Strategic Theme:
Creating World Peace and Sustainability in the Post COVID-19 and post Ukraine Conflict Era
Organized by
Magna Carta World Peace and Sustainability Foundation, United Kingdom
In partnership with:
South Asian Development Partnership (SADP), United Kingdom
and
ELITE Innovation College Cambridge (EICC), United Kingdom
and
University for Peace, Costa Rica, an institution created by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/55
Time and Date:
11.00 – 3.00 pm, 30th, March, 2023
Conference Venue:
Attlee Room, Portcullis House, House of Parliament, London
Chairman of the Conference:
Dr Prem Sharma OBE
Chairman of Magna Carta World Peace and Sustainability Foundation, United Kingdom
Members of International Organizational Committee
Dr Prem Sharma OBE
Professor Yinshang Tang
Rev Robin Thomson
Mr Ramu Damodaran, Chief of United Nation Academic Impact, 2010-2021
Professor Richard Li-Hua
Dr Lucy Lu
Media Sponsors:
Magnacartapeaceconference.org
ELITE Innovation for Peace Youtube Channel
Executive Summary
Following the previous 2012 World Peace Conferences and 2018 World Peace Conference successfully held in the House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London, 2023 World Peace Conference organized by Magna Carta World Peace and Sustainability Foundation will take place and sustained by South Asian Development Partnership (SADP) and hosted by ELITE Innovation College Cambridge (EICC).
Aims and Objectives of the Conference
We would like to use our response to this tragic suffering as a starting point for a wider focus on peace and forming peacemakers.
To establish the like-minded international partners with the shared peace mission
To enhance the awareness and significance of hearing the voice of children and women and development of young innovators, leaders, and peacemakers
To promote embracing innovation for peace and sustainability so as to achieve reconciliation and understand the power of innovation in the delivery of UN sustainable development goals
To understand the challenges and impact of climate change in shaping world peace
To promote national and international peaceful conflict resolution in order to achieve reconciliation for the benefit of society
We will explore the above in light of the conflict in Ukraine, as we consider
- the long term implications for global peace and stability
- the linkages between different strands of a strategy for peace
- our continuing response to the human suffering and loss there
Our strategic intent
A strategy for peace includes many strands such as research into the causes of conflict, the voices of women, children and youth, the link with sustainable care for the environment and the power of innovation. These have been the distinctive focus of the Magna Carta World Peace and Sustainability Foundation.
We intend to explore these linkages and to provoke creative and innovative ideas in tackling global trends, opportunities and challenges, by bringing together various stakeholders, politicians, peace makers, university presidents, business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs and policy makers. The intellectual lens will rotate around addressing various questions of new normal and rethinking of global trends, opportunities and challenges in the post COVID-19 and post Ukraine conflict era. We will seek to discover appropriate and effective modes to maintain world peace, dignity and equality in a healthy planet.
Proposed Agenda
It will include
- presentations by women and children including those directly affected by conflict
- presentation of the Magna Carta World Peace Index
- analysis of the impact of the conflict in Ukraine
- strategies for peace, sustainability and innovation in looking beyond the conflict
- panel discussion with opportunity for Q&A
- creating world peace: Young Leaders and Peacemakers
- global leadership: Empowering Women for World Peace
Conference Programme: TBC
Profiles of Organizers, Collaborators and Sponsors
Magna Carta World Peace and Sustainability Foundation, United Kingdom
South Asian Development Partnership (SADP), United Kingdom
University for Peace, Costa Rica, an institution created by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/55
ELITE Innovation College Cambridge, United Kingdom
Background
A. Legacy of World Peace Conferences: The Power of Youth
Since the early of the 21st Century, Dr Prem Sharma OBE has successfully led the organization of a dozen of international conferences on peace in Reading, Birmingham, Leeds and London, including the “2012 world Peace Conference with warm congratulations from former Prime Minister David Cameron” and the “2018 World Peace Conference with warm congratulations from former Prime Minister Theresa May “, which were held in the House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London with the participation of diverse international communities.
The distinctive feature of the peace conferences is that they were led by children/young leaders. Whenever there are major conflicts in the world, children are the worst affected victims. However their voices are rarely heard, and their plight is neglected, both by the extremists causing violence and by the government agencies preparing the counter response. To create world peace and economic sustainability, we need to empower young generation and engage them to speak out their views and promote world peace. This was the clear message from children, young people and women who have seen the effects of conflict and called on society to respond during the previous peace conference: “As a young person I demand that you tap the power of youth, putting us at the forefront of global change.”
