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Over 300 representatives from the worlds of culture, politics, business and diplomacy will arrive in Segovia on September 19 aboard a high-speed train provided by Spanish railway organization RENFE to convey them to the official opening of the 10th edition of Hay Festival Segovia. The official opening of the festival will center on a conversation on climate change organized by Spanish daily EL PAÍS, and participants will include the Spanish Ambassador to the UK, Simon Manley, RENFE Chairman Pablo Vázquez Vega, and the President of IE University, Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño.

Over the next few years humanity will be facing one of the greatest challenges in history in the form of climate change. In order to explore the current situation Hay Festival Segovia and El País have partnered to organize a discussion moderated by EL PAÍS journalist Manuel Planelles, with the participation of key players in the field: Samantha Smith, head of the WWF Global Climate and Energy Initiative; Alexander Leicht, head of Education for Sustainable Development and International Relations at UNESCO; Teresa Ribera, director of French think tank Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and former Spanish Secretary of State for Climate Change; and Guardian journalist, James Randerson, an expert in environmental issues.

After the conversation, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in the opening of the “Walls of Water,” an artistic display designed by Indian architect Anupama Kundoo, and comprised of 5,000 bottles of mineral water provided by Solán de Cabrás, an official supplier of this 10th edition of the Festival. Walls of Water, which will be situated in the gardens of the old Santa Cruz la Real Convent, aims to showcase the value of water as an essential natural resource, and to illustrate the key role it played for the city of Segovia and its aqueduct. It is designed to increase awareness among festival goers of the need to protect and care for this precious element in the face of climate change. Finally guests will move to the Alhóndiga building for the opening of the Casa Arabe exhibition entitled “Reed pens and vignettes – Arab comic art in Motion,” before returning to Madrid.

Other major events at this year’s edition of Hay Festival Segovia include a conversation held in homage to women in the field of architecture, with the participation of three key international players. Dutch-born Francine Houben is the founder of the Mecanoo studio, and was named “2014 Architect of the Year” by Architect’s Journal. She enjoys world renown for work like Birmingham’s library, or the Montevideo Tower in Rotterdam. On Sunday September 27 she will be talking with Christine Murray, director of the Architectural Review, and Martha Thorne, Director of the Pritzker Prize and Dean of IE School of Architecture and Design.

The three architects will form part of a line-up of over 150 authors, journalists, entrepreneurs and thought leaders, including María Dueñas, A.C. Grayling, John Ridding, Eduardo Mendoza, Nicolás Sartorius, Guillermo de la Dehesa, Juan Luis Cebrián, Pablo Álvarez, Antonio Muñoz Molina, and Nick Clegg, all of whom will meet in Segovia for events held on September 24 - 27.

Tickets are available at www.hayfestival.com/segovia, or by phone at +34 915 779 506, and at the visitor’s reception center in Segovia.

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