News and Cluster Activities
A recent workshop reported by CAUX-Initiatives for Change brought together “eight business leaders from Europe, India and Japan, as part of a conference on ‘Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy’… They included Dr Jamshed Irani, board member of Tata Sons Ltd in India, Toru Hashimoto, Chairman of Deutsche Securities in Japan, and [EBBF-member] Dr Jean-Pierre Méan, Group Legal Counsel and chief compliance officer of SGS Ltd, Geneva, the world’s leading inspection, testing and certification company.
Their joint report highlighted “how trust in business and the global economy can be restored. Trust, say the business leaders, ‘requires trustworthiness and a commitment to be truthful; this includes full transparency in accounting and compliance with accounting standards; it also implies honesty in business transactions and the refusal of any corruption.’”
Presenting their report, Dr Méan said that ‘we have to restore human rights as an absolute and intangible value for the whole of humanity’. He deplored investors’ demand for quarterly results which made managers too focused on share prices and short term results. ‘This has contributed a lot to the current financial crisis,’ he said. The business leaders call for long-term thinking. This also required CEOs to remain in office for longer terms than the current three to five year cycle, prevalent in some countries, Dr Méan said.
The article continued:
They also call for a review of executive compensation, ‘which has gotten out of hand in many instances,’ and the need to define a ratio of executive pay to that of the lowest paid. The business leaders do not state what the ratio should be but say that businesses need to take into account the responsibility of executives and size of the company.
They assert that companies need to include ‘non-financial criteria’ in the selection of their executives ‘such as integrity, respect for others and the ability to create bridges in conflict situation’.
The Corporate Leaders Workshop says that, despite a unilateral emphasis on shareholder value, corporations’ primary purpose is to produce goods and services. When this is done efficiently all the stakeholders benefit: shareholders, employees, partners, subcontractors, suppliers and the community.
The business leaders also state that ‘employees are the most valuable asset of a corporation; training and fair treatment, including the absence of any discrimination are essential’. And they urge corporations to be engaged in their communities ‘by an appropriate form of sustainable spending’.
The Corporate Leaders Workshop affirms a belief that ‘globalization must be balanced’ and will bring ‘an equitable approximation of wealth and living standards between developed and developing countries.’
EBBF opens a new chaper in Berlin
Submitted by Leonor Gimelfarb
This heartening news was sent in by the Berlin EBBF chapter on their inauguration event this year: entrepreneurs, managers, students, young professionals – attended an EBBF workshop in Berlin. Their common point: an interest for Corporate Social Responsibility and the readiness to get active. “After identifying our interests and expectations we split into groups to define and plan activities”, says Léonor Gimelfarb.
The idea had germinated at an EBBF conference last October – the first German-speaking EBBF conference. “We wanted to build on the motivation and inspiration the conference had created”, says Monika Spiegel. Monika and Léonor consulted with Thomas von Lutterotti and Stefan Pernau and the group decided to start a regional EBBF group in Berlin. “We spread the idea in our personal networks and fifteen people came to our first meeting.”
After reviewing EBBF values the group brainstormed on topics of interest, selecting three for group activities: “CSR/ Business ethics”, “Networking” (linking up with like-minded organisations) and “Environment”. How effective was the group planning? “The CSR group is planning a seminar … to which we expect 40 people to come”, says Monika. “We will invite speakers we know in Berlin and a student in our group will present her research on the social norm SA 8000.”
“The Environment group will address the issue of ‘Business and Biodiversity’”, says Anette Gonser. “Experts expect “Biodiversity” to come up as the next big issue of public concern after climate change. Yet the relations between business and biodiversity are not well known – we would like to take a closer look at it and help initiate this important debate.”
The workshop brought together people with diverse backgrounds. How did they experience the afternoon? “I was surprised how well the process went”, says Adrian Meyer, a student and member of AIESEC. “Since no one knew in advance in which direction all the participants wished to go it was difficult to plan in a very concrete manner. Considering this, the flow was impressively efficient. And I am quite satisfied with the result of the working group.”
The three groups are busy with preparing their activities. … In the meanwhile, Monika, Léonor, Thomas and Stefan coordinate the new EBBF chapter. “It is a great motivation to see so many people getting involved for EBBF values”, says Léonor. “Clearly the interest is there. All it needs is an impulse and a bit of coordination.”
