INTERNATIONAL CAUX CONFERENCES REPORT 2014 www.caux.ch Exploring the Human Factor in Global Change CONTENTS Conferences are organized by the CAUX-Initiatives of Change Foundation (CAUX-IofC) and Initiatives of Change (IofC) International every year in Caux, above Montreux, in Switzerland. CAUX-IofC is a charitable Swiss foundation that owns and runs the Caux Conference Centre. It is a founding member of IofC International. This report is a short overview on each conference of the 2014 season. For more information on individual conferences, including videos and pictures, please visit our website www.caux.ch/2014. Editorial 3 Children as Actors Transforming Society 16 Facts and figures 4 Impact Initiatives for Change 18 Award 5 International Peace-Builders’ Forum 20 Special events 6 Caux Scholars Program 22 Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business 7 Interns and Volunteers 23 Caux Dialogue on Land and Security 8 Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy 10 Just Governance for Human Security 12 N.B.: ‘Caux’ is often used as an abbreviation for the Caux Conference Seeds of Inspiration 14 Center and the community of volunteers, interns, staff and participants. 2 CAUX REPORT 2014 EDITORIAL Caux: Real and Relevant I have spent the last three years in- plored the imperative to enable geopolitical events around the timately involved in the Caux-IofC participation of younger people in globe; the discussions were, and re- programme of events. When asked co-creating the future. Economic main, more than ‘close to home’. ‘what do you do for the rest of the challenges have been examined Our volunteers’ survey reflects that year?’ I assure the questioner that since 2006 through the Trust and lives have been profoundly and pos- while it may seem as though the Integrity in the Global Economy itively impacted by the activities in conferences just materialize some- (TIGE) conference, driving forward Caux. A lasting memory of 2014 for time in June, preparation starts at truly sustainable economic models me will be hearing a paper aimed at least one year prior. I help coordi- and providing structures and train- peacebuilding presented by Russians nate an incredible, largely voluntary, ing to support them. This was and Ukrainians read out in the ple- group of people who carry the closely connected to Heart of Effec- nary the very day the Malaysia Air- preparations for conferences, the tive Leadership (HEL), Entrepre- lines flight came down. Not long service departments and pro- neurs, Pathfinders, Innovators and after that, on August 4th, we com- grammes throughout the year to Changemakers (EPIC) and Impact memorated the centenary of the bring the summer season to life. Initiatives for Change. There was first shots of World War I. There are profound and exciting also some much-needed time dedi- developments emerging across the cated to the sharing of inspiration Have we progressed in taking on conferences and other summer ac- and creativity between changemak- responsibility for the future since tivities, as well as some very power- ers in this year’s second edition of then or are we hiding behind our ful reminders of why Caux needs to Seeds of Inspiration. digital interfaces? One thing is sure: exist. the need for safe spaces, like Caux, Two new events were launched: for people to meet, face to face, in Building on the narratives of previ- Addressing Europe’s Unfinished a way that can facilitate changes of ous years, pressing issues were Business, forging a think-tank for a heart and direction towards peace, tackled in 2014. We examined the constructive repositioning of Eu- responsible politics and economics, gritty reality of ongoing corruption rope, and the International Peace- and sustainable living. I am proud to and conflicts in places such as Builders’ Forum using the platform play my part in that effort. Ukraine, Gaza, South Sudan and of Caux to promote vital refresh- Zimbabwe during Just Governance ment and connection between for Human Security. Developed those working for peace. with high-level international part- nerships, the Caux Dialogue for Overall there was little ‘gap’ be- Land and Security conference fo- tween the conversations taking Nick Foster cused on the need to reduce con- place over the dining room tables Conference Manager flict to recover dry and wetlands and the news flooding in via the in- CAUX-Initiatives of around the world. The exciting mo- ternet. Indeed some volunteers Change Foundation mentum that is Children as Actors represented countries, communities in Transforming Society (CATS) ex- and even families traumatized by CAUX REPORT 2014 3 FACTS AND FIGURES Caux Conferences – Summer 2014 People 1551 142 64 ˾ Participants 1153 ˾ Volunteers 142 ˾ Interpreters 64 19 ˾ Staff 19 75 ˾ Interns 75 29 ˾ Scholars 29 29 ˾ Artists 29 ˾ Visitors/Guests 74 74 ˾ IofC Global Assembly 57 57 Nationalities 104 ˾ Europe 71 % ˾ Asia & Middle East 11 % ˾ Africa 8 % ˾ N. & S. America 8 % 1153 ˾ Australia 2 % Age groups 861 350 300 ˾ Amount 250 200 150 100 50 0 690 0–5 6–18 19–25 26–35 36–45 46–60 61–80 80+ ˾ female 861 28 199 239 346 215 289 210 25 ˾ male 