Club of Rome Annual Meeting, October 2010
Introductory Speech
by Ian Johnson
“Club Members, National Associations, colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you and welcome to the Forty Second Annual Meeting of the Club of Rome and the First to be held in Winterthur, the location of our new international office. I do hope that you have found Winterthur a comfortable and interesting place to be and that you have enjoyed the programme of events here and in Liechtenstein.
My new home of Winterthur is a renaissance city. Borne out of earlier industrial times it was a town devoted to heavy-industry: turbine manufacturing; the manufacture of looms and other industrial products. It became a wealthy town in the early part of the 20th Century and remained so until some years ago when industry moved out and despair moved in. However, with foresight the people of Winterthur and, in this regard I would like to particularly like to mention Mayor Wohlwend, have transformed this town. It is now one of the most eco-friendly in Switzerland; it hosts multi-cultural events regularly (including for the past 21 years a cultural event devoted to Africa); it was recently voted one of the most bicycle friendly towns in Switzerland; and it is encouraging new service and high technology products into the area. Last month the city held a major eco-innovation conference which was a great success. Winterthur has also supported our establishment: Robert and Ruth Heuberger, long-time residents of Winterthur, have been generous supporters to the Club and have been instrumental in helping us get established here. We honour them at this meeting. Richard Ernst, Club member and our only individual Nobel Prize recipient was raised here and still lives in Winterthur.
We are very honoured by their support.
Indeed Winterthur and the Club of Rome have much in common: we are both undergoing a renaissance that builds on our proud histories and accomplishments but one that paves the way towards a more sustainable and enlightened future.”
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