2001-
Utrecht
The Netherlands
The Utrecht University
AULA
ACADEMIEGEBOW
A German prestigious scientist and a versatile American artist
have
been honoured by the World Cultural Council and the Utrecht
University.
During
the welcome address the Rector of the University, Prof. Willem
Hendrik Gispen expressed "Today we are here to recognise
outstanding leaders in the fields of science arts and I am delighted
to host this ceremony in association with the World Cultural Council
and to witness today the presentation of the Global Foundation.
The
Utrecht University is very grateful that institutions such as
the World Cultural Council had the vision to select, recognise
and reward international excellence in the field of arts, education
and science. Today we are here to recognise and honour Niels
Birbaumer and Edna Hibel. Both have been important
in the advancement of Sciences and Arts for the benefit of mankind"
Dr
José Rafael Estrada, President of the World Cultural
Council welcome the audience with his words of hope” World
problems like crime, drugs, terrorism and violence in general
need to have an adequate answer. As teachers and educators, we
can say that the answer is in education, in the promotion of values
and virtues. The answer is obviously a long-term one and requires
perseverance and patience.
We
are on this path, creating the structures that will last in time
and that can be expanded throughout the world. We are convinced
that we can be the heralds of a better world; we may not live
to see this world, but our descendents will benefit from it. A
world in which east and west will grow close through bonds of
brotherhood, a world in which religions will be opportunities
for union, a world in which priest and atheist will recognise
each other as brothers, and in which philosopher and scientist
will both understand a common language of human advancement.
I
can assure you that this is not a search for utopia. If evil exists
in every man and there is no human being who does not make mistakes,
goodness also exists in everyone and there is no human being without
any virtue”
Prof.
Niels Birbaumer, Professor of Medical Psychology and Behavioral
Neurobiology at the University of Tübingen, Germany, who
acknowledge: “Let me express my gratitude for this splendid
award. The fact that the Einstein World Award of Science is given
by the World Cultural Council (directed by Dr. José Rafael
Estrada), an organization centered in Mexico carries a strong
symbolic meaning for me...”
Edna
Hibel who has often been referred as the USA's most versatile
artist, as well as its best colorist, expresed after been awarded
with the "Leonardo da Vinci" Award: "I feel that
any of the things that had happened to me, except now,- I have
three children-, this is the best! It is wonderful and I hope
that in my way I can, well I have been trying all my life to paint
beauty, love, compassion, and all the things that we want the
world to be".
The
Rector Prof. Gispen introduces Dr. Estrada to say
the opening declaration of the Global Foundation who expressed
"I solemnly declare founded the Global Foundation" in
the presence of the Council of Chancellors constituted by noteworthy
personalities.
This
venue presented the recipients of the Prizes and celebrated the
achievements of more than two decades of work and efforts.
The
Global Foundation encompasses associated organizations established
by "Dr Estrada´s original view led to the progressive
and pragmatic creation of different bodies, all aiming, from various
horizons and with appropriate objectives, to contribute to the
progress of humankind, regardless of race, ethic group, culture,
creed, gender, age or level of understanding." These organisms
are:
THE
WORLD CULTURAL COUNCIL, the WORLD PEACE ORGANIZATION, the ALBERT
EINSTEIN UNIVERSITY, the HEALTH AND CULTURE FUND and the CULTURAL
CENTRE.
As
Prof. Jacques E. Dubois, Chancellor of the Global Foundation
said during his speech "The primary
merit and originality of this Foundation is its holistic vision
of world culture as integrating a sense of purpose, principles
and values, in knowledge, science and art".
"This
holistic view was first and foremost the vision of an exceptional
human being, Dr José Rafael Estrada who, in the
early 1960s, began to establish Schools of "Human Development"
in
Latin America. Through these experiences in a world less dominated
than wealthier industrial countries by the Galilean teaching of
Science, and a Scholarly approach to other human activities, including
the arts and philosophy, some original and more global teaching
methods were developed."
The
members of the Council of Chancellors were recognised by a medal
and a diploma acknowledging their dedication to science making
contributions to the enhancement of mankind and their valuable
participation to the organization.
Prof.
Werner Arber, Biochemist, Nobel Prize of Medicine, University
of Basel, Switzerland; Prof. Cornelis de Jager, Astrophysicist,
Utrecht University, The Netherlands; Prof. Jacques E. Dubois,
Chemistry, University of Paris, France; Prof. Robert Huber,
Biochemist, Max Planck Institute, Nobel Prize of Chemistry, Germany;
Dr Ashok Karande, Environmental Biologist, University of
Bombay, India; Prof. Bernhard Neumann, Mathemathician,
Australian National University, Australia; Prof. Phillip Tobias,
Paleoanthropologist, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Dr.
José Rafael Estrada, Founder of the Global Foundation,
Mexico, his diploma and medal was delivered by Prof. Gispen
Rector of Utrecht University, who acted as witness of honour with
the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Stoof and the
Dean of the Faculty of Arts Prof. Bertens.
"Fifty
six years ago, after the dropping of the first atomic bombs on
Hiroshima and Nagassaki, one often heard the desperate cry, "Stop
all science for ten years, until ethics has caught up" ".
"The
Foundation "aims to promote rapprochement, acceptance and
respect among the existing ideological and cultural currents"....these
few words show the world´s great need of such a body, as
we stand poised upon a new century and a new millennium which
have erupted with such an inauspicious beginning...
If
it is true to its stated ideals I believe that the Global Foundation
has a significant role to play, as we move beyond the beginning
of the third millennium".
Prof.
Phillip Tobias, Vice President World Cultural Council.
