Concept

for a constructive Dialogue between people and Cultures

Today, developed countries of the world form a global village. Never in the history of mankind has there ever existed such easy contact. Each country and each continent is in constant communication. But it is doubtful if such communication promotes a straightforward and constructive dialogue between peoples and civilizations.

Hostility and excessive competitiveness breed conflict and aggravation. Religious fanaticism, nationalism, and racism are spreading. The problems of the minorities are growing, unemployment is on the rise. Wars and local rebellions are on the increase and without an end in sight.

We have become witnesses of a culmination of violence. It is appalling to contemplate that there are men who are so fanatic and self- obsessed that they are ready and willing to commit the most heinous and violent crimes against men, women and children.

We live in a time that is dominated by cynicism, mistrust, insecurity, corruption, fear, terror and in which the pursuit of money corrupts and changes the characters of people.

There has been a conflict between Economy and Culture in recent years that has become evident in every aspect of social life.

We must finally understand that when there is an increase in material goods, which is not followed with a parallel development of ideas and values, then the lifestyle created flattens every cultural creation and is doomed to wither and decline.

Financial programs and decisions must always consider the human factor. This is a protest and demand for more humanity and more culture.

In September of 2011 the NGO “Horizons – Actions” participated in a large forum in Beijing for the friendship of peoples. There the Greek delegation made a proposal to organize a forum for a constructive dialogue between peoples and cultures. If China and Greece suggested such a forum, the message they would convey to governments and peoples everywhere would give hope to everyone and humanitarian ideals that have blossomed thousands of years ago, would continue to be the focus of today's world.

China is a vast country with a great civilization. Greece is a small country with a colossal civilization.

Greece and China are civilizations at the opposite ends of the Eurasian Continent. Whilst there are great differences between them there are also striking parallels.

Throughout their long histories the Chinese and the Greeks have also held true to certain fundamental values, which, though each had arrived at independently of the other also parallel to each other. A love for nature and beauty and a respect to our teachers and philosophers and especially in Confucius who taught “ren”, that is goodness, and Socrates who taught “areti” that is virtue. Both of these together contain the values: honesty, morality, chivalry, knowledge and spirituality.

It is absolutely necessary to enter into a new era where education and culture will have a central role in politics, society and economy.

It takes an understanding of this need for change from people and politicians. We need knowledge, method, comradeship, and courage.

To develop, we must adapt ourselves to reality. To use the means that contemporary conditions offer to us and to function in a way that we can convince others in the importance and power of culture, for the development of societies, and to convince them that culture is not an abstract idea that occupies only the intellectuals.

Culture is horizontal. It is at the centre of the political, economic and social life.

Culture absorbs from the past, moulds the present and shapes the future.

We must appeal to people from all walks of life. We have to ask the thinker, the writer, the artist and all citizens to give answers and a new meaning and purpose to the conditions and demands of our time.

Throughout the ages, mankind has consistently sought progress and renewal. In the long history of human civilization there has been a whole series of renaissances, each one making its contribution to moral and intellectual regeneration and to the betterment of the quality of life.

When the level of culture, education and intellectual life rises, governments and citizens will understand their problems more easily. They will evaluate their problems better and will face life with greater understanding and show greater tolerance for the thinking and acting of other people.

Now we are taking huge strides in the development of technology and medicine. As an example, in medicine – DNA – and all that this entails. In space exploration, the well named pioneer space rocket, the “curiosity”. As the scientists are opening up new horizons, so, surely, the philosophers, thinkers and political statesmen will help us to find new standards and values for a more fair evolution of society and to the betterment of the quality of life.

It is the cultural gifts of music, art, literature and science, which have made us what we are, and the beings which we shall become. The new way of thinking, the new mind-set seems to guide us to wisdom with virtue and action with knowledge. Therefore, a constructive dialogue between peoples and cultures is absolutely necessary now more than ever.

Spyros Mercouris

"Open Horizons Action"

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