Salocin

Forum 21 shows we can still be constructive

I went to France last weekend, to participate in Forum 21, a conference on trans-Atlantic relations. At this time, of course, this is more interesting than ever, and while one side of the debate was more heavily represented than the other, it was nice to see that moderate views can still be held.

More happened at the Forum than could possibly be encompassed in an article on a simple website such as this. The theme of this conference was "Improving the Human Condition", but of course the world around us imposes its own subjects for discussion, and the Forum doesn't shirk from addressing the matters that weigh on our minds. With a very healthy turnout from both sides of the Atlantic, all sides of every argument were at least somewhat represented.

The panels and plenary sessions covered an extremely broad variety of subjects, including possible approaches to future multinational efforts to tackle global problems, the future of transatlantic relations, a report from the bleeding edge of scientific research, the role of film as a cultural bridge, the financing of pensions across the world, technology and privacy, intellectual property and the future of Turkey. The greatest shame is that panels occur four-at-a-time, meaning that participants must make trade-offs when choosing what to attend.

My favourite plenary session was the update on science, where we learned about efforts to discover the Higgs Boson, the latest thinking on the expanding universe, an explanation of cosmic exploration and an assessment of our ability to respond to the threat of space debris in the coming years. When people with positions at the forefront of scientific research also possess the communication skills to enchant and educate their audience, the subject is elevated to the point where is becomes fascinating.

We were also spoilt over lunches, with informal speeches and discussions from the likes of Marc Pachter (Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC) and Mario Vargas Llosa (Peruvian author of great renown).

The high calibre of the delegates, the relaxed and honest nature of the interactions and the global issues tackled all come together to make Forum 21 an event that allowed me to deepen my understanding of issues I was not familiar with, and to contribute my opinion where I had something to say (and to get the reactions to that opinion!).

It's exhausting to go across the Atlantic for just a weekend, but more than worth it when such experiences await.