Dialogue Forums

Dialogue forums 2012: "Power and influence – Who controls the world's destiny?"

Civil unrest and liberation movements in the Arab world, financial crisis and Fukushima and Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power. The world order is undergoing profound changes which we would like to discuss with you. >more

Migration, integration – Fear of strangers? 

Some 16 million people living in Germany are of immigrant origin. Although many fully participate in community life, integration can undeniably pose problems. At the final Dialogue Forum of 2011  Aygül Özkan and Cumali Naz discussed these issues. >more

When know-how migrates – Brain drain or brain gain?

What happens when know-how migrates? Where do all the best brains go to? These and other issues were discussed at Munich Re Foundation's fourth dialogue forum in the 2011 series on 22 April.  >more

Causes of migration: Why does the world migrate?

Why do people leave their home country – willingly or unwillingly? Can migration flows be controlled by political means? These and other issues were discussed at our 3rd forum on 22 March 2011. >more

Talking to Nikolaus von Bomhard

The findings of the dialogue forums 2010 have been compiled under the title “Positionen”. The new publication presents important, and sometimes also controversial, opinions. We talked to Nikolaus von Bomhard about these issues. >more

Country – City – Megacity: Who wins, who loses? 

Sprawling megacities in developing countries, declining rural populations in the industrialised world: The dialogue forum on 17 February examined  the extent to which urban planners and political decision-makers can effectively control this development. >more

Demography today: A world in upheaval?

The population is ageing and shrinking and we are having fewer children. What consequences are to be drawn from this fact was the theme of the opening dialogue forum of 2011 on 11 January. >more

Dialogue forums 2011: "Where from? Where to? – Demography and migration"

In 2050, every third person in Germany will be 60 years old or more! The population is ageing and shrinking. We invite you to join us in five evening forums in analysing the questions and challenges of demography and migration.  >more

Development 2.0 – The crisis as an opportunity!

Axel Berg, Michael Menhart and Imme Scholz discussed how a fair and sustainable development policy can be achieved and how the world economic crisis can contribute to a new framework of action. >more

Consuming at the expense of others – Growth at any cost?

Sustainable consumption starts with shopping. That is why Prof. Edda Müller calls for strict obligatory labelling on all food products at our Dialogue Forum on 18 March 2010. >more

Microfinance – A way out of the poverty trap?

On 25 February 2010, Bernd Balkenhol (ILO), Martin Godemann (ProCredit), and Johannes Majewski (GTZ) provided an introduction to the broad field of microfinance and showed business models in practice. >more

The outcome of the World Climate Summit - Icy times for climate protection?

Prof. Schellnhuber and Prof. Latif take the view that little can be achieved at UN level. Instead, they advocate deploying all the technological means at our disposal during our Dialogue Forum on 19 January 2010. >more

The forgotten billions - Development targets in the crisis?

The state of the world economy dominates the public debate. Important issues such as the growing levels of poverty and sustainable development are pushed to the sidelines. On 26 November 2009 Prof. Radermacher and Prof. von Weizsäcker highlighted global challenges and discussed possible solutions. >more

Dialogue forums 2009/2010: "World in flux - the forgotten billions"

We will discuss the impact of the global economic crisis on international development policy, on the rise in poverty in many countries and on climate change. >more

Dialogue forum "Energy mix 2030 – New energy for the future?"

The fifth and final resources dialogue forum, held on 21 April 2009, considered ways of meeting future energy demand. Experts outlined their energetic visions for the future. >more

Dialogue forum "Oil price shock or climate collapse – What will force us to change?"

The fossil fuel age is drawing inexorably to a close. The fourth evening debate on the subject of resources, held on 17 March 2009, focused on the potential environmental, economic and political consequences of dwindling oil supplies. >more

Dialogue forum "The future of abundance – Can the planet still feed us?"

