"In the beginning was the Word." Many wise teachers throughout history have reminded us that “in the beginning” was the Word, understood as “the divine mind”, from which comes the universe of time and space and the consciousness which humans continue to carry through time. As we near the end of the year 2019 and enter a new year 2020, the season for us at Globethics.net brings us into union with humanity and our networks around the globe who celebrate the feast known since 2,000 years ago as Christmas.

Globethics.net is pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Housel, who is responsible for Donor Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Globethics.net.

Upon her appointment, Globethics.net Executive Director Prof. Dr Obiora Ike spoke of the importance of this nomination. "Ms Housel brings to Globethics.net invaluable experience and increases our capacity as we set our sights on becoming the leading global network of teachers and institutions on ethics in higher education."

28 October 2019 - Globethics.net organised the Book Launch for two of its latest publications: 'Water Ethics: Principles and Guidelines' and 'Blue Ethic: Ethical Perspectives on Sustainable, Fair Water Resources Use and Management'.

Dr Benoît Girardin, presently a lecturer at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations and co-editor of both publications was invited to present his work and explain the experiences which led him to undertake this project.

18 September 2019 – As part of the 2019 Global Ethics Day celebration, Globethics.net's head office, regional offices and national contacts share the importance of ethics.

Global Ethics Day is an initiative launched in 2016 by the Carnegie Council, which invites the organisations to create awareness of the role of ethics in the globalised world.

Five days after the Ghana workshop, on 19 November, a second national ACAP III National Workshop took place at the Melism Lodge in Lusaka, Zambia. Again organised by Globethics.net through its local partners Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation and United Church of Zambia with the same target.

On this occasion, Globethics.net Eastern Regional Programme Executive, Herbet Makinda, was present to share his experience of the Kenyan workshop with more than seven African countries, among which was Zambia.

During 13-14 November 2019 at the Trinity College in Accra, Globethics.net together with the Kingdom Equip Network brought together CROs, government officials and civil society representatives.

The aim was to introduce a new paradigm shift into the thinking of assets management and investment by CROs.

Globethics.net and the Catholic University of Argentina (la Universidad Católica Argentina,UCA) organised the First International Conference on 'Ethics as a transversal dimension in higher education: Challenges for Latin America' at UCA in Buenos Aires,Argentina from 21-22 October 2019.Latino America covers more than 13% of the Earth's land surface area and has a population of more than 642 million people. According to the Transparency International Perception of Corruption Index(PCI),the ratings of a number of Latin American countries in 2018 have declined.

Editors: Ikechukwu J. Ani / Obiora F. Ike (Eds.)

ISBN: 978-2-88931-323-5
Education in Ethics, if acquired, increases the value chain of any nation because Education founded on values brings values-driven-principles into the heart of humans. We are, however, aware of the gap in values transmission from one generation to the next. This book is a response to that gap.

Every organisation needs a strategy—a plan of how it's going to achieve what it has set out to do. More than that, a strategy needs to also embody an element of the strategy's goal. For Globethics.net, that element is ETHICS: Empowerment, Transformation, Holistic approach, Integrity, Competences and Sustainability.

Globethics.net was invited by The House of Ethics, a Jordan institution, to organised a workshop to develop a Code of Ethics at their office in Aman.

Globethics.net President, Prof. Dr Christoph Stueckelberger, was in charge to deliver a one-day master class to the members of The House of Ethics. The master class was also attended by Prof. Dr Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Executive Director, who was in Jordan to sign a collaboration between Globethics.net and the American University of Madaba.

6 September 2019 – Globethics.net has signed a memorandum of understanding with American University of Madaba to introduce ethics into higher education.

Dr Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Executive Director, met with Prof. Nabil Ayoub, Vice-chancellor of American University of Madaba (AUM) to sign the agreement close to the city of Madaba—one of the most visited cities in Jordan due to The Mosaic Map—where the university is based. It is an Arabic university with western standards, offering degrees exclusively in English.

During 26-30 August 2019, the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (UNIBIT) (Bulgaria) held its 5th Scientific Conference on Contemporary Strategies and Innovation in Knowledge Management in Geneva, Switzerland.

