Experts taking part in discussion on climate change at the French embassy. PHOTO: DNA
Organised every year by the French Embassy, this year’s ‘Night of Ideas’ focused on the theme of: ‘Being alive’.
The phrase can be understood as a command, a call to awareness, action and commitment. The occasion would explore questions such as ‘What is being alive?’, ‘What is our place in the living world?’, ‘How does being alive impose us to take action?’, ‘What is our present made of?’, ‘How do we face what our present requires?’ and ‘In a time of multiple emergencies, what does the future hold?
French Ambassador Dr Marc Baréty opened the event and detailed the number of French-Pakistani collaborative endeavours in the field of climate change, through Agence Française de Développement — climate co-benefits target of 70% for any project. He also highlighted the master’s scholarships which were being offered in the fields of climate change and environmental sciences to Pakistanis.
Dr Baréty also discussed projects by the cultural and cooperation section of the French Embassy.
Development sector expert and moderator of the moot Ali Tauqueer Sheikh conducted a debate amongst panellists and the public about climate change and the contribution of art to the understanding of our current times.
The panellists, including COMSTECH Centre for Climate Research and Development’s Ambassador Shahid Kamal, Independent Power Producers Association representative Dr Fatima Khushnud, Population Council’s representative Dr Zeba Sathar, Pakistan National Council of the Arts Director-General Dr Fauzia Saeed, television anchor Tanzila Mazhar, Fashion Designer Yousef Bashir Qureshi, and COMSATS Department of Meteorology’s Dr Jabir Hussein Syed, discussed creativity in arts and science, supporting research and knowledge, prompting awareness and discourse, power of social media to educate and empower the younger generation, change of behaviours and daily habits of ordinary citizens, the need of collective thinking and acting etc.
The goal of the event was to celebrate the stream of ideas between countries, cultures, topics and generations.
Every year, the Night of Ideas allows discovering the latest discoveries in knowledge and arts, to listen to the ones who contribute to bringing more ideas to their field and to take part in the discussion about the main issues of our times.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2020.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