New Rio+Social Speakers Include Innovators in Business, Philanthropy, Conservation, Journalism, Social Gaming and Government

The organizers of Rio+Social, a groundbreaking, global conversation about the nexus of social media, technology, and sustainability, today announced additional speakers who will discuss the latest innovations in multiple sectors that shape our world.  The Rio+Social conversation will take place alongside Rio+20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.  Through a unique partnership with the United Nations Foundation, Mashable, 92nd Street Y, Ericsson, Energias de Portugal (EDP) and LiveAD, Rio+Social invites global citizens to join world leaders to unlock the power of social media and technology to shape a future we want.  The forum will take place June 19 as Rio+20 meetings get underway in Brazil and will feature a lively online discussion in the lead-up to the event, bringing together hundreds of thousands of voices, ideas, and opinions as part of a global dialogue.

The following speakers will share their insights on leveraging social media for social good:

•    Fabien Cousteau, Ocean Explorer and Founder, Plant a Fish
•    Luciano Huck, TV Host and President, Instituto Criar de TV, Cinema e Novas Mídias
•    Florian Jürgs, Co-Founder and CEO, and Thorsten König, Co-Founder and CMO, KUULUU 
•    António Mexia, Chief Executive Officer, EDP
•    Maura O’Neill, Chief Innovation Officer, USAID
•    René Silva, Founder, Voz das Comunidades
•    Leonardo Tristao, Business Director, Facebook Latin America

These new additions to the line-up join previously announced speakers Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson; Ted Turner, Founder and Chairman, UN Foundation; Pete Cashmore, Founder & CEO of Mashable; Fabio Barbosa, CEO, Abril Group; and Dr. Gro Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway, Director-General Emeritus, World Health Organization.

The discussions at Rio+Social explore the new role of social media and technology in sustainable development.  Digital advancements have undoubtedly contributed to increased awareness and more effective calls-to-action worldwide.  Rio+Social invites everyone to participate in the Rio+20 conversations and, more importantly, encourages a discussion about solutions and how people everywhere can get involved.  Registration for the event will open soon.

For more information on Rio+Social, including how to get involved, visit www.rioplussocial.com.

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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 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 www.unfoundation.org.