Forum of Ethics and Responsibilities

@EthicaRespons now on Twitter

Nadia Gianoli — 2013-04-05T13:33:38Z

NEW! The Forum Ethics and Responsibilities is now active on Twitter. We'll be sharing the latest developments of the forum and all news from the different socio-professional networks.

SOME IMPACTS OF THE ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITY SOCIO PROFESSIONAL NETWORK MIGRATION - SOUTHERN CONE (EXCEPT BRAZIL)

Ricardo Jiménez — 2013-03-23T11:48:04Z

You can read the full report with photos at the bottom of this page.

The impacts of the activity of our network in the year 2012 may be grouped in two large fields. A field is public laws and practices. Basically, a change attitude and speech by sectors of public officials towards migration and regional integration, now from the focus of responsibility as element that it is desirable and feasible, sustainable, for public policy in these two areas.

A result is the elaboration of draft laws that make interact the migration with the regional integration of the Southern Cone, from responsibility, proposing a migratory treatment most appropriate and ethical at the time that regional integration is strengthened.We have worked directly in the elaboration of these legal projects that are now discussed in the Peruvian Congress. A new law of return of Peruvian emigrants, and a law so that Peruvian emigrants have their own representatives in the Congress of the country.

The broadest in this field has been the proposal for a Decision of the Andean Parliament for extend a new treatment of migration as part of regional integration with rights and responsibilities citizens common to Andean scale, adopted by the Andean Parliament in plenary for Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, and which unifies it with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.

We, as a network of ethics and responsibility, collaborate directly in the elaboration of this Andean regional legislation (See internet link: http://www.lemondediplomatique.cl/PARLAMENTO-ANDINO-APRUEBA-ADHESION.html).

The second field of impact is the shared agendas of public authorities and civil society.

The main and most ambitious achievement in this field is the enthusiasm and commitment of authorities in several countries to continue the reflection on the responsibilities as the new solution to the current crises in the processes of regional integration and treatment of migrations.

To move forward on this, we are organizing a grand international meeting of discussion between public authorities and civil society on the responsibilities, the integration of the Southern Cone and migrations. It would be held in the facilities of the Andean Community in Peru and the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of public authorities and civil society of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil. And it is essential join our network members as Edith Sizoo, Pierre Calame, Nicolás Krausz, Isis De Palma, Cristina Reynals, and others possible.

This will take the form of closed discussion workshop for the participants. And it ends with a table of panelists and open to the public in general.

With this we hope to make more dense exchanges, reflections and actions shared from the responsibility as an input for finding new and appropriate responses to the challenges of integration and immigration treatment in the Southern Cone.

Read the full report with photos here:


2012 Ethics & Responsibility Migration Activities - 2012 Actividades Red Etica y Responsabilidad Migraciones (EN-ES)


august2012_pptadjunto_attachment PrincipiosPoliticaMigratoria_DerechosResponsabilidad

2012 Activities of the Rights and Responsibility Collective

Sudha Reddy — 2013-02-15T11:33:30Z

Some of the main activities of the R&R Collective formed in 2012 in India.

The R&R Collective formed in 2012 in India, affirms that principle of Right needs to be balanced by an equal emphasis on Responsibility in strengthening ‘Human Responsibility' as a ‘third pillar' to supplement United Nations Charter for Peace & Development and Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the United Nations. Based on this commitment the R & R Collective has been continuously engaged in focusing on a healthy dialogue and creative interaction with human right defenders to inculcate the principles of Responsibility and Co-Responsibility. It also realized the importance of preparing a ‘Charter of Human Responsibilities' contributing to the process of popularizing cultures of responsibility in all spheres of life. Such a process will contribute to the emergence of a road map for Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities.

Here are some of the main activities, some in images, initiated by the R & R Collective with the support of Eco Foundation for Sustainable Alternatives (EFSA).

You can read the full report at the bottom of this page.

Pre Rio+20 Campaigns & Lobbying:
As a part of the campaign ‘Appeal on Call on Governments' was circulated to the state actors and civil society organizations for their endorsement.

Questionnaire on popular perception on Human Responsibility:
The response to the questionnaire was overwhelming and based on this a "Reflection on Action document" is underway.

Consultation on Bio Regional Food Sovereignty:
India ranks 65th out of 79 countries on the Global Hunger Index. The grave ethical and practical implications of this abominable statistics reflect the lack of responsibility of the state and the co- responsibility of citizens. To overcome the long term effects of chronic malnourishment the R&R Collective along with others initiated a platform: ‘People's Alliance for Bio Regional Food Sovereignty'.

Promotion of ‘Citizen's Charter of Responsibilities towards Children'…
…in different educational institutions to inculcate the responsibility of adults in protecting children against all forms of abuse and the values of responsibility among children.

Ideological Retreat on Democratic Socialism
Democratic socialism is a platform, which provides space for political leaders and civil society members to debate and dialogue on the contemporary relevance of democratic socialism to redefine national and international politics based on socialist values of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice.

Women and sustainable Development:
The R&R Collective engaged in the promotion of gender based agriculture as part of the national policy and the state's responsibility to promote sustainable gender based agriculture.

Formation of Flow Network- Protection and Recreation of Life:
this network is to conceptualize the flow of life and build a new humanity to reverse the damage caused by the family of humanity to the dynamic balance of the cycles of nature, which supports the creation of life and sustains and nurtures life. This process include dialogues with law experts and judiciary as well as with political experts and leaders.

Full report:


INDIA 2012 Activities Report of the R & R Collective

Education for Environment and for Sustainable Development Conferences

Yolanda Ziaka — 2013-02-08T12:03:29Z

Our network will participate in the European Day and in the 3rd French edition of Education for Environment and for Sustainable Development Conferences, that will take place in Lyon from the 5 to 7 of March 2013.

Presenting our work during the European Day and the 3rd French Conference on EESD

The 3rd French edition of EESD Conferences are times for exchange, valuation and construction of concrete collective solutions so that EESD grows both on territorial and national levels.

More than 1000 people will attend the meeting, teachers, trainers, people representing non-profit organizations, local authorities, private sector, State departments (local, regional or national).

This event aims at elaborating a strategic project of actions in favor of EESD where local and national goals are intimately connected. The goal is to build a real partnership between the State, the local authorities, the civil society and the companies so that, thanks to the diversity of the agents' skills, sustainable development can come true.

Built on a co-learning spirit, the planning of these three days will take from all the territorial Conferences but also from contributions on the collaborative website www.assises-eedd.org , from the participation in the working groups (artistic and cultural animation, contents and global approach, eco-event, logistics), and from several initiatives and suggestions.

Preregistration for the European Day is available at: http://jin-k.net/kaleidoscop-form-inscription-journeeeuropeenneeedd .

Participants can share papers or any documentation on the Internet collaborative space: www.assises-eedd.org/journee-europeenne .

THE WAY FORWARD after Rio+20

Nadia Gianoli — 2012-12-09T17:57:56Z

The Way Forward after Rio+20 is a reference working paper for the International Forum on Ethics & Responsibility as it lays down the strategy and the commitments of each partner to work on ethics and responsibility with the experience gained in the past 10 years. Guidelines are structured along the following 3 themes: Strengthening and expanding the geographic and professional i-FER constituencies; Follow-up of the RIO+20 Conference; Starting a process of reflexion on turning the i-FER into a self-governing body.

By: Edith Sizoo
Endorsed by Participants in the International Forum on Ethics & Responsibility

Introduction
This document marks an important moment in a process that started in autumn 2001 at the World Assembly of Citizens (Lille) with the proposal for a Charter of Human Responsibilities and culminated in 2011/12 in a campaign to gain acceptance by the UN RIO+20 Conference (June 2012) of the idea to set out a roadmap for a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities (UDHResp).

Experiences gained over this ten year period give rise to defining a strategy for the years to come, continuing what has proved to be effective and embarking on new ways to reach the overall objective: contributing to putting into practice cultures of responsibility in all spheres of life and claiming the need for an instrument to give effect to Responsibilities to be recognized not only by States but also by major powers of influence at political, economic and social levels, and by citizens.

Such an instrument is to serve as an ethical framework that addresses specific responsibilities -with the allied accountability-, thus providing a basis for future national and international regulation translating principles of responsibility in binding juridical norms.

The “way forward” builds on lessons learnt from the ways traversed. We review the period 2004-2010 in Appendix 3. This review is preceded by an effort to highlight the choice of the concept of “responsibility” as a key-notion for the 21st century, a choice that clarifies the rationale of the ambition for an international declaration of responsibilities.

The period 2010-mid 2012 is shortly recapitulated in the following section. It is a prelude to concrete guidelines for implementing an “After Rio”-strategy, the commitments made by participants in the Ethics & Responsibility Forum and the work to be done otherwise.

You can access the full document here:


THE WAY FORWARD after Rio+20

AFTER RIO + 20

Edith Sizoo, Pierre Calame — 2012-12-07T12:31:02Z

Making Responsibility the Ethical Core of the Twenty-first Century and the Foundation of a Third Pillar for the International Community: What Strategy Should We Implement after the Failure of Rio+20? The following lines will take you back for some history on the need of a Charter of Universal Responsibilities, how this was taken to Brazil and Rio+20 and now, how to shape the After Rio+20 and promote the ethics of responsibility. Please note that this is only an extract, the Synthesis and the Full Version are available as downloadable documents below.

By Pierre Calame
With the participation of Edith Sizoo

New ethics and new international law to assume our interdependences: putting the issue in perspective

Between the first international Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972 and the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, awareness had been slowly growing about the fact that societies are all interdependent, and that humankind and the biosphere are interdependent too. Each society's impact on the others was to be taken into account, and the overall impact of societies on the planet assumed. This implied that every actor, every society, every nation was accountable for its impact on others and on the biosphere. What was at stake was the very survival of humankind. This was the idea underlying the “Earth Charter.” When the 1992 Earth Summit was in preparation, many different Earth Charter projects were developed, both by states and by civil society. They were to lead to a new international convention, a third pillar for the international community alongside the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, because neither of the two founding texts adopted in the aftermath of World War II addressed the interdependences among societies and between humanity and the biosphere. The states attending the Rio Summit were not, however, able to agree on a common commitment to a text that could serve as the basis for future international law. All they did was adopt Agenda 21, which, while opening new avenues, did not make them binding avenues.

Reference to the peoples' common responsibility toward their “common future” was limited in the Agenda to adopting the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” The principle recognizes that the impact of societies on their environment varies depending on their level of material development, past and present. […]

In the twenty years following the Earth Summit, while interdependences among societies grew deeper and the cumulative impact of human activities on the biosphere continued to rise, the world's states, instead of partnering more closely to work toward common survival, continued to reaffirm their sovereignty. In practice, this was tantamount to refusing to take into account their impact on others and on the biosphere. […]

Against this background, the so-called Rio+20 International Conference, organized for the twentieth anniversary of the Earth Summit, was left to the game of diplomacy, a survival of the times when the state of the world could justify that international relations remain limited to negotiations among sovereign states. The failure of Rio+20, where the states adopted a 50-page text droning on about commitments already made a long time ago and not kept, is a sign of the bankruptcy of diplomacy and of the inability of this form of relations among societies to safeguard the future. […]

Since the Rio+20 failure, the gap has never been so deep and wide between global governance and what is needed to save humankind. Our global governance and our international law have become for humankind the most serious of all risks because of their inability to grasp the issue of interdependences. […]

Facing the admission of powerlessness of the states and of the law, civil society, the expression of a slowly emerging global community, must take the initiative. It needs to concentrate on making efforts converge, including by inviting some of the more lucid states and governments to take the initiative back in the direction of the United Nations, because despite its weaknesses, the UN is still the only forum where conventions, standards, and international law can be developed. This is the task to which the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities intends to dedicate itself. […]

The idea that responsibility has changed in nature with the global proportions of interdependences and that it can serve as the basis for future international law supplementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not a new one. On the contrary, it is expressed far and wide, and this is what underpins the hope that it will succeed someday.

The Forum, far from claiming to do original work, wishes to foster these convergences so that a new ethics of responsibility takes root all over the world, in every sphere, and in every subject, in a movement powerful enough to impose itself gradually on every conscience, to become an incontrovertible reference, and to make it possible to establish an international law that is complementary to human rights.

The idea of responsibility is found, with variations, in every society. Accountability for the impact of one's actions on others and recognition of the symmetry of obligations among its members are the foundation of any community. Rights and responsibilities are the two inseparable faces of citizenship. Consciousness of responsibility applies at different scales, from the local to the global. It is expressed at three levels: 1. that of individual consciousness; 2. that of collective civil references (professional, social groups) 3. and that of governmental references (juridical systems).

International law of responsibility would have no impact if consciousness of responsibility were not embodied at other levels but is nevertheless indispensable, as is the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a declaration that would establish such a law. The efforts of civil society must therefore be deployed at the three levels—individual consciousness, collective references, and the law—at every level, in every sphere. […]

A first version of what has been tentatively called the Charter of Universal Responsibilities was developed with jurists in October 2010. We then sought a state that, in the framework of the preparatory work for the Conference, could champion the Charter.

This was all the more arduous that the question of responsibility was not on the official negotiations agenda. We reached the conclusion that only Brazil could play this role, for it was less likely than Europe or the United States to be suspected of wanting to impose Western values on the rest of the world, it was a great emerging country, and to top it off, it was hosting the conference. It was virtually the only country in a position to propose that the initial agenda be widened. Meetings with various members of the Brazilian Government in September 2011 showed us that they shared our analysis regarding the risk of failure of the Rio+20 Conference, and a few expressed great interest in the initiative we were submitting.[…]

Although this battle is far from being won, we can observe real progress thanks to the stubborn work of the Forum. This progress also gives us confidence in the future.

Promoting the ethics of responsibility at every level after Rio+20

Time is not linear in collective adventures. Preparations for the Rio+20 Conference were an accelerator for the Ethics & Responsibilities movement. The conference schedule imposed its timing on us; we were forced to join our own efforts to develop communication tools, write new texts, and make contacts at the highest level. This also involved the ever present risk of racing through the stages and losing in terms of force what we might have won in terms of velocity. Post-Rio requires that we consolidate our foundations and prepare again for a long march, but also to continue to seize every new opportunity. Consolidating our foundations for a long march requires a comprehensive strategy, the main features of which are:
The movement must involve the four categories of actors of change: innovators, theoreticians, generalizers, regulators,
The ethics of responsibility must be promoted at three levels: that of individual consciousness; that of civil collective references; and that of standards and the law.
The ethics of responsibility must progress in terms of three dimensions: geographical area, socioprofessional spheres, fields of life in society
Co-responsibility among the different actors must be deployed at four scales: local, national, regional, and global. […] These four fields of efforts are objectives in themselves as well as an integral part of the overall strategy to make responsibility the ethical ore of the Twenty-first Century and the Foundation of a Third Pillar for the International Community.

The full version of the text further develops on the following themes:

1. Structuring the governance of the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities

2. Enlarging the base of the movement

2.1 Socioprofessional enlargement
2.2 Enlargement to other regions of the world

3. Strengthening the credibility and visibility of the Forum proposals

3.1 Reinforcing legal credibility
3.2 Reinforcing institutional credibility

4. Building and consolidating the documentary base to support our strategy


AFTER RIO + 20 full version


AFTER RIO + 20 short version

On Human Rights and Responsibilities

Nadia Gianoli — 2012-11-17T21:03:10Z

"There is no such international reference text pertaining to the obligation to assume responsibility, […]And yet, responsibility for safeguarding the environment and ensuring a life of dignity for present and future generations is a common task that has to be shared by all, be it at different degrees." Read this important and needed paper on concepts and relationship of human rights and responsibilities written by Edith Sizoo, the International Coordinator of the Forum on Ethics & Responsibility. Don't forget to answer the question at the end of the text! We welcome the comments on this page and directly to Edith.

17 November 2012

on HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

By Edith Sizoo (Coordinator International Forum on Ethics & Responsibility)

“If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek”
Mahatma Ghandi

A worldwide struggle for the establishment of basic human rights is going on. It is officially supported by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the General Assembly of the UN on the 10th December 1948. Since then the majority of the UN Member States gradually ratified this Declaration, thus also committing themselves to the introduction and/or maintenance of the rights mentioned in the document. And quite a number of them have used the text as a basis for further legislation.

There is no such international reference text pertaining to the obligation to assume responsibility, to evaluate the impacts of far-reaching decisions and to account for the consequences of actions, whether the actors are individuals, organizations, corporate businesses or governments. And yet, responsibility for safeguarding the environment and ensuring a life of dignity for present and future generations is a common task that has to be shared by all, be it at different degrees.

The horizon of critical issues has widened, notably in the fields of ecology, economics, finance and governance, thus increasingly destroying the livelihood support systems of less privileged people. Consequently, endeavors to address these issues have become more challenging. Pollution is still rampant in many parts of the world. Access to basic resources, e.g. water, poses increasingly a problem to many people. Inequalities are dangerously widening in and between societies. A continuing financial crisis causes turmoil, insecurity and poverty. Failed states emerge and serve as bases for terrorism inside and outside their borders.

This state of affairs provokes protests and calls for action, but their effect is usually limited as a result of which a large part of the population of our planet cannot enjoy many of the rights established in the UDHR: the right to life, liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of movement, the right to own property, the right to freedom of expression, to mention only a few.

Current efforts to tackle the negative developments in the different fields referred to above need to be strengthened in order to be more effective. There is an urgent need to complement the existing juridical instruments because the current unprecedented crises are not only violating rights but are also life-threatening for present and future generations. A shift to a new paradigm is needed: from an anthropocentric worldview that puts the human being at the center of creation assigning to him the right to appropriate all resources to a worldview that imposes responsibility to care for the survival of all living species. The worldwide interrelated threats to humanity and the planet go beyond the issue of rights. They are of a different nature and require new instruments to be dealt with.

Why is effective dealing with those crises so difficult to achieve? The complexities of the challenges to be met are undoubtedly playing a role. However, another factor should be mentioned: a widespread tendency to shy away from responsibilities. That weakness is urgently in need of much more exposure and has to be addressed. “The world has changed and we must change with it… What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility.”

