Year 2010 for the fourteenth time we will meet at the Conference of WWCAM in Maardu. The Estonian city of Maardu will be playing host to our conference on 20-22 January. We are proud to share the ideals and visions of the member cities of WWCAM. More than 20 mayors of our associations cities, representatives of governments and international organisations, many key actors active in the world will discuss the main theme of environmental protection in the focus of social, cultural and technologies development.

Cities play a crucial role in the process of implementation of environmental and multicultural solutions, their particular strength is the closeness to the inhabitants. Local authorities are the level of public administration closest to the everyday life of citizens and cities are the centres for economic, social and cultural livelihood. Simultaneously, they are also the venue for most of the environmental, social and economic problems of our world.

Maardu is a young city with 30 years old, full of unique characteristics, natural resources, solid industrial foundation. Now it is more important than ever to meet and help each other to fight the global problems. Mutual understanding, support and brain-storming may bring positive solutions in the hard times.

I believe, 2010 Maardu WWCAM Mayors Conference will successfully bring us all anticipated outcome. Not only environmental issues, but social factors will have to be taken into consideration to maintain sustainable development. We have to understand, how important coexistence of multi-culture is. By promoting information accessibility, people will be broadly linked. We hope to discuss how to protect environment in the society with information-orientation and diversified view of value.

I hope you will enjoy the possibilities Maardu has to offer and that your visit to our beautiful city is a beginning to a lifelong friendship and future visits. Last, but not least I hope the Maardu Conference will contribute to a wider and better mutual and comprehensive co-operation to promote the well- being of the people in our cities and strengthen personal contacts.

Together we are stronger!
Welcome to the 14th WWCAM conference in Maardu!