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Global Markets Debate
A panel discussion on "Global Markets: A force for good or evil?" with speakers including Pen Kent CBE, former executive director of the Bank of England, and Ed Mayo, executive director of the New Economics Foundation and author of More Isn't Always Better, was hosted by the City Business Group of SGI-UK on December 3 at the City of London Club in London's historical financial center.
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The speakers and the chair at the City Business Group event |
One hundred and fifty people attended the event, mostly people working in the City of London and the London Docklands Financial Centre, as well as visitors from Frankfurt, France and the Philippines. Other speakers were Prof. Daniel Hodson, ex-CEO of the London International Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE), and David Shirreff, capital markets editor of The Economist.
The discussion was lively and highlighted the importance of such debates. As Pen Kent commented, "It is easy for anti-globalists to characterize people who work in the City as venal, selfish capitalists. I think they underestimate the extent to which people here are also deeply concerned about poverty and environmental issues." Chair of the event, writer Eddy Canfor-Dumas, reflected, "I feel this event was extremely valuable in fostering much-needed dialogue in the City of London about whether markets operate for the benefit of corporations or for people. I hope this is only the first step."
The City Business Group of SGI-UK was formed in 1982 by Buddhist banker Hiro Soeda with the aim of promoting the peace, development and prosperity of the City. He comments, "People don't understand the City. With its wealth and power, the City has enormous potential to create positive value."
There are now 110 members of the SGI-UK City Business Group, which meets monthly for discussion and Buddhist practice. The December 3 event was held to celebrate its 20th
anniversary.
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