As has been observed: the world is a dangerous place, not so much because of those who do evil, but because of those who watch and sit by and let things happen. Many are those who can assume responsibility, but prefer to do nothing and to remain free-riders. Many are also those who strenuously try to reduce their responsibilities. They feel uneasy about the need to answer for the consequences of their decisions in a world that is becoming more and more complex and characterized by an increasing interdependence among its components. They do not want to be held responsible for (known and unknown) negative effects of their behavior. Consequently, these negative effects are not taken care of.

Fortunately, there are also actors and agencies that do recognize at least co-responsibility for important tasks. But even they are frequently not really moving because of conflicts among each other about what needs to be dealt with first or about the way in which the burden that needs to be carried should be distributed. International conferences, e.g. those dealing with climate change, are clearly illustrating this point. The same tussles can be observed at national and lower governmental levels as well as in the world of corporate business. In these conflicts divergent interests manifest themselves quite openly while cultural differences, particularly with respect to what needs to be prioritized, exacerbate the conflicts.

In spite of all these diversities, however, a sense of responsibility is common to all human beings. A Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities issued by the UN would appeal to this sense. It would serve as a countervailing force against irresponsible behavior. It would complement the two existing pillars of international life: the Charter of the United Nations on poverty and development, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Given its status and authority, equipping the UN with a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities as a third pillar would significantly boost efforts to counteract tendencies to abstain from doing what should be done. Just as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has succeeded in strengthening the establishment of basic rights, so would a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities strengthen the application of the principle of responsibility.

The UN needs such a Declaration highlighting the importance of that principle, describing major areas related to societal relations and the biosphere where responsibilities have to be assumed; and areas where responsibilities are common but have to be shared according to people's access to information, knowledge and power. Explicit references to these responsibilities will implicitly point to irresponsible behavior. This would stimulate juridical steps to discourage acting in irresponsible ways. Thus the struggle to fend off the dangers threatening humanity and the biosphere can be advanced more forcefully.

A Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities that is acceptable to a majority of the members of the UN will not be easy to bring about. Yet there is an urgent need for it. Such a Declaration would constitute another pillar in support of the UN's attempt to enhance human dignity and promote peace and harmony within and between societies.

***********

QUESTION to the READERS of this TEXT

The Forum on Ethics & Responsibility proposes to promote the idea of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities as a “third pillar” of international life (the two other ones being the UN Charter on peace and development and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).

It is generally accepted that rights and responsibilities are the two inseparable faces of citizenship.

We need your opinion about the necessity of such a new UN Declaration that –like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights- would serve as a basis for future international law. We also need your views on how this goal could be achieved. Contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is codified by Member States of the UN, codes of conduct pertaining to responsibilities are not framed to be submitted to international law. Do you agree with a proposal for a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities as a third pillar for the UN? If so, would you be interested in the promotion of this idea? How could you eventually contribute?

For further information contact: edith.sizoo@lc-ingeniris.com

The PDF documents contains reference notes:

The PDF documents contains reference notes:

RESPONSIBILITY AND FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION

Ricardo Jiménez — 2012-11-12T18:41:00Z

The Programme of Ethics and Responsibility composes a part of the growing tendency of Humanity which promotes the consciousness of personal Responsibilities as an indispensable principle for the making of a sustainable life in the 21stcentury. A part of its strategic proposals and actions is the incorporation of Responsibility within both the programmes of formal studies and the practices of informal studies – an indispensable step towards the construction of the culture of Responsibility.

Ricardo Jimenez
Translation into English: Peter Larsen and François Soulard

An experience of this nature was the creation of a Degree in Migration, human Rights and public Policy carried out by the socio-professional Network of Migrations of the Programme together with entities of civil society, academics and with the State, in Peru this year, 2012.

Within the programme of formal studies

The Degree included ten modules on specific themes which dealt with migration in the light of 1) theory, 2) economy, 3) international relations, 4) human rights, 5) international crime, 6) gender , 7) culture, 8) public policy, Peruvian emigration and 10) immigration within Peru.

These were structured in three major categories: theoretical (modules 1 and 2), theoretical-practical (modules 3 to 7) and practical (modules 8 to 10).

The concept and scope of the principle of Responsibility crossed the entire programme of studies and all the modules. Therefore, the foundations were laid on theories in module 1, in which the delivery of the contents culminated with the theoretical focus upon the ‘system', according to which migrations are an element which interact with many others within an inseparable totality denominated ´system´. From this focus is derived the conceptual notion of ‘co-responsibility', in which are found all the actors involved in the system, States of origin, transit and destination, civil society, public functionaries, migrants, relatives, etc., which share responsibilities in the treatment of migration, although these responsibilities are different according to the amount of authority and to what extent each one impacts upon reality.

This concerns the principle announced in the Charter of Human Responsibilities about the shared and differentiated responsibilities, applied in this case to the theoretical treatment of migrations.

From the theoretical, conceptual beginning on, differentiated co-responsibility formed a part of the analyses, debates and reflections during the entire development of the following modules of the programme in the specific treatment of economic, international, gender, political and other such problems from one case to the next.

One particular element of this development was that of module 4 on migrations and human rights, where when handling the social and historic construction of the sets of rights, specifically Responsibilities were treated as a paradigm emerging at the beginning of the 21st Century, with which humanity attempts to modernise and enriches the universal system of human rights in order to make life on our planet sustainable. The text of the Charter of Human Responsibilities was part of the contents of this module, as well as its application in the area of migration; the World Charter of Migrants.

Within informal educative practices

The programme is not only active within formal studies, but also in a strategic environment of the construction of cultures – that of informal educative practices. These have been taken into consideration in two senses in the experience of the Degree:
firstly in the design of the programme of studies, in its team of professors and in institutional alliances which have given it support, all of which were organised under the exercise of the co-responsibility of the different actors. Positive synergy was fostered between the State institutions, academics and civil society which worked together throughout the entire experience. The same occurred in the design of the programme of studies and the formation team of professors participating in all facets;
and secondly, the student body of the Degree consisted of public functionaries and professionals of civil society involved in dealing with migration matters, together with the leaders of migrant organizations and their family members.

This allowed that the concept cutting across common and differentiated Responsibilities was perceived in a direct and personal manner through the exchanges during the collective debates and reflections. The methodologies used, such as the debate forums and group work permitted the exchange and gathering of multiple knowledge from the point of view of a permanent co-responsibility.

The impact

The Degree Programme thus succeeded to transmit the principle of Responsibilities and by means of these studies, the provisions, the texts, the practices and the alliances offered to the 60 students who received their Degree with the input of a diversified team of organizers, professors and institutional support.

This was an unheard of experience for Peru, which has enlarged the circle of Responsibility, a crucial step to overcome the current crisis of civilisation and to make migrations and life on the planet sustainable.

Responsibility in university's Grade of Migration in Peru

Ricardo Jiménez — 2012-11-02T18:22:00Z

On October 19 was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru in downtown Lima, the closing ceremony of the university's grade: Migration, Human Rights and Public Policy. Organized by the Perú Migrant Project (PMP), with support from the European Union, and the University Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, with the support of the Andean Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Grade design and academic coordination was led by Chilean sociologist, based in Peru, Ricardo Jimenez, who is also coordinator for the latinoamerican Southern Cone (except Brazil) and for the network socio-professional of migrations, of the Program of Ethics and Responsability.

The Charter of Human Responsibilities was part of the materials used in the Grade, as the World Charter of Migrants, allowing them to be known by the 62 people who finally got their degree, including government officials, civil society practitioners and leaders of organizations of migrants and their families.

At the same time, the degree has generated positive synergies between different public and civil institutions, plural and comprehensive approach that is based on the principles of the Charter of Responsibilities and activity of the Program of Ethics and Responsability.

Globethics.net Newsletter

Nadia Gianoli — 2012-10-26T12:58:18Z

Read the latest newsletter of the Global Ethics Network for Applied Ethics. Main titles: New African Law Library /// GlobeTheoLib News /// Global financial and economic architecture /// Global Ethics Forum 2012 report /// India National Essay Competition: Towards a corruption free India

See online : Globethics.net Newsletter

Call on Governments for Charter of Universal Responsibilities Formally Delivered to Peru Government

Ricardo Jiménez — 2012-05-11T15:15:49Z

Peru's representative at the United Nations committed to make the Call on Governments and the proposal for a Charter of Universal Responsibilities known to the highest government authorities for Rio+20 …

On May 3, 2012, a formal meeting was held in a ministerial office in Lima with Marco Núñez Melgar, ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru and Representative of Peru to the United Nations, in which the “Call on Governments” and the proposal for a “Charter of Universal Responsibilities” were presented and delivered.

During an extended two-hour conversation, Ricardo Jiménez, representing the Ethics & Responsibilities Program, explained the reach and the objectives of this campaign to institute a “third pillar” of the international system of human rights, this one focused on shared and differentiated responsibilities. Special emphasis was put on the opportunity provided by the Rio+20 Summit of Heads of State next June.

An important campaign in a context of major environmental and health concerns

Ambassador Núñez Melgar congratulated the initiative and saw the campaign as important based on his experience as Peru's representative at the United Nations, and committed to making it known to the highest government authorities. A follow-up meeting was set prior to Rio+20 to report on these efforts.

The meeting took place in a context of generalized environmental and health concerns among the population of Peru produced by the massive, inexplicable deaths of dozens of dolphins and pelicans, whose corpses are washing up on the Peruvian coasts, including those of Lima, the country's capital, showing that, facing the serious progression of climate change and of the environmental crisis, there is an urgent need of greater awareness that responsibility has become an ethical and political imperative, a pressing challenge, but also a major opportunity for the states.

Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities Proposes Alternative Zero Draft for Rio+20 Conference

Marina Urquidi — 2012-04-26T10:23:16Z

After a broad consultation with partners including our team, the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation (FPH), which funds the Ethics & Responsibilities program, has drawn up a list of proposed amendments to the UN's “Zero draft of the outcome document” of the coming UN Rio+20 Conference. Read, tell us if you agree, suggest other amendments!

The Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which is to be held in Rio de Janeiro next June 20 to 22, has, as is customary in this kind of official conference, prepared a “zero draft” intended to serve as a basis for negotiations among states as they move toward the conference, also known as the Rio+20 Earth Summit. It is called “The Future We Want,” and was developed with inputs mainly from the UN Member States, but also from the so-called Major Groups (nine formalized “overarching categories through which all citizens [can] participate in UN activities” including for instance Women, Indigenous Peoples, and Business and Industry), and all the UN agencies. The zero draft has been in discussion among diplomats and states since the beginning of 2012.

The Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation (FPH), which has a very long history of cross-cultural, cross-regional, and cross-sector forward-looking proposal building, has been drawing from its long-term thinking and the work of its partners to frame an alternative draft including our Ethics & Responsibilities inputs. This process has resulted in specific amendment proposals to the Zero Draft, which we are happy to submit for your appraisal.

Striving for more than business as usual and for ensuring our survival on this planet

The amendments are directed at trying to make of this document something more than “business as usual” and patching up some of the flaws that have led to the failure of the process begun at the first of these conferences 20 years ago, which is the general feeling given by the original UN text. Our point is to emphasize processes that will truly help humankind achieve the “Great Transition,” failing which, there is little hope for our collective survival on this planet. The transition will require a complete overhaul in our thinking from the ethics, governance, and economy standpoint. For this, we are suggesting, among others, that the UN adopt the concept of universal responsibility, or co-responsibility.

A clearly set out document for easy reading and intended for the official Rio+20 delegations

The amendments are set out in the down-loadable document below, following the exact structure of the Zero Draft, which is displayed in the left-hand column, with the corresponding proposed replacements or additions in the column on the right.

The proposed amendments will be sent to the Heads of Delegations who will take part in the negotiations at the Rio+20 Conference as well as to civil-society organizations that will take part in the Rio+20 event. It is also a process that shall be implemented after the Rio Conference with the FPH partners and all the stakeholders who wish to share their thinking and proposals for the Great Transition.

Please download the proposed amendments and feel free to add your comments, observations, or proposals in the comments section :


Presenta- tion FER Alternative Zero Draft


FER Alternative Zero Draft

Economists Adopt Conflict-of-Interest Guidelines

2012-04-11T11:01:51Z

How can research be kept free of conflicts of interests? The American Economic Association has formulated specific guidelines for this: good progress and a good reference text, but applying only to articles published in AEA journals. How can this be generalized to the world of scholars?

Information submitted by Cécile Sabourin.

Photo by Cindy Seigle

The American Economic Association (AEA) responded to criticism that some economists were too close to businesses or the government by issuing a new set of guidelines in early January 2012 at its annual meeting in Chicago, aiming to get scholars to disclose the supporters of their research when they publish in AEA journals. The new guidelines were approved at an executive committee meeting. “Every submitted article should state the sources of financial support for the particular research it describes. If none, that fact should be stated,” says one of the new principles. Another principle asks authors to “identify each interested party from whom he or she has received significant financial support, summing to at least $10,000 in the past three years, in the form of consultant fees, retainers, grants and the like.” The disclosure requirement also includes in-kind support, such as “providing access to data.” The additions come after years of introspection by economists, following the financial meltdown of 2008.

Click here for full story with links.

Andean Parliament Considers Charter of Universal Responsibilities for the Rio+20 Summit

2012-03-14T15:06:20Z

The Charter process on the way to Rio+20 is reaching top official representatives. Here is one example in South America.

On February 29, 2012 in the building of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our colleague Ricardo Jiménez met with Alberto Adrianzén, Vice President of the Andean Parliament, and presented our Call on governments and the draft of a Charter of Universal Responsibilities, with a view to Rio+20. Of the many initiatives that have sought support from Andean Parliament, the Charter initiative is now one of the few that has been presented and is under consideration.

The Andean Parliament is the deliberative body of the integration process of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Alberto Adrianzén will be its representative at the Río+20 Summit.

You Could See the Future in the Children's Eyes

Ricardo Jiménez — 2012-03-07T11:34:00Z

In Chile, a new branch of the History of South American Integration was officially presented, which underscores the objective need of a South American community, the wealth of the pluri- and cross-cultural nature of the continent, and the understanding of migrations …

On Monday, April 18, 2011 a new course was officially presented called “History, Geography, and Social Sciences of South America,” to a public including 12-year-old children from the Escuela República de Alemania in Santiago, which is emblematic of best practices in the integration of immigrant pupils of a variety of South American nationalities.

The course, which became mandatory from then on for all seventh-grade pupils, had begun regular classes in March and hoped to end the school year with a full delivery of the content of the program, focused on the history of South American unity from its most distant origins to the first Pan-Andean cultures, underscoring the objective need of a South American community, the wealth of the pluri- and cross-cultural nature of the continent, and the understanding of migrations.

The main protagonists of the occasion were the children themselves. The classroom was full, with its 38 pupils: 4 Chileans, 3 Colombians, 1 Ecuadorian, and 30 Peruvians. The school's history teacher, one of the main movers of this initiative, along with a teacher's assistant, taught the class on the historical development of world maps and its geopolitical and cultural implications for South America, using as support a completely new and valuable educational video.

When the class was over, several of the leaders, participants, and collaborators of the initiative came into the classroom and had a conversation with the kids.

Héctor Pezoa of the Migrants Citizen Secretariat in Chile, General Coordinator of the initiative, declared his satisfaction for what had already been accomplished, which albeit modest, was the culmination of more than two years of arduous volunteer work, overcoming difficulties, incomprehension, and fears of all kinds, typical for anything that is new and pioneering, nonetheless overcome with the conviction and trust that this was a necessary task, both from the ethical and the historical points of view.

He ended by telling of the new challenges and the great possibilities opening up from then on for a greater impact of the initiative. Among others, to publish the existing text; to write the pupils' manual; to institute a diploma to train history professors in this course in order to extend it to more schools with similar characteristics. The legal resolution of the Ministry of Education that allows this course under the “Own Program Plan” and on the condition that it is culturally relevant to the school community, also authorizes its extension to any other school in Chile that requests it. Furthermore, the initiative could be extended to all primary- and secondary-school grades, and to other South American countries.

You could see the future in the children's eyes.

Roadmap for the International Endorsement of a Charter of Universal Responsibilities

Pierre Calame — 2012-03-07T09:56:47Z

Our participation at the Thematic Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil (January 24 to 29, 2012), gave us a clearer view of the next steps to take for the advancement of the Charter of Universal Responsibilities. “Rio+20,” the UN Conference on climate change to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June, is the next stop to put responsibility, and more specifically co-responsibility, at the core of common ethics to be adopted for the global community. We are feeling optimistic! Join us by signing our Call on Governments to support the Charter of Universal Responsibilities (click here to find out how to sign).

Since the first international conference on environment in Stockholm, 40 years ago, it has become clear that the two pillars of the international community—the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—are not sufficient to deal with the growing interdependence among societies and between humanity and the biosphere. Given the current incapacity of our societies to curb the dominant development model and of the international intergovernmental community to make the most needed decisions to protect our future, the adoption of a third pillar has become urgent. As things stand now, governments, international corporations, and big finance institutions are only accountable to their own constituencies—national voters, shareholders, and national jurisdictions—regardless of their impact on the rest of the world.

Over the years, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been the starting point to define these rights in a broader sense, including economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights, which are part of human dignity and social justice. This claim for rights remains ineffective, however, when these rights are not opposable to any institution: responsibility is the hidden face of rights. A fair balance between rights and responsibilities is at the core of any true democracy and biocivilization.

All the thinking on the great transition that we are facing with the shortcomings of the present development model underscores the fact that underlying the different crises there is an ethical crisis, with personal short-term material interests and violent power relations being celebrated by current economic and political ideology at the expense of relations of reciprocity, compassion, and caring, among human beings, among societies, and between humanity and nature.

We need common ethics to run our only and fragile planet. This common ethics must be deeply rooted in our different cultures, philosophical or religious traditions, and reflect the interconnectedness of our universe. Responsibility is at the core of this common ethics, as reciprocity, caring, and management of the commons have always been the conditions for being part of a community. Therefore, even the poorest persons and communities claim not only their rights but also their responsibility, toward children, elderly persons, and the commons as the expression of being a citizen.

