Federico Mayor Zaragoza

At the Universidad Internacional de Andalucia in 2007.

Federico Mayor Zaragoza (b. January 27, 1934 in Barcelona) is a Spanish scientist, scholar, politician, diplomat, and poet. He served as Director-General of UNESCO from 1987 to 1999. He is currently the Chairman of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace and member of the Honorary Board of the International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World[1] as well as the Honorary Chairman of the Académie de la Paix.[2]

Biography

Federico Mayor Zaragoza obtained a Ph.D. in pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1958. In 1963 he became professor of biochemistry at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Granada, and in 1968 was elected rector of that university, a post he held until 1972. The following year he was appointed professor in biochemistry at the Autonomous University of Madrid. In 1974 he co-founded the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Centre at the Autonomous University of Madrid and the Spanish High Council for Scientific Research. The main focus of Professor Mayor's scientific research has been on molecular brain disease, and he was responsible for drawing up the Spanish National Plan for Mental Health Prevention. He is a member of the Club of Rome, the Club of Budapest, a founder member of the Issyk-Kul Forum. In 2005 he received the Prize Creu de Sant Jordi from the Generalitat de Catalunya. He is an honorary Member of several scientific societies and a Member of several academies, among them, the World Academy of Art and Science. He has also received several honorary doctorates (Honoris Causa). He is Honorary President of the University of Granada.

Spanish Political Career

Federico Mayor Zaragoza was undersecretary of Education and Science in the Spanish Government (1974–1975), UCD deputy for Granada region in the Spanish Parliament (1977–1978), Adviser to the President of the Government (1977–1978), Minister of Education and Science (1981–1982) and CDS deputy in the European Parliament (1987).

UN career

In 1978 Federico Mayor Zaragoza became Deputy Director-General of UNESCO. In 1987 he was elected Director-General of UNESCO, and re-elected for a second mandate in 1993. After deciding not to run for a third term, in 1999 he returned to Spain to create the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, of which he is Chairman.

UNESCO

During his 12 years as head of UNESCO (1987–1999) Federico Mayor Zaragoza gave new life to the organization's mission to "build a bastion of peace in the minds of all people", putting the institution at the service of peace, tolerance, human rights and peaceful coexistence, working within the scope of its powers and remaining faithful to its original goals. Under Mayor's guidance, UNESCO created the Culture of Peace Programme, whose objectives revolve around four main themes: education for peace; human rights and democracy; the fight against isolation and poverty; the defense of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; and conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace.

Within the framework of this strategy, numerous international meetings and conferences were held on subjects such as education in non-violence, the eradication of discrimination and the promotion of pluralism and international cooperation. The result of these meetings was some 30 Declarations expressing a will to promote education, science, culture, research and teaching, justice and the "moral and intellectual solidarity" to which the constitution of UNESCO refers.

On 10 November 1998, the UN General Assembly declared the years 2001–2010, International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World and, on 13 September 1999, it adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which embodies Mayor's greatest aspirations from both a conceptual and practical standpoint.

Later life

In 2000, Federico Mayor Zaragoza founded the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, serving as its President.[3]

In 2002, Federico Mayor Zaragoza was appointed to chair the European Research Council Expert Group (ERCEG).[4] The European Union has identified the need to strengthen the competitiveness of Europe and to become a knowledge-based economy. In view of the importance of a strong research capacity for economic stability and growth, the Expert Group recommends a new European dimension for research funding.The first and main task for the ERC should be to support investigator-driven research of the highest quality selected through European competition.

In 2002, Federico Mayor Zaragoza co-founded with Boutros Boutros Ghali, John Brademas, Edward J. Nell, Karim Errouaki and Alain Chanlat the Centre Humanism, Management & Globalization (HMG) at HEC-Montreal. The aim of HGM was to support projects and develop programs based on policies that would humanize the process of globalization across its many dimensions- economic, ecological, social, political, cultural and organizational. Responsibility for putting humanism into practice rests largely on the shoulders of our leaders and managers. They are the link between macroscopic, societal phenomena and everyday activities that, in contrast are resolutely microscopic in nature. The Mission of HGM was to link these two levels of concern. The approach was to present and disseminate management ideas and practices that are inspired by values and ethics that respect the principles of both universal and pluralist humanism. This is the only way to make a real contribution and create a true Culture of Peace.[5]

