The WORLD CULTURE FORUM in Dresden has forwarded the DRESDNER MANIFEST to the German Chancellor Merkel.

It contains ten requests and appeals to the G20 Government Leaders, which were enacted at the 2. Forum on October 10th 2009.

As is well-known the 2. WORLD CULTURE FORUM – Initiative for a “Culture in Balance” with about 1000 participants and 80 speakers took place from October 8th until 10th in Dresden. The WORLD CULTURE FORUM is an initiative of the FORUM TIBERIUS – International Forum for Culture and Business, which is supported by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Free State of Saxony and the Minister of State for Culture and Media. The principle thesis of this initiative were originally conceived by Professor Kurt Biedenkopf und Professor Meinhard Miegel. They have been enhanced by all participants in October 2009 at the Forum and passed in a final communiqué.

To overcome the global crises cultures, as the last authorities to regulate the interaction between individuals and nations, are opposed to the dominance of economic principles. Central values for future regulated global economy are highlighted.
The signatures correspond to independent personalities from cultural and economic spheres, including notable representatives from the Club of Rome, the Club of Budapest and the Goi Peace Foundation, Japan. This civic commitment aims to support the efforts of the Chancellor, to achieve a worldwide understanding about joint economic principles.

DRESDEN MANIFESTO

10 Requests and Appeals
to the G20 Government Leaders


1. Cultures as the Final Instance
Cultures and civilizations are the final instance for managing the interactions between individuals and nations. They clarify issues pertaining to values, ethics, and ways of achieving a balance between different social forces and motivations. They reveal what societies’ main concerns ultimately are and what mechanisms are used to pursue these concerns.

2. Core Principles
The core principles that have evolved in all great cultures and civilizations relate to the interrelationship between freedom and solidarity, universal human rights, responsibility for nature and the whole of creation, concern for the dignity of all human beings, fairness and responsibility between generations, enjoyment of activity, and enjoyment of life.

3. The Role of the Economy
The economy is an essential aspect of all cultures and civilizations. It supplies the goods and services on which our existence and development are based, opens up fields of action, provides scope for the division of labor, cooperation and competition, encourages innovation, gives us security in our everyday lives, and creates opportunities for the future.

4. Need to Set Limits for the Economy
In spite of its importance for society, the economy remains just one aspect of culture, in common with coexistence, reproduction, the arts, science, and the media. And culture must define limits for the economy to keep it on the right track. The growing dominance of narrow and one-sided economic criteria in more and more aspects of life in recent years brought the world to the edge of the abyss – long before the current global financial and economic crisis.

5. A Sustainable World Economic Order
The experiences of successful nation states and the sustainability movement can provide a foundation for a sustainable world economic order. The aim must be to achieve and preserve a sustainable balance between economic, ecological and social demands by applying enforceable rules, incentives and sanctions. The self-regulation and internal control mechanisms of free market fundamentalism must be replaced by a sustainable market economy regulated worldwide in accordance with ecological and social principles: an ecosocial model instead of market radicalism.

6. The New Role of the G20 Represents Major Progress
The WORLD CULTURE FORUM welcomes the resolution adopted at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh making the G20 – instead of the G8 – the main forum for all coordination issues associated with the global economy, finances, resources etc. – interacting with the United Nations, of course. This is a decision of epoch-making importance, arguably the most important and durable result of the current recession.

7. G20 and World Democracy
Mankind will only have a bright future on this planet if we all act in unison. This presupposes universal participation, attentive dialog, and fair consideration of all interests with regard to the resolution of issues of worldwide importance. The WORLD CULTURE FORUM sees the establishment of the responsibility of the G20 for regulating all aspects of international interaction as an important step toward more democracy at world level. Two-thirds of the world population and over 90% of world economic output are now represented in this key forum.

8. Addressing Critical Issues
The WORLD CULTURE FORUM welcomes the courage shown by the G20 in immediately tackling seminal issues relating to hidden interests cleverly concealed behind – apparent – economic and even scientific taboos. We are at last seeing critical discussions about such topics as cracking down on tax havens, taxing global financial activities, and preventing the unjustified enrichment of individuals in leading positions. The G20 must keep up this endeavor – not only because it is fair, but also because it is the only smooth way to relieve countries of their debts and to fund global environmental and climate protection.

9. Going Boldly Forward
The WORLD CULTURE FORUM calls on the governments of the G20 to continue to pursue their bold policy – we need the G20 to coordinate global processes. The world is waiting for the G20 to take action. Replace market fundamentalism with an ecologically and socially regulated global market economy. Find arguments in favor of a universally applicable concept of ownership designed to serve the common good, globally, that systematically regulates the financial sector and address taxation issues in terms of global added value. Make sustainability a basic requirement, show your commitment to a United Nations parliamentary assembly; promote Muhammad Yunus’s ideas on the role of social entrepreneurship as an additional pillar of the economy, support Transparency International in fighting corruption. These would all help to implement the UN millennium development goals.

10. Re-asking Old Questions
The WORLD CULTURE FORUM calls on the governments of the G20 to systematically challenge established thinking habits. When are vested interests hiding behind taboos? How can truly relevant criteria be identified? Speaking on behalf of the WORLD CULTURE FORUM, we firmly believe that the great cultures and civilizations hold the key. Fortunately, their substance in each individual case and the degree of coherence between their various manifestations are of such high quality that they can form the basis for a new, balanced future, which we can create even or especially by transforming society through art and/or culture in the narrower sense, because these can act as a communication platform by appealing to the emotions. Bearing responsibility at G20-level, you are in a key position to shape the world, at a time of great political significance.

Final Remarks
The current situation is both highly challenging and extremely critical. But opportunities are born out of crises: When threats abound, solutions are found more readily. The challenge facing us today is to find ways to regulate the global economy appropriately, as part of a yet-to-be-created, sustainable new civilization for the whole world, based on laws of sustainability, democracy, responsibility, fairness, and freedom.

The great civilizations and cultures provide a good compass to guide us on our journey to a better future.

Dresden, 10th of October, 2009

2nd WORLD CULTURE FORUM initiative for a “balanced culture" alliance

Represented by:

Prof. Dr. Dr. Franz Josef Radermacher
Co-founder Global Marshall Plan Initiative, Member Club of Rome
Hans-Joachim Frey
President FORUM TIBERIUS and General Director of the Bremen Theater
Dr. Bernhard Freiherr von Loeffelholz
Former president of the Saxonian Cultural Senate
Dr. Jürgen B. Mülder
Vice-President FORUM TIBERIUS – International Forum for Culture and Economics
Armin Mueller-Stahl
Actor
Prof. Dr. Ervin László
Founder, Club of Budapest
Aiman A. Mazyek
Secretary General of the Muslim Central Council in Germany
Dr. Jürgen Ohlau
President Saxonian Cultural Senate
Prof. Dr. Hermann Rauhe
Musicologist and honorary president of the Hamburg Academy of Music and Drama
Hiroo Saionji
President Goi Peace Foundation - Japan
Prince Alexander von Sachsen



The organizers have pleasure in inviting you to the 3rd WORLD CULTURE FORUM, to be held in Dresden from February 24 through 26, 2011.