WPFDC: Ethical Norms and Traditional Values to Achieve Global Harmony and Cooperation

VIENNA, October 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

In the closing of the 10^th Anniversary Session of the Rhodes Forum (Oct. 3-7, 2012) the plenary session issued a resolution to the leaders and people of goodwill throughout the world. The Forum participants state that the world needs to move from the 'old geopolitics' based on rivalry between states to a 'new geopolitics' based on interaction between cultures and civil societies. The Rhodes Forum also established a "school of dialogue" certificate.

The WORLD PUBLIC FORUM "Dialogue of Civilizations" reaffirms its strong commitment to the concept of "Dialogue of Civilizations" for solving today's pressing problems and for creating a path towards a more humane world.

With 550 participants from 65 countries gathering for the 10^th times in Rhodes, the Forum participants agreed that the rich heritage of mankind in terms of cultural and religious diversity and traditional values is not an obstacle but an asset for responding to the challenges of globalization.

The resolution also underlined that dialogue between civilizations requires the involvement and leadership of national elites. Without such interactions elites lose their legitimacy.  In order to engage in fruitful dialogue, prevent conflict and contribute to peaceful settlements, elites need to reach agreements on mutual respect, recognition of international arbitration and the right of peoples to non-interference in their own destiny.

Geo-politically, the pursuit of global peace and justice requires a shift from a hegemonic to a post-hegemonic world order.

Geo-economically, the WORLD PUBLIC FORUM promotes the alternative of building a variety of solidarity economies, all of which recognize that the fundamental purpose of any economy is the provisioning of dignified, meaningful, and productive lives for everyone.

Ecologically, some of the key priorities include a greater sharing of the world's resources, greater social responsibility on the part of businesses, harnessing environmentally sustainable ways through mass communication and social media as well as new conceptions of land and land ownership.

Bearing in mind the importance of education for inter-civilizational dialogue, the WPF will create a charter of dialogical learning that combines the principles of mutual understanding with educational practices. Both primary and secondary schools around the world that adopt and implement this charter will receive the status of 'School of Dialogue', which is certificated by the WPF.

Detailed resolution see: http://www.wpfdc.org and http://www.rhodesforum.org

Press Contact:
World Public Forum - Dialogue of Civilizations
Mr. Nikita Konopaltsev
E: n_konopaltsev@wpfdc.org
T: +7(915)2438649

Michael Goldinger
E: Michael.goldinger@fipra.at
T: +43(650)4807507