International Peace Research Association Conference |
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Kyung Hee University July 1-5, 2002 |
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Globalisation, Governance and Social Justice The Role of Communications to Achieve a Culture of Peace: by Mitchell Gold Greetings to friends from around the world. Thanks to the organising body for being so kind to allow me to address this plenary session and special thanks to both Katsuya Kodama and Ada Aharoni for their encouragement and support. I bring greetings from the Homeplanet Organisation, from our Advisory Board, from the International Association of Educators for World Peace, from IAEWP Founder Dr. Charles Mercieca and from my fellow Peacemakers in Canada. This is my second presentation in Korea on the issues of Peace. My first presentation in 1999 was entitled: "Education for the 21st Century - What do we teach?" My earlier presentation touched on the issues of education and processes of how we learn. In short, one might ask "If we know what to teach and we know how to teach, why is it that we find ourselves never solving a problem that deprives each one of us our basic human right to living in a world of Peace and Harmony. The issues we come here today to talk about should be building blocks and not obstacles to this greater objective of World Peace: We refer to Globalisation and how it unfolds, Governance and how it unfolds, and Social Justice and how it unfolds. We shall also introduce today a compelling idea that we believe is the most effective path toward Peace: The One Percent Solution - TOPS - for short. More on that later. As further preamble to today's presentation, we shall bring forth a new idea in global communications -- actually an old idea that was left out of our earlier presentation in 1999 - which is the concept of "PO". You may not have heard of PO before today but it is an entry-level word to peace language. The master teacher Edward de Bono who is also known for defining the term "Lateral Thinking" introduced this word PO. In our humble opinion, Mr de Bono's most important work is his explanation and exploration into the use of the word PO. Simply, PO is an alternative language designed to be an entry point to Peace. PO is an anti-arrogance device because it challenges any absolute statement or judgement or point of view. It counteracts the word NO, which is a device for handling information conveniently by those who believe they are in control of the communications. But, this word NO is a very definite and absolute device. NO also tends to be a permanent label. On the other hand, PO is neither NO or YES, so it is used to counteract the absolute block caused by the NO Label. The duality of common language is understood by all of us: "Yes. No." "Black. White." "Good. Bad." These are evaluations and judgements that define results based on linear thinking. However, from de Bono's book: "PO is the laxative of language and thinking. PO is the device for carrying out lateral thinking." What PO offers is an opportunity to explore. I want to expose you to this word so that you might find an opportunity to use it in questioning my presentation. All you have to do is say PO and follow it with the word or phrase that I have used. This will enable us to build understanding between us. PO PO. What is the value of this presentation or any information, really? Without understanding and dissemination, knowledge and belief itself is of little value. But, if we organise information and we develop processes to assist others in its understanding, we then have the opportunity to affect society around us. As PO represents anti-arrogance, it does not say today's presentation is right or wrong, but rather PO can be an invitation to tell more aspects of what has been said to that point. Because we all have different knowledge and viewpoints, PO can be used to resolve conflict. Used effectively in our communications, it could help lead us to Peace. In fact, you will soon find that PO has multiple uses. In our opinion, PO could present an opportunity in our work for Peace that the research community has not yet explored. PO, we suggest, is good for Peace and hence could be valuable in your own research work. This introduction and explanation of the word PO may be overly simplistic, but we can try it later in our presentation as we move on. Now please allow me to background my presentation: The One Percent Solution, which is also called TOPS. The One Percent Solution is a program of the Homeplanet Organisation, which, as Executive Director, I represent in Canada, and a program that is supported by IAEWP, for which I am an ambassador in international forums such as this one today. The One Percent Solution concept is a voluntary global tithe implemented through what is known as an International Bank Smartcard strategy, something like AirMiles for those of you who know that service. But TOPS POINTS is not something of material value we create for ourselves, like AirMiles. Rather, it is a Charity Funds Management program that each of us, in a culture of Peace, can use to create funding for needy causes. In addition to Charity Funds Management programs, the Homeplanet Organisation is also involved in a new TOPS Brand Label Program and other money-making programs designed for adoption by Individual and Corporate Socially Responsible Investors and