Are we really capable of supplying a growing population with enough food? Experts discussed this fundamental issue at the third resources dialogue forum, held on 17 February 2009. >more

Dialogue forum "Raw materials shortages – An inevitable source of conflict"

The second dialogue forum in the series on resources, which took place on 20 January 2009, examined the effects that shortages of raw materials can have, and how best to deal with the impact of dwindling resources. >more

Opening event dialogue forums on "Resources"

On 21 October 2008 the opening event "Resources - where are we going?" launched the new dialogue forum series 2008/9. Not a single spare seat was to be had for Munich Re Foundation’s forum evening.  >more

Dialogue forums 2008/2009 on "Resources"

This is the fourth dialogue forum series organised by the Munich Re Foundation. The 2008/2009 series will focus on the current and future availability of resources. >more

Dialogue forum "Munich Riesling, vintage 2030? Positive vs. negative effects of climate change"

The effects of climate change were discussed at the last of the “Munich 2030” dialogue forums on 15 April 2008, one of the issues raised being the outlook for wine growers in Munich. >more

Expert round

Dialogue forum "Learning in Munich - Educational deprivation versus private schooling"

Learning is a lifelong process, in the opinion of the audience of over 100 which attended the fourth “Munich 2030” dialogue forum on 11 March 2008. >more

Dialogue forum "Poor in a rich city? Social cohesion versus economic prosperity"

No one is indifferent to poverty, even in a city like Munich, but merely defining poverty gave rise to controversy in the debate on 21 February. >more

Dialogue Forums "Munich 2030"

Dialogue forum "Is Munich dying out? Kindergartens versus old people’s homes"

On January 22 about 130 interested citizens informed themselves about the demographic trends in Munich. >more

Kick-off Session “City 2030 – How will our cities change?”

Kick-off Session “Munich 2030 – How will our cities change?”

The inaugural event launching the third series of dialogue forums on 7 November attracted keen attention. An audience of almost 140 listened attentively to ideas on city life in 2030 proposed by Munich’s Lord Mayor Ude and the futurologist Dr. Steinmüller. >more

"Munich 2030" - Dialogue Forums 2007/2008

Dialogue forums 2007/2008: “Munich 2030”

The forthcoming 2007/2008 dialogue forums will be the third series of discussions with the aim of increasing public awareness. The foundation intends to position the dialogue forums as a “local brand”, establishing itself as an active partner in the debate on “people at risk” in Munich. >more

"Pollutant of the month syndrome and the self-styled experts – The role of politicians and media in the risk debate"

28 November 2006: Dialogue forum "Pollutant of the month syndrome and the self-styled experts – The role of politicians and media in the risk debate"

The fifth and last debate in the 2006 series of dialogue forums focused not on the risks themselves but on our attitude towards them. >more

"What if an epidemic strikes – Is Munich prepared?"

9 November 2006: Dialogue forum "What if an epidemic strikes – Is Munich prepared?"

A more appropriate title for the fourth dialogue forum might well have been “Thinking the unthinkable”. The discussion centred not on epidemics, diseases confined to a given geographical area, but on pandemics, which strike on a global scale. >more

"Allergies and respiratory diseases in town and country – On the increase"

26 October 2006: Dialogue forum "Allergies and respiratory diseases in town and country – On the increase"

Between 24 and 32 million people in Germany suffer from allergies. Every year, 3,000 people die from the effects of asthma. Distinguished allergists responded to questions posed by sufferers. >more

“Fine dust in Munich – Is it making us ill?”

5 October 2006: Dialogue forum “Fine dust in Munich – Is it making us ill?”

The second dialogue forum addressed a current hot topic – fine dust.The WHO’s new guidelines and the EU Parliament’s latest proposals triggered a heated discussion. >more

“Children in Munich – What risks are they really exposed to?”

21 September 2006: Dialogue forum “Children in Munich – What risks are they really exposed to?”

The first dialogue forum of the series “The risks of living in Munich – Perceived and actual” comprised a discussion among citizens and experts about the real and imagined risks to which children and adolescents are exposed in the city. >more

The risks of living in Munich - Dialogue Forums 2006

From 21 September 2006: Dialogue Forums "The risks of living in Munich - Perceived and actual"

What risks are our children really exposed to by city life? Is fine dust making us ill? How do the media influence the way we perceive risks? Beginning in September 2006, a new series of dialogue forums will be examining these and other topical issues. >more

2006 World Water Week

Summary – World Water Week Seminar 2006: Climate and water-related risks

Man-made climate change will have a tremendous impact on the water cycle and on water-related natural disasters. Four international experts presented their views on how climate change will impact water-related risks from the human, environmental and economic perspective. >more

Die Risiken der Münchner

31 October 2005: Kick-off Session "The risks of living in Munich - perceived and actual"

Identifying and classifying risks to which people are exposed, taking preventive measures, and making recommendations for coming to terms with these risks – these are tasks that concern both the Munich Re Foundation and the GSF National Research Centre for Environment and Health. >more