The World Culture Festival in Berlin

Olympiastadion Berlin 2nd & 3rd July 2011

An unforgettable celebration of Dance, Music, Intercultural Dialogue and Meditation

Reception Committee

Prof. Ruud Lubbers (Read More)
Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands (Co-Chair of WCF Reception Committee)
Mr. Madhu Rao (Read More)
CEO Shangri-La Hotel Group International (Co-Chair of WCF Reception Committee)
Prof. Dr Ahmet Akgündüz
President Islamic University Rotterdam
Dr. Thuwayba Al Barwani (Read More)
Dean, Sultan Qaboos University
Mr. Khalid Al-Omran
Owner, Omran Corporation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Rabbi Sergio Bergman
Leader of Argentina’s Progressive community; Founder of the Judaica Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mr. Danny K. Davis (Read More)
Hon. Congressman, US Congress
Mr. Nirj Deva (Read More)
Member of the European Parliament
Prof. Peter Eigen
Founder, Transparency International
Mrs. María Eugenia Estenssoro (Read More)
Senator, The Argentine Senate
Mrs. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges (Read More)
Independent expert and member of the Jury for the European Capitals of Culture, Former Minister of Culture
Ms. Monika Griefahn (Read More)
Board Member, Right Livelihood Award
Prof. Bernd Guggenberger
President, Lessing University, Berlin
Ms. Indu Jain
Chairperson, Times of India Group; Bennett, Coleman & Co
Hon. Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal (Read More)
Minister for Coal, Government of India
Judge Gabrielle Kirk McDonald
Former President International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, The Hague
His Royal Majesty Nana Odidwour Baah Kokroko III (Read More)
Tufuhene of Hwidiem, King in the Ashanti Akim, North District of Ashanti Region of Ghana
Mr. Robert Korzeniowski
Athlet, Gewinner von 4 goldenen olympische Medaillen und 3 Weltmeisterschaften
Mr. Jacek P. Krawczyk (Read More)
Vice President of European Economic and Social Committee, Brussels
Mrs. Jolanta Kwasniewska (Read More)
Former First Lady of Poland (1995-2005), Founder and President of the Foundation "Communication without barriers"; Lawyer.
Mr. Ram Labhaya Lakhina (Read More)
Founder, President of The Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT), Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation
Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis
Former Prime Minister of Lithuania
Mr. Jo Leinen
German Member of the European Parliament, Chair Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Mr. Pedro Jiménez León
Member of Mexico´s Chamber of Deputies
Ms. Erika Mann (Read More)
Former Member of the European Parliament
Dr. Mihail Mihailov
Member of Bulgarian Parliament
Dhr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Mrs. Nancy Pelosi
Hon. Congresswoman, US Congress
Mr. Christopher Pinto
President Iran-US Claims Tribunal
Dr. Sanjay Pradhan
Vice President, World Bank Institute, The World Bank
Mr. Michael Quigley
Hon. Congressman, US Congress
Mr. Peleg Reshef
Director, the Future Generations Division, World Jewish Congress
Rabbi David Rosen (Read More)
International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee; Director of the Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding.
Dr. Jacques Santer (Read More)
Former Prime Minister Luxemburg, Former President of the European Commission
Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp (Read More)
Former President of the European region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Dutch chair of the Solidarity Committee for Jews
Mrs. Janice D. Schakowsky
Hon. Congresswoman, US Congress
Prof. Dr. Myron Scholes (Read More)
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan (Read More)
President, Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance
Mr. Wilfried Vanhonacker
Dean, Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO
Mr. Josef Winkler (Read More)
Member of German Parliament, Board Member Green Party

Reception Committee Profiles

Prof. Ruud Lubbers

Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands (Co-Chair of WCF Reception Committee)

"I congratulate Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and express my gratitude and respect for the immense contribution of the Art of Living to global peace. In the world in which we are so connected due to modern technology and global economy, and which is so affected by conflict, stress and frustration, the Art of Living is the way to harmony. The Art of Living initiatives are so valuable. The breathing techniques and meditation it teaches help us to restore harmony within ourselves and therefore to contribute to the harmony of others, and to the harmony of the society. I completely agree with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that it’s time for all of us to come together to celebrate life, broaden our vision, deepen our roots and reach out for others."

