Why

World

Why now

Our planet faces unprecedented environmental, social, economic, and cultural challenges. Challenges which the 20th century political and economic systems have failed to address. The materialistic and consumerist model of the past decades has ignored human values and depleted our earth of its natural resources. Institutional trust is at an all-time low, income inequality is at an all-time high, and climate change an undeniable reality. Our priority is to reinvent ourselves, individually and collectively. We urgently need new, innovative solutions, a new paradigm for our shared future.

Planet Earth is a tiny, fragile ball of life. A life which needs to be protected by building a human community based on what unites us as citizens of one planet. We need to replace walls with bridges. To overcome geographical, religious, and social differences in order to emphasize the things we, humans, have in common: love, fear, hope, suffering… Acknowledge that for the world to become a better place, each one of us has to engage in the process of becoming a better human being.

Neither states nor markets can overcome alone what are global challenges. We need to move beyond the World Economic Forum (Davos) and the World Social Forum (Porto Allegre), beyond the current economic, political, and social analysis and refocus on human beings. We need to reinvent our forms of government, reconnect to nature, and become human-centric and earth-respectful. We need to think differently, lead ethically, and act humanely.

We have to foster fundamental human values such as altruism, empathy, and cooperation to help us reinvent the way we live with ourselves, others, and nature. The 21st century scientific progress will force us to reassess the meaning of being human in an era of exponential scientific progress and digital growth. We need to question if GDP is the indicator of human prosperity and redefine what is a “good life”.

We believe that, when basic human needs are met, increasing material consumption is not relative to the level of human happiness and well-being. A realization that has led us, and an increasing number of people from around the world, in search for a more meaningful life. To this end, we believe that the way forward is by assuming our personal responsibility, becoming engaged citizens, and co-creating the much-needed social capital.

Human

Why all of us

By connecting with thinkers and doers from around the world, we came to realize how many engaged citizens are experimenting with grassroots solutions that positively impact the lives of their communities. Mostly ignored by traditional power structures, they often hold the key to fresh and innovative solutions to pressing global problems. The WHF aims at connecting these creative forces, participate and amplify their transformation power, and act as a catalyst for the emergence of a new human-centric, earth-respectful paradigm. We, at the WHF, aim at supporting the formation of an ecological civilization via an ecosystem of innovative and earth-loving forces from around the world.

Hope today is coming from bottom-up citizen initiatives in different fields that are changing the world, one project at the time.  We embrace, support, and celebrate these initiatives. Responsible, imaginative, self-empowered citizens –the heroes of our times– are inventing new solutions for their local communities. We also realize that often local solutions hold the key to global problems, to a world of zero carbon, zero poverty, and zero exclusions (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals). We believe in the creative power of human beings, and in the capacity and potential of each and every one of us. We believe in connecting and scaling up these initiatives, so that we can create the necessary critical mass to influence the political and economic decisionmakers of our communities, our countries, and our world.

For that, a new global reference point is needed, a third space, physical and virtual, that does not limit itself to the traditional economic-political-social analysis, but rather encourages and enables a more holistic approach integrating cultural, ethical, and value-based parameters.

We believe in the power of interdisciplinary solutions. We trust that philosophy, art, science, technology, spirituality and physical well-being are all equally important for new innovative ideas to flourish and lead to a “new Renaissance”.

Forum

Why Delphi

Delphi, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a place of unique natural beauty, energy, and historical prominence. In ancient times, it was considered the centre of the world. People from all around the Mediterranean world and beyond visited Delphi to seek advice from its oracle. Today, Delphi can again become a global reference point, where the innovative forces of our planet may gather to seek solutions. Delphi has the universal and symbolic capacity to federate humans. To provide the ideal place for AI, Artificial Intelligence, to meet the other, often forgotten AI, that of Ancestral Intelligence, and to come into dialogue in search for wisdom.

Delphi in antiquity, was considered a destination for religion, politics, philosophy, economy, culture, and sports. People all over the world arrived at Delphi to ask their most important questions and receive advice for the biggest challenges of their time. Through its motto “know thyself”, Delphi led the classical world to question assumptions, interpretations, and identities.

Delphi today, can play a similar role and serve yet again humanity as a third space to call upon the urgent questions of our times, to promote dialogue, and enable humans to meet, engage, and co-create.

With a similar mindset, we chose Delphi as the seat for the WHF, aiming at becoming a modern navel, a point of connectivity, creating a space for other initiatives to be the brain, the heart or any other part of our planet’s body. To provide the canvas for a new human narrative.

Delphi is an UNESCO World Heritage Site, a breathtaking site on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking the sea and the olive grove of Amfissa, the largest olive grove in Greece with trees whose age is lost in the lapse of centuries.

The choice of Delphi as the seat of the World Human Forum seemed appropriate from the very beginning.