a) Upper Austria's support officially agreed
On 16 January, the parliament of Upper Autria decided upon the official support of the Global Marshall Plan
Initiative through the region. Upper Austria is the first European state to have taken this step. The country
conceives this as a "contribution to an active policy of peace" (Josef Stockinger). For more information,
please see press room.
b) State of Salzburg supports the Global Marshall Plan Initiative
Two days later, on 18 January the Economic Advisory Committee discussed a Green Party's application dealing
with the support of the Global Marshall Plan by the state of Salzburg. The motion was carried unanimously.
The text of the application (in German, 40kB)
The Robert-Jungk-Library welcomed this step with a press statement (in German, 70kB)
a) Merkel calls for new global framework
During her opening speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for
a new framework for the globalized economy. The chancellor placed emphasis on the empowerment of international
organizations; just like the Global Marshall Plan Initiative. Within the scope of Germany's G8 presidency in
the next year, the country will contribute to finding ways to establish an international order regarding
economic competition. The chancellor is convinced that the key for this are the international institutions.
A fair and free global trade and the development of the poor and poorest countries requires a coordinated
strategy of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and other multilateral institutions.
Source www.bundeskanzlerin.de (in German)
Angela Merkel's speech
b) "Europe ist the response to globalization"
On 11 January, on its parliamentary party meeting, Germany's Green Party discussed its view on Europe. Renate
Künast, head of the parliamentary party, said that Europe needed to be a model in the area of social and
environmental policies as well as consumer protection. "Europe is the response to globalization."
Source N24 (in German)
c) CSU: Give a human face to globalization
The CSU (Christian Social Union) is discussing a new party platform, which shall be a response to the
challenges of globlization: "How can we maintain a Social Market Economy, when we have to compete with
economies which do not have any social and environmental standards comparable to ours?", Bavaria's President
Stoiber (CSU) summarized one of the key issues.
Article www.csu.de (in German)
The CSU's current party platform
The Baden-Wuerttemberg Society for the Promotion of Oikocredit belongs to those who have recently declared
their support for the Initiative. The society has made it its business to render education and public relations
for the ecumenical development association Oikocredit, and to systematically seek for persons and organizations
that are willing to support the association financially.
More information (in German)
As already announced in our newsletter 01/06, the Institute for Higher Education in Environmental and Economic
Studies, Yspertal (Austria) has joined the Global Marshall Plan Initiative with an official ceremonial act on
January 21st, 2006.
More information (in German)
As already announced in our newsletter 01/06, the Institute for Higher Education in Environmental and Economic
Studies, Yspertal (Austria) has joined the Global Marshall Plan Initiative with an official ceremonial act on
January 21st, 2006.
More information (in German)
Following an invitation from Anne-Marie Sigmund, chairwoman of the European Economic and Social Council,
Dr. Franz Alt and former Austrian vice-chancellor Dr. Josef Riegler presented the book "European Hope" to about
70 delegates and interested people in Brussels on 19 January.
Josef Riegler's speech (in German) (pdf, 160kB)
Students' involvement
On 6 and 7 January, on the initiative of AIESEC, about 20 students from different universities in Germany
discussed with other supporters their contribution to the Global Marshall Plan Initiative. AIESEC will
increasingly use its worldwide network to promote the Initiative and strengthen the cooperation with other
supporters such as the BWA (Federal Association für Business Promotion and Foreign Trade) and JCI
(Junior Chamber International). In addition to that more conferences and lecture series are planned.
A new outlook on values and ethics
On 12 January the city college of Gelsenkirchen, Dept. Bocholt, in cooperation with the "Association of
Entrepreneurs in the Westmünsterland" (AIW) and the "Friends of the College" organised a symposium on "A New
Outlook on Values & Ethics". The introductory lecture by AIW managing director, Mr. Harald Genge, was followed
by a panel discussion with involvement of the audience. The panel was opened by Prof. Raimund Figura and
moderated by Prof. Dr. Gerd Wassenberg. With the participation of Dr. Manfred Büscher, Johannes Rahe, and
Klaudius Gansczyk, the panel witnessed the presence of three authors of "European Hope". During the reception
following the symposium businessmen, bankers, and students took the opportunity to buy the Initiative's books
"European Hope" and "Impulses for a World in Balance" (both will be published in English).
(Klaudius Gansczyk)
The infocenter on the Global Marshall Plan website features regularly updated texts and reports on the
topic of globalization and the Global Marshall Plan. The "Environmental Performance Index 2006" published by
the University of Yale has recently been added. If you have any further recommendations regarding materials,
we will be glad to include them.
Send articles to Helge Bork
Direct link to the infocenter
Please send us your comments on this newsletter, our
website or the Initiative itself:
office@globalmarshallplan.org
We do not take responsibility for the contents of articles written by external authors.
Global Marshall Plan news editors - Global Marshall Plan Initiatve
Helge Bork, Andrea von Lehmden, Frithjof Finkbeiner (V.i.S.d.P.R.)
Global Marshall Plan Initiative
Coordination office
Steckelhörn 9
20457 Hamburg
Germany
The Global Marshall Plan Initiative pleads for an Eco-Social Market Economy by the means of a Global Marshall Plan.
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