Setting the course towards a movement
Four years after its foundation and in good time for the 60th anniversary of the historic Marshall Plan, we are, for the first time, recognized as an international, transatlantic initiative. Together er have spread a vision. The first four years can be titled "the hard years of construction".
The second phase, is titled "from vision to movement". Our next four year plan is the preparation of an international conference in 2010. In several steps we want to consult people who already called for a Marshall Plan in order to reach agreement on common demands. The second step is to invite several thousands of organizations and experts in 2008/2009 to design a common and truely global Marshall Plan together.
We are interested in your thoughts, ideas and support on the outline.
Frithjof Finkbeiner
Time is ripe for a Global Marshall Plan
Germany and Europe owe their wealth to the USA's visionary deed shortly after WWII. 60 years later humankind faces major challenges: to shape globalization in a fair way, to fight poverty and to solve the climate crisis. Now is the right point in time for a courageous vision in difficult times. Our generation needs too needs a visionary but global approach, a worldwide Marshall Plan, a global contract for our common future.
A growing number of progressive people in the US is looking towards Germany on June 5th 2007 for a public call for such a plan.
On May 31st the Global Marshall Plan Initiative sent this press release to journalists in Germany and Austria. The US version will be distributed these days.
- Kumi Naidoo (GCAP)
- Heiner Geissler (CDU, attac)
German Chancellor prompted to call for a Global Marshall Plan
Excerpt from the opinion piece by Kumi Naidoo, representing the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
"Germany has an opportunity to change the course of history. It could be remembered not as the place where Africa’s woes began but where impoverished nations got the chance they needed to recover, once and for all. Just as Germany benefited from the Marshall plan, surely a global Marshall plan now makes sense. It would ensure future generations live in a world characterised by political, social, economic, gender and environmental justice."
Heiner Geissler, the former secretry general of the CDU (German Christian Democrats) who recently became member of the network attac has been demanding a worldwide Marshall Plan frequently in the past weeks. One occasion was a press conference by attac on May 31st.
Report by Spiegel online (in German)
The State of Carinthia supports the Global Marshall Plan
It is the 8th of the Autrian Federal States to support our Initiative. On February 1st, the governor of Carinthia was prompted to challenge the Federal Government to support the Global Marshall Plan and to take concerte steps towards its implementation, both nationally and internationally.
(Source Oesfo)
New supporters
Bund Naturschutz (Friends of the Earth Bavaria)
At its annual assembly, which took place on May 5th and 6th in Landshut (Germany), the Bavarian section of Friends of the Earth Germany agreed upon the official support of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative.
New supporters
Regional congress of Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino supports the Global Marshall Plan
On April 18th 2007 the regional congress of Tyrol, South Tyrola and Trentino agreed on the support of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative. The three regional parliaments support the Initiative's ideas and goals and call upon their governments to actively support and promote the Global Marshall Plan and an Eco-Social Market Economy.
(Source Oesfo)
- new videos online
- ad in New York Times
Speeches by Rabbi Michael Lerner on the Global Marshall Plan
"How to End the War in Iraq"
video (5 minutes)
"The Global Marshall Plan"
video (5 minutes)
Updated full page ad appeared in May 17 New York Times
Excerpt from the Tikkun/NSP newsletter of May 17th:
Thanks to the generosity and the support of many (over 2,700 people signed the ad), our Full Page Ad for "An Ethical Way to End the War in Iraq" appears in the New York Times today, Thursday, May 17th. It's not on the web - only in the actual one million plus print edition copies.
Our intention is to publish this in other media, including in red states and in Congressional districts where the people have not yet come to realize the moral and strategic errors of this war, so if you can possibly help us do that, it would be so very greatly appreciated. You can sign the ad without donating anything. You can donate without signing your name.
Go to Daily Kos or YouTube, both of which now have a five minute talk by me about ending the war in Iraq (and we will be posting more there in future weeks). Particularly in light of the defeat by the Senate yesterday of Feingold amendment to end the war, our message has particular relevance today.
Warm regards and thanks again for your support.
Michael
Rabbi Michael Lerner
Editor,Tikkun
Chair, The Network of Spiritual Progressives
Present "Plant for the Planet" there.
We were offered to present the "Plant for the Planet" project at the 21st World Scout Jamboree, which will take place 27 July to 8 August 2007 at Hylands Park, Chelmsford (50 kilometres to the north-east of London).
It is part of the world centenary celebrations of Scouting. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to come. Hence, it would be a great opportunity to present the project and the Global Marshall Plan Initiative to an interested audience.
If you are planning to attend the Scout Jamboree and are interested in giving a presentation, please contact Helge Bork for further details.
42 German schools participate in the Plant-for-the-Planet network. Yesterday, the initiative was introduced by regional schools in the South-West of Germany.
Besides schools, other organisations, like Connecting Youth or local Global Marshall Plan groups support Plant-for-the-Planet. Many, who were not able to take action themselves, donated money over the last weeks. A specialised forestry organisation will plant the first 1,500 trees in the next month.
Also on another level Plant-for-the-Planet gains momentum: The inititative becomes multi-lingual. A Spanish flyer will be available next week as a pdf. The website in Spanish will follow in the next weeks.
News articles on the Initiative
There are currently no new articles about the Global Marshall Plan Initiative. For articles in German, please go to the German website.
07/05/2007 - 07/09/2007
Istanbul, Turkey
"A Non-violent Path to Conflict resolution and Peacebuilding"
Istanbul, Turkey
The City of Understanding and Reconciliation between East and West
5-9 July 2007
With Post-Conference optional tour to
KAPADOKYA – KONYA
Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative, greatly acknowledges the kind support and sponsorship of our 6th Annual Conference by Department of Public Administration, Fatih University, Istanbul & KADIP/ Intercultural Dialogue Platform, Istanbul
Istanbul Conference 2007 program
09/20/2007 - 09/22/2007
Oestrich-Winkel
Including a lecture by Frithjof Finkbeiner
This year under the heading of "People Nature Money - Balanced World or Resource Crisis?"
The ebs Symposium is Germany's oldest and most renowned business congress organised and run exclusively by students of the European Business School. For 18 years, students and leading business executives have come together on the campus of the European Business School to discuss current economic and social trends of high importance with representatives from politics, companies and other institutions.
Every participant is given the opportunity to join a large and diverse audience in listening to interesting lectures and meet highly motivated students and young professionals.
This year's topic,
"People Nature Money - Balanced World or Resource Crisis?"
will deal with the management of "human", natural, and financial resources in the future, also in connection with this year's partner country Russia. Since the volume of trade between Germany and Russia has grown by 30% last year alone, many questions are being raised: Will the energy debate turn into an energy crisis? Will wars for resources become inevitable? Is Russia Germany's last chance to keep up with the pace of globalisation?
More information
09/26/2007
Bad Schallerbach, Austria
To the program and registration form (pdf, in German)