Responsibility is also the core of any social contract between a socioprofessional group and the rest of society, be they scientists, professionals, journalists, civil servants, educators, farmers and fishermen, servicemen, or children, etc., mitigating corporatist or sectorial interests or loyalty to a limited community with awareness of being part of a larger one. The very concept of co-responsibility reflects this idea of a social contract from the local to the global level.

Over the last fifteen years, all international negotiations have failed even when our long-term survival is at stake, as is the case for climate change. Considering the heterogeneity of the member states of the UN, all the major states have opted for consensus conferences with a de facto veto right for each and every country. International negotiations have therefore become mere bargaining sessions among leaders geared only by their so-called national interests and claiming their sovereignty. They have become truly irresponsible toward the common good. This cannot be changed unless the international community truly acknowledges our global interdependence and its corollary, the principle of universal responsibility.

Ethics is the link between personal inner convictions, which orient our choices and help us solve our ethical dilemmas, and the law, which is the expression of binding rules agreed upon by a community for personal and collective behavior. Common ethics are meant to influence personal choices and to orient the law. A Charter of Universal Responsibility will stimulate responsible behavior at the individual and collective levels, be a common ethical reference for the different communities, institutions, stakeholders, and persons in position of power and authority, and the basis for international and national laws.

Therefore, we representatives of the global civil society meeting in Porto Alegre :
urge the governments that will participate at the Rio+20 conference in June 2012 to put on the agenda of the conference, as part of the institutional-framework agenda, the discussion of the attached draft of a Charter of Universal Responsibilities and the adoption of a roadmap for an international endorsement by the UN General Assembly of a binding charter within the next three years;
support the call on governments issued by the international Ethics & Responsibilities network and will circulate it through our different networks;
and, as a beginning for this process, suggest that at the occasion of the Rio+20 Conference, climate change be declared a threat to international security, thus opening the possibility for the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations, successively, to deliberate and take their responsibilities in this matter.

Porto Alegre
January 28, 2012


Charter draft

Illustration by Steve A Johnson

SUPPORT OUR CALL ON GOVERNMENTS!

2012-01-25T18:36:38Z

Peoples everywhere are expecting governments to overcome national interests and meet the current crises with an international reference text on the obligation of responsibility. We ask individuals and organizations to support our Call to move toward a Charter of Universal Responsibilities. Read, sign, and pass it on!

Help us circulate this call by clicking on the icons on the right to share it with your social networks!

The following CALL ON GOVERNMENTS issued by members of the Forum on Ethics & Responsibilities appeals to Governments of Member States of the United Nations to take the historic and courageous decision of starting up a process toward the creation of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities as a complement to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Peoples all around the globe expect governments to respond to the current crises by overcoming national interests and creating an international reference text pertaining to the obligation to assume responsibility, to evaluate the impacts of far-reaching decisions and to account for the consequences of actions.
Individuals and organizations are invited to sign this CALL as well, thus multiplying and reinforcing the voice of the peoples of the world.

You can download the printed version of the following text as well as the Charter draft so you can read it. If you wish to support this call, contact Edith Sizoo (click on her name and scroll down to the end of the page to get a message form) to let her know that you would like to sign, mentioning:
your name
your country
your e-mail address (it will not be made available on line)
your organization and/or occupation, and please specify if you are signing as an individual or for your organization
any further comments (we are interested in your opinions!) if you so wish

The list of signatories in the online text does not display e-mail addresses, only names and organizations/occupations.

Call on Governments

For a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities To be put on the agenda of the international community

The undersigned, members of the international Forum of Ethics & Responsibility, [1] who represent professional and social networks nationally and internationally, call on their respective governments to show determination to address the current crises facing humanity and the planet.

Growing exasperation
In numerous countries of the world pressures on the population have been aggravated by environmental disasters and the consequences of the financial and economic crises. There is also little hope of reaching effective agreements at the international political level.

A missing link
The protection of Human Rights is laid down in the Universal Declaration of 1948 and the subsequent conventions for its implementation that gave rise to national and international jurisprudence. There is no such international reference text pertaining to the obligation to assume responsibility, to evaluate the impacts of far-reaching decisions and to account for the consequences of actions, whether the actors are individuals, organizations, corporate businesses or governments.
And yet, responsibility for safeguarding the environment and ensuring a life of dignity for the present and future generations is a common task that has to be shared by all, be it at different degrees.

Filling a gap
A new international ethical founding text is needed, a “third pillar” for international life, as an indispensable complement to the Charter of the United Nations, which covers peace and development, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A Charter of Universal Responsibilities will be certain to stimulate the application of the principle of precaution, to encourage sustainable use of natural resources, and to enhance social equity and well-being. Moreover, it can provide an international legal base to counteract breaches of responsibility at various levels and sectors of human activity.

1992… a moment of hope
Twenty years ago, the first Earth Summit took place in Rio. Many of the people involved had high hopes for global progress. Three years earlier, the Berlin wall had fallen and a new peaceful world order was supposed to emerge, supported by a worldwide extension of democratic rule and the free market. At the same time, the 1992 Rio Summit acknowledged that climate change and environmental degradation had to be addressed. The concept of sustainable development was introduced. It was meant to guide efforts to bring about consistency among environmental, economic, and social activities.

2012… disenchantment
Twenty years later, who could deny the disenchantment? The global economy has produced prosperity, but high levels of poverty remain, and inequality has increased significantly. In many countries social cohesion is at risk. And in spite of the idea of sustainable development, the actual negative impact of human activities on the biosphere and its subsequent impact on human beings are ever growing. All this is raising doubts regarding the dominant development model and the space it is leaving to financial capitalism.
High hopes that the UN Conference called RIO+20, held in June 2012, would turn the tide, proved to be unfounded. Among citizens, it was generally felt that the final Declaration of the Heads of State entitled “The future we want”, showed that another historical moment had dramatically been missed.

After Rio+20: which way forward ? All around the world, there is widespread concern about the unsatisfying outcome of the Rio+20 Conference. At the same time, there is great desire emerging from civil societies to find a way forward to meet the challenges of this millennium. How?
First, the issue of global interdependence has to be squarely addressed. Political and economic leaders, whose actions affect the whole world, are only accountable to their constituency or shareholders, and they are legally bound only in terms of their national laws. Global interdependence, however, requires accountability at the international level.
Second, the current international agenda addresses issues like: a) green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, and b) the institutional framework for sustainable development. These are valid issues indeed. However, the question is whether the discussions on these themes will address the fundamental crisis underlying the current environmental, economic, financial and social crises, i.e. the absence of an unequivocal agreement on the essential question of who is responsible for what and accountable to whom.

Responsibility… a universal idea
The idea of responsibility can be found in every culture. It is the core of social fabric, the basis of reciprocity in human relations, and the corollary of human rights. And just like global interdependence among all countries, responsibilities have become universal.
We are thinking of Bangladesh and other low-lying countries or island states. With the rising of the sea due to greenhouse gases and climate change, their very existence is at stake. Is this the outcome of their own actions, or a result of wider negligence? Who to turn to when it comes to setting up a coordinated plan to diminish this silent crime against humanity? Identifying responsibilities is needed in order to build paths to the solutions to such disasters.
We see a call for responsibility emerging everywhere, typically illustrated by a worldwide movement in favor of corporate social responsibility. These calls need to be supported; they need to be given a political response at the international level. Otherwise, the response may only be to search for scapegoats.
The time has come to accept the fact that global interdependence must be translated into international directives. This is why the UN General Assembly should assume the responsibility of building a third pillar to sustain the global community.

Civil societies have taken the lead …
Over the last ten years, the undersigned, participants in the international Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities, have initiated, with a number of social and professional groups, a process in some twenty countries around the world aiming to generate “cultures of responsibility.” Given the unprecedented seriousness of the situation humanity is now facing, we feel that the time has come to turn to our governments to ask them to follow up on these initiatives, and to consolidate and reinforce them by establishing an international reference text on human responsibilities.

… Will governments follow up?
We are calling on national and international leaders to exercise courage and discernment in their duties to the people who elected them. We call on them to commit themselves through a new and concrete approach to the creation of a “community of destiny” based on the recognition of the challenges to be shared.
We are at the crossroads of history. In order to bring about a moment of decisive change, we are asking our governments to support any initiative from a country or a group of countries aiming to start up a process at the international governmental level that sets out a roadmap to the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities. . [2]


Call


Charter draft


Charter draft

Photo credits:
(above) Community Art - Responsibility by Roland Tanglao
(below) Pen & Ink by Luca Zappa

This Call on Governments is issued by partners of the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities and supported by the persons and organizations mentioned below

To contact someone in this list, click on his or her name. You will get a page with a form through which you can send a message.

Partners of the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities

General Coordination team
General Coordinator: Edith Sizoo
Communication Officer: Nadia Gianoli

Representatives of Professional or Social Networks
Asian Alliance for Solidarity Economy: Ben Quiñones (Philippines)
IRESCA – Company Managers: Michel Dessaigne (France)
European SPES-forum – Business Ethics: Hendrik Opdebeeck (Belgium)
World Forum Lille / Responsible Economy – Corporate Social Responsibility: Climène Koechlin (France)
RESPONSE – Governance & Environmental Responsibility: Te Kawehau Hoskins (New Zealand)
International Network in Environmental Education: Yolanda Ziaka (Greece)
Human Rights and Responsibilities: V.J. Byra Reddy (India)
Jurists Network: Philippe Pedrot
International Alliance of Military for Peace and Security: Manfred Rosenberger (Germany/France)
International Alliance of Journalists: Manola Gardez (France)
Association Monde Pluriel and Global Classroom Initiative – Youth Sector: Pinky Cupino (Philippines), Lydia Nicollet (France), and Delphine Leroux (France)
Community Organizers: Nina Gregg (USA)
Social Pacts: Diego Escobar (Colombia)
Migrants: Ricardo Jiménez (Chile)
International Alliance of Inhabitants: Cristina Reynals (Argentina) and Cesare Ottolini (Italy)
Retirees: Pierre Caro (France)
Global Ethics Network for Applied Ethics: Christoph Stueckelberger (Switzerland) and Nadia Gianoli (Switzerland)

Regional Representatives
ASIA: Sudha Reddy
LATIN AMERICA except South Cone: Isis de Palma
LATIN AMERICA South Cone: Ricardo Jiménez
PACIFIC: Betsan Martin

Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation (FPH)
Chairman of the Board, Pierre Calame

**********************************************************

Persons and Organizations supporting the CALL ON GOVERNMENTS

Organizations

INGENIEURS SANS FRONTIERES (France), Tanguy MARTIN, Chairman
CENTRE DES JEUNES DIRIGEANTS pour une économie au service de l'Homme et de la Vie (France), Michel MEUNIER, Chairman
Instituto Ágora em Defesa do Eleitor e de Democracia (Brazil), Gilberto de Palma, Institutional Director
Alampyme.BR Associação Latinoamericana de Micro, Pequenas e Médias Empresas (Brazil), Sergio Miletto, Chairman
APPEND (Philippines): Virginia P. Juan, President
THAINES & BODAH CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT (USA): Eliane Thaines Bodah
CHANGE MOB-Project solutions (Brazil): João Felipe Scarpelini, Chairman
FICEMÉA Fédération internationale des centres d'entraînement aux méthodes d'éducation active (Belgium): Marc Geneve, Secretary General
Maximo T. Kalaw Institute for Sustainable Development (Philippines): Sixto K. Rojas, Presidente
K+e Ventures, Asia (Philippines): Eduardo Canela, owner
Observatório da Mulher (Brazil): Rachel Moreno, General Coordinator
On Eagle's Wings Development Foundation (Philippines): Jeanne-Marie Obligacion-Bernardo,Executive Director
Red Peruana de Comercio Justo y Consumo Ético (Peru): Alfonso Cotera Fretel, Executive Director
Life Learning Organization of PEACE Foundation (Philippines): Pilar Habito, Chief Executive Officer
Instituto Ecoar para a Cidadania (Brazil): Miriam Duailibi, Chairperson
Instituto Polis (Brazil): Hamilton Faria, Director
Instituto Hartmann Regueira (Brazil): Cecília Regueira, Executive Director
Escola de Governo (Brazil): Maurício Jorge Piragino
Fórum Educação “Infançias e Escolas da Natureza” da Unirio (Brazil): Léa Tiriba, Assistant Professor- Our Voice (Indonesia), Hartoyo
Nova Centre per a la Innovació Social (Catalonia, Spain): Martí Olivella, Director
AIM (India): Sanjay K. Rai, Director
Centre for Social Research (India): Dr. Ranjana Kumari, Director
Yaakah Enterprise (Nepal): Rajesh Bajracharya
South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA) (India): Vijay Bharatiya & Rita Roy, SAPA Secretariat
Urban Research Centre (India): Gururaj Budhya, Secretary
Centre for Sri Lankan Studies (Sri Lanka): Jagath Bandara, Director; Waruni Chandrasena, Secretary
Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) (Sri Lanka): Deshapriya S. Wijetunge, Director General
Global Call to Action against Poverty - GCAP National coalition in Sri Lanka
Global Youth Service Day Asia & Pacific Regional Partners Coordinating Center (Sri Lanka)
Eco Nest – Asha Sadam (India): Ajit Muricken
Yayasan Tanah Merdeka (Indonesia): LahmudinYoto, Director
Amigos do Meio Ambiente (AMA) and Rede de Articulação e Mobilização em Comunicação Ambiental (RAMA) (Brazil): Liliana Peixinho, Founder and Coordinator
Asamblea para la recuperaciòn del barrio Ejercito de los Andes (Argentina): Miguel Ojeda, Neighborhood representative for the organization in Buenos Aires
Centro integral comunitario En-Haccore (Argentina): Bilma Acuña, Director
[Asociación Civil Nuestro Hogar-http://www.redbocabarracas.org.ar/a...] (Argentina): Susana Funes, organization representative
Movimiento en defensa de la vivienda familiar (Argentina): Ernesto Paez, Chairman
Asociación Civil Hábitat y Vida (ACHYV) (Argentina): José Chuza Ledesma, representative
Federación Todos Juntos (Argentina): Marina Thia, Chairperson
Asociación Civil Sembrar Conciencia (Argentina): José Acuña, representative
Organización Social El Salvador por un Movimiento Afrouruguayo (Uruguay): Rivero Ramón Orlando, Secretary
Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail (CFDT) (France): Patrick Pierron, National Secretary
Initiative citoyenne pour un mode de vie durable au Québec (Quebec, Canada): Jean Quimet, Spokesperson
Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIEND) (Fiji): Sashi Kiran, Founder and Director
Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) (Netherlands, Germany, France): Margriet Samwel, Coordinator Water

Individuals

Fábio Konder Comparato (Brazil): Professor Emeritus at the Law School of the University of São Paulo
Pedro B.A. Dallari (Brazil): Professor of International Law
Mireille ZUGMEYER, France, retired
Carlinhos Antunes (Brazil): Musician and Historian
Gisela GOROVITZ (Brazil): Lawyer and certified translator
John Clammer (Japan): Professor at the United Nations University, Tokyo
Melvyn P. Lopez (USA): information technology
Maria Olivia Martin Santana (Brazil)
Raimundo Jerusalem Marques Mota (Brazil): Cultural manager and producer
Pierre & Mi Jo Chevalier (France): retired
Brigitte Lesquier (France): trainer for elderly or disabled persons
Pierre Tourme (France): retired
Michelle Poirier (France): retired
Médard Lebot (France): retired
Benito Lopulalan (Indonesia): journalist and Program Advisor for Jayasan Aksi Kui Foundation
Marisa Greeb (Brazil): Socio-Drama teacher
Flávia Muniz Cirilo (Brazil): Singer songwriter
Caio Magri (Brazil): Sociologist
Luiz Gabriel de Pieri (Brazil): Physicist, 1st Municipal Secretary in São Paolo of the Socialist Party of Brazil
Pedro Epifanio Syllos (Brazil): Assistant at Instituto Fluminense de Assistência Comunitania
Malak Poppovic (Brazil): Economist and Human Rights Advisor
Nicolas Gomez (Brazil): Specialist in Environmental Education and Sustainable Architecture
Nathalie Gay (France): manager at the French national health insurance Sécurité Sociale
Yanto Salim (Indonesia):Explorer oil and gas
Ana Maria Wilheim (Brazil), sociologist
Alberto Lacuesta (Brazil)
Tri Hascaryo (Indonesia): member of Koperasi Realino
Ari Primantoro (Indonesia): Bina Swadaya Ronsatta for Community Empowerment
Dr. Ananta Giri (India): Asian Forum of Social Theory
Asit Das (India): researcher & social activist
Dr. Subhash Sharma (India): Professor at Indus Business Academy
Naresh Pradhan (Nepal): COMMACT Nepal
F. Bambang Kuntjoro (Indonesia): self-employed private businessman
Yovita Hety Indriani (Indonesia): editor
Budi Ain (Indonesia): Forum Studi Realino
Robert EppeDando (Indonesia): Chairman of KOMPPALA (Komunitas Petani Pelestari Alam / Farmer Community for Nature Conservation), KOMPIGAR (Komunitas Petani Gaharu / Farmer Community for AgarWood Cultivation), and FlosMIC (Flores MUSIC Center)
Lodewyk Heumasse (Indonesia): Quality Assurance Manager of PT. Konimex Pharmaceutical Laboratories
Yana Ismayana (Indonesia): Researcher, B_Trust Advisory Group
Greg S Uyanto (Indonesia): employee of a private company in Jakarta
Suadi Sa'ad (Indonesia): Professor at Dosen dan Pembantu Rektor III (Bidang Kemahasiswaan) Lembaga, and at Institut Agama Islam Negeri (IAIN)
Natalia Ita Septiana (Indonesia): works for Yayasan Bina Swadaya
Carlos Cesar Armando (Argentina): Federación de las Villas y Barrios Carenciados
Alexander Silvera Correa (Uruguay): member of Organización Social El Salvador por un Movimiento Afrouruguayo
Placido Peñarrieta (Argentina): Graphic worker and grassroots leader at Cooperativa de Trabajo Chilavert Artes Gráficas Ltda.
Gede Raka (Indonesia): Management Consultant at PT. Integre Quadro
Agus Purwadianto (Indonesia): Professor in Forensic Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta; Chair of Ethics Reviewer Board - Indonesian Medical Association; Vice chair of Indonesian Bioethics Commission
Hartoyo (Indonesia): Member of Ourvoice
Ari Primantoro (Indonesia): Community empowerment activist at Bina Swadaya Konsultan
Adriana Guazzelli Charoux (Brazil): Researcher
Maria Lúcia Grossi Zunti (Brazil): Writer, historian, Master in Education / UFES, member of Academia Feminina Espírito-Santense de Letras - AFESL
Muriel Auduc (France): Socio-cultural facilitator
Amaury Gourde (France): Marine pilot
Patrick Coeurdray (France): Organization leader (Révéa Club Seniors)
Geneviève Caro (France): Retired nurse
Chico Whitaker (Brazil): Member of Comissão Brasileira de Justiça e Paz, awarded Alternative Nobel Prize in 2006
Rachel Trajber (Brazil): Antropologist, linguist and environmental educator
José Domingos Teixeira Vasconcelos (Brazil): Physicist, researcher in scientific education
Pedro Piccolo Contesini (Brazil): Sociologist
Eliseu Gabriel (Brasil): Alderman São Paulo City Hall
Adriana Guazzelli Charoux (Brazil: Researcher
Antoine Garapon (France): Jurist

[1] www.ethica-respons.net

[2] Attached is a Draft for a Charter of Universal Responsibilities to provide an idea of what such a Charter could be.

