On September 9, 2024, ASEZ members from the northeastern United States held the ASEZ Global Summit and World Peace Concert at Columbia University. This forum was conducted to discuss the role of university students in sustainability and global change, gathering over 500 students, professors, officials from local governments, UN, and universities.
The event began with a video introducing ASEZ. Dr. Steven Cohen, the Senior Vice Dean of Columbia University and an environmental activist, encouraged students in his subsequent lecture by stating, “The efforts we are making will not be in vain.”
Following this, a panel discussion took place with Dr. Lisa Dale from Columbia’s Climate School, Timothy White, an ASEZ member from Harvard University, and Rachel Fraser, an ASEZ member from Columbia. The panelists discussed the roles students they can play regardless of their majors and how ASEZ empowers them to engage in sustainability efforts. Dr. Dale remarked, “I was very inspired by ASEZ’s approach to dismantling huge global issues into smaller challenges for resolution.”
The concert, titled “World Peace Concert”, featured performances by an orchestra and a choir. They presented world traditional folk songs from countries such as Germany and Russia, along with a piece called “Into the Forest,” which conveyed messages about mutual efforts in environmental protection. The audience was filled with smiles throughout the performance.
After the event concluded, attendees made a resolution for the “Global Environmental Restoration Project,” pledging to spread the message of environmental protection within their communities and commit to more activities. New York State Assemblyman Steven Raga stated, “ASEZ is truly an amazing organization, and every day is a step toward achieving that goal.”
The international community is focusing on ASEZ’s activities. We hope that ASEZ will continue its efforts for a better tomorrow.
