“We modern civilizations have learned to recognize that we are mortal like those who came before us. We feel that our civilization is as fragile as life.”Paul Valery
I thought of this passage as I looked back on the year gone by, a year which has shaken all of us both emotionally and socially, on a personal level and as global citizens.
The year 2020 will be remembered as a turning point. There is no going back. We've now seen firsthand that the answers to yesterday's problems are not suited to the challenges of today and tomorrow. Together, we must create new solutions.
It's now more important than ever to prepare the coming generation for the collective efforts needed in the world in order to bring about change. This is what we strive for at the CRI, thanks to the support of our partners and friends. Together, we are working towards a learning planet, as best exemplified in our recent founding of the Institut des défis(challenges research institute) within the University of Paris and our continued work surrounding the #LeaningPlanet initiative. To help shape the world we want for ourselves, our children, and our future, I invite you to join us on January 24th and 25th for our annual Learning Planet Festival, where we will kick off a year that I hope will be full of reasons to celebrate. Let's celebrate learning and sharing, let's celebrate others and our common dreams... and let's simply celebrate life's fun and meaningful moments.
I wish you-us-a very happy new year in 2021 and hope we can, in the legacy of Gandhi, be the change we wish to see in this world.
Take excellent care of yourselves, others, and the planet.
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“We civilizations now know that we are mortal. We feel that a civilization has the same fragility as a life.” Paul Valery
This phrase came to mind as I reflected on the past year, which has shaken us all emotionally, socially, personally and as citizens of our planet.
2020 will mark a break with the past. There will be no turning back. We have come to realize that yesterday's solutions are no match for the challenges we face today and in the future. Collectively, we need to invent new answers.
Now more than ever, it is essential to train the younger generation to solve challenges collectively. This is what we are working on at CRI, thanks to the support of our partners and friends. Together, we are calling for the creation of a learning planet, notably with the creation of the Institute of Challenges at the University of Paris and the #LeaningPlanet initiative. So that together we can build the environment we want for ourselves, for our children, for the future, I look forward to seeing you on January 24 and 25 at the Festival of Learning and invite you to inaugurate a year that I hope will be one of celebration: a celebration of learning, of sharing, of others, of joys, of dreams, of meaning... of life, quite simply.
I, we, wish you all a very happy new year 2021 and, as Gandhi suggested, let us be the change we wish to see in this world.
Take care of yourself, your loved ones, others and the planet.
