WUNRN
G8 -
The international economic crisis and regional crises, food safety and
security, the struggle against climate changes and the deregulation of world
trade are the main issues that the world's eight leading countries will be
addressing in L'Aquila from 8 to 10 July, in the course of a Summit.
_______________________________________________________________
WOMEN'S ISSUES? GENDER DIMENSIONS OF
STATEMENT?
WOMEN'S PRESENCE & INVOLVEMENT
IN THIS PROCESS?
MEETING
OF RELIGIONS: FINAL STATEMENT FOR THE G8 |
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18
June 2009 |
"We,
leaders of the world's religions and spiritual traditions gathered in Rome on
the eve of the G8 Summit of 2009, are united in our common commitment to
justice and the protection of human life, the building of the common good and
the belief on the divinely established and inviolable dignity of all people
from conception to death". So begins the final statement issued by the
129 attendees at the IV Summit of Religious Leaders which finished yesterday
in Rome. The statement will be delivered to those political leaders who are
going to meet at L'Aquila from 8 to 10 July. "In a time of economic
crisis when many securities are crumbling, we feel even more acutely the need
for spiritual orientation", reads the statement. According to the
religious leaders "a new moral paradigm is essential to address today's
challenges". Hence the notion of "shared security" according
to which "the security of one actor in international relations must not
be detrimental to another". As for the economic and financial crisis,
religious leaders call for "a new financial pact" namely a
"concerted action to close down the unregulated off shore banking
system". Regarding development assistance, "the inclusion as
partners of civil society organizations including especially religious
communities" is another request put forward by religious leaders who
call on the G8 to fulfil "the Millennium Development Goals" by
2015. The statement also expresses the hope that Africa, " already hard
hit by the world financial crisis", will be placed by the international
community "at the centre of policies for development". Strong is
also the call for a total disarmament in the world. "As "we believe
that the attempt to militarily dominate the sea, space, neutral territories
or states creates obstacles on the way to nuclear and conventional
disarmament", we "request the G8 Summit to pursue rigorous
implementation of nuclear reduction and non-proliferation policies leading to
the goal of total nuclear disarmament" and we "press for prompt
ratifications and entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty". Religious leaders call attention even to "the plight of
the ever growing number of ‘illegal' immigrants" urging that "the
full rights and dignity of people be respected". To realise the common
good, ends the document, "we call for the establishment of mechanisms
for dialogue between religious communities, political leaders, international
organisations and civil society structures". |
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