Rio+Social Invites the World to Make History and Help Write the Next ‘6-Minute Speech’

Today the organizing of partners Rio+Social launched the “6-Minute Speech Project,” a platform for a worldwide dialogue around the upcoming Rio+20 Summit in support of the UN’s theme of “The Future We Want.” The project empowers people all over the world to submit videos via social media speaking to their vision of a more sustainable future. Select videos will be compiled into a new, globally crowdsourced speech reflecting our collective hopes and visions for a better world.

The concept for the 6-Minute Speech comes from a speech given at the original Rio Summit in 1992 by Severn Suzuki, a remarkable 12-year-old girl who expressed her concerns and hopes for the future of our planet and future generations. In her remarks, Severn called on leaders at the Rio Summit to act on the world’s environmental and sustainability problems of the time. Social media offers the chance to take this speech to new, global levels and engage people all over the planet around ways to use technology and innovation to help address the world’s biggest challenges.

This June, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, will convene leaders to tackle the world’s sustainability challenges. This conversation is more relevant today than ever before. The 7 billion people of today’s world face even greater sustainability issues and have in their reach even greater opportunities to help resolve them. Never before have so many people been more connected to one another, to ideas and solutions as part of a global network and social media community. Through social media and technological innovation, people around the globe can leverage their networks and become a catalyst for action to define the world we want.

As part of the lead-up to the June 19 meetings of Rio+Social, the 6-Minute Speech Project welcomes worldwide participation, so everyone can be heard as part of the Rio+20 dialogue. Global citizens are invited to contribute to the 6-Minute Speech by incorporating one of the following hashtags into their posts across multiple social media channels: # RIOPLUSENERGY; #RIOPLUSFOOD; #RIOPLUSCITIES; #RIOPLUSWATER; #RIOPLUSWORK; #RIOPLUSOCEANS; #RIOPLUS6mins; #RIOPLUSWOMEN; #RIOPLUSSOCIAL.

Contributions will be accepted from May 30, 2012, to June 10, 2012 and then compiled into a unique, crowdsourced speech that will help redefine “The Future We Want” and how we can achieve it. To participate in and learn more about the 6-Minure Speech Project, visit http://www.rioplussocial.com.

Within Brazil, the 6-Minute Speech Project is implemented locally as part of a partnership with the Abril Group’s Planeta Sustentável and MTV Brasil. Brazilian contributions will be automatically entered in the worldwide pool of contributions for the 6-Minute Speech, and MTV Brasil will choose one person to participate in-person at Rio+Social.

The completed speech will be revealed for the first time at Rio+Social, an innovative partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Mashable, 92nd Street Y, Ericsson, EDP, LiveAD, Planeta Sustentável, and the Abril Group. Rio+Social is a groundbreaking event that opens the Rio+20 conversation to everyone through the nexus of social media, technology, and sustainable development.

Tweet this: Join @rioplussocial, help write the next 6-Minute Speech, define the #FutureWeWant #RioPlus20

For more information on Rio+Social, including how to register, please visit: http://www.rioplussocial.com.

About Ericsson
Ericsson is the world’s leading provider of communications technology and services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world. Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today more than 40 percent of the world’s mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers’ networks servicing more than 2 billion subscribers. We operate in 180 countries and employ more than 100,000 people. Founded in 1876, Ericsson is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2011 the company had revenues of SEK 226,9 billion (USD 35.0 billion). Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ, New York stock exchanges.

About EDP
EDP – Energias de Portugal – is a global energy company engaged in the electric utilities and gas sector. EDP is the thirst largest producer of wind energy in the world and, for the second year running, is the world’s leader in the electricity sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. EDP Group today serves as a benchmark in the global energy market, as a result of it’s solid vision for the company and the sector and also a philosophy of growing integration and the pursuit of excellence that is firmly rooted in the EDP culture.

About LiveAD
LiveAD is a creative agency that believes in the potential of relevant contemporary ideas, enlarging them through the integrated use of digital media and PR. It is currently working with the following brands: Nike, Doritos, C&A, Grendene, Multishow, Lacoste, Itau, Ketel One, J&B and Baileys. LiveAD is a member of the Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA), a group made up of the world’s key digital agencies. LiveAD has been recognized on Facebook Studio Awards in 2012, Cannes Lions Festival in 2009 and 2010 and 2011 SXSW Interactive finalist.

About Mashable
Founded in 2005, Mashable is the top source for news in social and digital media, technology and web culture. With more than 50 million monthly page views, Mashable is the most prolific news site reporting breaking web news, providing analysis of trends, reviewing new Web sites and services, and offering social media resources and guides.

About Planeta Sustentável
Planeta Sustentável generates information about sustainability in 38 magazines and dozens of websites, books, maps, large and small events, courses and apps. It was launched by Editora Abril, the largest publisher in Brazil, in 2007. It reaches 21 million readers across different age and social groups and is recognized as the most influential sustainable platform in the Portuguese language.

About United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by global corporations, foundations, governments, and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.unfoundation.org.

About 92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y is a world-class nonprofit community and cultural center that connects people at every stage of life to the worlds of education, the arts, health and wellness, and Jewish life. Through the breadth and depth of 92Y’s extraordinary programs, we enrich lives, create community and elevate humanity. More than 300,000 people visit 92Y’s New York City venues annually, and millions more join us through the Internet, satellite broadcasts and other digital media. A proudly Jewish organization since it’s founding in 1874, 92Y embraces its heritage and enthusiastically welcomes people of all backgrounds and perspectives. 92Y is an open door to extraordinary worlds.