The 7th Annual Conference of the Canis Majoris Foundation was held on January 17, 2020 at the Caixa Forum Auditorium in Madrid.

Under the title “Climate change, the wounded planet”, five experts in the field moderated by the CEO of the Canis Majoris Foundation and Director of the Elena Pessino Gómez del Campo Neuroscience Laboratory, Dr. Raúl Alelú-Paz, attempted to produce a response to the issues that have led our planet to a climate emergency situation.

The guests on the debate panel of the 7th Annual Conference were: Joan Groizard (Director General of the Institute for Diversification and Saving of Energy), Jorge Cortina (Economist specialized in renewable energy and climate change), María Laín (Young climate activist ), David Vieites (Researcher at the National Museum of Natural Sciences and Director of the CSIC Department of Biogeography and Climate Change) and Pablo Urbano (Co-founder of  Social Auara Company).

Firstly, Joan Groizard gave a presentation about  some of the policies that the Government is implementing regarding the fight against climate change: In 2015, an agreement with a series of objectives including rules to fight for decarbonization and curb global warming was signed in Paris. The objectives were concluded and established on the basis that in 2050 there should be 0% of CO2 emissions, (“Climate neutrality”), although some of the most polluting countries were not in favor of meeting those objectives. As Joan Groizard put it: “One of our purposes would be to stop using fossil fuels, which in addition to improving the environment, would improve our economy by not having to depend so much on imports. Renewable energies are cheaper to generate, with photovoltaic solar energy being the most economical way. ” Likewise, it reported that the Government is preparing an integrated energy and climate plan for the 2020-2030 period; Through the 2030 Agenda, they want to develop Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including reaching 75% of renewable energy consumption, with an emphasis on wind and photovoltaic energy; reduce external energy dependence; boost self-consumption by sharing renewable energy sources and implement mobility and transport measures, so that from 2040 onwards vehicles that emit 0% CO2 be manufactured, in addition to the energy rehabilitation of homes.

Jorge Cortina made an interesting presentation explaining what climate change is, wondering what we are doing wrong as a society and inviting us to reflect on our role in this matter. According to Cortina: “Global warming is unstoppable, caused mainly by human activity.” The IPCC report on this problem also exposed: The year 2019 has been the second warmest since 1880, with the 2010 decade being the hottest for 140 years, while the sea temperature rose 0.075%. 97% of Spaniards believe in the existence of climate change, while 3% deny it. 56% argue that this is the greatest threat the world faces, and 92% think it is human-caused.

The average temperature of the planet is around 15ºC, affecting human activity, but despite all the efforts made, the situation continues to worsen; in the year 2100 the planet’s temperature will rise between 1 and 4.5ºC. 85% of primary energy consumption continues to come from fossil fuels. In 2050 Europe wants to reach 0% of CO2 emissions, but there is a great absence of global governance. He also spoke of the failure of the Kyoto summit held in 1997 given that there are great difficulties in reaching agreements between the countries, in addition to not having been signed by the most polluting countries, China, the USA and India.

María Laín, contributed by presenting the activist youth viewpoint from her own experience. Since 2018, the youth participate in a more active way, their commitment is vital and very important, but they believe that politicians are not very concerned about the issue at hand.

David Vieites reported on the global change that is taking place: On Earth there are 16,300 species that are in direct danger of extinction. Scientists are already talking about the sixth great extinction on the planet, as well as the fires and deforestation caused by the destruction of ecosystems; 2015 and 2016 were the warmest years in the world on record. In 2100 productivity will be concentrated at the poles, and the sea level will rise between 20 and 30 centimeters until the end of the century, so that the 1 billion people who live just 10 meters above sea level will have their space invaded, in addition to the contamination of the aquifers. In the future heat waves will be more frequent and longer.

He also told us about the rise  in inequality; While 2 billion people are hungry, 30% of the food we produce is thrown away, generating 10% of greenhouse gas emissions. In Spain it is calculated that there are 30,000 premature deaths per year from polluted air. It is of utmost importance to remove carbon from the atmosphere, but it is not yet known how to obtain it.

Pablo Urbano explained the birth of the AUARA company, dedicated to providing drinking water to 700 million people who do not have access. AUARA is a social and environmental company that offers a different form of consumption, uses 100% recycled material for its bottles, developing projects to bring drinking water to countries in Africa and Latin America.

