Chair Holenstein introduced the questions for consideration: what does solidarity mean for Swiss policy; what forms could solidarity take in civil society in the North and South; and what duties should be assumed by the Swiss Foundation for Solidarity?

Dai Qing, Chinese journalist, spoke on the Three Gorges Dam project in China

José Ramos Horta (East Timor, civil rights leader and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 1996) spoke about how “development means liberation.” He said that amidst the controversy of the role of Swiss banks in World War II, it is important to recall the contributions Switzerland has made towards peace and its role as a place of asylum

P.V. Rajagopal, Secretary of the Gandhi Peace Foundation (India), spoke on solidarity with the forgotten. He stressed active rather than theoretical solidarity and said the present educational system creates intelligence but kills feelings

Vandana Shiva, Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (India), stated that globalization is redefining our understanding of wealth and free trade is denying the creativity and rights of nature and people

The panel on “What does the Foundation for Solidarity mean for Switzerland?” was moderated by Jana Caniga, Swiss Television Network, and was comprised of Christaine Langenberger, Member of Parliament, Maga Wicki, journalist, Kurt Koch, Bishop of Basel, and Peter Arbenz, Association for the Support of the Swiss Foundation for Solidarity
(From left to right: Mr. Arbenz, Ms. Wicki, Ms. Caniga)

The panel on “What does the Foundation for Solidarity mean for Switzerland?” was moderated by Jana Caniga, Swiss Television Network, and was comprised of Christaine Langenberger, Member of Parliament, Maga Wicki, journalist, Kurt Koch, Bishop of Basel, and Peter Arbenz, Association for the Support of the Swiss Foundation for Solidarity
(From left to right: Ms. Caniga, Ms. Langenberger, Mr. Koch)

P.V. Rajagopal, secretary of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, India speaks to a group of youths hosted by Swissaid

Swissaid holds a separate forum in front of Muensterplatz for the North South Conference for Sustainable Development

Time for coffee inside the Swissaid forum

Outside the Federal Parliament Building a crowd gathers to enjoy the festival

Beating to the sound of a different drum the South comes North.