Representatives of NGOs from around the world gathered in London on 23-25 February at a conference entitled: From Crisis to a Just and Sustainable World Economy.  The conference had been hastily organised to discuss the issues on the London Summit agenda by Rights and Humanity, which campaigns for development, peace and environmental sustainability through the realisation of human rights and responsibilities.

Real People

Interviewed on the fringe of the conference, Sheila Sisulu, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, said the London Summit should focus on 'real people' – including women and children around the world.

Involving women

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, wanted the world's leaders gathering in London to seek opportunities to involve women in finding solutions to the global financial crisis. She also spoke of the need to create a truly sustainable financial system.

Sustainable banking principles

A former banker echoed the need for sustainable banking principles, and urged regulators to adopt them. Herman Mulder, once Head of Group Risk at ABN Amro and now an adviser to Worldconnectors  which promotes global communication, said there was a need to focus on the inequality that existed in the world in seeking solutions to the financial crisis. Sustainable banking was better business, he said.