Just Governance for Human Security: Opening plenary in Caux

The conference on Just Governance for Human Security has brought 230 people from over 40 countries to Caux. When asked in the opening session why they had come, many spoke of the urgent need for just governance. Vigorous applause greeted the comment of a South African lawyer who said that FIFA’s corruption was being exposed, and this should lead to a much wider onslaught on corrupt practices. A women’s leader from Mali said, ‘We have come with our fears, and we want to learn how to construct a post-conflict country.’ A Ukrainian said, ‘Our country is at war, and we need solutions.’

For conference co-convenor John Bond, climate change was the priority. ‘For our very survival, we Europeans need to take responsibility for the wellbeing of the African farmer driven into poverty by climate change. That demands a huge shift in our mentality. We still blame Africans for their poverty, while massively exploiting Africa’s resources for our own benefit.’

Mohan Bhagwandas, Vice-President of Initiatives of Change International, pointed out that the 500 years of leadership of the West in world affairs is giving way to that of other regions. ‘The old systems of ethnicity and divisive politics has to give way to an inclusive agenda for the good of the human family,’ he said. ‘That is the significance of this conference.’