Eight French Christian movements (Christian entrepreneurs and managers, Catholic Relief, Catholic Committee against famine, Protestant Federation of France, Christians and rural world, French Confederation of Christian workers, Christian Movement of lower and middle management, Episcopal Committee of missionary cooperation) have joined together to heighten the awareness of believers on the phenomenon of “globalization” and, in recent days, have launched a joint initiative: “The Christian assizes of globalization” (ACM) which will be held in Lyons on 24 and 25 January 2004. “The aim is not to idolise globalization, nor to demonise it, but to try to humanise it”, declares the Charter of the ACM which the promoting organizations signed in October 2002. “As lay Christians says the document we see in this situation a sign of the times, i.e. an essential characteristic of our age. The Assizes therefore propose to contribute to humanizing globalization, before a confused public opinion”. The meeting in Lyons, which will follow a few days after the annual world Summits of Porto Alegre and Davos, is expected to be attended by between 3000 and 4000 delegates. The objective of the initiative, explained Jérome Vignon, president of the ACM, is not to “enunciate original solutions to the questions linked to globalization, but to “try to give a sense to its manifestations and to identify the various forms of commitment at all levels, both collective and personal”. Beginning in March, a series of “territorial assizes” have also been planned throughout France with the participation of the ACM’s promoting organizations.