Consumers/Spenders. Money-making, we submit to you, is more valuable to the Peace process than charity because it is a sustainable activity that can be taught to the Third World. Homeplanet Organisation's new programs contain holistic education models, which will be delivered to society through educators both formal and informal, like IAEWP, and will soon be available in detail over the Internet at http://www.homeplanet.org. Dignitaries who support the (program) conceptual thinking around the world include: Federico Mayor, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Dr. Young Seek Choue, T.Y.S. Lama Gangchen and many others. The Homeplanet strategy is built around Culture of Peace initiatives of both UNESCO and the United Nations as well as the Manifesto 2000 document of the Culture of Peace movement. Our programs satisfy physical, mental, emotional and spiritual perspectives of individuals. The public awareness program has contained within it several filters that encourage global thinking and instilling positive human values with an unbiased approach. Its primary starting point is a Vision Changer curriculum that encourages a visualisation process followed by taking action to create an individual's preferred world view. We suggest to you that PO is an active ingredient. The Homeplanet.org programs are to be implemented into global society formally through educators and informally through Olympic Athletes trained to deliver the messages of the program into schools, community centres and the business community through the Mayor's offices in many cities. Four related formal Proclamations have been enunciated and a variety of sectors of civil society will be encouraged to make the formal Proclamation. They are: 1) All educators both formal and informal are educators for World Peace. 2) All educators for world peace will shift buying habits of individuals, organisations, institutions and Nation States to support The One Percent Solution (TOPS). 3) Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) will be referred to as Greenwich Peace Time (GPT) as a Symbol of World Peace, so that Peace will occupy the TOPSPOT in the minds of people world-wide. 4) Governments at all levels will be encouraged to establish Departments of Peace and, as a starting measure, we will look for them to fund same from 1% of their Defence Department budgets. Coincidental with the development of the business participatory component is a new classification for public accountant - the Global Accountant. This accounting function will enable the expression of an opinion on a corporation's financial statements indicating compliance with protocols of equity, sustainability, quality of life and participation in The 1% Solution according to the terms of its sectoral agreements. A precondition to corporate participation will be signing on with the United Nations Global Compact. While The One Percent Solution programs and processes are still in a research phase, when implemented they will potentially raise significant funding for civil society. You know that communities world-wide are experiencing cutbacks, downsizing and elimination just as the need for their existence, good health and peace grows daily, so we are hopeful that Homeplanet Organisation offers a possible solution. Our programs offer hope and partial solution to the mega-crisis society faces on planet earth and will be enriching for participating communities at all levels of practical experience. The spend and control function on the enormous funds potentially generated by the not-for-profit Homeplanet Organisation will be under the guidance of independent "elders" or wise people from Civil Society and will be selected from outside the existing UN and intergovernmental structures. The process for selection is being developed during the program's two-year research phase. The World Futures Study Federation last year rewarded this idea with an award for "Creating Futures Conscious Organisations". In addition, we believe that The One Percent Solution Charity Funds Management Program and the TOPS Brand Label Programs of the Homeplanet Organisation can be enhanced by the United Nations Global Compact. The United Nations Global Compact What is the Global Compact? The Global Compact is an initiative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and it is supported by a Global Compact Office under his direct authority. Launched in January 1999, the Global Compact is a call to business world-wide to help build the social and environmental framework to support and ensure the continuation of open and free markets whilst ensuring that people everywhere have a chance to share the benefits of the new global economy. The principles encompassed by the Global Compact are finite and cannot be extended unilaterally. They are from the area of human rights (drawn from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), labour (drawn from the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work), and the environment (drawn from the Rio Principles on Environment and Development). Without defining them here, the nine detailed principles have been accepted by most national governments around the world; hence they are often referred to as "universal principles". The lead UN agencies involved are the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is also involved in assisting the agencies in developing country specific responses and