Asef Kl 2011 Programme

ASIAN SOLIDARITY ECONOMY FORUMKL2011KL2011A S E F

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Welcome Address Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Deputy Higher Education Minister & Advisor to ASEF KL2011

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Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Chairman,ASEF KL2011

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Mr Benjamin Quinones Jr. Chairman ASEF and CSRSME Asia

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Introductions Key note SpeakerMr Pierre Calame Main Sponsor Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind

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Program Details Plenary Presentations

Workshop Presentations

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Guidelines Plenary Session Guidelines

Plenary Session Roundtable Reflections

Workshop Presenters Guidelines

Plenary Reflections & Feedbacks - Guide for Workshop Synthesizers

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Background Reading Advocacy of solidarity economy in Asia by Benjamin R. Quiñones, Jr.

Presentation of a proposal for “The Charter of Human Responsibilities”

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ASIAN SOLIDARITY ECONOMY FORUMKL2011KL2011A S E FASIAN SOLIDARITY ECONOMY FORUM

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Welcome Address

Selamat Datang / Welcome to Malaysia

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Malaysia and to the ASEF KL2011. I trust you would have had a pleasant flight and travel to KL. I really hope you will enjoy your stay in Malaysia especially our foreign guest from Asia and around the globe. Take time to wonder around to catch a glimpse of multi cultural, multi religious and multi ethnic Malaysia. The city of KL is full of what truly is Asia.

We are at a critical point of human history where there is a global crisis which requires collective engagement in solving it. We are depleting natural resources at an alarming rate which negatively impacting environmental sustainability and ecological balance. We are faced with tremendous suffering especially with rising poverty, increasing socio-economic inequalities and all kinds of human conflict. Human greed, corruption and abuse of power is at the heart of this crisis.

However admits global gloom there are clear lights of victory especially through community efforts in establishing alternative socio-economic initiatives for transformation in society and the market place. There is a movement of people among the public, private and civil society including the academic community who are seeking to restore justice, human rights, responsibility, accountability and good governance.

In Asia in general and Malaysia we see ordinary people working together for change through innovations which gives hope and confidence to humankind. Therefore ASEF KL2011 must capture these stories of socio-economic transformation which is setting new models of economic growth and development, which are more inclusive and just.

One new agenda that Malaysia at ASEF KL2011 is introducing to the global solidarity and social economy is the Islamic initiatives which are consistent with the core principles of solidarity economy, socio-economic sustainability and for the common good.

In addition we must recognize that young people are making a major change to tradition held positions through their creative engagements. We must give the space to speak and us to be patience to hear their voices and at the same time enable them to develop successful action on the ground.

I am confident that solidarity economic facilitates greater inclusion for all the disadvantaged and marginalized to enter mainstream and realize their full potential as this is an all inclusive agenda. A stronger commitment to participatory democracy and empowering the grassroots is imperative.

In this context Universities and Centers of learning must play a more strategic and critical role in undertaking action research, policy analysis, impact assessment on the one hand and on the other providing good quality teaching, learning and training in solidarity economy.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the efforts taken by Binary University College together with the Coalition of Socially Responsible Small and Medium Enterprises in Asia with the support of Charles-Leopold Mayer Foundation, all the Malaysian and regional partner organizations for hosting the ASEF KL2011.

It is our prayer and hope that you will have a pleasant stay and experience in Malaysia. I also wish you all the very best in the deliberations and God willing we will formulate an action plan for Asia in the coming three days

Hon Datuk Shaifuddin AbdullahDeputy Minister for Higher EducationGovernment of Malaysia


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Welcome Address

It is encouraging to see the response to the Third Asian Forum for Solidarity Economy. Over 300 people have registered and about 70 percent are from outside of Malaysia and from Asian countries. We have 17 Asian countries represented and 7 others from outside the region.

Among the participants are grassroot implementors who are hands on in running programs and projects. Others are policy makers who are public sector officials and politicians. There are a significant number of academics who are undertaking research, teaching and training with their university students.

It is very encouraging to welcome lots of young people from the Universities especially Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, University Malaysia Kelantan, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Indonesia & Binary University College, Malaysia. These are all young people taking courses at the graduate and post graduate levels in social entreprenurship and social enterprise. They are the future of ASIA and the future promotion of social/solidarity economy in the region.

It is encouraging to note that Universities especially Business and Entreprenurship Schools are introducing social/solidarity economy into main stream higher education courses. This is one area we must strengthen.

The ASEF KL2011 program is very tight over the three days. However we have provided suffcient balance for plenary sessions, workshop groups and small group round-table discussions. We want to facilitate a learning journey experience of sharing among one another. Take time to listen to the presentations of case studies in the workshops. These are in-depth sharing of experiences from the ground or from field study findings.

ASEF KL2011 is very participatory as there will be over 100 formal interventions with 46 plenary presentations and 62 workshop presentations over the three days. This is clearly a ‘meeting of minds’ to share & learn, review & analysis, plan & strategise.

I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your kind support in ensuring that ASEF KL2011 is a success. Our prayer is that this forum is not just an event but a program for people movement for transformation in Asia.

I take this opportunity to thank:-

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Ministry of Higher Education; Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives & Consumerism and all the relevant agencies concerned.

Mr Pierre Calame for his presence and various sharing during the forum. Special thanks to Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind for the special grant which has enabled many from the grassroots in Asia to participate.

Prof Dato Joseph Adaickalam and Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College for being the anchor organisation for ASEF KL2011, for the voluntary support of the staff and students as volunteers

Mr Benjamin Quionones Jr, Chair, CSRSME, Asia and his team for all the valuable advice and support

To all the participating organisations and all participants for your presence and contributions

Let us move Asia towards greater inclusion, sustainable development, human rights and responsibility for all .

Datuk Dr Denison JayasooriaChair, National Organising CommitteeASEF 2011

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Welcome Address

Coalition of Socially Responsible SMEs in AsiaQuezon city, Philippines

Mr Benjamin Quinones Jr.,Chairman ASEC and CSRSME Asia

Welcome to ASEF KL 2011! My heartfelt congratulations to you, too, for participating in a growing movement that sows the seeds of solidarity economy in Asia.

ASEF KL 2011 is the third continental gathering of solidarity advocates and practitioners in Asia since it was founded and first conducted 6 years ago in Manila on October 17-20, 2007. In ASEF Manila 2007, we shared our thoughts and experiences on what constitutes ‘solidarity economy’. In ASEF Tokyo 2009, we affirmed our commitment to our shared vision of an Asian continent that advances an “economy with compassion and sympathy” and which “gives priority to the welfare of the people and not to increasing profits for self-gain”. In ASEF Kuala Lumpur 2011, we aim to institutionalize our partnership through the Asian Social Entrepreneurs Coalition (ASEC) that shall forge solidarity with the initiative of building a real global community that adopts a global ethics focusing on interdependence and universal responsibilities.

Every time we start out the forum, we review the initiatives already being done to alleviate the plight of those who are socially excluded from, and marginalized and impoverished by, the mainstream, profit-maximizing neoliberal economy.

Familiar to many of us are such initiatives as microfinance, social finance, fair trade, social currency, organic farming, renewable energy, and many other innovations. And each time we do this, our interest in the approach, techniques or methods of the innovation cause us to forget how these innovations contribute to the greater goal of creating and advancing solidarity economy.

The sessions of ASEF KL 2011 are precisely structured to enable you to reflect not only on the technique or method of innovation but also how these innovations can overcome the systemic constraints imposed by the profit-maximizing neoliberal economy and contribute to a breakthrough in advancing solidarity economy.

I hope participants will take every opportunity to broaden their organizational network by making new friends among the advocates and practitioners of solidarity economy from other countries while at the same time contributing to the breakthrough of solidarity economy in Asia.

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Introduction

67 years. Born in 1944. Married since 1967, three sons, five grand children.

Graduated from Ecole Polytechique in 1965 and from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées 1968;Involved since he was a student in intercultural relations through the support to migrant integration : first book published with his wife Paulette in 1969 : Les travailleurs étrangers en France (migrant workers in France)

From 1968 to 1987, senior civil servant in the Ministery of urban planning, housing and civil works (Ministere de l’equipement). Served in different positions:

-international cooperation : elaboration of an urban development model in Algeria-socio-economic research : methodology for programming public services;-head of services in a region North of France;-central administration : conception of the fiscal and territorial reform.

From 1987 till 2009, chief executive officer of an international foundation under Swiss law : Foundation Charles Leopold Mayer pour le Progrès de l’Homme. Has developed a strategically oriented foundation aiming at a contribution to major global challenges of our times.

In that position co-founder in 1986 of a French speaking think tank, Le groupe de Vézelay, launching in 1988 the call for Planet states general. Cofounder of the Alliance for a responsible and united world (www.alliance21.org) in 1994, an international process of dialog on the 21st century challenges. Organizer in 2001 of the first ever World citizens assembly which issued the Charter of human responsibilities and the Agenda for the 21st century.In 2005 cofounder of the China Europa Forum (www.china-europa-forum.net), a unique effort to create a global society to society dialog between the Chinese and the European societies.

Author of some ten books and numerous articles. Among them:

Mission possible (1994); un territoire pour l’homme (1995); l’Etat au coeur (1997); evaluation of the European cooperation with ACP countries -report to the European Parliament- (1999) www.UE-ACP.org; La démocratie en miettes (democraty at tatters) (2003); Essay on oeconomy (2009) www.i-r-e.org

Key note Speaker

Mr Pierre CalamePresident,Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind.

