| Recipient of the International Science Prize |
International Recognitions |
Press Releases and Press Reports |
Award of the Second International Science Prize 2024 of the HGBS on the Theme:
“Ecocide: Impacts of Wars and/or Climate Change on Food Security since 1945 |
Topical
Second HGB Foundation Science Prize 2024 online with TEAMS on 10 October 2024, 17:30-19:30 (or 5:30-7:30 pm CE Time (Flyer)
Interviews
- English Interview with Assoc. Prof. Greg. M. Thaler, Oxford University (by Hans Günter Brauch.)
- English Interview with Dr. Victor Tsilonis, lawyer, Thessaloniki, and ICC, The Hague (by Hans Günter Brauch.)
The Interviews were recorded by Mr. Christian Seibold on 11 October 2024 and the videos were also produced by him.
Press Reports
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, In Mosbach geht es um den "Ökozid", Mosbacher Nachrichten, REGION MOSBACH, 3, Thursday, September 19, 2024
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, Ein Preis geht nach Oxford Mosbacher Nachrichten, REGION MOSBACH, September 28, 2024
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, Wie Klima und Konflikte zusammenhängen – Internationaler Wissenschaftspreis der Hans Günter Brauch Stiftung in Mosbach verliehen - „Neues Verbrechen“ ausgemacht , 14 Oktober 2024
- Fränkische Nachrichten, September 20, 2024
- Stadtanzeiger, Nr. 41 HGB-Stiftung lädt ein.
Stiftung zeichnet Wissenschaftler aus, September 26, 2024
- Stadtanzeiger, Nr. 42 Mit Wissnschaft die Welt retten?!, 17.10.2024, S.6
- Stadtanzeiger, Nr. 43 „Preisträger der HGBS am NKG: Über Frieden und Nachhaltigkeit ausgetauscht, 24.10.2024, S.16
- Stadt Mosbach
HGBS Press Releases on International Science Prizes 2024
Three HGBS International Recognitions 2024
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| English translation. Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung, Monday, 14 October 2024, page 3 |
How climate and conflicts are connected
International Science Prize of the Hans Günter Brauch Foundation awarded in Mosbach – “New crime” identified |
After the presentation of the science prizes:
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, Mayor Julian Stipp, Dr. Hans Happes, Dr. Victor Tsilonis (first prize recipient),
Dr. Hans Günter Brauch, Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler (second prize recipient) and Landrat Dr. Achim Brötel (v.l.). |
Text by Brunhild Wössner, RNZ – Fotos M. Wendt, Stadt Mosbach
Mosbach. Looking at the changes in the world, in the Lower Town Hall in Mosbach for the second time the International Science Prize of the Hans-Günter-Brauch Foundation (HGBS) for Peace and Ecology in the Anthropocene was awarded. The themes of the topics around climate change and its effects were addressed. The main focus was on the question of how wars and climate change have had on food security since 1945.
Senior (Private) lecturer Dr. Hans Günter Brauch from Mosbach, as Chairman of the Foundation has set up of a whole bouquet of prizes and international recognitions. For the International Science Prize with the prize money of 3000 euros is the most important. The other awards from the foundation include student prizes that have already been awarded. In addition, there have been international recognition for outstan-ding doctoral work for Dr. Annet Adong (Uganda), Dr. Melissa Quispe-Zuniga (Peru) and Dr. Christo Idowu Odeymi (Nigeria/Australia/Japan). They were actually supposed to be present electronically, but for technical reasons, the connection could not be established.
The prizes for music, on the other hand, were awarded on the spot to flutist Alexandra Fosnea, mezzo-soprano Madita Baur and pianist Ole Lichtenfels, all from the Nicolaus-Kistner High School (NKG) in Mosbach. Mr. Lichtenfels is a pupil at the Augusta-Pattberg High School (APG) in Mosbach-Neckarelz who attends the music course at NKG. They did not miss the opportunity to musically accompany this event.
Mosbach's mayor Julian Stipp appreciated the work of the “small but fine foundation”. The science prize, which was awarded to the prize-winners who had travelled to Mosbach was divided up. Each received 1500 euros each that were awarded to Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler from the University of Oxford for his book “Saving a Rainforest and Losing the World - Protection and Displacementin the Global Tropics” and Dr. Victor Tsilonis (Greece) for his book “The Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court”. About the lives The RNZ has already reported in detail on the lives of the prizewinners.
