New Scenarios for a Changing World.
This was the text used in a speech given by Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner, President of the Club of Rome, to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of COR.
1998 Series 1 Number 26 Page 1
This is an extract from the concluding remarks he made.
“…The message, time and again, is how frustrating and contradictory it is when our present situation and world trends are met with unwillingness or political inability on the part of both public and private leaders of civil society in trying to resolve the major issues before us. Thus, in order [sic] to change the course of events we require urgent, almost immediate action, instead of leaving goodwill for later on—maybe until it will already be too late to effectively act [sic].
“Meanwhile, the worst kind of ignorance of all—born of the refusal to see, hear, or know about anything that disturbs our selfishness—is giving way nowadays to the rebirth of the worst demons of the human spirit, such as envy, xenophobia, racism, intolerance, fanaticism, corruption, and hate. While awash with information of nearly plague-like dimensions—too often previously manipulated—we continue to be short of sound knowledge and even more so of leadership free of a thirst for power and profit, anxious to overcome confrontation in the benefit of mutual understanding and co-operation.
“Thirty years after having initiated our task, The Club of Rome is aware—I believe—of the renewed magnitude of the challenge [and] the material limitations afflicting us in our ambitious commitment to study and contribute to resolve the world problematique. We are also aware that the major priorities continue to be health, sustainable development, research, learning, justice, ethical behaviour, and peace. Nonetheless, we are not discouraged by the daunting task ahead, but rather induced to clinch it tight in our hands. Thus, following Aurelio’s well set quixotic example, we go on ahead, undisturbed.
“Over and above the problems and the hazards facing us, taking account of all the many reasons for hope—stored mainly in people’s hearts and minds, and in Mother Nature’s loving generosity—we shall continue to hold a flaming torch to light the many dark shadows of Humankind by proclaiming our duty towards future generations. ‘Love implies action’ were the last words of one of the greatest romantic writers. Along such lines and out of love for our fellow man, we should follow an unending learning process in order [sic] to make a positive contribution in any way within our reach.
“Thirty years of activities is only a beginning. The years to come will certainly show whether all of us, men and women of the world, have chosen for better of for worse.”
[At the close of 2024, these words still ring true. Sadly, we have made very little progress toward resolution of the problematique. Ed.]
Link to | New Scenarios for a Changing World.
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