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At the origin of the Foundation – a man, Charles Léopold Mayer (1881-1971) : French of Irish origin, Mayer was a chemist, financier, philosopher, researcher, and philanthropist all at the same time. His life was dedicated to finding ways to efficiently contribute to the progress of Humanity.Following his death, his fortune, which he had successfully cultivated, was put at the service of the creation of the « Foundation for the Progress of Humankind », subsequently renamed, in 1996, « Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind », in tribute to the memory of its founder. A foundation under Swiss law, the FPH adheres resolutely to a humanitarian philosophy. It has no political or religious bias. It is characterized by its complete liberty of action and its significant capacity of stability in its work : in fact, it functions thanks to the endowment bequeathed by its founder.

Founding objectives and orientations

Established in 1982, the first objective of the « Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind » is to contribute to the long-term evolution of our society - the emergence of a global community for the construction of relationships in a world radically interdependent, where each element upholds the others – living creatures and objects.

Methods of action

Given that the drive for change require new capacities for dialogue, exchange, expertise and collective proposition, new means of reconciling unity and diversity, of managing the complexity and interdependence of challenges, therefore, new methods of collective work, the Foundation supports these capacities and methods.

The alliances

Facing millions of people, movements, and organizations that invest themselves in the search for a more humane society, the Foundation acts as a relational instrument. It assists in favoring the relationships between different actors worldwide so that, in linking their actions and their creativities, they can discover and enrich one another.

The Foundation supports bringing together each and everyone’s experience and know-how so that, by favoring the construction of a collective intelligence, actors can mobilize their knowledge and act in a more efficient manner for the progress of all Humankind.

Working in this framework of establishing links for the construction of a global civil society, the FPH has influenced the birth and support of the development of an « Alliance for a Responsible, United and Plural World. The FPH has also financed the conference of the World Citizens Assembly in Lille in December 2001.

Since then Foundation’s involvemement is in favor of peace such as

Governance : peace is at the heart of governance. From the construction of « live together » at the local level all the way to global governance ;

An ethic of responsibility and the search for alternative models of development : a culture of peace, responsibility, and cooperation imposes itself in order to search for new economic models whereas the current models are more likely than not based on competition and war ;

Methods of collective intelligence as well as civic alliances : with the development of an alliance of peacemakers - and the organized mobilization of knowledge - with the development of a website of resources for peace, Irenees.net.

website : www.fph.ch

MAIN SPONSOR

The Charles Léopold Mayer Foundationfor the Progress of Humankind (FPH)

An independent Foundation that supports the emergence of a global community

Introduction

Introduction


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PLENARY PRESENTATIONS

DAY ONE OCT 31, 2011 (MONDAY)

8.30 am PLENARY ONE KEY NOTE ADDRESS Welcome & Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria, Chair National Organising Session Committee ASEF KL2011 Moderator (Email - [email protected])

Keynote Speech Mr Pierre Calame, President, Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind. (Email - [email protected])

Responses Hon Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Deputy Higher Education Minister, Government of Malaysia & Advisor to National Organising Committee –ASEF KL2011 (Email - [email protected]) Dato Michael Yeoh, CEO, Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute, Malaysia’s Representative the ASEAN High Level Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity (Email - [email protected])

10am TEA BREAK 10.30am PLENARY TWO PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL/ SOLIDARITY ECONOMY –TripleBottomLineGoals(People,Profit&Planet) Plenary Session 2 will provide the conceptual framework for understanding social/ solidarity economy from the perspectives of different continents. There is a need to distinguish solidarity/social economy from dominant, neoliberal economy. This session will identify the diversity of thought and developments globally.

Moderator Mr David Thompson, Jobs Australia & COMMACT International. (Email - [email protected])

Speakers Asian Perspectives, Developments & Innovations Mr Benjamin Quinones Jr, Chair, CSRSME, Asia. (Email - [email protected])

Conceptual Overview & Developments in the Americas, Dr Emily Kawano, Director, Centre for Popular Economics & the US Solidarity Economy Network. (Email - [email protected]) European & African understanding & Models Mr. Eric Lavilluniere, International Coordinator, Institut Européen d’économie Solidaire: INEES, Luxemburg. (Email - [email protected] Global Trends & Movements, the RIPESS Story, Ms Nancy Neamtan, Chair, RIPESS. (Email - [email protected])

Prof Farok bin Zakaria, Universiti Kelantan Malaysia. (Email - [email protected])

12pm Round Table Reflections

1pm Lunch

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2pm WORKSHOP SESSION 1 SOCIAL ECONOMY IN ACTION

The focus of Workshop session 1 is on what has been happening on the ground by way of concrete models and innovations. Opportunities have been provided for presentation of case studies under six workshop groupings:-

WS1a Micro credit and social finance

WS1b Fair trade

WS1c Value chain development

WS1d Green dimensions

WS 1e Islamic Initiatives

WSS 1f CSR & community based enterprises

(Workshop Details on Presentations see page 13-15)

4.00pm Tea Break

4.30pm PLENARYRELECTIONS&FREEBACK

Session Moderator : Mr David Thompson (Jobs Australia & COMMACT International)

5.30 Break Time

8.00pm WELCOMEDINNER&BOOKLAUNCH (Dinner hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Malaysia)

Welcome Speech Prof Dato Joseph Adaickalam, Chairman Binary University College, Malaysia (Email - [email protected])

Special Address Cabinet Minister, Government of Malaysia

Book Launch Pierre Calame’s “Essay on Oeconomy“ & Brief thought from Pierre Calame

Book Launch Benjamin Quinones’s “Sowing the seeds of solidarity economy: Asian experiences” & brief thought from Ben Quinones

Special songs Filipino entertainers sponsored by Ms. Cherina Chacko

DAYTWO Nov1,2011(TUESDAY)

8.30 am PLENARY THREE TAPPING THE POTENTIAL OF SOCIAL/SOLIDARITY ECONOMY Plenary 3 focuses on drawing out the strengths of social/solidarity economy which has enabled its growth and development globally. What are the distinctive dimensions enabling the rapid growth of these enterprises as an alternativetomainstreamdominantmodels.Thisisreflectiveandanalytical in dimension drawing from the practice, success and failure of social economy and enterprise models. What lessons can we learn from our success?

Moderator Dr Ed Canela, International Consultant. (Email - [email protected])

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Speakers Prof Jun Nishikawa, Waseda University, Japan. (Email - [email protected])

Prof Lee Kwang Taek, Work Together Foundation, S.Korea (Email - [email protected])

Mrs Virginia Juan, President & CEO, APPEND, Philippines. (Email - [email protected])

Mr. Toto Sugito, Founder and Chairman of Bike To Work Indonesia Community - B2W. (Email - toto@b2w- indonesia.or.id)

Dr Philip Hui, Deputy Secretary General, Longsee Foundation, Hong Kong SAR, China. (Email - [email protected])

Mr Sam Chelladurai, Executive Director, Anekal Rehabilitation Education and Development (READ) Centre, Bangalore, India. (Email – [email protected] or [email protected])

10am TEA BREAK

10.30am PLENARYFOUR OVERCOMINGCHALLENGES&HURDLESIN SOCIAL/ SOLIDARITY ECONOMY Plenary Session 4 focuses on the challenges and hurdles faced by social/solidarity business related to access to finance,markets,technicalexpertise,businessdevelopment orun-conducivepolicyenvironment.Thistooisareflective sessionindefiningthehurdlesbutalsoproviding pointers to overcoming them and emerging successful. Moderator Ms Cindy Chen. Alfanamics Private Limited, Singapore. (Email - [email protected])

Speakers Prof Dr John Clammer. Institute for Sustainability & Peace, UN University Japan. (Email - [email protected]) Mr. Yvon Poirier, Canadian Community Development Network – CCEDNET. (Email - [email protected])

Ms. Ramona Ramos, Executive Director, World Fair Trade Organization, Asia. (Email - [email protected]) Ms Martine Theveniaut, Pactes Locaux, France. (Email - [email protected])

Mr Paul Sinappan, Community Consultant & Fellow, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College, Malaysia.(Email - [email protected])

Ms Uchiha Shoko, Pacific Research Centre- PARC, Japan. (Email- [email protected])

Mr. Yvon Poirier, Canadian Community Development Network - CCEDNET. (Email - [email protected])

Ms. Martine Theveniaut, Pactes Locaux, France. (Email - [email protected])

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12pm Round Table Reflections

1pm Lunch

2pm WORKSHOPSESSION2TAPPINGPOTENTIAL&OVERCOMING CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL ECONOMY

Workshop session 2 focuses on the theme of lessons from success and also onchallengesandhowwecanovercomethem.Sessionsarespecificonfive majorchallengesidentifiedwhichisimpactingthegrowth&developmentof solidarity economy worldwide. The five specific workshops in session two are:-

WS2a Access to Finance

WS2b Access to Markets (suppliers, buyers)

WS2c Access to technical expertise, technology and training

WS2d Access to Business development services

WS2e Developing conducive policy environment for social enterprises

WS2f Voices from the grassroots


4.00pm Tea Break

4.30pm PLENARYRELECTIONS&FREEBACK

Session Moderator : Dr Ed Canela (International Consultant)

5.30pm SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP DISCUSSIONS (By Invitation)