Ruud Lubbers was Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994 leading three successive governments, making him the longest serving post-war premier, influential in building Europe into what it is today. He was also the key figure in introducing the 'Netherlands/Polder Model' which led to the successful turn-around of the Dutch economy. Between 2001-2005, he was the 9th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

A graduate of The Netherlands School of Economics, Ruud Lubbers’ career began by managing the family business. He joined the Dutch Government in 1973 as Minister of Economic Affairs and continued as Senior Deputy Leader of the Christian Democratic Alliance.

After leaving politics, he taught university courses on globalization and sustainable development at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, and as a visiting professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He was instrumental in contributing to the success of The Earth Charter, an international declaration of fundamental values and principles considered useful by its supporters for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century.

www.ruudlubbers.nl

Mr. Madhu Rao

CEO Shangri-La Hotel Group International (Co-Chair of WCF Reception Committee)

Madhu Rao is the managing director and chief executive officer of Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited (commonly referred to as Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts) which he joined in 1988 as Group Financial Controller. He was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Shangri-La Asia Ltd in 1997 and continues to concurrently hold that position to date.

A graduate in Commerce from the University of Mumbai and a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, he was previously positioned at a leading Chartered Accountancy practice for 17 years, responsible for Management Consultancy and serving 12 years as a partner.

Dr. Thuwayba Al Barwani

Dean, Sultan Qaboos University

Dr. Thuwayba Al Barwani is the Dean of the College of Education at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman. She is a member of the State Council and previously served as Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Deputy Minister of Social Development. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Language from Kuwait University and her Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the State University of New York at Albany USA. She is a member of the Council for Higher Education and a founder and member of the Board of Trustees of Al Sharqiya Private University.

In 1993 Dr. Al Barwani was honoured by His Majesty and granted the Second Class Order for Culture, Sciences and the Arts. In 1998 she received the Gulf Award for Science and Research. In 2002 she was given a leadership award by the Special Olympics for her work in the area of sports for the disabled, and in 2009 she was a Recipient of an Honorary Doctorate for Sports Culture from the National Academy of Physical Culture, Newcastle UK and an ICET Leadership Award. In 2007 she was a recipient of the Arab Women's Renaissance Award from the Arab Parliamentary Union, Women’s Committee in Kuwait.

Dr. Thuwayba Al Barwani has written publications in areas of higher education, teacher education, gender issues, family issues, and quality and innovation in education, published internationally.

Mr. Danny K. Davis

Hon. Congressman, US Congress

Mr. Nirj Deva

Member of the European Parliament

"I stand encouraged that across the world there is a growing realisation; an understanding that we must come to accept and embrace one another´s cultures, acknowledging our differences and finding comfort in our similarities. In an increasingly globalised world where we are faced by challenges too great for any one nation or organisation to deal with alone I take heart that so many people from across the world are taking this step forward, recognising the need to promote greater cultural tolerance and a mutual respect that is now more than ever of such critical importance to us all. I congratulate the Art of Living Foundation and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the outstanding contribution towards intercultural dialogue and peacekeeping in the last 30 years."

Nirj Deva, born in Sri Lanka and holding Sri Lankan and British citizenship, became Chairman of the Bow Group (a leading British political think-tank) in 1981. He was Chairman of the Department of Transport/National Consumer Council Committee on the De-regulation of Air Transport, which resulted in low-fare airlines in Europe. In 1992, he was elected as Member of the House of Commons, and in 1999 as Conservative Member of the European Parliament, where he is a member of the Committee on Overseas Development and Cooperation and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, Chairman of the EU-India Chamber of Commerce and patron of the International Monarchist League. In April 2005, he was chairman of the European Parliament's delegation to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York.

www.nirjdeva.com

Mrs. María Eugenia Estenssoro

Senator, The Argentine Senate

Ms. María Eugenia Estenssoro was born in 1958 in La Paz, Bolivia. She has completed a postgraduate course in books and magazines at Harvard University, and has a Master’s degree in Journalism at Columbia University, in English Literature and French at Smith College Massachusetts and in Political Science at the Institute des Sciences Politiques in Paris.

Currently she is a Senator of Buenos Aires and President of the Senate for the Media and Freedom of Expression Committee. She is also a candidate for mayor of Buenos Aires. She is a former legislator of Buenos Aires (2003-2007).

Ms. Estenssoro is the co-founder and president of the Social Equity Company Foundation, and the co-founder and former executive director of “Fundación Endeavor Argentina”. She is the director and member of civic organizations against corruption including Poder Ciudadano in Argentina and Transparency International in Germany. Ms. Estenssoro is also the co-founder and former President of the International Women's Forum.