Once the presentations were over, the debate took place between the speakers and the audience, producing an interesting exchange of opinions.

Finally, the moderator of the conference, Dr. Raúl Alelú-Paz, presented the conclusions, highlighting the economic aspects related to factors that affect the climate; harmful activities, such as deforestation and human-caused fires; the role of youth as activists and that of governments in a globalized world; the social responsibility that private companies and society have in the changes that are taking place, raising the question to all those present if all the activities that we are carrying out are going to make things change.

On 18 January, the Canis Majoris Foundation is holding the VI Annual Conference in the Assembly Hall of Madrid (Salón de Actos de Madrid). This year was focused on the debate generated by the feminist “tsunami” that swept the world during 2018. A movement (some call it a revolution),which was received in a state of grace although only a year later is facing aggressive reactions from various collectives and forceful responses from new political groups who believe that anti-feminism works electorally well for them.

Dr. Raúl Alelú-Paz, CEO, Canis Majoris Foundation and Director of the Elena Pessino Gómez del Campo Neuroscience Laboratory, conveyed the importance and significance of the issue and the role of women in a society that cries for change.

For almost three hours, Dr. Alicia Gómez Montano coordinated the three distinguished speakers who participated in the conference; the writer Laura Freixas, the professor of History and Economic Institutions, Lina Galvez and Laura Baena, Founder of the Malasmadres (Bad Moms Club in Spanish), they reflected on three of the gaps that undermine the road to equality: the role of culture in (un) equality; the labor situation of women and the myth of the perfect mother which blames many women and converts the much-needed domestic conciliation into a social problem.

Laura Freixas assured that real equality will be difficult to achieve while culture and education continue to legitimize patriarchy. Lina Gálvez, gave data that endorsed how the incorporation of women into the labor market, has been done in many cases, with women being segregated. For Dr. Gálvez, “having a room of your own is essential to having an awareness of your own, a feminist conscience.” And Laura Baena defended that the social model of the mother´s role is obsolete and explained that she founded the Club de Malasmadres when she realized that her individual feeling really connected with that of many other women, thus giving rise to an emotional community.

After the presentations, there was time to listen and to dialogue with a heterogeneous audience that raised questions of substance.

We believe that the issue that was dealt with on the afternoon of January 18 provided much to discuss, however,  as in any issue of such importance, more time would have been needed to delve further to deepen and discuss the question of change and the role of women, not only in this century, but in the coming ones.

Written by the Coordinator of the Annual Conference, Doctor in Journalism Alicia Gómez Montano

SUMMARY OF ANNUAL CONFERENCE

“SEXUAL HARASSMENT ON THE WEB: VIRTUAL CONTACTS, REAL RISKS”

The 5th conference by the Canis Majoris Foundation was  much-needed and useful. Needed, because it permitted us to delve deeply into an area – cyberbullying-, of which we still know very little, and where even the victims are unaware of the all the risks involved.  Useful, because we are facing something that was unimaginable until the arrival of  the current social network phenomenon.

Until recent years, bullying was comprised of a physical nature and almost always required a physical component, almost always including contact between the victim and the aggressor, however nowadays this can be done from a distance of thousands of kilometers and potentially to vast numbers victims: In Spain there are 5 million users of Twitter, another 10 million using Instagram and 15 million using the most popular social network, Facebook.

All the speakers made it clear that the damage done, at times irreparable is produced among peers or is harassment from an adult to a minor with implicit or explicit sexual intention. Particularly worrying (increasing despite warnings) is the increase of sexting: the spreading of sexual content type produced by the recipient but published by the sender. young people are not conscious that the multiplication of such photos or videos with erotic content that they voluntarily send to their sexual partner or friend can become unstoppable In addition, young people feel more threatened when the harassment is physical rather than when it is produced through social networks. Not surprising given the familiarity and precocity in using these networks from the age of 9.

Lawmakers have had to adapt. The magistrate for computer Crime, Hon.Doña Elvira Tejada pointed out that until 2015 only the spreading of images that were obtained surreptitiously was considered a crime, not those  freely received. today this has changed. The user can spread their own images but they are also protected from having these images propagated by third parties and this is where we place the limitation to be respected by others. The age of greatest risk is between 12 and 14 years of age.

