Consumers International World Congress - Day 1 roundup

Consumer leaders from more than 60 countries have gathered in Hong Kong to address the global challenge of financial consumer protection.

Day 1 of Congress was all about Fringe Events. You can find here photos of delegates from around the globe, who arrived in Hong Kong and took part in the sessions.

Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC) CEO, Connie Lau, has welcomed delegates to the CI World Congress, noting that "this is a moment not only to foster cultural understanding and partnership, it also presents a great opportunity for exploring ways to protect and empower consumer rights".

In other highlights:

As one of the hosts of Consumers International World Congress 2011, the Hong Kong Consumer Council has been busy with preparatory tasks, ranging from working out conference themes, to selecting souvenirs for participants. Finding suitable souvenirs for the conference delegates wasn't easy, reports Hong Kong newspaper The Standard.

After visiting many social enterprises, HKCC Chief Executive Connie Lau finally decided upon a workshop for the mentally handicapped and its picture frames and magnetic gifts - miniature replicas of popular local snacks, such as a kai mei bun, French toast and egg tarts. Each gift is inexpensive but is handmade and unique. Even the sesame seeds on each kai mei bun are different.

Not enough 'brain power' spent on consumers during financial crisis - French Finance Minister and chair of the G20 finance ministers in 2011, Christine Lagarde to tell CI World Congress.

In a video address to the Congress, Christine Lagarde will say:

"It is my personal belief that on the occasion of the [financial] crisis we didn't spend a lot of time, nor a lot of brain power on consumers", going on to say, "consumers were the victims on many occasions and in many instances".

Madame Lagarde will add: "It is only fair that consumers are part of the process of rebuilding trust and rebuilding regulation and making sure that the same situation does not happen again."

The message from Madame Lagarde will be followed by a keynote address from James Guest, Vice President of CI and CEO of Consumers Union in the United States. Highlighting the impact of financial abuses in the US, India, Egypt, Spain and Bosnia, James Guest will talk about the significance of the CI campaign on financial services.

Rob Steele, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has sent a welcome message to CI World Congress delegates.

Steele introduces COPOLCO, ISO and the work with Consumers International.

Academic Jonathon Hanks told CI ahead of his presentation on Wednesday that he would hope "delegates would leave with a heightened sense of the fundamentally important role that consumer bodies can play in addressing sustainability challenges, an appreciation of the responsibility that they have in doing so, and some practical ideas on actions that they can take to deliver on this responsibility." 

Congress is a great opportunity for exploring ways to protect and empower consumers

Dignatories, Hong Kong Consumer Council and Consumers International Council toast the opening of World Congress

Hong Kong Consumer Council CEO, Connie Lau, has welcomed delegates to the CI World Congress.

As we gather to welcome members of Consumers International and friends from across the globe, I want to thank you all for joining us at this wonderful event.

This is the second time that Hong Kong has hosted the CI World Congress. We are honoured to have you here at this great meeting, with representatives from more than 100 countries, and with the largest number of participants ever from China.

This is a moment not only to foster cultural understanding and partnership, it also presents a great opportunity for exploring ways to protect and empower consumer rights. In the next three days, we will talk about sustainable consumption and the green economy; consumer protection in financial services; food safety and nutrition; as well as intellectual property .

These topics on the agenda are some of the most complex challenges that will be faced by consumers in the 21st century. In our increasingly interconnected world, I believe that no countries will be left untouched by these issues.

So let us dedicate ourselves to writing the next chapter in the history of consumer right and protection, and we shall carry forward the goals with a broader vision and more proactive approach.

Once again, I wish to express our warm welcome and cordial greetings to all our distinguished guests, and I hope you will enjoy your stay in Hong Kong!

Jonathon Hanks interview: Consumer bodies ‘fundamentally important’ in addressing sustainability challenges

Consumers Intrernational caught up with academic Jonathon Hanks ahead of his presentation at CI World Congress on Wednesday. Jonathon is Managing Director of Incite Sustainability, an advocacy group and consultancy that helps companies do better by making sustainability part of their business. He lectures on sustainability strategy at the UCT Graduate School of Business, and recently chaired an international negotiating process involving experts from 90 countries that developed a global standard on social responsibility (ISO 26000).

The University of Cape Town academic's presentation will focus on "reviewing the rights and responsibilities of consumers in effecting a transition to a more sustainable society, noting in particular the nature of their interface with the business community and the role of social responsibility initiatives".

Sustainability and consumers

Hanks believes that "consumers have an important dual role to play, on the one hand by encouraging more sustainable production practices and greater accountability within the business sector, and on the other hand by promoting more sustainable consumption patterns amongst consumers themselves".

He regards having empowered consumers as "critical" in delivering effectively on both roles: "We need consumers (and consumer bodies) who: i) have an informed understanding of the nature of the societal challenges that we face and of the role that they can play in addressing these challenges, ii) have the capacity to engage effectively and credibly with businesses and policy-makers, and iii) have the ability to inform and influence marketers, advertisers and other consumers more generally. All of these require consumer empowerment in some form."

Networking and practical solutions

Taking part in CI World Congress is important to Jonathon: "I'm very much looking forward to participating in this event, with two key objectives in mind: understanding the current thinking within the consumer movement of the role that consumers can play (and are playing) in addressing global societal challenges; meeting and engaging with some of the participating consumer activists, particularly those from developing countries, with the aim of identifying collaborative approaches to meeting our shared agenda of promoting sustainable production and consumption practices."

With regards to his region, he hopes to "identify some practical opportunities for engaging South African consumer bodies with the aim of further promoting corporate accountability and responsibility".

The Congress can prove useful in a practical sense for all consumer groups, according to Jonathon: “I would hope delegates would leave with a heightened sense of the fundamentally important role that consumer bodies can play in addressing sustainability challenges, an appreciation of the responsibility that they have in doing so, and some practical ideas on actions that they can take to deliver on this responsibility.”

See the full list of speakers at Consumers International World Congress

See the full Consumers International World Congress Programme

  

ISO Secretary-General video for CI World Congress

Rob Steele, Secretary-General of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has sent a welcome message to CI World Congress delegates.

Steele introduces COPOLCO, ISO and the work with Consumers International.

'Social Responsibility is... changing the way the industry in many countries think and act.'

Congress souvenir bag: even small purchases can have a big impact

Hong Kong newspaper The Standard has interviewed Connie Lau and revealed how even minor purchases require careful consideration when it comes to consumer reponsibility. 

Connie Lau at a Fringe Event

As one of the hosts of Consumers International World Congress 2011, the Hong Kong Consumer Council (HKCC) has been busy with preparatory tasks, ranging from working out conference themes, to selecting souvenirs for participants. Finding suitable souvenirs for the conference delegates wasn't easy, reports The Standard.

After visiting many social enterprises, HKCC Chief Executive Connie Lau finally decided upon a workshop for the mentally handicapped and its picture frames and magnetic gifts - miniature replicas of popular local snacks, such as a kai mei bun, French toast and egg tarts.Each gift is inexpensive but is handmade and unique. Even the sesame seeds on each kai mei bun is different.

The Standard emphasises the thorough consideration behind what might seem like a relatively minor purchasing decision.

Read the full article about Connie Lau and Consumers International World Congress 2011 here.

In pictures: Registration and Fringe events at CI World Congress

The photos below are of delegates from around the globe, who have begun to arrive and register for Consumers International World Congress 2011. Fringe events have begun to take place, allowing for a more focused, unique look at a wide range of topics from financial services to standards, pharmaceutical products and fair trade.