Mrs. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges

Independent expert and member of the Jury for the European Capitals of Culture, Former Minister of Culture

"Life is a fact, living is an art. The 30th anniversary of the art of living movement should be a milestone of new thinking in a world of change."

Erna Hennicot-Schoepges developed her passion for culture through Musical studies, for which she was awarded the Gold Medal as a pianist, combined with studies in Philosophy & Literature at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique Bruxelles, Ecole Normale in Paris, the Mozarteum in Salzbourg, and the Centre Universitaire in Luxembourg.

Her political career is paved by cultural affairs. It started early as a politician on the local level in her hometown in Walferdange as Major and she became the first female President of Luxembourg's Parliament and quickly advanced to a main figure in Luxembourg politics as Minister of Culture, Higher Education and Research and Public Works. At the same time she remained highly engaged as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the European Parliament.

Erna Hennicot-Schoepges is known for her active involvement in numerous foundations, where issues such as Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue and Cultural Itineraries are treated.

On a national level she is responsible, among others, for the creation of the University of Luxembourg in 2003 and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Hall in 2005. On a European level she had the honour of becoming Rapporteur of the "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, 2008", through which she managed to create an intense political debate on cultural issues by organizing conferences and publications.

Ms. Monika Griefahn

Board Member, Right Livelihood Award

"Having attended the Conference on Human Values during the 25th Anniversary of the International Art of Living Foundation in Bangalore where 2.5 Million people joined the celebration, I have closely observed the work of the organisation and its Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar during the last few years. I am highly impressed by the all-inclusive approach towards peace building and intercultural dialogue as the Foundation not only promotes health and wellbeing through Yoga but translates its efforts into outstanding results in the humanitarian field. It is wonderful and timely that on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the International Art of Living Foundation. The World Culture Festival will be held in Berlin and will allow participants from around the world to come together in mutual respect and appreciation."

Monika Griefahn was born in 1954 in Mülheim-Ruhr, Germany. She graduated in Sociology & Mathematics in 1979, and co-founded Greenpeace Germany one year later, becoming a Member of the International Board of Directors in 1984. During her time at Greenpeace, she was first initially responsible for campaigns against chemical pollution and for the protection of the North Sea,then later for developing training programs, establishing new offices in Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America.

In 1990, Griefahm became Minister of Environmental Affairs in Lower Saxony, Germany. From 1998-2009, she served as Member of the German Parliament, with her main focus on culture and media as well as on foreign affairs. She is a Member of the Board of the Right Livelihood Award Foundation, Chair of the Administrative Board of 'Deutsche Welle' (Germany's international broadcaster), and Member of the Board of the German UNESCO commission.

Hon. Shri Sriprakash Jaiswal

Minister for Coal, Government of India

"I am pleased to know that the Art of Living Foundation is planning to organize an event in Berlin in July2011 to mark thirty glorious years of its existence. The Foundation has been playing a defining role in the lives of millions of people all over the world. Though the Foundation has its genesis in India, it has been spreading the message of health, harmony in diversity and promoting inter-cultural dialogue in more than 150 countries around the world. I am happy to note the names of several luminaries contributing their might as members of the Reception Committee for the Art of Living Foundation. I am sure the event will be a rip-roaring success with leaders, peacemakers and renowned personalities from all walks of life making a spirited contribution. I wish for the Art of Living Foundation to grow from strength to strength and spreads its divine message for many more years to come."

Shri Prakash Jaiswal is a Member of Indian Parliament in 15th Lok Sabha (House of the People) for the Indian National Congress party which has thrice won the election from Kanpur constituency of Uttar Pradesh. He is currently serving Indian government as Union Cabinet Minister for Coal, after serving as the Union Minister of State for 2 years. He began his political career in 1989 as the mayor of Kanpur city, served as the secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee and as president for the Congress District Committee. He was elected into the 13th Lok Sabha where he worked as President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, a Committee Member on Petroleum & Chemicals, as Joint Committee Member on Salaries & Allowances of Members of Parliament and as a member of the Consultative Committee in the Ministry of Railways. He was also previously relected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 as Union Minister of State for Home Affairs.