Globethics.net was invited to attend and share about its 15 years of experience in disseminating knowledge through its online library, publications, network and academy.

Editors: Obiora Ike / Justus Mbae / Chidiebere Onyia

ISBN: 978-2-88931-300-6
Series number: Globethics.net Education Ethics No. 4
Publication: 2019

Nigeria is a rising power in both the African continent and on the global stage. It is the most populated country in Africa and has the largest economy in the continent, yet Nigeria is host to more people living in extreme poverty than India. This context is a unique setting for international cooperation, at the same time both promising and challenging.

Dr. Obiora Ike was invited to give a keynote speech at the BMW Foundation 'thinking space' on the theme of the Good Life and Sustainable Cities 2030.

The aim of the event, held on 23 July 2019 in Munich, Germany, was to explore problems related to civic participation, climate change, health, and mobility that are often concentrated and intensified in urban areas. Despite, or perhaps because, cities are the areas that are most affected by such problems, the BMW Foundation believes that they can serve as a breeding ground for solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

25 June 2019 - The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a Germany-based development agency that provides services in the field of international development cooperation, together with Brot für die Welt and the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), organised a roundtable in Brussels, Belgium to put Religion and Development on the European agenda.

Swiss Alternative Medicine (SAM) held the first International Health Congress on Integrative Oncology from 28th - 30th June 2019. The event was held at the World Council of Churches Headquarters in Geneva with the spanport of Globethics.net.

As the first of its kind, the international congress aimed to contribute to the edifice of global health by addressing the challenges related to the treatment of non-communicable or chronic diseases. In line with the UN SDGs 2030 Goal 3 (Health) and 4 (Education), SAM has taken a bold step in launching this first international platform to encourage dialogue and action among healthcare professionals and academics.

Dear colleagues, friends, partners and stakeholders of Globethics.net,

As we celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the Globethics.net Foundation (2004 – 2019), this edition of our Newsletter Editorial brings into focus the challenges that humanity faces at present and our attempt, leveraging on the transformative force of values to pursue the integration of ethics education as a useful response for orientation.

5 June 2019—Globethics.net has signed a library (partnership) agreement with the Macau Ricci Institute (MRI).

The Macau Ricci Institute, under the direction of Stephen Rothlin, is a nonprofit, study and research institution dedicated to fostering better mutual understanding between China and the world community.

On 21 May 2019, Globethics.net commenced the third phase of its African Church Assets Programme (ACAP). The event brought together 29 leaders and individuals from various religious and educational institutions for a three-day event composed of capacity building and ethical development.

The first ACAP was launched in March 2016 with the aim to help leaders in church institutions (such as educational centres, health care services, seminaries, etc.) to build practical capacities in a climate of strong accountability and transparency in the management of assets and resources.

14 May 2019 — Globethics.net has signed a new contract with the World Council of Churches (WCC) to develop and spanport their online education, publications and resources related to the ecumenical movement.
In addition to developing an existing online education programme, the agreement between Globethics.net and the WCC outlines a joint series of publications. Additionaly, all WCC digital documents will be submitted to Globethic's library, which currently features over 8.6 million documents. The WCC and Globethics.net are committed to providing quality education that serves to empower individuals around the world.

A new partnership between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and an international ethics network will unlock a vast global bank of resources for ethical reflection and action. Beginning in June, the new contract between the WCC and Globethics.net will allow all WCC digital documents to be available in the Globethics online library, which currently includes some 3.5 million titles.

The global community is nourished each year through the services of the United Nations, its implementing agencies and related foundations on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day (23 April) and of World Press Freedom Day (3 May) with events and reflections on the importance of reading and in more recent years of reading in a digital age.

The annual celebrations marked in various forms by governments, private sector organisations and NGOs and of course publishing houses, journalists and educational institutions, seek to encourage book reading as a bridge that links the past, present and future of artists, thinkers and writers as an activity that unites humanity.

Humanity is living between technoutopia and technophobia. Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) drive daily human lives, and it is causing ethical dilemmas: is AI being used to protect human beings or can it harm them? How can we reduce the risks of military applications of AI and improve the cause of peace through global governance on AI and technology within an ethical framework? Are ethical considerations brought into play when decisions on the development and deployment of technology and AI are being made in an attempt to strike the balance between beneficial progress and actual and potential harm?

