http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/lectures/lecture
s14.html
Sustainability. Systems. Science. Spirituality. These are the components of the "4-S Concept" put
forth by Goi Peace Foundation president Hiroo Saionji at the Forum 2005 "Creating a New Civilization," a full-day
program held on Saturday, November 12th at the Tokyo International Forum. The Goi Peace Foundation is a Japanese
organization whose mission is to bring together people in education, science, culture and the arts toward the common
goal of peace on Earth. The Foundation invited leading-edge thinkers from relevant fields to engage in deep dialogue
on "Creating a New Civilization," including former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev and members of the World
Wisdom Council. Among the audience of more than 4,000 were ambassadors and other distinguished representatives
from the embassies of 46 different countries.
In a smaller "pre-Forum" event, eight members of the World Wisdom Council, led by Dr. Ervin Laszlo of the
Club of Budapest and Professor Ashok Gangadean of Haverford University, introduced the Tokyo Declaration, with key
concepts underlying the Forum theme. According to the Tokyo Declaration, "the diverse crises we now face are at their
core a crisis of consciousness," and thus we must "help ignite an emergent critical mass of organized global citizens as
the essential first stage in efforts to create a new planetary civilization."
Mr. Saionji opened the Forum 2005 with a warm welcome and an overview of the program, heralding the
"unprecedented opportunity for a major leap in human evolution." The 4-S Concept would provide an integrated
platform to support the evolving collective vision of the New Civilization.
The keynote speaker was President Gorbachev, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and heads the
Gorbachev Foundation and the Green Cross International. Mr. Gorbachev noted, "History increases in velocity and
there is danger of falling behind in consciousness." He described the three major problems associated with
globalization: security, poverty and ecological threat, asserting that these problems would only be solved by a united
effort. This year saw the 20th anniversary of perestroika, the restructuring that dissolved the Soviet system and
effectively ended the Cold War. When systems need change, half measures are not sufficient. "We live in an
interdependent world in dynamic transition," he explained. Our priority must be the survival of humankind. "Today," he
said, "we need new thinking for a new century," including new vision for politics, business and civil society. "The new
world is possible," he affirmed, quoting U.S. President John F. Kennedy's statement in 1963 that the most important
theme is the theme of peace. Mr. Gorbachev concluded by stating, "The future needs to be for all of us or we won't
have it at all."
A video message from HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan advocated a paradigm shift that would
include "substantial reconfiguration of our lifestyles and redistribution of global wealth" to ensure our survival. He said,
"The human spirit can be revived as a global spirit if there is selfless hope for freedom, equality and justice."
The 4-S discussion was organized in two panels, with guest speakers comfortably seated in armchairs. The
first, "Sustainability & Systems: Moving Beyond Crisis," was moderated by Peter D. Pedersen, a Danish business
consultant who founded the environmental strategy organization E-Square Inc. Pedersen asked, "Do we possess the
wisdom to choose the right path at civilization's crossroads?" Biologist Elisabet Sahtouris and economist Hazel
Henderson described various systems in their fields that demonstrate that humanity is in a juvenile evolutionary phase
of hostile competition. While Dr. Sahtouris gave hopeful examples of life forms discovering successful cooperation just
at the moment of crisis, Dr. Henderson stressed that, "a new kind of marketplace is absolutely necessary for the 21 st
century."
Mr. Masayasu Kitagawa, of the Okuma School of Public Management at Waseda University, spoke about
balancing economy and environment so that each strengthens the other. He said, "We can transcend the dualistic
model. This is the greatest message Japan can give the world." But President Gorbachev was not optimistic. He noted,
"The problem is not with science but the gap between words and action." The consumer model of western society has
outlived itself, and there is no adequate vision on behalf of politicians. "Without a positive push from civil society," he
said, "politics won't change. So we need to raise up civil society."
Dr. Henderson and Mr. Kitagawa heartily agreed, while Dr. Sahtouris added, "My hope for the world is to invest
in its young people and their vision for the future."
The second dialogue, "Science & Spirituality: The Next Stage of Human Evolution," was facilitated by dynamic
filmmaker Jin Tatsumura, director of the documentary film series "Gaia Symphony." Dr. Ervin Laszlo eloquently stated,
