Presentation at the United Nations CSD 15

On May 7, 2007, Erik Hagberg, President and CEO of PAC International had the privilege of speaking at the 15th Annual Conference on Sustainable Development at the United Nations. As a keynote speaker, Erik presented the innovative business model of the company - "Corporate Cooperative" - strategically designed to achieve the goals and objectives of a high level corporation while economically empowering the native resident employees.

Definition of a "Corporate Cooperative"

PAC’s plan is to develop and deploy cooperative business enterprises in SIDS and developing countries that are owned and controlled democratically by its employees. PAC is committed to the rules of governance as outlined in its cooperative corporate charter. These include a commitment to socially responsible and ethical work issues. As part of this commitment the company provides employee stock ownership programs.

These international corporate cooperatives are autonomous associations of people united under employment to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. These cooperatives are enterprises that put people at the center of their business and not capital – going beyond the traditional capitalistic business model of exploitation and monopoly of earth’s natural resources. The company’s international cooperatives are business enterprises and thus can be defined in terms of three basic interests: ownership, control, and beneficiary. Only in the co-operative enterprise are all three interests are vested directly in the hands of its employees.

Furthermore, these international corporate cooperatives are based on the values of self-government, self-determination, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. As corporate cooperatives, these international operations will work for the sustainable development of their communities, environment, and culture through policies accepted and agreed upon by its member employees.

Ms. Diane Quarless, Chief of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Unit of UN/DESA/DSD, opened the discussion by explaining the objectives of the session, which aimed to introduce an array of new technologies to promote development in SIDS and other countries. She added that this partnership was the epitome of bringing together scientists, with the volunteerism of NGOs, the drive of the private sector and the support of the UN and donor community.

Ambassador Angus Friday of the Mission of Grenada to the United Nations, Chairman of the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) welcomed the participants and said he was encouraged by the levels of interest in working with SIDS. He emphasized the increasing pressures for quick action for development in SIDS and said that partnerships are the key to achieving results. (excerpts from "UN Partnerships for Sustainable Development, Identifying New Technologies for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States, Partnership Wire, May 9, 2007)

Following the PAC solution presented by Erik, Dr. Tom Goreau, President of Global Coral Reef Alliance and one of the leading scientific advisors on PAC's Advisory Board, gave his presentation on his remarkable work of coral reef restoration. He introduced his work by describing his non-profit work primarily on coral reef restoration. He explained that around the world today there is more dead coral than live coral, largely due to the slight increase in water temperatures which is already occurring, but also due to water pollution from sewage and other sources. He has developed a technology, which he calls Biorock, which has proven highly effective in regenerating coral reefs. The video presentation provides a good visual rendition of this remarkable technology.

Traveling to the Marshall Islands

Many people have been asking where are the Marshall Islands and how to get there. So we’ve decided to take the time and provide you with complete details on a fantastic excursion to one of the world’s most pristine regions in the South Pacific.

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It’s always a good idea to have a thorough knowledge of where you’re going so that you can easily adapt to the environment and culture. A good place to start is by visiting the embassy website at http://www.rmiembassyus.org/ Here you will get a healthy serving of the history, environment, culture, government, as well as a free visitor’s guide booklet you can download and learn about great tourist attraction areas.

One good site that provides information about dining and accommodations is http://www.visitmarshallislands.com/

For airline fare and hotel information, visit any one of the following sites for full details on lowest priced flights : Orbitz, Expedia, Cheaperflights, and TravelZoo. You will need to provide your city of departure and the city of destination is Majuro, which is the capital city of the Marshall Islands.

Aquaculture & Coral Reef Restoration

For many years, Wolf Hilbertz, a German Architect and an inspiring pioneer of new technologies in architecture and marine habitat restoration, and Dr. Tom Goreau, marine biologist, both inventors of the remarkable Biorock technology systematically designed to sustainably restore coral reefs around the world worked tirelessly through the United Nations of implementing this technology in various parts of the world where there were dying or non-existent coral reefs resulting from industrial and human pollution in the natural marine environments. Just as a side note, coral reefs are an essential and necessary component to the maintenance of coastlines. In fact, where there are damaged or well nigh non-existent coral reefs, sea levels begin to rise which carries the inevitable consequences of coastal damages. The first signs of global warming are exhibited among coral reefs.

Dr. Goreau holds patents with Wolf Hilbertz for new methods for preserving coral reefs from global warming and pollution, restoring marine ecosystems, shore protection, mariculture, and non-toxic methods of preserving wood from marine boring organisms, termites, rot, and fire, in order to increase the lifetime of wood and decrease logging. In 1998 he and Wolf Hilbertz were awarded the Theodore M. Sperry Award for Pioneers and Innovators, the top award of the Society for Ecological Restoration.

On August 11, 2007, Wolf Hilbertz left the body after struggling for so many days in a German hospital from serious health complications after cancer had ravished his body. He was a man who dedicated his life to environmental sustainability with the understanding that it was ultimately an act of devotion to our dear Mother Earth. For it was all about saving people’s lives by saving the environment. The great Danish philosopher Kierkegaard once asked the rhetorical question, “What would cause a man to risk his own life in order to save another?” The resounding response was that “there is the metaphysical realization that the two lives are one.” This was truly the keynote principle that oriented the life of this great man. Upon notice of his death, Dr. Goreau echoed the tragic loss we all felt in his solemn words, “I'm heartbroken to hear this tragic news. You can be sure that we will do all we can to ensure that the legacy of his pioneering work in the oceans will never be forgotten.” Wolf is not only a serious loss to the marine world of scientists but to the world at large.

It is my understanding that all the family, friends, and working colleagues have all joined together in a concerted effort to dedicate a monument on behalf of Wolf Hilbertz in memory of him and his work. (See http://www.aseanaffairs.com/store/1772737/page/1249383) Additionally, efforts will continue to keep his legacy alive, something he would want, for future generations to benefit from. Now our beloved Dr. Tom Goreau bears that torch as others gather cooperatively with him in order to keep that legacy alive. In fact, Tom, as those of us close to him like to refer to him, putting aside formalities, has been working with dedicated vigor in New York City in an effort to “revive the area’s withered ecosystem and gradually restore to this wetland the oyster beds that once flourished in New York's waters.” (Excerpt from, A Taste of History, Poised For Revival, The New York Times, Gregory Beyer, July 22, 2007) You can learn more about this remarkable NYC marine project by visiting http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/nyregion/thecity/22oyst.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

(Dr. Tom Goreau, as a keynote speaker of the Blue Salon Environmental Conference in Washington, D.C. gives his presentation on coral reef restoration)

Tom, those of us who know you salute you with the deepest respect, admiration, and continued support. We exclaim in unison with the poetic declaration of the Jamaican Rastaman, “Jah love”!...knowing full well you can appreciate this as a native Jamaican. Learn more about the nature and character of the remarkable Biorock technology together with up to date news on Dr. Goreau's efforts around the world by visiting http://www.globalcoral.org/.