Laudator Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, Emeritus of the University of Hamburg, honoured the work of Gregory M. Thaler. Several aspects of his work are very remarkable. On the one hand, the broad scientific approach has made it possible to the environment and climate change with peace and conflict research. It is also worth noting that “purely |
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academic research is embedded in a community of people who recognize that the well-being of people is inextricably linked to ecological connections,” said the laudator. Thaler's book raises the question of whether we can feed the world without cutting down the forests. To end the ecocide, industrial capitalist geographies and bioregional approaches to the needs and values of a particular living and values of a specific living space.
It is also important to “take responsibility for belonging to a place to a place in order to create a climate and a planet a planet that is safe to live on. and a planet that is safe to live on”. If you look at Thaler's work, one immediately thinks of the now quite often used quote “Think globally and act locally” comes to mind, to which Landrat (District Administrator) Dr. Achim Brötel referred to in his closing speech. Brötel sees the future in Germany to be strongly decentralized. “Anything that is too big, too anonymous, too impersonal ... too crowded and possibly too dirty and too expensive is not suitable as a home”. That's what Brötel argues, “people are realizing this more and more and fight for rural areas”. Because those who are lucky enough to live in in the middle of a still largely intact natural or cultural landscape learn much more on the environment. Here, for example, facilities such as forest kindergartens garden on a small scale or the Neckartal-Odenwald Nature Park on a large scale could provide powerful impetus.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors and the founder of the HGBS, Dr. Brauch, who held the laudation for Tsilonis, drew attention to the publication of Tsilonis' work, which deals with the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court on ecocide as a “new crime”. In his work the jurist calls for ecocide to be recognized as a crime or as a criminal offense that should be enforceable bythe International Criminal Court in Hague.
As an offense of ecocide in the Anthropocene, Tsilonis defines “any intentional act, whether lawful or unlawful, directly or directly or indirectly committed by an actor that results in significant damage or disruption or disturbance of the natural environment and ecosystems”. Criminal acts are those that lead to the death, harm or displacement of flora and fauna from their natural habitats within an ecosystem.
Dr. Hans Happes as the deputy chairman of the Chairman at the end of the official part had the last word. He thanked all speakers and supporters who have contributed to the continuation of the work of the HGBS. In particular, he emphasized the tireless work and the energy of the Chairman of the Foundation. |
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Laudator Prof. Dr. Juergen Scheffran, Em., University of Hamburg; Ms. Laura Hoffmann, Springer Nature Publishers, law books, Heidelberg; Dr. Victor Tsilonis, Thessaloniki, Greece (first prize recipient), and Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler (second prize recipient), USA, University of Oxford (UK). |
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Recipients of the four music prize awards (from left to right): Ms. Rachel Rickert (Music Department, Nicolaus-Kistner High School, NKG); Alexandra Fosnea, Flute (NKG): “Valse Gracieuse”, op. 261, Nr.2 by Wilhelm Popp; Madita Baur, Mezzosopran (NKG): “Sleeping Sun” by Tuomas Holopainen (NKG); Ole Lichtenfels, Piano, Augusta Pattberg High School (APG and NKG): “Prelude op 11 No.14” by Alexander Skriabin and “Etude op. 10 No. 12 (Revolutionsetüde)” by Frédéric Chopin; and Sigrun Friedrich, chair woman of Music Department (NKG). |
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| Programme for the award ceremony of the second international science prize of the HGBS, 74821 Mosbach, Market Place, Lower Town Hall |
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Final preparations: Sigrun Friedrich at the piano (NKG) and Hans Günter Brauch and Hans Happes signing the certificates for the winners
of the science prizes and the four school music prizes |
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| Reception in the Lower Meeting Hall of the Town Hall of Mosbach at the Market Place, video |
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| All Texts of Presentations in German and English |
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Alexandra Fosnea, Flute (NKG): “Valse Gracieuse”, op. 261, Nr.2 by Wilhelm Popp, Nicolaus-Kistner High School (NKG), Mosbach.
