Alliance for a responsible, plural and united world

World citizens assembly

Lille - December 2-10, 2001

Socioprofesionnal Group

BUSINESS LEADERS AND ENGINEERS 

Debate on the Charter

1. A third pillar common to all the societies and all the environments.
To the United Nations charter of 1951 and to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights we have to add Women's and Children's Rights. We also have to take into account the outcome of the Rio Summit. What is more we have to put the stress more on duties than on rights. This is what the basis of the charter should be.

2. Same ethical principles as for the individual and collective level.
Nothing to say about that.

3. Further than the Human Rights, the responsibility towards the human kind and life itself.
Even better: the responsibility towards the biosphere ( to be debated)
Even better than "Duties" we can say participation, support, personal option of awareness.
Responsibility includes Duty. Furthermore liberty is necessary for it as well as education which allows to have some values( justice, solidarity) besides it depends on politics and geographical places. It is an iterative and slow process. Is humanity advanced enough to assume its responsibility ?
Example: In India hindu make the difference between the responsibility towards space and Duties between people. Responsibility needs a change that has to come from every person and leads to commitment.

4. To extend the range of Responsibility

5. Propose priorities rather than precepts

6. A contract between the environment and the rest of the society

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Guiding Principles for the Exercise of Responsibilities

1. The pursuit for peace has to include the setting up of justice.
Example : the treaty of Versailles in 1918   Detente = Peace   Equality = justice
Peace and Justice cannot be dissociated.

2. To preserve one's own liberty and one's own dignity, everyone has to fight for preserving those of the others.
Replace "fight" to "contribute"
Contribute to the liberty and dignity of the other to protect yours.
(Everyone has to accept the other as a worthwhile speaker despite the differences)
(The notion of solidarity which would better assume the idea of living together)
So : " We have to accept that our own liberty and dignity have the same value as those of the others". 

3. In short-term decisions and needs we have to take into account long-term and adopt a behaviour of carefulness and precaution.
Or precaution only.
"Every decision has to control its impact on the long-terme and respect the principle of precaution."

4. The satisfaction of the human needs should not be a barrier to the preservation of the environment.
Or “the satisfaction of the essential human needs should not be a barrier to the preservation of the environment”.

5. The search for economic prosperity has to integrate the process of fair sharing of wealth. The mecanisms of the market have to be regulated in order to enable well-being and development for all human beings. 
But "producing" before "distributing". Prosperity and well-being is enabled by  the access of everyone to education as well as by economic and civic initiative and the care of the poorest. 
Sharing of wealth or of opportunities ? Every kind of development strategy has to integrate "sharing" ? Which one ?
For the sake of well-being and solidarity.

a) The human development is possible thanks to the equality of opportunities and solidarity.
The mecanisms of the market and the its regulation raise problems.

b) The mecanisms of exchanges have to serve the economic and cultural well-being of every human being.

6. The material development, research and innovation have to enable the human development and the preservation of Earth.
Nothing to say about that.

7. In the quest for unity to meet the challenges of the future, the regenerative and and innovative potential of cultural diversity must be conserved.  
Tradition and modernity
Local and global
The search for unity to face the challenges to come have to leave space to diversity and creativity of local cultures.

What is missing...

·	Education, solidarity
·	Reduction in poverty and taking care of the poorest
·	Access to basic ressources for the poorest
·	Recasting the international finance system
·	What about corruption and drugs
·	Respect as a fundamental value
·	Encourage creation
·	Merchandisation of life
·	Culture based on effort, creativity, transparency