Monastery Hude Meeting to develop a platform for the global commons
From October 24-26, 2008, a gathering of 20 leaders from various sectors and from a diverse range of backgrounds gathered together in Hude, Germany for a weekend of meetings to determine the best course of action in developing a platform for the global commons.
Transborder cooperation and global standards needed
Press Release (Athens – Majlis El-Hassan)
Greek President Karolos Papoulias welcomed His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal to Greece yesterday. In a courtesy visit to the Presidential Palace in Athens, they discussed global humanitarian issues.
Prince El Hassan, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Sarvath, was in Greece for a three-day visit to several international non-governmental organizations. Throughout his stay, Prince El Hassan emphasized the need for transborder cooperation and global standards to address the problems that sovereign governments and free markets are unable to solve.
On Sunday, Prince El Hassan spoke to a gathering hosted by the International Anti-Corruption Conference, a bi-annual forum that defines ways of increasing accountability in government and business. The group is also known as Transparency International.
Speaking to a plenary session of two hundred people, HRH called for the development of alternative fuels, new technology and energy efficiency to end the misery and instability of poverty, curb carbon emissions and create a massive economic stimulus and new jobs.
But he also warned that "greening all of the world's businesses through the economic signals of the marketplace will not change the energy base of civilization from fossil fuel to solar or other renewable energies as long as the reserve standard of the dominant global currency remains tied to fossil fuels."
Prince El Hassan indicated that the global financial crisis requires a fundamental restructuring of the financial and monetary system and a global social charter for the just distribution of resources and human security. He concluded that "the lesson we are learning from the financial crisis is that we cannot borrow ourselves into wealth."
Speaking yesterday to a group of ambassadors, professors and international analysts at the Hellenic Foundation for Europe and Foreign Policy, HRH outlined the possibility of a water and energy community for the broad Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Sea region.
Since the area "will soon be facing energy and water shortages, rising prices and the risk of conflicts over resources," Prince El Hassan said that nations in the region should engage in resource-sharing agreements as a means of increasing development and cooperation. He also focused on the possibility of intra-regional solutions as a way of reversing the impact of the present global economic crisis.
(Athens – November 4, 2008)
Munich, October 17, 2008
Before his speech at the Munich Public Water Economy, Al Gore was presented a Plant for the Planet t-shirt by Felix Finkbeiner. The Nobel Prize winner was so impressed by the youth initiative, that he later referred to it in his speech as a good example of how people, particularly children can get involved.
For more information please read the article from the Münchener Merkur from October 18, 2008 (in German). 
At the same event Felix presented the youth initative to Christian Ude, Mayor of Munich (above) and spoke with Sigmar Gabriel about climate justice (below). 
Hans Küng honors the Augsburg Peace Prize 2008 recipient
On October 18th Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan has was awarded the Augsburg Peace Prize. Prof. Dr. Hans Küng gave the address.
Dr. Ernst Oeffner, prize jury chairman spoke of Prince El Hassan as a "bridge-builder between East and West", "tireless organizer of dialogue between religions" and "inspirational visionary for a future, in which the world religions work together for peace, justice and a sustainable integrity for all creatures", making the decision to honor him with the Augsburg Peace Prize a logical choice.
From this vision Prince Hassan has engaged in working on an initiative for a Coalition for the Global Commons that together with the youth initiative Plant for the Planet, supports a youth participation platform. 
Picture source: City Augsburg
Felix Finkbeiner took the opportunity to present Prince Hassan the youth initiative and a Plant for the Planet t-shirt.
"Some thought on the bursting of the speculative bubble" by Zeki Ergas
Activist, scholar, writer and long-time Global Marshall Plan supporter Zeki Ergas gives a brief explanation to our current financial crises and calls for a change in the system. According to his analysis, there is much more trouble lurking below the surface.
His article on the crisis in the global financial system has been recently picked up by the Transnational Institute (originally printed by Media for Freedom).
For the full article use this link.
Reflections on the Financial crisis and the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals by Vita de Waal
A few days ago the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon expressed his concerns that "the financial crisis does threaten to undermine all the UN's achievements and all its progress" and that "it would be the final blow that many of the poorest of the world's poor simply cannot survive"
To the full article (pdf)
"Can Barack Obama Make the Withering American Democracy Bloom Again?" by Zeki Ergas
Barack Obama may represent a hope for reviving American democracy, writes Zeki Ergas, but only if he challenges the overwhelming influence of big business, neoliberal globalization and the interests of American imperialism.
Published in summer 2008, Ergas made a prediction that Barack Obama would win the US presidency. What was yet unclear was what kind of affect Obama would have or be allowed to have as president. Now with president-elect Barack Obama months away from the White House, the challenges he will face should be revisted.
To read Dr. Ergas' full article published by Media for Freedom June 23, 2008 follow this link.
News articles on the Initiative and Plant for the Planet
11/05/2008
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Presentation on the Coalition for the Global Commons November 23, 2008
The Pachamama Symposium in Pittsburgh this November 23rd will include a presentation on the Coalition for the Global Commons by Greg Pace.
Beyond building awareness for the Global Commons, Greg will also be sharing his musical talent to the symposium by playing a few piano pieces.
11/11/2008 7:00 pm (local time)
Brussels
Relaunching activities in Brussels
Dear friends of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative,
As you are probably all aware, the Global Marshall Plan is involved in the conference on climate justice "A Global Contract Based on Climate Justice - The Need for a New Approach Concerning International Relations" on the 11th of November 2008 at the European Parliament in Brussels.
We thought this would be a good timing and opportunity to re-launch the activities of the Brussels based support group of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative and to discuss the setting up of a local group, which would meet on a regular basis and plans activities in order to promote the main ideas and objectives of the initiative in various ways.
We would of course also be delighted to welcome new faces and supporters of the Initiative.
Therefore I would suggest meeting on the 11th of November at 7pm at Arthur's, 26 rue de Trèves, 1050 Brussels (place du Luxembourg)
For more information on the initiative, the strategy and the different ways of becoming involved, please consult www.globalmarshallplan.org
For any further questions and comments please feel free to contact me at any
time.
Kind regards,
Denis Schrey
mailto:brussels@globalmarshallplan.org
05/31/2009 - 06/04/2009
Chicago
Conference Themes
The Conference will focus primarily on a critique of the role of the United States in the current dynamic of world affairs. We will examine the positive and negative dimensions of America’s global stance. Finally, we will explore some of the very real challenges that America must meet if globalization is to be guided toward the common good, both within the US and in the larger world.
Other thematic areas will also be addressed. They include (but are not limited to) the following:
* Globalization, Civilizational Dialogue, and the Role of the Global Interfaith Movement
* The Global Environment: Climate, Habitat, Water, Energy, and All Life
* The Struggle for Social and Economic Justice and Universal Human Rights
More information can be found here