Humanity is confronted with the gravest financial crisis and economic recession since the Great Depression. Political leaders, national ministries of finance, and central banks around the world are trying to prop up their countries' sinking economies and arrest a downward economic spiral by innovative financial rescue and bank bailout plans, as well as economic stimulus and recovery packages. These measures are being taken to reestablish trust in the economy and to trigger an economic revival. Despite these efforts, stagnation seems imminent, as uncertainty leads businesses and consumers to place spending and investing decisions on hold.Social entrepreneurs are essential to the restoration of a sustainable planet and the improvement of lives of billions of people, especially of those living in extreme poverty. Therefore, social entrepreneurs deserve further recognition and support by the international community - by governments, multinational companies, and philanthropic organizations. Creating a New Civilization through Social Entrepreneurshiphighlights the global movement of social entrepreneurshipand some of the leading organizations and individuals that are advancing this citizen sectormovement. The volume presents examples of innovativepeople that are tackling major social problems and triggering systemic change throughout the world today.

As the world faces a multitude of complexly-interwoven challenges, new values and new worldviews are emerging to change the ways in which human beings relate to each other, to our planet, and to all life on Earth. In today's globalized world, humanity is becoming inescapably aware that coexistence, cooperation, and respect for diversity are fundamental values by which all of us must live. These essential human values, which apply in all individual and societal relationships, are likewise intrinsic to a culture of peace: a way of living that will allow a harmonious, multifaceted, global civilization to blossom. Central to this volume is a belief that in an interdependent world, collective decision-making for the collective good is the most effective way to move forward. In order to respect the balance among cultures and nations, decisions that have a global impact must be taken multilaterally. No culture can achieve and maintain its international objectives by acting unilaterally; nor can any nation or cultural group claim to represent the whole of humanity. Shaping the Culture of Peace in a Multilateral World compiles prominent visionary articles from United Nations institutions and regional and other intergovernmental organizations, and highlights the contributions being made to the creation of a culture of peace. It aims to strengthen multilateral cooperation among intergovernmental organizations worldwide, and to facilitate the formation of a global network of multilateral mechanisms, which will provide collective and holistic responses to the peace and security challenges of the 21st century. Shaping the Culture of Peace in a Multilateral World is in itself a true example of multilateralism, and a publication treasure for people, who are active or interested in international diplomacy and international affairs.

Today a deepening global recession is causing economic hardships for all kinds of businesses. Earth Capitalism attributes the crisis to inappropriate macroeconomic policies and excessive expansion of financial institutions in blind pursuit of profit, lack of self-discipline among financial institutions, and the failure of supervision and regulation to keep up with financial innovations. Collectively, these are some of the main causes of the current global economic malaise. Petit argues that human greed and insatiability are the true source of disparities around the world. Greed is the reason why we are depleting the Earth's natural resources and destroying its ecosystems. He argues that instead, a good life should be based on balanced give-and-take. When we take something from society or the Earth, we have to maintain a balance by giving something equivalent back. Happiness is founded on gratitude for what one has, and one should engage in an overall appraisal of life, not what one lacks. He believes the same principle should be applied to management of the Earth's natural resources and goods. The current global crisis impels us to create a responsible capitalism, one that benefits all living beings on this planet. It reminds us to live a simpler life based on true well-being and life-satisfaction, but simple living is not about living in poverty. As its subtitle suggests, Earth Capitalism's contributors present leading edge economic concepts, business models, and best practices that show the path toward creation of responsible capitalism a viable scenario emerging from the current global economic and financial crisis.

As the world faces a multitude of complexly-interwoven challenges, new values and new worldviews are emerging to change the ways in which human beings relate to each other, to our planet, and to all life on Earth. In today's globalized world, humanity is becoming inescapably aware that coexistence, cooperation, and respect for diversity are fundamental values by which all of us must live. These essential human values, which apply in all individual and societal relationships, are likewise intrinsic to a culture of peace: a way of living that will allow a harmonious, multifaceted, global civilization to blossom.

Central to this volume is a belief that in an interdependent world, collective decision-making for the collective good is the most effective way to move forward. In order to respect the balance among cultures and nations, decisions that have a global impact must be taken multilaterally. No culture can achieve and maintain its international objectives by acting unilaterally; nor can any nation or cultural group claim to represent the whole of humanity.

Shaping the Culture of Peace in a Multilateral World compiles prominent visionary articles from United Nations institutions and regional and other intergovernmental organizations, and highlights the contributions being made to the creation of a culture of peace. It aims to strengthen multilateral cooperation among intergovernmental organizations worldwide, and to facilitate the formation of a global network of multilateral mechanisms, which will provide collective and holistic responses to the peace and security challenges of the 21st century. Shaping the Culture of Peace in a Multilateral World is in itself a true example of multilateralism, and a publication treasure for people, who are active or interested in international diplomacy and international affairs.

Today a deepening global recession is causing economic hardships for all kinds of businesses. Earth Capitalism attributes the crisis to inappropriate macroeconomic policies and excessive expansion of financial institutions in blind pursuit of profit, lack of self-discipline among financial institutions, and the failure of supervision and regulation to keep up with financial innovations. Collectively, these are some of the main causes of the current global economic malaise.

Petit argues that human greed and insatiability are the true source of disparities around the world. Greed is the reason why we are depleting the Earth's natural resources and destroying its ecosystems. He argues that instead, a good life should be based on balanced give-and-take. When we take something from society or the Earth, we have to maintain a balance by giving something equivalent back. Happiness is founded on gratitude for what one has, and one should engage in an overall appraisal of life, not what one lacks. He believes the same principle should be applied to management of the Earth's natural resources and goods.

The current global crisis impels us to create a responsible capitalism, one that benefits all living beings on this planet. It reminds us to live a simpler life based on true well-being and life-satisfaction, but simple living is not about living in poverty. As its subtitle suggests, Earth Capitalism's contributors present leading edge economic concepts, business models, and best practices that show the path toward creation of responsible capitalism--a viable scenario emerging from the current global economic and financial crisis.

Humanity is confronted with the gravest financial crisis and economic recession since the Great Depression. Political leaders, national ministries of finance, and central banks around the world are trying to prop up their countries' sinking economies and arrest a downward economic spiral by innovative financial rescue and bank bailout plans, as well as economic stimulus and recovery packages. These measures are being taken to reestablish trust in the economy and to trigger an economic revival. Despite these efforts, stagnation seems imminent, as uncertainty leads businesses and consumers to place spending and investing decisions on hold. Social entrepreneurs are essential to the restoration of a sustainable planet and the improvement of lives of billions of people, especially of those living in extreme poverty. Therefore, social entrepreneurs deserve further recognition and support by the international community--by governments, multinational companies, and philanthropic organizations. "Creating a New Civilization through Social Entrepreneurship" highlights the global movement of social entrepreneurship and some of the leading organizations and individuals that are advancing this citizen sector movement. The volume presents examples of innovative people that are tackling major social problems and triggering systemic change throughout the world today.