Halcyon Identifies

 

Global poverty reduction needs broad support across civil society as much as grand goal-setting, via an international social norm that sees the persistence of extreme poverty in as morally unacceptable.

 

Cities are starting to commit to "compassionate solutions" and community service to meet the needs of all their citizens.

• Civility/Values - questions of values and norms are moving increasingly from the domain of philosophers and preachers into political and policy debate. 

• Civility - a clear and uncompromisingly bleak view of the future of civilisation.  

• Civility - many, not just conservatives, now believe that encouraging the old-fashioned notion of "character" may be a key to some of the most entrenched social problems.

Responses - 05/12/07

• Civility/Collaboration - a global consultation process has led to a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century.

Responses - 17/11/07

• Civility/Democracy - an ambitious new survey of public opinion around the world contains findings of potentially great interest to the world's citizens and policymakers alike.

Problems - 29/10/07

• Civility/Indifference - will civilisation eventually end because of a shutdown in humans' concern for one another?

Responses - 19/06/07

• Civility - ideas for raising the "moral barometer" in society.
• Integrity - Canada has appointed a national ethics commissioner and a public sector integrity commissioner.
• Peace - a globally-oriented thinktank is calling on governments and relief organisations to work for peace when disaster strikes in conflict zones.

Responses - 08/06/07

• Activism - the web is enabling a new "I’ll do it, but only if you’ll help me do it" school of individual commitment; examples include asking people to donate a fixed and standard % of their net worth to charity.
• Africa - new programmes provide income to many people through the planting of trees, through raising awareness about women's rights and through strengthening civil society.
• Education - UNESCO has developed a unique, global open training platform.
• Health - the discovery of genes responsible for seven of the most common illnesses offers hope to millions of sufferers.