Youth Caucus meeting to strengthen solidarity economy network Asia. Moderator: Mr John Anugraha (Global Citizens for Sustainable Development)

Asian Solidarity Responses to Rio + 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Moderators: Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and Mr Pierre Calame

Break Time / Free Evening

DAY THREE Nov 2, 2011 (WEDNESDAY)

8.30 am PLENARY FIVE NEXT GENERATION VOICES IN SOCIAL ECONOMY

Plenary session 5 will focus on the views of the future leadership in the social economy in Asia A number of key younger generational leaders who have been involved in the solidarity economy are invited to make their presentations on how they see the future of social economy in Asia. They will drawtheirconclusionsbasedontheirexperiencesandalsothroughactive participation at ASEF KL 2011 sessions. Moderator Mr John Anugraha, Executive Director, Global Citizens for Sustainable Development, India. (Email - [email protected])

Speakers Ms Shomi Kim. Head, Multicultural Education Program Team UNESCO/MIZY, Centre - Seoul Youth Centre for Cultural Exchange, S.Korea) (Email - [email protected])

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Mr Patrick Omar B Erestain, Programme Manager and Coordinator, Leadership for Effective and Sustained Responses to HIV & AIDS,Philippines ([email protected])

Mr Iiham Issac Zikri, Director, Global Citizens for Sustainable Development, Indonesia Ms Ema Izati, Centre for Women Leadership, Binary University College, Malaysia (email- [email protected])

Ms Valerie Ambetsa Siganga, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College, Malaysia (Email - [email protected])

10am TEA BREAK

10.30am PLENARY SIX THE STEPS FORWARD FOR SOCIAL ECONOMY Plenary session 6 will chart directions for the future development of social economy in Asia with the establishment of the Asian Social Entrepreneurs Coalition and implementation of the Value Chain Development Program (VCDP)

Moderator Prof Cielito F Habito. Dean of Economics, Ateneo de Manila University (Email - [email protected])

Speakers Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria (Chair National Organising Committee ASEF KL2011)

Mr. Ben Quinones Jr (CSRSME Asia)

Mr. David Thompson (Jobs Australia & COMMACT International)

12.00 pm Round Table Reflections

1.00 pm Lunch

2pm WORKSHOP SESSION 3 THE STEPS FORWARD FOR SOCIAL ECONOMY

The five Workshop groups are all forward looking sessions charting a course of action towards the future. How do we enhance the opportunities, overcome the challenges and chart a future course of action at the continental Asia level which is also applicable at the national level as strategy and implementation directions.

WS3a ASEF Social Finance

WS3b ASEF Trading/Marketing

WS3c ASEF Training & Social media Networking

WS3d ASEF Business development services

WS3e ASEF Policy advocacy

WS 3f ASEF Community


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4.00pm Tea Break

4.30pm PLENARY RELECTIONS

Session Moderator : Mr Ben Quinones Jr

5.30 Break Time

8.00PM CLOSINGDINNER&SPECIALSESSIONONCHARTERFORHUMAN RESPONSBILITY (Dinner hosted by the Department of National Unity & Integration, Government of Malaysia)

Welcome Speech: Prof Datuk Yusof Kassim, Vice Chancellor, Asia-Pacific University College of Technology & Innovation – UCTI (Email – [email protected]) Panel Presentation on the Charter of Human Responsibilities, Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities

Mr Pierre Calame President, Foundation Charles Leopold Mayer Foundation for the Progress of Humankind. (Email- [email protected])

Ms Sudha Sreenivasa Reddy, Asia Coordinator, Charter of Human Responsibilities Forum of Ethics & Responsibilities (Email - [email protected])

Ms Edith Sizoo, Coordinator of the International Facilitation Committee of the Charter (Email - [email protected])

Speech by Special Guest: Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon (Cabinet Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Government of Malaysia)

Special songs Filipino entertainers sponsored by Ms. Cherina Chacko

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WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

DAY1(OCT31,2011) WORKSHOPSESSION1 SHARINGSTORIES,EXPERIENCES& CASESTUDIES–SOCIAL/SOLIDARITY ECONOMY IN ACTION

WS1a MICROCREDIT&SOCIALFINANCE

Workshop Moderator: Prof. Dr. Christopher K.L. Shun (Foundation for Community Studies & Development, Malaysia). Email - [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer: Ms. Virginia Juan (APPEND, Philippines). Email – [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Mrs Elma B Valenzuela (CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions, Philippines) CARD MRI Micro finance experiences in the Philippines and Asia. Email - [email protected]

Ms Ooi Kiah Hui (Malaysian Care, Malaysia) – Community based micro finance & Agricultural income generation projects, intervention in indigenous communities. Email- [email protected]

Ms Vaishavi Gopalakrishnan (Binary University College) – Fisherwomen Self Help Groups and micro credit in Tamilnadu. Email – [email protected]

Ms Rozita Muhamad (Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia ) The Role of Social Capital in Making a Micro Credit Program a Success: The Case of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia. Email – [email protected]

Mr Eduardo A Mendoza (TSPI, Philippines) Microfinance Services for enterprise development among poor women including enterprenurship development and other non-financial services. Email - [email protected]

WS1b FAIR TRADE

Workshop Moderator: Mr Law Gin Kye (Generasi Gemilang, Malaysia). Email – [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Mr Johny Joseph (Asian Rep to WFTO Board of Directors & ED Creative Handicrafts, India) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Ms Bertha Gity Baroi (COR-The Jute Works) – Fair Trade: Challenge and Prospects in perspective of Bangladesh. Email – [email protected]

Mr Han Soo Yung (Beautiful Store, South Korea)- The success of Beautiful store: How we involve stakeholders. Email – [email protected]

Ms Nur Aenah Ahmad (Indonesian People’s Handicraft Foundation) – Pekerti’s experiences in Fair trade & community development.Email –[email protected] or [email protected]

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Mr Brigido Simon Jr (Bumbaran Development Corporation, Philippines) –Housing for the poor, Fair housing project. Email - [email protected]

WS1c VALUECHAINDEVELOPMENT

Workshop Moderator: Mr Kon Onn Sein (Foundation for Community Studies & Development, Malaysia). Email – [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Dr Karl Birkholzer (Technologie-Netzwerk, BerlinGermany) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Mr Wojtek Kalinowski (Veblen Institute for Economic Reforms, Paris) – Tools for constructing sustainable value chains. Email – [email protected]

Mr Shah Abdus Salam (Executive Director, World Fair Trade Organisation, Bangladesh)- Value chain of organic farming: A case of DEW food security project.Email – [email protected]

Dr Wong Lai Yong (CSR Asia, Japan) Banana tree to business card: The journey of one Planet café and Nissindou Printing company.Email - [email protected] or [email protected]

Ms. Aida Libunao (ASKI -Alalay Sa Kaunlaran Inc.) Value Financing in Agriculture at ASKIEmail: [email protected]

Roxie Abagatan (Taytay Sa Kauswagan Inc. ). Farmers’ Integrated Development Program: A Value Chain Approach in Microfinance Email: [email protected]

Dr John Thavaselvan (Dean, Post graduate School, Binary University College). Dynamics of the value chaindevelopment model to enhance social development and entrepreneurship in creating self sustaining communities.Email – [email protected]

WS1d GREEN DIMENSION

Workshop Moderator: Mr Richard Ooi (Rich Earth Solutions, Malaysia). Email- [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Ms Vicente R Geducos (Hagdan Sa Pag-uswag Foundation, Philippines) Email - [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Ms Vicente R Geducos (Hagdan Sa Pag-uswag Foundation, Philippines). Organic Farming, A sustainable ecological and economic development.Email - [email protected]

Mr Hery Budiarto (Yayasan Bina Usaha Lingkungan , Indonesia)- Tracing Footsteps towards self-reliant community. Email – [email protected]

Ms Rajanita Das (Binary University College, Malaysia). Environmentally sustainable community betterment approach through innovative use of vermicomposting, Case study of rural community in West Bengal community.Email – [email protected]

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Mr Mathew John (Director, Keystone Foundation, Tamil Nadu, India). Participatory guarantee systems in organic farming- Alternatives for the small farmers. Email – [email protected]

Mr Wong Young Soon (Malaysian CARE) Sustainable agriculture for sustainable livelihoods , a case study of a community project by the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia. Email – [email protected]

Mr Gandi Bayu (Lestari Cooperative, Indonesia) – Sheep-goats adoption for scholarship children & supporting organics farming. Email – [email protected]

WS1e ISLAMIC INITIATIVES

Workshop Moderator: Prof Dr. Farok Bin Zakaria (University Kelantan Malaysia). Email: [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer: Mr Shah Abdus Salam (WFTO, Bangladesh) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Dr. S.N.Yassin (Binary University College) Islamic Financing Model based on Islamic Law, or “SHRI’AH and the Social & Economic Development in Developing Countries, A Case Study from Malaysia and Bangladesh. Email – [email protected]

Mulyadih Hasan (Mustadh’afin Community Empowerment Foundation, Indonesia). Community-Based Micro-Finance and Islamic principles. Email- [email protected] or [email protected]

Dr Muhammad Yamin Ismail (Islamic Religious Council, Kuala Lumpur). Zakat in Islamic Finance

Haji Mohd Ezanee Mohd Adam (Ar Rahn, Kelantan) Islamic Pawnshop of the Kelantan State Government