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Mayor Julian Stipp, words of welcome
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Hans Günter Brauch, HGBS Chairman of the Board, 2nd International Science Award; Ecocide: Effects of wars and global environmental and climate change on food security
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First laudatory speech by Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, Em., University of Hamburg, HGBS Jury on the first winner of the International Science Award 2024 on Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler (USA/UK), Oxford University, for his book: Saving a Rainforest and Losing the World - Conservation and Displacement in the Global Tropics (New Haven - London: Yale University Press, 2024)
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Second laudatory speech by PD Dr. Hans Günter Brauch, Board of the HGBS, on the second laureate of the International Science Prize 2024 on Dr. Victor Tsilonis: The Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2024) on 'Ecocide' as a 'New Crime' for the International Jurisdiction to Protect the Environment
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Dr. Hans Happes, OSD, and PD Dr. Hans Günter Brauch, both board members of the HGBS:
Reading of the certificates and presentation of the science prizes with the prize money to Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler and Dr. Victor Tsilonis
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Madita Baur, Mezzosopran (Nicolaus-Kistner-Gymnasium: Sleeping Sun by Tuomas Holopainen
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First acceptance speech by Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler (USA/UK): Saving a Rainforest and Losing the World - Conservation and Displacement in the Global Tropics (New Haven/London: Yale University Press, 2024)
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Second acceptance speech: Dr Victor Tsilonis (Greece): The Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2024)
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PD Dr. H.G. Brauch for Prof. Dr. Ursula Oswald, Deputy Chair of the HGBS Board of Directors,
awarding the three international recognitions to three post-doctoral fellows:
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Prof. Dr. Ursula Oswald
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Dr. Annet Adong (Uganda),
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Dr. Melissa Roxana Quispe-Zuniga (Peru)
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Dr. Christo Idowu Odeymi (Nigeria, Australia, Japan) for their scientific achievements
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Ole Lichtenfels (Piano), student at APG and student of a music course at NKG: Prelude op 11 No.14 by Alexander Skriabin and Etude op. 10 No. 12 (Revolution etüde) by Frédéric Chopin
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PD Dr. Hans Günter Brauch: Awarding of the Peace Music Prize to the NKG
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Closing remarks: Landrat Dr. Achim Brötel: Think and research globally - act and implement locally: A task and a challenge
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Dr. Hans Happes: From global research to local education
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Restaurant Taverna Mythos, Market Place Mosbach
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The Global Jury with the Support of the Board of the Hans Günter Brauch Foundation on Peace and Ecology in the Anthropocene (HGBS) in Mosbach, in the State of Baden-Württemberg in Germany have both decided unanimously to award the Second International Science Prize 2024 jointly and the Total Prize Money of 3.000 Euros by Half to:
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Assoc. Prof. Gregory M. Thaler (USA), Oxford University (UK) for his book: Saving a Rainforest and Losing the World – Conservation and Displacement in the Global Tropics (New Haven –London: Yale University Press, 2024). The book emerged from his PhD thesis in Government, which he obtained at Cornell University in 2017. |
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Dr. Victor Tsilonis, lawyer, Thessaloniki (Greece), ICC, The Hague for his book: The Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, 2019; 2nd edition, 2024). The book was translated from Greek and emerged from his PhD thesis he was awarded in International Criminal Law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. |
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The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, 10 October 2024, in the Lower Town Hall in Mosbach, Baden in Main Street at the Market Place (Germany). The Prize consists of a certificate and a total prize money of 3.000 Euros of which both Prize Recipients Receive 1500 € each. The prize will be awarded annually in Mosbach (Germany).
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| Medieval Town Hall of Mosbach/Baden in Main Street facing the Market Place |
Gregory M. Thaler is an interdisciplinary environmental social scientist working on the political ecology and political economy of development, global environment-tal governance, and agrarian politics. Beginning in September 2024, he will be Associate Professor of Environmental Geography and Latin American Studies at the University of Oxford (UK). He was previously an Assistant Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia (USA). His prize winning book, Saving a Rainforest and Losing the World: Conservation and Displacement in the Global Tropics was published in February 2024 by the prestigious Yale University Press.
Dr Victor Tsilonis serves as the managing partner at NEWLAW, Greece’s nominee for the 2020 ICC judicial elections, highly praised by the independent Advisory Committee on the Nominations of Judges, and distinguished member of the International Criminal Court Bar Association, serving twice as vice-president and chair of the Professional Standards Advisory Committee. He has been an adjunct lecturer at the Hellenic Open University. His ground breaking work, The Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (Springer, 2024), addresses some of the most pressing legal challenges of our time, including the regulation of lethal autonomous weapon systems, AI, cyber warfare, and the newly emerging crime of ecocide.
