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Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative

And

School of Economic Science

Fourth Joint Conference

28 August-1 September 2018

First Announcement

‘OUR SACRED EARTH:

Spiritual Ecology, Values-led Economics, Education and Society Responding to Ecological Crisis’

To be hosted at

Villa Boccella, Tuscany, Italy

LUCCA

SEE THE FINAL PROGRAMME

(A truly spiritual and inspirational place: This 17th Century Tuscan estate which is set amongst the hills of Northern Tuscany is very well situated, 10 Kilometers from the medieval city of

LUCCA, one hour from the international airport of Pisa and just an hour from Florence. The Villa and estate belong to long-standing members of the School of Economic Science, and we are grateful to them for hosting the 2018 Joint Conference.)

From Oxford 2002 to Lucca, Tuscany 2018: Portrait of a Great Journey for the Common Good

Plater College, Oxford (2002) - St. Petersburg, Russia (2003) - Dubai, UAE (2004) - Nairobi and Kericho, Kenya(2005) - Chaminade University, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA (2006) - Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey (2007) - Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Australia (2008) - Loyola University, Chicago, USA (2009) - California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California, USA (2010) - Alexandria Bibliotheca, Alexandria, Egypt (2011—Postponed, due to the Revolution in Egypt) - School of Economic Science, Oxford Campus, Waterperry House, Oxford (2012) - Cité universitaire internationale, Paris (2013)- School of Economic Science, Oxford Campus, Waterperry House, Oxford (2014 and 2016)

The First Joint GCGI-SES Conference, Waterperry House, 2012

The Second Joint GCGI-SES Conference, Waterperry House, 2014

The Third Joint GCGI-SES Conference, Waterperry House, 2016

With a burgeoning human population and ever increasing demands being made on the natural world, there is an urgent need for a new understanding of the human role and relationship with the Earth. This requires a deepening understanding of what it is to be human and how human imagination, energy, creativity and spirituality can work with natural forces for the mutual benefit of people and planet.

Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI) and the School of Economic Science (SES) are convening this conference to consider what principles, policies and practices can lead humanity to a mutually enhancing relationship between people and the Earth? How can human society work for the benefit of all?

As Pope Francis has so wisely reminded us: “We have come to see ourselves as the lords and masters of the Earth, entitled to plunder her at will. The sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life are symptoms that reflect the violence present in our hearts. We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the Earth; that we breathe her air and receive life from her waters.”

How can we then rise to the challenges of global environmental and ecological crisis? This is the fundamental and pertinent question.

There is no doubt that, we’ve known the facts and figures about climate change for decades, and despite warnings from scientists about impending ecological collapse, no adequately serious political, economic or even environmental solution has been put forth. As scientist David Suzuki puts it:

“The environmental movement has failed, because although we now have laws that protect clean air, clean water, endangered species and millions of hectares of land – we have not changed the way people see the world.”

Thus, it seems that, until we address our underlying beliefs and attitudes towards the earth, then no real change will happen. As the Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh says, “real change will only happen when we fall in love with the Earth,” and to fall in love with the earth means we need a relationship with her.

Our LUCCA Conference calls for an Inner Revolution. It is a call to become more mindful, more peaceful, more connected and more loving to ourselves, to each other and to the Earth. It urges us to change our “Descartes” inherited philosophical perspective of ourselves as separate from each other and the Earth and embrace our interconnectedness. It calls for us to grow beyond the selfish drives of our materialistic society, obsessed with consumerism and short-termism, and create a new way – moving from self interest to mutual interest, reciprocity and interdependence; sympathy, empathy, fairness and justice for all. Throughout our daily dialogue and conversation, conference participants will be invited to explore how we can each make a difference and take urgent action to be the change in our daily lives, continuously echoing and reflecting on the question, “What am I going to do differently?” LUCCA 2018 is an invitation to have a voice, to help shape our collective future and to take an active role in propagating the New Consciousness Revolution, and build a world in the interest of the common good; urgently needed to enable and empower us to imagine the better world we wish to build.

From the 28th August to 1st September 2018 our LUCCA Conference will consider and discuss this theme with leading voices from around the world. The Conference will take place at the wonderful 17th Century Villa Boccella, at LUCCA in Tuscany, Italy (Villa Boccella, Tuscany, Italy). A call for papers will be issued in October 2017 and reservations will open at the same time.

Conference Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities

The Conference offers the opportunity to become a conference sponsor or exhibitor. To participate as a sponsor, exhibitor or to discuss organising pre-arranged panels, workshops and discussion groups, amongst others, please email:

Professor Kamran Mofid at k.mofid@gcgi.info and Ian Mason at ianmason9@btinternet.com

Click here to see the full conference details