Assoc Prof Dr Asyraf Wajdi (Islamic Religious Affairs ISRA) Islamic Initiatives

Ms Jahliah Mahat (Bank Rakyat) Ar Rahnu, Mico Financing for needy - The Bank Rakyat Model. Email - [email protected]

WS1f CSR&COMMUNITYENTERPRISE

Workshop Moderator: Mr SM Brahmananda (Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College). Email - [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Dr Emily Kawano (Centre for Popular Economics & the US Solidarity Economy Network). Email - [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Ms Marie Myung-Hee LEE (Work Together Foundation, South Korea) - Supporting Social entrepreneurship in under-developing and developing countries- a case study of Smile Together Project. Email - [email protected]

Ms Shamsa Hamed Said Al-Harthi (Director of Association & Clubs, Ministry of Social Development, Sultanate of Oman and DBA Research student at Binary University College) Community empowerment through social entrepreneurship – Experiences from Oman. Email - [email protected]

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Dr Emily Kawano (Centre for Popular Economics & the US Solidarity Economy Network)- Building solidarity economy enterprises from the bottom up and to down: Two case studies in the US namely the Jersey shore neighbourhood cooperatives and Evergreen cooperatives in Cleverland Ohio. Email - [email protected]

Ms Peggy Mekel & Dr Lisbeth (Sam Ratulangi University, Manado Indonesia), Local initiatives of solidarity economy in North Sulawesi Indonesia. Email - [email protected]

Ms Charisma G. Gascon (Community Development Officer, CAP Asia, Philippines). Camp sewing project in Towerville community in Philippines- the case study of social enterprise and community development work in a relocation site. Email – [email protected]

DAY2(NOV1,2011) WORKSHOPSESSIONTWO TAPPINGTHEPOTENTIAL& OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

WS2a FINANCE

Workshop Moderator: Prof. Dr. Christopher K.L. Shun (Foundation for Community Studies & Development, Malaysia).

Email: [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Mrs Virginia Juan (APPEND, Philippines) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Mr Jaime Briz de Felipe,(Impact Investment Shujog, Singapore), Capital Markets for Social Good. Email – [email protected]

Ms Mazanah Abd Ghani (Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia), The Impact of Microfinance in Vulnerable Remote Areas: Evidence and Experience from Borrowers of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia

Mr Yvon Poirier (Candian Community Economic Development Network-CCEDNET)- A community loan fund (micro-credit) in a Quebec city. Email – [email protected] Ms Endang Sulfiana Sukirman (PPSW Association, Indonesia) – Micro credit for women empowerment. Email – [email protected] or [email protected]

Ms Ana Budi Rahayu (Bina Swadaya, Indonesia). Community saving and social investment through community self help group, Cooperative and ASA program. Email – [email protected]

WS2b MARKETS

Workshop Moderator: Mr Lee Chee Loi (Former Malaysian CARE) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Ms. Ramona Ramos (World Fair Trade Organization - WFTO Asia). Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Ms Vicente R Geducos (Hagdan Sa Pag-uswag Foundation, Philippines)- Organic Farming, Coconut sugar: A new discovery to good health. Email – [email protected]

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Mrs Wuryaningsih Setyawati (President/Director, PT Mahkotadewa Indonesia)- Developing new herbal products for health food and craft. Email – [email protected]

Ms Adinindyah Arya Wisnutama (LAWE Cooperative, Indonesia) – LAWE, conserving tradition and empowering women through market innovations. Email – [email protected]

Mr Vidal Sibanico Jr (Michri International trading, Philippines) Empowering people through social enterprise, the case of Chrimi coffee. Email - [email protected]

Mr Devan Singaram (Elevyn.com, Malaysia) What’s in your hands? A social startup journey. Email - [email protected]

WS2c TECHNICALEXPERTISE&TRAINING

Workshop Moderator: Prof Dr. Farok Bin Zakaria (University Kelantan Malaysia) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Mr Romulo Romero (OTI, Philippines) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Dr Wee Yu Ghee (Universiti Malaysia Kelantan) Transforming community mindset through social enterprise for economic development (SEED), Role of academic institution in providing agricultural and entrepreneurship expertise to a rural community. Email – [email protected]

Mr Huang Soon Fook (Binary University College), Nurturing entrepreneurs through mentoring & training, a case study of the Asian Centre for Entrepreneurship). Email – [email protected]

Dr Philip K Hui (Longsee Foundation) – Action learning for developing leaders and social enterprise. Email- [email protected]

Ms Eva Moenisa (Forum for Indonesian Cooperatives Movement- FORMASI, Indonesia) – CTS & Rural Enterprise Development, Access to technical expertise, technology and training. Email – [email protected]

Ms Anggraen Irawati (Bina Swadaya, Indonesia) – Capacity building for grassroots community . Email - [email protected]

Dr Karl Birkholzer (Technologie-Netzwerk, BerlinGermany). Developing alternative microeconomic strategies for social enterprise Email: [email protected]

WS2d BUSINESSDEVELOPMENTSERVICES

Workshop Moderator: Mr Law Gin Kye (Generasi Gemilang, Malaysia) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Mr Michael Eric L.Castillo (Consultant, Philippine Public Safety College). Email: michaelericc@ gmail.com

Workshop Speakers

Ms Ayu Bulan (Bina Swadaya Konsultan, Indonesia) – Community Investment Program. Email – [email protected]

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Ms Gyeong-ah Jang (Work Together Foundation, South Korea) The case study of Phoudindaeng Youth Centre in Laos as the community development project and its trial as a social enterprise based on the local community and youths. Email- [email protected]

Mr Timothy KW Ma (Senior Citizens Home Safety, Hong Kong) – Needs driven service, a driving force for sustainable social enterprise. Email – [email protected]

Ms Josie M Fernandez (Centre for the Advancement of Philanthropy, Malaysia), From Charity to Social Investments and Social Justice, Philanthropy in Indonesia. Email - [email protected]

Mr Sam Chelladurai (Executive Director, Anekal Rehabilitation Education & Development (READ) Centre. Indigenous Social Enterprises from an Indian Experience. Email- [email protected] or [email protected]

WS2e PUBLICPOLICIES

Workshop Moderator: Mr Kon Onn Sein (Foundation for Community Studies & Development, Malaysia) Email: [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer: Ms Nancy Neamtan (RIPESS). Email - [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Dr Emily Kawano (Centre for Popular Economics & the US Solidarity Economy Network). The cooperative movement as part of a transformation strategy in the US. Email - [email protected]

Ms Mahalatcheemee G Manikam (Malaysian Co-operative Societies Commission) National Co-operative Policy of Malaysia 2011-2020. Email - [email protected]

Prof Lee Kwang Taek (Work Together Foundation) – Introduction of the Social Enterprise Promotion Act and its future tasks. Email - [email protected]

Mr Abdullah Al Mamun (Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College), Potential & challenge for Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia to move towards social and solidarity economy. Email – [email protected]

WS2f VOICES FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Workshop Moderator: Mr SM Brahmananda (Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College). Email - [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer : Mr Paul Sinappan (Community Consultant & Felo, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College, Malaysia) Email- [email protected]

Workshop Speakers

Mr. Munian a/l Sellan (Koperasi Kredit Rakyat , Batang Berjuntai) - Plantation Credit Union’s Savings and Loan Society, A case study of Tennamaram Estate. He will speak in Tamil. There will be translation into English

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Mr.Selamat bin Surib (Koperasi Homes Stay Koperasi, Tanjong Karang) - Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming. He will speak in Bahasa Malaysia. There will be translation into English

Ms Hajah Noraini Ibrahim (Koperasi Khidmat Wanita, Kuala Kangsar)- Women Empowerment through cooperatives. She will speak in Bahasa Malaysia. There will be translation into English Rep from Koperasi Senoi Pribumi Perak. - Empowering forest based communities for socioeconomic transformation

Ms Rahaiah Baheren (a promoter of Cooperatives among women) – Lessons from Cooperative experiences in tapping opportunities and overcoming obstacles in empowering the poor irrespective of their ethnicity, or religion

DAY 3 (NOV 2, 2011) WORKSHOP SESSION THREE THE STEPS FORWARD FOR SOCIAL ECONOMY

WS3a FINANCE

Workshop Moderator: Prof. Dr. Christopher K.L. Shun (Foundation for Community Studies & Development, Malaysia) Email [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Mrs Virginia Juan (APPEND, Philippines). Email: [email protected]

Workshop Speakers Collective Reflections/Group Discussions

WS3b MARKETS

Workshop Moderator: Mr Lee Chee Loi (Former Executive Director, Malaysian CARE). Email : [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Mr Sunil Chitrakar (Executive Director, Mahaguthi with a conscience, Nepal). Email : [email protected]


WS3c TECHNICALEXPERTISE&TRAINING

Workshop Moderator: Prof Dr. Farok Bin Zakaria (University Kelantan Malaysia)

Workshop Thematic synthesize Mr Romulo Romero (OTI, Philippines). Email: [email protected]


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WS3d BUSINESSDEVELOPMENTSERVICES

Workshop Moderator: Mr Law Gin Kye (Generasi Gemilang, Malaysia) Workshop Thematic synthesizer Ms Jeanne Marie Bernardo (Eagles Wings Foundation, Philippines)


WS3e PUBLICPOLICIES

Workshop Moderator: Mr Kon Onn Sein (Foundation for Community Studies & Development, Malaysia)

Workshop Thematic synthesizer: Ms Nancy Neamtan (RIPESS)


WS1f COMMUNITYPARTICIPARTORYDEVELOPMENT

Workshop Moderator: Mr SM Brahmananda (Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College) Email - [email protected]

Workshop Thematic synthesizer Dr Emily Kawano (Centre for Popular Economics & the US Solidarity Economy Network) Email - [email protected]


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GUIDELINES

PLENARYSESSIONGUIDELINES

Plenary Presenters

Each presenter has between 10 minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes. We would like all to exercise discipline and keep to the time.

