Conference & Declaration of Sewagram
Conference & Declaration of Sewagram
Sevagram International Conference
on
Non-violent Economy and Peaceful World
Commemorating 80th Anniversary of the meeting of
Lanza del Vasto with Gandhi in 1937, Wardha (India)
Gandhi International (France) and the Institute of Gandhian Studies, Wardha (India) have invited organisations, institutions and individuals interested in promoting non-violence and peace in the world to participate in the Sevagram International Congress on Non-violent Economy and Peaceful world at Wardha, India in October, 2017. This conference was organised in commemoration and celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Meeting of Lanza del Vasto, popularly known as Shanti Das or French Gandhi, with Mahatma Gandhi in 1937 at Wardha.This conference has been co-funded with the Non-Violence XXI Foundation.
Objectives of the Conference:
Themes:
The Conference discussed the following themes and the related areas in Plenary Session, Concurrent Sessions and Workshops:
Plenary Session
Meeting of two Great minds: Gandhi and Shanti Das
Gandhi’s vision of Alternative Civilization framework for a Non-violent and Peaceful Society
Life and contributions of Joseph Jean Lanza del Vasto (1901-1981) and his search for Alternatives
Pilgrimage to India and meeting with Gandhi and three months stay at Wardha in 1937 and its consequences for his life and times
Community of Ark as creative expression of alternative living and its initiatives and involvements in various Non-violent Struggles
Common Grounds in the Thoughts and Actions of Gandhi and Shanti Das
Concurrent Sessions:
- 1.Conceptualizing Gandhian Economy in the face of liberalized /globalised world
Challenges of Globalised Economy - Marginalization of deprived sections of society, growing inequality-widening gap between the rich and poor, growing unemployment and jobless growth, over-exploitation of natural resources both renewable and non-renewable, Impact on eco-system and environment
Key Ingredients of Gandhian Economy - Need based not greed based Economy, Decentralized production and distribution, Appropriate technology, Trusteeship and Bread Labour
- 2.Ensuring Livelihood / Food Security in a Sustainable Way
Reviving traditional and indigenous means of livelihood through local/rural resource based small scale /village industries using appropriate technology
Promoting organic indigenous agricultural practices to popularize traditional pest resistant seeds and its preservation through farmers, organic manure, local water shed management system to check the onslaught of highly mechanized, genetically modified, MNC controlled seeds, fertilizers and pest-control methods under highly commercialized industrial agriculture system
An appropriate service sector conducive to traditional means of livelihood
Ensuring food security to all including landless and marginalized sections through appropriate and equitable agrarian system
- 3.Towards a Violence /War free world
The growing violence in all walks of life
The imminent threat of Third World War from weapons of mass destruction mainly of nuclear weapons
Gradual Disarmament with focus on all kinds of weaponry systems of mass destruction
Demilitarization of War zones
Combating terrorism through non-violent means
Building up of a Non-violent/ Peaceful World Order- Think Globally and Act locally – Combining global vision with local initiatives
Workshop on mobilizing popular opinions and international movements for a Non-violent Economy and Peaceful World with more representative character in UN system and other international institutions/organizations