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24 & 25 September 2007
Madrid, Spain
Human Development:
Challenges and Opportunities
The year 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of Aurelio Peccei’s publication of "La Calidad Humana" (“The Human Quality”), one of the first Reports to The Club of Rome. From this work emerged the central themes that have formed the basis around which the debates of the Club of Rome have developed. The publication refers to the problems of non-sustainable growth, the necessity of a new governance of political systems and socio-economic structures as well as the promises and threats posed by scientific and technical advances.
These subjects have grown in intensity as the resolution of the difficulties they represent have become less and less susceptible to old style fixes and short-term thinking and attitudes of limited generosity. From the vibrant text of "The Human Quality", however, there emerges a sense of hope and faith in the men and women of the modern world. It makes clear that scientific and technical advances be designed to improve the quality of life for the benefit of humankind.
In the three decades since its publication the problems outlined in "The Human Quality" have become more acute and, despite humanity’s increasing consciousness of the need to act, the discriminations, social exclusions, poverty and the multiple ills of society continue to defy the Club of Rome’s co-founder’s hopes for a better future.
2007 was named the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All by the European Union. In the same year members of the United Nations will ratify the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While many may continue to see human development as something unattainable for large sections of the world’s population and the UN Millennium Development Goals as increasingly optimistic, the Club of Rome will continue to insist, as in "The Human Quality", that a better future for coming generations depends on the commitments of today’s men and women.
In order to secure a better future it is necessary to transcend the aspirations of today’s economic development, solely focused on quotas of material wealth. In parallel we need to instigate a human revolution or the accomplishment of the mission for humanity of which Aurelio Peccei wrote.
Ashok Khosla
Acting President, The Club of Rome
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