Save the Planet! Lessons from Emissions Markets for Confronting Climate Risk
Panelists:
Neil Eckert, Chairman, European Climate Exchange
Bill Marcus, Head of Business Development, North America; Sales Manager Chicago Calyon Financial
Edwin Mongan, Director, Energy and Environment, DuPont Co.
Richard Sandor, Chairman and CEO, Chicago Climate Exchange, Inc. Senior Fellow, Milken Institute.

Can big business save the planet and not go bankrupt? The gentlemen on this panel say yes.  They say that we can learn from the growing business of the emissions market is that we can "do good and do well." It is possible align financial interests and social interests. The takeaway from this panel is that smart companies (and smart investors) can use the environmental problems we are facing to their advantage.

Looking at wealth creation over time we can see changing patterns. Wealth creation used to be done through manufacturing. General Motors was the bellwether of the U.S. Economy through the 1970s.  Then the big telecoms and computer company took over. Now we are seeing companies like Google. What is the future?
 
Richard Sandor believes that "the value proposition of the 21st century is air and water."  If we can make them both commodities them we can both help the planet and help ourselves. These used to be seen as free goods but there isn't enough to go around and in the future these resources will take on precious value. The future may involve water markets in which businesses will trade.

Global Risk: What Should Be Keeping You Up At Night?
Panelists:
William Anderson, National Intelligence Officer for Economics and Global Issues, National Intelligence Council
Wesley Clark, General (ret.) U.S. Army, former Commander, NATO
George Hoguet, Senior Portfolio Manager, Global Investment Strategist, State Street Global Advisors
Marc Miles, Director, Center for International Trade and Economics, The Heritage Foundation
Moderator:
Joel Kurtzman, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute, Senior Advisor Knowledge Universe

The panel starts with the big question: What keeps you up at night?

For William Anderson, it's pandemic influenza  he says that "if H5N1 (bird flu) were to go easily transmissible human-to-human and maintain its lethality it would be devastating." He is also worried about acts of terrorism or bioterrorism.

Wesley Clark mentions biological threats as well as the situation in Iran and the state of unstable equilibrium that currently exists. He says that  "if it were any other President I think we would learn to live with Iran" but due to Bush's hardline approach on the Middle East this could turn into a military situation.

For George Hoguet there are a series of events that he believes could catch the stock market by surprise. Specifically he sees an oil price spike ($120 per barrel), global imbalances (U.S deficit, falling dollar) and a policy mistake by the Fed and a housing bust as the biggest threat. He points out that there is $500 million in adjustable rate mortgages which are going to reset in 2007/2008.

Marc Miles looks at the pressure points in the world. Much of Eastern Europe has a flat tax. This creates pressure on other countries in surrounding areas. He feels that the violence that we have seen in France is just the start saying that "we are seeing the beginnings of a revolution in France." He also sees Latin America as a hot spot, saying that Hugo Chavez, the leader of Venezuela has oil money that he can use to influence the rest of Latin America. he also has a satellite network that broadcasts him throughout Latin America.

The New Media Age: Surviving and Thriving in a World of Changing Technology
Panelists:
Peter Chernin, President and COO, News Corp; Chairman and CEO Fox Group
Robert Iger, President and CEO, The Walt Disney Co.
Jonathan Miller, Chairman and CEO, AOL
Moderator:
Dennis Kneale, Managing Editor, Forbes

Has the new media era finally arrived? The promise of a new interactive digital age has been bandied about for a while but in this time of video content and blogging and fragmented media are we finally there? These three men who are all working to determine what the consumer wants before they know they want it seem to think so. For three men in essentially competing businesses there is a lot of good natured, friendly competition. Peter Chernin of Fox says that here has been unbelievable change over the past year and that every part of his business has changed. People are moving faster and faster and they are desperate for content. Bob Iger from ABC also agrees that the speed of change is accelerating. He says that they are focused on creativity and the consumer and that right now "technology is to media companies what refrigeration was to Coca Cola." Jonathan Miller of AOL says that the new doesn't replace the old there is a convergence both in the consumer who is now accustomed to handling content on a variety of platforms and and in the companies which are learning to deal with multiple ways of distribution.

Engaging Girls in Science

Sally Ride, Former NASA Astronaut, President and CEO, Sally Ride Science
Jane Swift, Former Governor of Massachusetts, Managing Partner, WNP Consulting, LLC
Ronald Packard, Chairman and Founder , K12 Inc.
Stephanie Rafanelli, Science Teacher, Education Consultant, Menlo School

How do we get girls interested in science? Sally Ride started this panel by pointing out that "science and technology are the engines that drive our economy."

The currents statistics are that women make up:
11% of engineers
20% of scientist
22% of physics degrees
20% of engineering degrees
27% of computer science degrees (down from 36% in the 1980s)

Why do girls lose interest in science? According to a study done in 1996, both boys and girls have the same interest in science in fourth grade (2/3s of students say they like science) but in middle school the girls lose their interest in science. Societal pressures are seen as part of this, girls are not expected to be good at science. Science, frankly, isn't percieved as feminine or cool.

