Activities
The Circle carries on its work
through
seminars, research, and collaboration with
national and international groups. We explore ideas
through individual efforts and organized discourses. We
add our voice to many others who, throughout the world,
strive for more humane progress, while preserving the
noble and diversified heritage of humanity, and the
integrity of our natural environment.
Meetings of the Circle
The Circle regularly
hosts gatherings on values that underlie current economic
and social transformations. These gatherings provide
opportunities to refine ideas and offer a wellspring of
inspiration and intellectual support for building
compassionate and responsible societies.
Since
its first informal meeting in January 1996, the Triglav
Circle has debated a variety of subjects, including:
moral criteria for assessing the quality of political,
economic, and social changes and their impact on the
natural environment; the concepts of needs, wants, and
satisfaction in market economies and societies; the role
of the "human spirit" in secular society;
education and socialization; and the vital role of
philosophy, religion, arts, and aesthetics in fostering
a plural, rich, and vibrant modern culture.
Publications and Research
The discussions of the Circle are summarized in reports
circulated to members, participants, and to a wider
public audience. These reports are entitled Triglav
Notes. Periodically these notes are summarized in
thematic papers.
In addition, several members have collaborated in a book
entitled Candles in the Dark: A New Spirit for a Plural
World, [Seattle and London: University of Washington
Press, 2003]. It was edited by Barbara Sundberg Baudot
and illustrated by Philippe Dumas. A research grant for
the publication of the book was given by the New
Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.
Collaboration with Other
Organizations
The Circle seeks to establish relationships with interested individuals and
organizations. Through several of its founders and
members, the Circle has a close relationship with the
United Nations and other international organizations. Of
direct interest is the follow-up of major world
conferences, including the World Conferences on
Environment and Development (Rio
Conference / Johannesburg) and the World Summit on
Social Development.
As a non-governmental organization
with special consultative status with ECOSOC,
members of the Circle are regular participants in
relevant meetings organized by various United Nations
bodies responsible for economic and social progress, in
particular the Commission
for Social Development and the Commission for Sustainable Development (see Triglav Circle contributions to the work of these
bodies).
Through its
members, the Circle follows the work of a number of
other organizations including the Centre International
pour Étude Comparée de Philosophie et d’Esthètique
[Tokyo], Globus at Tilberg University [The Netherlands];
the New Hampshire Institute of Politics [Saint
Anselm
College, Manchester, NH]; the Harvard-Yenching Institute and the Forum on Religion and Ecology [Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA]; Associates for International
Research and Development (AIRD) [Cambridge, MA]; Kyoto
Energy-Environmental Research Association [Japan]; ATD Fourth World [Paris, France], World
Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality;
Friedrich Ebert Foundation [Washington, D.C]; and the
Center for Concern [Paris, France].
Many members of the Triglav
Circle were engaged in the work of the Copenhagen
Seminars for Social Progress, organized by the Minister
for Development Cooperation of Denmark, to promote the
implementation of the objectives of the UN Social
Summit. The Seminar culminated its work in 2000 with the
publication of the book entitled Building a World
Community: Globalization and the Common Good, edited by
Jacques Baudot, [Seattle and London: University of
Washington Press, 2001]. The work of the Copenhagen
Seminars has been continued under the aegis of the United
Nations International Forum for Social Development, directed by
Jacques Baudot.
Circle members also contributed
significantly to the “Dialogue Among Civilizations,”
the concepts of which are retold in the book entitled Crossing the Divide: Dialogue Among Civilizations, [
New York
: Seton Hall University Press,
2001]. The book was written by the Group of Eminent
Persons, chaired by Giandomenico Picco, Personal
Representative of the Secretary General for the United
Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations.
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Photo by Jack Swedberg |
Gatherings
of the Circle provide opportunities to refine ideas
and offer a wellspring from which participants draw
inspiration and
intellectual support. |
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