Hans Vestberg, Ted Turner, Pete Cashmore, Fabio Barbosa, and Gro       Brundtland among first speakers confirmed

 

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As the world’s attention turns to Rio+20, the UN’s Conference on       Sustainable Development taking place this June in Brazil, the       organizations that produce the acclaimed Social       Good Summit each fall in New York, announced today an innovative       partnership and special event called Rio+Social.

“Every       minute, social media and technology is opening doors for new, young       voices to participate in and shape the ongoing international development       debate”

Rio+Social will take place on June 19^th in       Rio de Janeiro alongside the historic Rio+20 summit. The event       brings together the United Nations Foundation, Mashable, 92^nd       Street Y, Ericsson, and EDP, to create South America’s first-of-its-kind       in-person gathering and global, online conversation on the potential of       social media and technology to power a more innovative and better future       for our world.

Rio+Social will ensure that the dialogue about issues ranging       from sustainable energy to poverty eradication move beyond the meeting       rooms of the Rio+20 summit and into all corners of the world. “Every       minute, social media and technology is opening doors for new, young       voices to participate in and shape the ongoing international development       debate,” said Kathy       Calvin, CEO of the UN Foundation. “World leaders are listening,       and better yet, working in collaboration with these #socialgood pioneers       to change how we approach global solutions.”

In order to make this global dialogue possible, Rio+Social will       draw from the successful model of the annual Social Good Summit, which       for the last two years has broadened the conversation around UN Week       like never before. “In a time when there are so many global issues       capturing our attention, social media gives us the opportunity to       participate in as many conversations as possible,” said Pete       Cashmore, Founder & CEO of Mashable. “Rio+Social will answer       people’s call to be part of the conversation at of one of the most       important UN summits.”

92Y, the host venue for the Social Good Summit, will continue its       critical community-building role with its participation in Rio+Social.       “92Y has always believed in candid, thoughtful discussions about the       most pressing issues of our time,” said Sol Adler, Executive       Director of 92Y. “It is only through the rigorous exchange of ideas       across social and geographical borders that our global community will       find new solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. We’re       honored to co-host in Rio the kind of conversations we’ve had in New       York that have generated so much critical discussion.”

When the UN convened the first Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, technology       played a minor role in setting global development agendas. Twenty years       later, the scene is completely different. At Rio+Social,       technology will be the principal driver for starting the conversation on       21^st century sustainability issues. Hans Vestberg, President       and CEO of Ericsson, said, “Mobile and broadband networks are the       foundation of a Networked Society and this technology can play an       instrumental role in addressing global sustainable development challenges.       The billions of mobile subscribers worldwide make the largest social       network in the history of mankind and have the power to transform the       world and use technology as a force for #socialgood.”

With the addition of renewable energy company EDP to the line-up of       partners, a major player in the world’s sustainable energy future will       be added to the Rio+Social conversation. Using cleaner methods to       power our increasingly developed world is one of the UN Secretary       General’s main priorities and will be a major topic of discussion at       Rio+20. Recognizing that, EDP CEO Antonio Mexia stated, “It is       indisputably important that corporate strategies today strike a balance       between economic, social, and environmental components while maintaining       a strong commitment to innovation and increased competitiveness. EDP is       fully committed to several sustainability projects that address access       to energy needs in developing countries, fighting energy poverty, and       developing local markets.”

The Rio+Social event would not be made possible without the       support of the Brazilian business community. Rio+Social’s local       communications partner is LiveAD, an innovative group dedicated to       bringing new approaches to online engagement in South America and       worldwide. Recently honored with a 2012 Facebook Studio Award, putting       them at the top of their class for pioneering campaigns that forge new       pathways in global marketing, LiveAD will ensure that Rio+Social       pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital media space.