Alternative Globalization Addressing Peoples and Earth

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sharing and caring; celebrating life over material wealth; communal
ownership of resource bases and high levels of intra-community
interaction and solidarity… The Pacific Churches see the ‘Island of
Hope’ as fitting expression of the global, ecumenical concept of the
Kingdom of God in the Pacific context… The best of our traditional
values are like seeds of the kingdom of God which, as Christians, we
can offer to the world.” 21
A youth consultation on economic globalization held just before the
global conference concluded that “ Never before has it been so important
for young people to search for alternatives to the current dynamic of
globalization. It is our future that is being threatened.” 22
Churches in Western Europe: economy in the service of life, June 15-
19, 2002, Soesterberg, Netherlands
The Soesterberg consultation on “The economy in the service of life” was
jointly called by the WCC, the Lutheran World Federation, the World
Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Conference of European Churches,
and was hosted by the Dutch Council of Churches. The consultation
analyzed how globalization and, specifically, the role of money affects
European societies, and the questions and challenges that could pose for
churches. It drafted a response from Western European churches to
questions raised by churches in the South and the East at previous
consultations. A letter from Soesterberg to the churches in Western Europe
contains an explicit critique of economic globalization: “The gospel
promises life in all its fullness for all people and the whole creation (John
10:10). This promise was incarnated in Jesus Christ. Nobody is excluded
from God’s household of life. The Christian community reflects this vision
for the sake of the whole world. Guided by this vision, we strive for an
economy in the service of life. Market and money should enable the
exchange of goods in order to satisfy human needs and contribute to the
building of human community. Today, however, we see a growing
domination of real life by private financial and corporate interests.
Economic globalization is guided by a logic which gives priority to
accumulating capital, unbridled competition and the securing of profit in
narrowing markets. Political and military power are used as instruments
to secure safe access to resources and protect investment and trade.” 23
Asia/Africa beyond globalization (the spirit of Bandung and a new world
order), Bandung, Indonesia, 25-27 June, 2002
22
Youth voices against globalization: Consultation statement, 2001 in the WCC dossier
on The Island of Hope, 2001
23
Analytical report: Economy in the service of life, June 15-19, WCC. Lectures are available
on the Oikos website www.stichtingoikos.nl