Globethics.net is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Fr. Dr Ikechukwu Ani as Globethics.net National Contact for Nigeria as of March 2019.

Dr Ani is a theologian, philosopher, teacher and distinguished mentor to young people, to whom he has devoted his life.

In the real world of management and economics, conditions of spanply and demand determine the market. Entrepreneurs and businesses design their activities to create wealth, increase assets, capitalise on investments and make profitable returns. There is a noticeable strategic desire by humans and organisations to invest in and plan their businesses with an aim to ensure that numbers and higher profits are determinants for the value and progress of their enterprise.

Humanity is living in a time of crisis.

At present, a global alarm has been raised due to climate change and, increasingly, there is a need to transition to renewable energies. We are now looking for 'new civilizations' that can reconcile the wellbeing of the biosphere with human development.

The Globethics.net Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education has a new member, the Lutheran World Federation. On 1 February 2019 the Study Secretary for Lutheran Theology and Practice in the Department for Theology and Public Witness of the Lutheran Wold Federation, Rev. Dr Chad Rimmer, and Globethics.net Executive Director, Prof. Dr Obiora Ike, signed the Globethics.net Consortium Agreement to further cooperation to develop and sustain education and lifelong learning in their respective traditions and networks.

African economies face a number of critical challenges (e.g. limited employment opportunities, low quality of education), but also offer many opportunities (e.g. a young and motivate workforce, high entrepreneurial activities). How Africa and Europe can move forward together by developing jointly solutions was the main focus of the conference ‘Africa and Europe Moving Forward Together – Evidence-based Solutions for African Development' organised by Leuphana University and the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) from 24 to 26 January 2019.

Whether or not we accept it, know it or deny it, we now live on a new planet, one in which virtual space and the development and deployment of algorithms and artificial intelligence has an increasing importance.

Algorithms are processes made up of formulas to solve problems. With the advent of artificial intelligence a learning element is introduced into such processes that simulate human intelligence with the possibility of judgement and action and the potential that the results could contravene human values, laws and rights.

"People matter". This is how Dr. Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Executive Director started his speech at the FaithInvest International Conference for Christian Investors and Development Agencies organised by ActAlliance and AGAPE Foundation in Geneva on 22 January 2019.

Dr. Ike continued saying that development must be centred on the people and on empowering the poor to participate in their own development.

On 9 January 2019 Globethics.net received the Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs of the government of Nigeria, Geoffrey Jideofor Kwusike Onyeama.

Introduced by Dr Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Executive Director, Mr Onyeama made a short speech to the team, where he highlighted the importance of Globethics.net's work to embed ethics in the agenda of education not only in the curricula but also and more importantly in the values and guidelines used by institutions and government alike for better governance and better societies.

Globethics.net through its events and partnerships in 2018 has shown how important it is to take a holitstic approach by making ethics present and relevant in all areas of life, across disciplines, sectors and themes.

Aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4, to 'ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities', Globethics.net has brought ethics into the picture and has organised several conferences in Switzerland, Africa and India to raise awareness on the integration of ethics on the curricula and in institutions.

From 23-26 October 2018 Globethics.net conducted the Training of Teachers for six educational institutions in Globethics.net network: two of the Founding Members of Globethics.net Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education - Godfrey Okoye University (GOU) and Enugu State of Science and Technology (ESUT) - and four partner universities, Peaceland College of Education, The Institute of Management, Technology, the Enugu State Collage of Education and Technology and the Coal City University.

From 18-20 October 2018 Nigeria's capital, Abuja, held Globethics.net Board of Foundation meeting heralded however with an International Conference organised by Globethics.net and its partner, Lux Terra Leadership Foundation on ethics in higher education.

Over 350 students and teachers from across various universities of the country, representatives of several universities and seven Vice Chancellors came together at the Ibeto Hotel to take part in this conference.

On the 29th October 2018, the Globethics.net East Africa held an International Conference on Ethics in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two and half day event was declared open by the Vice Chancellor of The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Very Rev. Prof. Stephen Mbugua Ngari, who in his opening address pointed out four ongoing problems within higher education that need to be resolved before higher education can be sustainable and effective in promoting ethics.

