Asian Alliance for Solidarity Economy

by John Samuel

Ethics is what makes the economy humane- an enabling force for exchanges among people, societies and countries. Devoid of ethics, economy can perpetuate predatory forces of dehumanization, commodification, violence and war. Economy needs to be an enabling process that helps human beings and environment to sustain and thrive. And Economics devoid of ethics can be extractive, exploitative and imperialistic. In fact, both Adam Smith and Karl Marx began their search for viable economy from strong ethical premises.

Solidarity is an act of identifying with other human beings with shared sense of destiny,and responsibility. Solidarity is based on the principles of mutual empathy, mutual support, dignity and the greater common good. Solidarity helps us to go beyond the greed of the self to the need of other people, societies and countries. Solidarity does not depend on the principle of the Survival of the fittest. It seeks to promote the sustainability of human beings and environment. continue reading…

By Mr. ANUGRAHA JOHN
P.O Box 3210. R.T Nagar Post. Bangalore – 560 032.INDIA.
Email: ajohn316@globalcitizens.org.in
Mobile:+91-94481 92010

The first meeting of the Indian Organizing team for Asian Citizens’ Assembly 2010 (ACA 2010) was held on 26th January 2009 in Mumbai on the occasion of the Indian Republic Day.

Before we started we observed a minute of silence for all the people who were killed at the 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than ten coordinated shooting and bombing terrorist attacks across Mumbai, India’s financial capital and its largest city. The attacks, which began on 26 November 2008 and lasted until 29 November, killed at least 173 people and wounded at least 308. The attacks drew widespread condemnation across the world.

The discussion about this sad tragedy in India also led us to think about similar incidents in other Asian countries. The need for a People’s Assembly in Asia was reaffirmed and to bring different stakeholders/actors in Asia on a common platform for sustainable peace.

The members discussed about the learning journey from the China-India-Japan Forum which was held in Japan in July 2008. Everyone was very happy with the outcome of the Forum and the interest of young leaders from all these three countries to participate at the Asian Citizens Assembly 2010. It was noted that this Assembly’s strength would be an intergenerational partnership considering, approximately 60% of the Asian population is youth (those following below the age of 35). continue reading…