Meeting Summary

Empodera Consultores — 2012-01-25T16:56:00Z

La Bergerie de Villarceaux hosted the "International Meeting of the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities." For three days, a group of roughly twenty participants from the Americas, Asia, and Europe got together to discuss the questions of ethics and responsibility that are raised by the current economic, social, and environmental crises.

The conference was organized into three phases and three major working themes:

Identify major obstacles that are keeping us from developing cultures of responsibility; rely on our respective experiences as we brainstorm ways to disseminate cultures of responsibility
As a group, come up with concrete ways to disseminate questions of responsibility within the various socioprofessional groups with which we work
Develop a groups strategy that will allow us to coordinate our actions with the international agenda and efficiently use our position as an international network

The regional, cultural, thematic and socioprofessional diversity of the attending organizations, networks, and individuals, as well as their capacities and experiences, constitute the precious foundation upon which we intend to build this program. We anticipate a future rich with proposals and initiatives, borne by a network that combines maturity and experience with youthful energy and enthusiasm.

In this document, you will find a summary of the work accomplished at the conference in small group and plenary discussions. We have chosen to communicate this summary using "conceptual charts" that pair identified problems with the proposals developed to address them, and identified opportunities with the appropriate strategies. Meetings such as these help us to raise questions that will lead us to develop relevant forms of action by way of response to the problems that we have identified. They also encourage us to develop strategies that are adapted to the various political, economic, social, and cultural milieus within which the Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities works.

Empodera Consultores
December 7, 2011

Download the document :


Meeting Summary

Successful First Face-to-Face Meeting of the Ethics & Responsibilities Team

Marina Urquidi — 2012-01-20T15:46:00Z

We came from the Americas, the Pacific, Asia, and Europe, overcame jetlag, and jumped enthusiastically into the work that lay ahead of us for three days, which was to answer the questions: How can we overcome, in our specific fields, the obstacles to disseminating a culture of responsibility? How can we coordinate our actions to convince the international community to adopt a Charter of Universal Responsibilities?

Last November 2011, practically all of the Ethics & Responsibilities network and regional representatives travelled to France for a three-day meeting at La Bergerie, in the Picardie province. With many months of research behind them, this was to be an opportunity for them to compare their work with those of others, and to develop, as a team, a strategy for the next goal on the E&R agenda, which is to submit a Charter of Universal Responsibilities (CUR) to the international community, to have it stand as a “third pillar” alongside the Charter of the United Nations (1945) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). You can download a first draft for the Charter of Universal Responsibilities here.

Hailing from Brazil, India, the Philippines, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, France, Belgium, Germany, and Greece, the team members were first immensely pleased to meet face-to-face after a long period of collaborative work through its e-mail-based forum and with their respective networks. Some had already met in different projects, mainly the Charter of Human Responsibilities network, which preceded the E&R program and was active for over ten years, and others were there for their very first meeting with the team members. The general atmosphere was one of enthusiasm, renewal of acquaintance, and unwavering energy to meet the goals of the program.

The group, under the firm and benevolent guidance of the program General Coordinator, Edith Sizoo, quickly settled into an intense agenda: plenary sessions and small work groups were the constant pace of those three days on the conference premises of the La Bergerie farm, an organic farm funded by the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation, which also provided succulent organic meals. Evenings were joyful and musical.

Partake in the general atmosphere of the meeting by watching this 7-minute video (several languages)!

Ethics & Responsibilities Meeting, Villarceaux 2011 byalmedio TV on Vimeo.

A cross-analysis of the Reflection on Action documents drawn up by the network representatives

The first task was to compare the work accomplished thus far in the form of Reflection on Action documents. These documents were the result of discussions and consultations led by each of the network representatives on the concept of Responsibility with colleagues in their field of action. They consisted of an analysis of experiences and concluded with implications and proposals for the practice of responsibility as specific to their field: click here to see the different fields that were covered.

Previous to the meeting, all the team members had been given a preliminary SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of their ongoing work, which you can read here.

For the meeting, members of the firm Empodera Consultores were taken on board. The vibrant Empodera team had cross-analyzed all the Reflection on Action documents and distributed the results of their work to the team. Their partner, almedio TV also filmed the working conference as it went, and produced each member's take on the concept of responsibility. Later, Empodera Consultores provided the program with a summary of the three-day conference.

Figuring out ways to get the Charter of Universal Responsibilities proposal to the UN

The last part of the meeting was devoted to fine-tuning strategies for taking the proposal for a Charter of Universal Responsibilities to have it considered at Rio+20 and beyond. Each of the team members was able to present his or her possibilities in his or her country and context.

The team is proud to present, here, the many videos (in several languages), and the summary of the meeting results, produced by Empodera Consultores and almedio TV.

Click here to go to the document providing the meeting results.

Click here to watch other videos of representatives describing their work on responsibility in English

Click here to watch other videos of representatives describing their work on responsibility in French

Click here to watch other videos of representatives describing their work on responsibility in Spanish and in Portuguese

Windows on Our Activities

Pinky Cupino, Nina Gregg, Te Kawehau Hoskins, Betsan Martin — 2012-01-20T10:07:00Z

“We were able to introduce the concept of responsibility into the Human Rights discourse . . .”

Betsan Martin and Te Kawehau Hoskins, representatives of the Pacific region and Environmental Governance, respectively, describe their work in New Zealand and in the Pacific Area with other organizations and with the Maori people, whose holistic concept of responsibility they also explain. One of the issues is getting Human Rights promoters to introduce the concept of responsibility alongside the one of rights: easier said than done!

“We're thinking of the importance of bringing together environment, economy, society in a holistic integration framework.”

14 minutes

“We aimed to strengthen responsible practice in organizing . . .”

Nina Gregg describes the methodology she used with her colleagues as representative of the Responsibility in Community Organizing network. How do we bring issues of ethics and responsibility into the field of community organizing? How does that turn into new, responsible practices? What does “responsible practice” mean? The answer is in the answer to the key question of how we believe change happens, and in how transparent and how inclusive we are in our processes.

“We have some hope that even though we are working on a small project, it could have some larger impact . . .”

9 minutes

“. . . celebrating young people's responsibilities . . . ”

Pinky Cupino, representative of the Youth and Responsibilities network, describes what the network has done in the Philippines on the subject of responsibility, a project spread out over several years with school children in primary and secondary schools from underprivileged backgrounds. In this initiative, it has been the young themselves who have built programs to manifest their responsibilities inside their schools and in the communities, and have been preparing their participation for Rio+20.

“Rights can only be claimed by exercising responsibility.”

7½ minutes

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

Nicolas Krausz — 2011-12-14T12:51:53Z

At the start of the E&R Program in 2010, a number of goals were set. The program representatives have since accomplished in-depth research for their sector, and previous to the finalization of their respective “Reflection on Action” document, the E&R Program Officer for the FPH, Nicolas Krausz, analyzed the work done so far to identify the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats involved in the promotion of cultures of Responsibility. Do not miss reading this interesting “state of the art”! …

Opportunities window by Madmoiselle Lavender lou

Early 2010 a fourfold framework of action was established for implementing the following objectives:

1. Civil society professional /social level

Publication of a series of Reflection on Action documents produced by professional / social networks that are prepared to launch a discussion on Responsibility with colleagues in their field of action. These documents will consist of an analysis of experiences and conclude with implications and proposals for the practice of Responsibility in the field concerned.

2. Geographical level

Representation at supranational regional levels in charge of detecting / contacting professional /social networks with a view to involve them in the process, and propose to influential organizations and personalities to work together towards a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities.

3. International political level

Involving the world of global politics for the promotion of the “Third Pillar” idea, a Universal Charter of Human Responsibilities, by drawing together international initiatives and high level political personalities. An important opportunity to forward the UCHR proposal will be the UN conference of Heads of State “Rio+20” and the parallel conference of the international civil society, both to be held in Brazil in June 2012.

4. E&R Program level

Organization of a Working Seminar, November 2011, to discuss the Reflection on Action documents, establish the State of the Art of the E&R program, finalize proposals for future action of the networks and the collective strategy for the years ahead.

STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS

Strength by Jenny Downing

A Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) methodology was applied to the work done previous to the working seminar by the different program representatives to identify and visualize the main concepts and trends involved without going into the details of each network or region. The Weaknesses and Strengths refer to the obstacles and assets of the partners. The Threats and Opportunities refer to the overall challenges being faced by the actors.

1. Weaknesses
Related first to the concept of responsibility:

perceived as an individualistic discourse that is right-wing, or even contrary to the principles of tolerance and freedom
perceived as opposed to that of rights and collective demands
perceived as a political failure of the welfare state

Related to certain socio / professional modus operandi:

the short term (aimed at production, profit, innovation, a scoop) as privileged over the long term (sustainability, preservation of nature, precaution, prudence)
absence of external regulations (laws, international regulations), as well as of information and financing to apply existing regulations (due to corruption, elitism, lack of education)
absence of internal regulations (codes or rules of conduct, of governance) due to co-option, economic priorities, conflicts of interest, risk-taking cultures, the complexity of globalization

Related to asymmetrical power relations between actors, of several natures:

hierarchical: boss / employee, soldier / officer / political official, student / professor
economic: ecology / industry, client / sub-contractor
legal: undocumented person / citizen, tenant / landlord
cultural: working / retired, believer / non-believer

2. Strengths
The strengths and dynamics of each network generally depend on two factors:

a cultural or regional context favorable to the concept of responsibility
emergence of the concept of co-responsibility, which facilitates negotiated solutions to conflicts and responds to specific expectations
The partners' strengths are expressed through good practices and operational proposals on themes where responsibility provides an added value:
local governance (indigenous territories, cities / inhabitants, citizenship) and world governance (charter of universal responsibilities, charter of migrants): participation, democracy, interdependence
social and responsible economy
education: environmental awareness raising, knowledge, critical approach to consumption
community of life, of work: becoming an actor and co-builder of one's environment
They rely on real dynamics:
internal: solidarity of the networks
external: citizen mobilizations claiming the “right to be responsible”

3. Threats

the consumer society, which encourages self-centeredness and individualism, and supports the neoliberal system
the Western paradigm of sustainable development, which is an impediment to a deep change in the paradigm
the over-cautiousness of states, which on the one hand are afraid of losing part of their sovereignty due to interdependent relations and on the other hand of giving up the initiative of standard setting to citizen networks

4. Opportunities
Three main types of dynamics for the future development of values of responsibility can be identified:

supporting the emergence of responsibility as a citizen and political value: the economic, environmental, and political crises are revealing of past and present indifference and blindness, and inspire as a reaction considerations and strategies to re-appropriate sense, to rebuild reference frameworks, from the local to the global levels, in all fields of activity
enhancing “know-how in responsibility”: the paradigm of responsibility is expressed by an abundance of initiatives carried out by civil society independently of states and politics: campaigns, charters, codes, forums, seminars, universities, community pacts, training, good practices, etc. There is substance to build a “right to responsibility” adapted to each sector but there is also a need to establish international reference frameworks (conventions) and universal ones (Charter of Human Responsibilities)
making of responsibility an instrument for protection and oversight: in some socioprofessional sectors (military, managerial staff, journalists), “responsibility of” is more protective and normative than the “right to,” which makes its institutional recognition more contentious. This is why, the same as for rights, it can be a social or even a societal demand

Responsibilities on the Way to Rio+20

Ricardo Jiménez — 2011-11-14T16:07:42Z

At a preparatory meeting held in Rio de Janeiro, Isis de Palma informed of negotiations between the E&R Program and sectors of the government of Brazil for a strong integration of the concept of Responsibility in the discussions and proposals of the Rio+20 summits …

On August 11, 2011, in Rio of Janeiro, participants from organizations, movements, and networks from Latin America, including Brazil, host country of the State and Peoples' Summits in May 2012, China, which the United Nations put in charge of organizing the event, Africa, India, Europe, and the United States, gathered at a preparatory meeting to inform on how movements, organizations, networks, and peoples have been getting ready to weigh on the event in the context of the serious financial, socio-environmental, multiple, civilization crisis that is increasingly evident.

Various colleagues presented the many different initiatives that have been developing at the local, national, regional, and global scales, based on multi-faceted and cross-cutting dialog intended to find articulations that both recognize diversity and will allow an overall mobilization that will weigh on, impact, and hopefully impose on the states solutions to the crises that will make it possible to overcome them in the direction of a new economic, political, and cultural order that will replace the current order of accumulation, greed, competition, and environmental pillaging with one that will serve human and environmental life, cooperation, solidarity, justice, and responsibility.

In this framework, Isis de Palma, Brazilian Coordinator for Latin America of the Ethics and Responsibilities program (Network of Human Responsibilities), informed on the Ethics and Responsibilities program's negotiations with different sectors of the government of Brazil, host country of the event, to incorporate into the discussions and proposals of the Rio+20 summits, clearly and compellingly, the concept of Responsibility as a pillar of the new world governance that is being sought.

The concept, which has been under consideration for decades, will have new developments by then, resulting from a process of systematic reflections that the socioprofessional networks partnered with the Program have been undertaking based on their concrete experience of action focused on Responsibility, on their difficulties and contributions, etc. These will all be collectively discussed as a whole with participants from all over the world in November of this year in Paris.

Building on Values from the Pacific Region in the Quest for Solutions to the Climate Crisis

Te Kawehau Hoskins, Betsan Martin — 2011-10-27T09:08:45Z

The Environmental Governance network, based in the Pacific region, is building the concept of responsibility from the values and world views of the region, which combines enormous diversity in the concept of a “woven universe” …

As we have attended to environmental and governance issues in our region we join with others in appreciating the importance of decision-making and policy that links sectors, such as non-government, government and private sectors, and that links economic, cultural, social and environmental interests.

Environmental Responsibility in our Context

This kind of approach is well documented as the basis for strong sustainability and is often referred to as integrated management and governance. Achieving such integration is challenging where existing systems are built on these different spheres as separated.

The Pacific region still has significant indigenous populations and cultures with cultural diversity reflected in the language complexity. There are 1400 distinct languages spoken in the Pacific ‘basin' (Pacific Islands with Australia and New Zealand), with 250 aboriginal languages in Australia and 750 in Papua New Guinea. A phrase which is often used to express the world views of these cultures is a "woven universe." This suggests the integrated nature of the living world and of the interdependence of humans with nature.

Indigenous cultures, although diverse themselves, uphold "obligation" as a value with an intergenerational requirement to safeguard land and water and resources for future generations. This is closely akin to the concept of responsibility as referring to both accountability and responsive. We therefore consider the Pacific region to have much to bring to the global quest for solutions to the climate crisis.

Regional Forums, Assemblies, Studies…

We ourselves hosted a symposium in Samoa where we brought together people from the countries of the region to consider possibilities for integrated approaches to governance. In January 2011 we joined with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to host an assembly in Aotearoa New Zealand, and were able to bring partners from Pacific countries. Our study of water issues in the region gives us knowledge of more possibilities for implementing integrated practices. There is a report of this study on our Web site, Response.

Course on Integration Set up in Chile for Schools with Immigrants

Lucía Mariana Alvites — 2011-10-26T15:06:27Z

In Chile, the Ministry of Education has approved a mandatory course on South American integration for 12-year-old children in a school with a high immigrant pupil population …

After much effort, we are happy to inform that for the first time in the history of Chile, a mandatory course on South American integration has been instituted for 12-year-old children (7th basic) in a school with a high South American immigrant pupil population. The course will be taught from now on (March 2011), for this school year and all the coming ones.

This was the result of a commitment to work collectively and on a volunteer basis that began two years ago and went on until it was approved by the Ministry of Education of Chile. The course, general and mandatory, can be extended to any school in the country that wishes and requests to teach it.

It is a small step, but one that we consider encouraging in our struggle for the integration of peoples, the promotion of a cross-cultural society, the fight against discrimination, and understanding migrations as all peoples' wealth.

The attached document (in Spanish only) is a brief description of the experience of this initiative.

Click here to read a report on the official presentation of the new course.


Nuevo curso de integración suramericana

Stating the Case for Nature

Gianni Carta — 2011-10-17T09:47:02Z

Former Prime Minister of France, Michel Rocard, states that although Brazil “is not a good pupil when it comes to the environment,” it will play a critical role in saving the Earth at Rio+20 in 2012. Read the interview he gave to CartaCapital on September 1, 2011 ...

Photo: Michel Rocard, © philippe grangeaud / solfé communications, Parti socialiste

Rio+20 will be a key moment, once again, in the attempt to solve the climate problems of the planet. This event in 2012 will have the participation of Michel Rocard, the most popular former Prime Minister of modern France. On a visit to Brazil for a few days, France's ambassador for Poles and Climate Warming, held meetings with five ministers in Brasília. For what purpose? “[w]e are asking the Brazilian government if, in the Conference discourse, we can propose a Charter of Universal Responsibilities in the Brazilian and international agenda,” replied Rocard in an exclusive interview to CartaCapital. “If Brazil does not take this chance, we can be sure that the Rio+20 Conference will fail,” he added. Charismatic, Rocard said more than once “that he [didn't] like some of questions [we were] asking,” but agreed to address them. In fact, he touched on subjects other than climate; he spoke of former president Lula, Social Democracy, and of his now legendary relationship with François Mitterrand.

