»Intercultural balance as a key topic«

Balance: Economics, Science and Politics

Approach:

The ongoing crisis of the global economy demands that we create a universal starting point and find solutions that will offer a safety net for the future of world economics. The cultures of the world have a potential at there disposal, one that transcends mere economics and has been fed by hundreds of years of experience and ethical sources. This potential can only truly be the basis for a worldwide solution to the economic crises when intercultural balance becomes the standard.

Speakers:

Prof. Dr. Ram Gidoomal - CBE
Hiroo Saionji - The Goi Peace Foundation
Prof. Susana Chacón - Directora de Investigación y Desarrollo
Hans Reitz – circ gmbh & co. kg
Presentation: Prof. Dr. Dr. F. J. Radermacher

Place and Time:

Friday, October 9th, 2009
4.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.
Orangerie in der Gläsernen Manufaktur

Additional Information:

Partner/Initiator: FAW Institut für anwendungsorientierte Wissenschaft
Simultaneous Translation in German and English

Interview with Prof. Dr. Dr. Franz Radermacher

Professor Dr. Dr. Franz Josef Radermacher , Club of Rome, President of the BWA, Initiator of the Global Martial Plan Initiative and head of the FAW/n Ulm, has invited an extraordinary brain trust to a round table discussion at the forthcoming SECOND WORLD CULTURE FORUM, specifically to talk about the current situation of the world economy. He and his guests will design a model for the future, one which can emerge from the balance between economics and other cultural disciplines like science, politics, art, religion, and media:

Bild Radermacher

Doctor Radermacher, you offer an eco-social market economy as a
model solution in conjunction with a global marshal plan. Can you lay
out the most important conditions of creating an eco-social market
economy?

“Essential to a worldwide eco-social market economy is the establishment of regulatory, global, economic acts and the creation of respective institutions that consistently protect the environment and the basis of our resources. Examples include:

1 The internalization of external costs, as in the topic of climate
2 The creation of a worldwide social balance, as in an increased cross-financing of development in countries that are behind
3 Striving toward a balance between major cultures, in the sense of a world ethos
4 Promoting a balanced, middle-class development in the economy, above all through the exclusion of megastructural rule, as in world cartell authorities
5 The consistent regulation of the world financial system, including: “fencing in“ all tax havens, the extensive hindrance of tax optimization possibilities, the taxation of global transactions and access to common global assets.

The requirements for traversing such a path include better conditions for global governance, which can only result from agreements between countries. An important, accompanying element would be the establishment of a parlamental assembly at the United Nations.“

You call for a less “material culture“ in the future. How does this take
form?

“Generally, one speaks of a dematerialisation and an increase of ecological efficience in the framework of factor 4 and factor 10 concepts. Ultimately, it deals with technical advances where less material input yeilds a more valuable output, whereby this output will be more spiritual, creative, and artistic than today. This is because the material components are becomming more expensive, resulting in a more creative human input to achieve a more cost-effective output, relatively speaking. An essential prerequisite for this process is a reasonable praise for our limited natural resources, which includes a change in lifestyle. Consistent environmental protection via massive reduction of greenhouse gasses is also key, including higher fines for those creating them. Finally, in the framework of a global cap- and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions, based on the principle of carbon justice.“
Who is your primary target audience for the discussion? Managers?
Creative Artists?

“We are interested in a wide range of participants. High culture in and of itself is not the main objective, though it stands as the highest mediator of the cultural dimension. People from all walks of life are welcome, be it from the economics, the arts, religion, science, politics, or the media.“

What is your desired outcome for Dresden?

“What I want is a greater understanding of culture in the broadest sense of the term , beginning with the knowledge that we have gleaned from this topic over the past 2000 years in Europe. Our matter of concern is the comprehension of culture as the final reference for the structuring of societies , which encompasses science, politics, economics, religion, media and art alike. The conference in Dresden is merely the starting point for the next step, namely, to establish our considerations within the worldwide context. With the help of the panel speakers at this talk, I guarantee that we can forge the first link in this process.“

Concept in detail:

The global situation is challenging. Threats to the environment, to the resource sphere and to social justice have been growing in scale for a long time now, as the Club of Rome and other institutions have often pointed out in the past. A Kyoto successor agreement is needed by 2012. Failure to sign such a treaty will result in a gigantic destruction of property due to climate change and, as a result, huge conflicts between those responsible and those affected. Now, other topics are also suddenly seizing the limelight. We are confronted with a dramatic global financial crisis that is spilling over into the real economy. Highly-indebted states are forced to take preventive action that only increases their debts further. A Bretton Woods II is needed along with elimination of tax havens and adequate, fair taxation to stabilize state finances. This means that one half of global governance is awaiting immediate decisions. Where are the signposts, where are the trail-markers? The world’s cultures have a potential beyond the purely economic that rests on many centuries of experience and ethical sources. At stake is the balance of rights and obligations and the observance of the golden rule: ”Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”. Culture can provide a basis for solving worldwide challenges, but only if intercultural equality is taken as the benchmark. A panel of experts, every one of whom has intensively researched and personally engaged with the topic of world culture, will present and discuss their thoughts.

Chairman: Prof. Dr. Dr. F. J. Radermacher