His Royal Majesty Nana Odidwour Baah Kokroko III

Tufuhene of Hwidiem, King in the Ashanti Akim, North District of Ashanti Region of Ghana

"This Festival is in itself a dream of many and ambition of the mighty few where culture builds bridges across borders and embracing peace, unity and love. The International Art of Living Foundation has done what many activists, poets, and reformers alike have been trying to do for centuries by bringing understanding and acceptance of one’s culture with the common aim that we are all one under the sun."

His Royal Majesty Nana Odidwour Baah Kokroko III, the 16th Tufuhene of the Hwidiem Province in Ashanti Akyem North District of the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana. He was enstooled on the 27th of August 2006.

His Majesty took it upon himself to alleviate difficult circumstances for children, including building a non-government organisation with the aims of helping the disabled, assisting children on the street and promoting community development. The primary focus is to empower the children to ascertain higher heights in areas like education, career and agriculture through the medium of cultural and performing arts.

Mr. Jacek P. Krawczyk

Vice President of European Economic and Social Committee, Brussels

"In the past 30 years the Art of Living Foundation has been bringing people together, contributing to the understanding between them, inspiring a way of life, bringing health and harmony. It has been successful in reminding us that mere tolerance is not enough in a multicultural world. The encounter with the other can only be successful if tolerance goes hand in hand with genuine curiosity, responsibility, openness and the respect for the otherness of the other. Well done and congratulations!

As a Vice President of European Economic and Social Committee, I am immensely grateful to the foundation for its actions in favor of ethics in business. At a time when the crisis brought into focus the critical importance of the ethical dimension of business, a thorough reflection on the issue is more important than ever. "

Jacek P. Krawczyk has a Master of Law degree from Warsaw University, and Master of Consulting and Coaching degree from Hautes Etudes Commerciales.

Since 2010, Jacek P. Krawczyk is a Vice President of European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels. Since 2004, he is a Member of the European Economic and Social Committee. Between 2004 and 2006 he was a Vice- President of the Section INT (common market), from 2006 Vice- President of Employers Group and Member of the Presidium of the Committee. He has prepared several opinions including: European aviation relief programme, Single European Sky II, Transatlantic dialog.

Currently he is the Vice-President of the Polish Confederation of Private Employers LEWIATAN as well as Chairman of Supervisory Board of several companies including LOT Polish Airlines, Microtech –R&D company listed at the OTC market in Warsaw, and PETROLOT – company distributing fuel at Polish airports.

Jacek P. Krawczyk has spent 20 years of his professional career as a manager of various business entities. He begun in 1989 as a consultant and then moved in 1993 to the financial sector working as board member and subsequently CEO of a number of commercial and investment banks. In 2000 he moved to IT sector as the CEO of OPTIMUS S.A. he lead spin off of the largest Polish internet portal ONET.pl from the OPTIMUS Group. In 1991 he joined the second Solidarity government as the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Trade

Mrs. Jolanta Kwasniewska

Former First Lady of Poland (1995-2005), Founder and President of the Foundation "Communication without barriers"; Lawyer.

Jolanta Kwasniewska is a member of the Comité des Sages and the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Partnership Foundation. She was also former Honorary Board Member of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Board Member of the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement and the Women Leaders' Council to fight human trafficking. She is a Patron of the European Cancer Patient Coalition and the European Institute of Women's Health.

Jolanta Kwasniewska has remarkably initiated successful national health campaigns (breast cancer, AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, etc.). For her charity, humanitarian work and achievements she is honored with many national and international awards and decorations, including an honorary doctorate, and the Order of the Smile, an international award given to adults distinguished in their love, care and aid for children.

Mr. Ram Labhaya Lakhina

Founder, President of The Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT), Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation

Ram Labhaya Lakhina has been advocating the interests of Non-resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) for more than 30 years. In 1980, he co-founded the Foundation for Critical Choices for India to mobilize the intellectual and material resources of NRIs and PIOs for India's development. He was the first Chairman of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), serving from 1994 until 2002 and has served as Chairman of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Foundation in Amsterdam since 1999.

In January 2009, the President of India conferred upon Ram Lakhina the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his valuable contribution in promoting the honor and prestige of India and in fostering interests of overseas Indians. In September 2009, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands knighted Ram Lakhina for his outstanding contribution to the promotion of Indo-Dutch co-operation. The publishers of 'The Indian' have named him as one of the "100 Global Indians - luminaries, achievers and entrepreneurs."

