America

Gore calls for new way to tackle global warming

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-04 21:59

Addressing the ongoing Annual Conference and CEO summit in San Jose, near San Francisco, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore called for a new way of thinking by a generation in the crisis of global warming.

Gore urged about 1,700 audience at the summit, hosted by Huanyuan Science and Technology Association (HYSTA), to be in this important movement of protecting the environment.

He said China has a great role to play from the global point of view, adding that he believed the global warming crisis is an ethical and moral issue, not a political issue.

Gore, known for his Academy Award short documentary film "An Inconvenient Truth," and a 2007 Noble peace nominee, called on his audience, most of them Chinese entrepreneurs, to give priority to the environmental issue.

Jack Xu, HYSTA President and Conference Chair, said:"We are also particularly pleased to have the honor of hosting former Vice President Al Gore as our keynote speaker addressing the Chinese professional community and Silicon Valley's entrepreneurs to further raise awareness of the unique era we are in and the social responsibilities we have."

"HYSTA is proud to bring together some of the most authoritative global leaders to share their wisdom and insights on China's ascension to the world's stage and the many economic, environmental and societal impacts of China's rising."

Participants at the two-day conference discussed issues ranging from global warming to business opportunities in China.

Brian Derken, deputy CEO of Deloitte & Touche, stressed the importance of a "China strategy," saying China "is a big market and we must find more opportunities to grow."

"We need to import specialists, but will hire local talents. One day, we may not need to import specialist to China anymore."

Jack Gao, representative of the News Corporation, said approaching China means "crossing the river by feeling stones."

He said clear plan and China strategy should be independent by global strategy. "Going to China would change the culture of global strategies. Company's view should reflect changes in corporate culture," he said.

"Going Global" means different things to different Chinese companies, and the paths to globalization are also different, William Ding, CEO of NetEase said. "Do not globalize in blind fervor," he advised.

"See globalization as the means, not the goal," said Wei Guo, CEO of Digital China.

To Digital China, "globalization" means shortening the distance between China and the world, by bringing the most advanced solutions to China in real time, and introducing the best of China to the world in real time, he said.

Speaking of the future energy, Dr. Jiang Lin, a senor analyst from China EnergyGroup, said:"There is tremendous potential in Solar. When human being discovered fossil fuel over a century ago, there were only about one billion people in the whole world. The fossil fuel today supports the life of about 6 billion people in the world."

"When the fossil fuel runs out, how could the human being go back to one billion?! We have no other choice, but to discover and start using alternative energy. As of now, the technology is ready to be used, but the cost is too high," he said.

"The key to lowering solar cost should be through a combination of the right strategy -- policy from governments and investment to enable mass production from private sectors. I am confident that will happen."

HYSTA is Silicon Valley's leading Chinese professionals association. Founded in 1999 by a group of successful Chinese entrepreneurs, HYSTA aims to advance entrepreneurship and career development among Chinese in the Silicon Valley and to facilitate networking and exchange of business ideas among successful Chinese entrepreneurs and executives in the Silicon Valley and China.