We publish here the introductory words to the 7 December meeting of the World Humanist Forum – held virtually – expressed by Antonio Carvallo in his condition as a member of the Promotion Team:
“Dear friends. As we know, the first Humanist Forum took place in Moscow in 1993 with the intention of communicating the ideas of the New Universalist Humanism inspired by Silo, in 1969, in Argentina.
It was the end of the reform process that put an end to the single Party and culminated in the dissolution of the USSR. The Russian Academy of Sciences was open to new ideas from other parts of the world and collaborated with the Humanists of the International to organize the World Forum.
The objective was to identify and analyze from new perspectives the main problems of the world as it was perceived at that time.
Scientists from the field of social and natural sciences from many regions of Russia participated in the sessions, as well as humanists from various regions of the world.
Silo proposed the following as objectives of the Forum:
“It aspires to become an instrument of information, exchange and discussion between people and institutions from the most diverse cultures of the world.
It is a permanent entity so that all relevant information can be circulated immediately among its members. The Humanist Forum aims to study and establish a position on the global problems of today’s world, structurally relating the phenomena of science, politics, art and religion.
Freedom of conscience and lack of prejudice are indispensable conditions for a deep understanding of the complex phenomena of today’s world.”
The forum categorically excludes all forms of violence and discrimination.
In the last thirty years the world has become smaller, science and technology have advanced by leaps and bounds, thus accelerating interconnectivity, mental tempo and therefore the rhythm of history, of human interactions.
We were 5.3 billion then, today we are 8.3 billion and at the same rate of growth we would be more than 12 billion in the middle of the century. Our sources of information are numerous, in real time from all regions of the world. We are in relationship with more people than ever before in our lives and have to metabolize more stimuli in our consciousness in every moment than would have been possible to even imagine 30 years ago. We live in the future… of the day the forum was founded.
The world is today much more complicated and yet people’s mentality continues to be indecisive and distracted. Those responsible for power and for guiding societies in order to adapt, survive and evolve in the current and future world are totally incompetent.
It is urgent to change the way of thinking, education, information, understanding of the current and future world. It is important to learn to think structurally. Who we are, where we come from and where we are going to.
The World Forum of Universalist Humanism can contribute vigorously to these tasks, studying, formulating and sharing with all humanity the major problems of our time and their solutions. Instead of leaving that fundamental task in the hands of irresponsible and lying press chains, that hide or distort reality.
Today the forces of hegemonic anti-humanism are already receding. With this there will be more equality and justice. Wars and nuclear weapons will be gradually phased out. Conflicts will be resolved through communication and negotiation, seeking the accommodation of all positions. There will be advance in the overcoming of violence, in us and society. The United Nations will be reformed, fulfilling its true functions of conflict prevention and protection of the rights of all.
Society will move resolutely towards this new moment in human history. As a unique race, aware of its meaning and destiny. The Universal Human Nation.
It is not naïve to expect this in the coming years, because it expresses the feelings of the majority of human beings. We must act though with clear purpose and permanence, to make it a reality.”