We plan to publish all presentations into a book and therefore would appreciate in addition to your power point, a four page paper. You could bring this with you or you can email it ahead of time

Please keep your presentation to the theme of the plenary session. These are broader sharing of ideas and experiences. It is not a time for a case study or a technical paper presentation of one experience as that is the focus of the workshop sessions

In the plenary session focus attention to lessons learnt. You can be critical, reflective, drawing lessons in how social/solidarity economic is defined, how it development in your continent, what are the potential, what are the hurdles, how was it over comed, what lessons learnt, what is the direction for the future. You are free to draw from your experiences or research but it must be applied to a boarder global context and not a singular national focus. Regional or sub regional is ok but in all presentations keep in mind how does my experience in my local context have relevance for social economy at a global level.

As you are given an opportunity to present in a plenary session, please note the theme and brief outline and draw general principles, lessons and possibilities for the future.

All our presentations are anchored from our analysis, conceptual framework, pragmatic experiences and ultimately our vision and hope in creating a better and sustainable world for all of humankind and the universe.

Plenary Moderators

Your main role is to ensure that there is a discipline of time and that the speakers are focused on the theme of our plenary session.

Please get to know those in your plenary session so as to introduce them. Also ensure that the speakers are able to get the support such as access to LCD facilities etc.

Please ensure that there is some time for floor questions and answer session after the presentations

Please also introduce the questions for Roundtable Discussion. Three of the six plenary moderators will be coordinating the three final plenary reflections at the end of the day. For this you will be assisted by workshop moderators and thematic synthesizers. You could secure the assistance of one of them to share the main findings from the workshops.

---------------------------------On logistic support such as power point presentation and submission of a soft copy of your presentations and paper please contact:- Ms Ema Izati (email : [email protected] or mobile 019 3054085) or Mr Henry E Duku (email: [email protected] or mobile 012 2084927) of the secretariat, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College.

Please submit a copy of your power point presentations and your four page write-up for publication to the Chairman of ASEF KL2011 – [email protected] or [email protected]

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PLENARYSESSIONROUNDTABLEREFLECTIONS(AfterPlenaryPresentations)

Plenary 2. Perspectives on social/ solidarity economy

Oct 31, 2011 (Mon) Day 1: 12.00 noon to 1.00 p.m

Intro: We have heard resource speakers this morning about the perspectives on social/ solidarity economy from different continents.

Issues for discussion: Give ONE (1) basic feature that distinguishes social/ solidarity economy fundamentally from the profit-maximizing, neoliberal economy. Based on this ONE fundamental feature, explain your vision of social/ solidarity economy to members of your group.

Sharing time: 5 minutes per person

Plenary 3. Tapping the potential of social/ solidarity economy

Nov 1, 2011 (Tuesday) Day 2: 12.00 noon to 12.30 p.m.

Intro: Social/ solidarity economy initiatives abound in countries all over the world. These initiatives include microfinance, social finance, fair trade, organic farming, alternative energy, social enterprises, and many others. They represent the strivings of people to survive and support life in a socio-economic system that tends to exclude and marginalize them.

Issues for discussion: Identify ONE (1) important feature of one of the social/ solidarity economy initiatives presented by the resource speakers. Explain the potentials of such feature in reversing the status of social exclusion and marginalization of great numbers of people.


Plenary 4: Overcoming The Challenges Of Social/Solidarity Economy

Nov 1, 2011 (Tuesday) Day 2: 12.30 - 1.00 p.m.

Intro: The ethical basis of social/ solidarity economy differs radically from that of the profit-maximizing, neoliberal economy, which is based on greed. The fact that many people are dependent on the latter for economic survival already poses a great challenge to the former.

Issues for discussion: Identify ONE (1) important feature of the profit-maximizing, neoliberal economy that poses as a threat to the social/solidarity economy. Discuss how social/solidarity economy could overcome such threat.


Plenary 5: Next Generation - Voices In Social/ Solidarity Economy

Nov 2, 2011 (Wednesday) Day 3: 12.00 - 12.30 p.m.

Intro: The YOUTH today are generally taught in schools how to maximize profits in an environment that is assumed to be that of a liberalized economy. Their textbooks are written by economists who spouse the profit-maximizing neoliberal economy. It does

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not surprise anyone that, when they graduate, they would choose to work for profit-maximizing, socially indifferent companies.

Issues for discussion: Identify ONE (1) important action that can be taken to transform the mindset of the youth today towards becoming more sensitive to the need for an inclusive economy and one which does not destroy the environment for the sake of company profits. Discuss how such action could produce compassionate and socially responsible YOUTH.


Plenary 6: Steps Forward For Social/ Solidarity Economy

Nov 2, 2011 (Wednesday) Day 3: 12.30 - 1.00 p.m.

Intro: We have learned much from the presentations and discussions during the plenary sessions and workshops. We now know that social/ solidarity economy has the potentials of creating an alternative economy, one that is more inclusive and participatory, a caring and compassionate economy. However, the mainstream profit- maximizing neoliberal economy naturally opposes the ethical basis of social/ solidarity economy and henceforth constrains the latter’s growth and development.

Issues for discussion: Identify ONE (1) important action that YOU can take in your own organization, community, or village to advance social/solidarity economy. Discuss how such action could enhance the knowledge of people about social/ solidarity economy and increase its uptake by the people.


WORKSHOPPRESENTERSGUIDELINES

Each presenter is given between 10 to maximum of 15 minutes for presentation. Please time yourself well. We have to be disciplined. Narrow the presentation and details could be circulated as background reading materials such as organizational leaflets etc.

Please focus on the key theme of how is this project a solidarity economy project and an alternative to dominant market economy model especially on how social enterprise is a vehicle for socio-economic transformation of communities.

Some questions which can serve as a guide for presentations. What is your story? What is its impact? What is the potential? What are the challenges? How did you overcome them? And what is the future direction or way forward? Some pointers

We plan to publish a book so in addition to your power point please prepare a 4 page write up for the book.

Role of Moderators

Each workshop group has a moderator. His/her role is to introduce the theme, ensure that all speakers keep to time, ensure adequate time for discussion and finally thanks the presenters

Prior to the session ensure all the presenters are identified and the presenters are aware of the time guideline and focus of presentation.

Also ensure the presenters meet up with the support people for the workshop in terms of use of LCD and laptop connections for presentations

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Also ensure that the assigned rapporteur and support volunteers undertake the duties efficiently

Role of Thematic synthesizer

This is a very important role of listening to all the presentations and then drawing out the key lessons such as commonalities and differences in the understanding and application of social economy, drawing out the potential, the hurdles, the ways these were addressed and their directions for the future

Therefore during the presentations it is important for the synthesizer to listen and make appropriate interventions. Also to drawn the lessons for the Asian region as a whole. The synthesizer must document what they hear but also provide input during the discussion.

Either the moderator or thematic synthesizer will present the common emerging themes during the final plenary reflection at the end of each day.

--------------------------------------------

On logistic support especially on power point presentation please contact Mr Brama (email: [email protected] or mobile 012 2889001) or Ms Rajanita (email: [email protected] or mobile 010 2799301) of the secretariat, Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Binary University College.

ASEF plans to publish all the presentations into a book by early 2012. Please email a copy of your presentations – power point and a 4 page write up to the Chair of ASEF KL2011 at [email protected] or [email protected]

PLENARYREFLECTIONS&FEEDBACK-GuideForWorkshopSynthesizers

Workshop 1: Sharing Of Stories & Experiences/ Case Studies

Day 1: 4.30 - 5.30 p.m

Intro: There will be 6 Workshop Synthesizers, one for each workshop, namely: WS1a Micro credit & social finance; WS1b Fair Trade; WS1c Value Chain development; WS 1d Green dimensions; WS1e Islamic initiatives; and WS1f CSR & community enterprise.

Each Workshop Synthesizer will highlight the KEY WORDS/ THEMES drawn from the presentations and discussions in the workshop.

Organizing the workshop synthesis: Identify at least FIVE (5) KEY WORDS/ THEMES (e.g. social performance, value added, etc.) that capture the main thematic lessons drawn from workshop presentations and discussions. Elaborate the main thematic lessons for each KEY WORD/ THEME.

Sharing time: 7 minutes per Workshop Synthesizer

Workshop 2. Tapping the potential & overcoming obstacles of social/ solidarity economy

Day 2: 4.30 0- 5.30 p.m.

Intro: There will be 6 Workshop Synthesizers, one for each workshop, namely: WS2a Finance; WS2b Markets; WS2c Technical expertise & training; WS2d Business development services; WS2e Public Policies; WS2f Voices from the grassroots. The KEY WORDS/ THEMES drawn from the presentations and discussions in the workshop shall be highlighted by the Workshop Synthesizer.

