Selective truth, values for sale

Selective truth – Caught in the web of information and interests
Plenary session 1, June 13

From Russia to Mexico, from the Middle East's Arab Spring to South Asia's Shahbag Movement, journalistic content has been increasingly subjected to the watchful eyes of censorship. As the veils of secrecy expand, they cast an ever greater shadow over the democratic process, stifling out voices of opposition, voices of reason. Censorship, self-censorship and propaganda together pose possibly the greatest threat to our values today, impinging upon education and economic systems, democracy and idea of freedom itself. Is it possible to maintain objectivity in the news selection and production process? And taking into account certain values and sentiments, should objectivity not have limits?

Democratic values: a magic bullet cure-all for everyone?
Plenary session 2, June 14

Today's generation is affected by massive challenges such as war, instability and mass migration like perhaps none other before it. The greatest losers are generally the people stuck between opposing interests and who have no clout in either direction. As post-millennium endeavors driven by economic interests and naïve optimism to spread democracy throughout the world have arguably failed, now, driven by the hope of the salvation of democratic values, those people, devoid of all other options, are now going north in search of these values. But are we not endangering our own values in the name of security? Has foreign policy failed to protect the interests of humanity?

Values for Sale – is it time for a new economic approach?
Plenary session 3, June 15

Ending poverty, protecting the planet, ensuring prosperity for all – these are only a few aims of the sustainable development goals set for the next 15 years. Currently however, these goals seem to be further away then ever. Weapons exports continues to dubious states, there is ongoing speculation on food staples and textiles are still produced in factories which barely guarantee the minimum on security and living wages; the poorest countries have had to pay a high price for the prosperity of wealthy nations. Especially because lessons which should be learned from international crises are seemingly ignored. It’s time to reflect and ask ourselves whether our economic system is to blame for all of these problems. One solution could be for the world's economic giants to implement a universal system of cultural-sensitive policies. But is it even possible to establish economic policies based on ethics? How can we implement responsible and sustainable policies regarding natural resources?