Here is a fascinating development:  A network of think tanks (hence the "T" in T-7) mostly in the South of the world, come together to discuss global governance-the WTO, etc. and to re-think, from the ground up, how to move forward on a governance system that serves the needs of all nations better than the current system, and that allows a balancing of social, economic, and environmental points of view in the interest of overall sustainability of the planet.

 

http://www.globalcentres.org/html/2020.html

 

 

Excerpts from the above web site:

 

"Transcending Post-Seattle Angst" was a proposal to organize a series of meetings to discuss reports authored by a "tribunate" of 7 Think-Tanks from Canada, India, Lebanon, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, and the Czech Republic. The Project benefited from a Panel of 7 Eminent Advisors (including Moises Naim, Maureen O'Neil, David Victor, Muhummad Yunus, Mervat Badawi, Rashad Cassim and Adil Najam). Representatives from Civil Society and the international economic institutions were consulted throughout the Project.

The T7, a consortium of "think-tanks" is based on drawing together contributions from different continents, different cultures and different stages of development, using respected and independent Think Tanks. The objective of this consortium is to encourage coalition building, as well as respecting pluralism and differences of view and to address the increasing tension among the various stakeholders of the global economy.

The T-7 Project is comprised of three streams:

A 2020 Visioning exercise, was held in Victoria late August. At this two day conference, a dozen 'Visionaries' (the majority from the South) provided a narrative of his/her current research and a specification of desired 2020 outcomes, describing the future shape of multilateral institutions that they would (optimistically) believe feasible.

An inventory of ideas and best practices to enhance participation, transparency and accountability.

Ten individual papers recommending the creation of New Units (agencies or facilities attached to one or more existing multilateral organizations), with state of the art governance features.

The initiative is currently funded by the Canadian Government, the University of Victoria (Canada) and the Ford Foundation.

 

Regards, Jim

 

Dr. James F. Moore

Senior Fellow

Harvard Law School

Open Economies Project

Berkman Center for Internet and Society

Pound Hall 511
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

 

www.openeconomies.org

jmoore@cyber.law.harvard.edu

 

Chairman

GeoPartners Ventures

214 Lincoln Street

Allston, MA 02134

 

www.geopartners.com

jmoore@geopartners.com