Dear Friends,

This is an appeal.  Facing the systemic and global crisis, the G20 has presented a series of measures, without consulting the majority of the countries of the world.  The G20 has also failed to address the root causes of the whole crisis, expressed in its parts as crises of food, energy, climate and society. The implementation of such measures has been given to international organizations that are among the major architects of the present day crisis.  The situation is becoming worse, and all countries are concerned.

Therefore, the President of the United Nations General Assembly has called a Summit of the 192 heads of state and government, on June 1-3, 2009.  Strong pressure is being exercised, namely be some of the G20 countries, to downgrade the conference by sending only ministers or ambassadors, but not heads of state.  It is therefore necessary to apply pressure in each and every country to send the highest level of representation.  Both the future of humankind and the planet are at stake.

A long-term process must be promoted - without delay - to go beyond regulatory reforms and to bring about real alternatives.  It requires a commitment of all social, moral and intellectual forces around the world, and it should begin with pressure on the governmental leaders of the planet to be present at the June Conference of the United Nations

Let us all alert public opinion, by collective actions, declarations, interviews and articles in the media  Let us send letters to the authorities of our respective countries so that the Summit of the 192 will be taken seriously. It is just a step, but it is an important one.

Very sincerely yours,

Francois Houtart

President of the Tricontinental Center (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium),
Executive Secretary of the World Forum for Alternatives,
Special Representative of the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations to the UN Commission on the Reform of the World Financial and Monetary System