EBBF activities rife in Ukraine
Submitted by Gary Reusche.
Initiated the registration of the non-governmental organization "European Business Forum EBBF-Ukraine." EBBF-Ukraine mirrors the charter, goals, and organization of the EBBF. The first president and secretary general are Gary Reusche and Tetyana Taran respectively. Monthly meetings started in July and will encourage members to share their individual professional and service activities and to search for ways to work together on common projects.
EBBF for the second year is an official development partner of AIESEC in Ukraine and sits on the advisory committee. Collaboration includes workshops and keynote presentations at AIESEC National and Regional events. Gary Reusche gave the keynote presentation at an international conference held in Kyiv, and facilitated an videoconference between Ukrainian students studying in the USA and their fellow students in Ukraine.
EBBF Ukraine (Tatyana Taran) participated in an International Forum for NGOs in Ukraine: "Ethical and spiritual aspects of human and social development." A presentation was made on "Baha'i Experiences in Virtues Training for Children and Youth" in the section: "Child-Family: New paradigms for relations."
Produced the mini-drama "Cultural Dialogs" that was performed in the city centre for "European Day in Ukraine" and helped with a booth promoting the same theme. Undertaken in association with the "International Organization for Migration in the European cities."
Two members of EBBF-Ukraine (Larisa Boiko and Victor Dimanya) participated in the European conference for positive psychotherapy in Germany.
Facilitated and provided expert services (Tetyana Taran) to stage the final concert of the "All Ukrainian Festival of Arts for Children and Youth with Health Problems" in the city of Lugansk in Eastern Ukraine.
Systematically worked to increase contacts and develop partnerships with like-minded organizations in Ukraine that are interested to collaborate with EBBF Ukraine. The following contacts were made and are actively being developed:
· International Charitable Organization : "Transatlantic Partners against AIDS"
· NGO Information Resource Centre "Gurt"
· Private Company: "Management, Training, Promotion"
· Consulting Group: "Business Systems"
· Assembly of NGOs in Ukraine
· Association of Positive Psychotherapists
EBBF members to sensitize committed students about global issues
Leonor Gimelfarb
On 9-11th October AIESEC in Germany is holding its annual conference "Strategic Autumn Meeting". 350 students, all of them serving on their local AIESEC boards, will plan together activities and projects for the new academic year. For the second time EBBF has been invited to conduct workshops on global issues. "During one day selected AIESEC partner have got the opportunity to present their views on global issues", says Melanie Sarrach from AIESEC Germany's national board. EBBF members Fritz Klüber and Shervin Setareh have agreed to run workshops on Energy and Social Innovations respectively. With 57 local chapters and hundreds of members Germany is one of the largest AIESEC countries. EBBF is very pleased to see the cooperation develop.
Latest news from EBBF Belgium
Submitted by Graham Boyd
1) a day session with AIESEC of Marc Avanzo and myself. We facilitated at their Natco2. Marc has already sent off a summary of the day.
2) I represented EBBF at the 60th anniversary of AIESEC, where I was able to talk to a number of folk about what AIESEC is doing and how we are a natural home for them after AOIESEC ends.
EBBF activities in Germany in 2008
Submitted by Leonor Gimelfarb
Germany: Under the active leadership of Leonor Gimelfarb, herself an AIESEC alumnus, EBBF has gained recognition with AIESEC Germany, one of the strongest AIESEC organizations in the world (57 local chapters). Following milestones were achived:
- In October 2007 EBBF ran a CSR workshop on Emerging Markets at the "Strategic Autumn Meeting". At this national conference 350 AIESEC members, all of them serving on their local board, plan activities for the new academic year. Selected AIESEC partners are invited to run workshops to sensitize students on global issues.
- In October, too, some AIESECers attended the first German-speaking EBBF conference in Berlin. In common AIESEC-EBBF workshop wishes and possibililites for cooperation were discussed.
- Following this conference two AIESECers got actively involved in the EBBF Berlin chapter. Melanie Reichmann co-organised a CSR workshop. Adrian Meyer is part of a project whose aim is to establish a CSR course at Berlin Universities (inspired by the course at Bari University).
- EBBF has again been invited to run global issues workshops at the Strategic Autumn Meeting next October. EBBF members Fritz Klüber and Shervin Setareh have agreed to run workshops on Energy and Social Innovations respectively.
