As a growing consensus of scientists, scholars, and spiritual visionaries recognize the unprecedented challenges facing the Earth Community, many innovative global initiatives have been launched with the aim of helping to catalyze a global wisdom culture. The following list is a sample of these projects.

 

Global wisdom councils and networks

 

World Wisdom Council

This is an august body convened in August 2004 by the Club of Budapest in cooperation with the World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality to offer guidance about "developing the individual and collective wisdom that empowers action capable of bringing about constructive change in the local and the global economic, social, and ecological environment." Its Honorary Chairpersons are Mikhail Gorbachev and University of Peace President Robert Muller. Its members include Hafsat Abiola (Nigeria), Peter Gabriel (England), Ashok Gangadean (Trinidad/USA), Jane Goodall (England), Hazel Henderson (USA/England), Ervin Laszlo (Italy/USA/Hungary), Wangari Maathai, (Kenya), Elisabet Sahtouris (USA), and many others.

(Click for PDF)

 

World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality (http://globalspirit.org/)

Convened in 1998, the WCGCS "seeks to inspire consciousness of the wholeness of the human family and the sacred tapestry of all life. This spirituality is the foundation of a global consciousness that honors the wisdom found in the world's traditions, cultures and disciplines." The WCGCS is co-chaired by Ervin Laszlo, Robert Muller, and Karen Singh, and members include: His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Seyyed H. Nasr (Distinguished Professor of Islamic thought and culture), Masao Abe (Global teacher of Japanese Zen and Interreligious Dialogue), Wangari Maathai (Nobel Peace Prize Laureat, Moral Leader, Head of Green Belt Movement, Nairobi), Robert Thurman (Buddhist Tibetan Scholar, Advisor to The Dalai Lama), Barbara Marx Hubbard (Futurist, President-Foundation for Conscious Evolution), Professor Cornel West (Princeton U. Professor, Leading African-American voice), Mary Evelyn Tucker (Distinguished Scholar, leading voice for Religion & Ecology).

(See also Click for PDF)

 

Council for a Parliament of World Religions (www.cpwr.org)

The mission of the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions is to cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its other guiding institutions in order to achieve a peaceful, just, and sustainable world. CPWR works in partnership with individuals, communities and institutions, that they might embody the religious and spiritual aspirations that inspire them, and manifest the ethical values that guide them. Amongst other things, CPWR convenes large inter-religious gatherings such as the 2004 Barcelona Parliament of World Religions, involving over 8,000 religious leaders. See also their emerging global online community at www.cpwrglobal.net.

 

International Day of Peace Vigil (www.idpvigil.com)

In 2001, September 21 was designated by the UN as the annual International Day of Peace. A large and expanding number of spiritual groups and networks mark that day each year with an International Day of Peace Vigil, a twenty four hour period of spiritual observations for peace and nonviolence. The Vigil is intended to demonstrate the power of prayer and meditation in promoting peace and preventing violent conflict. It is by far the largest annual global prayer or meditation event. The photo below shows a meditation event involving more than 300,000 people (!) in Sri Lanka as part of the International Day of Peace Vigil 2004.

 

United Religions Initiative (www.uri.org)

United Religions Initiative (URI) was founded in 2000 by an extraordinary global community committed to promoting enduring, daily interfaith cooperation and to ending religiously motivated violence. Today the URI includes thousands of members in over 50 countries representing more that 100 religions, spiritual expressions, and indigenous traditions.

 

World Spirit Youth Council (www.worldspirityouthcouncil.org)

The World Spirit Youth Council is an international coalition of young leaders dedicated to creating world peace through spiritually-oriented peace building.  The coalition, organized as a project of Children of the Earth, was founded by youth delegates at the 2nd annual (2005) World Spirit Forum in Arosa, Switzerland.

 

Alliance for a New Humanity (www.anhglobal.org)

The ANH, established in June 2003, is a network of people from all regions of the world and from all walks of life, united by a common vision to strengthen and sustain an actively compassionate humanity. The ANH mission is to create an alliance of people who are building a new awareness of humanity's interconnectedness. Their movement is open to anyone who pursues this goal. Founding members include Nobel laureates Oscar Arias and Betty Williams, renowned author Deepak Chopra, Puerto Rican Senator Antonio Fas, human rights activists Kerry Kennedy and Judge Baltazar Garzon, singer Ricky Martin, environmentalist Ashok Khosla, philanthropists Raymond Chambers and Salomon Levis, peace maker Sarah Osacky-Lazar, and communicator Roberto Savio.

 

We, the World (www.wetheworld.org)

The mission of We, The World is to awaken a spirit of caring and involvement in the public so that millions of people begin to see themselves as part of one global interdependent community - and actively take part in creating a world that works for all! To achieve mass public involvement We, The World is using a multi-faceted, internationally implemented strategy with two major components:

·       Creating global networks of collaboration between those working for peace, sustainability and transformation; and

·       Utilizing these networks in an ongoing series of highly publicized Public International Events, such as 11 Days of Unity, to inspire, inform and involve large numbers of people in this work.

 

Takingitglobal.org (www.takingitglobal.org)

TakingITGlobal.org is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It is now the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month, and over 100,000 registered members.

 

 

Forums and Conferences

 

State of the World Forum (www.worldforum.org)

Established in 1995, State of the World Forum is a San Francisco based non-profit institution created to establish a global network of leaders dedicated to creating a more sustainable global civilization. With President Gorbachev as its Convening Chairman, the Forum convenes leaders from around the world and a spectrum of disciplines to its annual and regional conferences and has catalyzed the creation of several independent organizations.

 

World Social Forum (www.forumsocialmundial.org)

The World Social Forum is an annual meeting where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, for formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action.

 

World Spirit Forum (www.worldspiritforum.org)

The WSF is an annual world conference in Arosa, Switzerland that offers a unique opportunity for building bridges and opening up for broad insights beyond conventional constraints. The time has come for a new, united, holistic, sustainable and humane future. The WSF is a unique platform to develop solutions, visions and projects in accordance with the vision of a sustainable earth.

 

Quest for Global Healing (www.questforglobalhealing.org)

Quest for Global Healing is an extraordinary gathering of concerned global citizens, business leaders, academics and other innovative thinkers working together for a more collaborative, peaceful and sustainable future for humankind and the planet. This unique gathering is designed for individuals concerned about where the world is heading, and who want to be part of the solution. Quest for Global Healing is an opportunity to step forward and define your own commitment to help change the world.

 

Bioneers (http://bioneers.org)

Bioneers convenes an inspirational annual conference in the San Francisco Bay Area for scientific and social innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring communities and the Earth.

 

 

Toward a Global Ethic

 

The Earth Charter Initiative (www.earthcharter.org)

The Earth Charter is an authoritative synthesis of values, principles, and aspirations that are widely shared by growing numbers of men and women in all regions of the world. The principles of the Earth Charter reflect extensive international consultations conducted over a period of many years.

 

Toward a Global Ethic (www.cpwr.org/resource/ethic.pdf)

Developed by the Parliament of the World's Religions. A two-year consultation among more than two hundred scholars and theologians representing all the world's major faiths produced this initial statement of those rules for living on which the world's religions agree. Also see the Global Ethic Foundation (www.global-ethic.org) which is engaged in long-term work to build on the Declaration endorsed by the Parliament of World Religions to further develop a global ethic.

 

Envisioning a Global Ethic ((http://astro.temple.edu/~dialogue/anthocon.htm)

This is a collection of papers prepared and collated by the Global Dialogue Institute about dialogue and the development of a global ethic.

 

 

Global Think Tanks

 

Club of Rome (www.clubofrome.org)

The Club of Rome is a global think tank and center of innovation and initiative. Its mission is to act as a global catalyst of change that is free of any political, ideological or business interest. As a non-profit, non governmental organization (NGO), it brings together scientists, economists, businessmen, international high civil servants, heads of state and former heads of state from all five continents who are convinced that the future of humankind is not determined once and for all and that each human being can contribute to the improvement of our societies.

 

Club of Budapest (www.clubofbudapest.org)

The mission of the Club of Budapest is to be a catalyst for the transformation to a sustainable world through

Promoting the emergence of planetary consciousness

Interconnecting generations and cultures

Integrating spirituality, science, and the arts

Fostering learning communities worldwide

 

Global Dialogue Institute (http://global-dialogue.com/ )

The purpose of the GDI is to promote dialogue among individuals and groups of different religions and cultures, focusing especially on the opinion-shapers of society - scholars, professionals, and institutional and business leaders. The GDI also collates interesting scholarly research on the topic of dialogue and global culture.

 

 

Visionary Educational Institutions

 

Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco (www.ciis.edu/pcc)

A growing consensus of scientists, scholars, and visionaries now recognizes that the Earth Community is facing an unprecedented evolutionary challenge. The ecological, political, and spiritual crisis of late modernity calls for a fundamental reorientation of our civilization, including a transformation of both our institutions and our own consciousness. The Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness Program has been designed to help shape the intellectual, moral, and spiritual leadership necessary for meeting this historic challenge.

 

University for Peace, Costa Rica (www.upeace.org)

The mission of the University for Peace is to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations.

 

Institute of Noetic Sciences (www.shiftinaction.com)

The Institute of Noetic Sciences is a nonprofit membership organization located in Northern California that conducts and sponsors leading-edge research into the potentials and powers of consciousness - including perceptions, beliefs, attention, intention, and intuition. The institute explores phenomena that do not necessarily fit conventional scientific models, while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor. Shift in Action is a groundbreaking "Wisdom Media Community" featuring a vast library of audio clips and articles from leading luminaries in the field.

 

Schumacher College (www.schumachercollege.org.uk)

Schumacher College was founded in 1991 on the conviction that a new vision is needed for society, its values and its relationship to the earth. Over the last decade the College has become a centre of excellence with an international reputation for the inspiration, quality and breadth of its teaching. It is an international center for ecological studies, where students exchange ideas and experiences while also engaging in a lifestyle that expresses sustainable living principles.

 

Integral Institute (www.integralinstitute.org)

Integral Institute is a integral learning community, applying American spiritual philosopher Ken Wilber's AQAL approach (all quadrants, all levels, all lines, all states, all types) to a wide variety of disciplines for personal, academic, and professional development.