In 2005, Federico Mayor Zaragoza is designed Co-President for the UN High Level Group for the Alliance of Civilizations, by Kofi Annan, the United Nations Secretary-General. The Alliance of Civilizations (AoC) is an initiative proposed by the President of the Government of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, at the 59th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in 2005. It was co-sponsored by the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The initiative seeks to galvanize international action against extremism through the forging of international, intercultural and inter religious dialogue and cooperation. The Alliance places a particular emphasis on defusing tensions between the Western and Islamic worlds.To fulfill the objective of the initiative, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan assembled a High-Level Group (HLG) consisting of 20 eminent persons drawn from policy making, academia, civil society, religious leadership, and the media. A full range of religions and civilizations were represented.Among the members were former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who proposed the Dialogue Among Civilizations initiative, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South African Nobel laureate, Prof. Pan Guang, who obtained the Saint Petersburg-300 Medal for Contribution to China-Russia Relations, and Arthur Schneier, who is the founder and president of the "Appeal of Conscience Foundation" and who gained the "Presidential Citizens Medal". The HLG met 5 times between November 2005 and November 2006, and produced a report prioritizing relations between the Western and Muslim societies.[6]

In 2007, Federico Mayor Zaragoza co-founded with Boutros Boutros Ghali, Michel Rocard, John Brademas, Robert Mundell, Edward J. Nell, Karim Errouaki, Mohamed Hassad, and Tomas Solis the Tangier Expo 2012 International Support Committee. Federico Mayor Zaragoza was designed by HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco as the President of the Tangier Expo 2012 International Support Committee. HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco has decided in 2006 to submit the candidacy of Tangiers, the City of the Strait of Gibraltar for the organization of the 2012 International Exhibition. The theme of the exhibition was Routes of the World, Cultures Connecting. For a More United World.[7]

Federico Mayor Zaragoza is a member of the Fondation Chirac's honour committee,[8] ever since the foundation was launched in 2008 by former French president Jacques Chirac in order to promote world peace. He also participates as jury member for the Prize for Conflict Prevention[9] awarded every year by this foundation.

In 2011, Federico Mayor Zaragoza was appointed the President of the International Commission against the Death Penalty. The Commission, which is supported by 18 states, is promoting the universal abolition of the death penalty. It is also promoting abolition in legislation in those countries where a moratorium already exists. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly on 14 April 2011, he highlighted the role of the Council of Europe, OSCE and EU to make Europe a Death Penalty free zone, except for one country and argued that despite progress achieved in the last decades– two thirds of the countries in the world have already abolished the death penalty – efforts must be intensified until its total eradication. He went on to argue that "The right to life is the most basic of all rights, because it is a pre-requisite for the exercise of all the other human rights." He pointed out two key arguments for abolition: death penalty is irreversible – mistakes cannot be repaired – and there in no evidence of its deterrent value to prevent criminality.

In 2013 Federico Mayor Zaragoza joined the Nizami Ganjavi International Center Board along with Ismail Serageldin, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Tarja Halonen, Suleyman Demirel, Roza Otunbayeva, Ambassador Walter Fust. It is a cultural, non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to the memory of Azerbaijani poet, Nizami Ganjavi, the study and dissemination of his works, the promotion of the principles embodied in his writings, the advancement of culture and creative expression, and the promotion of learning, dialogue, tolerance and understanding between cultures and people.

Foundation for a Culture of Peace

It was founded in March, 2000,and ascribed to the protectorate for foundations of the Community of Madrid's regional Department of Education. The Foundation's objective is to contribute to building and consolidating a Culture of Peace through reflection, research, education and on-the-spot action. Its activities focus mainly on linking and mobilizing networks of institutions, organizations and individuals who have proven their commitment to the values of the Culture of Peace.

Through the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, Mayor continues the task he began as director-general of UNESCO : that of promoting the transition from a culture of violence and force, to a culture of peace and tolerance. Each year the Foundation offers an annual Culture of Peace course in collaboration with the Juan Carlos I University of Madrid, with educational content including democracy, human rights, and the origin of conflicts. In December 2000, the Foundation organized an international conference attended by major figures in the struggle for justice, freedom, and peace. At the end of the conference, the Declaration of Madrid was adopted unanimously.

Federico Mayor Zaragoza calls for a new world order to extricate humanity from our present dilemma. A new ethical and moral order whose cultural, scientific and social dimensions balance economic and technology development. For our real goal in life is ti improve the quality of life of each and everyone of us. This involves new forms of cooperation as the world is now one village.

Federico Mayor Zaragoza endorses the stand taken by UNESCO with regard to peace, disarmament, human rights and education. In the domain of information he suggests a new approach, warning against any monopoly control of communications, and denouncing the dangers of one sided information.

Federico Mayor Zaragoza argued that man is in a state of transformation; from homo faber he is on the path to homo sapiens. Knowledge liberates, and scientists have a crucial role to play. The new order proposed requires a proper use of knowledge- for knowledge, like all else, only exists through humanity and for humanity. It should thus be the focus of our reflections. All power to the imagination!

