya
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: VCEC - Ballroom C Title: Gendering Land Tools (Open to the public) Description: Over the past decade, womenï¿½s access to land and property and their security of tenure have actually declined in most parts of the World. To achieve the Millennium Development Goals, gender responsive, and effective land tools which are lacking, need to be developed. Hence, the Gender Land Tool Network initiative to develop land tools which are pro-poor, innovative, affordable, scalable and gendered. The roundtable brought together leading grassroots women, land professionals, policy makers, researchers, lawyers, analysts and experts through a women-led process to develop strategies towards systematically genderising land tools. Featuring: Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director of UN-HABITAT; Under-Secretary General of United Nations, Kenya - Chair
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: VCEC - Ballroom A Title: Youth Roundtable - Youth, Leaders of Today and Tomorrow (Open to the public) Description: This roundtable focused on profiling the leadership role youth take in solving the most pressing urban issues facing our planet. Researchers, policy makers and youth leaders from around the world shared stories and uncovered the underlying and systemic barriers youth face in tackling urban issues such as HIV-AIDS, environmental degradation, and economic marginalization. The outcome of this roundtable informed the final youth statement, which was formally presented to the World Urban Forum 3. Featuring: Avi Lewis, Documentary Filmmaker and Television Journalist, Canada - Co-Chair Doug Ragan, Manager, World Urban Forum 3 and Youth Organizing Committee, Canada - Co-Chair
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: Pan Pacific - Oceanview 1 Title: Universities Roundtable - Universities and Urban Sustainability: The Millennium City University Description: Universities engaged in innovative research and capacity-building programmes, in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society in the North and South shared lessons and future plans ï¿½ focusing on how ideas for urban sustainability and achieving MDGs in the city can be turned into action. The agenda for the three-hour session concentrated on future goals and activities through 2008: the diffusion and implementation of promising initiatives; ongoing information exchange; attracting new universities; and identifying milestones on the road to Nanjing. Invited participants were senior academics involved in innovative research and capacity development in urban sustainability in all five continents, with extensive experience with North-South partnerships. Featuring: Tony Dorcey, Professor and Director, Centre for Human Settlements School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia, Canada - Co-chair Erminia Maricato, Professor, Faculty of Architecture, University of San Paulo, Brazil - Co-Chair Pietro Garau, Professor and Director, Centro Studi Urbanistici per i Paesi in via di Sviluppo of DIPTU, La Sapienza, Italy - Co-Chair
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: VCEC - Ballroom B Title: Indigenous People and Media Roundtable - Picturing Ourselves: Video as Tool for Defining Community (Open to the public) Description: This roundtable discussion focused on three key issues related to Indigenous urban communities: community inclusion and cohesion, social and political action, and sustainability of media as a vehicle for supporting community identity and change. The session addressed the following questions: How can media reflect the social, political and economic realities of a community in a way that supports social inclusion and cohesion? How can the development, production and release of videos give voice to communities, raise awareness of decision-makers and be a catalyst for broader social and political change? And how can a "community of interest" in advancing media as a community development and change agent be sustained globally? Through case studies of Indigenous communities, participants left with an understanding of how media/film can affirm, define and support community identity and change. Featuring: Monika Ille, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Canada - Moderator Tom Perlmutter, Director General, English Program, National Film Board, Canada - Co-Chair Fred Caron, Assistant Deputy Minister, Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non Status Indians, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Co-Chair
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: Pan Pacific - Crystal Pav A Title: Spirituality Roundtable - Bridging the Gap: Spirituality and Sustainability in the Urban Context Description: This roundtable was based on the conviction that meeting the challenges of urbanization requires policy approaches that are ethically and spiritually informed. It showcased urban projects inspired by the principles articulated in the major Wisdom (i.e. faith, indigenous and spiritual) traditions of the world. Participants engaged the following questions: How do faith-based initiatives promote sustainability, inclusion and social cohesion in urban areas? How do sustainability-focused projects integrate spiritual perspectives? How do civic leaders articulate an integral vision of urban wellbeing that is informed by a spiritual understanding of human community? Featuring: Angela Hryniuk, Executive Director, InterSpiritual Centre of Vancouver Society, Canada - Chair
Wednesday, June 21st - 14:30 - 17:30 Location: VCEC - Exhibit Hall A Title: Environment Roundtable (Open to the public) Description: This session fostered strategic alliances within the environment sector, including Canadian and international NGOs, health professionals, labour unions, indigenous and youth groups, universities, the private sector and government. Drawing from participants' experiences and particular areas of expertise, the three-hour roundtable served as a forum to identify, through an environment and health lens, the challenges and opportunities to achieving sustainable cities. Examples of eco-innovation in the form of successful strategic alliances were presented and analyzed. Lastly, pilot projects were identified, partnerships encouraged and preliminary action plans developed. Featuring: Arciris Garay, Coodinator, Youth for Justice Network, CEN Health Caucus Steering Committee, Canada - Co-Chair Hayat Redi, Deputy Director, EVERYONE, Ethiopia - International Co-Chair Amelia Clarke, Past President, Sierra Club of Canada, Canada - Moderator