CartaCapital: Do you believe that Brazil is an example for the world when speaking of climate warming—or is this a strategic country from which to launch a world ethics campaign on the relationship between society and nature?

Michel Rocard: This is a completely strategic country in the world arena. It has accounts to settle with the major powers that are blocking decisions, as much on the climate issue as in the financial sphere. Brazil depends on no one. It is a powerful country. It is proud of its culture, it is prepared to fight. But Brazil, we need to be clear about this, is not a good pupil when it comes to the environment.

CC: In what sense is it not a good pupil?

MR: Look, I am quite a regular in international relations. It is not in my habits to criticize friendly nations. So I don't like your question. But well, it is obviously true that deforestation is continuing.

CC: You are in Brazil to speak of Rio+20, but the main idea is to move beyond that and to also talk about the Declaration of Human Rights, which is now more than sixty years old … You are proposing a Charter of Universal Responsibilities.

MR: That is not how I would put it. I am an old timer in politics, and honestly, I'm very connected with the work of civil society and NGOs. There is, in the realm of political ethics, work to be done for the recognition of the interdependence among nations. It is work on the statement of the collective responsibility of nations facing the state of the world. Enormous work, which has been accumulating for fifteen years. That's what I'm in. I write here and there, I am party to this. I did not come to Brazil to place all my dreams. In Brazil, on the occasion of the Rio+20 Conference, we are asking the Brazilian government if, in the Conference discourse, we can propose a Charter of Universal Responsibilities on the Brazilian and international agenda. We are not imposing anything. We do not have the means, nor the indiscretion, to do so. We are offering our support to a number of world networks of militants, at the level of the intellectual drafting of such a declaration. This is Brazil's responsibility. It is difficult, and good reason to make enemies.

CC: Why Brazil?

MR: It's big. It's not nuclear. We shouldn't have a nuclear power leading a world movement. There is too much suspicion around this issue. Because it is not a former colonial power. Because it is young, because it believes in its future, and also because this emerging country wishes to get rid of that colonizing world that has weighed upon it. And, despite having been a colonized country, Brazil has good communication with the countries of what we call the “First World.” Brazil, in this context, is better positioned for all this than China. And what is Rio+20 about? The world has a date, in Brazil, to take stock of what has been done in twenty years to protect our environment, and the balance is bad. Not only in Brazil, but all over the world.

CC: And Brazil is not doing well in this context, is it?

MR: I have great respect for the Brazilian government. World leaders make decisions. But so far, all conferences of this type have gotten no results. Documents are signed, then there are dates, the documents are approved and nothing changes; then people say that that's a shame! This adventure is extremely burdensome and difficult. We have to change that. We respect, truly, I repeat, the Brazilian government. It simply seems to us that it has an opportunity before it. It can decide not to seize it. It has, I repeat, enemies to make, including enemies among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. But if Brazil does not take this chance, we can be sure that the Rio+20 Conference will fail.


CC : Lula, photo Aloizio Mercadante Oliva

CC : How, as a politician, a Socialist, a former Prime Minister, do you view the governments of Lula?

MR: Again, I don't like this question very much. I do not come to a country to speak badly of the balance of its governments. In fact, there is nothing bad to say. Lula's balance is after all strong in the fight against poverty and for having built the international dignity of Brazil. The world is listening to Brazil.

Editor's note: the rest of this interview has not been translated. Click here to read the full interview in French.

Environmental Educators' Responsibility in the Age of Climate Change

Yolanda Ziaka — 2011-09-26T10:45:15Z

The current global environmental crisis, due—in particular—to the major issue of climate change, has made environmental education today an integral part of any environment policy. How are environmental educators looking at this issue? Following is the plan to analyze this question currently being implemented by the Environmental Education network …

Photo: Global warming/cooling by Truthout.org

1. Environmental Education: a definition

By Environmental Education (EE) we mean (following up on UNESCO's first definition of this field in 1975) an educational act, the object of which is comprised by the problems of the environment and of resource management and the goal of which is the acquisition of knowledge and skills, a change in attitudes and behavior in the direction of civic action in favor of the environment. The current global environmental crisis, due—in particular—to the major issue of climate change, has made EE today an integral part of any environment policy. Given the inherent complexity of environmental issues, speaking of the environment implies referring to:

governance issues: “rules for managing the Common House at a time when the Common House has become the planet”;
global-ethics issues: “our responsibility, as citizens of the planet, to the other social groups, future generations, and life on Earth.”

2. Our project

Our project consists in a critical analysis of the main lines of evolution of EE between the 1992 Rio Summit and “Rio+20,” and of current trends, as seen from the standpoint of the key concept of the “responsibility” of environmental educators / communicators and in connection with the project for Declaration of Universal Responsibilities. This analysis is carried out with the support of a network of educators who have longstanding experience in the field and are from several geographical areas of the world. Our goal is to formulate proposals for the guidelines that will be necessary in EE as we face current environmental, social, and economic challenges. The collective document resulting from this work will be submitted for discussion at the civil-society conference that will take place as a side-event at the “Rio+20” conference in 2012.

3. The major challenge of Environmental Education in the perspective of “Rio+20"

At the 1992 UN Conference in Rio, the “Agenda 21 Action Plan,” which was adopted there, viewed EE for the first time as being education at the service of the sustainable-development goal. As of 1997, when UNESCO held its International Conference on Environment and Society, EE was replaced in all the official texts by Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). A number of thinkers around the world have argued, however, that the concept of “sustainable development” is a disguised reformulation of the former goal of economic growth at any cost—reference to “green” growth notwithstanding—which has been the cause of the current deep crisis in the relationship between humankind and the biosphere. What we share with this school of thought is that: “Our current system is founded on bicycle equilibrium: its balance depends on constant movement, i.e., on ever-increasing consumption, particularly of energy and natural resources, in a way that flagrantly contradicts the biosphere's finitude. [1].

Photos: Global Warming 1/2 and 2/2 by LamaZone

The key question that we have raised then is: How are environmental educators positioning themselves with respect to this debate? Obviously, every educational action is the reflection of a position and involves specific “political” options. What, then, does it mean to be responsible as an actor in EE today? In this context, the “Rio+20” civil-society conference becomes the opportune moment to raise with acuteness the question of the responsibility of environmental educators, given the conceptual challenges posed by the current global environmental challenges and the crisis in the economic and financial globalization system.

Editor's note: This article is a summarized version of the original one, which is only available in French. Download the full article:


La responsabilité des éducateurs à l'environnement au temps du changement climatique: 3 pages - FR

[1] Pierre Calame, 2009, Essay on Œconomy, Editions Charles-Léopold Mayer, Paris.

The Ethics, Responsibilities, and Professional Ethics of “Professional Retirees”

Pierre Caro — 2011-09-13T14:13:46Z

The "professional retirees" group is exploring the professional ethics involved in their commitments. Tell us what you think!

Photo: young tree growth, by Leonard John Matthews

The "professional retirees" group is exploring the professional ethics involved in their commitments.

The realm of ethics considers purposes, values of existence, what is "good," and questions of morays or morals.

Professional ethics would consider the "professional duties" of retirees in their commitments to transfer their values in living, their know-how, and their personal and professional experiences, as well as those experiences they would still like to have in society (civic, political, cultural, etc.) by exploring ideas and actions in partnership with the previous generation and the next two or three.

This questioning can only take place in the framework of a recognized professional qualification. This is what we have been arguing in favor of for several years, while making it clear that to consider oneself a "professional retiree" does not at all imply an obligation to work to produce something.

This questioning is, for us, part of considerations on a period of training for a retirement project, preferably before leaving the world of work or just when entering retirement.

Training for the duty of professional ethics requires acquiring serious knowledge in the area of general culture as well as in that of professional skills, with the training designed in terms of one's knowledge, one's lack of knowledge, and one's passions, desires, or projects.

Dear friends, dear E&R friends, are professional ethics part of your professional questionings? Can you enhance our thinking with your remarks, proposals, suggestions, and criticism?

Many thanks from the E&R group of professional retirees.

Amending the US Constitution to Include Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility

2011-09-01T08:15:00Z

In anticipation of July 4, US Independence Day, a campaign is being launched to add the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment aims to alter the financing of US elections and change the actions of corporations ...

Article proposed by Nina Gregg.

Photo: U.S. Constitution, by The COM Library

In anticipation of July 4, US Independence Day, the Network of Spiritual Progressives is launching a campaign to add the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment (ESRA) to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment aims to alter the financing of US elections and change the actions of corporations. The promoters of the campaign describe their effort this way: “we go to the core of contemporary selfishness – the way our economic system encourages the pursuit of profit as the highest goal, and we challenge that way of thinking and that way of organizing a society.”

The proposed ESRA amendment would

“prohibit the use of private monies in national elections (removing the need of candidates to raise money from the wealthy and the corporate elites), have elections publicly financed, prohibit media advertisements in the last three months before an election and require those media to give free and equal time to all major candidates. It would also require corporate social and environmental responsibility by requiring that every large corporation get a new corporate charter once every five years, which would only be granted to those corporations that could prove a satisfactory history of environmental and social responsibility to a jury of ordinary citizens. And we, the communities who were affected by the operations of that corporation, including its workers, but including anyone whose environment had been shaped by that corporation's activities, would be able to provide testimony to that jury about how environmentally and socially responsible that corporation had been. So when we at the NSP say that we want to fight for the survival of the planet, we go to the core of contemporary selfishness – the way our economic system encourages the pursuit of profit as the highest goal, and we challenge that way of thinking and that way of organizing a society.”

More details here can be found here.

Severn Cullis-Suzuki to Speak at Planetworkshops Global Conference

2011-08-25T09:37:22Z

As Rio+20 approaches, Severn Suzuki (now Cullis-Suzuki)'s speech at the UN Rio Summit twenty years ago is spreading through the Internet like wildfire ...

As Rio+20 approaches, Severn Suzuki (now Cullis-Suzuki)'s speech at the UN Rio Summit twenty years ago is spreading through the Internet like wildfire, putting world leaders to shame for having managed to do so little in twenty years to preserve the environment the human species needs simply to survive. She will be speaking at the closing of Planetworkshops Global Conference this coming September 28 in Évian (France). Not to be missed if you can make it!

See registration details here

Listen to Severn's speech in 2002 (7 minutes) here

2010 Results and Prospects for 2011: Toward a Tight-knit Network

Manfred Rosenberger — 2011-08-18T15:44:44Z

Before joining the Ethics & Responsibilities program, the International Alliance of Military Peace Artisans had five years' worth of important accomplishments in its field. Following is the report of their results in 2010, and their outlook for 2011 …

Photo: A military-civilians dialog

After 5 years of construction, our network seems to have reached a solid density and field work has shown remarkable maturity: contacts have multiplied and the sharing of ideas is in steady progress. Therefore we have initiated new considerations at the level the Foundation to give the currently "informal" network an incorporated structure.

This would make the year 2011 literally a "transition year": not just on a political level, but also for our modest efforts in building a “citizens' initiative” for peace in security.

Security and defense are becoming increasingly important issues in the practical implementation of a "New World Governance" that shall be based on the principles of responsibility and of universal ethics.

You only need to look to the South, especially toward the African continent, to be convinced that the attitude of security and defense forces (armed forces, police, militias, etc.) facing mass demonstrations was crucial for the evolution of crises and for the fate of revolutionary movements.

Being heard and being able to achieve the acceptance of requirements are almost always hanging on a string and on the fact that responsible military leaders and/or units refused to obey orders given by their rulers to disperse the rallies by shooting at their own compatriots.

But the risks arising from overthrowing existing power and state structures can neither be merely confined to only the territories of the affected countries or continents. They have an impact on international relations and seriously challenge Western governments, international organizations, and the whole of democratic civil society in terms of stabilization and solidarity.

The self-conception of our international network has always been to address precisely these challenges and foster an open dialogue among the different—sometimes conflicting— “worlds” ... considering at all times responsibility for stability and peaceful development as the basis of “good governance” and a “global approach to human security.”

The year 2010 was particularly rich in encounters and in the sharing of experiences in the perspective of creating a “common culture of security.”

Thanks to the generous support of the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind and with the support of other partners we have made lasting headway, especially through our two flagship projects: the International Colloquium of Dakar and the publication of the volume “Wars, Humanism and Ethics” written by the Colombian author Arturo Guerrero.

Where do we stand at the beginning of the year 2011?

Read the full report here

Ethics and Responsibilities on the Agenda of the 2nd World Sciences and Democracy Forum

Cécile Sabourin — 2011-08-17T09:01:07Z

The forum specifically featured the theme of the responsibility of scientists—professors and researchers. Four paths were suggested for the specific contribution of scientists. Discover them and let us know what you think …

The second World Sciences and Democracy Forum held last February 4 and 5 in Dakar specifically featured the theme of the responsibility of scientists—professors and researchers—on two occasions: during a round table and during a workshop that followed it.

Speakers at the round table “Research, Responsibility, and Democracy” were Hartmut Meyer (ENSSER, Germany), Jose Manoel Rodrigues Vitoriano (University of Valencia, Spain), Gilles Bibeau (University of Montreal, Quebec), Alain Garrigou (Researchers without borders, France), Innocent Butare (CRDI, West Africa). Its moderator was Vinod Raina (AIPSN, India).

The workshop, “Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Researchers: Obstacles and Challenges,” set up to encourage discussion was facilitated by Fabien Piasecki of the Fondation Sciences Citoyennes (France), Cécile Sabourin of the Quebec Sciences and Democracy Committee, FQPPU (Quebec), Marius Kenoté of the Institut des Sciences Biomédicales Appliquées (Benin).

These two occasions were an opportunity to express analyses, points of view, and proposals in the area of the ethics and responsibilities of scientific and academic circles. Special emphasis was placed on the conditions in Africa.

The round table focused on forward-looking points of view, the general analysis of the situation having already been made and shared on the whole at the first World Sciences and Democracy Forum (Belèm, 2009). [1] Expectations of the workshop were modest, aiming to open a discussion, share experiences, listen to one another, and collect a few proposals to enhance awareness that as scientists, we have enormous responsibilities in every field depending on our expertise but also as citizens. Finally, the discussion aimed to identify the objective conditions that would encourage and facilitate a freer and more considered exercise of our responsibilities.

Four paths for scientists to make their contribution

Four paths were suggested to respond to the essential question of the specific contribution of scientists. These were: 1) preparing scientists for the exercise of their functions as workers in the field of knowledge seen as a common good; 2) framing research, in particular applied research, which usually summons the contribution of people or seeks solutions to specific problems; 3) actions to be undertaken in order to promote and defend the freedom of research and of circulation as well to defend scientists submitted to direct threats and attacks; and 4) a proposal for an ethics of contradictory collaboration / cooperation, given the need to acknowledge differences in intentions and perspectives where science is concerned. In this context, consensus-seeking at all costs is less relevant than to clearly identify the principles to be defended as well as the positions that would gain from being fine tuned as a result of the confrontation of arguments.

The participants underscored that the democratization of knowledge and science is connected to shared responsibilities and that alliances are as essential as getting governments to implement proper and consistent behavior in this area.

If you wish to read a summary of the discussions on the responsibility os scientists at the Dakar event (available in French only), click on this link then on "Lire le rapport" at the end of the page (17-page document).

[1] See the declaration and information on the progress of the forum in the docubook (http://vecam.org/article1201.html; http://fmsd-quebec.org/sciences/dem... / (in French).

Severn Suzuki's Speech at the 1992 Rio Summit

2011-08-12T11:23:36Z

In 1992, 11-year-old Severn Suzuki silenced the UN for five minutes. Today, she is still an environmental activist, and one of the persons who launched a pledge called "The Recognition of Responsibility" ...

Video in English with subtitles in Portuguese.

World Assembly of Migrants Ends for a New Beginning

Ricardo Jiménez, Lucía Mariana Alvites — 2011-08-10T09:36:40Z

Last February 4 marked the ending, on the Isle of Gorée (Senegal), of the migrants' world meeting celebrating the final writing of the World Charter of Migrants. Three days united in shared hope, resistance, and a proposal for a more human future ...

With deep, emotional, and beautiful songs, bordering on both sadness and euphoria, in Soninke and Wolof, two of the several languages officially spoken in Senegal, and with the feverish beat of the drums, the deepest of African languages, mingled with European choirs, Latin American watchwords, and the colorful expression of peoples from different parts of the planet, was how the migrants' world meeting ended on the Isle of Gorée. United in the same pain caused by a global migratory governance increasingly inadequate for the twenty-first century that leads to needless crimes against humanity; but mainly, united in the same hope, resistance, and proposal, this was how the migrants of the world celebrated the final writing of the World Charter of Migrants, fully endorsed by the Assembly after three days' work.

It was the culmination of a long road that began in 2006 in Marseilles and brought migrants from the five continents together for these protagonistic debates. It was also the beginning of another road, filled with challenges, to a broad global Alliance of Migrants who through their struggle will make the principles of the Charter become reality: free circulation, residence, and work for all human beings in any place of the planet; full equality in civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights; recognition of all identities and cultures through cross-cutting dialog and mutual enhancement.

In Gorée, the very place where modern Western capitalist culture dehumanized millions of men, women, and children with the horror of slavery, migrants proclaimed to the world the historical need to abolish current migratory governance, the new crime perpetrated by the same culture today, which though in crisis, is still painfully operational. They expressed their unyielding determination to build a new world—urgently needed, desirable, and perfectly possible—where migration will no longer be a disaster for human joy and dignity, but a free option for growth and joy.

This is how the World Assembly of Migrants ends, but for a new beginning.

Read the Charter here

World Charter of Migrants Adopted

2011-08-09T08:35:27Z

Migrants are the target of unjust policies at the expense of universally recognized human rights. A broad alliance of migrants will make it possible to promote the emergence of rights for everyone, based on the only fact of his or her birth. This World Charter of Migrants was adopted in February on the Isle of Gorée, Senegal.

