On February 26, the coronavirus landed in Latin America when Brazil confirmed a case in São Paulo. Since then, governments across the region have taken an array of actions to protect their citizens and contain the spread of the devastating respiratory disease called by the World Health Organization COVID-19. But, per July 2020, Latin America had become the region with the highest number of confirmed cases globally, accounting for more than a quarter of cases in the world. Aside from the health risks, this disease has produced a huge economic impact as well. The World Bank forecasted in June 2020 that Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole would see a GDP contraction of 7.2 percent this year.  By the time this episode was recorded, these figures had changed to show an even worrisome economic impact. Beyond governmental aid to the underprivileged, it’s clear that, Latin America has been hardly-hit, by deep humanitarian, economic, and political consequences. That’s what today’s Paris Talks guest wants to talk about. Esther Kuisch Laroche is an educator and the current UNESCO Representative for Costa Rica, El-Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. In this episode, Esther is addressing the question the Season two of the Paris Talks Podcast has been asking. If we were to start a New Normal, what and how should it be? Welcome to the Paris Talks Podcast. We’re trying to understand the post-COVID-19’s New Normal through inspiring stories and testimonies from innovators, community influencers and policy-designers. Paris Talks is produced by Michael Bahati Our theme song is Nipe Story (pronounced “kneepay story”) by Charmant Mushaga Additional music is provided by Sumana Music and pixabay For more information about this podcast and our other projects, please reach out via Twitter ( @ParisTalks) or send us an email to [email protected]

If we were to start a new normal, what and how should it be? The NEW NORMAL is the title we've given to the second season of the Paris Talks Podcast. It's made of six episodes that have been been built upon the above-asked question. Subscribe and listen to the 1st episode coming in on December 17, 2020.

In his lecture-like talk on the Paris Talks stage at UNESCO, the  Writer, Environmental and Energy Transition Innovator Pierre-Etienne FRANC methodically argues on the benefits of Hydrogen, adding that “it’s possible to demonstrate zero emission mobility in a city using Hydrogen fuel-cell” 

In his talk on the 2019 Paris Talks Conference stage at UNESCO, the Writer & ICAN France spokesperson & Arctic research, expert on issues of Defence and International Security, Jean-Marie Collin freaks participants out on future possibilities of an imminent nuclear war. Telling a story of The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s false alert about an incoming ballistic missile, Jean-Marie argues that atomic weapons could be used one day or another against us, our environment, cities, civilians and countries.  In this talk, Jean-Marie tries to answer the question of our preparedness for a potential nuclear war and whether we’re ready to face the consequences of a nuclear war. Why hasn’t there been another nuclear war recently? “Luck”, argues Jean-marie. “We all have a choice; to accept living in a fear of a nuclear detonation or to act right now”, he says.

In her talk on the 2019 Paris Talks Conference stage at UNESCO, the humanitarian, former Pakistani parliamentarian and cabinet member, Marvi Memon, talked about a disturbing observations of conflicts - mismanaged by corrupt institutions and global leadership - that nurture chronic poverty for some and great economic opportunities for others. To have safer and equal economic opportunities for all, Marvi argues that conflicts have to be solved through social programs, social insurance for all, territorial dispute resolutions’ programs and a labour-market program (aka economic dependency) among states.  For more information about Paris Talks, please visit us on Twitter at @ParisTalks

In this talk, Kyle Matthews, the  Executive Director of Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, insists that to be able to win the war on terrorism, we have to be able to engage in the battle of ideas.  How can we do that?  Kyle argues that education is the key.  We must continuously teach critical skills, apply the rule of law and stop our military obsession as it doesn't kill terror ideas.  The best way to fight violent extremism is to bring the authors of these crimes to courts of justice.

In his 2019 Paris Talks Conference talk at UNESCO in 2019,  Writer & Journalist Alex Taylor discusses the messy break-up of Brexit, looking at its implication for popular confidence in glogal leadership. According to Alex, Identity & sincerity are some of the main issues politicians and the global leadership should learn to fix to avoid many issues that can turn into conflict. 

In this round table discussion on the Paris Talks stage at UNESCO in March 2019, the radio personality David J. COFFEY,  Deputy Head of Service RFI English engages Marvi Mermon, Sonia BEN ALI and Timo Eliott in a discussion on issues related to conflict and ways to resolve current politically-motivated divides in our society.

In her talk on the Paris Talks stage at UNESCO in March 2019, the Social Innovator, Co-Founder and CEO at URBAN REFUGEES Sonia BEN ALI, argues that even though refugees are victims of armed conflicts and, definitely suffer from the consequences of these conflicts, they are also powerful solutions builders and finders that need to be empowered and engaged.

In her talk at the 2019 Paris Talks conference at UNESCO, Ms Stefania Giannini, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education sent a wake up call to Paris Talks participants asking them to stand up for education not only for number educated children but in terms of the quality of the education given to them. This talks promotes educational values based on development, strong cooperation for a collective and inclusive society.