20 October 2011, Singapore – The Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Congress 2011 was held today at the Capella Singapore ballroom. I attended the keynote addresses by the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate as well as Kristin Davis, known as the compassionate, ever hopeful Charlotte York Goldenblatt in Sex and the City and Global Ambassador of Oxfam and Patron of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Both touched on the subject of conservation and efforts to save the world.
H.E. Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his courageous work toward a peaceful solution for the conflict of Timor-Leste which was occupied by Indonesia from 1975 to 1999. He spent over two decades as the international spokesman for Timor-Leste’s cause. In 2002, when Timor-Leste achieved independence, Ramos-Horta was appointed the foreign minister. In 2007, he was elected president and survived an assassination attempt in 2008. He has been focusing on building the economy while protecting the environment for future generations.
Some of the interesting pointers I picked up from his keynote speach are:
- Timor-Leste is a very young nation and will turn 10 next year
- Unemployment rate is less than 10%
- Poverty (earning less than US$2 a day was 40% of the population)
- Enrollment for public education which is free is around 90% currently. Ramos-Horta hopes to achieve 100% enrollment next year. Quality of education in Timor-Leste still has room for improvement.
- Timor-Leste is one of the most petroleum dependent country earning more than US$1 billion nett income per annum from this industry
- Timor-Leste people usually live on the high mountains as opposed to the coastal areas. So there are very few people in the fishing industry. They have managed to “preserve” without fishing from the coral triangle
Kristin touched on a more lighthearted topic of adopted orphaned elephants sharing her experiences and photos with the elephants.
World Savers Awards 2011 winners
- Doing it All: Tour Operator Winner – Abercombie & Kent
- Doing it All: Large Hotel Chain/Health/Preservation Winner: Accor’s Sofitel in Siem Reap
- Wildlife runner up – Anantara Golden Triangle Resort and Spa
- Preservation Winner – Banyan Tree
- Doing it All: Cruise Lines Winner- Celebrity Cruises
- Poverty Runer Up – Gap Adventures
- Doing it All: City Hotels Winner – Grand Hyatt Sao Paulo
- Doing it All: Small Resorts Winner – Guludo Beach Lodge
- Wildlife Winner and Education Runner Up – Lindblad Expeditions
- Doing it All: Airline – Lufthansa
- Doing it All: Small Hotel Chains Winner – Six Senses
- Doing It All: Large Resorts Winner/Poverty Winner/ Preservation Runner-up – Spier (Resort from South Africa)
- Wildlife winner and Preservation Runner Up – Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa
The Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Congress 2011 was held in conjunction with TravelRave 2011.
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