activities. Many initiatives of governments and NGO's have a potentially powerful affect on the well-being of the planet. Yet, none is more full of promise than the UN Global Compact. It is our belief that the UN Global Compact provides a framework for the successful development and application of Homeplanet.org's The One Percent Solution Charity Funds Management Program and TOPS Brand Label Program. In collaboration with the Culture of Peace Program of the IAEWP, the homeplanet.org programs offer the potential to further and deepen the Global Compact initiative. By using additional implementation tools such as the Social Accountability 8000 program, the Global Reporting Initiative, and the Corporate Social Responsibility Program of Leadership Horizons, the Global Compact principles can be activated and made more meaningful. While our goal is to shift from concept to reality well within two years, our first step in the Culture of Peace implementation program is to raise and expand the awareness of the Global Compact. Together, the Homeplanet Organisation and the UN Global Compact offer hope. Our discussion today is about Globalisation, Governance and Social Justice and the Role of Communications. Communications is a broad subject and today we'll focus on one aspect of it: the role of communications in the process of Socially Responsible Investing/Spending/ Consuming and Charitable Funds Management. We believe that sustainable economic development, which is a part of the UN Global Compact, is a prerequisite to world peace. But in terms of the discussions we hear about sustainable economic development, there are a number of words like Globalisation, Governance and Social Justice being thrown about. These words have different meaning to different people and we believe it is important to further discuss these terms so that when they are communicated around the world, there is a common understanding. And, until there is that mutuality of understanding, we hope you revisit the concept of PO. About Globalisation: The concept of Globalisation is too often seen in black-white terms. Communication between the participants breaks down because we tend to take sides too early - before all issues and all sides of the issues are understood and appreciated. In this context, PO is good because it facilitates delays in taking a position until you understand the consequences. Globalisation is about the allocation of resources. As the Developed World matures, wealth is being transferred to the Developing World in search of economic opportunity. Unfortunately, where money is involved, there are always purse-strings attached. There is always an attempt by those who control great wealth to impose the transference of economic authority along with their capital. Because begging for the money is the apparent alternative, some of the poorest nations accept the terms and conditions imposed upon them. Most of them get into the debt of the World Bank or other Regional Banks controlled by the G7. But life is a funny thing in that as we all become more sophisticated in terms of knowledge and communications, we start to question traditional values. We stop accepting the outright YES or NO and perhaps unconsciously we start using PO. We have even got to the point now where the word "responsibility" is being widely applied to discussions about globalisation. So, when we talk of Globalisation, what we are talking about is "Responsible Globalisation". In practical terms, the UN Global Compact is intended to facilitate Responsible Globalisation by way of sustainable economic development. The Secretary General is very clear on this. In the context of Responsible Globalisation, sustainable economic development, in our view, is the ability to consider and enunciate the effect of the participants' decisions as they impact all six billion people of our planet. There are currently three models being considered by the players even if never formally enunciated. The Two Billion Person Model. The Four Billion Person Model. And the Six Billion Person Model. This is the new terminology for globalisation. For now please accept nothing less than simply 6 billion. Clearly, in the objections to the World Trade Organisation, the number of six billion does not even hit the radar screen. That is because the WTO concerns itself with 4 billion on the planet at best, and quite possibly only 2 billion people. This is one of our main criticisms of the objectors to the WTO - they do not argue for a six billion person accounting model. In any acceptable process of Globalisation, the WTO must be accountable to the full gamut of humanity -- or the world will never achieve peace. Imagine for a moment if the detractors to the WTO had used their energy to support the Homeplanet Organisation programs. Wouldn't that have had a powerful impact? It is necessary to have discussions on how we might move towards a healthier balance in all of society, where the gap between rich and poor is narrowed. But, whether you live in the most rich or least rich part of the world, there is no doubt that society is dysfunctional. The rich are sick, unhealthy, and scared. The poor are sick, unhealthy, and scared. Is this the type of society we care for - one where the very people who control great wealth dictate the terms and conditions of sharing their resources with the rest of us? All of us deserve better global economic management than we