The Clinton Global Initiative is a non-partisan program, founded by former US President William J. Clinton, aimed to build partnerships between global leaders. Its mission principally lies in facing the various challenges of global interdependence and thus implementing innovative resolutions for the future.

This nonpartisan conference gathers leaders from different political, ideological, religious, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds including current and former heads of state, business leaders, noteworthy academicians, and key NGO representatives to participate in a series of interactive workshops. The group adapted strategic approaches to alleviate poverty; use religion as a force for reconciliation and conflict resolution; implement new business strategies and technologies to combat climate change; and strengthen governance.

During the workshops September 15-17, 2005, in New York the Clinton Global Initiative addressed four main principles as the most pressuring global challenges:

(1) The Escape from Poverty: Forging a New Deal Between the Developed and Developing World

• Religion, Conflict Prevention and Reconciliation

• Climate Change: Business Opportunity, Business Challenge

• Governance, Enterprise and Investment

A Call to Action workshop on September 20-22, 2006, New York Citywill also be a nonpartisan conference that will bring together global leaders to implement practical actions and show their commitment to at least one of the focused areas cited above.

Since faith-based decisions have greater implications than pure state espoused decisions, the Clinton Global Initiative stresses the significance of religious leaders’ role in mobilizing their people. Religion can be used as a pretext to justify or initiate existing deadly conflicts among nations. On the other hand, interreligious dialogue can be used as instrument to foster cultural pluralism and raise mutual understanding among nations in the process of sustainable peace-building. The Clinton Global Initiative discusses the positive role of interfaith-coalitions by using the voice of religious leaders to resolve conflict, negotiate peace, increase humanitarian intervention, and reduce poverty, disease and environmental degradation.

For more details, please visit the following official website:

http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/home.nsf/pt_home