Since 2011, the Foundation for a Culture of Peace hosts the Global Program Women's Knowledge International devoted to: 1) develop an educational project of global reach to contribute to the production and dissemination of women's and feminist knowledge, 2) foster the growth of a socio-political conscience on gender equity among likeminded people and a wide range of actors, 3)build cultures of peace through women's produced knowledge.

Activities and research

Activities

The activity of the foundation for a Culture of Peace is mainly based on the entailment and mobilization of networks of institutions, organizations and individuals that stand out by their commitment with the values for the culture of peace. The concrete actions of the foundation are mainly centered in the divulging and educative areas.[10]

Research

Federico Mayor Zaragoza published his book The World Ahead in 2000. The specific aim of the book, which he has drawn up in collaboration with Jerome Binde and with the assistance of Jean-Yves Le Saux, Ragnar Gudmundsson, and the team of UNESCO's Analysis and Forecasting Office, is to prepare people more thoroughly for the coming decades so that they may respond in good time to the challenges of the future. Federico Mayor argued that, as observed by Ilya Prigogine, we cannot predict the future because the future will never be as before. We can prepare for it because, far from being inscribed in a book of destiny, the future is uncertainty, bifurcation, unpredictable creation. It is in our hands, because the future is freedom- for the most part, it will be exactly what we make of it. We can prepare for the future, but are we prepared for the twenty-first century.

More recently, Mayor Zaragoza was working with Edward J. Nell (Professor of Economics at the New School for Social Research, New York) and Karim Errouaki [11] on a book called Reinventing Globalization after the Crash (forthcoming in 2012). The book is prefaced by Boutros Boutros Ghali, and will constitute a new blueprint of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace. The book is based on material provided by Federico Mayor Zaragoza's book The World Ahead (Zed Books, UNESCO, 2000), revisited and animated by the theoretical framework put forward by Edward J. Nell in his opus magnum book General Theory of Transformational Growth (Cambridge University Press, 1998) and extended by Karim Errouaki (UM, HEC-Montreal, 2003) [12] who argued that Transformational Growth provides a new vision and a new framework, for thinking about economic development, bringing it into the framework of economic history.

Committee of Experts

In 2003–2004 Mayor Zaragoza sat on an ad hoc committee of experts, for which he was spokesman, set up to advise the Spanish government regarding the return of the polemical "Salamanca Papers" to the autonomous government of Catalonia. Comprising, among others, Columbia University Professor of History Edward Malefakis, and Juan Pablo Fusi, the committee declared in 2004, by a majority of 14 of its 17 members, that it was "just and legitimate" that the documents be returned to the autonomous government.[13] The documents were finally transferred in 2005.

Publications

Mayor has published over 100 articles in scientific journals and numerous articles in popular journals. In addition to numerous scientific publications, Mayor has published numerous books and over seven books of poetry – A contraviento (1985), Aguafuertes (1991), El fuego y la esperanza (1996), Terral (1997), Voz de Vida, Voz Debida (2007), Alzare mi Voz (2007) and En Pie de Paz (2008). Mayor has also published more than seventy publications on education strategies, development, human resources and science and technology.