Since we all belong to the Earth, all people have the full right to freedom of movement and settlement on our planet anywhere on this earth.

All persons must have the right to freedom of movement from the countryside to the city, from the city to the countryside, from one province to another and the freedom to leave for any country abroad.

All laws in regard to visas, laissez-passer and authorizations as well as all those limiting the freedom of movement and settlement must be abolished. Migrants the world over must be entitled to the same rights as the national groups and assume the same responsibilities in all essential domains of the economical, political, cultural and social life. They must have the right to vote and to be eligible in all legislative bodies.

Migrants must have the right to speak and to share their mother tongue, to develop and to raise awareness on their cultures and their traditional customs, and to practice their religions.

All migrants, women and men, must be entitled to the same right to exercise business where they wish, to engage in industry or to take up a trade. Manual or not, just as in all professions authorized to the national groups. This is essential in order to allow them to assume their part of responsibility in the production of the riches necessary to foster the development and fulfillment of all.

The earth must be shared amongst those who work. The restrictions imposed to the property of land imposed for ethnic and/or national reasons must be abolished in favor of a new vision of a responsible relationship between human beings and the earth.

Migrants are equal before the law and must have the same rights as the national groups. No one must be imprisoned, deported or see his/her freedom restricted without their cause having been equitably heard and defended.

All laws which foresee a distinction based on national origin, marriage situation and/or juridical situation as well as on one's convictions, must be abolished.

Human rights are inalienable, one and indivisible and must be the same for all. The law must guarantee to all migrant persons the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, the right to publish, to practice one's religion and also to impart to one's children the education of one's choice.

Work and safety must be assured to all migrants. Whoever works, must be free to found trade unions together with others. Migrant women and men must receive equal salaries to equal work and must have the possibility to transfer the fruit of their work, without restrictions of any sort, and at the same contribute to the necessary solidarity system of the society of residence.

The access to education and training must be guaranteed to all migrants and their children. Education must be free of charge, universal and equal for all children. Higher studies and vocational training must be accessible to all in a new vision of dialogue and sharing of cultures. In cultural life, in sports and in education, all distinctions based on national origin must be abolished.

Migrants must have the right to accommodation. Everyone must have the right to live in a place of his/her choice, to be decently lodged and to maintain their family in comfort and security on an equal basis to all national groups. All migrants strive to have opportunities and responsibilities in an equal measure to national groups, in order to face and deal together contemporary challenges (accommodation, nutrition, health, fulfillment, …).

The aim of the principles stated in The World Charter of Migrants is to contribute to the disappearance of all segregation systems and to the building of a plural world, responsible and full of solidarity.

Photo and illustration credits:

Deepening the Discussion with Selected Participants

Nina Gregg — 2011-08-07T17:17:02Z

Nina Gregg in the USA, Diego Escobar in Colombia, and Antonio Sama in the UK are working together (with Nina as project coordinator) on “Ethics & Responsibility in Community Organizing.” They gave careful thought to how they would be working toward the goal of writing a "Reflection on Action" document. This is their working methodology.

Photo: People have the power to wrestle the world from fools (Fractal Flame Ref. round-100-2-298-1), by Giovanni Rubaltelli

Nina and Diego developed the initial work plan on Ethics and Responsibility in Community Organizing. We were fortunate to have some time together at CONFINT (the International Children's Conference in June 2010) to discuss our hopes and expectations of the project and determine how to proceed. Among the important issues we discussed were (1) our definitions of ‘community organizing' with sensitivity to cultural and political differences; (2) the scope of the project; (3) the stages of the project, from identification of participants through to the creation of a written document.

We agreed that a deep discussion with a limited number of carefully selected participants was preferable to a collection of impressions from random participants. For this reason we designed our project to engage 12-15 people in each region (South America, North America, UK, Italy). Participants represent geographic diversity as well as diversity in the issues they work on in their organizing activity. This is an action-research project. All the participants will move through successive stages of the project, prompted first by questions composed by the team and then responding to additional questions coming from the participants. At a specific moment in the project, each participant will be encouraged to convene discussions within their own organizations, using the material that has been generated by participants.

This design incorporates a careful and intentional focus on deepening the discussion and reflection at each stage.

Questions on the theme, "Combining generations and their projects"

2011-08-04T11:08:15Z

How can relations between retirees and the younger generations be encouraged? Is there a solution in how retirees' residences are designed? Tell us what you think!

Photo: The Young and the Old, by Tiffani Sineath

Some older people wish to live their old age at home. The project is for them to share their home, when possible, with a younger person.

A contract is drawn up between the host and the guest. There is no talk of money, but rather of "mutual success." Success in a life choice and in ageing on the one hand. Success in a student career, in training, or in a professional life on the other hand.

No rent, but sharing and solidarity to serve two personal projects. I am sure that you know of such initiatives.

I would like to orient this theme with two thoughts:

How can we get architects to anticipate this type of cohabitation? When will there be disposable houses? (building no longer for future generations but for a stage in our life; we are increasingly nomadic)
Given:
the individualism of our teenagers (they sometimes prefer to spend time with their iPod than with their grandparents);
older persons' tendency to " avoid" the young, "who upset their daily routines" (Have you ever tried to change the way your mom stores her linen or dishes?) and sometimes go as far as building villages reserved for older people;
financial situations that may become more precarious among the more recent retirees;
the urbanization tendency, and perhaps other situations,

what might be the best possible direction for housing, intergenerational relations, possible transfers, the right of residence, contract-based private law, etc., for the coming decades?

I am convinced that retirees, the actors primarily involved here, should be true professionals in the thinking and actions that are needed for a courageous and willful response to this type of evolution in society. [1]

Many thanks for your comments.

[1] I am making a distinction between "professional retirees" and retired professionals. The first have built a professional life project (remunerated or not) geared toward a future with other generations for the twenty, thirty years, and more of their retirement before being, perhaps, really old; the second are content with their entitlements. This is not meant as a judgment, it is what I have found in my more than ten years of work as a retiree.

Writing Guidelines for FER stories

Marina Urquidi — 2011-08-04T09:37:38Z

If you wish to contribute a story or a document to this Web site, please read and comply with the Writing Guidelines in the attached document. Thank you!

Photo: The Writing Life, by Simply Bike

Download the guidelines:


Writing Guidelines - 1 page


Writing for Machine Translation - 1 page

Charter of the Peoples of the Earth

Forum for a new World Governance — 2011-07-25T09:03:23Z

A Charter project to join the Peoples together and start a debate. Join the debate on the ethical pillars of the new twenty-first century civilizations by posting your comments here ...

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”
Nelson Mandela

In these times of uncertainties and global challenges, it is imperative that citizens, the men and women who make up the endless mosaic of the Peoples of the World, be able to shape their own fate and develop together the values and principles that guide the human adventure of the twenty-first century.

Should the Peoples of Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania wait for others to decide, without their consent or in their name, the ethical foundations on which the next chapter of the global adventure will be built? Should they be content with simply overcoming, within their state borders and sometimes with the support of international institutions, the threats that societies are imposing on the planet and on them, the persistence of extreme poverty, the concentration of wealth and power, and many other obstacles usually inherited from a long history of wars and conflicts?

The journey to open the paths of an emancipated humanity has begun. There is an increasing awareness of the enormous transitions the world is facing. For long periods of time, the Peoples have been divided, but they have mutually and repeatedly shared their solidarity, audacity, wisdom, and creativity to overcome the hurdles of History. In the facts, they are already the messengers and bearers of new ethical, cultural, political, and social realities that have been built over time on the basis of the trials and errors, innovations, tensions, and conflicts through which they have gone. It is now their right, along with all other actors involved, to discuss these important issues that bind them together, to speak on their own terms, and to think about how to live in community with dignity and in harmony with Mother Earth.

The following Charter is the first initiative and an invitation to talk. It can be enhanced, modified, and reformulated according to the needs and the talks being held within the framework of the preparation of the 2012 Earth Summit and afterward. The text draws on the historical Freedom Charter, which was born in South Africa, was a banner for the anti-Apartheid movement, and was adopted in 1955 by the Congress of the People.

Photo: Earth, by tonynetone

The Charter was written by the coordination teams of the Forum for a New World Governance and the Citizens Regional Assemblies, engaged and participating in People's movements active in different continents.

=> Comments from everyone are more than welcome!

Download the Charter in your preferred language, read, and comment it here.

Related story: "On the Road to Rio"


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What Will Be Our Starting Point to Think about Ethics and Responsibility in the Inhabitants Network?

Cristina Reynals — 2011-06-24T16:25:39Z

Urban spaces, institutions, systems, subjectification, and new subjectivities are co-producers in social-disintegration processes ...

Photo: Solos, by David Benavent

Our hypothesis will be that as eviction mediators, institutions wield key instruments of power in subjectification and socialization. This obliviation of the subject with the paradox of subjection to the strict limits it imposes on circulation, property, identity, and citizenship comes paradoxically with void and abandonment in the production of absences, of the critical interstices of survival. This instrumental rationality is part of the method and is institutionally programmed. This production has, without a doubt, two victims: the producer and the produced, two closely related co-producers of social-disintegration processes.

In institutional practices and discourses, three notable dimensions can be observed in depth as being in play: the way urban spaces are laid out, the conception of what is social, and the creation of subjectivity. The macro-dismantlement of the system and the reinstatement of another leaves the regulatory—formerly disciplinary—institutions with a twofold task: on the one hand, to manage order and the rehabilitation of dangerous subjects, families, and communities; and on the other, to address the needs of subjects, expressed and dealt with individually. Thus, the distribution of space—mirroring the distribution of power and social wealth—is fragmented, repressed, and brands populations in intense guettoization processes, where working-class neighborhoods are no longer a space continuum but fractures in social circulation. In this degradation, social distances are accentuated and police/military occupations become frequent while day-to-dayness is made of violence.

Photo: Industrial Mural by The Flying Enchilada

In this context, new tragic subjectivities emerge, where traditional working-class markers are dissolved, as well as family structure, differentiated roles, and dominance: gender, age, and micro-economics are transformed. In this collapse with nothing to replace it, subjectivity shifts and is sculpted into new collectives of very different natures: self-help groups, neighborhood groups, gangs, and tribal conflict, and at their extremes, childhood, old age, disability, with abandonment and solitude. There are no boundaries to legality and illegality, they are juxtaposed, because surviving within the crudely manifested demands of a hegemonic society, within the already blinding supposedly reticular panopticon of these spaces, requires within its limits and inside of it identification papers, a home address, that national and local taxes be paid, that public services be privatized, and private security patrols... These factors become co-builders of new, extremely vulnerable subjectivities, which leads to explosive-implosive projections.

Institutions—between their mandates to privatize, focalize, and assist—keep tutelary forms of assistance that address the symptoms. The quality of social suffering leads to these ungraspable practices, and in this ungraspability lie the resources of hegemonic legitimization. Impotence does not produce questioning on what is done but the meager expression of the limits imposed by the higher bodies, salaried survival, and official knowledge. Thus, intervention is formulated with no possibility of moving up on the causal chains of the subject, the context, and the system. Repetition, derivation, and senseless rehabilitation turn out to be homologous with the social course of eviction.

Ethics and Responsibilities in the Teaching Profession

Pinky Cupino — 2011-06-24T11:06:22Z

Teaching is a noble profession. It is service-oriented. It has the potential to have a great impact in the molding of the next generation. That is why education should be valued by social institutions like government, the church, the family and civil society ...

(This story was originally published on the Charter for Human Responsibilities Web site on June 23, 2006. We are reproducing it here because it is still current and an excellent example of a successful method that has been applied on the field, here, in the Philippines.)

While a great majority of teachers carry with their heads high this noble tradition and even innovate and teach beyond the classroom setting, a teaching profession can also be riddled with corruption. We have heard of teachers who sought material or sexual favor/s from students and parents in exchange for a higher academic rating. Other teachers have lost the fervor to impart knowledge and are simply going through the motions of teaching, for the sake of fulfilling an obligation.

It is in the spirit of holding on to what is noble in the teachers and developing this potential that the Center for Positive Futures held its Teacher Training this June 5-9, 2006 in San Mateo, Rizal. It was attended by 40 teachers from five school locations.

One of the topics discussed was the vision and mission of the Center for Positive Futures, a high school for the economically disadvantaged. The discussion was anchored on the ethics and responsibilities of teachers. A 20-minute video presentation entitled, “Alay sa Mundo” (in English, “Offering to the Earth”) was shown. The video presented the history of the Filipino people as a colonized nation, the strong and positive family values still rooted among its citizens, a presentation of a school as an institution upholding social values, the necessary interaction between school and community in the promotion of social responsibilities, and the urgent need to address social issues in light of destruction of the environment and other gigantic man-made social problems. The video also presented the Charter of Human Responsibilities as one of the three pillars of society, and advocated the need to uphold such responsibilities.

From the video presentation, the teachers divided into five workshop groups to discuss what their own vision and mission as teachers were. The result of the workshop showed that the teachers who are mostly new with no or with just one or two years of teaching experience, and very young, have the capability to look beyond their immediate tasks inside the classroom and frame their profession in the context of social concerns.

One group said that their vision was to be able to promote sustainable development, develop socially-aware and God-fearing students who shall be responsible citizens of society. The members said that they want to promote environmental awareness, they want their students to be involved in community service, to develop cooperation with each other, to develop holistically, to uphold human rights, to develop community leaders among the students, and to give opportunities to the less fortunate to get quality education by means of livelihood education. They also adhere to a student-centered method of education.

Another group envisioned students to develop holistically – academically, morally, physically and spiritually so that they can have a role in society and be responsible individuals, giving gratitude to God. They want students who are less fortunate to have hope and to have opportunities for social mobility. They want to change students in a positive way and that also means that teachers should likewise change for the better. They shall seek to respect, identify and develop students' talents, recognizing multiple intelligences in the students. They also would like to emphasize the molding of good moral character.

The third group envisioned the development of students who are God-fearing, responsible and just to himself, the community and society. The other concepts they upheld were quality education, no discrimination, responsibility among students, and environmental awareness.

The fourth group presented a visual diagram composed of three concentric circles wherein the student is in the innermost circle, the teacher, parent and workplace is in the middle circle and education is in the outer circle. The student is described as a God-driven and independent learner. The teachers should be comprised of skilled people. The parents/families should fully utilize and develop the skills, talents or abilities of the student.

The last group envisioned the formation of spiritually-guided students who serve humanity through academic excellence. Their mission is anchored on Christian values, imparting socio-cultural traditions and a sense of responsibility, developing productive citizens who help the community, and deepening the academic know-how and technological skills of the students.

After the workshop presentations, Chit Bobis presented the vision and mission of the Center for Positive Futures:

Vision: We envision a community of socially responsible, spiritually guided, self-propelled and technically-adept citizens upholding ecological sustainability, gender-equality, and cultural sensitivity, and enjoying socio-economic benefits from the labor or such a society.

Mission: We are committed to the integral formation of economically disadvantaged youth in urban and rural communities, promoting their rights and responsibilities as individuals, as productive citizens of the community, and as children of God, and encompassing academic, technical, spiritual, cultural and life-skills educational development.

The Teachers' Code of Ethics as discussed by Dennis Merlin capped the discussion.

Our Country Should Be the Universe - Video

Traversées — 2011-06-08T10:05:04Z

Video interview of Ricardo Jiménez by Traversées taped during the World Assembly of Migrants, celebrated on the island of Gorée, Senegal, on January 3 and 4, 2011 ...

Contemporary human society feels increasingly dragged, often with no time to think and with no clear sense of where they're going, along with the strong currents of global interconnections and unprecedented migratory phenomena, vaguely perceived either as promises or else as uncomfortable interferences. At the same time, the persistent and complex democratization task inherent to the many current crises, brings back as relevant the question of a global governance that will not only sort out the crisis but will also be sustainable, that is to say, legitimate and viable. These efforts coincide with the current global migratory transformations and will be put to test by them.

Interview of Ricardo Jiménez (in Spanish only), by Traversées. Also thanking the Forum for a new World Governance.

Understanding migration as part of our humankind

Nuestra Patria debe ser el Universo by Traversees

Institutionalizing universal citizenship

Nuestra Patria debe ser el Universo by Traversees

Considering migrants as a development factor

Nuestra Patria debe ser el Universo by Traversees

Building plural and multicultural capacities

Nuestra Patria debe ser le Universo by Traversees

Universal Charter of Human Responsibilities: Your Observations Please!

2011-06-01T08:56:52Z

The following text is a proposal from the Rights and Responsibilities network for a Universal Charter of Human Responsibilities. We need your input!

The Universal Charter of Human Responsibilities aims at building cultures of responsibility by generating widespread discussions and awareness about the imperatives of internalizing the concept and practices of responsibilities in order to foster healthy relationships among human beings, among societies and between humankind and ecosystems to constitute a new sustainable world order.

We are submitting this text for public debate, please feel free to give us your observations and comments.

Photo: Smokey Skies by Alby Headrick

Progress in the Military Peace Artisans Network

Manfred Rosenberger — 2011-05-03T07:49:06Z

The network, born in 2005, has since laid a number of important foundations to build its objectives. Take a look …

The most significant events that took place through to the end of 2010 in the Military Peace Artisans network are:

the 2005 meeting in Santiago de Chile in 2005 that instituted the international military alliance project;
two international symposia in the framework of the Europe-Central Asia Forum, one in Alsace (France) in 2007 and on in 2008 in Kyrgyzstan comprising the five countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan;
the international congress “International Risks, Security, and Defense in the Twenty-first Century: Legitimacy Factors” in Bogotá, April 2009, with 600 participants from all of Latin America;
the international symposium in the framework of the Europe-West Africa Forum on "Strengths of Defense and Security at the Core of Human Security, November 2010 in Dakar (Senegal) (article in Spanish);

Next planned stages:

enlargement of the network to Central Africa and organization of a symposium similar to the one in Dakar;
a first meeting to open dialog and enlarge the network to North America.

Responsibility and Cultures of the World

Edith Sizoo — 2011-03-21T12:16:33Z

This book brings together eleven contributions by authors from all parts of the world who have examined the concept of responsibility in their respective countries.

