The opening speech of the 1st World Spirit Forum was delivered by Peter Grieder, curator of the Tibet Institute. Mr. Grieder addressed issues relating to the "Blue Planet" such as concerns about the robber knight methods of diverse economic cooperations and their associated leaders, concerns about the over-emphasis of materialism and the neglect of humanity in a world, in which "daily more than 45,000 people, 38,000 of these children, die of hunger, 80,000 hectares of rain forest are destroyed, 13 million tons of poisonous chemicals are released into our environment and more than 130 different plant and animal types are destroyed by human activity"." (Thom Hartmann in "The Burnt Out Planet").

The 120 participants agreed that through concentrated awareness, wholeness, and sustainability that a positive breakthrough can be achieved as opposed to an irreparable chaos, such as the world finds itself today.

If sufficient people change their view, solutions for a sustainable growth - energy efficient, water-saving, environmentally aware - will become recognizable, which would benefit everyone worldwide. This "heart-rendering and frightening crisis of planetary magnitude concerns all aspects of our being, from personal aspects via social aspects to worldwide dependencies", and has its roots in the lost relationship to nature, to connectivity with the surrounding world, to the world spirit.

"Ethics are the reverence for life" (Albert Schweitzer). "Ethics and Business"  the title of the 1st World Spirit Forum, was characterized by the diversity of both speakers and topics.  In 28 speeches, roundtables, podium discussions and workshops it was evident that the motto is not accusations, but focus on self awareness and acting with credibility. For example,

Prof. Dr. Ervin Laszlo, founder of the Club of Budapest, emphasized that the economy must quickly open up a paradigm change for long-term self-interests, in order to influence the coming and ongoing change process in a manner that is life sustaining. Not only thoughts - but above all concrete tips for action can be read in Prof. Dr. Ervin Laszlo's encouraging manual "You Can Change The World".

In his workshop, the "Magic of Quietness", Ralph Wilms called discussed "the clarity and quietness of a peaceful spirit where there is room for everything, which happens and which wants to happen. If the loudness and the forcefulness of the world falls away from us, we recognize the deep dimensions of the moment, the magic of quietness."

The African medicine woman Sobonfu Somé provoked thoughts about the "Rebellion of the Youth "… Stephan Mögle-Stadel cleverly changed the forum into a large systemic work for "World Economic Power and Human Ethics - as a manifestation of the world spirit"… Prof. Dr. Maximilian Gege aroused ideas with his vision of an immediately applicable and sustainable effective future bond… the earlier music entrepreneur Hans Jecklin conjured in his speech "The Poser of the Heart" and the Swiss Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry Prof. Dr. Richard Ernst called for a chance from a "Free market economy" to a "Responsible Market Economy". 

"Courage for an unvarnished personal opinion statement to all possible things, is of great significance and is more important than avoiding mistakes." is a motto of Richard Ernst, who was also instrumental in the execution and implementation of the 1st World Spirit Forum. In spite of,  and or even due to, an extremely short preparation time of less than half a year, the 1st WSF showed what a performance a courageous and highly motivated team is capable of. With the following Credo the organisation committee summarized the view of the direction of the event:

"The WSF World Spirit Forum unites globalization and individuality. It is a platform to connect people and issues all over the world, by finding  solutions, with love and respect, for a better future.  A sustainable, global balance between business, nature and society, for dignity and awareness can be developed.
Our aim is to initiate positive progress and to start the ball roll by supporting concrete projects - in the belief that such projects will win global support and effect a chain reaction of change."

The promising start, was characterized by a cordial spirit and high openness to spirituality, laid the foundation for an annual forum in Arosa, to grow harmoniously. Together for a greater understanding of the connections between Business and Ethics and for the implementation of a new sustainable ideas for thought and action  requires a return and decrease in speed of and to our own life. Or to put it in Ghandi`s words "Be the change that you want to see in the world!"

Andreas B. Müller