Record of the G20 Interfaith Summit: Religion, Harmony, and Sustainable Development (Istanbul, 16-18 November 2015) by Sherrie Steiner
Pasquale Ferrara spoke about challenges associated with linking religious freedom to sustainable development. Although speaking of religious freedom in relation to capitalism may be new, including religious diversity in economic development is not. In Italy, religious orders were important during medieval times and Islam has been historically recognized for providing an important communitarian link in trade relations. The challenge is to disentangle the idea of the liberal economy from western style conceptions of the good society. This is important because the western approach to liberal institutions is highly contested. Rather than promote modernity as economic liberalism, he challenged listeners to see the world from a different perspective. At a global level, he asked about the role religions might play in denouncing inequalities and making proposals for protecting global public goods such as water, air and biodiversity. He provided an example from the Focolare Movement in Brazil that protected economic freedom and took care of these needs by rearranging profits. About 800 companies chose to split profits between investing in their company, helping the poor, and fostering a culture of sharing/giving. This movement is having an important impact on communities. This model illustrates a way of accommodating religious freedom and individual freedom that is environmentally and socially sustainable (Sherrie Steiner, Record of the G20 Interfaith Summit: Religion, Harmony, and Sustainable Development).
