When technology works, it can bring the whole world together. That is exactly what Habitat JAM hopes to do this Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 1-3. Habitat JAM is an unparalleled, democratic exercise that plans to give anyone, anywhere, the opportunity to go online and share their ideas on how to make the world's cities more sustainable. Whether it is someone living in the slums of India, or a key policy maker in Washington D.C., everyone will have the chance to tell their story, state an opinion or make a comment. People worldwide will contribute their thoughts, ideas and best practices in a forum that has never been technologically possible until right now. To take part, participants can www.habitatjam.com and register for free.

Using leading edge IBM technology, Habitat JAM is the world's largest think tank. Ideas discussed in this 72-hour period will help refine the agenda for the upcoming biennial World Urban Forum - a United Nations-sponsored meeting where issues of sustainability for the world's rapidly expanding cities will be discussed.

Participants will be able to discuss and interact with global leaders and thinkers on several issues: access to water, urban safety and security, urban finance and governance, the future of the world's slums, and environmental sustainability.

Notable participants will include global key thinkers such as the Nicky Gavron, Deputy Mayor of London, who heads London's environmental initiatives; the head of the world's largest activist group for slum dwellers; the scientist in charge of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; William McDonough, a renowned visionary and "green" architect, whose theories are being built on the ground in New Cities in China; the head of the world's biggest and most influential environmental organization; authors of groundbreaking books; the newly appointed President of Canada's aid agency; and the Rwandan leader of the African Development Bank.

The three-day online discussion also includes distinguished moderators:

• Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka
• President of Development Alternatives, India, Dr. Ashok Khosla
• President, Canadian Commission for UCESCO, Max Wyman
• Member of Parliament, Canada, David McGuinty
• Renowned New York Times and Fortune Magazine author Robert Neuwirth
• Dean of Law at Lagos University, Adeyemi Adedokun
• The Director, Task Force on Human Trafficking Joint, Justice, FBI and Boston Police, Karen Mclaughlan
• Mayor Jesse Robredo of the Philippines
• Mexico's Environment Secretary, Claudia Sheinbaum
• President of Tokiwa Univerisity, Japan, Dr. Hidemichi Morosawa

Habitat JAM is sponsored by the Government of Canada, in partnership with UN-HABITAT, IBM, and organized by the GLOBE Foundation of Canada. For additional information on the event and to register, visit www.habitatjam.com.

---

Reference: Jeremy Dunn or Laura Balance
Curve Communications Group
(604) 684-3170 office
(604) 726-8350 cell
jeremy@curvecommunications.com