The Agency for Research, Development and Training of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS), which has hosted Globethics.net Regional office in Indonesia since 2010, are organising the bi-annual International Symposium on Religious Life on the 6-9 November 2018 at the Hotel Novotel on Jalan Sudirman in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

As a Founding Member of the Globethics Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education and alert by the critical role of higher education institutions (HEI) in fostering students to not only be well educated but also to be values-driven citizens and leaders, the University of South Africa (UNISA), in the person of the Vice Chancellor, approached Globethics.net and expressed a strong interest in having Globethics.net Ethics for Institutions Programme on Ethics in Higher Education to be delivered to their institution.

Globethics.net was invited to take part alongside other institutions in the Seminar of Experts on 20-21 September 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Seminar, organised by the National Bank of Argentina (BNA) together with United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL-IADB), was planned in preparation for the G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires from 26 November to 1 December 2018.

Globethics.net Director, Obiora Ike, and senior associate Willy Kabohl lead a workshop on ethical management of assets in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The event was sponsored by Renovabis and was the first time that different Christian groups came together under one umbrella in Romania, represented by approximately 40 leaders from 16 different Romanian dioceses.

More than 149 participants from over 30 universities gathered together at the 6th International Conference on Ethics Education, during 3-5 October 2018. The event was organised by International Association for Education in Ethics (IAEE) and sponsored also by Globethics.net, University of South Africa(UNISA) and Tshwane University of Technology. This year's conference theme was ‘A Long Walk to Ethics Education'.

The representatives of IAEE, Globethics.net, UNISA and Tshwane University of Technology were invited to deliver a keynote speeches. Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Director, gave a speech on ‘The imperative of values-based formation for future leaders: African and global perspectives for action'.

In addition to the keynote speech, Ike delivered a master class on unethical behaviour in higher institutions with particular focus on fraud, plagiarism and cheating in exams. He took advantage of this opportunity to introduce Globethics.net's four programmes to the participant and how they help to systematically integrate ethics into higher institutions.

By Prof. Dr. Obiora Ike, Executive Director, Globethics.net The month of October this year is filled with events around the world and at the United Nations that focus on the place of Ethics in Action and in Education. World Teachers Day is celebrated on 5 October WorldTeachersDay with the theme - 'The right to education means the right to qualified teachers'. This has been chosen to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which recognises education as a fundamental human right.

On 17 October Global Ethics Day is devoted to Ethics in Action, with a focus at Globethicss.net on Ethics in Teaching, a dimension that promotes the acquisition of both knowledge and character. The teacher in the classroom holds the key to what children, youth and students learn and know as they engage with the world. The teacher can be both a model and a mentor as well as a knowledge transmitter.

Another event that makes the month of October so important is taking place in the last week, starting on 22 October. It has been declared by the United Nations as Open Access Week with the theme 'Designing Equitable Foundations for Open Knowledge'.

On September 17 2018, Globethics.net was honoured to welcome Vice-Chancellor Prof. Luke Anike, of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) at their Head Office in Geneva to discuss future partnerships and collaboration with the university.

Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS)

The University of Abuja, Globethics.net and Lux Terra Leadership Foundation are organising an International Conference on Managing and Teaching Ethics in Higher Education on 18 October 2018 at the Ibeto Hotel, Abuja (Nigeria).

Globethics.net is organising this year's International Conference on Ethics Education which will be held in South Africa on 3-5 October 2018.
Over the past 15 years, South Africa has been actively involved in offering a wide array of medical ethics and research ethics training courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as continuous professional development programmes.

The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) has held a sensitisation meeting for the academic and administration staff in order to inform the faculty about the strategy, updated institutional policies and agreements, and consequently the new expectations on behalf of the institution.

The National Bank of Argentina (BNA) together with United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL-IADB) are organising the Seminary of Experts ‘People and Planet: Financial Inclusion for Social Inclusion Argentina G-20' in Buenos Aires (Argentina) from 20-21 September 2018.

All African Conference of Churches (AACC) organised their 11th General Assembly on the 1-7 July at Kigali, Rwanda. The conference attracted more than 800 participants across the African continent, including international partner organisations.