690 4 CAUX REPORT 2014 AWARD IofC awarded the fourth Ousseimi Prize for Tolerance IofC rewarded for its ‘relentless contribution to greater tolerance’. he ceremony began with a speech by Mrs Ousseimi then made the presentation ‘strength to know how to listen to the TAmbassador Anne Lugon-Moulin, and outlined the reasons for honouring other to try to understand them, so that a Head of the Sub-Saharan Africa Division Initiatives of Change with this award, dialogue based on mutual respect can take of the Swiss Federal Department of For- whose previous recipients include Nelson place’. eign Affairs, in which she congratulated Mandela, stating that Initiatives of the Caux Conferences and Initiatives of Change has ‘systematically and relent- The Ousseimi Foundation endorses the Change for their innovative methods. lessly contributed to greater tolerance in idea that ‘success is meaningful only if its our complex and divided world’. fruits are shared with others’. Initiatives of Change International and the CAUX- In his acceptance speech, Cornelio Som- Initiatives of Change Foundation are maruga, Honorary President of Initiatives therefore happy to share this distinction of Change International, called for re- with the numerous volunteers, conference sponsibility to be globalized to usher in a participants, organizers of the Caux con- tolerant world. He stated that in order to ferences and with the Initiatives of Change achieve this, we need personal change to- international network – in recognition of wards ‘honesty, transparency, humility their decisive contribution towards initia- and freedom’. Mr Sommaruga added that tives of change. tolerance is ‘a courageous act’; it is the Anne Lugon-Moulin, Omnia Marzouk, Maria Ousseimi, and Cornelio Sommaruga around the 4th Ousseimi Prize for Tolerance CAUX REPORT 2014 5 SPECIAL EVENTS World War I Commemoration On 3 August Caux commemorated the centenary of the declaration of WWI by sharing stories and reflecting on the future of promoting peace. ntoine Jaulmes, President of CAUX- Antoine Jaulmes, AInitiatives of Change, opened the president of ceremony by sharing elements from his CAUX-IofC, own history, the war having divided the opens the ­Commemoration German and French sides of his family. Ceremony He reminded those present that ‘our re- sponsibility, as French, Germans and Eu- ropeans, is to remember that since 1914 we have initiated two world wars. We have done this either actively, or we have stood by passively, not knowing how to stop it. It is therefore our responsibility to put into place all that we can to stop further conflicts and to mend the damage caused Participants did not stop at remembering to gather around the tree planted in re- by the previous ones.’ Given IofC’s work the millions of victims of the First World membrance of the Jewish refugees housed to solve conflicts and prevent new ones, it War, they also commemorated all those in Caux during the Second World War. In was fitting to commemorate the First who continue to suffer from ravaging con- silence, each person placed a rock at the World War in Caux, even though Switzer- flicts around the world. At the closing of foot of the tree, as a symbol of their com- land was spared. the commemoration, people were invited mitment to peace. 20th anniversary of the Caux Round Table (CRT) Principles for Business ‘Do not start to write a declaration about what other people should do but start with your own company and begin with the changes that will solve the problem.’ Frederik ‘Frits’ Philips, co-founder of the Caux Round Table obert MacGregor, one of the initia- good – and the importance of Human Rtors of the CRT Principles for Busi- Dignity. The CRT presented the Princi- ness, invited conference participants for ples at the United Nations World Summit an evening of reflection and story-sharing. on Social Development in 1995. They The Caux Round Table was founded in quickly became what MacGregor claimed 1986 at a time when a trade war between are one of the ‘most widely used’ codes of Japan and Western economies was feared. best practice around the world and have The CRT imagined a greater role and been translated into 12 languages. ­responsibility for business in social and economic aspects of society. In July 1994, The 81-year-old MacGregor closed by senior business leaders from Europe, urging young entrepreneurs to live and act ­Japan and the USA formally launched the the way they would like to see the CEOs Caux Round Table Principles for Busi- of big corporations act and live. ness, a predecessor of today’s Corporate Social Responsibility principles. They in- cluded the Japanese concept of Kiyosei – liv- Robert MacGregor shares the history ing and working together for the common­ of the Caux Round Table 6 CAUX REPORT 2014 ADDRESSING EUROPE’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS ‘Actions for a more peaceful, more united Europe’ Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business (AEUB) sought to reconnect European peoples with the ‘peace and reconciliation’ inspiration of the European project as presented in the Schuman Declaration* of 9 May 1950.