are getting and frankly it is just a matter of funding Civil Society in a more effective manner. For the poor, begging is insufficient - and not sustainable. To the extent we can, the Third World ought to be taught ways they can become self-sufficient. The world is growing more dangerous and uncertain. Forget the issues of terrorism. Our problems are much greater. What happens when thousands of people die every day of sickness and hunger? If these people are the poor souls of the Third World, there will be little prospect for world peace. "For less than a dollar a day we can change the world." This is a quote from a TV commercial for a Canadian charity organisation that on a regular basis goes begging to the Canadian people for money to help poor children around the world. And what do they really do? Our investigation, while superficial, found that the claims in the commercial were shaped to exploit the international situation of the day, with funds not really shifting in their programs to where it is most needed. And more shocking was our finding how marginal is the effect of this well-known charity in the over all scheme of things. Why is this happening? Why does humankind have to put such disproportionate amount of energy into begging for that which we could easily organise if we only had the will to do so? Incidentally, that particular TV commercial identifies the condition of 32,000 children unnecessarily dying every day, every month, every year. Is this to continue to be our reality? Is this our legacy? If it is, the world will never be at peace. I say lets STOP it. Or, if you can PO with me for a moment, put the notion in your TOPSPOT and let's TOPS it. About Governance: Governance is also about allocation of resources. More directly, governance is the rules for compliance that somebody has set regarding the transference of their resources. For example, I give my money to you on certain terms that you will do with it as I wish. My resources = my rules. While Governance means sticking to the rules, it's really about accountability. We - that is you and I -- are all accountable but some of us are not so transparent that our intentions and actions are well communicated to all those who are affected. Why in the world today do people practice secrecy? Often, it's because we don't want others to say NO. So, if they just say PO, we can all become more transparent. Let's demand it. Because without transparency, there will be no accountability and without effective accountability, governance is out of the question. Without effective governance, there will never be sustainable economic development or peace in our world. The world has grown to an evolutionary position equivalent to the Babylon of old. Society has established a number of International Institutions for governance. Many of these operate through the United Nations, such as WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, ECOSOC, and a number of other under-funded organisations. But we want to point out some of the problems of governance of those Institutions. Without being specific, let us make the basic statement that all Global Institutions are under-funded. Most Global Institutions are overly bureaucratic and structurally deficient, and managed by persons who are 'old paradigm thinking' individuals. They answer to a whole system of wants and needs on the one side and investment and charity on the other that is dysfunctional at best. One example comes to mind. In 1999, as part of the reorganising of the United Nations under Secretary General Kofi Annan, UNICEF commissioned a Report on the ideal location of UNICEF offices. KPMG - a world class accounting organisation -- made a recommendation to the Board of UNICEF to move their offices outside of the United States to be closer to where the main business of UNICEF transpired. Although this report cost close to $400,000 USD, it was dismissed outright by the Executive Director with little fanfare, virtually zero press and only some minor complaint by the countries that were the ones recommended as possible locales of the relocated UNICEF offices. This action, combined with our own cursory analysis of UNICEF financial summaries, indicated that UNICEF is a good fit for my above description of a typical Global Institution. Mismanaged by bureaucratic, structurally deficient and old paradigm thinking. You should know that we believe that UNICEF is one of the better managed agencies of the UN, so this example does not speak well of the others. UNICEF has the financial resources to be well managed because it is one UN Agency that is allowed to raise funds. Accordingly, it has more people wanting to be involved in the local community. But, will UNICEF support the TOPS Brand Label Program or does the Agency even abide by the rules of the UN Global Compact? We would like to think the Homeplanet Organisation and The One Percent Solution will get UNICEF's support, and we shall strive for it, but let no one have unwarranted hopes. You might be curious as to why I am pessimistic on this support? It has come to our attention that in the circles of UN power and influence, the Homeplanet Organisation programs are being perceived as something like the Tobin Tax, which they are not. The One Percent Solution is strictly a voluntary tithing program -- one that practices Personal and Corporate Social Responsibility. Homeplanet.org programs are not a tax. The