Ms. Erika Mann

Former Member of the European Parliament

"The Art of Living Foundation will organize in 2011 in Berlin a World Culture Festival. This is not the first time that the Art of Living Foundation will organize such kind of event but it will be the first time in Europe - and there couldn't be a better place than Berlin! The idea to show that culture is a way of life for all of us; that national traditions call very well live with international border less goals and ideas; that spiritual desires transcend religious thinking; and that our modern world continuous to be a place of wonder and excitement despite critical developments in many areas. It will be an event full of fun, seriousness and ideas and I am looking forward to be part of it."

Erika Mann was a Member of European Parliament from 1994 to 2009, serving in various capacities including Head of the Joint EU-Delegation with Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, and Member of the Delegation to South Asia. Among other posts, she is currently a non-resident Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council, as well as a Member of the Board of the World Forum for Ethics in Business.

She has extensive experience in several fields, including international trade, foreign policy, media, telecommunications and internet. She conceived the notion of a "Transatlantic Market" between the EU and US, which led to the foundation of the Transatlantic Economic Council. In 2005, she received the European-American Business Council Award 2005 for exceptional transatlantic commitment.

Erika Mann holds a Masters Degree in Social and Political Science, and was a researcher at the University of Hanover before becoming an IT Business Consultant. She is an Academic of the International Informatization Academy of the United Nations.

Rabbi David Rosen

International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee; Director of the Heilbrunn Institute for International Interreligious Understanding.

"The variety of physical species and forms that make up our world reflect the very glory of the One Source of all life. If that is so with the physical world, how much more so must it be the case with the spiritual worlds in which human understanding of the Divine is so variegated and diversified by different and changing cultural and historical conditions?

Respecting this diversity is itself an expression of the appreciation of the inestimable and unfathomable complexity of our world and the inevitably limited human capacity to grasp the totality of the Divine Source. Such respect inculcates in us both an authentic religious humility and capacity to celebrate the other, building a world of mutual understanding, appreciation and cooperation.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his International Art of Living Foundation do precisely this, opening eyes and hearts and serving as a source of blessing and inspiration to all. "

Rabbi Rosen is the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, is the immediate past chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC). He also serves as the Advisor on Interreligious Affairs to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, is a member of the Chief Rabbinate's delegation for Interreligious Dialogue, and serves on the Council of the Religious Institutions of the Holy Land. He is an International President of the World Conference of Religion for Peace (WCRP, the all-encompassing world inter-faith body incorporating fifteen religions in over fifty countries), Honorary President of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ, the umbrella organization for more than thirty national bodies promoting Christian-Jewish relations and the ICCJ's Abrahamic Forum which promotes dialogue between Muslims, Christians and Jews), serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Congress of Imams and Rabbis and as a member of the Executive Committee of the World Economic Forum's Council for promoting relations and cooperation between the Muslim and Western worlds.

Rabbi Rosen was a member of the Permanent Bilateral Commission of the State of Israel and the Holy See that negotiated the normalization of relations between the two.

In November 2005, Pope Benedict XVI made Rabbi Rosen a Knight Commander of the order of St Gregory the Great for his outstanding contribution to promoting Catholic-Jewish reconciliation. In 2010 he was

Dr. Jacques Santer

Former Prime Minister Luxemburg, Former President of the European Commission

Dr. Jacques Santer is a Member of the European Parliament, Luxembourg for the Parti Chrétien Social. He studied law at the Universities of Strasbourg and Paris, and attended the Institute of Political Science in Paris. In 1975 he became a Member of the European Parliament, and in 1984 was elected Luxembourg's Prime Minister, serving three successive terms in office to 1995.

Entering politics, he became the President of the Supervisory Board of Christian Labour Union in 1969 and has held several key positions in the political arena since then, some of which include: Parliamentary secretary of the PCS Group (1966-1972); Secretary-General of the PCS (1972-1974); National President of the PCS (1974-1982); Chairman of the Christian trade unions monitoring committee (1969-1972); President of the EPP (1987-1990); Member of the Chamber of Deputies (1974-1979). Dr. Santer also holds several distinguished honors which include The Grand Cross of: the Order of the Legion of Honour (France); the Order of Merit (Germany and Italy); the Order of Leopold II (Belgium); the Crown of Oak (Luxembourg); the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Luxembourg); the Order of Malta and other decorations.

Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp

Former President of the European region of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, Dutch chair of the Solidarity Committee for Jews

"To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny.” The Earth Charter

“Celebrating diversity goes beyond the theme of „tolerance“ that has become a much used term in interfaith dialogue. We have to move further: from tolerance to respect and from respect to love which expresses itself in the deep understanding that we need the other to complement and enrich our own religious and spiritual identity. The international Art of Living Foundation has over the years contributed immensely to this understanding."

Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp is an award-winning human rights advocate, lecturer, writer, environmental activist and champion of civil society. Born in 1943 in Amsterdam, he was saved from religious persecution by a righteous couple and survived as a 'hidden child'. He received his ordination from Leo Baeck College and was instrumental in the re-establishment of Jewish communities in the Netherlands. He is the Rabbi Emeritus of congregation Beth Jehuda (The Hague) and former European region president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. He is a founding member of Green Cross International, and the Islam and the West dialogue group of the World Economic Forum. He is founder and chair of the Hope for Children Fund, and serves as an Earth Charter commissioner and a Millennium Development Ambassador.

Rabbi Soetendorp is a recipient of numerous honors, including the Peacebuilders Award (2005) and the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award (2008). He was honored by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands with the Royal Distinction as an Officer of the House of Orange (1994).

Prof. Dr. Myron Scholes

Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences

Myron S. Scholes is Chairman of Platinum Grove Asset Management, formerly known as Oak Hill Platinum Partners, an alternative investment fund specializing in liquidity provision services to the global wholesale capital markets. Professor Scholes is currently a director of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Dimensional Fund Investors mutual funds, and American Century (Mountain View) mutual funds.  Professor Scholes is widely known for his seminal work in options pricing, capital markets, tax policies and the financial services industry. He is widely published in academic journals. For his work, he has been awarded the Alfred Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1997. He was the Frank E. Buck Professor of Finance at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business from 1983 to 1996, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution from 1987 to 1996. He received a Ph.D. in 1969 from the University of Chicago, where he served as the Edward Eagle Brown Professor of Finance in the Graduate School of Business from 1974 to 1983 and where he was the Director of the Center for Research in Security Prices from 1976 to 1983. Professor Scholes has honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Paris, France; McMaster University, Canada; Louvain University Belgium; and Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.

Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan

President, Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance

"I highly appreciate the tremendous work towards conflict resolution, peace and intercultural dialogue that the International Art of Living Foundation has facilitated in the last 30 years not only in Asia but in over 150 countries in the world. I see it to be very timely, that the World Culture Festival, which aims to foster harmony in diversity and the dialogue between cultures, comes to Berlin in a time when integration of different cultures and intercultural harmony is one of the most important issues. I hearty congratulate the International Art of Living Foundation to its 30th anniversary and welcome the World Culture Festival and H. H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Berlin, the historic bridge between East and West."

Gesine Schwan was born in Berlin in 1943. She studied Roman Languages, History, Philosophy and Political Science in Berlin and Freiburg/Breisgau. In 1971, Gesine Schwan became Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the Free University Berlin and lectured on the philosophical and economical bases of the social critique of Karl Marx. In 1977, she became professor of Political Science, in particular of Political Theory and Philosophy, at the Free University Berlin. Her main fields of research are Political Philosophy and Theories of Democracy and recently, problems of Political Psychology and Political Culture.

Since October 1999, she is President of the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder). At request of Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, she assumed the office of Coordinator of the Federal Government for Civil Cooperation with the Republic of Poland in January 2005.

Ms. Schwan, who joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) in 1972, has collaborated in numerous political committees, alongside her scientific career. From 1977 to 1984 and again since 1996, she has been member of the Commission for Fundamental Values of the board of governors of SPD. In March 2004, she was nominated by SPD and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen as candidate for the office of the Federal President of Germany.

Mr. Josef Winkler

Member of German Parliament, Board Member Green Party

"I applaud the International Art of Living Foundation and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for its outstanding service to mankind during the last 30 years. 10 Mio trees planted, lives of 200.000 prison inmates transformed , 61.546 rural youth trained in leadership and vocational skills and 138 free schools and uncountable peace initiatives are an outstanding track record. Sri Sri Ravi Shankars Ghandian` approach of resolving conflicts through non-violence and dialogue is much needed in today's times of domestic violence, religious intolerance and intercultural conflicts. I am pleased, that the World Culture Festival will provide a precious opportunity for the diverse cultures of this world to come together in a ecumenical spirit of belonging and connectedness!"