The young speakers (including 8 years old and upwards) showed the power of youth as they spoke with impact to the audience of MPs and Lords, community leaders, business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, diplomats, and educators. For 2018 Peace Conference, there were 49 schoolchildren from eight schools around UK, who made a significant contribution through practical proposals from their workshop and excellent questions for the panel session. The audience were spellbound as the speakers shared their personal experience of war and refugee life, or described the kind of response that we need to make, both to refugees arriving in the UK and to young people in danger of radicalization. The children were accompanied by their parents, which sends a powerful message to the world as mothers have a major influence on their children.
B. Research and Innovation
We work through research (in partnership with Henley Business School), conferences, workshops and training on all aspects of world PEACE. Our aim is to investigate the causes of conflict and promote national and international conflict resolution and reconciliation. We are also committed to recognize and respond to other factors that contribute to PEACE. So care for the environment is vital for PEACE. So is equality, between men and women, between racial and ethnic groups. The Magna Carta Foundation works for the empowerment of women, especially in those parts of the world where their rights are less regarded. It emphasizes the value of diversity and opposes the oppression or marginalization of any group by the majority.
What are the causes of a conflict? Research shows that there are various reasons which cause conflict and war. There is rarely one clear cause of conflict which will then trigger to a war. The causes of a war are usually various reasons. However, the economic gain – reorganizing economic and technological resources, is on the top of the list of the causes. This means that the way of economic development is an important issue to any countries around the world. In another word, how to develop the economy or have a fast and sustainable development of the economy? This is clearly in alignment with UN’s mission in terms of the delivery of sustainable development goals.
The Magna Carta Peace Index has done ground-breaking research into the factors leading to conflict, which will be presented in the conference.
C. The Universal Desire for Peace
Human beings were born with a desire for “peace”. For example, in the western civilization using the olive branch as a symbol of peace could be traced back to at least 5th century BC Greece. An olive branch was one of the attributes of Eirene, the Greek goddess of peace. The word “peace” is a concept created to mean societal friendship and harmony without hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of violent conflict, such as war and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups or countries. Throughout development history of mankind, Politian and leaders have used peace-making and diplomacy to establish a certain type of events, activities and behavioral restraint through the signing of various agreements or peace treaties.
Such activities have helped the establishment of regional peace, national social and political stability and the achievement of economic development growth.
Peace is precious. It is a gift given to us from God. But we each have to work at promoting and maintaining it, first within ourselves – it begins with each of us. Then in our families, communities, and wider society. We also have to strive for peace between nations. Our late Queen Elizabeth II was a wonderful example of peacemaking through her humble service and wise leadership, visiting over 100 countries in her lifetime, developing relationships of friendship and trust with world leaders, and always demonstrating faith and hope.
D. Innovation for Peace and Sustainability
What is the strategic instrument in achieving the peace mission and creating world peace? Owing to its dimensions and impact, embracing innovation has positioned itself to provide fresh perspectives and strategic insights in economic development, which has been widely regarded as innovation for peace and harmony. It coincides with the United Nations’ mission on peace, dignity and equality in a healthy planet.
How did human society develop? What is the driving force for the creation of world peace and the social development? There is no doubt that the ability of social innovation and technological innovation is crucial. Innovation is the driving force for human development. Conceptual innovation, theoretical innovation, technological innovation, and social management innovation are all the driving forces that promote the development of human society. We believe that conceptual innovation and theoretical innovation are primary. Imagine that if there is no conceptual and theoretical innovation in human society, then all other innovations are empty talks, which will undoubtedly stand still.
Embracing innovation, which is also regarded as innovation for peace, is a strategic model and a new paradigm of the wise who are seeking common development, sharing resources and a win-win solution. It is an intrinsic social innovation. It refers to a novel and innovative solution to a complicated social problem. The solution is more distinctive, effective and efficient, better, equitable and sustainable than the existing approach. At the same time, it creates value for the benefit of society as a whole. The essential elements, also regarded as the four pillars of the embracing innovation theory, are as follows: a. embracing contradictions, b. heading with the times, c. seeking common ground while maintaining differences, and d. creating harmony and tolerance. These four pillars support and complement each other.
The value system of “embracing innovation” can be summarized into three "integrations":
- an integration of prescriptive strategies with emergent strategies;
- an integration of eastern and western management theories and philosophies;
- an integration of different cultures and civilizations.
It is more reflected in the superstructure and ideological field. It contains two levels: a. it refers to concept and philosophical innovation, designed as a top guide to break the shackles of the spirit and helps problem-solving. It delivers social and political sustainability; b. it refers to innovation of technology and management, which balances the innovation strategy between indigenous innovation and imitative innovation and helps to build a solid economic foundation and sustainability.
The two levels of “embracing innovation” are complementary to each other, which makes the “embracing innovation” a soul of national progress and world development, an inexhaustible power of the national prosperity, world peace and sustainability.
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