RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF

UNITED KINGDOM, MORGAN STACEY, PETER NEUMANN AND

ERIC CHIPPS

Excerpt from Jan 2007 speech by Hon. John Prescott, Deputy Prime
Minister and First Secretary of State, United Kingdom:

There's been a great deal of talk about harmony in recent times. In fact, the
academic, Francis Fung, has argued in his recent paper "Chinese Harmony
Culture: Old and New - Promise for a Less Confrontational World" that
China is witnessing a harmony renaissance.
He claims that great debates are happening today in China over whether
Socialism with Chinese characteristics can be Socialism with harmony.
And Fung maintains that China's harmony socialism will provide an
alternative model, as the leading system of governance in the 21st Century.
Indeed, I note that in October the Chinese Communist Party launched a
national campaign to build a more harmonious society. In doing so, China
appears to be reaffirming its own rich cultural tradition of harmony.
And now, opening the Sheffield Confucius Institute, I reflect on the fact that
this emphasis on harmony between man and nature is part of a tradition of
Chinese thought going back 2,500 years. This tradition has, of course,
evolved and changed over time."

Blog Response by Morgan Steacy

I have been reading professor Fung's letters and articles, posted to his
blog site for the last week, and have become comlpetely enraptured by the
hope of future possibility that they bring. Although there is nothing that I
could do physically, as I am in Toronto, and the World Harmony Festival is
taking place in San Francisco, if there were anything that I could do from
home to volunteer my time over the summer months, I would be thrilled to
be a part of something that I have been advocating myself for some time
privately.
I am currently a student at York University in Toronto, Canada, studying
East Asia focusing on China. My main area of concern lies squarely within
your realm of thought insofar as ascertaining the facets of Chinese thought
that may be able to ameliorate the social situation of my country and the
world at large. I am certain that I would be able to contribute to your
organisation with great success.

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Please feel free to contact me by any means, and I look forward to being in
touch.

Dear Francis,

Thanks for the update, I hope you and the family are well. I
think it is wonderful to see the concept of a "harmony"
paradigm being promoted in the media. So much of Western
cultural history has been based on a conflict paradigm
(crusades, competition for scarce resources, clash of
civilizations, political struggle, etc.). It is extremely important
to open people's minds to unity, universal love and harmony as
governing principles of society, the world and the universe.
Best regards,

Peter Neumann

Recommendation by Eric Chipps, Chipps Management Consultants

In today’s world of international conflicts, religious strife, North and South disparities,
terrorism, extremism and unilateralism, harmony renaissance is the only common
value universal solution. The tide of Harmony Renaissance is inevitable. All present
will become pioneers of Harmony Renaissance. Harmony advocates non-violence. Its’
premises are tolerance, acceptance, respect, equity, patience and humility. As powerful
as we are we will not have nobility and hope unless we practice humility. This is the
new global awareness. Harmony is the conduit to facilitate multi-directional cultural
flow not just from West to East and North to South. Harmony is the all-embracing
unifying force for unity in diversity.

Dr. Fung has initiated the World Harmony Organization in North America and has
already attracted interest and support. It is a growing influence in North America,
Europe and China from important figures in academic and social circles, economics
and politics, as well as a growing number of concerned citizens in many countries.

Clearly, the policies of confrontation currently contributing so much to world tensions

are unproductive, as well as damaging to the progress of society. By developing the
ancient Chinese promotion of harmony, the Organization hopes to become again the
third pillar in supporting democracy and religious principle as the foundation of a
more peaceful and productive world.

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More information can be obtained from the Organization’s website at
WorldHarmonyorg.net which allows a measure of the extent to which harmony is
increasingly an influence. You may also contribute opinion via
WorldHarmonyforum.blogspot.com By his talk today, Dr. Fung hopes to generate
recognition among influential people of the role that a young, dynamic America,
endowed with resources should be advocating harmony renaissance.

REVIEW OF HARMONY ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Francis C. W. Fung’s most recent essay, “Harmony Essential to

Human Rights” has struck a cord that I believe to be invaluable
at this stage of human existence. His focus here is clear from
the title but his approach to the topic is unique and insightful.
With contributions to this topic as common as they are, it is
difficult to find an article that sheds new light on the subject,
but this is just what Fung has done.
Human rights are considered by most to be equal and
inalienable for all people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity
or nationality. Fung has posited that, while this is an ideal goal
to strive for, it is necessary to understand that each individual
nation has limitations that create obstacles in the path of
human rights development. He further notes that it is possible
that behaviour that could be perceived as a human rights
violation in one place may well be a legitimate course of action
in another. China’s one baby policy exemplifies his point
perfectly because of the fact that this is a case where the
seeming infringement of one’s human rights is, in fact, a boon
to the greater good.

Creating the elaborate web of infrastructure necessary to

operate a fully functional society bereft of so-called human
rights violations requires discernment of the needs of that
particular society along with a stable economy. Given the fact
that China’s population crisis has created a situation wherein
many are unable to provide the necessities of life for children
due to a lack of facilities and resources, it seems
unconscionable that the North American media should pass
judgment so readily without sufficient knowledge or personal
contact with the situation. The idea that a blanket of human
rights, conceived by the Western world, is able to cover any

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situation is egocentric and more importantly inaccurate.

Having identified the problem as being an inability to

understand the varied needs and values of nations as they
relate to the implementation of human rights, Fung goes on to
suggest that it is the imminent Harmony Renaissance that
could reveal the solutions. Harmony requires that people allow
for the differences between cultures without passing judgment.
It requires that people take the time to ask questions and make
decisions after they have heard the answers.

The concept of ritual is instrumental to Confucianism and may

lend itself well to this discussion. The tenet holds that in
carrying out ritual properly one becomes a human being. The
performance of ritual requires genuine interaction with another
individual or individuals. If we were to think of every moment
as being ritualized, we would be forced to connect to the other
that we intend to judge rather than simply imposing our own
standards upon the other on whom those standards have no
bearing.

Excusing nations for all violations of human rights is certainly

not what is being called for. Nor is Fung necessarily claiming
that each nation should independently determine the degree to
which human rights can be provided. Rather the importance of
what Fung is claiming lies in the acknowledgement and
acceptance of difference. The manner in which a country
behaves is determined by its history, its geography, its current
socio-economic make-up and intangible cultural traits. Without
a profound understanding of all factors involved it is impossible
to understand decisions made. It is with this outlook that
modern leaders and citizens must enter the global-political
realm and replace careless judgments with calculated decisions
based in the growing tide of harmony.
Morgan Steacy, York University, Department of East Asian
Studies

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