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Organizing the workshop synthesis: Identify at least FIVE (5) KEY WORDS/ THEMES (e.g. interest rate, benefits of the marginalized, etc.) that capture the main thematic lessons drawn from workshop presentations and discussions. Elaborate the main thematic lessons for each KEY WORD/ THEME.


Workshop 3. Forward looking workshops

Day 3: 4.30 0- 5.30 p.m.

Intro: There will be 6 Workshop Synthesizers, one for each workshop, namely:

WS3a Finance; WS3b Markets; WS3c Technical expertise & training; WS3d Business development services; WS3e Public Policies; WS3f Community. The names of the workshops are similar to those in Day 2. This is designed to be so to encourage participants of the same workshop to continue their discussions from analysis of potentials (opportunities) and obstacles (threats) to formulation of proposals on how to tap the potentials and overcome the obstacles.

Organizing the workshop synthesis: Identify at least FIVE (5) KEY WORDS/ THEMES (e.g.fair trade premium, capacity building, etc.) that capture the main thematic lessons drawn from workshop presentations and discussions. Elaborate the main thematic lessons for each KEY WORD/ THEME.


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ADVOCACY OF SOLIDARITY ECONOMY IN ASIA By Benjamin R. Quiñones, Jr.

ChairmanCoalition of Socially Responsible Small & Medium Enterprises in Asia

Ever since it organized the first Asian Solidarity Economy Forum (ASEF, Manila. October 2007), the Coalition of Socially Responsible Small & Medium Enterprises in Asia grappled with the following issues:

(1) How to define and illustrate the paradigm1 of Solidarity Economy (SE) in a way that is understandable to a broad spectrum of people;

(2) How to inculcate the SE culture of social responsibility, reciprocity and solidarity among the people so that they may embrace SE as a way of life; and

(3) What concrete measures can be adopted to advance the practice of SE and its culture of social responsibility, reciprocity and solidarity in continental Asia. 1.DefiningandIllustratingtheParadigmofSolidarityEconomy

The Asian Solidarity Economy Forum (ASEF) is a biennial event that trumpets the call towards solidarity economy as an alternative to the failures and shortcomings of the capitalist market economy. Among ASEF’s major tasks is to define and illustrate the paradigm of solidarity economy (SE).

A popular approach in defining SE is to refer to the principles of cooperativism and illustrate how they work through the activities of cooperatives. In Asia, the most successful form of cooperative is the credit cooperative or credit union. The Association of the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (AACCU) reported that the total number of credit unions in Asia reached 21,892 in 2009 with a total membership of 40,592,341. Their total assets amounted to US$114,270 million of which US$80,302 Million or 70.3% were loans outstanding. Their major source of funds were member deposits, comprising US$ 78,853 Million or 69% of total assets. 2

These numbers do not include the non-formal self-help groups or rotating savings and credit associations. To get a feel of how large this non-formal sector is, one may cite the example of India where relevant statistics are available. The number of credit unions in India was 2,866 in 2009 with 20,000,000 members. Compare this with the number of self-help groups and rotating savings and credit associations at 3.2 million with total membership of 43 million. 3

Indeed, the cooperative sector in Asia is huge. The question is, has it contributed to the

1The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines PARADIGM as “a philosophical and theoretical framework of a scientific school or discipline within which theories, laws, and generalizations and the experiments performed in support of them are formulated; broadly : a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind.”2 Association of the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions. (2009). 2009 Statistical Report. Bangkok.3Solomon, R. Bhakter. (2010). Self Help Groups in India. Paper presented at the CEO Workshop 2010 Credit Unions Providing Financial Services to the Bottom line Pyramid March 13-17, 2010,_______.

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emergence of a solidarity economy, or has it been co-opted into the mainstream capitalist economy?

One meets a number of challenges in tackling this issue, but for considerations of space, let’s deal with two of these. First, If indeed the cooperative financial sector has contributed to building a solidarity economy in Asia, then it should have been possible to observe and measure it. But the lack of standard indicators makes it difficult to map out the dimensions of solidarity economy and track its behavior. Consequently, researchers have taken the option of using the performance of the cooperative financial sector as a proxy indicator of solidarity economy’s performance. It is common knowledge, of course, that the financial sector is just one of the sectors contributing to the economy’s value added. The real sector comprising agriculture, manufacturing, export and import, contribute a bigger share in the economy’s value added.

Second, cooperative or solidarity finance does not necessarily lead to the creation of a solidarity-based and altruistic real sector. While many small and medium entrepreneurs may avail of cooperative/ solidarity finance for toperating capital, they are as individualistic and profit-oriented as the next door ‘capitalist’.

Against this backdrop, the first Asian Solidarity Economy Forum (ASEF I, Manila, October 2007) attempted to get as many participants to share their comprehension and perceptions about SE. Cooperation, rather than competition, among socio-economic actors stood out as the common perception across stakeholder groups of what constitutes solidarity economy 4. Put simply, ASEF 1 participants understood solidarity economy as one that maximizes cooperation among men and between man and the environment, instead of maximizing profits. But, how cooperation is achieved in building solidarity economy amidst a competitive market environment remained an ambiguous issue in the aftermath of ASEF I.

The second ASEF (Tokyo, November 2009) traced the historical evolution of the SE concept as understood and practiced in Europe, Latin America, and North America. This paved the way for the adoption of a shared vision of solidarity economy. The Tokyo Statement of Commitment 5 states: “Solidarity Economy restores the diversity and vibrancy of local and territorial economies, and revives indigenous means of generating employment for the people. It encourages the democratic participation of civil society in the political and socio-economic governance of nations and strengthens the society’s capacity for justice, gender equity, and sustainable economy. It advances the human rights of all the people, including migrants and overseas residents whose number is growing in the age of globalization, as well as those who are characterized as ‘weak’, ‘marginalized’, and ‘excluded’. Solidarity economy is an economy with compassion and sympathy; it gives priority to the welfare of the people and not to increasing profits for self-gain.”

Arguably, this is an inspiring piece of declaration. But it merely describes what SE can do; it does not provide a clue as to how SE creates and distributes wealth and whether such wealth as may be created by solidarity economy can be measured at all.

Nonetheless, it was not so much the Tokyo Statement of Commitment but rather the exposures to concrete initiatives among Japanese innovators in the field that enabled participants to connect the SE concepts to actual practice. The story of organic farmer Kaneko revealed how solidarity economy emerged in a given territory as Kaneko built an enduring agricultural supply chain by integrating input supply, production, processing, distribution, financing, and consumption of organic products. Gaining a new level of 4A landmark paper on solidarity economy written by Dr. Cielito Habito - an erstwhile advocate of competitive market economies- immediately after ASEF I in 2007, represents the visible shift of mindset that transpired as a result of the Asian Solidarity Economy Forum. 5The Tokyo Declaration of Commitment is one of the historic documents uploaded in the aa4se website. See full list of documents uploaded in Attachment 1

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understanding of SE from the Tokyo meeting, a post-meeting reflection paper 6 urged representatives of national networks to gather more stories about local initiatives of economic stakeholders who comprise commodity-specific supply chains, and make these stories available for ASEF III in Kuala Lumpur.

At the onset of 2010, CSRSME Asia conducted a series of consultations in a number of Asian countries (February: Singapore, Malaysia: May: Indonesia; August: India) to deepen the dialogue on SE and explain the study guidelines. These efforts culminated in November, 2010 with the Asian Forum on Value Chain Financing for Agriculture (VCFA) held in Manila, Philippines. Attended by over 70 participants from 8 Asian countries (Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand), the VCFA forum scrutinized four (4) cases of supply chains of social enterprises in an attempt to understand how they constituted an alternative, solidarity-based economy.

The Manila forum reached a landmark consensus stating that the supply chain of social enterprises can be recognized as a more explicit socio-economic representation of the SE concept in Asia. This eventually led CSRSME Asia to develop the Value Chain Development Program, or VCDP.

2.InculcatingtheSECultureofSocialResponsibility,Reciprocity&Solidarity

CSRSME Asia’s learning journey towards the paradigm of SE has been a constant struggle of making practice congruent with the concept of SE while the concept itself is continuously informed and updated by practice.

Not all those who participated in CSRSME Asia’s advocacy forums were motivated by altruistic, ‘triple-bottom-line’ ideals of being responsible for protecting the environment, helping the marginalized, and maintaining economic sustainability for the benefit of all. Many of them just wanted a better deal for their own efforts sans the concern about social responsibility. On the other hand, not all those who were motivated by ethical considerations and social responsibility had the knowledge and skills to advance towards the more ethically-oriented and altruistic paradigm of SE.

If solidarity economy were construed as a supply chain of social enterprises, how then do we translate the ethical foundations of SE into a culture of social responsibility, reciprocity and solidarity among the stakeholders and uninitiated people so that they may embrace SE as a way of life?

This pivotal issue initially prompted CSRSME Asia to conduct a Core Values survey among partner organizations in the Philippines to ascertain the extent to which ethical and altruistic values inform and guide their decisions 7. From the viewpoint of CSRSME Asia, ethical and altruistic values are important in building social responsibility and in sustaining reciprocal relationships; they are crucial in developing the culture of solidarity economy. Indeed, survey results show that ethical values and altruism are prevalent virtues among Filipinos but these are practiced largely in small social circles such as the nuclear family, church, community organization, local self-help groups/ cooperatives, and informal peer groups 8.

