MONTREAL, June 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In conjunction with its participation in the 14th International Economic Forum of the Americas/Conference of Montreal, taking place in Montreal from 9 to 12 June 2008, Rio Tinto Alcan is hosting the 10 organizations from seven countries that were selected to the 2007 short list for the US$1-million Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability(x). Rio Tinto Alcan and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), which manages the Prize, will facilitate a forum on the potential of partnerships between business and civil society organizations to shape a sustainable future.
"When we introduced this Prize, we wanted to do more than make much-needed funds available to some of the world's most innovative non-governmental organizations," said Dick Evans, chief executive of Rio Tinto Alcan. "We wanted to contribute to a legacy of learning and sharing among these extraordinary organizations, and to make sure this learning was being channelled back to the business community. Over the past four years, we have all acquired a much better understanding of how our sectors can - and must - work together to tackle the considerable global challenges we face."
"Our experience around the world promoting partnerships between business, the public sector and civil society has demonstrated that collaboration and collective action are key to addressing global development challenges. The Prize raises awareness of the critical role played by civil society and in particular not-for-profit organizations in these partnerships, by both recognising and rewarding good practice", said Adrian Hodges, managing director, IBLF.
The 2007 finalists will also participate in a Conference of Montreal luncheon discussion and will be the guests of honour at a gala dinner, June 10, hosted by Rio Tinto Alcan. The winner of the 2007 Rio Tinto Alcan Prize, India's Utthan Centre for Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation, will be represented at this event by its founder and president, Dr. Dina Nath Tewari.
"It is truly an honour for the International Economic Forum of the Americas/Conference of Montreal to receive Dr. Dina Nath Tewari. The work that is being accomplished under his Presidency at India's Utthan Centre is really remarkable in its dynamic approach and efficiency in fighting poverty in a sustainable development context", said Gil Remillard, founding chairman of the International Economic Forum of the Americas/Conference of Montreal.
Finalists for the 2007 Rio Tinto Alcan Prize for Sustainability are based in Nicaragua, the UK, Bangladesh, India (with three finalists), the US (with two finalists), China, and Sweden.
Since its inception, the Prize has been awarded to the Bonn-based Forest Stewardship Council, the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services Program from Pakistan, India's Barefoot College, and the Utthan Centre, also from India. Each of the short-listed candidates receives a training grant worth US$15,000 to build capacity by enabling a senior staff member to study cross-sector partnerships through an accredited educational institution. Rio Tinto Alcan Prize alumni keep in touch through an online network, hosted at www.alcanprizeforsustainability.com.
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.
Source: PR Newswire
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