Salzburg Global: Voices for Peace

At the invitation of the Austrian Pavilion of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, Salzburg Global invited approximately 40 guests including Fellows and other guests from diplomatic circles, the public sector, academia, and the non-profit and private sectors to a special event, Salzburg Global: Voices for Peace, on May 27. The half-day event invited attendees to join two salon discussions. 

The first salon discussion gave voice to Fellows who highlighted the work of their project teams and professional organizations in building peace in their communities. Moderated by Salzburg Global’s Deputy CEO, Benjamin Glahn, four Fellows were invited to lead this discussion: Sadaf Taimur (Pakistan), Andy Alegre (Philippines), Anastacia Howe (Myanmar/Australia), and Kacey Kwok Choi Wong (Hong Kong). Together they addressed questions including:

• What methods can best engage young people and prepare them not only to give voice to peace, but to share their hopes with and inspire the older generations?
• Are there topics that can unite young people for peace? For example, climate change (Sadaf), faith (Andy), art (Kacey), or promotion of responsible business ethics (Anastacia)?
• How can we depoliticize these topics and build broader societal coalitions?
• How do we construct peace at the community level, particularly in cases of polarization where people do not understand each other?

The second salon featured two more senior figures whose discussion explored the ways in which current geopolitical instability might affect global prospects for peace. Moderated by Salzburg Global’s President Martin Weiss, discussants Satohiro Akimoto and Francisco Rojas Aravena were asked:

• To what extent can we describe the current situation as being the start of a “New World Order”?
• Are existing structures such as the UN or NATO up to tackling these new challenges, or might new organizations be needed (an Asian NATO)?
• What are the most urgent current challenges and what can organizations like those present at this event do best to help?

The event also included time for guests and presenters to network with a tour of the acclaimed Austrian pavilion, a reception with Austrian drinks and snacks, and even a special modern Tuba concerto by musicians from Salzburg’s Mozarteum Conservatory who were performing at the Expo. 

Happily, the Nippon Foundation also coordinated their own TNFSA Fellow event in Tokyo on the evening before the Expo event in Osaka, allowing the Expo panelists to attend and benefit from this wider network.