Maurice Strong

Maurice Strong was secretary general of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, commonly described as the Earth Summit. He is married to Hanne Strong.

"Mr. Strong founded the Earth Council in 1992 after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and is now extending that leadership with a new mandate to unite local councils and affiliated organizations under the Earth Council Alliance with co-founder Tommy E. Short.

"In addition, he is currently spending much of his time in China in his role as advisor to government, business and United Nations organizations. He also is a special advisor to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, as well as chairman of the council, University for Peace, affiliated with United Nations.

"A Canadian and international businessman, Mr. Strong was catapulted onto a world stage in the early 1970s through his work with the United Nations.

"From November 1970 until December 1972, Mr. Strong was Secretary- General of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the Stockholm conference on sustainability. He subsequently became the first Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

"And from 1990 to 1993, he was Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development - the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro – as the focus widened to economic, social, and environmental factors in meeting sustainability goals. Since 1985, he has been an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. In 1985 and 1986, he was concurrently Executive Co-Founder, Chairman Emeritus Biography.

"Coordinator of the United Nations Office for Emergency Operations in Africa and a member of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Earlier in his career Mr. Strong served in investment and senior management positions with corporations in the energy and financial sectors. He was president of the Power Corporation of Canada before leaving in 1966 to head Canada’s External Aid Office, later reorganized as the Canadian International Development Agency.

"Mr. Strong returned to Canada as president, chairman and CEO of Petro-Canada (1976-78). He served as Chairman of the International Energy Development Corporation from 1980 to 1983 and of the Canada Development Investment Corporation from 1982 to 1984."

"Currently he is Chair of the Earth Council, president of the UN-created University for Peace, special advisor to the president of the World Bank, Chair of many corporations and on the board of numerous organizations," a biographical note states. [1]

Strong's career has included working as:

• president of the Power Corporation of Canada until 1966;
• then head Canada’s External Aid Office (which later became the Canadian International Development Agency);
• Secretary- General of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment between November 1970 until December 1972;
• President, chairman and CEO of Petro-Canada (1976-78);
• Chairman of the International Energy Development Corporation from 1980 to 1983;
• Canada Development Investment Corporation from 1982 to 1984.
• Since 1985, he has been an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations; from 1990 to 1993, he was Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development - the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro;
• In 1985 and 1986, he was concurrently Executive Co-Founder, Chairman Emeritus Biography, Coordinator of the United Nations Office for Emergency Operations in Africa and a member of the World Commission on Environment and Development.
• Maurice is Ex officio: President, of the University for Peace and sits on the Management Committee of the Institute for Media, Peace and Security. [2]

• Distinguished Fellow, International Institute for Sustainable Development
• Management Commitee, Institute for War and Peace Reporting
• Former International Advisory Board member, Auroville Foundation
• Director, World Future Society
• Honorary Board Member, David Suzuki Foundation

Awards

Strong has been awarded numerous awards including "the Order of Canada, the Swedish Royal Order of the Polar Star, the IAIA Global Environment Award and honourary doctorates from 46 universities, including one from York. In addition, Strong is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Royal Society (UK), and Royal Architectural Society of Canada." [3]

Books

• Maurice Strong, Conference on the Human Environment Founex Switzerland June 4-12 1971 (Paperback), Walter De Gruyter Inc (June 1973), ISBN 9027969906
• Maurice Strong, The Castel Gandolfo report on renewable energy: Policies and options, North South Roundtable, January 1981, ASIN B0006XXXJ6
• Maurice Strong, Where on Earth Are We Going?, Texere; 1st edition, April 2001, ISBN 158799092X (Hardcover).

Congressional Testimony

• Maurice Strong, "Statement of Maurice F. Strong, Chairman Earth Council Foundation", Testimony at a hearing of the United States Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Foreign Relations, July 24, 2002.

Speches and Articles by Strong

• "Notes Fro Lecture By Maurice F. Strong at York University", September 28th, 2001.

Resources and articles

Related Sourcewatch

• Sustainable development
• Bella Abzug - former senior advisor

External links

Biographical Notes

• "Mr. Maurice Strong", undated, accessed August 2006.
• National Council for Science and the Environment , "Maurice Strong Joins NCSE Board of Directors", Media Release, May 13, 2003.
• "About Earth Council Alliance", accessed August 2006.
• "Maurice Strong: Distinguished Fellow", International Institute for Sustainable Development, undated accessed August 2006.

Interviews With Strong

• George Negus, "Interview with Maurice Strong & Dr. Clovis Maksoud", "Foreigh Correspondent", ABC TV, July 15, 1997.
• Michael Stoll, "Maurice Strong: Our Man in Rio (and San Francisco, too)", Commentary, E Magazine, undated, accessed August 2006.

Other Articles

• Elaine Dewar, "Cloak of Green: The Links between Key Environmental Groups, Government and Big Business", Lorimer, January 1995. SBN 10 1-55028-450-9 (Paperback) ISBN 10 1-55028-451-7 (Hardback). (Dewar undertook a 2 day critical interview with Maurice Strong which is fully reported in this book)[4]
• John Passacantando, "George W. Bush, Meet Maurice Strong", Alternet, August 27, 2002. (Passacantando is Greenpeace USA's executive director).