Globalisation for the Common Good

The 3rd Annual International Conference
On
An Inter-faith Perspective on Globalisation

The Middle East
 and Globalisation for the Common Good

Integrity, Spirituality, Ethics and Accountability:
Transforming Business, Corporate Social Responsibility and
Globalisation for the Common Good

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

26-31 March 2004  

A brief executive summary by Dr. Kamran Mofid, Founder and convenor in association with Dr. Raymond Hamden, co-convenor and the chair of funding committee.

  1. Mission Statement (by Dr. Kamran Mofid Founder of the conference series).

These days, we hear a great deal about cultural conflicts and the clash of civilisations taking form in religious extremism, terrorism, and the victimisation of innocents on all sides.  Such acts deform religion and degrade us all.  In human history wars fought in the name of religions have not brought peace and happiness to any society or nation.

The wish that a new century would usher in a world transformed as if by magic lies in ruins.  Cycles of violence and countermeasures have brought destruction, anger and fear in their wake.  Communal hatreds have led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent victims.  Mismanagement of the global economy leaves millions in abject poverty.  There is an urgent need for integrity in human relationships, in economic life, in public governance.  There is an urgent need for a dialogue of communities and civilisations, across cultures, religions and economic divides.

There is an equal need for an inner journey of the human spirit, towards eternal spiritual values.  This journey, beginning with us as individual people, can affect families, neighbourhoods and even the world.

Hope is restored when individuals, groups and communities take courageous action to right wrongs and reach out to others.  The course of history can change when the causes of desperation are recognised, justice is honestly pursued and hates are healed.

This series of annual conferences was developed so that we, the peoples of the world, could travel together in a healing journey, moving from conflict to community and the common good in our global home.  The economic vision behind the series is the development of globalisation as if people really mattered – an honest debate and analysis on integrity, responsibility, accountability and spirituality for the common good.

The conference attempts to provide answers to questions such as: What role must the various sectors of society, business, labour, media, government, religion, academia, and local and global activists – play together in order to ensure a just globalisation for the common good. 

The theological, religious and spiritual vision for the conference is based on the understanding that a transformation is taking place in our societies:  after centuries often marked by conflict, rivalry mistrust and ignorance, the world’s religions are working together as partners for peace and the common good.  Can believers apply in their own lives the ‘golden rule’ that all religions and philosophies have in common:  “Do not do to others what you would not like done to you”?  This conference will hear about initiatives already being taken by representatives of religions and other people of humanitarian commitment, and seek to promote this important transformation in our secular societies.  Participants will have a chance to share their fears and their faith and explore ways of supporting one another.

This series of conferences seeks to widen vision and deepen hearts.  Inter-faith dialogue is a path to respect and constructive co-operation for a peaceful, just and sustainable future.  It is grounded in the belief that religion is religion only when it reconciles and unites, not when it divides.

 

The first conference took place in Oxford (2002) and the second in St. Petersburg, Russia (2003).  These two conferences brought nearly 100 national and international speakers, as well as many more participants together, addressing different aspects of globalisation for the common good.  Moreover, the main theme of the conference has become an international movement of dedicated and concerned people, exploring the ideas and the visions for the common good in creating a better, harmonious and peaceful local, regional and global environment.  More details about these two conferences can be found in www.commongood.info

In St. Petersburg it was decided that, given the crisis in global capitalism as highlighted by the collapse of Enron and WorldCom, amongst others for example, we should adopt as our main theme for the 3rd Annual Conference the topic of Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation for the Common Good.  Moreover, it was noted that, the impact of business on our world is unequalled by that of any other institution.  Today’s business leaders are in a unique position to influence what happens in society for years to come.  With this power comes monumental responsibility. The business community can choose to ignore this responsibility, and thereby exacerbate problems such as economic inequality, environmental degradation, and social injustice problems, that will compromise their ability to do business in the long run.  In short, it was agreed that our 3rd Annual Conference should endeavour to harness the power of business to create a better world for the common good.   

  1. Dubai 2004 - The 3rd Annual Conference.

It has been my pleasure to have met Dr. Raymond Hamden, Director, Comprehensive Medical Centre, Dubai. Although trained in different disciplines and practicing/teaching different subjects (economics/psychology), we strongly believe in the vision and thought behind this series of conferences for the common good.  Therefore, it was my pleasure when Dr. Hamden accepted my invitation to co-convene the 3rd conference with me and indeed to organise it in Dubai.  Dubai, in my view, is a natural home for this conference, since it is making a big commitment towards becoming a truly global city in this globalised world.  It is a city of tolerance with its multi-racial/faith/cultural population and workforce, all working together for common good.  Moreover, its location within the Middle East and Islamic world is particularly appropriate for the sort of discussions that we envisage taking place at the conference.  Furthermore, to hold the conference in Dubai is beneficial to the good name of Islam, Muslims, the Arab world and therefore it will contribute greatly to harmonious international relations and dialogue.

            Since September 11th in particular, there has been a great rise in Islamaphobia and a great disservice to the image of the Arab/Muslim/Middle Eastern world and people.  Many speakers and participants coming to Dubai will take back with them a very different image of the region:  a city and people living in harmony, peace, justice, democracy and freedom.  This is a picture that the conference convenors wish, in the interest of truthfulness – to project and focus upon.

            At this point, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Lesley Pocock, Executive Director, Global Family Doctor - Wonca Online and Dr. Michael Ellis, Director, The Centre for Change, for their insight and support in promoting the conference within the medical profession.  The global pains of injustice are physical, emotional, psychological, social and cultural as well as material.  Therefore, in order to truly succeed in providing an alternative model for globalisation for the common good, the medical profession as well as others must work together.

            The Dubai conference hopes to provide a venue for such cooperation and collaboration.  The urgency for this can be observed for example by looking at the ten recommendations that Sir Michael Marmot, professor of epidemiology and public health and Director of the International Centre for Health and Society at University College London, produced for the World Health Organisation (WHO), addressing the social determinants of health.  They are:

  1. Social and economic circumstances strongly effect health throughout life.
  2. Stress harms health.
  3. The effect of early development in the neo-natal period and infancy last a lifetime.
  4. Social exclusion creates suffering and morbidity.
  5. Stress in the workplace increases the risk of disease.
  6. Job security increases health, well-being and job satisfaction.  Unemployment is deleterious to health.
  7. Social support, friendship, good social relations and strong supportive networks improve health at home, work and in the community.
  8. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is influenced by social determinants.
  9. Nutrition is a key determinant of health.
  10. Transport through the use of walking and exercise in a sustainable environment enhances health.

In all, it would be truly great if many medical colleagues join us at the conference and present papers so that we can begin our journey together for globalisation for the common good.

Dr. Kamran Mofid & Dr. Raymond Hamden, convenor and co-convenor.

For conference details please visit www.commongood.info