TOPS Brand Label Program is an advertising cost, a marketing cost, a business cost. The One Percent Solution Charity Funds Management Program is a well-structured self-funding program for responsible and proper charity funds management. Did you know that the great economic powers of the world do not want to see societal organisations like the United Nations develop their own devices for self-funding. The United States government, for example, even passed a law that precludes the US involvement in the United Nations if the UN seeks to fund itself through a tax program. This is why the Tobin Tax will never be implemented, and why our TOPS program has a chance. The One Percent Solution and TOPS Brand Label Programs are not run by the United Nations. They are being developed and will be managed by Civil Society. This is an important distinction, which was misunderstood by the Canadian Minister of Finance when he recently evaluated our program. The Minister of that high office is the same individual who expanded the G7 to the G20 and acknowledged no intention to expand the discussion to the G77. Like all things economic, there are terms and conditions laid down by those in power and it is all about keeping that power through the rules they set. The Rules of Governance in the 21st Century have been expanded to include Corporate Governance and within that concept is implied the ideal of Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR for short. CSR is not in place yet. In fact, society is just now learning of new ideas surrounding the concept of "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" or GAAP. The once powerful and suddenly bankrupt Enron company and the huge international accountancy firm Arthur Anderson were not our first lessons this year that the meanings of concepts like GAAP - or Globalisation and Governance for that matter - are rapidly changing. And they will not be the last. For too long now, stock market valuations have had hidden within the numbers some wonderful explorations of fantasy, art and interpretation. Corporations with product life cycles of 18 months or less have market valuations based upon 70 or more years in future earnings, which Wall Street tells us is not such a ridiculous notion. While we do accept the idea of a free market of supply and demand, we find the rationale of many stock market valuations totally devoid of critical thinking. PO. After 911, a new standard of Governance based on Accountability and Personal and Corporate Social Responsibility will soon change the thinking of investors. This widely shared belief underlines the Homeplanet Organisation's program strategies. About Social Justice: What is justice? And for whom? In this area I have not much to report. There is no Social Justice. Social Justice will be a result. It is not a cause. The issue we really should be addressing is the issue of Social Equity, which is a value system that we either have or don't have. In our case, Social Equity is the genesis for The One Percent Solution. And, if we are successful in meaningful terms with our Charity Funds Management Program, and if individuals around the world who are seriously devoted to the pursuit of peace do willingly shift their investing and spending habits to support the TOPS Brand Label Program, then there may even be a chance for Social Justice. Do we expect to have Social Justice if we operate from guilt, fear, or other negative human behaviour characteristics? The answer is obvious, so why not implement proactive financial programs that are built on values of human compassion, understanding, education, and activity. The Homeplanet.org programs propose such activities, educational programs and processes to ultimately achieve Social Justice. About Media and its Role in Communications: As we begin to experience the 21st Century, the most profound event already has been the 911 experience. Had 911 been mentioned to you last year at this time - you might have thought of a telephone number - for danger. The notion of 911 strikes fear and disbelief in even those of us who seek Peace and Harmony. Thinking back to the scenes of wide-bodied jet planes crashing into the Symbols of American Capitalism and Military Power remains a surreal experience. We are all still suffering from this image and we have been almost totally distracted from the challenges of global society that many of us were addressing before 911. Historically, terrorism has been a seed-level initiative for fear. Now, the terrorist action of 911 is such a defining historical moment, there is a "Before 911" and "After 911". Also, 911 has, in the views of some people, enabled an inexperienced and possibly incompetent politician, one who possibly manipulated his way into the presidency of the United States, to build on all our fears to help establish himself as a proponent for Peace, Order and Good Government of the World. There are many that share the view that a US president who could seriously exploit our greatest fears would be a tragedy built upon a tragedy. But it has placed the obligation upon the rest of us around the world to take ownership of what it is that we know, and to not be afraid. We were perplexed last month to hear that the President was considering using Media to combat terrorism. What was he talking about? Where had he been 'Before and since 911'? While at the Hague Appeal for Peace in 1999, I remember walking into