About Us

In Germany and Austria in 2003, a citizens' initiative was created under the name of Global Marshall Plan, with a goal of creating a global network of civic organizations. The title of this project was selected intentionally as an invitation to the citizens of the United States to join and participate in this movement. In the past four years, the activities of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative have grown in several countries and continents, particularly in the United States and Canada.

The Global Marshall Plan Initiative has now launched a major consultation process, engaging partners across the world in the development of a common global action plan. We have chosen to call this new initiative Coalition for the Global Commons, although it may be referred to by other names according to regional or cultural preferences and previous organizational commitments. But we believe that this title holds the right vision, carries a magnetic meaning, and offers great potential for universal cooperation and organization for a common action plan. Coalition for the Global Commons implicitly acknowledges the prior unity of humankind, the borderless nature of our problems today, and the need to declare our sovereignty as global citizens.

As a campaign for global action, Coalition for the Global Commons seeks to provide an integrative platform in politics, economics, civil society, science, religious communities, and the media that will enable people from all areas of the world to work together through new forms of cooperation. The goal of these cooperative efforts is the development of 'win-win' solutions for a more just and sustainable multilateral system that moves us beyond the inherent limitations of the present bilateral policies of government and the self-maximizing activities of market forces. These solutions will be laid out in the final common global action plan.

The central concern of this initiative is joining together an engaged partnership for sustainable development, with the establishment of a just policy framework for the global economy - an eco-social market economy - for the betterment of everyone. We believe that equitable opportunities for development and equitable global competition will create an effective strategy for North-South and East-West, and help overcome the undesirable aspects of economic globalization as well as conflicts in international political relations. As humanity unites toward a common global goal, we anticipate the appearance and articulation of new and enlightened strategies capable of carrying us forward together, while honoring individual initiative and expression.

A multi-stakeholder press and consultation conference took place on March 4th, 5th, and 6th 2008 in Berlin to launch this global action plan and open public dialogue and debate. We intend the preliminary text that is detailed on this website to generate discussion and invite you to use your experience, thoughts, and know-how to further shape this global action plan, which will be finalized and presented at a major international conference in 2010. We are vitally interested in your feedback and input on the issues that are raised here.

An Eminent Council - a governing team headed by Prince El Hassan bin Talal and comprised of many international leaders - will moderate the content of the global action plan with advisement from its Secretariat. This panel will help select teams of experts to oversee and ensure the transparency of the discussion process, following democratic protocols for interaction. The Eminent Council will resolve disputes over the text and also contribute its political and economic wisdom to the endeavor.

The Secretariat of the Coalition for the Global Commons will facilitate the organization of the multi-stakeholder consultation activities. This team will coordinate the circle of supporting organizations, leaders and experts, and ensure that new and revised iterations of the text are available on this consultation website as well as updated on a weekly basis. All changes to the text will be documented and made apparent to everyone through this website. Parallel to the continuing development of the action plan, a database of relevant information and background material will also be available on the website. Technical support for the consultation process will be provided by the Centre for Global Negotiations, based in the United States and Canada.

The Global Marshall Plan Foundation will provide financial support for the multi-stakeholder consultation process. Founded in Hamburg in 2003 as a non-profit foundation, the agency accepts tax-deductible contributions in Germany. Its funding comes from donations by private individuals and will provide the start-up funds for consultation activities. In the USA and Canada, donations for this work can also be made to the Centre for Global Negotiations.

To support the consultation process as well as the conference of international representatives in 2010, we will need to raise at least 1 million Euros over the next four years. If additional funds become available, it will be possible to optimize the consultation process through regional conferences. Revenue from donations, as well as costs associated with the consultation process, will be made available on the consultation website for review.

The international public relations agency Leagas Delaney will handle media and communication operations pro bono. Their responsibilities include publicizing the results of the consultation process, developing communication and campaign strategies, and integrating the advice of other communication experts. This valuable contribution to the work is greatly appreciated.

We all know how difficult it is to unite different interests, overcome egoism, tear down walls, and build bridges. However, history testifies to the changes brought about by engaged citizens. Especially now, when the challenges are global and the solutions complex, it is in our best interests to work together to develop a global action plan and to accomplish the goals that it sets forth. As a catalyst in this process, Coalition for the Global Commons will do its best to coordinate the knowledge of the countless engaged organizations and experts, who are really the ones who will be generating the major achievements. We can only be successful to the extent that we give ownership of the process to our stakeholders. To this end, we understand our role as servants of the servants.

Hamburg, September 2007

Frithjof Finkbeiner
International Coordinator,
Global Marshall Plan Initiative
Chairman, Global Marshall Plan
Foundation
Member Club of Rome

James B. Quilligan
Coordinator, Global Marshall Plan
Initiative-USA
Director, Centre for Global Negotiations / Brandt 21 Forum

Mission Statement