A WFM-IGP trans-national working group, established in 2024 to focus on the connections between the ideas/objectives of global governance and the principles of religious, faith-based and values-based perspectives.
At least 85% of the world’s population subscribe to some form of religious, faith or related values-based belief system. Ideas of global governance, international law and world federalism can find fertile ground amongst people with such belief systems if the connections between their values/beliefs and world federalist principles are made more obvious.
World Federalism is closely connected, for example, to religious principles of justice, fairness, reciprocity, guardianship/stewardship, protection of creation (the world), common humanity, social responsibility, human dignity and respect.
Activities:
The working group has been established to:
- Clarify and further develop the connections between values/faith-based principles and the ideas of global governance, international law and world federalism;
- Produce educational materials on these connections to use as outreach to values, religious and faith-based individuals, communities and organizations;
- Organize events and actions (e.g. statements/appeals) on WFM projects with a focus on the connections of these projects with values, religious and faith-based principles;
- Encourage values, religious and faith-based individuals and organizations to join WFM-IGP.
The main activities of the Interfaith TWG in 2024 were: a) the interfaith appeal Pursuing Peace, Security and Nuclear Disarmament through our Common Humanity, which was endorsed by over 270 religious, faith and values-based individuals and organizations and presented to the States Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the United Nations in July, and b) Protecting Our Common Climate System: Earth Governance for a Sustainable Future, which was endorsed by over 400 religious, faith and values-based individuals and organizations and presented to the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Membership:
The working group is open to individuals and faith-based organizations to join. Click here to apply. There are currently 70 members.
The TWG is co-convened by:
- Alyn Ware (New Zealand/Czech Republic), Inter-faith. WFM-IGP Program Director. Principle Author, Religions for Peace Resource Guide on Nuclear Disarmament for. Religious Leaders and Communities;
- Ayleen Roy (Austria). Hindu. Masters’ student, Kings College UK. Program Officer, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament;
- Bob Flax (USA). Jewish/Buddhist. Board Member World Federalist Movement- Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP);
- Bruce Knotts (USA). Unitarian Universalist. President & CEO of the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security. Trustee of the Parliament of the World’s Religions;
- David Oughton (USA). Catholic. Associate professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University;
- John Vlasto (UK). Humanist. Chair, WFM-IGP Executive Board;
- Virginia Swain (USA). Quaker. Co-founder, Institute for Global Leadership. Director and Co-founder, The Center for Global Community and World Law. Founder, America’s Soul Community.
For more information contact Alyn Ware, WFM-IGP Program Director.
Email: ware@wfm-igp.org