A Christmas and New Year Message from Kamran and Anne Mofid*

This is the time of the year when we need to stand back and remind ourselves of what are the most valuable gifts that life has offered us.

“He that seeks the good of the many seeks in consequence his own good.” -St. Thomas Aquinas

"God loves a cheerful giver." -St. Paul

"A loyal friend is beyond price – a loyal friend is the elixir of life." -The Bible

Let us see where we stand. The clouds of destruction are gathering all over the world. The world today is facing a multitude of crises in politics, economics, finance, banking, energy, food, environment and education, amongst others, simultaneously, resulting in much uncertainty, fear and anxiety. Moreover, the rapid and unsustainable rise in consumerism and materialism has seriously destroyed the fabric of society, and has catastrophically weakened the ethical, moral and spiritual dimensions of our communities. In short, the world is facing a crisis of values.

There is acute suffering in the world, starvation, untreated disease, and much war. Also there are so many wandering in darkness while hungering for hope. In such a world let us go about giving love, compassion, kindness and generosity to all. Let us serve the poor and broken ones, serve our brothers and sisters, and serve birds and beasts and all creation in whom dwells the breath of life. A life so lived, is serving the essence of the common good. Moreover, let us not waste energy in obtuse and arcane questions and controversies; countless theories about who is right and who is wrong. Instead, let us light a few candles at the altar of a suffering humanity. We must come to that altar properly prepared, in a spirit of right understanding that all mankind is one. We are all each others’ keepers.

These many crises are a wakeup call to action, to see things as they are. Impending catastrophe for our species and our planet is gathering strength unless we act in time. We should search with an open mind for the wisdom we need to transform our economic system to a sustainable path, grounded in ecological reality, with respect for justice and dignity for all, and our appreciation for nature and our kinship for all living things.

We should not allow ourselves to be led away from this Path. It is crucial at this juncture in human history, perhaps as never before, for us to transcend the body to have flight into the higher regions to “know-thyself” and to see that we are all a drop in the Great Ocean of Consciousness. Radiate love to all creation. Let us breathe this out through every pore of our body: 'love and peace be unto all, the world over'. This power of peace and goodwill has the power to overcome the forces of destruction that have coalesced around us.

Each action has a reaction. As we sow goodness and kindness, so we shall reap love, wisdom, peace, and harmony. Let our physical sojourn be sweetly ethical, loving, co-operative and tolerant. Be watchful. We are not perfect. There may be failures on our part and misunderstandings amongst us. The former, should be met with by the motto of forgiveness and reconciliation and the latter by reconciling them to mutual loving contacts, mutual respect and the consideration for the common good.

This is what our Globalisation for the Common Good is all about– a heart-based social participation movement that acknowledges and encourages the goodness that surrounds us each and every day. It is our collective opportunity to collaborate locally, nationally and globally to inspire and highlight the kindness, caring, dignity and honesty that is the natural and greater part of our daily experience. Simply stated, “Every one has a heart; it is time to let it shine.” Ultimately it is our heart that guides us and our compassion that motivates us to help one another.

The courage and dedication of countless people striving to live for the common good; in peace, genuine kindness and in harmony with one another and with the Mother Earth is extraordinary. Despite the many ongoing challenges, we at GCGI, strive to set aside our differences and work diligently in our daily encounters with each other in order to truly serve and help one another.

Christmas happened 2000 years ago, when the Baby was born; but in a very real sense it is happening all over again. The newborn "babies" are all men and women who are becoming global citizens, committed to human solidarity, economic and ecological sustainability and consideration for the common good. Let us pray for them and work with them, that we all may grow in wisdom and stature for the good of humanity and all the creation.

And let us in 2013 we all come together and share a common belief in the potential of each one of us to become self-directed, empowered, and active in defining this time in the world as opportunity for positive change and healing and for the true formation of a culture of peace by giving thanks, spreading joy, sharing love, seeing miracles, discovering goodness, embracing kindness, practicing patience, teaching moderation, encouraging laughter, celebrating diversity, showing compassion, turning from hatred, practicing forgiveness, peacefully resolving conflicts, communicating non-violently, choosing happiness and enjoying life.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Kamran Mofid, Founder, Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI)

Anne Mofid, Founding Executive Secretary, (GCGI)

We would very much like to invite you also to watch this video, presented to the GCGI family by our dear friend Tom Mahon

“All You Need is Love”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mETWx0fFNsg

See the Call for Presentation and Participation:

http://gcgi.info/news/330-gcgi-11th-annual-conference-paris-call-for-presentation-and-participation

The First Announcement

Common Interests, Common Action

Cultivating Wisdom, Inspiring Hope:

Creating a New Civilisation for the Common Good

Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI)

11th Annual International Conference,

”An Intergenerational Dialogue for the Common Good to Inspire a Creative Leadership"

This major global conference is co-convened by Prof. Kamran Mofid, Founder, Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative and Dr. Violaine Hacker, Sorbonne – Common Good Forum, Paris

What is the story of the next decades?