“The Hon. Doña Elvira Tejada during her presentation”

Experts insist on the need to extend the prevention programs by counting on the support of the educational community and also  parents who are absolutely overwhelmed and often do not know how to respond. Jorge Flores, founder of “Pantallas amigas” (Friendly Screens) reminded us that until 2004 the focus on new technologies was positive and the solution was not to put the social networks under suspicion but instead to have a responsible society at a time when we more than use the web, we actually live in it.

“Don Jorge Flores, founder of PantallasAmigas (Friendly Screens)”

Today we pursue crimes that did not fit the  previous types of crime. Cyberbullying can be punished, but it can hardly be eradicated It is a process evolving at the speed of new technologies and as is the case with all crime, always precedes law enforcement, lawmaker skills and precautions taken by victims.

Alicia G. Montano

Mas información acerca del Ciberacoso

The Canis Majoris Foundation celebrated its 2nd Technical Seminar, 4th Annual Conference and 5th Gala Presentation of the Elena Pessino Scholarships last Friday 27th January 2017. Among the Entre las institutions present were; The Madrid Local Council, the Madrid Association against School Bullying and the Arcipreste de Hita Institute.

The Canis Majoris Foundation celebrated  their 2nd Technical Seminar, 4th Annual Conference and 5th Gala Presentation of the Elena Pessino Scholarships last Friday 27th January, 2017.

 Throughout the morning, The Canis Majoris Foundation celebrated its 2nd Technical Seminar with the aim of analyzing the validity and reliability of the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical of Mental Disorders). Various experts from within the field of mental health participated in this year’s seminar which was coordinated by Doctor Ángeles Roig Moliner (Doctor in Psychiatry). This private act was held at the Club Financiero Génova.

(From left to right). Doctor Manuel Gómez Beneyto, Doctor RIcardo Ruiz, Doctor Ariel Ernesto Cariaga Martínez, Doctor Raúl Alelú Paz, Don Gonzalo Casas Pessino, Doctor Ana Sánchez Torres, Doctor Valentín Corcés Pando, Doctor Ángeles Roig Moliner y Doctor Rosa Molina Ruiz

During the afternoon the Canis Majoris Foundation held the debate on School Bullying at the 4th CMF Annual conference with two debate panels coordinated by Doctor Alicia Gómez Montano (Doctor in journalism):  Expert panel and  Protagonists panel.

(From left to right). Speakers at the Expert panel of the 4th Annual Conference: Profesor Doctor Rosario Ortega Ruiz, Doctor Alicia Gómez Montano, Ilustrísima Hon.Concepción Rodríguez González del Real y Doctor Tiina Mäkelä

Lastly held was the 5th Gala presentation of the Elena Pessino Scholarships where the Canis Majoris Foundation awarded 14 scholarships to students from Alcalá University. Among the institutions presenting these grants were: Comunidad de Madrid,(Madrid Regional Government), Defensor del Pueblo, (Ombudsman) el Comité Paralímpico, (Spanish Paralympic committee) and the Universidad de Alcalá.

The 14 students with functional diversity at the University of Alcalá awarded with the Elena Pessino Scholarships for the academic course 2016/2017 joined by members at the table of honour.

Both events (4th Annual Conference, and 5th Elena Pessino Scholarship Awards),  were held in the main hall at the Ateneo de Madrid last Friday 27th January 2017.

The Canis Majoris Foundation appreciates the presence and participation of the following institutions and collectives at the 2nd Technical Seminar, 4th Annual Conference, and the Gala Presentation of the 5th Elena Pessino Scholarship Awards.

Speakers at the 2nd Canis Majoris Foundation Technical Seminar: Doctor Valentín Corcés Pando (Doctor in Medicine  and Surgery), Doctor Raúl Alelú Paz (Doctor in Medicine  and Surgery), Doctor Ariel Ernesto Cariaga Martínez (Doctor in Biomedicine), Doctor Manuel Gómez Beneyto (Doctor in Psychiatry), Doctor Rosa Molina Ruiz (Specialist Psychiatrist in Clinical Research), Doctor Ricardo Ruiz (Doctor and Psychiatrist), Doctor Ana Sánchez Torres (University of Valencia Department of Logic and Philosophy).