By Prof. Dr. Obiora Ike, Executive Director, Globethics.net

Recently in July 2018, two events happened globally to give hope and promote the triumph of the human spirit founded on the fabric of values that promote friendship, responsibility, sharing, respect, inclusion, fairness and justice. One was the international football tournament held in Russia that kept people of all ages and climes engaged and entertained for weeks, glued to their public viewing television sets, without prejudice of race, colour, creed, political party or status, watching the various football teams' play. In some cases, soldiers in war fields suspended enemy combat and any fire engagement to watch TV and enjoy soccer. Moscow and Russia, formerly leading the countries of the Soviet Union under the Iron Curtain of the Cold War era, became a home for all – with guests and football fans from all over the world sharing the hospitality, friendship, peace and freedom which can happen when people agree to simple rules around football.

The other global event was happening in South Africa as the world stood still to recall the memory of an icon and his legacy Madiba Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela with tributes, events and coverage commemorating the 100th birthday of the great son of Africa. In both, the ability of humans to transcend their woes and tragedies became apparent.

All African Conference of Churches (AACC) organised their 11th General Assembly on the 1-7 July at Kigali, Rwanda. The conference attracted more than 800 participants across the African continent, including international partner organisations.

The Lassalle-Institut hosted a conference on 'Managing and Teaching Business Ethics: Global Trends and Challenges' on 13-16 May 2018.

The purpose of the conference was to explore the challenges of doing business in an ethical manner in the modern, globalised world. To accomplish this, the conference was design to enhance both the theory as well as the practise of business ethics.

The Rotary district 1890 closed the Rotary Year with a party celebrated in the Musensaal of the Rose Garden in Mannheim.

Globethics.net Executive Director, Dr. Obiora Ike, was invited to be the keynote speaker at the District Conference and festival on Saturday 9 June 2018. The title of his speech was 'Africa My Neighbour', which he delivered in addition to a presentation about the Globethics.net Foundation.

The Rotary Festival also featured the German Rotary Choir and brass ensemble 'Yu and Me'.

The Rotary Conventions serve as a networking-platform to meet friends from around the world and to establish new international contacts. The next Rotary International Convention will be in Hamburg in June 2019.

Globethics.net will attend the All Africa Conference of Churches 11th General Assembly, held from the 1st to 7th July 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, represented by Globethics.net Executive Director, Dr. Obiora Ike.

An Irish university vice-president and a Swiss industrialist have told the Globethics.net international conference how they used vision, determination and persuasion to, on the one hand, amalgamate some educational institutions, and to run an ethically-based international and highly-profitable company.

A Ghanaian government minister and education leader, Prof. Kwesi Yankah, has addressed a global gathering outside Geneva on promoting ethics in higher education saying they are vital for developing nations.

This book on the topic of ethics and poetry consists of contributions from different continents on the subject of applied ethics related to poetry. It should gather a favourable reception from philosophers, ethicists, theologians and anthropologists from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America and allows for a comparison of the healing power of words from various religious, spiritual and philosophical traditions.

This second of two book volumes on ethics in higher education is the result of an international conference organised by Globethics.net with the leadership of the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 2016 on managing and teaching ethics within higher education institutions. The focus on traditions and religions as vehicles for collaboration and co-existence in plural societies has gained great attention both in Africa and elsewhere.

The international conference of the University of Nigeria, held in 2016, made it clear that education must assist and lead students to learn to be free, responsible, innovative and creative. The teacher has the duty to guide students to know how to acquire knowledge that is not mere information but knowledge that is reflected, offering essential insights needed for effective living—such knowledge bears the ingredients of ethics.

Globethics.net Spring Board Meeting, 20-21 April 2018

The Spring meeting of the Globethics.net international Board of Foundation will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 20-21 April 2018. On the agenda are the Annual Report and accounts for 2017.

The Board of Foundation is comprised of nine eminent experts from different regions of the world representing the global and international nature of the organisation.

Big Problems Have Small Beginnings

By Obiora Ike, Executive Director Globethics.net

Dear Friends of Globethics.net,

As the season of Easter starts across many countries, we at Globethics.net extend season's best wishes of peace, renewal and hope to all our readers and network participants.

