Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defense Minister General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Sunday said the Science, Technology & Arts Summit, STARS 2001, will benefit the children of the world.
The landmark event is organized in cooperation with the United Nations Global Movement for Children, with the aim of exploring ways to raise funds for disadvantaged children around the world.
The two-day musical and celebrity extravaganza on October 13 to 15 was to include former US president Bill Clinton, by he called off the visit due to the current developments regarding the US war on Afghanistan.
Inaugurating the summit, Sheikh Mohammed was quoted by Gulf News as saying, "The opening of GITEX was successful as expected, and it pleases me to officially inaugurate the STARS initiative for the welfare of the world's children."
Some 700 guests crowded the grand ballroom of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel to attend the inaugural gala dinner of the summit.
Neil Bush, brother of US President George W. Bush, later in the evening welcomed the initiative, and said: "There is no better place than Dubai to launch such a thing, at this time."
The STARS Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to harness technological breakthroughs to make a better life for the underprivileged children of the world.
Amr Dabbagh, Chairman of the Foundation, dedicated the efforts to the starving children of Afghanistan and extended his gratitude to Sheikh Mohammed for his support.
"The events of recent days and weeks have made us all think deeply about the world. Now, more than ever before, we need a greater cooperation among people from all different nationalities," he said, adding: "We believe that this process must begin with children. We must act and we must do so now."
The Foundation will be initiating a number of fund-raising activities, including a major Royal Summit event in January next year to be attended by Clinton, and other high profile personalities.
A number of projects were announced at the event covering both activities to raise funds and projects to help children. Fund-raising activities included a charity record produced by members of the Rolling Stones, as well as the major Science, Technology & Arts Royal Summit Royal event to take place in January in Dubai.
Dabbagh introduced the first major project, which is already underway in South Africa in conjunction with Nelson Mandela's Foundation. This project aims to build a dedicated community with real homes for children centred on the themes of education and technology.
Mandela Mandela, grandson of former South African president Nelson Mandela, was due to attend the event –- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