In the first part Edith Sizoo presents a comparative analysis of those texts which reflect a rich variety of worldviews and traditions: harmony with the earth and relational ethics in the Maori culture of New Zealand, juridical approach in France, responsibility in Confucian thinking in China, individualism in the face of collective duty in the United States, duty and responsibility on the shores of the Congo, responsibility in Arab Islamic culture, encountering the sense of responsibility in Germany…This book thus presents a cross-cultural vision of responsibility that is all the more interesting that the final texts are the outcome of intense dialogue between the authors. This dialog brought about a more explicit expression of their respective points of view, thus making them more accessible to people from other cultural backgrounds.

Edith Sizoo (ed.), Philosophy & Politics. Vol. 20, P.I.E. Peter Lang, Brussels, Bern, Berlin, Frankfurt, New York, Oxford, Vienna, 2010, 233 pp.
ISBN: 978-90-5201-670-2


Responsibility and Cultures of the World

Charter of Human Responsibilities

2011-03-10T10:09:20Z

After the Lille Assembly, an international team was set up to submit the Charter of Human Responsibilities to civil society worldwide and test its relevance on the field, in different cultural and socioprofessional contexts.

The Charter underscores the essence of what was found to be common to the proposals drawn up by the different Alliance 21 work groups: a call to become aware of the powerful need to assume new responsibilities, both individual and collective.

Its guiding principles are featured as a common core to be transposed and given concrete expression in the different fields of human activity, in different languages and also adapted to every culture.

The Charter team's work culminated in June 2010 with the organization in Brasilia of an international children and youth conference “Let's Take Care of the Planet”, attended by 400 girls and boys from 53 countries in all 5 continents, the final destination of a process that involved millions of people all over the world, where our children, with their ideas, their proposals, and their dreams, were the main protagonists.

Go to the Charter of Human Responsibilities Web site

An outcome of the World Citizens Assembly, this was an international cross-cultural project around the concept of responsibility, with a charter as a reference point from which to move forward on thinking and action, and men and women to set these in motion.

Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World

2011-03-06T21:08:44Z

In the early 1990s, several partners of the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind (FPH) organized a series of continental, theme-based and socioprofessional meetings in order to open their work to other initiatives, actors, fora, and cultures.

This process led in 1993 to the drafting of the “Platform for a Responsible and United World”, which in turn entailed the need to combine diversity—of the contexts—and unity—of the challenges—and to consider the perspectives from three angles simultaneously: by theme, by region of the world, and by socioprofessional sphere.

The alliance itself was born in 1993 with the adoption of a shared agenda focusing everyone's work for the end of the century on formulating proposals for strategies and action to bring about the crucial, necessary changes in our lifestyles and our management systems, from the local level to the global one.

The Alliance Workshops were internationalized and developed, and they culminated in December 2001 with the organization of the World Citizens Assembly in Lille, France.

After the Lille assembly, “Alliance 21” turned progressively into an informal forum for its thousands of members, groups and individuals, as well as for new interested persons, and today its doors are always open to share the enormous wealth of its work, still current, and to be a place where anyone can give their information, analyses, experiences, coming events, proposals, and so on.

Go to the Alliance 21 Web site

Approval of a common platform and worldwide development of cross-cultural workshops—theme-based, regional, and socioprofessional—which would produce 61 Proposal Papers for the implementation of the breakthroughs and evolutions needed in our societies that will build a fairer and more sustainable 21st century.

Participate!

2011-03-05T18:47:58Z

Your opinions will be valuable for our program, and there are several ways you can help ...

Photo:
flower and keyboard by ashleigh290

You can:

post comments

You can post comments on all the stories and documents published on this Web site. Your comments will be read and taken into account by the persons in charge of the different networks.

send stories

Do you have an experience to share on a successful “method” or one you have applied but needs to be assessed?
Have you observed “progress” in the field of ethics or in assuming responsibilities in your field of activity?

You can send us a story on one or the other of these aspects and we will be glad to publish it!

If you are tempted, please take note of our writing guidelines in the downloadable document and send a message to Marina Urquidi to inform her. You will then be able to send her your story.


Writing Guidelines

contact a network representative

If, individually or as a member of an organization, you are interested in the work being done here in your field of activity and would like to make a specific contribution or come on board in a more substantial way, you can contact the representative of your field of activity directly. Feel completely free to do so!

join the public Ethics and Responsibilities forum and take part in it

The public Ethics and Responsibilities forum is designed as both a newsletter and a public debating forum. If you join it, you will be able to participate in it freely (open a discussion on a question, send announcements for events, and so on), or just simply receive an occasional message informing you of the latest stories published on the Web site.

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Why We Need a Charter of Universal Responsibilities

Edith Sizoo — 2011-02-16T10:22:00Z

What is a good framework to consider the status, content and potential impact of an international reference text on Universal Responsibilities? Do we even need one? What about the existing international charters? Explore these questions and more, and view responsibility through different cultural glasses...

Photo: Charter by Svadilfari / Sean

This document offers a background for reflection on the status, content, and potential impact of an international Reference text on Universal Responsibilities.

It argues that the new challenges humanity has to face in the twenty-first century call for a renewed effort to claim the need for such a text, setting out human responsibilities in all spheres of life, endorsed not only by states but also by citizens and major powers of influence at various political, economic and social levels. It thus aims to respond to an often asked question since the initiative to promote the idea of a Charter of Human Responsibilities was taken at the 2001 World Citizens Assembly in Lille, France: Is there in fact the need of such a reference text?

The document focuses in particular on the need of such a text at the international level. This issue will be dealt with in three different ways:

First of all, an effort is made to learn from the experiences of other international initiatives in this field (Part I).

Secondly, the choice to focus on the need to strengthen the sense of responsibility in all societies is defended (Part II). For this purpose, the various dimensions of the concept of responsibility itself will be made explicit, their societal relevance elucidated, and their cultural variations illustrated. These clarifications are of course also relevant for those who are concentrating their efforts on promoting cultures of responsibility in various fields of professional and social activities.

Thirdly, the key question of why an authoritative text on Universal Responsibilities at the international level should be aimed at will be directly addressed in Part III.

In Annex I, the reader will find descriptions of key concepts, and Annex II gives a selection of the literature that was consulted.

Thus this document consists of three main parts:

Part I: Results of Comparative Analysis of existing Charters / Declarations

I.1. Juridical status of the documents
I.2. Focus of the documents: some examples
I.3. Lessons learned from the comparative analysis

Part II: Reflections on: Why focus on Responsibility

II.1. Responsibility: dimensions, societal relevance, and cultural variations

Part III: Motivations for an international reference text on Universal Responsibilities

III.1. Why an International Charter?
III.2. Step-by-step strategy for potential impact

ANNEX I: Descriptions of key notions
ANNEX II: Literature consulted

Download the full document, “Why an International Charter on Human Responsibilities?”:

Photo: Charter by Svadilfari / Sean

Responsibility of Researchers in Africa

2011-02-03T09:10:00Z

In preparation for the second World Science and Democracy Forum, a number of African researchers, in particular Enda-Diapol and IPRA, in partnership with CODESRIA and CRDI began discussions on the political and social responsibility of African researchers ...

Report broadcast on the Senegalese station RDV Télé on January 21, 2011.

Summary of the content of the report:

Hoping to do away with “science without conscience,” civil society in Africa wishes to orient research so that it serves development. This requires setting research priorities and it is up to ordinary citizens to do so. The issues should not be considered as “too technical” for the non-scientific population. This “Coffee talk on social and political responsibility” initiative was intended to see how these people could converse with donors, multinational corporations, and states, all of which are the current decision makers in research directions. The African continent has very high-level researchers who have demonstrated their capacities despite the very scant means they have at their disposal. There will be discussions on the political and social responsibilities of African researchers at the Dakar World Sciences and Democracy Forum (WSDF) of February 4 and 5, 2011: What uses of science and technology would allow Africa to pull out of its predicament? One of the key themes will be the relationship between researchers and social movements. This talk sets up a discussion framework, which will cover agricultural policies, intellectual property, scientific knowledge, education, and democracy.

See, too, the World Sciences and Democracy Forum and the Facebook page.

Find out how the theme of responsibility will be present at the WSDF in the story Responsibility and the Second World Sciences and Democracy Forum.

Charter of Human Responsibilities

2011-01-24T17:36:00Z

International life is currently underpinned by two agreements: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which focuses on the dignity and entitlements of people as individuals, and on the defense of their rights, and the Charter of the United Nations, which focuses on peace and development. Although these two agreements have been the framework for undeniable progress in the organization of international relations, the past fifty years have seen radical global changes.

Humankind is now facing new challenges, in particular, the imperative need to safeguard the environment for future generations. It is clear that the two initial agreements need a further dimension to address the current and future challenges of survival. "Responsibility" is proposed as an ethical concept that builds on Rights and Peace as well as for the emergence of a relational world view that ensures the viability of planet Earth and its peoples.

Download the Charter of Human Responsibilities

Discover the Charter of Human Responsibilities network

Whistleblowing and Professional Responsibility: Time to Converge?

Michel Dessaigne — 2011-01-19T19:39:00Z

There are two opposite currents in the area of whistleblowing: one upholding the full application of the accountability principle, the other seeking protection against accusations without grounds. IRESCA proposes to untangle this issue, more complicated than it appears to be …

Photo: Alerte bleue by Grégory Cassiau

Allowing and framing the act of revealing facts that may be a risk to people, to companies, to the environment, and to the values of society should be considered as a source of progress for our gaining in responsibility.

It is difficult, however, to change the law and practices such that they will guarantee protection to whistleblowers as well as those who are involved in the risks being revealed.

Ethics versus simply complying with standards?

History makes it possible, in part, to explain this difficulty. The ethics of engineers have driven them to be concerned about the risks connected to the technical applications of their knowledge. Financial abuse has motivated control and compliance with regulations. These two strong trends have regrouped around sometimes divergent concerns. Unions, organizations, and professional organizations have joined engineers and managers in their search for better protection against dangers, injustices, and sufferings. Financial regulations have led companies to adapt their operations, sometimes in search of authentic improvement in their practices, sometimes to simply comply with minimum standards.

The fact remains that these “two worlds” are still finding it hard to communicate. The obstacles are still significant: fear of “denouncement,” suspicion of protection procedures “imported” by company management, fear of losing market shares by allowing problems to be revealed or by putting difficulties “out there” that companies think they can solve in-house, etc.

Protecting whistleblowers … and their possible victims

Notwithstanding, under the pressure of public opinion, given the dysfunctions of the financial markets, and thanks to legal precedents for whistleblowing procedures that have been fine tuned, significant progress has been made (interstate organizations, international union organizations, professional branches, etc.). [1]

There is general agreement that what could be qualified, a bit simplistically, as the “ethical” current and the “complying with standards” one should converge, but the practical difficulties of doing so cannot be ignored.

To facilitate this convergence, IRESCA has placed among its priority actions the protection of whistleblowers (and, of course, of everyone involved—including those who might be its victims if accusations should prove to be without grounds).

See the story “Teaching Guide for Speaking out against Injustice” and the story “For a Whistleblowing Right with International Protection”.

[1] UNI Europa Meeting (Brussels, September 2010).

Universal Citizenship Is Necessary and Possible

Ricardo Jiménez — 2011-01-19T11:50:00Z

Universal citizenship: A delusion, a possibility, or a need? The author of this story offers us undefeatable arguments in favor of what for some is an absurd illusion to be defeated, and for others is an indispensable, although complex need already being spearheaded by migrants' movements ...

Nelson Mandela was known to say that things were always impossible until we did them. Things that are necessary and possible can happen, or not. That will depend, precisely, on what is done by peoples and societies: universal citizenship is a historical need, difficult and gradual, but possible and necessary.

Humankind set up universal institutionalism (the UN) in the twentieth century and since then has generated, non-stop, international covenants and conventions recognizing ever-growing rights, for humans, indigenous peoples, migrants, women, nature, etc. Before the twentieth century, this was unthinkable for material and technological reasons related to communication connections and the productive capacity to guarantee those minimum rights for all. These material conditions are here now, are constantly being developed, and are interacting with a new and different human universal consciousness, which although still very far from complete, has made considerable headway.

The need to move forward from “minimal common” agreements … and those who are opposing this path

The diversity, the contradictions even, among countries, societies, and economies… is an objective, inescapable difficulty that imposes, precisely, gradual progress and momentary setbacks, as with any deep historical change. A homogeneous idea of universal citizenship is neither viable nor desirable. Historical practice shows that progress comes from minimal common grounds, respecting large degrees of political, cultural, economic, etc. diversity, respecting, above all, peoples' self-determination. In practice, these minimal agreements have always begun on a regional scale, facilitated by a common or kindred geopolitical and cultural position, but respecting diversities and even contradictions among the countries involved.

A greater difficulty is posed by the powers that be, which concentrate wealth and power to the detriment of the well-being of the majority of people and the environment, and do everything they can to hinder these minimal common-ground agreements, which would be much easier to reach were it not for these powerful, operational, selfish, and contrary appetites. We simply have to learn how to fight and to conquer these powers, as is already being done gradually and with difficulty.

Three conditions to make universal citizenship a reality

Universal citizenship has something in common with pollution and climate change: it may not be possible to control, but if we do not, we know that sooner or later there will be irreparable disasters for humankind itself. We can say the same in all certainty about the social sustainability of a global order without universal citizenship.

The conditions for a universal citizenship are the existence of a material, objective human community, that is to say, truly universal and growing interconnections. This is being increasingly allowed by communication and transportation technologies. Secondly, interaction as it happens in any area and people of the planet affects all the others in some way or another, for better or for worse, which is also already and increasingly happening (economic and environmental crises, pandemics, etc.). Finally, there is also growing consciousness among all peoples, with whom we share the same fate as a species of the planet.

From regional citizenship to universal citizenship

It is the geopolitical dynamics and that of the hyper-competitive global market that are themselves accelerating the objective, material need to form regional integration agreements as blocs in order to be able to enter the global arena with minimum development conditions, and those blocs are socially impossible if they do not integrate regional citizenship. [1] In the end, it will probably be on the basis of these extended citizenships that we will progress step by step, along a complex path, first as large regions of the world, toward universal citizenship. All of us can make an effort to contribute to this transition.

See, too, the story “Our Country Will Be the Universe”.

Photos: Todos somos inmigrantes and ...Por ser pobre by Álvaro Herraiz San Martín

[1] The European Union, UNASUR and MERCOSUR, for instance, are already moving in this direction.

Charter of Responsibilities - Let's Take Care of the Planet

2011-01-17T17:50:00Z

From June 5 to 10, 2010, more than 400 adolescents and children from 53 countries met in Brasilia for an international conference, “Let's Take Care of the Planet.” The conference ended with the drafting and adoption of the “Charter of Responsibilities - Let's Take Care of the Planet” and its presentation to the different official representatives who were there, including Brazil's Minister of Education and the chairman of the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind.

We, the young people of the world, and the delegates of this International Conference, invite you to share the responsibility to take care of the Planet.

This Charter, created by the gathering of 53 countries, represents the responsibilities and actions coming from different nations with diverse cultures, languages and societies.

We are all aware of the environmental challenges that our Planet faces. Some people say that money is the solution; some say that intelligence is. It happens that money does not matter when more than 400 boys and girls get together to take care of their home. A home that has been damaged with time, with an unstable and unsure future.

If we want to get protected from environmental changes, we need to take these actions and responsibilities to ourselves.

If it's not now, then when?

If it's not us, then who?

Click this link to read and download the Charter of Responsibilities - Let's Take Care of the Planet

Specifications for the Ethics & Responsibilities Program

2011-01-16T09:54:00Z

This working paper clarifies what is expected of the members of the International Facilitation Committee of the Ethics & Responsibilities program.

Photo: Ready for action by Micah Esguerra

1. Time frame
2. Professional networks
- a. Reasons
- b. Purposes
- c. Content of “Reflection on Action” documents
- d. Practical questions
- e. Tasks of Professional Network Representative
3. Regional representation
- a. Purposes
- b. Tasks of Regional Representative
4. What the budgets are supposed to cover
5. General Coordination team
- a. Tasks
6. Collective effort

ANNEX: Who is doing what?

Download the document:


Action Plan

Teaching Guide for Speaking out against Injustice

Nina Gregg — 2011-01-14T17:31:00Z

One of the critical questions connected to responsibility is to know whether to reveal so-called secret information, through which means, and in what conditions... a current question in these Wikileaks times. Nina Gregg has a guide for us...

What is an individual's responsibility to speak out against injustice? See the 100-pageTeaching Guide (downloadable here) that accompanies the film, The Most Dangerous Man in America, about Daniel Ellsberg, who in 1971 leaked documents that told the truth about the Vietnam War.

The film and the teaching guide are ideal sources for students wishing to understand the news around WikiLeaks today. Through the history of Daniel Ellsberg, you can explore the nature of the information revealed by whistleblowers, the risks that they incur, their motivations, and the tactics used to silence them.

The Teaching Guide is made available by the Zinn Education Project

For a Whistleblowing Right with International Protection

Michel Dessaigne — 2011-01-13T21:12:00Z

In a globalized economy, our acts can have consequences internationally, and there is no national legislation, no matter how perfect, to cover them. Hence the need of a protected whistleblowing right on an international scale …

Photo by duncid

The lessons of the world crisis have not been learned: stock-market speculation, excessive stipends paid out to big company leaders, distribution of bonuses. Drifting into chaos, crossing all the lines, blindly, when there are major environmental and health risks weighing on the future of the planet: decision makers will not be able to say they did not know. Between ignorance, unawareness, or taking risks knowingly, this is also a crisis of responsibility.

Company managers everywhere in the world are on the front line in situations of tension, of professional dilemmas, when they see things going out of control. When managers or professionals are summoned to do something that clashes with their personal or professional ethics, their values, where is their freedom of speech, their right of withdrawal or refusal, how much leeway do they have? Managers are often locked into silence because they are not protected.

Risk prevention requires collective bargaining

Risk prevention requires collective bargaining on whistleblowing procedures and how it is acknowledged and dealt with on the basis of existing rights and of the legitimacy of the staff's representative bodies. The quality of how this issue is processed, the independence of those who do the processing is decisive for the effectiveness of the negotiated procedures, in the interest of society at large. This analysis, upheld by international union organizations, is also shared be many other players: NGOs, professional associations, whistleblower networks. In a globalized economy, our acts can have consequences internationally, and there is no national legislation, no matter how perfect, to cover them.