Books

Interviews


References

  1. ↑ The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the first decade of the 21st century and the third millennium, the years 2001 to 2010, as the International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.This followed resolutions about the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the International Day of Peace.
  2. ↑ See the website of Peace Academy at
  3. ↑ See the website of the foundation at
  4. ↑ The European Research Council Expert Group (ERCEG) was set up in December 2002, during the Danish EU presidency, on the initiative of Helge Sander, the Danish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation.Its creation was a follow-up to the conclusions on the status of the European Research Area (ERA) reached by the Council of Ministers meeting on competitiveness, held in Brussels on 26 November 2002, and the recommendations on the basic principles of a possible European Research Council (ERC) agreed in October 2002 at a conference in Copenhagen organized by the Danish Research Councils. The task of the Expert Group has been to further discussions ‘on the purpose and scope of a European Research Council and exploring options for its possible creation’.
  5. ↑ The Centre Humanism, Management & Globalization (HMG)was hosted at HEC-Montreal (a Business School affiliated with the University of Montreal). HEC-Montreal was the HMG headquarters and the New School (NY) was the main research unit under the co-directorship of Edward J. Nell and Karim Errouaki. The Center HMG was launched during an International colloquium organized by Edward J. Nell and Karim Errouaki (who was then the first Director of the Center HMG (2002–2004)) and Alain Chanlat (then Director of CETAI HEC-Montreal), and was held at HEC-Montreal in March 2003.The event was sponsored by HEC-Montreal, the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, and the Gorbachev Foundation of North America. Prominent scholars and politicians have participated to the conference, among them, Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Robert Mundell, Jacques Attali, Edward J. Nell, Karim Errouaki and Omar Aktouf. Federico Mayor Zaragoza gave the first Estras Minville Lecture (Anticiper sur les conséquences de ses choix : un défi majeur du dirigeant de notre époque) launched by HEC-Montreal in March 2003. The first conference was organized by Karim Errouaki and Claude Nigoul at the Académie de la Paix et de la Sécurité Internationale in March 2002 in Monaco on Le Monde après le 11 Septembre: quels enseignements?. The second conference was organized by Karim Errouaki in collaboration with the Global Progressive Forum at the European Parliament in Brussels in November 2002 on . The third conference was organized by Karim Errouaki and Edward J. Nell in collaboration with John Brademas at San Rossore, Italy on a A new Global Vision in July 2003. The fourth conference was organized by Karim Errouaki and Mohammed Achaari, the Minister of Culture of Morocco and was held in Rabat on Le Dialogue des Civilisations est-il possible ?in November 2003 at the King Hassan II Academy of Science. Under the directorship of Karim Errouaki (2002–2004) the Center HMG has launched a new research series called Humanism & Management and published five important books. Among the books published was the translation in Spanish of Boutros Boutros Ghali's book on Democratizing Globalization. The last conference was organized by Edward J. Nell and Karim Errouaki at the New School in November 2004. In 2005 all the founding members of the center HMG at HEC-Montreal left and the center took another orientation under the directorship of Alain Chanlat. Edward J. Nell and Karim Errouaki started in NY another action think tank bringing together leading world actors and leading world thinkers around a very focused set of issues and a clearly defined work-plan and time table. They organized in collaboration with Lamine Chikhi the first conference in Algiers on Pour une Mondialisation plus Equitable in June 2005. They organized a second conference in collaboration with the Moroccan Government and the Governor of Tangier Mohamed Hassad in 2007 in Tangier on Humaniser la Mondialisation. In 2009 they organized a third conference in NY. Prominent scholars and politicians have participated to the three conferences, among them, Boutros Boutros Ghali, Michel Rocard, Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Robert Mundell, Jacques Attali and others.
  6. ↑ The first meeting of the HLG of the AoC occurred in Spain in November 2005. The second meeting was in Doha, Qatar from 25 to 27 February 2006 with the agenda of aiming to find ways to calm the cartoon crisis between West and Islamic world.[2] The third meeting took place in Dakar, Senegal from 28 to 30 May 2006. At the final meeting in November 2006 in Istanbul, the members presented their final report to Kofi Annan and to Prime Ministers José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The report outlined recommendations and practical solutions on how the Western and Islamic societies can solve misconceptions and misunderstandings between them. According to the report, "politics, not religion, is at the heart of growing Muslim-Western divide", although a large emphasis is maintained on religion.
  7. ↑ Tangiers, a gateway to Africa, has earned an even greater reputation for openness onto the regional and international environment when it was granted the international status in the early 20th century. Prominent politicians, scientists, scholars and Nobel Prize laureates have supported the candidacy of Expo Tanger 2012. Among them Nobel Laureates Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Rigoberta Menchu and Wole Soyinka. The Spanish Government was the first country to offer his full support for the candidacy of Expo Tanger 2012. The leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, the work of the International Committee, together with the work of Mohamed Hassad and his team and other work on behalf of the Moroccan Government, brought 63 votes, enough to win had the voting been confined to the original membership in the BIE.
  8. ↑ Fondation Chirac's honour committee
  9. ↑ The jury for the Conflict Prevention Prize awarded by the Fondation Chirac
  10. ↑ For further details see the website of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace at [www.fund-culturadepaz.org/] and also the 'Blog of Federico Mayor Zaragoza at [www.federicomayor.blogspot.com/].
  11. ↑ Karim Errouaki is a Senior Research Fellow working with Edward J. Nell at the New School, N.Y. and a Senior Economic Adviser & International Expert in Finance, Economic, Financial and Strategic Intelligence and Geopolitics, based in NY and Madrid. He is a Special Adviser to Federico Mayor Zaragoza and to John Brademas, founder and President of the John Brademas Center for the Study of Congress at New York University. He was a former Special Adviser to the President of the European Parliament and to the UN Secretary General.
  12. ↑ Karim Errouaki (2003) ‘’ Globalization and Transformational Growth: Rethinking the Foundations of Economic Development’’. UM, HEC-Montreal, 2003. Paper presented at the Global Progressive Forum, the European Parliament, Brussels, 2003.
  13. ↑ "El Comité de Expertos considera 'justo y legítimo' devolver el Archivo de Salamanca a Cataluña" El Mundo December 24, 2004 (Spanish) Retrieved 2009-08-27
  14. ↑ Global Education Magazine, 30 January 2013. Scholar Day of Peace and Non-violence, Interview with Federico Mayor Zaragoza. Global Education Magazine: Scholar Day of Peace and Non-violence. ISSN 2255-033X.