COMMENTARY 2/3/02:

THE BRITISH ARE COMING!

The World Economic Forum Partners with Bonnie Prince Charles

Joan M. Veon

Born Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor in 1948, crowned Prince of Wales in 1969, the future King George VII, as he will be known, has an abundance of titles reflecting his wealth and power.He is related to all of the royal houses of Europe and his lineage goes back to Charlemagne, the titular kings of Jerusalem and the ancient kingdoms of Persia and Babylon. Though the media has continued to paint Britain’s Prince Charles as a polo-playing two-timer, his long list of accomplishments include musician, recognized painter, horseman, man of war and businessman. 

He holds the rank of Major General in the British Army, Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy and Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Air Force.Furthermore he flies a variety of jet fighter planes including the Chipmunk, Spitfire, Nimrod, Phantom, Jet Provost and Harrier T4.As king he will hold three important offices:king of a 1200 year old monarchy, head of the Anglican church, and true head of state since the army and navy report directly to the sovereign and not to the prime minister. 

When not in uniform Prince Charles wears a business suit, using his clout as a major force behind the scenes, affecting the whole agenda of the United Nations.In 1991 he brought together major world leaders and multinational corporations to discuss how to obtain consensus on “Agenda 21”, a pagan-centered environmental philosophy.The outcome of the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 brought us sustainable development and the Biological Diversity Treaty.Currently 37 states have adopted “Smart Growth” policies that stem from the Biological Diversity Treaty.

In 1990 he formed The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum in Charleston South Carolina.Over 100 CEO’s of U.S. met to discuss their role in a changing world. They concluded that (1) Chief Executive Officers have a critical role to play in setting company values and listening to concerns of community leaders, (2) ensuring that corporations adopt sustainable development practices, and (3) assist community leaders in inner cities and in rural areas to regenerate neighborhoods.

Up until the recent World Economic Forum meeting in New York, this organization has had no exposure on the local level.On the global level the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum has become the key originator and broker of new innovative corporate policies and practices, supporting the structural change in government to partnerships with business.Many popular corporations are a part of this including3M, Cable and Wireless, TRW, Coca-Cola, BMW, Volkswagen, CIGNA, DHL Worldwide Express, Levi Strauss, U.S. West and the Ford Foundation.

As a result of public-private partnerships, the growing role of corporations is expanding. The balance sheet of many multinational corporations is fatter and healthier than most third world countries.Corporations have the ability to produce wealth and increase the power of any impoverished nation to lift its citizens out of the gutter.For all of these reasons, the CEO is now moving into the visible position of statesman.

To highlight the importance of this shift, the World Economic Forum and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum announced a Framework for Action that chief executives, chairmen, board directors and executive management teams can use to develop a strategy for managing their company’s impact on society and their relationship with employees, customers, suppliers, and members of the community.The Framework has three commitments.First, to commit to being “global corporation citizens” in the way businesses are run.Two, “to identify and work with key stakeholders in our main spheres of influence.”Third, “ultimate leadership for corporate citizenship rests with us as chief executives, chairmen and board directors.”The thirty-six corporations include business leaders from different countries and industry sectors.Some of those signing on from America are:Arthur D. Little, Inc., Coca-Cola, Fleetboston Global Bank, ING Group, McDonald’s Corporation, Phillips-Van Heusen and S. C. Johnson Wax.

Adrian Hodges, Director of the Miami office of the Prince of WalesInternational Business Leaders Forum, informed me that they have had a “tremendous amount of interest andwillingness from U.S. corporations on how to integrate corporate citizenship in their business.”Additionally they are working with both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce.In explaining their role, he said, “We are a wholesaler rather than a retailer of ideas to the corporate sector so we work through organizations so they can reach the masses of corporate America.”

If you lost your greatest possession to a group of terrorists, wouldn’t you look for a different way to bring them back?The developed world does not use guns and bullets to effect change, they use ideas, thoughts, concepts, and understanding.The British lost the War of 1812 to a bunch of illiterate sharpshooters from the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.It appears they have changed their tactics.America be on guard.THE BRITISH ARE COMING!!!