Speakers at the Expert Panel:  The Hon. Concepción Rodríguez González del Real (Juvenile Court Magistrate), Profesor Doctor Rosario Ortega Ruiz (Vice President of the  International Observatory of Violence in School) and Doctor Tiina Mäkelä (Coordinator of KiVa at the Escalae Institute).

Speakers on the Panel of Protagonists :Doña Carla Herrero Torrellas (Psychologist and Social Entrepreneur), Doña Mónica Ceberio Belaza (journalist for EL PAÍS), Doña Sonsoles Castellano Zapatero (Executive President of the San Patricio Foundation) y Doña Eva Cadaval Cruz (Coordinator at Centro Profesional y Sanitaria).

Coordinators of the Canis Majoris Foundation’s 2nd Technical Seminar and Debate Panels of the  4th Annual Conference : Doctor Ángeles Roig Moliner (Coordinator de la 2nd Technical Seminar) and Doctor Alicia Gómez Montano (Coordinator of the Debates at the 4th Annual Conference).

Membros of the  “Table of Honor” at the 5th Elena Pessino Scholarship Awards : Doña Elena Pessino Gómez del Campo (Honorary President of the Canis Majoris Foundation), Don Gonzalo Casas Pessino (President of the  Canis Majoris Foundation),  Doctor Raúl Alelú Paz (Director of the Canis Majoris Foundation),  The Hon. Don Jorge Jiménez de Cisneros Bailly-Baillière (Director General of Community of Madrid Region’s Agency for Attention to People with Disability), The Hon. Don Francisco Fernández Marugán (1st Vice Ombudsman), Profesor Doctor Doña Carmen Figueroa Navarro (Delegate for the Dean on Inclusión and other Guarantees policy in the university community at Alcalá university), and Doña Marta Gómez Battelli (Paralympic swimmer).

Student recipients of the 8th calling for the Elena Pessino Scholarships: Don Javier Abajo Sáenz, Doña Montserrat Amores García, Don Raúl Baena Sánchez, Doña Estefanía Caramés Montés, Don Jesús Castillejo Martínez, Doña Denisa María Csobot, Doña Clara Eva Fernández Delgado, Don Daniel Francisco López, Don Enrique García Cortés, Don Bruno Garrido Pascual, Don Jorge Martín Posadas, Doña Soraya Mínguez Gutiérrez, Doña Yara Pérez Cantador yand Doña Laura Vicente de Valenzuela.

Instituciones represented: Doña Modesta Medina Hernández (Assessor to the Mayor of Madrid,  Ayuntamiento de Madrid); Doña María José Fernández (President  Asociación Madrileña Contra el Acoso Escolar – AMACAE Madrid Association Against School Bullying), Doña Mª del Mar Valdeita Gómez (Vicepresident de AMACAE), Doña Laura Yugo Cano (member of AMACAE); Doña Nuria Delgado Villar (Director of  Instituto Arcipreste de Hita) and Doña Soledad Tovar Sánchez (Academic director of Instituto Arcipreste de Hita); Profesor Doctor Doña Isabel Cano Ruiz (Codirector of the Elena Pessino Research Chair) and Doctor Raquel Gragera Martínez (Head of Integration Unit and Disability policy at Alcalá  University).

Centers that form part of the Animales Assisted Therapy Program by the Canis Majoris Foundation : Don Carlos Salamero (Director of the “Martínez Campos”Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center), Don Manuel Santísimo Sacramento Gómez (Director of Miniresidencia de Getafe), Doña Teresa Vargas (Psychologist at   “Martínez Campos”Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center) and Doctor Mariola Vitutia (Psychologist at Occupational Health and Rehabilitation Center of Getafe).

Collaborators: Don Santiago Casas Pessino, Doña Pilar Pérez Pérez y Don José Villota Grocha (El Dragón Lector); Don Francisco José Rodríguez (BTB Comunicación); Doña Alexandra Coroba Bellavista (Presidenta del Club Deportivo Sordos de Alcalá); Don José Manuel Todolí y Don Daniel Aragoneses (83 Arquitectos).