The rise of today’s youth, leading the world, with hope and wisdom for the common good, to change our troubled world for the better.

The GCGI is proud to be part of this great story and journey: Paris 2013 is where the story begins

Sunday 25- Thursday 29 August 2013, Paris

Our Journey for the Common Good:

The first GCGI Award for Public Service in the Interest of the Common Good was presented to Dr. Vladimir Ivanovich Yakunin, Founding President of the World Public Forum, “Dialogue of Civilisations” (WPFDC) at the 10th Annual GCGI Conference.

The Award is given in recognition of Dr. Yakunin’s extraordinary and tireless work for peace and justice, and his selfless service in helping to build a better world. He exemplifies the great potential that the Dialogue of Civilisations has to offer towards peaceful co-existence for the common good. He continues to encourage and empower others to discover their own potential for change and to evoke their hidden strengths to bring more goodness into the world.

The Award was presented to Dr. Yakunin at a special ceremony during the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative’s Tenth Anniversary Gala Dinner hosted at Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, on the evening of Tuesday 4 September 2012.

View a higher resolution of the actual award in Adobe PDF format.

Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI)

10th Annual International Conference

"Sharing the Wisdom, Shaping the Dream:
Reclaiming the Moral and Spiritual Roots of Economics and Capitalism"

Waterperry House, September 2-5, 2012

Oxford Declaration

We gather here, at Waterperry House, the spiritual home of the School of Economic Science, close to Oxford, The City of Dreaming Spires, famous the world over for its University and place in history. We are grateful for the warm hospitality and support which we have received. We come together from many countries, cultures, civilisations, faiths, and countless areas of expertise to continue our exploration of pathways to Globalisation for the Common Good. Our time here has been richly inspiring and profoundly motivating. It has yielded a very fruitful dialogue.

In acknowledgment of our past Declarations (Chicago, Istanbul, Hawaii and Kenya) and the many existing documents and efforts that promote peace, sustainability, global interconnectedness, reverence for life and unity, We, the participants of the 10th annual conference of Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative have explored many of the structures needed to move us toward the global good, healing our troubled world. As conference delegates, we affirm our inalienable rights and recognise our obligations, not only as local and national citizens, but as members of the human race and citizens of the planet. We are heirs to the whole evolution of consciousness and culture, which means that we human beings have to see ourselves as part of the Earth community and recognize that all of life is bound together. We realize that, as members of the household of humanity, we must provide security, sanctuary and constructive engagement for all of our human family. Sustained by the bounty of all, called by the Sacred, and animated into action by the Spirit of Peace, Justice, and Reverence for All Life, we, hereby acknowledge and pledge to hold ourselves responsible to and accountable for:

* Life-serving environmental stewardship,

*The fulfilment of universal basic human needs worldwide,

*Economic and social well-being,

* A culture of peace and non-violence,

*Dialogue of Civilisations and Interfaith Dialogue,

*An innovative development model based on the recognition of and respect for human rights and the Rights of Nature,

*Values-led education,

*Values-led economics, business, finance, politics, good governance, transparency, and full accountability,

*Volunteerism and Service,

*Dialogue and engagement with Youth

* Care for Senior Citizens in keeping with respect for their life experience and wisdom,

*The physical and cultural survival of indigenous peoples through new expressions and forms of sovereignty and self-determination,

*The world’s wisdom traditions, which offer living examples of the fruits of contemplation and reflection for contemporary society.

Thus, to insure a sustainable and harmonious world, nurturing and nourishing the global common good, for present and future generations.

The world is engulfed by a multitude of crises, including enduring poverty for many, hunger, resource depletion, a lack of development and growth, economic and social injustice, climate change, species extinction, war, and violence. It is in dialogue with one another respecting alternative cultures, different religions and diverse social norms, nationalities, and ethnicities, that we will find the global solutions needed for our planet, our human family, and the larger community of the natural world to which we belong. In breaking down barriers towards mutual understanding and respect, in bringing together people from many walks of life, various careers, nations, and organizations, We of the Globalization for the Common Good Initiative, inspired by our dialogue have discovered together our hope for a better world.

Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative, at Waterperry House, Oxford, September 5, 2012

See the Final Programme

http://www.gcgi.info/news/173-gcgi-2012-final-programme

Read all the papers submitted for the conference

http://www.gcgi.info/2012-oxford-papers

Read the Opening Address by The Reverend Canon Dr. Vincent Strudwick

Shaping the Wisdom, Sharing the Dream

http://www.gcgi.info/2012-oxford-papers/297-shaping-the-wisdom-sharing-the-dream

Read the Opening Remarks by Kamran Mofid, Founder, GCGI

In Gratitude for your Friendship and Support

http://gcgi.info/2012-oxford-papers/298-opening-remarks-in-gratitude-for-your-friendship-and-support