Faiths and Globalisation

2003 series of 3 seminars and a national conference Employment Forum (UK) is holding a series of 3 seminars (for 30 ­ 50 people) and a national conference during 2003, in partnership with The Economist.

Each seminar will run from 2pm to 5pm and will contain a keynote address and brief responses, group brainstorming on key issues, plenary time and "next steps". Seminars will cost £20 each and will include light refreshments. A small number of bursaries are available to assist with seminar fees.

Seminar One: Thursday 30 January 2003, 2pm. Venue: St Paul's Cathedral.
Clive Crook (Deputy Editor, The Economist) will give a keynote address on "The Moral Case for Globalisation", followed by responses from Dr Peter
Sedgwick and Rumman Ahmed. Clive's paper will be circulated beforehand to participants.

Seminar Two: Wednesday 30 April 2003. Venue: Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, Kensington.

Seminar Three: in late June 2003. Venue: to be arranged.
National Conference: in October 2003. Venue: to be arranged.
Themes to be explored:
a. What do we mean by globalisation and economic integration?
b. Globalisation and secularisation;
c. Sensitivity to culture and values ­ what does this mean for globalisation?
d. "Tolerance" ­ what does this mean? What real choices can people exercise?
e. Globalisation and its downsides: social dislocation, crime, drugs etc;
f. Remedying the deficits: what benefits can "faith" bring? Is globalisation a threat to faith, or vice versa?

Theological themes to be developed include:
a. Power and authority: how do the authority and power of God relate to the exercise of human power, eg by Governments or companies?
b. The role of NGOs is increasing ­ to whom are they accountable? What does accountability mean?
c. Personhood and self-identity: who am I in relation to others?
d. Dealing with diversity: how do we address inequality and injustice?
e. Economics: the servant of human values or an autonomous discipline?

For more information, please contact Chris Beales, Employment Forum (UK), The Mezzanine, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ
Tel: 020 7401 5304 or 020 8859 6733 Fax: 020 7401 5311
Email: c.beales@can-online.org.uk