From individual interviews, CSRSME Asia moved on to one-on-one and small group dialogues about core values with leaders of organizations and national networks in neighboring countries, notably Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. These dialogues in other Asian countries confirmed the results of the individual interviews in the Philippines.

6Benjamin Quinones, Jr., 2009 The Outreach of Solidarity Economy in Local Areas: Guidelines for Case Study of Solidarity Economy Initiatives in Your Country.

7The Core Values questionnaire used in the survey is included among the documents submitted in conjunction with this report.8Altruism is also practiced in most societies and promoted by major religions of the world.

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The aforementioned findings brought forth the ensuing challenge of figuring out how to extend the embryonic culture of social responsibility, reciprocity and solidarity to a larger, more complex socio-economic structure such as a supply chain. While studying various approaches to dialogue involving large numbers of people, the author of this report came across the works of contemporary organization development (OD) experts, especially those of Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline) and David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastava (Appreciative Inquiry). Their ideas inspired the author and CSRSME Asia staff to develop a participatory dialogue method called ‘Building Shared Vision” or BSV workshop 9. The BSV method seeks to tap the formative social capital of small, organized groups for the purpose of visualizing another way of organizing their economic activities.

CSRSME Asia conducted BSV workshops in various parts of the Philippines, involving groups as small as 15 individuals to as large as over 1,000 individuals. In 2009, BSV was used in two (2) regional workshops (i.e. Bangkok workshop, October 2008; and Kuala Lumpur workshop, Mach 2009) involving between 40 and 50 participants per workshop.

The BSV coverage in 2010 was even more phenomenal. BSV workshops involved a little less than 6,000 individuals participating in local dialogues in the Philippines, more than 300 in Indonesia, around 80 in Malaysia, and 15 in Singapore. It was also used as the workshop methodology of the Asian Citizens Assembly in Bangalore, India (more than 300 people attending) and in the Asian Forum on Value Chain Financing for Agriculture (VCFA) in Manila, Philippines (over 70 participants).In all these undertakings, the BSV workshop proved to be quite helpful in strengthening further the social capital of existing groups. At the Asian Citizens Assembly, the BSV workshop enabled participants to reach consensus on the ACA vision and mission on its 5E thrusts, namely: ethics, ecology, equity, economy, and education. Likewise, at the Asian VCFA Forum, the BSV Workshop helped galvanize the participants towards adopting the common vision of the Value Chain Development Program.

However, the BSV Workshop was not adequate for the purpose of enabling the various economic stakeholders to go deeper in: (i) working out the responsibilities to be shared by stakeholders of a given supply chain: (ii) defining the specific roles to be played by each stakeholder; and (iii) the areas of reciprocity/solidarity and the attendant cost-sharing. 10

Once more, CSRSME Asia went back to the drawing table and developed a more appropriate instrument of dialogue and cooperation for more complex organizational networks. The result is an instrument called “Social Dialogue Toolkit for Supply Chain Development”. The toolkit is meant for facilitating a dialogue and cooperation process among diverse organizations and people who would like to participate in the solidarity economy initiative.

The toolkit recognizes four (4) stages of values formation and, henceforth, a unique dialogue process is applied in each stage.At Stage 1, people signify their interest to join because they expect new private gains from the SE initiative. Their attitude towards this new economic paradigm is summed up by the self-serving question “What is in it (solidarity economy) for me?” They view themselves 9For a detailed description of the BSV methodology, see Benjamin Quinones, Jr. “From Personal Vision to Shared Vision”10CSRSME Asia reached this realization in June 2010 when it tried to bring together several large NGOs and membership based federations in the Philippines (e.g. the Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development, Bumbaran Development Corporation, Michri International Trading, Shared Vision Cooperative, Eagle’s Wings Development Foundation Phil., and several others) to set up the Task Force on Value Chain Financing for Agriculture (VCFA). The VCFA Task Force was meant to inculcate the SE culture of social responsibility, reciprocity and solidarity to a broader circle of people and organizations. The organizations behind the VCFA Task Force have a combined clientele base of around 3.0 million individuals, with APPEND sharing the largest chunk at over 2.7 member-clients. The partner organizations, themselves, acknowledged the inadequacy of the BSV workshop in streamlining the vested interests of different organizations and walking them towards shared values and shared responsibilities, reciprocity, and solidarity.

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as “beneficiaries” who expect new, quick benefits that could be derived from a fresh economic initiative. At the outset, they don’t buy into SE on account of its triple-bottom-line goal (people, planet, profit), social inclusion, or its being an alternative to the failed market-oriented economy. The biggest challenge at this stage is to transform the people’s mindset, from being predominantly subsistent, consumerist, oftentimes mendicant in nature, to one that is both entrepreneurial and socially responsible.

It is important at stage 1 to motivate people to build a shared vision and strengthen their social capital. The social dialogue toolkit walks through the participant in identifying the key stakeholders of the supply chain he’s involved with, the role he plays in support of the supply chain, and the interdependencies among different stakeholders. This process seeks to create a sharper and much broader awareness among the various stakeholders of their ‘stake’ in the supply chain.

At Stage 2, the participant enters into the next higher level of thinking and action concerning SE. He no longer sees himself as being isolated from the rest of the supply chain stakeholders. He realizes that he can be part of a socially responsible supply chain that has a social mission. He ‘discovers’ that the supply chain’s product can provide him the opportunity to engage in transactionsexchange. It is now possible for the participant to recognize a new reality that he can overcome his “beneficiary” or dole-out mentality and see himself as a productive member of a supply chain who can offer some product(s) or service(s) in exchange for things he needs for himself and his immediate social circle. He realizes now that forging alliances and social and economic exchanges with other groups have the potential of generating new sources of income.

The social dialogue toolkit helps the participant to reach this level of awareness. It guides the participant to define the supply chain’s main product or service in order to arrive at a common view of the object of cooperation and solidarity among the supply chain’s stakeholders. The biggest challenge at this stage is to transform the participant’s mindset from being predominantly profit-oriented and self-serving to one that is “socially response-able”, which implies being concerned about protecting the environment and contributing as well to the goals of social development.

At Stage 3, the participant has reached a level of socio-economic empowerment from transactionsexchangesuch that he contributes part of his purchasing power to support a collective endeavor. He learns to become an ethical player and altruistic giver – an ethical person and giver who does not expect anything in return. But such altruistic behavior of the participant remains confined to a restricted circle of people (e.g. family, local association/club, church, or peer group) with whom he has worked with to build an enduring social capital.

The biggest challenge at this stage is to transform the person’s mindset from being ethnocentric to one that is more global in perspective and which embraces compassion for other people outside his immediate social circle. The social dialogue toolkit guides the participant to assess the supply chain’s requirements for business expansion in terms of: (i) technology, knowledge and skills; (ii) markets, market outlets, marketing strategy; and (iii) finance. Each participant evaluates his priorities with respect to the resources that may be required for his own organization’s/ company’s operations in support of the production and distribution of the supply chain’s product.

At Stage 4, the participant has attained a level of global consciousness about his actions and a healthy concern about the environment and ‘people’ outside his immediate socio-economic circle. He upgrades his ethical standards and altruistic goals, and becomes a ‘serial giver’, i.e. one who gives ethically and altruistically even to people outside his immediate circle of relatives, neighbors, and friends. He becomes a volunteer advocate of SE and serves as a model to other people who are still at the lower levels of social

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responsibility, reciprocity, and solidarity.

The biggest challenge at this stage is to harness the energy of the voluntary advocate in forging a network of alliances at the local, national, and international levels. In this light, the social dialogue toolkit guides the participant to ascertain how he could benefit from and contribute to a resource pool that provides supply chain stakeholders greater access to technology, markets, and finance. This exercise enhances stakeholders’ awareness of the need for practical means of enhancing collaboration and solidarity in addressing the business growth and development of their supply chain. It also opens greater possibilities for sharing of resources at the disposal of individual stakeholders and making these resources available to all stakeholders within a given supply chain and beyond.

It is at this fourth and final stage of dialogue that the toolkit guides the participant to define his own project that would contribute to the business expansion of the supply chain he’s involved with and of solidarity economy in general.

3.FutureAction,2011-2013:AdvancingSolidarityEconomythroughVCDP

In 2011, the VCDP will be cascaded in a series of national forums on solidarity economy in several Asian countries. (A draft primer of VCDP is available upon request).

Organizations that adopt VCDP shall be encouraged to join the Asian Social Enterprise Coalition (ASEC), a continental Asia network of social enterprises that was recently endorsed by Asian VCFA Forum. ASEC is envisaged to use the VCDP as both content and platform for economic dialogue and cooperation. The national workshops will culminate at the Third ASEF in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 31 to Nov 2, 2011 where nation-groups will attempt to expand the VCDP into a continental Asia solidarity economy initiative.

In 2012, sub-regional workshops in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia will be organized to strengthen the ASEC network and strengthen collaboration in promoting the VCDP.

In 2013, national consultations will be conducted to prepare partners for the Global Forum on Solidarity Economy, organized by RIPESS once every 4 years. It is expected that VCDP will then become a unifying theme and platform for cooperation among SE advocates and practitioners in Asia.

