Bratislava, Slovakia — On the International Day of Peace, UPF challenged the public to pay attention to a growing danger. “Climate Change and Desertification. A Threat to Peace?” was the title of the talk given on September 21, 2023, in the Bratislava Peace Embassy by Dr. Afsar Rathor, the president of LIOS-SOIL, a Vienna-based ecological NGO.
For many years Dr. Rathor was a project manager for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), where he gained extensive experience in conflict resolution, poverty alleviation, diplomacy, project and risk management. He also was appointed an Ambassador for Peace by the Austrian chapter of UPF.
With stirring words and illuminating pictures and videos, Dr. Rathor described the link between climate change and poverty; he then presented concrete aid projects. The nearly two-hour lecture was varied and exciting and received much praise from the 28 audience members. His report about the recent peacekeeping mission in Yemen was especially poignant.
His many activities include charity fundraising. Dr. Rathor stressed that 100 percent of every euro or dollar that is donated is spent for the needy. He and his team pay their travel and accommodation expenses out of their own pockets.
UPF representative Miloš Klas praised Dr. Rathor: “You helped us to create a meaningful International Peace Day event. Your engagement in conflict zones and troublesome environments is exemplary indeed.”
Find out why “Climate Change Is a Soil Problem”: https://lios-soil.org/
