Global Justice and the world financial crisis

Appeal to leaders of the G20 group of countries meeting in Washington on 15 November 2008 to discuss how to deal with the current financial crisis:

As citizens of the world, we urge you to treat this crisis not as a challenge to restore the past system but as a great opportunity to develop a new system of international norms and institutions that respects a fundamental human legitimacy principle: This is that the new institutions and rules protect and enhance opportunity for all of humanity rather than just the members of the more powerful countries, investor groups, or social or economic classes.

Any approach that does not respect this principle is likely to push many more millions of people into poverty and cause further collapse of communities, forced migration, and social unrest. Without respect for the human legitimacy principle, any such approach can be called illegitimate and will only contribute to forestalling trouble until the next crisis rather than moving the world forward.

We cannot perfect the world now. But we can take the first steps to building a more legitimate international political and financial system. We urge you to bear the fundamental human legitimacy principle in mind when you meet to discuss solutions to the current crisis.