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SPEECHES
CONFERENCES
In
Support of the
United Nations
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“Dear
Friends:
The
world of the future will be extremely different from the one we are
experiencing today. Major transformations are bound to take place,
mostly in response to population growth and demographic changes, poverty
and human suffering, the profound inequities between the rich and the
poor, the impacts of all forms of discrimination and racism, the social
unrest prevailing in so many countries, the impacts of crime and drug
abuse, and the inability we have to attain sustainable and everlasting
peace. Billions and billions of dollars have been spent in the name of
development and economic progress and some of these problems seem to
persist.
The
debate on those issues, and many more which we can add at this point, is
also dramatically changing. The change responds principally to our
increased understanding (consciousness) of the many dimensions involved
–so the problems and solutions do not get trivialised; to important
considerations to be taken into account at the national, regional and
global levels—so we give due consideration to the global nature of our
human existence; and to significant transformations of the forums
–institutions like the UN and The State of the World Forum - where the
debate takes place and the solutions are to be found. Two things are
clear: (1) that there is no one answer to those problems and (2) that
there is not just one point of view that must dominate.
In
this process and as I propose a road map to the actual creation of the
World Spiritual Forum, it is imperative that we learn from past
experiences. One of this is that humanity is in search of both material
and spiritual welfare. The material dimensions of our existence and the
material solutions are equally important as the non-material ones. The
need for material satisfaction first and spiritual growth later is a
false and extremely dangerous proposition. For the world we live today
it is equally important to debate the state of material poverty and that
of spiritual poverty. Some people and communities while facing material
poverty are still spiritually rich. But there are others where both
material and spiritual poverty are at the centre stage of their
existence. The UN recognised these two dimensions a long time ago, and
specific proposals were developed in the Damabarton Declaration of 1944,
where it was stated that the path of humanity entails both material and
spiritual growth.
It
is evident that less and less leaders would dispute the importance of
understanding the spiritual dimension of all human phenomena. But such
consensus has not been translated or anchored in one global institution.
Thus the Spiritual Forum for many remains an abstract element and
concept, and this must change and change now.
For
the last several years many people including economists, financial
specialists and entrepreneurs
have come to the realisation that a World Spiritual Forum is the key
missing in the international system. And what is needed now is a
specific road map for its full realisation.
In
my view this road map should contain the following elements and
signposts:
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The
idea, concepts and rules must be publicly recognised and supported
by The State of the World Forum. It represents the natural and most
effective complement for a holistic understanding of the meaning of
“state of the world”. The final declaration of this Forum should
include explicit and specific support and endorsement to a World
Spiritual Forum.
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The
private sector and leaders from all walks of life should sign a
short and clear statement (letter) that should be transmitted to the
UN Secretary General, UN top leaders, the leaders of the
International Trade and Financial Institutions, country leaders,
union leaders, NGOs and spiritual leaders of the need to create the
World Spiritual Forum immediately. And, if the idea is to create it
within the UN System, that this would not be a decision making body
but a deliberation forum and a major contributor to the formulation
of global economic and social policies. Specific links with the
General Assembly and the ECOSOC should be drawn up.
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If
the World Spiritual Forum is to be created outside the UN System, it
would be essential to seek the full support of all actors in the
world of development: governments, private sector, NGOs, academia,
media and others. A place, budget, operational procedures,…,
should be drawn so this Forum comes into existence in the nearest
future.
This
is an idea whose time has come. This is an opportunity the world cannot
miss. This is an institutional arrangement that will complement and
strengthen the structures that already exist, and it will show that its
contributions will be key to shaping the future of humanity.
Ladies
and gentlemen, I know that if we want a world transformation that
targets the most sacred aspects and aims of humanity, any change that
translates into the creation of new institutions is a difficult and
complex one. But, it is leaders like you that have to be bold and
willing to take the necessary radical steps for this Forum to become a
reality. This will be your forum, the forum of the poor and the
powerless, the forum of your children and grandchildren,…
I
am making an appeal to you so you can write the history of this new
millennium with the hands of the spirit, and we not only bring a human
face to economic development but also the human soul. Do not be afraid.
Be bold. Be generous with those generations that are following us.
Inner
Peace is the most solid foundation for World Peace.
Thank
you for your attention
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