“Globalization for the Common Good is the visionary and institutional embodiment of a just demand placed on the community of nations at a turbulent conjuncture in our social history. It is a duty of everyone to respond positively to the demand”.
Prof. Hooshang Amirahmadi, Director, Middle East Centre, Rutgers University, USA
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“In the nineteen thirties, the Indian philosopher and statesman Dr S Radhakrishnan, called for religions together to give a ‘spiritual basis to the world which is now being mechanically made to feel its oneness by modern scientific inventions.’ ‘The time has come,’ he wrote, ‘for us to join in unity of spirit.’
This is now even more urgent today when we are increasingly aware that scientific advance has the potential for great good but can so easily be misused. Instant communication, for example, has the potential to make us aware of our unity as members together of the human family. Too often it is used to promote violence or pornography. The economic benefits of globalization could save millions from degrading poverty. Too often it makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. Even religion which should bring people together in love and good works is too often a cause of division and hatred.
It is vital that those who hope for a better world should work together to promote the spiritual values which are shared by the great religions and which provide the true basis for human fulfilment and prosperity. Globalisation for the Common Good is a sign of hope and deserves the widest possible support”.
Rev Dr Marcus Braybrooke, President of the World Congress of Faiths, and Co-Founder of the Three Faiths Forum, UK. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“Globalisation has become the buzz word of our times. It has come to mean different things to different people. For its advocates it is the passport to prosperity, to a brave new world of market competition and technological innovation. For its opponents, it is the key to the widening gap between rich and poor, and the greatest threat to culture and democracy. It is time to approach the issue from a new perspective. This is the great gift of Globalisation for the Common Good. Here we have an approach which subjects the deeply disturbing trends of our rapidly globalising world to probing scrutiny and begins to imagine a different kind of globalisation. It is an invitation for reflection and engagement informed and sustained by the wisdom and dialogue of the world’s great religious and ethical traditions. It is a gift and an invitation that we accept with gratitude and anticipation”.
Prof. Joseph Camilleri, Director, Centre for Dialogue, La Trobe University, Australia
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“Globalisation has not yet created a global village, but only a rich village with global power. After all, people from the rich world can pass through the money curtain that surrounds the wealthy countries without even noticing it, but those outside can only with difficulty come through the other way. This underlines the importance of Globalisation for the Common Good. Let us turn the privileges of some into the happiness of all!”
John M Hull, Emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Birmingham and Honorary Professor of Practical Theology in the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, UK
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“Apart from the economic aspects of globalisation, one can see the influence of globalisation in social, religious, political and other aspects of life, not all of them of a very positive nature. Moreover, we can also regard the rise of religious fundamentalism and militancy, and the ‘war on terror’ as some of the negative manifestations of globalisation. Under these critical conditions, it is essential to have a comprehensive look at the phenomenon of globalisation and try to find ways that it can be used in the service of mankind rather than resulting in greater conflict and misery. Globalisation for the Common Good is trying to address some of these concerns. In the words of my dear friend and the founder of Globalisation for the Common Good, Dr Kamran Mofid, the movement aims at “rekindling the human spirit and compassion in globalisation”. This timely and much needed initiative is dedicated to ensuring that the marketplace is not just an economic sphere, but ‘a region of the human spirit’. Their aim is “the creation of a harmonious environment needed to build a world of peace, justice and prosperity for all”. I am delighted to endorse Globalisation for the Common Good.
Dr. Farhang Jahanpour, PT tutor, Kellogg College, Oxford, and former BBC Editor, Near East and North Africa, UK
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“Under the leadership of Dr. Kamran Mofid, Globalisation for the Common Good seeks to find ways to recognize and sustain the global common good, to find the human face of globalization, and to promote peace, justice, and ecological sustainability. I am proud to be associated with Globalisation for the Common Good.”
Jim Kenney, Executive Director, Interreligious Engagement Project (IEP21) and Former Global Director, Parliament of the World’s Religions (CPWR)
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“Kamran Mofid is a rare and wonderful thinker who integrates economic sophistication with spiritual/religious sensibilities. I am excited about the new website dedicated to Globalization for the Common Good and believe that the people who are attracted to it can play a vanguard role in developing precisely the kind of new consciousness that is both visionary and non-flaky!”
