Dr. Eileen J. Ain

Dr. Eileen J. Ain is a psychotherapist, sound therapist and ethicist in private practice; a consultant to organizations here in New York City and abroad; and an NGO Representative to the UN for Operation Peace Through Unity.

She is a graduate of Yeshiva University and Hahnemann Medical School. Today she has shared what she refers to as "music that affects our sensory development". For me, her flute playing has a very meditative quality that begins that inward and upward journey.

Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr. is President and Founder of the Healing of the Nations Foundation of New York and the Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church, on New York's Upper West Side. Dr. Forbes completed his distinguished leadership of this historic multicultural church after 18 years of service (from 1989-2007), to begin a national and global ministry for spiritual renewal and holistic health.

The Healing of the Nations Foundation is a non-partisan, interfaith, not-for-profit organization for the promotion of a holistic understanding of health and wellness. It seeks to broaden the awareness of the inter-relatedness of physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and community health. Healing of the Nations Foundation seeks to promote conversation and where possible, cooperative ventures across boundaries of faith traditions, professional disciplines and cultural perspectives.

Dr. Forbes was the recent host of "The Time is Now" on Air America Radio. He is a well-known preacher and lecturer in the United States and abroad. In religious circles, Dr. Forbes is known as the preacher's preacher because of his extensive preaching career and his charismatic style. In 1996 he was recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of the 12 "most effective preachers" in the English-speaking world… and, as one of America's greatest preachers by Ebony magazine in 1984 and 1993.

Dr. Forbes has earned three degrees; and as Pastor, Educator, Administrator, Community Activist and Interfaith Leader, has been awarded 14 honorary degrees and numerous awards.

In 2003, Dr. Forbes was featured on Bill Moyers's "Speaking to Power" where he shared his prophetic principles, which became part of the Mobilization initiative at The Riverside Church. In August 2004, Dr. Forbes addressed the Democratic National Convention.

This barely touches on his numerous accomplishments.

We are honored that Dr. Forbes is here with us today and will be addressing the question: "Healing of the Nations: What is Required?"

The transcript of Dr. Forbes' keynote address is not available; he reader is referred to the Website of the Healing of the Nations Foundation: http://www.healingofthenations.com/

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury is the Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States of the United Nations, a post he held from 2002 -2007.

A career diplomat, he was Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York from 1996 to 2001. He also served as Bangladesh's Ambassador to Chile, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela.

Among his many accomplishments, Ambassador Chowdhury served as President of the UN Security Council for two terms and President of the UNICEF Executive Board in 2000. He also chaired the Administrative & Budgetary Committee of the UN General Assembly; was Vice-President of the Economic & Social Council for two terms; and served as an Adjunct Professor at the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall University.

He spearheaded a pioneering initiative at the UN on the culture of peace, which resulted in the adoption by the UN General Assembly in 1999 of the landmark "Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace". And he also initiated the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly of the "International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World", which is from (2001-2010).

His initiative in March 2000 as the President of the Security Council led to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the role of women in peace and security.

Ambassador Chowdhury is the recipient of the U Thant Peace Award; and the UNESCO Gandhi Gold Medal for Culture of Peace.

In 2003, the Soka University of Tokyo, Japan, conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate for his work on women's issues, child rights and culture of peace, as well as for the strengthening of the UN.

Last year, Ambassador Chowdhury was decorated by the Government of Burkina Faso with the country's highest honor for his championship of the cause of the most vulnerable countries; he received the first Institute for Global Leadership Lifetime Service Award at the conference on New Leadership Models for Worcester, United States & the World; and, the UN NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns conferred their first "SPIRIT OF THE UNITED NATIONS" Award on Ambassador Chowdhury on October 26th last year.

Again, this only highlights his many accomplishments.

Instilled with sensitivity, empathy, leadership ability and the determination to never give up, Amb. Chowdhury is the meeting point between two worlds. He is man of heart and conscience who brings love and endless enthusiasm to this work.

Ambassador Chowdhury will be addressing the question, "Moving from Conflict to Dialogue: Can the Culture of Peace Help?"

The transcript of Ambassador Chowdhury's keynote address is not available.

Dr. Ida Urso

As Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the 2nd Committee of the General Assembly, Dr. Urso's long association with the UN began upon first graduating from college. Her interest in the human condition saw her take on jobs with the Council on International Relations and UN Affairs (CIRUNA) and the International Student Movement for the UN (ISMUN).

Realizing that she needed a deeper understanding of the causes of planetary conditions and human suffering, she returned to continue her studies at UCLA—from which she obtained her doctoral degree. The focus of her work was on the attainment of "worldmindedness"—a blending of international affairs, international education and transpersonal psychology.

After having taught courses in "The Attainment of Worldmindedness," Global Education and Human Rights Education at UCLA and Chapman College in Orange CA, Dr. Urso came to New York, to take on the role of Director of the New York Center of World Goodwill.

Her interest in the UN has seen her serving on the Board of the UN University, as the Education Chair of the UNA/USA Chapter of Orange County, and as an NGO representative to the UN for World Goodwill from 1990 until 1996 and recently, for the Aquarian Age Community, which she founded.

She is currently serving as President of the Aquarian Age Community; as an Integrative Spiritual Psychologist in private practice and she has recently been selected for Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in the World.

Dr. Urso will be addressing this question: "World Invocation Day, The Festival of Goodwill, the Festival of Humanity: How Can We Use this Opportunity to Create Harmony Out of Conflict?".

Danilo Parmegiani

Danilo Parmegiani is the Executive Director of The Legion of Good Will in the United States and their Main Representative at The United Nations.

He is also one of the Vice-Chairs of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns.

The NGO, the Legion of Good Will, provides several million services on behalf of underprivileged people in seven countries including the US.

Prior to this assignment, he was The Manager of International Affairs from the Legion of Goodwill Headquarters in Brazil.

Danilo began the multi-stakeholder network known as Solidarity Society. This network has grown into over 1200 organizations in a very short time and is now one of the world's great projects focusing on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and also embracing ecological preservation.

Danilo's expertise lies in communications where he continues to engage in offering alternative news stories to radio and television stations that are working with the Legion of Good Will in Brazil in order to diversify the scope of information that is offered throughout the country.

Danilo will be leading our Audience Participation Question and Answer segment.