"Nothing less than the future of humanity is the topic. The next evolution of humanity will depend on a new convergence
between science and spirituality." He elaborated, "A complex system does not evolve step-by-step. It reaches a chaos
point where it either breaks down or breaks through. The question is whether we can master the change or we will
become the victims of it."
DNA researcher Dr. Kazuo Murakami described a fascinating experiment on the effect of listening to
comedians on the level of blood sugar in diabetic patients. He suggested that when we change the mind, the
functioning of the genes themselves may change as a result. He spoke of recognizing the invisible source of our genetic
coding, a clear indication of the relationship between science and spirituality. Masami Saionji, author, spiritual leader
and chairperson of the Goi Peace Foundation, added that, "unbelievable power and energy are in the mind." If we can
unleash this power, "the 21st century is bound to be a century of sustainability." James O'Dea, president of the Institute
of Noetic Sciences, spoke of the new level of consciousness, as called for in the Tokyo Declaration. "This evolutionary
next step is either going to be very beautiful or it won't happen and we'll be gone."
Professor Laszlo can clearly envision what he has previously referred to as the "macroshift." He pointed out
that, "social systems can change abruptly – like the disappearance of the Soviet system, almost overnight." He
predicted that, "within ten years, we can create a viable civilization because of the rise of a new spirituality. If a critical
mass of people achieve this new level of consciousness, the changes will occur through civil society."
Rounding out the program was an uplifting presentation that brought the arts and the voices of youth to the
stage. Mr. Sadao Watanabe, internationally renowned saxophonist, accompanied 90 youngsters from three high
schools and the Tochigi Rhythm School in a rousing performance called, "Play the Rhythm of the Earth."
Hiroo Saionji closed the event, saying, "If we hold a global consciousness, then we will achieve a global
civilization." He acknowledged the fourteen partner organizations, including the Club of Budapest, the Club of Rome,
the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Pathways to Peace and others that took part in the Forum 2005 as an example of a
new spirit of cooperation. "We can work together to expand the network. We can have a bright future for our children
and grandchildren."
Sustainability. Systems. Science. Spirituality. Upon these four pillars, the Forum 2005 "Creating a New
Civilization" explored the questions that matter most at this critical moment in the history of our world. Such stimulating
discussions need to continue, bringing together experts from all walks of life to map out the steps to a new culture of
peace. The Tokyo Declaration calls on us to "facilitate and accelerate the blossoming of a higher form of civilization that
embodies the global wisdom of humankind, in order that generations now living may bring forth a world in which the
entire human family may flourish in harmony with all of nature on this precious planet."
PROGRAM
PRE-FORUM (10:00am - 12:30pm) Hall B5
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Introduction Hiroo Saionji, Goi Peace Foundation President
Presentations "Wisdom for a New Civilization"
World Wisdom Council Joint Statement
Ervin Laszlo, Ashok Gangadean, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, Audrey Kitagawa, Takashi Kiuchi , Ekaterina Mojaeva-Köstler,
Michael Laitman, Angaangaq
"Learning from Nature to Create Global Family"
Elisabet Sahtouris
"Expanding Awareness Shows Positive Options for Humanity's Common Future"
Hazel Henderson
"Towards a Science of Individual and Collective Transformation"
James O'Dea
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Voice of Youth
"My Job Is to Feed My Hungary Neighbor"
Burunciuc Mihai (Moldova)
"Healing the World: How We Can Care for Our Planet"
Nusrat Haque (Bangladesh)
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Closing Speech "Responsibilities of the Individual in the 21st Century"
Masami Saionji, Goi Peace Foundation Chairperson
MAIN FORUM (2:00pm - 6:00pm) Hall A
<PART 1>
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Opening
Welcome Hiroo Saionji
Keynote Speech "Toward a New Civilization" Mikhail Gorbachev
Video Message Prince El Hassan bin Talal
Talk Session I: SUSTAINABILITY & SYSTEMS〜Moving Beyond Crisis〜
Mikhail Gorbachev, Hazel Henderson, Masayasu Kitagawa, Elisabet Sahtouris, Peter D. Petersen (coordinator)
<PART 2>

Talk Session II: SCIENCE & SPIRITUALITY〜The Next Stage of Human Evolution
Ervin Laszlo, Kazuo Murakami, James O'Dea, Masami Saionji, Jin Tatsumura (coordinator)

Talk Session Roundup
<PART 3>

Concert "Play the Rhythm of the Earth!"
Sadao Watanabe and young performers

Closing Ceremony
(Transcripts of all speeches will be available soon.)
Forum 2005 Digest Video
(Click here to download Windows Media Player)