Electronic Waste: A New Industry for a Growing Problem
Panelists:
Jeff Hunt, Supervisor, California Integrated Waste Management Board
Bill Shireman, President and CEO, The Future 500
David Thompson, Director, Corporate Environmental Department, Panasonic Corporation of North America
Moderator:
John Shegerian, Managing Partner, President and CEO, Electronic Recyclers LLC

The environment has been getting a lot of media attention lately. No discussion of the environment over the past few weeks is complete without the waving around of the Vanity Fair "green" issue as a symbol that the environmental crisis has hit the media and so the Electronic Waste panel began with that and with the stern words from moderator John Shegarian that the "electronic waste crisis is upon us."  The facts are dire. There are ten million new pounds of electronic waste each month just in California.  "We are at a tipping point at the moment of truth," said Shegarian.  It is a popular topic but discussion on what works and what doesn't hasn't really hit the media.  Electronic waste is a global problem and is full of hazardous elements like lead, mercury, arsenic, and chromium and becomes a health issue.  In countries like Vietnam and India children are harvesting the precious metals from electronic waste.

National Security vs. Civil Liberties: What Are the Limits to Executive Power?
Panelists:
Willie Brown, Jr., Former Mayor of San Francisco
Susan Estrich, Robert Kingsley Professor of Law and Political Science, University of Southern California Law School
Dennis Prager, Syndicated Radio Talk-Show Host
Edward Rollins, Chairman, Rollins Strategy Group

Moderator:
Jeff Greenfield, Senior Analyst, CNN

This was perhaps the liveliest discussion we have seen this conference. The panel is more combative than any I have seen yet which makes for many zinger and applause lines. If you watch only one video on the website, I'd recommend this one. It's great entertainment as well as provocative food for thought to watch the volleys between two sets of well-matched combatants moderated by CNN analyst Jeff Greenfield.  On the left we have Willie Brown (who Jeff Greenfield mistakenly introduces as the former mayor of Oakland) and Susan Estrich, a law professor at USC. On the right we have feisty Dennis Prager, a conservative talk show host and Edward Rollins, who advises Republicans.  Has the U.S. Government gone too far or is it not going far enough? Is President Bush abusing his power or only doing what is necessary in a time of war to protect this nation? These were the basic questions asked during this spirited panel on the nature of executive power. This conversation moved very rapidly and so these are only rough notes of what actually transpired.

The first issue on the table is whether or not we are prosecuting terrorists effectively. Susan Estrich comes out swinging. "Here's what concerns me, how many Arabs do we have in this room? Unless you are an Arab you probably haven't had any big concerns." She goes on to say that there are offices to prosecute terrorists but since it is hard to find terrorists to prosecute you go after someone else. She recently was called in on a case, furniture store owner in Boston who 15 years ago who published a newsletter in favor of the Jihad. Are we in such a rush to find terrorists that we are prosecuting those who are innocent? She's pretty emphatic about the government's low rate of success in prosecuting terrorists.

Lance Armstrong and Andre Agassi: Keeping Fit as You Grow "Younger"

Speakers:
Andre Agassi, Winner of more than 60 professional tennis titles; Founder, Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
Lance Armstrong, Seven-time winner of the Tour de France; Founding Director, Lance Armstrong Foundation

Moderator:
Diana Nyad, World-Class Distance Swimmer; Broadcast Commentator

Andre Agassi and Lance Armstrong have a lot in common. Both champions, they have markedly different demeanors. Armstrong, casual in jeans, speaks with measured intensity. Agassi, who suited up for the occasion, is playful and modestly charming, almost seeming bemused to be on a stage in front of a room of people. The title of this panel led me to believe that it would be a discussion of the aging of America and the value of fitness but it was more a celebration of these impressive athletes.

Both Agassi and Armstrong are great comeback stories. Armstrong battled cancer to win a record seven consecutive Tour de France races. After wrist surgery, Agassi was ranked number 141 in the world in 1998. As Agassi said, he tried to look on the bright side, "only 140 people in the world could beat me."

Agassi and Armstrong are also both devoted to causes. For Armstrong it's cancer and for Agassi it is children. His foundation, which was created in 1993, has raised $52 million.  Armstrong's famous Live Strong foundation raises money for cancer research.

If you had hopes of being a tennis champ or a bicycling phenom, dream on. Both Agassi and Armstrong stressed the fact that you have to be, as Armstrong put it "born a great athlete." But he also stated that the "mental part is greater than the physical."  Armstrong mentions his resting pulse rate of 33 and the fact that he doesn't produce as much lactic acid as other people do. Agassi agrees that being an athlete is a gift but that it also has to be nurtured.

