From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


Christians Facing up to Globalisation


From "Ruth Gill" <rag@cec-kek.org>
Date Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:49:02 +0100

Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications
Press Release No. 05-10/e 8 March 2005

CHRISTIANS FACING UP TO GLOBALISATION

"The globalising economy disrupts human relationships and tends to place
great risk at the individual level." This was the main message of the
conference "Facing up to Globalisation; Visions - Alternatives - Strategies", which met from 2 to 6 March in Celakovice near Prague, Czech Republic.
The consultation, organised by the Ecumenical Academy, Prague, and the
Work and Economy Research Network in the European Churches in conjunction
with the Conference of European Churches, was a follow up of two previous
consultations organised by the ecumenical movement in Europe (Budapest,
Hungary, 2001 for churches from central and eastern Europe and Soesterberg, the Netherlands, 2002 for western Europe) in response to the challenges
of globalisation.

The conference underlined that: "The current trend of economic globalisation tends towards
the commercialisation of more and more aspects of life. It turns needs
into desires - which are insatiable. These two processes damage human
relationships and lead to an economy that is environmentally destructive
and socially unsustainable." Alternatives have to combine the meeting of
needs with a strong emphasis on human and social values as opposed to
underlining just the market value. With this approach, there are resources
and the know-how for making a difference.

The 55 participants, coming from all regions of Europe from churches,
local initiatives, universities and social movements, were involved in a
dialogue about how to face up to the negative aspects of globalisation.
The aim was not to repeat the common critiques of globalisation, but
rather to contribute to the building up of hopeful alternatives. The
attention of the consultation was focused on exploring concerns and
looking for alternatives in the areas of:

- Food, Agriculture and Rural Life
- Work, Income and Time
- Social and Economic Rights
- Trade Markets: Local and Global Alternatives
- Multinational Corporations and Economic Democracy

The search for alternatives to globalisation in the present model has its
roots in personal experience. For many people and communities, alternatives are growing up which go beyond the survival strategies in the extreme
situations of poverty, hunger and social exclusion of those people and
communities that are impacted most negatively. It was also emphasised that
the building of alternatives to globalisation gives positive meaning to
personal and community life. In this process the recovery of solidarity,
mutual sharing and learning are important elements.

The Christian faith and tradition call us to respond to poverty and the
destruction of human dignity and community which accompanies economic
globalisation. The consultation explored the understandings of economy in
the Bible and in Christian tradition. This clearly pointed out that
unchecked economic activity results in growing inequality and poverty. The
need for constant intervention to address these negative consequences and
for a different, more realistic, approach to economic life is a strong
motivation for Christians and churches. These interventions should be in
the direction of global justice and ecological sustainability.

Organising and solidarity building "from the grass-roots" was seen by the
consultation to be essential. It is here that the churches and their
related organisations have a vital contribution to make.

****
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125
Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all
countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in
1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

For further information:
CEC Church & Society Commission - Brussels
Telephone: +32 2 234 6833
Fax: + 32 2 231 14 13
E-mail: csc@cec-kek.be


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