the big hall where 9,500 people involved with peace ideas came together. I recall thinking that if I was the power in charge of the Military Industrial Establishment, like the president of the US, this is the one event I would sponsor. Anyone who could bring together thousands of leaders and centres of influence, all of whom believe in the concept of hope, and have them build on a hope based on deception, would have great power. I shuddered at the thought. Eventually I did find something that intrigued and bothered me as it was strangely absent from this important conference: TV and print media. One can only surmise why it happened that there was no proper media coverage. Later, in that conference after all the organising teams had worked for days to come out with a common position on ideas and viewpoints, the Position Paper was pared down to 50 ideas or strands. Number 40 happened to be the Use of Media. Two years later, the offices of both the Hague Appeal for Peace and the International Peace Bureau have reported that virtually nothing has been accomplished in terms of developing issue # 40 - Use of Media. I say this frankly: NOTHING. There was no budget. This is an unfortunate reality for people who try to organise solutions for peace. However, this reality also gives strength to the Homeplanet.org programs. In business there is an expression: 'You have to have money to make money'. Well, we too have an expression: 'Peace can make money and making money can lead to peace'. Homeplanet Organisation's activities will be monthly ongoing, and supported through the financial community because our programs will be money-making ones. Information on these programs will be available soon on our web site. The One Percent Solution Charity Funds Management Program and the TOPS Brand Label Program will not be able to be ignored by the media, when operational. The media itself will in fact have to become involved. The TOPS Brand Label Program is about advertising for Peace. It is a program that can work well with news media because such media has no inventory value. Like an airline seat, when time passes, it is gone. Producers of it can not use it again. It is therefore very easy for them to give 1% of media time and budgets to support the Homeplanet Organisation programs. One of the reasons the UN Global Compact is so important is that every corporation has a media management program - a corporate relations department, and an advertising department, and a Human Resource Department. These are the areas where The One Percent Solution programs can be implemented and exploited for the benefit of the corporation - but only if they do so responsibly. Corporations that sign on with The One Percent Solution Charity Funds Management Program and the TOPS Brand Label Program will be identified and will be acknowledged for their good works. Our programs however are not intended to bring negative publicity on any one who is not complying but rather will shine light on those enterprises that do comply. It is those that do comply that we will encourage and support. In addition, Corporations that are in tune with the UN Global Compact will have assigned to them an independent accountant called a 'Global Accountant'. This person will learn the business outline of the corporation and report, within rules and procedures of a responsible accounting professional, on their compliance with the UN Global Compact. In summary, to promote a healthy, growing, peaceful society involving all 6+ billion people on our home planet is clearly the way society ought to do things on planet earth. We invite you to bring yourself to the TOPSPOT in your mind, which is your higher self. In that TOPSPOT, you will find the understanding of the word PO, and in that TOPSPOT we invite you to The One Percent Solution. We through the homeplanet.org financial programs can facilitate the development of effective infrastructure for Peace activities. It is through our use of MONEY that we will communicate PEACE. I look forward to working with you in the future. Peace. Shanti. OM. And, PO. /Mitchell Gold Thumbnail Sketch: In the context of The One Percent Solution Charity Funds Management Program and the TOPS Brand Label Program, Homeplanet Organisation will report on Media activity as it relates to a Culture of Peace, the involvement of the UN Global Compact, and other Institutions that have an effect on the making of Peace outside the Political process. Glossary: TOPS - The One Percent Solution TOPSPOT - the place in your mind where you are able to bring together your understanding of PO and the One Percent Solution - seen as a figure eight on its side - normally referred to as infinity, as the word is a palindrome. A palindrome is a word or sentence that reads the same backwards as forwards, such as 'Madam I'm Adam' or TOPSPOT. IAEWP - International Association of Educators for World Peace UN - United Nations NGO - Non Government Organisation UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ECOSOC - Economic and Social Council of the United Nations SA 8000 - a Social Accountability Training Program GRI - Global Reporting Initiative References: Edward de Bono - Lateral Thinking - Penguin Books Jump Time - Jean Houston
Cuba Presentation
Implementation Strategy
Business Plan
UNNEWS/Global Compact Financial References: http://www.world-ex.com
Mitchell Gold
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