Kofi Annan to speak at Cannes Lions 2009

Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations, and currently president of the Global Humanitarian Forum, and David Jones, global CEO of Havas Worldwide, CEO of Euro RSCG Worldwide and co-founder of One Young World, will hold a crisis debate hosted by Hervé de Clerck, dream leader, ACT Responsible and founder of AdForum, at the 56th International Advertising Festival. They will speak on the human face of climate change and the role that only the creative community can play in changing attitude towards climate change.

In June 2008, ACT Responsible started working for Kofi Annan's Global Humanitarian Forum and together with David Jones, created a dedicated communications team working for Kofi Annan to raise awareness of human consequences of climate change all over the world. Kofi Annan, working in close co-operation with all the major non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the framework of the Global Campaign for Climate Action will call on the Cannes Lions worldwide audience to support this work.

"This is vital because political leaders will stand up and act only if they feel there is strong public support" said Kofi Annan.

"The fundamental word is actually 'movement' rather than a 'campaign'. Because a campaign is something that you watch, whereas a movement is something that you join and are a part of" said David Jones.

(Pictured left to right: Hervé de Clerck, Kofi Annan and David Jones)