We are all aware of the growing turmoil various people and nations face in the twenty first century and are shocked that what we thought we had achieved in previous centuries—freedom, democracy, justice, equality, tolerance, peace and economic welfare for all—are gradually eroding in these times to our dismay.

Permit me to share a wise tale known and told in many African traditions, which recently featured in The New York Times*. The title of the story is ‘Find My Stolen Turkey'.

As part of a prolonged celebration of the International Women's Day, on 19 March 2018 Globethics.net organised a book launch for the publication Women's Status and Gender Relations in Post-Genocide Rwanda, a doctoral thesis produced by Dr Josephine Mukabera that assesses changes related to women's status and gender relations at the local level of Rwanda, exploring the responsibilities allocated to women in the local government, religious institutions and the family decisions.

The workshop was catered towards CUEA's academics staff, heads of administrative functions in the university, representatives of the constituent colleges of CUEA and academic staff of the seminaries near CUEA. The opening session attracted more than 450 participants, including: Vice Chancellors (or their representatives), directors of various institutions, representatives from the National Commission for UNESCO, Arigatou International Kenya office, IBM Research Africa, CUEA Academic and Administrative staff as well as students from various faculties.

Globethics.net in collaboration with Arigatou International held a ‘training of trainers' workshop from 13-16 March 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The training was provided for the staff of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), a Globethics.net partner institution and member of the Globethics Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education.

The Training of Trainers workshop started on 13 March 2018 with a conference on 'Integrating Ethics in Higher Education'. Representatives of many other universities from Kenya, including Strathmore University, joined the Conference on Integrating Ethics in Higher Education and expressed their interest in the Globethics Consortium and the Training of Trainers workshop.

On February 2018 Dr. Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Director, visited Africa: Enugu, Nigeria. The purpose of the visit was to explore and experience, first hand, the impact, process, reception and lessons in Ethics in Higher Education. The trip featured visits to different institutions involved in education.

One of the institutions he visited was Peaceland College of Education where he had the opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Globethics.net and Peaceland College of Education.

Ethics in education key for sustainable development

By Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Director

It is indeed an honour and a great responsibility to assist and guide young people, students and researchers as educators. The challenge however for those who teach is to undergo a radical rethink about what and how we teach young people to enable them to emerge as thought leaders and responsible citizens of the world, equipped with skills and knowledge to protect the environment, advance cultures, progress history and preserve the human ecology—body, mind and soul. Such knowledge contains the ingredients of ethics, which is the discipline, process and action of thinking the right thing, of doing the right thing and of living justly. The ethical rationale is the knowledge base of what we learn for life, which has relevance in actions. Here lies a great potential for positive and sustainable change for humanity in the 21st century, confronted by challenges that come from social, environmental, technological, economic, cultural and political upheavals globally.

'Ethics in higher education is no longer a choice, it is a mandate'.
On first half of February 2018 Obiora visited Africa: Enugu, Nigeria with the Linsi Foundation, who a long-standing sponsor of Globethics.net. The purpose of this visit was to explore and experience, first hand, the impact, process, reception and lessons for Ethics in Higher Education.

The International Integrating Reporting Council (IIRC) is organising its first biannual meeting and its Official Conference in February 2018. The event will be held in Tokyo, Japan.

IIRC is a global coalition of regulators, investors, companies, standard setters, the accounting profession and NGOs. Through this coalition, IIRC wishes to establish integrated reporting and thinking within mainstream business practice as the norm in the public and private sectors.

Independent TV Correspondent/Producer at the UN Geneva for EWTN Germany

In December last year here the UN Geneva high level experts discussed, as they entitled their panel: 'The road towards a Post-Neoliberal World Order.'

As the year 2017 comes to a gradual end, we at Globethics.net announce with joy and gratitude a message of Hope, Optimism and Courage to all our partners, participants, members, friends and well-wishers from around the globe.

At Globethics.net we have worked hard in collaboration with you and with our partners who train the young in universities and institutions of higher education, to establish frameworks that address the United Nations sustainable development goals, through the integration of ethics across sectors and particularly of ethics in higher education.

On November 11 – 12 2017, members of the auspicious organisation The Club of Rome gathered in Vienna for the high-level annual conference.

