Conference European Integration 21st Century Slavery: Ending It Before It Ends Us

Conference European IntegrationConference European Integration

21st Century Slavery: 21st Century Slavery: Ending It Before It Ends UsEnding It Before It Ends Us

Lew Lederman, QCLew Lederman, QC

Wilfrid Laurier UniversityWilfrid Laurier University

April 30 - May 1, 2010April 30 - May 1, 2010

22April 2010April 2010

BOTTOM LINE – BOTTOM LINE –

Release the Potential in People. (Corry & Release the Potential in People. (Corry & Hodgetts, Macgregor Dawson)Hodgetts, Macgregor Dawson)

Step One: Treat People like People. Stop Step One: Treat People like People. Stop treating People like Things.treating People like Things.

Step Two: Focus on IndividualsStep Two: Focus on Individuals

Step Three: Enhance the human ‘spark’.Step Three: Enhance the human ‘spark’.


TREATY OF ROME –TREATY OF ROME –

Increase standards of living.Increase standards of living.


EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS – HUMAN RIGHTS –

Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.or servitude.


ECONOMICS – ECONOMICS –

EU has as big a population & GDP as EU has as big a population & GDP as USA.USA.

Blocs – USA/Canada; EU; BRIC – Brazil, Blocs – USA/Canada; EU; BRIC – Brazil, Russia, India, ChinaRussia, India, China

Comparative Advantage ?Comparative Advantage ?


EUROPEAN & EU TRACK EUROPEAN & EU TRACK RECORD –RECORD –

Greek freedom v Persian despotismGreek freedom v Persian despotismMartin LutherMartin LutherSlavery & Serfdom abolished (various Slavery & Serfdom abolished (various times, various places).times, various places).Rationalism, EnlightenmentRationalism, EnlightenmentCopernius, Galileo, Newton, Goethe, Copernius, Galileo, Newton, Goethe, Mozart, Beethoven (Ode to Joy)Mozart, Beethoven (Ode to Joy)


EUROPEAN & EU TRACK EUROPEAN & EU TRACK RECORD –RECORD –

Rousseau: Man born free but Rousseau: Man born free but everywhere in chainseverywhere in chainsWhat is the Third Estate ? Everything. What is the Third Estate ? Everything. What does it have ? Nothing.What does it have ? Nothing.Declaration of the Rights of Man & The Declaration of the Rights of Man & The Citizen: Men born free & equal.Citizen: Men born free & equal.Rule of Law.Rule of Law.Recently: Took on MicrosoftRecently: Took on Microsoft


RISKS TO FREEDOMRISKS TO FREEDOM

Large bureaucracies – diseconomies of Large bureaucracies – diseconomies of scalescale

Business, professional, governmentalBusiness, professional, governmental

Corporations have no soulsCorporations have no souls

Constrain, imprison the human spiritConstrain, imprison the human spirit


CREATIVITYCREATIVITY

Tell me where is Fancy bred ? In the Tell me where is Fancy bred ? In the heart or in the head ?heart or in the head ?

Imagination rooted in profound Imagination rooted in profound knowledge. (Maddox)knowledge. (Maddox)

Individual, not group.Individual, not group.

Human spirit triumphant.Human spirit triumphant.


INNOVATIONINNOVATION

Applied CreativityApplied Creativity

Free trade in ideasFree trade in ideas

Market place for thoughtMarket place for thought


SHELLEY

Power, like a desolating pestilence,Pollutes what e’re it touches; and obedience,Bane of all genius, virtue, freedom, truth,Makes slaves of men, and of the human frame,A mechanized automaton.


NIEBUHR

[T]here is a great mystery in the fact that man, who is so created that he cannot fulfil his life except in his fellow men, and who has some consciousness of this law of love in his very nature, should nevertheless seek so persistently to make his fellowmen the tools of his desires and the objects of his ambitions. [Underlining added]


ENABLERSENABLERS

True Capitalism & Free MarketsTrue Capitalism & Free Markets

Rule of Law & Liberal DemocracyRule of Law & Liberal Democracy

Remember your Right BrainRemember your Right Brain

Feed your Head (Jefferson Airplane)Feed your Head (Jefferson Airplane)

Free Trade in Ideas, Marketplace for Free Trade in Ideas, Marketplace for ThoughtThought

Human Spirit Triumphant (Ode to Joy)Human Spirit Triumphant (Ode to Joy)

Documents

Conference European Integration 21st Century Slavery: Ending It Before It Ends Us