News From the European Union
Entirely submitted by Daniel Schaubacher
Brussels, October 15: 150 business people at launch of Belgian UN Global Compact Network
Some 7,000 business organizations have joined the UN Global Compact Network worldwide since its inception in 2001; they are committed to implementing ten principles enunciated in UN declarations and treaties, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Labour und UNEP treaties, as well as anti-corruption measures. At a meeting at Palais d’Egmont today, hosted by Belgian Foreign Minister Yves Leterme, Nessa Whelan, Network Coordinator at the UN Global Compact head office in New York, introduced some 150 business people to the role, purpose, activities and recent developments of this voluntary effort on the part of the private sector to observe human rights worldwide. Whereas the UN had primarily relied on the commitment of member States, at the Davos World Economic Forum in 2001, it appealed to business people considered as world citizens to contribute their share to sustainability and integrity. Thomas Dodd, CSR Policy Advisor at the European Commission, described initiatives promoted by EU agencies and emphasized the contributions and responsibility of SME’s. Adhering to the Global Compact principles is an effort actively supported by Philippe Lambrecht, Secretary General of FEB/VBO – the Belgian Industry and Trade Association. Two remarkable case studies were presented : one for the KBC bank, and another for a diamond manufacturer – Rosy Blue. Both indicated that adhering to the compact principles is part of their company culture and has ensured their business success.
The Global Compact conference and the ensuing reception provided an excellent opportunity for EBBF for networking and to present its publications to a motivated and critical audience. It was gratifying to note the active involvement of the Belgian Junior Chambers of Commerce in launching the UN Global Compact network in Belgium.
www.unglobalcompact.org info@globalcompact.be
speech of Foreign Minister Leterme
Le futur ordre mondial et le parlement mondial en discussion à une conférence bahá'íe
La conférence annuelle de l'Association francophone européenne d’études bahá'íes (AFEEB) réunie à Luxembourg les 24 et 25 octobre a été consacrée au nouvel ordre mondial et à la gouvernance mondiale.
Le programme incluait une présentation du concept de l'Assemblée parlementaire des Nations unies (United Nations Parliamentary Assembly - UNPA, en anglais) par le Président du Comité pour des Nations unies démocratiques (KDUN), Andreas Bummel. En mettant en exergue la voie vers un parlement mondial directement élu, M. Bummel a insisté sur la "dimension spirituelle" des efforts à accomplir. "L'établissement d'une Assemblée parlementaire des Nations unies représenterait un changement de conscience. Pour la première fois dans l'histoire humaine un tel organe établirait une connexion politique directe entre chaque être humain et la planète", a déclaré M. Bummel.
Daniel Schaubacher, du European Bahá'í Business Forum et Jean-Francis Billion, membre du Conseil du Mouvement fédéraliste mondial (World Federalist Movement - WFM) ont développé le discours sur la représentation des peuples au sein des Nations unies et sur les efforts pour la démocratie mondiale. M. Billion a, entre autres, souligné le succès de la Coalition internationale des ONG pour l’établissement de la Cour pénale internationale. M. Billion a noté que le WFM avait pris la tête de cette action et que la Communauté Bahá'íe internationale faisait partie de la coalition. Dans la discussion, il a été convenu que la Coalition pour la Cour pénale internationale était un bon exemple sur lequel s’appuyer dans la lutte pour l’UNPA.
Parmi les autres orateurs à la conférence, on peut citer Esther Zana-Nau, directrice de programme de l’International Master Comparative in Social Policy Analysis (IMPALLA), qui a prononcé une introduction sur la mondialisation et la gouvernance mondiale.
Pour les Bahá'ís, l’expression « nouvel ordre mondial » a une signification spéciale et très précise. C’est il y a plus d’un siècle, que Bahá’u’lláh, le fondateur de la Foi Bahá'íe, a invoqué cette expression pour caractériser un ensemble de futurs changements profonds dans la vie politique, sociale et religieuse du monde. Selon Bahá’u’lláh, ces changements incluent la création d’un gouvernement mondial, un parlement mondial élu, un tribunal mondial avec force de coercition et une force de police mondiale.
International Business & Leadership Symposium : Corporate Culture and Spirituality
On November 6, 2009, I participated in a remarkable conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on Ethics in Business - Corporate Culture and Spirituality, which dealt with contributions to a sustainable future through a focus on human values and ethics.
Go to this Facebook album for an illustrated report. Or go to www.ccsforum.org
Brussels, November 12 : European Commission Stresses Competitive Benefits of Sustainable and Responsible Business Practices
The Directorate General Enterprise of the European Commission recently issued a statement on the benefits of good business practices. Using the web, it describes how sustainable development has economic, environmental and social dimensions. "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a necessary and natural counterpart to the drive for a more competitive Europe. Responsible business behaviour is crucial for building trust towards the market economy, trade openness and globalisation." Read more ...Go to their website
EXTENDED DEADLINE Call for papers 6th annual Euro SPES conference: Leading with wisdom
The European SPES Forum and Alba-university are currently developing the program of the conference. Several keynotes and paper presenters confirmed their presence. Yet, there is still an opportunity to share your views on wisdom and leadership. The conference will attract many business leaders, trainers, academics … Therefore we extended the deadline for the call for papers to November 30, 2009.
Background
The conference will explore the meaning and practice of wisdom as the basis of trustful and effective leadership. In a period of ‘creative destruction’ and transformation, the role of wisdom is vital and indispensable to meet the complexities, uncertainties and turbulences in business. The theme of the Conference is inspired by the excellent book of Peter Pruzan and Kirsten Pruzan Mikkelsen, Leading with Wisdom. Spiritual-based Leadership in Business (Greenleaf Publishing, Sheffield, 2007 ). The authors will be keynote speakers on the conference.
Issues to be addressed
What is wisdom in leadership ?
How can we define this concept and which experience can help us exercise it ?
What makes wisdom different from main stream rational and managerial knowledge? To what extent is it related to virtues and spirituality?
Submissions
Interested participants should send a detailed abstract of their planned presentation (about 500 words) accompanied by a short biographical note (100 words) electronically by November 30, 2009.
