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10th
Annual Meeting |
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Globalization . . . as if people really mattered Caux, Switzerland |
| Imbalances
exist in the ways globalization has evolved. The financial markets and
mass media have leveraged the vast power of the Internet to gain
remarkable power, but the integrity of business leaders has been called
into question. Civil society – especially non-governmental
organizations – has organized like never before; but political
institutions, responsible for the social well being of their citizenry,
have evolved less rapidly and have seen their influence erode. These
imbalances have left the most vulnerable in society at the greatest
risk. Globalization has created vast wealth and opportunities, but has
been a poor distributor of both. The World Economic Forum and the World
Social Forum address these issues from different perspectives. The
“winner takes all” mentality leaves a majority of the world in
poverty and a minority gaining even more. Trust in the fundamentals of
our global economy has been undermined. Economic exclusion, combined
with racial, cultural, and religious divisions, creates an explosive mix
at all levels of society. What role must the various sectors of society
– business, labor, media, government, religion, academia, and local
and global activists – play together in order to ensure a just
globalization? How can trust be built between all the partners for
sustainable communities and sustainable development. Is globalization
“as if people really mattered” possible? What role can you play?
This summer the Junior Round Table of the Caux Initiatives for Business will have its tenth annual meeting in Caux in conjunction with the thirtieth Caux Conference on Business Initiatives (CCBI). Both will draw together representatives from each of these sectors for honest conversations, leading to workable solutions. The
Junior Round Table (JRT)
is an informal network of young professionals with various backgrounds
and occupations. Members come from all over the world, are active in
economic or business life, and have some five to ten years of work
experience. The JRT sets for itself the goal of inspiring its members
through the exchange of ideas, beliefs, and experiences. Its purposes
include: improving the understanding and collaboration between
individuals of various backgrounds and nationalities, asserting the need
for effective business principles and evaluating their practical
application, and encouraging the members both as individuals and working
as a team to take initiatives going beyond their day to day employment.
The JRT network currently consists of over 150 people in twenty-seven
countries. Junior
Round Table focusses on ethics in the workplace:
In
its nine annual meetings in Caux and a number of Interim Meetings all
around the world, the JRT has sought to discuss the meaning of values in
the workplace and the role that young professional can play in promoting
ethical behavior in their work environment. By having our summer
meetings in Caux, in conjunction with the CCBI, we are able to leverage
off the discussions at the wider conference and bring the issues back to
a personal level. Last summer, among other things, we talked about the
significance of the Enron and Worldcom accounting scandals. And a few
years ago, JRT members developed an assessment tool to evaluate the
behavior of companies against the Caux principles for business (see www.cauxinitiativesforbusiness.org).
At our latest interim meeting in Panchgani, India, we explored the
implications of doing business around the globe. What does it mean to
have colleagues, costumers or suppliers at the other end of the world.
To follow up on our discussions, we decided to put together a set of
examples of the application of, or the failure to apply the Caux
principle for business for “employees.” Programme:
This
summer the JRT participants will mostly participate in the general CCBI
conference. The conference will begin in the afternoon of Friday, July
11 and end on Tuesday July 15 around noon. In addition, the JRT will
have its own sessions, including a hike and lunch on Saturday. To
celebrate its tenth anniversary, the JRT will organize a special seminar
on the influence of junior professionals in an organization and their
capability to bring about change. This session is scheduled for the
afternoon of Sunday July 13 and will be followed by the traditional JRT
Fondue. Furthermore, the JRT will utilize the free discussion time in the CCBI to follow up on the India meeting and discuss a new topic: “integrity and accountability.” Confirmed
speakers include:
More
information, including a full conference schedule can be found at: www.cauxinitiativesforbusiness.org Conference
Location Mountain
House, the international conference center of Initiatives of Change, in
Caux, Switzerland. What
you will get out of it? The
Junior Round Table conferences combine discussions on topics that
typically go beyond your daily work with an opportunity to network with
professionals from around the world. Participants place a high value on
business principles and the belief that individually we each have a role
to play in creating an ethical business environment.
The JRT network provides an ongoing opportunity to share ideas
and receive support in our own professions and settings.
What
you will put into it. The
JRT meetings benefit most when individuals bring their own experiences,
questions, and concerns to the table for discussion.
We plan to achieve practical goals and follow-up actions.
Following up on the Panchgani conference, we would appreciate it
particularly if you could come up with a few good examples of best
practices or not so good practices of treatment of employees in your own
organization. A conference fee of Swiss Francs 730 (US$500 / EUR 500) is
asked. This covers the costs of registration (Swiss Francs 250), room,
and board during the five days of the conference (Swiss Francs 120 per
night). Contacts: · Hein Bogaard (Netherlands): Phone: +31 70 34 51 851, e-mail: hein.bogaard@tiscali.nl · Dorien Moret (Netherlands): Phone: +31 30 25 99 533, e-mail: dorien.moret@planet.nl · Steven Greisdorf (USA): Phone: +1 301 718-1031, e-mail: steven@chestnutfinancial.com
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