Page 5 - DIVA 2 2025 web

editorial

international year of….

We entered 2025 with lots of new hopes, and now we are
more than a quarter through the year. Of course, only time
will show if our hopes come to fruition, but making sure
they do will depend on us.

e UNGA proclaimed 2025 as the: International Year the Canton hosting the WEF – read our report in this issue.
of: Quantum Science and Technology (A/RES/78/287); We have also taken part in most of the awareness-raising
Cooperatives (A/RES/78/289); Glaciers’ Preservation (A/ cultural/arts events all over the country, such as the ‘Arts
RES/77/158); and Peace and Trust (A/RES/78/266), all for the Glaciers’ campaign. We also attempted a historical
of those are important, and we are covering them in our pilgrimage carrying a personal message from the Pope,
magazine. aimed at highlighting the protection of the UNESCO
heritage glacier. is pilgrimage turned out to be harder
Peace and trust, however, are of the highest importance, than expected, with a ve-hour high mountain hike that
even though they seem today more fragile. We hope that required not just a desire to protect the glaciers but a lot
2025 will help to reestablish broken links to restore trust. of physical preparation. We are, however, determined to
We should never forget that large changes come about accomplish it next summer; please contact us for details
because of many smaller changes, and each of us can do if you are interested.
something to a ect the nal outcome.
Currently, we are organising discussions and round-tables,
For example, our magazine has been very much concerned and in summer will attempt the Glacier semi-marathon,
by the state of the glaciers and has successfully tried to and more marches. We will also try to encourage a
raise awareness about the state of glaciers in Switzerland in concert and/or a photography exhibition dedicated to the
particular. is concern was shared by the WEF last year, protection of glaciers.
and this year also.
All of this will be our tiny pieces of a larger foundation.
Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, came up However, the larger foundation is more important,
with the “Year of Preservation of Glaciers” initiative and because glaciers are not only natural beauty, but also the
raised it as a concern at the regional and global level. e largest reserves of drinking water. But not only that. In
initiative was unanimously approved by UNGA in 2022 to a world that today faces a de cit of trust and is split by
designate 2025 as the Year of Glacier Protection. And this factions, we can all agree on the importance of issues like
year, for the rst time, the 21st of March will be celebrated as the glaciers: they are treasures we have in common. If we
World Glacier Day, highlighting the importance of glaciers raise these concerns and work together to achieve the
as integral to our life, health and sustainable development. vital goal of preservation, it will also be our “small bits”
Over recent years, we have managed to visit almost all the in recreating and rebuilding trust. Undoubtedly, peace is
accessible glaciers in Switzerland, writing articles to raise the guarantee of life and security, but in a way, glaciers are
awareness and on measures and research aimed at the also the guarantee of life, because they are the «guardians»
glaciers’ protection. We are also studying all innovative of fresh water, and water IS life.
projects and technologies for glacier preservation; to this
end, we recently made a special study tour to the glaciers of If the big picture does not depend on us, we could at least
do «our little bit». Together, our little parts can add up to
something much bigger. It is said that «the little streams
make big rivers», and these big rivers could change the
whole landscape.
E R

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