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, Tikkun and National Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives, USA
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“Our world stands today on the precipice of enormous change. The outmoded dogma of unbridled economic expansion, while influential and functional at one time, has reached the limits of viability and now threatens the very existence of many for whom it was originally intended to serve. While those who benefit from this lopsided system cling to obsolete modes of living, few have yet to seriously take up the challenge of invoking a new approach to living that promotes the welfare of all human beings. Dr Kamran Mofid, through Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative, is one of those courageous voices seeking to unify traditional economic thought with age old spiritual insights, cultivating new ways by which economics can reflect the highest human values. Bringing together international scholars and participants from a variety of organizations and disciplines, Mofid’s annual conferences serve as pilgrimage to a Mecca of new thoughts and ideas that are sorely needed in the world today. This work is both timely and practical and is an important component of global interfaith and interdisciplinary dialogue”.
Todd Lorentz, Managing Director, One Child’s Village: A Global Orphans Foundation, Canada
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“The inauguration of Globalisation for the Common Good is to me a wonderful development. The fragmented spirituality of the past (dogmatism, fear, hate) badly needs the healing that can only come with a spiritual vision of globalization. The fractured institutions of the past (war, exploitation, domination) badly need transformation into institutions predicated on the common good. This movement links these two most basic dimensions of our humanity into one transformative process. It connects the worldwide process of globalization with the moral and spiritual universality of mature religion and spirituality. Globalisation for the Common Good should appeal to millions who are longing for a new spiritual and practical vision that can make love and justice the twin foundations for our beautiful planetary home”.
Dr. Glen T. Martin
Secretary-General, World Constitution and Parliament Assoc. (WCPA)
President, International Philosophers for Peace (IPPNO)
Vice-President, Institute on World Problems (IOWP)
Professor of Philosophy, Radford University, USA
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“I am delighted about the recent initiative to create a new web dedicated to the Globalisation for the Common Good. I see this as a process of information and education on the ultimate goal of globalisation, that is, create a dignified human condition of living for every person on earth. Short of this will be a failure of the phenomenon of globalisation.
In Africa, we are looking for a holistic approach to development that will uplift the mind, heart and body of the peoples of this continent and assure them of their dignity and identity.
Let us cease this moment of globalisation to re-engineer our spirit of concern for each other and forge partnerships with each other to share knowledge and resources for the common good. Other peoples should respect this approach and agree to journey with us in a new spirit of collaboration for the common good. This spirit is opposed to discrimination and exploitation in the context of the world stage of globalisation. With those comments coming deep from my heart, I fully endorse the new website for the Common good”.
Rev. Prof. John Maviiri, Rector and Vice Chancellor, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya
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“As a religious educationist I strongly endorse Globalisation for the Common Good commitment to peace, understanding, mutual respect, dialogue and justice. This website will be able to reach more people and inspire them to actualise a vision that needs us all, whatever our other allegiances”.
Dr. Eleanor Nesbitt, Reader in Religions and Education, Institute of Education University of Warwick, UK
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“Whom does globalisation serve? Increased levels of commerce and consumption are benefiting some, but not everyone. More than fifty nations today are suffering from hunger, and acute poverty is also affecting the people in dozens of others. As the rich-poor divide grows, the ecological crisis also escalates, threatening everyone on the planet now and for generations to come. As storm clouds threaten humanity, Globalisation for the Common Good demonstrates that local and international solutions to these problems can only arise from right human relations and a new consciousness of global social transformation. Like a beacon cast upon the turbulent shoals of materiality, GCG provides a clear vision of how the market must become infused with the human, cultural, and natural values which arise from all of the world’s ethical and spiritual traditions. Amidst the fierce competition, conflicting ideologies, and regional chaos in the world, Globalisation for the Common Good is a welcome place to turn for true solace and enlightenment”.
James B. Quilligan, Managing Director, Centre for Global Negotiations, USA
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“Globalisation for the Common Good is one of the movements in the world which seeks to take a holistic perspective on the future. One of the fears engendered by the forces of globalisation is that cultural, ethnic and religious differences will be eroded in favour of a single world vision that is shaped by one dominant group. That fear is real, but it can be challenged. A major part of the solution to fear will be for humane and religious cultures around the world to share their wisdoms with one another and harness these to the best of modern knowledge stemming from the sciences and humanities. In this scenario, the future is destined to be dialogical, open and hopeful – but not inevitable. Therefore there is tough intellectual work to do if we are to bring together the insights of the world’s wisdom traditions and the many dimensions of our experience that go by the label of globalisation. In other words, ‘globalisation’ needs the ‘common good’ as its soul; otherwise it will add to the misery of the world and not its transformation. Many people intuitively know that unbridled globalisation will wreak havoc with individual lives, whole cultures, international relations, and our ecological dependency on the planet’s environment. If globalisation is to be given direction then we are required urgently to cooperate for that dialogical, open and hopeful future that will transcend our current fears. This is the genius of Globalisation for the Common Good: analytical realism about the globalising forces squashing the world into a small space combined with openly shared wisdoms in deep interaction for the sake of the future good of life itself. We need a forum for mutual learning and this web site meets that need”.
