Rosie Waygood and Saskia Troy participate within the Globalization for the Common Good Conference Oxford
This year Rosie Waygood (Strategy Development Manager, COE) and Saskia Troy (Regional Coordinator Europe, COE) have been participating within the Globalization for the Common Good Conference in Oxford with theme The Value of Values: Spiritual Wisdom in Everyday Life.
The Globalization for the Common Good Initiative (GCGI) first came into being at an international conference held in Oxford, United Kingdom in 2002. An extraordinarily diverse group of scholars, academics, students, policy experts, entrepreneurs, and activists, from multiple nations and faiths came together at that time to implement our vision to rekindle the human spirit in order to make globalization compassionate. They recognized the multitude of crises faced by humanity and the need to provide a multi-cultural/multi-ethnic and inter-faith framework to address the global issues raised by globalization- a framework to both analyse the problems and to propose solutions. Ever since, these annual conferences have been held in many countries on different continents providing a gathering place for those committed to a vision to build community, encourage dialogue and openness, while developing rewarding and fruitful relationships.
According to Kamran Mofid, who is the Founder and President of the Globalization for the Common Good Initiative, the world is engulfed by a multitude of crises, including enduring poverty for many, hunger, resource depletion, a lack of development and growth, economic and social injustice, climate change, species extinction, war, and violence. It is in dialogue with one another respecting alternative cultures, different religions and diverse social norms, nationalities, and ethnicities, that we will find the global solutions needed for our planet, our human family, and the larger community of the natural world to which we belong. This is in breaking down barriers towards mutual understanding and respect, in bringing together people from many walks of life, various careers, nations, and organizations. Globalization for the Common Good Initiative, inspired by dialogue has discovered together our hope for a better world.
The Third GCGI Award for Public Service in the Interest of the Common Good was presented to Bhai Sahib Bhai Dr. Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman, Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Birmingham, UK, at the 12th International Conference and the 2nd Waterperry House, School of Economic Science, Oxford. The Award is given in recognition of Bhai Sahib Ji’s extraordinary and tireless work for peace and justice, and his selfless service in helping to build a better world. He exemplifies the great peace potential inherent in religious traditions to more fully engaging nationally and globaly to build trust, foster understanding, and revitalise public policy discussions for the common good. He continues to encourage and empower others to discover their own potential for change and to evoke their hidden strengths to bring more goodness into the world. The Award was presented to Bhai Sahib Ji at a special ceremony during the Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative’s Twelfth Anniversary Gala Dinner hosted at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, on the evening of Wednesday 3 September 2014.
Photos: Courtesy of GNNSJ Audio Visual Department, Birmingham, UK, Globalisation for the Common Good Conference Oxford