A Conservation with Alvin Toffler
Panelist:
Alvin Toffler, Author, Futurist, Principal, Toffler & Associates
Moderator
Michael Intrilligator, Professor of Economics, Political Science and Public Policy, University of California, Los Angeles, Director, UCLA Center for International Relations, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute

Alvin Toffler has been a predictor of the future for decades. His book Future Shock accurately predicted many of the situations of today over twenty years ago. He has written a new book called Revolutionary Wealth.  He sees what is happening today as a revolution, a massive global shift along the lines of the Industrial Revolution. He believes that a revolution of massive proportions will take place over the next few decades. Wealth will change not just in quantity but also in whether or not it is tangible or intangible.

Toffler sees two separate economies. The traditional money-based economy and the none-money economy. These two economies run parallel to each other. The none-money includes activities that take place without money being involved. The none-money economy is powered by prosumers (productive consumers).

Changing Post Secondary Education to Meet The Needs of A Global Economy
Panelists:
Greg Cappelli, Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst, Credit Suisse
Edward Guiliano, President, New York Institute of Technology
Ted Sanders, Executive Chairman, Cardean Learning Group; former Acting U.S. Secretary of Education
Moderator Ted Mitchell, President and CEO NewSchools Venture Fund

There are a variety of challenges involved in educating American students for the global future. This panel focused on pitting our current educational system against China's growing educational needs. China currently has around 110 million people between the ages of 18-22 and Chinese consumer spending is on the rise. Plus the Chinese youth have a benefit called the "little emperor" phenomenon, which is that there are usually six adults working toward one child's education (four grandparents plus parents). In China, education is the top reason for saving and 21 million people are currently enrolled in post-secondary school. What's more staggering is that there are 230 million people studying English in China.

What is the Future of the Russian Economy?
Panelists:
Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO, Viking River Cruises, Inc.
Roland Nash, Head of Research, Renaissance Capital
Richard Sobel, CEO, Alfa Capital Partners, Ltd.
Vladimir Tyurenkov, Managing Director, Eastern Europe and Russia, Hansberger Global Investors

Moderator:
Elena Barmakova, Founder and President, Fontvieille Capital Inc.

Can you still make your fortune in Russia? Torstein Hagen did, he went from losing everything to rebuilding his fortune with a cruise line (and a healthy investment in the Russian stock market). Richard Sobel describes Russia as being essentially a 15-year-old country, in the throes of its teen years. They are having a huge retail boom with the rise of a spend-happy middle class. Russia's resources include oil, natural gas, huge land mass and an educated work force. Russia's problems include the social infrastructure, fast growth of AIDS and TB and a corrupt bureaucracy.  There  are currently 88,000 millionaires in Russia.

The big story in Russia is still oil. Most of the stock market (60.58%) is in oil and gas but in Russia's economy only 21.5% is oil and gas. The opportunities for Russian real estate are rich but it is a hard market for outsiders to get into. There is a rising corporate debt market and a huge increase in Russian mutual funds. The number of Russian IPOs is also on the rise. And the debut of Rosneft could be the biggest IPO in history.

What is the future of the economy for Russia?

Torstein Hagen thinks "we've probably seen the best of it" but that there is still room for opportunity.
Richard Sobel is "generally optimistic" but says that there are both extreme successes and extreme crises.
Vladimar Tyurenkov says that "15 companies represent 80% of the stock market." He sees the future in a transfer from oil to a knowledge-based economy.
Roland Nash points out that the Russian stock market has risen $500 billion in 12 months. The challenge is  the spread of the state but the rise of the middle class and increased spending should drive Russian prosperity.

Moderator Margaret Anderson, COO, FasterCures/The Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions
Panelists:
Jeffrey Chamberlain, Professor, Neurology, Medicine and Biochemistry, University of Washington (glasses)
Director, Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Center
David Meltzer, Associate Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Chicago

We all want faster cures for diseases but what is the thought process in determining which research studies are funded? This panel looked at muscular dystrophy as an example in terms of evaluating the larger problem of medical research and rising costs.  How do we know which studies should be done and how can researchers present their case in terms of getting the most funding for the greater good?

Jeffrey Chamberlain: Muscular Dystrophy Therapies
What are muscular dystrophies? There are 20 different types of this disease which causes muscle weaknesses.  The disease is genetic which means that it often causes concerns for families. There are 500,000 to 1,000,000 cases worldwide (mainly in males) making it the most common genetically inherited disease that involves a gene mutation but at only 500 births per year it is still considered a rare disease. There are not a lot of treatment strategies for this disease currently. Current methods being studied include gene therapy, stem cell therapy and drug treatments. Drug therapies tend to move along most quickly. One gene therapy technique on 10 or 12 people has been relatively successful but it also caused leukemia in two patients. Chamberlain believes that, "the pharmaceuticals are going to have the biggest impact in the short term" but that "stem cell therapies have the greatest long term potential."