Rev. Dr. Alan Race, Editor-in- Chief, Interreligious Insight, UK&USA
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“I believe Capitalism conducted within the guidelines of a moral
society will be able to provide opportunities for economies to grow in a way that will benefit all. Dr. Mofid has that vision and he sees the many religious traditions in the world as being the source of that moral society. Unfettered Capitalism fuelled by greed and self interest creates a gap between “haves and have nots” that will continue to fuel envy, mistrust and terrorism. I am delighted to endorse Globalization for the Common Good”.
Dr. Keith J. Roberts, Vice President, Academics, Brigham Young University, Hawaii, USA
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“On behalf of the Three Faiths Forum, Muslim-Christian-Jewish trialogue, founded in January 1997 by Sir Sigmund Sternberg, the late Sheikh Dr Zaki Badawi and Revd. Dr Marcus Braybrooke, we are pleased to support and endorse whole heartedly the Globalisation for the Common Good initiative. Both Sir Sigmund Sternberg and I were privileged to attend and participate in the first conference held in Oxford in 2002 entitled Globalisation for the Common Good and in 2003 I was honoured to attend and participate in the Second Conference held in St Petersburg, Russia.
The Three Faiths Forum which works to better relationships between the three Abrahamic Monotheistic faiths, Muslims, Christians and Jews at all levels is happy to be associated with the mission of Globalisation for the Common Good since building bridges between all sections of the Global Community is of vital importance to us all and imperative for the future of human kind.
The Three Faiths Forum sends you our sincere wishes and hopes to continue to work with you for the ideals, ethically, spiritually and theologically, which we all hold so dear”.
SIDNEY L SHIPTON OBE, Co-ordinator, Three Faiths Forum, London, UK
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“Those of us who engage in inter-faith dialogue may already have discovered the rich insight and fuller understanding that this brings, enhancing our own faith as well as learning of the faith of others.
Kamran Mofid in his wise and timely initiative is now setting this dialogue in the ‘globalisation’ process that is changing the lives of us all. He is seeking to gather the experience of the faith communities to encourage a common ethical approach which may underpin the scientific and economic developments in our societies. For all of us in different faith traditions, we exist in relation to something other than ourselves and our material needs and desires; we live in relation to the eternal. This is our starting point as we gather our resources to be more effective in influencing public policy for our common good. I warmly endorse and encourage this initiative”.
Rev. Vincent Strudwick, Honorary Fellow of Kellogg College, University of Oxford, and Emeritus Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
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“Globalization for the Common Good (GCG) under the direction of its founder, Dr. Kamran Mofid, is now an active international group. The mission of GCG is to promote and apply the ethical, moral and spiritual vision of globalization. Global issues are approached through civil society, private enterprise, education, governance, ethics and spiritual perspectives. As a contributor in recent GCG Conferences, I professionally and personally endorse the commitment and world service of Globalization for the Common Good”.
Prof. (Emeritus) Tara Stuart, Assistant to the Editor of Kosmos Journal, Representative on 2 Non-Governmental Organizations at the UN, Associate of the World Youth Spirit Forum.
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“I have attended the three past international conferences sponsored by Globalization for the Common Good. On a small scale, they have validated the lofty goal of that noble organization. Serious scholars came together to share the fruit of their investigation of the multifaceted impact of the dominant characteristic of our age: the unprecedented interdependence and interconnectedness of the community of nations. In the midst of our diversity we found essential values which were intrinsic to all. Based on that perception we developed a fellowship that has nurtured us since. This, in turn, has sharpened our focus and strengthened our commitment. As a result, I believe, we are better and more productive persons. What if this fruitful process is replicated and expanded? Aren’t simple solutions often simply the most elegant ones? Who says that dialogue among bigger groups would not yield the same discovery of the common good? Who says that such dialogue is impossible? Globalization for the Common Good has set itself the task of disproving such pessimistic postures. That is why I support it”.
Dr. Keyvan Tabari, International Lawyer, San Francisco, USA
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“Globalization for the Common Good is a wonderful initiative which seeks to promote brotherhood among all nations, common ground instead of battle ground, and peace instead of turmoil”.
Dr. Fred E. Woods, Richard L. Evans Chair, Religious Understanding, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA
