GCGI to Co-organise a major international Conference in Belgium
BUSINESS FOR PEACE – STRATEGIES FOR HOPE
Commemorating the centennial of the First World War (1914-1918)
A joint venture of the European SPES Forum, VKW, Philosophie & Management and Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative
Annual Conference of the European SPES Forum
in Flanders Fields, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium
April 9-12, 2014
Flanders Fields
Photo: hinesofoxford.com
“For four long years Flanders Fields was the scene of the First World War. Homes and fields were turned into a battlefield in 1914. European and wider international interests were fought over here. A million soldiers were wounded, missing or killed in action. Some tens of thousands of citizens became refugees. Entire cities and villages were destroyed.
The landscape of the region still tells the story of the war. It contains hundreds of monuments and cemeteries which have great historical significance for the people of many nations. There are a lot of museums which explain in an interactive way all the aspects of the conflict: the battles, daily life, etc.
The daily Last Post that has taken place each day at Menin Gate (Ypres) since 1928, shows that memories don’t fade away. On the contrary, the burning desire for peace stays alive.
In 2014, a hundred years later, we wish to commemorate the victims of this war and condemn senseless war violence.”
http://www.visitflanders.co.uk/discover/flanders-fields/
Aims of the Conference
- Ø discussing the concept of peace and its spiritual, political, ecological and economic impact in today’s world
- Ø strengthening the practice of peace-building in local and global business
- Ø Visit to the battle fields of the Great War and attendance of the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ieper (Ypres).
- Ø Launch of a ‘charter of hope’ at the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the European SPES Forum
Issues to be Addressed
Business for peace:
- Business and human rights
- Leadership and peace. The role of spiritual-driven leaders.
- Is competition a war-game? The meaning of competition
- Competitive and non- competitive values in business
- Non violence as a business strategy
- The entwining of markets and politics in times of war and peace
- Peace as a condition for flourishing markets (and vice versa)
Scientific Committee
Luk Bouckaert, prof.em.Catholic University Leuven, Belgium
Henri Claude de Bettignies, prof.em.INSEAD, France
Josep M. Lozano, prof. ESADE, Spain
Kamran Mofid, prof. Founder Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative, UK
Sharda Nandram, prof. Neyenrode Business Universiteit, Netherlands
Hendrik Opdebeeck, prof. University of Antwerp, Belgium
Mike Thompson, prof. China Europe International Business School, Shanghai, China
Laszlo Zsolnai, prof. Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
Keynote Speakers:
The Conference will feature seven keynote speakers, including:
Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, “Europe as a peace project” and Mark Eyskens, ex prime Minister of Belgium, prof. of Economics, Creative Writer, Between markets and politics. Lessons from the first World War”.
(See the complete list: http://strategiesforhope.nimbu.io/#nav-speakers )
Call for Papers: http://cdn.nimbu.io/s/gdizsxn/assets/Call_for_papers_Euro-SPES-200913.pdf