| SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRAINING |
There are a great number of modules that can be used to train people in the socio-economic field. The fine-tuning of these modules depends on the academic level of the participants but mostly on their professional experience. The purpose of socio-economic training in the Order is not to produce economists or other experts but to offer points of reference... One must be clear (and modest) when setting goals. In this Appendix, we will not attempt to learn about accounting methods since this is an issue that will be dealt with later on in Workbook 5. For the time being, we will include only non-specialized modules, thus excluding other possibilities such as the analysis of social exclusions or even ecology. 1. The experience of the brothers in Abidjan (one week, with all the brothers in formation)
- Economy and Dominican spirituality. Why should we take interest in these topics? What spiritual attitudes need to be developed? Presentation of a few well-known personalities: L.J. Lebret...
- Feeding the people: development, growth, production. The role of agriculture. Planning. Simulation game: Ecoplany.
- Distribution of resources: the politics of distribution, regulations (state, market), inequalities... Textual study of Marx, Keynes...
- International trade. How the international banana trade is played out. Economic balances. Price-setting. International aid.
- Financial and monetary policies. The creation of money. The value of money. Monetary zones. Financial independence. State budgets.
- The Church and the economy. Elements of the Church's Social Doctrine.
- What can we do as Dominicans to participate in bringing about a more just world where there exists greater solidarity.
2. The issues in society (Dominican Sisters of Catherine of Sienna - France)
- The Dominican charism: Contemplata aliis tradere.
- Who are the "alii" today?
- What are the major challenges that we encounter today?
- What are the major challenges that we encounter today?
- Major changes in the last ten years:
- + aging of Europe and youthfulness of the Third World
- + globalization of problems
- + a society where signs are important
- + self-centeredness and individualism
- + ideological indifference
- + post-rationality
- + globalization of problems
- The future of solidarity and the different reasons establishing social links
- + the family
- + the generation
- + state and political solidarity
- + solidarity of the Nations
- + economic solidarity
- + religious solidarity
- + the generation
- Toward a spirituality and a theology of solidarity
- + Acts 2:45... the love of brother and sister
- + universality
- + the encounter
- + the poor and the little ones
- + reconciliation
- + creation
- + universality
- Where are our "Cummins"?
- + our neighbor and our ties with him / her?
- + the other
- + efficiency
- + the other
3. A few elements to help us think about unemployment 1.A few notions (need to distinguish between a job and work) and statistics; without forgetting those with precarious jobs, very short-term jobs, requiring time for training... 2. The main reasons for unemployment:
3. The international dimension of this problem and its impact on global economics: the role of international competition on the unemployment rate, the effect of migration, a global crisis in the production system and the appearance of new types of jobs.
4. Is full employment possible? Under what conditions? Is deregulation necessary? A new content given to jobs and life at work
5. The value of work, work and dignity of the person, new ways for self-realization at work. Social Doctrine (encyclical: Laborem Exercens)
6. What can we do? Acting on the causes
+political actions and the macro-economic level
+possible public policies: kick-starting the economy through supply or demand
7. What can we do? The intervention of each person:
+welcoming the unemployed and guiding them through administrative labyrinths
+promoting the collective and public voice of the unemployed
+supporting economic projects undertaken by those who are excluded through the mobilization of savings done in solidarity and followed up with techno-economic experts (with people on pension, for example)
+developing jobs closer by
+sharing jobs
+developing the awareness of those who can create jobs, ethical reflection on financial speculation and the non-creation of jobs...
8. Spiritual dimensions: "No one can claim to love God if there is no love of brother or sister." (I Jn) This love is expressed first of all by the concern to give a brother or a sister that which is required for their subsistence. Relations of solidarity as is shown in the Body of the Church. "Whatever you do to the least of these...you do to me..."
The dignity of the person, created in the image and likeness of God requires an extra dose of imagination and involvement on the part of each one of us so that every woman and man may enjoy an activity that allows him/her to live in dignity.
| Back | Index | Next | |