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Presentation of A proposal forThe Charter of Human Responsibilities

New challenges: new dimensions of Responsibility

At present, international life is underpinned by two agreements: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which focuses on the dignity and entitlements of people as individuals and on the defence of their rights, and the Charter of the United Nations, which focuses on peace and development. These two agreements have been a framework for undeniable progress in the organisation of international relations. But the last fifty years have seen radical global changes. Humankind now confronts new challenges; in particular, the imperative to safeguard the environment for future generations has come into view. It is clear that the two initial agreements need a further dimension to respond to current and future challenges of survival. ‘Responsibility’ is proposed as an ethical concept which builds on Rights and Peace as well as the emergence of a relational worldview that ensures the viability of planet earth and its peoples. Preamble Never before have human beings had such far-reaching impacts on one another’s social, political, economic, and cultural lives. Never before have they possessed so much knowledge and so much power to change their environment. In spite of the immense possibilities opened up by these ever-increasing inter-relationships, and in spite of the new skills which humankind has acquired, unprecedented crises are emerging in many areas.

The growing interdependence among individuals, among societies, and between human beings and nature heightens the impacts of individual and collective human actions on their social and natural environments, in the short and long run.

And yet, the social institutions which should enable the new challenges of the 21st century to be met are increasingly ineffective. The pervasive power of international markets is undermining the traditional role of states. Scientific institutions, pursuing specialized interests, are less likely to confront the global issues which challenge humanity. International economic institutions have failed to turn the rising tide of inequality. Business has often pursued its profit goals at the expense of social and environmental concerns. Religious institutions have not adequately fulfilled their role to provide responses to the new challenges faced by our societies.

In this context, every one of us must take up his or her responsibilities at both the individual and the collective level. New possibilities are opening up to play a role in the new challenges that face humankind: every human being has a role to play in redefining responsibility and has responsibilities to assume. The feeling of being powerless can be

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lessened and even overcome by linking up with others to forge a collective strength. Although all people have an equal entitlement to human rights, their responsibilities

are proportionate to the possibilities open to them. Freedom, access to information, knowledge, wealth, and power all increase the capacity for exercising responsibilities and the duty to account for one’s actions. Responsibilities are related to the present and the future, as well as to past actions. The burden of collectively-caused damage must be morally acknowledged by the group concerned, and put right in practical terms as far as possible. Since we can only partially understand the consequences of our actions now and in the future, our responsibility demands that we must act with great humility and demonstrate caution.

Principles to Guide the Exercise of Human Responsibilities

1. We are all responsible for making sure that Human Rightsareaffirmedinourwaysofthinking and in our actions.

2. Every person’s dignity involves contributing to the freedom and dignity of others.

3. Responsibilitiesincludeensuringthefulfilmentofhumanpotential,inclusiveofmaterialneeds and non-material aspirations, as well as obligations to support the common good.

4. Lasting peace can only be expected from freedom, justice, and processes for reconciliation which are respectful of human dignity and human rights.

5. Development and consumption of natural resources to meet human needs, and the quest for prosperity must be backed by a commitment to sustainability and the principle of precaution, assuring pro-active protection of the environment, careful management of its diversity, and equitable sharing of wealth.

6. The full potential of knowledge and know-how is achieved through valuing different knowledge systems and ways of knowing, sharing them, and applying them in the service of unifying solidarity and a pluralistic culture of peace.

7. Freedom of scientific research implies being guided by ethical criteria such as enhancement of biodiversity, respect for human dignity and non-human forms of life, and regard for the limitations of human knowledge.

8. The exercise of power is legitimate where it serves the common good, and if it is accountabletothoseoverwhomitisexercised.

9. In reaching decisions about short-term priorities, evaluation of long-term consequences must concur with ethical priorities of justice and inter-generational environmental stewardship, taking into account both risks and uncertainties.

10. To face the challenges of today and of tomorrow, uniting in action must be balanced with respectforculturalspecificities.

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Responsibility: a key notion for the 21st century:

Widening economic gaps within and between nations, the concentration of economic and political power in ever-fewer hands, threats to cultural diversity, and the over-exploitation of natural resources are creating unrest and conflicts world-wide and giving rise to deep concerns about the future of our planet. We are at a crossroads in human history.

Human beings are part of a ‘woven universe’ which is balanced and integrated in ways that are still far beyond human knowledge. Given the growing appreciation that human well-being is interdependent with earth systems, a re-definition of responsibility is needed in order to extend personal responsibility in the present to collective responsibility for the future.

We can express responsibility in many ways, among them accepting responsibility for the direct and indirect consequences of our actions in the short as well as the long run, joining with others and uniting for effective action. The fact that responsibility is proportionally linked to knowledge and the exercise of power does not mean that those with limited resources and influence would not be in a position to exercise responsibility at their own level and link up with others to forge a collective strength.

Responsibility is more than an ethical principle to be used at the personal level; rather,it is a commitment we make as citizens who are part of a social identity. The initiative of the Charter of Human Responsibilities encourages the exploration of the values that underpin this identity.

Values and practices: unity and diversity

Throughout human history, traditions of wisdom - religious and otherwise - have taught values, to guide human behaviour towards a responsible attitude. Their basic premise, still relevant today, has been that individual and social values influence practices. In fact, practices and values mutually influence each other. Such values include the right to a life of dignity and respect for non-human forms of life, a preference for dialogue rather than violence, compassion and consideration for others, solidarity and hospitality, truthfulness and sincerity, peace and harmony, justice and equity, and a preference for the common good rather than self-interest.

And yet, there may be times when these values have to be weighed against each other, when an individual or a society faces dilemmas, such as the need to encourage economic development while protecting the environment and respecting human rights. These issues are all interconnected and cannot be addressed separately. Overall responsible action implies that different categories of human activity have to be integrated. It requires the need for judgment with clarity of thought on values and competing imperatives. Everyone must be aware of the interconnectedness of these imperatives; and even if people’s priorities may differ due to their own histories and present circumstances, those priorities cannot be used as an excuse for ignoring the other issues at stake.

Although the sense of responsibility is found among all human groups, there are differences in the ways in which responsibility is assumed. In some societies responsibility is assigned by the group to an individual, rather than taken up at his or her own initiative. In practice, the way in which people are held responsible for their actions varies. Cultural differences play an important role when it comes to giving a legal context to the concept of responsibility.

Just as the world’s nations have accepted the idea of ‘Human Rights’, the time has now come to introduce the concept of ‘Human Responsibilities’. Global co-operation and global governance, indeed, are inconceivable without certain universally accepted ideas and principles which, whatever their origins, can be considered beneficial to all humankind, non-human life forms and the eco-systems of life.

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The Charter: its history and its present

How it began After some six years of discussions at various levels within the Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World, the Charter of Human Responsibilities 1was launched in 2001 at the World Assembly of Citizens, organized by the Charles Léopold Mayer Foundation. The idea was to encourage an international effort of renewed reflection on the relevance of individual and collective responsibility for the future of humankind and the planet, respect for Human Rights and the achievement of Peace. Subsequently an International Charter Facilitation Committee for the promotion of this Charter was created.

Who is involved? Charter activities worldwide are coordinated by members of the International Charter Facilitation Committee and their national or regional Charter committees. They comprise reflection and action with social groups at various levels of society and with professional groups.

Atextandapre-textfordialogue,reflectionandaction The guiding Principles of the Charter are the outcome of a process of intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue that began in 1998. Those who participated in the discussions obviously did not represent humanity as a whole. The Charter is proposed as a tool for dialogue, a starting point, within reach of everyone, towards a reconsideration of the essential meaning and place of responsibility in our societies. The guiding principles serve as a common nucleus, to be transferred and adapted into different fields of human endeavour and through translation into culturally appropriate forms.

The Charter provides both a pre-text and a text for reflection and action. As a pre-text, the Charter’s assertion of a universal principle of human responsibility encourages reflection on meanings of individual and collective responsibility and invites us to consider how to act responsibly towards one another and towards the planet. As a text, the Charter does not lay down rules; rather it proposes priorities and expresses commitments in our everyday lives. The Charter’s principles challenge us to be thoughtful and intentional in our policies and practices.

An ongoing processThe Charter has been translated into some 25 languages expressing its content in culturally appropriate versions. Locally, people are invited to re-define responsibility in their own social and professional context at a time when our interdependence has become both inevitable and necessary. Reflection is expressed in community forums, workshops, cross-cultural and interfaith conversations, dialogue with local businesses on social responsibility, publications, lesson plans, and also in art, drama, dance and music. The principles of the Charter are reference points, from which all social and professional spheres may draw up their own guidelines for responsibilities. These guidelines are the foundation of a social agreement that links these sectors to the rest of society. Thus, the emergence of a worldwide consciousness, based on the notion of responsibility, will lead to an international social agreement that responds to the needs of the 21st century.

ReflectionandactionOrganisations and individuals around the world are using the Charter of Human Responsibilities to reflect on their own situations and inform their actions. The range of interpretations, meanings and cultural opportunities has inspired a great diversity of projects in different countries. All information is to be found on the Charter web-site: http://www.charter-human-responsibilities.net

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Contact:

SUDHA.S Asia Coordinator,Charter of Human Responsibilities, Ethics & Responsibility Program

Address: SahajeevanFlat # 202, ‘ Shivani Splendour’ Apartments# 12, 11th Cross, Kempanna layout, Cholanagar, RT Nagar Post,BANGALORE-560 032, IndiaTel: 91- 80-22720760 Mobile: + 94481 24436Email: [email protected]: http//www.charter-human-responsibilities.net

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Asef Kl 2011 Programme

Documents

Transcript of Asef Kl 2011 Programme