Seeds of Peace

Economic disparity is a global concern that frequently fuels hatred, violence, and terror. Having drawn upon our own experiences in our countries, we have concluded that the great financial differences between nations, socio-economic classes, members within the same class, and in a family cause unequal access to resources and the failure to fulfill the basic necessities of life. Resources imply connections, money, and information. Additionally, basic necessities include adequate nutrition, water, shelter, healthcare, education, employment, legal identity, and respect.

Equal access to resources and the fulfillment of these necessities create equal opportunities. However, without equal opportunities the poor feel deprived after seeing the potential they cannot reach, and feel they live in unjust societies. This economic disparity leads to feelings of inferiority, humiliation, and frustration. As a result, the desperation caused by these negative feelings will lead people to turn to violence and terror as their last resort.

Basic Necessities: Every single individual who calls him/herself a citizen of this world, regardless of class, race, sex, nationality or religious belief, has the right to the following: healthcare, education, nutrition and shelter, and legal identity. These rights cannot and must not be denied as they make up the very essence of survival.

• Healthcare: Every citizen whose income is lower than a certain level should have access to free or reduced (in price) medicine, and/or medical treatment.
• Education: Free, public education must be compulsory until high school, after which scholarships should be offered to deserving students regardless of class. If higher education is not possible, job assistance should be the duty of the educational institution.
• Nutrition and Shelter: Social agencies must exist to make sure hunger or homelessness is not a cause of frustration and feelings of disparity and must provide food, shelter and employment.
• Legal Identity: To ensure healthcare, education, welfare services, and proper recognition as a legal citizen, birth certificates and passports must be rendered essential to all people of the country.

Alleviating Economic Disparity - Aid & Assistance: All people are responsible for each other. Therefore, we call on all countries to join in a global effort to minimize the economic disparities within human society. It is our duty, as well as privilege, as citizens of the world, to cooperate in order to bring prosperity to each other. It is, therefore, that we call for an increase in aid to nations in need, by all who can. This is not only a human responsibility, but also a legitimate self-interest that produces economic viability and security. The interest lies in the connection between economic disparity and the outburst of all forms of violence. Attacks of terror and hatred as we have witnessed throughout history, and in our own lives, might be prevented if the right measures are taken to guarantee people all over the world their basic necessities.

We suggest that the aid is allocated from government to government and through existing international bodies for that purpose. There is a major responsibility on the shoulders of the assisting authorities to make sure that the aid will reach the people and areas in need, and will not be abused in inappropriate ways. As we know from our own life experience, many times the money finds its way to the wrong hands, especially under corrupt regimes. This responsibility lies on both the donor and the recipient.

It is most important that the world join in an effort to dramatically increase the aid that is given today. It is not sufficient and more financial assistance is needed in order to make a real change. The assistance must be constructive in order to develop an independent nation and healthy economy, and not a dependent, unstable nation. We have a great opportunity to create a win-win situation, in which social and financial gaps will be minimized and safety and security will be heightened in the process.

Private Investment: Private investment from multinational corporations is essential to minimizing economic disparity. Multinational corporations have the moral responsibility, as international companies, to improve the economic situation of developing countries. Respecting the local culture and people is critical to fostering a healthy relationship between the corporation and the country. Private investment is important because it creates real economic opportunities in developing countries-- building new markets, creating employment opportunities, infusing technology, and developing infrastructure. While in some cases, these corporations have been perceived as a destructive force in developing nations, they can have a positive impact without being intrusive to the culture.

Conclusion: As long as there remain people anywhere who lack the basic necessities, there will be no chance for them to have a viable and fulfilled life, a situation that is more than likely to foster violence. We are well aware that economic disparity will always exist, but we cannot allow it to engulf our world with the violence it breeds; simply because doing that will mean giving up a better and safer life for ourselves, delegates from 19 different countries, who know and recognize the pain and terror of violence from our own homes.

Statement of the Committee on Declaration of Principles
Statement of the Committee on Media
Statement of the Committee on Education
Statement of the Committee on Religion
Statement of the Committee on Principles of Governing
Statement of the Committee on Safety and Security
Statement of the Committee on Popular Culture

To return to the Main Conference page, click here.