Both International Science Prizes on the Ecocide: Focusing on the political and legal concept and on Impacts of Wars and/or Climate Change on Food Security since 1945 will be awarded by The Hans Günter Brauch Foundation for Peace and Ecology in the Anthropocene co-organised with the town of Mosbach. Lord Mayor Julian Stipp will give a reception and welcome the prize recipients, speakers and citizens and high school students of participating schools. The chair of the HGBS Dr. Hans Günter Brauch will outline the second call: Ecocide: Impact of Wars and Global Environmental and Climate Change on Food Security.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran, em., Hamburg University, will present the work of Prof. Dr. Gregory M. Thaler (USA/UK), while PD Dr Hans Günter Brauch, ret., will present the second prize winner Dr. Victor Tsilonis who endorsed the potential recognition of ‘Ecocide’ as a new crime in international environmental law through the proposed foundation of a new International Criminal Court for the Protection of the Environment (ICCPE).
International Recognitions
The HGBS Jury decided during the first award of the International Science Prize in July 2023 to offer additional international recognitions to young scholars, for free publication of their PhD thesis, or for an unpublished authored or edited book for which they will receive a honorarium after its publication. During the second International Science Prize Award ceremony on 10 October 2024, three candidates from the Global South will receive a certificate with a book contract with Springer and a honorarium:
- Dr. Annet Adong (Kampala, Uganda) for her PhD on: Armed Conflicts and Forced Displacements: Incentives and Consequences on Consumption and Social Preferences (Bonn University, Centre for Development Studies, 2020).
- Dr. Melissa Roxana Quispe-Zuniga (Trujillo, Peru; Bonn, Germany) for her PhD: Mining and Small-Scale Farming in the Andes: Socio-Environmental Roots of Land-Use Conflict (Bonn University, Centre for Development Studies, 2020).
- Dr. Christo Idowu Odeyemi (Nigeria/Australia) for his PhD on: Climate Risk and Climate Security: A Comparison of Norm Emergence under the FCCC, the EU and the UNSC, 2001–2019 (University of Technology Sydney, 2021, Sydney, Australia). As this book has already been accepted by another major publisher for publication, Dr. Odeyemi is invited to publish his second English monograph with Springer Nature.
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| Dr. Annet Adong is an Agricultural Economist with the Center for Population and Applied Statistics, Makerere University, Uganda and an Independent Consultant. Her research interest is at the intersection of agriculture, conflicts and forced displace-ments. Her PhD at Bonn University of Bonn (2021) is on: “Armed Conflicts and Forced Displacements: Incentive and Consequences on Con-sumption and Social Preferences”. |
Dr. Melissa Roxana Quispe-Zuniga received her PhD from Bonn University (2020). She was funded by the DAAD-BMZ Scholarship for her PhD stu-dies (2015-2019), the VLIR-UOS Scholarship for her Master's studies (2012-2014), and the ERASMUS MUNDUS BAPE Scholarship during her Bachelor studies (2010-2011). Since 2020, she has worked as a project manager in different pharmaceutical companies in Germany. |
Dr. Christo Idowu Odeyemi is a visiting researcher at Kyoto University in Japan. He holds a PhD, Humanities and Social Sciences, Univ. of Technology Sydney, Australia), a MA in International Politics, Victoria Univ., Australia, a MA of International Security, Massey Univ., New Zealand, and a MA in International Relations, New Zealand. His PhD dissertation on “Climate risk and climate security: A comparison of norm emergence under the FCCC, the UNSC and the EU, 2001–2019” resulted in several scientific journal articles. |
In a brief presentation Prof. Dr. Ursula Oswald Spring, a former minister of ecological development from Cuernavaca in Mexico and Deputy Board Chair of HGBS and its Jury, will present the three recipients of an international recognition originating from Uganda, Peru and Nigeria.
Finally, Dr. Hans Günter Brauch will award four Peace Music Prizes to musicians from Nicolaus-Kistner high school (Mosbach) for their musical contributions. The ceremony will conclude with a farewell speech by Landrat Dr. Achim Brötel: On Local Action and implementation.
This award ceremony does not require an invitation, and it is open to everyone both locally and abroad in person or online once the videos of the key speakers have been produced and uploaded to this website by end of October 2024.
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