The work of UNI Global Union Managers/Professionals on the conditions for managers to exercise their social responsibility, and that of EUROCADRES on responsible management match the concerns of Transparency International, Amnesty International and many other players demanding recognition all over the world of a whistleblowing right as part of the basic rights stated by the ILO, and an international protection of whistleblowers as well.

Employees would certainly like to become players again, find some new perspectives, tomorrows that make sense, that light up the horizon, and to be given the conditions for exercising their professional responsibility with greater inclusion of economic and social purposes and of the stakes involved in sustainable development.

Read, too, the stories “Teaching Guide for Speaking out against Injustice” and "Whistleblowing and Professional Responsibility: Time to Converge?”

Values for Building Solidarity Economy

Benjamin Quiñones Jr. — 2011-01-13T16:23:00Z

Solidarity Economy very much relies on people's integration of its culture and values. The Solidarity Economy network conducted small group discussions among peers, which revealed 4 stages of value formation…

Photo: Building a shared vision in Welfareville, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

Embedded in the Value Chain Development Program of Eagle's Wings Foundation is a normative approach to a reflection called the “culture of responsibility, social reciprocity, and solidarity.” This approach seeks to provide answers to the question: What values do people adopt when they embark on a process of building solidarity economy (SE)?

Results from several small group discussions conducted among peers revealed 4 stages of values formation.

At the first stage, people participate in the new initiative called “solidarity economy” in search for new private gains. Their attitude towards this new economic paradigm is summed up by the self-serving question “What is in it for me?” They view themselves as “beneficiaries” who expect new, quick benefits that could be derived from a new economic initiative. They don't buy into SE on account of its high-flying advocacy of triple bottom line (people, planet, profit), social inclusion, or its being an alternative to the failed market-oriented economy. The biggest challenge at this stage is to transform people's mindset and bring them to the next higher level of operation. People must be motivated to form their social capital and to build a shared vision.

The second stage is where SE stakeholders begin to understand that they have the capacity to engage in transactions exchange. They overcome their “beneficiary” or dole-out mentality and see themselves as producers of goods or services which they can exchange for things they need. They now realize that forging alliances with other self-help groups/ organizations (SHGs/SHOs) has the potential of generating new sources of income through social and economic exchanges with these groups.

To step over to the second stage, people's mindsets have to be transformed from one that is predominantly subsistent and consumerist in nature to one that is entrepreneurial. But even when they reach this stage, people don't give up their selfish motives easily. Rather, self-serving motives propel people to cheat in order to gain the upper hand. They need to see the bigger picture and realize that by adopting fair practices, the whole system minimizes the risk of bad practices and creates a more conducive business atmosphere of trust and confidence among stakeholders.

The third stage is where SE stakeholders are more empowered and have greater motivation to contribute part of their purchasing power to support a collective endeavor. They become altruistic givers without expecting reciprocal benefits in return. But their altruistic behavior remains confined to a restricted circle of people (e.g. family, local association/club, church, or peer group) with whom they have worked with to build an enduring social capital. The biggest challenge at this stage is to transform the people's mindset from being ethnocentric to one that is more global in perspective and which embraces compassion for other people outside their immediate social circle.

The fourth and most ideal stage is where SE stakeholders are transformed into ‘serial givers.' They become voluntary advocates of SE and serve as models to other people groups who are still at the lower levels of social responsibility, reciprocity, and solidarity. The biggest challenge at this stage is to harness the energy of voluntary advocates in forging a network of alliances at the local, national, and international levels.

Responsibility in Economics: The Legacy of E.F.Schumacher (1911-1977)

2011-01-12T17:28:00Z

International Annual Conference of the European SPES Forum, organized by the Center for Ethics, University of Antwerp, in collaboration with the Business Ethics Center, Université Corvinus, Budapest and the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation

Keynote speakers: Stewart Wallis, executive director of the New Economics Foundation and director of the New Economics Institute (the E.F. Schumacher Society), Luigino Bruni, Department of Economics, University of Milano-Bicocca

The present worldwide economic, social and ecological crises have created fertile ground for claiming the need for an internationally recognized text setting out human responsibilities. A Charter of Human Responsibilities was launched by the international Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation as a pre-text. It is a tool for dialogue and a text in evolution. The European SPES network takes up this challenge and produces reflection and papers. The 100th anniversary of E.F. Schumacher's birth is an ideal opportunity to launch this particular discussion on responsibility. It invites us to rediscover the author of Small is Beautiful (1973) and his philosophy of responsibility as elaborated in his Guide for the perplexed (1977). In his last publication, Good Work (1979), Schumacher integrated as one of the first economists the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (CSRS).

Topics of interest:

A confrontation between Economics as if people mattered as introduced in Schumacher's book Small is Beautiful with the present state of the economy and business, integrating responsibility.
Exploring the relationship between CSRS and its present developments with Schumacher's publication Good work.
Rediscovering the ethical and spiritual focus behind responsibility as Schumacher outlined it in his Guide for the perplexed.

We look forward to contributions from a wide range of academic and professional perspectives. Possible topics of interest are not limited to the description above but must be brought in relation with the Charter of Human Responsibilities. Papers with reference to one of Schumacher's publications are particularly welcome.

Scientific Committee: Luk Bouckaert (K.U.Leuven); Luigino Bruni (University of Milano); Henri-Claude de Bettignies (INSEAD, Fontainebleau) Hendrik Opdebeeck (University of Antwerp); Diana Schumacher (co-founder Schumacher Society), Mike Thompson (CEIBS, Shanghai); Luc Van Liedekerke (University of Antwerp); Laszlo Zsolnai (Corvinus University, Budapest)

Abstracts of papers: These should be sent no later than January 15, 2011 to the Scientific Committee (Hendrik Opdebeeck and zsolnail at mail.interware.hu). Participants are asked to provide a detailed abstract of their planned paper (about 500 words) accompanied by a short biographical note (200 words) including e-mail address(es) of the author(s).

Notification of acceptance for presentation: will be given by February 28, 2011. Acceptance of presentation will not be final until the full paper is submitted by May 15, 2011 and at least one author has registered for the conference. A selection of papers will be published by Peter Lang.

World Citizens Assembly

2011-01-11T14:18:21Z

Gathering four hundred participants in a fair representation of the different regions of the world and the different socioprofessional spheres, it was the prefiguration of a Parliament of the planet.

In it, the 60 Proposal papers drawn up in the framework of the Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World were discussed in order to identify priorities for change common to all, and to outline a strategy of change for the twenty-first century.

A Charter of Human Responsibilities was discussed there as well, and amended, in view of establishing it as an indispensable third international reference text alongside the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of the United Nations.

Go the World Citizens Assembly Web site

Gathering 400 participants, this was the finishing point of the workshops organized in the framework of the Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World.

Responsibility and the Second World Sciences and Democracy Forum

Cécile Sabourin — 2011-01-11T09:41:00Z

The theme of responsibility will be present at the World Sciences and Democracy Forum in a round table and in a workshop. We will present the Ethics & Responsibilities Program and the activities we are coordinating to prepare the scientists' network Reflection on Action document ...

The program of the World Sciences and Democracy Forum (WSDF) that will be held in Dakar (Senegal) on February 4 and 5, just before the World Social Forum, is available on the WSDF Web site.

The program comprises two key moments during which responsibility will be discussed, which are:

1. A Round Table on “Science, Responsibility, and Democracy”
Moderator: Vinod Raina (AIPSN, India)
Speakers: Hartmut Meyer (ENSSER, Germany), Jose Manoel Rodrigues Vitoriano (University of Valencia, Spain), Gilles Bibeau (University of Montreal, Quebec), Alain Garrigou (Researchers without borders, France), Innocent Butare (CRDI, West Africa)

2. A workshop on “The social and ethical responsibilities of researchers, whistleblowing: obstacles and challenges”
This workshop is proposed by: the Fondation Sciences Citoyennes (France), ENSSER (Europe), FQPPU (Quebec), Enda-Diapol (Senegal), Institut des Sciences Biomédicales Appliquées (Benin)

This workshop aims at understanding the concrete obstacles and the challenges faced by scientists and academics seeking to be involved in research activities serving global society or community group interests, that is, with no direct concern for commercial fallout (outcomes). In the current context, the public policies pertaining to research have set a climate and conditions that incite researchers to respond to particular expectations, mostly in connection with innovations leading to commercial activities. All disciplinary fields are concerned, including the human sciences. The intrinsic value and the conceptual contribution of the human and social sciences to understanding the various stakes and to setting research directions have often led essentially to instrumental uses such as the development of technoscience. How can this situation be reversed and academic and scientific circles be given the means to assume their responsibilities to global society in an ethical way?

In this workshop, we will present the Ethics & Responsibilities Program and the activities we are coordinating to prepare the scientists' network Reflection of Action document.

We participated in the development of the program as member of the International Committee. We will also take advantage of our participation at the WSDF to collect interviews and data on the discourse and responsible practices of the world of scientists and ethics.

Ethics & Responsibilities Program: Presentation

Edith Sizoo — 2010-12-25T12:41:00Z

Universal principles of Responsibility for local action, to face today's multiple crises...

Photo: Act Globally de marcokalmann

The current global crises—economic, financial, and social—and the climate changes taking place have engendered fertile ground for claiming the need for an internationally recognized text setting out human responsibilities in all spheres of life and its recognition not only by states, but also by major powers of influence in the political, economic, and social fields.

This acute awareness has inspired the idea that an international effort of renewed reflection has to be encouraged within communities, civil society, and different sectors of the economy and academy, as well as within state, national, and international governments and agencies on the relevance of individual and collective responsibilities for the future of humankind and of the planet. Such a process will contribute to the emergence of cultures of responsibility and catalyze awareness of the need for an internationally recognized reference text.

Download the full document:


Ethics & Responsibilities Program: Presentation

Photo : Act Globally by marcokalmann

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

2010-12-20T16:20:00Z

On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."

Photo: Eleanor Roosevelt, Chair of the Commission of Human Rights, looking at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Spanish.

PREAMBLE

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

Click here to read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on line.

Charter of the United Nations

2010-12-13T16:01:00Z

The Charter of the United Nations was signed on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24 October 1945. The Statute of the International Court of Justice is an integral part of the Charter.

Amendments to Articles 23, 27 and 61 of the Charter were adopted by the General Assembly on 17 December 1963 and came into force on 31 August 1965. A further amendment to Article 61 was adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 1971, and came into force on 24 September 1973. An amendment to Article 109, adopted by the General Assembly on 20 December 1965, came into force on 12 June 1968.

The amendment to Article 23 enlarges the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen. The amended Article 27 provides that decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of nine members (formerly seven) and on all other matters by an affirmative vote of nine members (formerly seven), including the concurring votes of the five permanent members of the Security Council.

The amendment to Article 61, which entered into force on 31 August 1965, enlarged the membership of the Economic and Social Council from eighteen to twenty-seven. The subsequent amendment to that Article, which entered into force on 24 September 1973, further increased the membership of the Council from twenty-seven to fifty-four.

The amendment to Article 109, which relates to the first paragraph of that Article, provides that a General Conference of Member States for the purpose of reviewing the Charter may be held at a date and place to be fixed by a two-thirds vote of the members of the General Assembly and by a vote of any nine members (formerly seven) of the Security Council. Paragraph 3 of Article 109, which deals with the consideration of a possible review conference during the tenth regular session of the General Assembly, has been retained in its original form in its reference to a "vote, of any seven members of the Security Council", the paragraph having been acted upon in 1955 by the General Assembly, at its tenth regular session, and by the Security Council.

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS

Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.

Click here to read the Charter of the United Nations on line.

Our Country Will Be the Universe

Lucía Mariana Alvites — 2010-12-12T14:38:00Z

The Fourth Migrants World Social Forum was celebrated in Quito, Ecuador, from October 8 to 12, 2010. In it, Ricardo Jiménez facilitated a dialog on the Proposal Paper “Our Country Should Be the Universe”...

Humankind is facing a historic transition, a crisis in civilization, and pressing dilemmas. This was the context in which Ricardo Jiménez made his public presentation of his work, [“Our Country Should Be the Universe. Proposals for Migration in a New World Governance in the Twenty-first Century,” part of the Proposal Papers series published by the Forum for a new World Governance (FnWG) worldwide on different topics. [1]

Paulo Illes, international coordinator of the Espacio Sin Fronteras network and of the Centro de Apoyo al Migrante – CIAMI in São Paulo, Brazil, emphasized the need for the reflection and proposals imposed by responsibility in the current context of the global migratory crisis, and he featured as a concrete example of what the text calls “enlarged and regional citizenship” within the Union of South American Republics - [UNASUR- http://www.pptunasur.com/], pointing out the progress, opportunities, and challenges that this integration process has introduced into the field of migrations.

The author characterized the text as a summary of years of experiences and collective dialog in the framework of the process of the World Charter of Migrants, which is the basis of the focus of the text within a multiple, integral crisis, in which migrants are the expression and the indicators of the forms and degrees at which these crises are addresses in the political, socioeconomic, and cultural fields.

How can we move toward universal citizenship?

The forty participants engaged in a fraternal, emotional, plural, and enriching dialog on the various aspects broached by the Proposal Paper, bringing to the fore the following question: “How can we move toward universal citizenship and overcome the universalisms that have so far been hegemonic particularities presented as universal?” There was also discussion of the need and the current processes in Latin America aiming to build a new foundation for the state such that it is adapted to the actual existing nations on the basis of a paradigm that does not exclude but combines, enlarges, and pluralizes simultaneous identities: national, Latin American, universal, and other possible ones.

Photo: Lucía Mariana Alvites, coordinator of the dialog, surrounded by Paulo Illes on the left and Ricardo Jiménez on the right

Migration acts as a redistribution mechanism

From the socioeconomic point of view, the author described his hypothesis that current migration in fact acts as a redistribution mechanism for global wealth through the redistribution of employment and through remittances, compensating for the absence of formal mechanisms to carry out this function. It is those who are excluded by the hegemonic economic model who, in search of a better life, make an important effort to fulfill this role, in their home countries as well as in their destination countries. This shows the responsibilities of the rich countries in the impoverishment of those in which migration originates, and calls for mechanisms to compensate this responsibility.

As a temporary conclusion, the complexity of the challenges was underscored. Easy answers will be useless. What is needed is: great effort and responsibility; the collective development of proposals in interaction with the concrete practices of the people, which generates possibilities and opens ways; and a critical consciousness in order to be open to “unprecedented possibles” as a creative need in order to overcome the crisis and move toward fulfilling the duty pointed out by Flora Tristan in 1835 of making our country the universe.

[1] This Proposal Paper is available in Spanish and in French.

Global Responsibility through Consumption? Resistance and Assimilation in the Anti-brand Movement

Nina Gregg — 2010-12-07T12:22:00Z

Should consumers be the agents of responsible consumption?
Is responsible consumption even effective?
Good questions when considering how to raise awareness on responsibility. Suggested reading for a few answers …

In “Global responsibility through consumption?: Resistance and assimilation in the anti-brand movement,” her paper published in the journal critical perspectives on international business, Isleide Arruda Fontenelle questions the possible reach of anti-brand movements and shows how the assimilation of resistance has occurred through debates about empowerment and consumer accountability and the development of the “responsible consumption” discourse. Fontenelle points to the social risks of attributing a large degree of accountability to individuals for consumption.

The purpose of the paper is to question the possible reach of anti-brand movements and, by extension, those movements that criticize capitalism via consumption, in order to reflect on the impasse in critique, given the new formats that capitalism has assumed.

This paper takes as the object of its analysis the book No Logo by Naomi Klein, and it is supported by qualitative research into the production of the discourse about the responsible consumer in the business media, as well as in books and articles published about the assimilation of resistance, and more especially about the anti-consumption movement and the anti-brand movement.

The relationship between the empirical findings of the research—the production of the responsible consumption discourse, in the period before, and after the anti-brand movements—and theoretical articles about empowerment and consumer accountability in the modern day shows how the assimilation of resistance occurred, via the responsible consumption discourse and also draws attention to its limits. Although the qualitative research used in the article was not initially planned for use in it, its findings were incorporated because they are widely applicable to what was being proposed.

The paper's originality lies in the fact that it shows the point that a criticism movement has reached after ten years. Although this was already clear to the author in 1999 when No Logo was written, a decade later it is possible to state that the movement has been assimilated by the market, especially since the appearance of the discourse of “responsible consumption.” What is completely novel in this article is this co-relation. At the end, the article also points to the social risks of attributing a large degree of accountability to individuals for consumption.

Photos:

Cola Consumption, by tk-link
Weapons of mass consumption, by Josh Fassbind
Off Consumption, by Gaurav Mishra

On the Road to Rio

Arnaud Blin, Gustavo Marin — 2010-11-13T18:28:00Z

What will happen at Rio+20?
What is at stake?
How can we prepare for it?

Proposals for a Citizen Project

Photo: 2010-07-18 Rio by Buzz Bishop

This document begins with considerations on the historical context of which Rio+20 is a part. Anyone or any people, for that matter, can set their own chronology and give more importance to some events than to others. Without meaning to provide an overstretched historical perspective on the current period with a view to Rio+20, at the start of this paper we look back on the French Revolution and the early nineteenth-century Napoleonic Wars. Some may wonder: Why go back 200 years? In fact, this focus is necessary in order to appreciate the historical context and to see Rio+20 in May 2012, not as a simply evanescent event, but as a key stage in the roads we are building. In any event, calling to mind the storming of the Bastille is only a benchmark, after which we jump straight to the current context. Again, others may find other historical benchmarks.

The second part introduces the actors who will be at Rio+20, the challenges at stake, the themes to be debated, and the ethical pillars that will be the backdrop of the process.

The third and last part sets out a few specific tasks to be completed and proposes a flexible and evolutional framework of initiatives intended to set in motion a collective and participatory dynamics.

This paper is a working document that can be used, modified, and enhanced through everyone's contributions.

Download the document and post a comment:


On the Road to Rio