The event was attended by Globethics.net's Executive Director, Dr. Obiora Ike, who is currently serving as President of the Africa Chapter of the Club of Rome for Nigeria. The conference was held at the Palais Auersperg in Vienna.

The theme driving this year's agenda was the growing political tensions around the globe on the back of growing inequality, migration, unemployment, populism and political extremism. This current crisis, the organisation suggests, is the result of a ‘resistance to globalisation' that is also compromising effort to address an even greater issue—global warming.

The Club of Rome through the Aurelio Peccei Lectures and Dialogues are delivering lecture by distinguished expert speaker with various backgrounds, followed by a dialogue with the audience.

This 23 November at 18:00 Globethics.net Director, Obiora Ike, will be giving a lecture on "No sustainable future without ethics values" at the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium, Brussels.

INVITATION
The Aurelio Peccei Lectures & Dialogues-

Enquiries on the Challenges of the 21st Century
99th LECTURE
THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2017
at 18:00 sharp

No Sustainable Future without Ethical Values
by Monsignor Prof. Dr. Obiora F. Ike.
Executive Director, Globethics.net, Geneva

This editorial brings to you, dear reader, some stories and reflections from the rich discussions that took place at our autumn Board of Foundation meeting in Moscow, Russia from 3-4 November 2017.

"Glob ethics net is really a very good name", stated Walter Linsi, our Board member from Switzerland in his opening reflection. In the large field of ethics Globethics.net is like David, who with his slingshot and a small stone brought down the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

Obiora Ike give ethical values discussion a chance in Russia, a country where things happen at International Symposium on Ethics in Higher Education

Obiora Ike summing up substantial academic contributions to INES & Globethicsnet International Symposium on Ethics in Higher Education at Moscow Chamber of Commerce.

This year the World Conference on Online Learning is organised and hosted by North at the Sheraton Center in Toronto, Canada during the 16 – 19 October.

On 17th October 2017, Prof. Dr. Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Director, gave a presentation on the importance of introducing ethics and values in the classrooms at the World Conference on Online Learning.

The 3 day conference was hosted at the Sheraton Center in Toronto, Canada during the 16th – 19th October and was part of the 27th edition of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference. This year, the focus was on 'Teaching in The Digital Age – Re-Thinking Teaching & Learning'.

Globethics.net is hosting a institutional collection of documents from Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), a social organ of the Catholic Church, committed to the implementation of the Catholic Social Teaching.

The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), Bread for the World and Globethics.net co-organised the second meeting of the African Christian Assets Programme (ACAP II) held at the Desmond Tutu Conference Centre of the AACC in Nairobi, Kenya from 21-23 September 2017.

In gratitude to all the facilitators and recognizing the responsibility to be good stewards and improve on resources entrusted to their care, the 26 participants drawn from 11 Countries of West Africa, Central, South and East Africa, and representing 16 organizations issued a Joint Communique. It is addressed to the leadership and members of Churches, the civil and public sectors; youth, Christian leaders and all those in their network with the primary aim to increase their asset mapping enhance their capacities, competencies and commitment to assets management and re-inforce their stewardship of the goods entrusted to their care.

Globethics.net's Executive Director Obiora Ike visited the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi, Kenya on 20 September 2017 where the Vice Chancellor Prof. Justus Mbae convened a meeting between him and the University Think Tank team. Msgt. Prof. Obiora gave a powerful speech entitled "Values-Driven Education in Research, Teaching and Governance: The Catholic Identity and CUEA as a Model."

In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor (VC) officially welcomed Monsignor Obiora to the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and introduced to him the members of the think tank.

Dr. Obiora Ike, Executive Director of Globethics.net, has been invited to join a committee of experts to advise on a project with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The project, titled 'A Marshall Plan with Africa', is based on a similar initiative launched by America subsequent to World War II to help rebuild Western European economies in wake of the widespread destruction.

Globethics.net's Executive Director, Obiora Ike, was a speaker at the 21st International Renovabis Congress, the largest Christian engagement for the renewal of Eastern Europe, organised in Munich, Germany at the University's Faculty of Philosophy from 6-8 September 2017.

The International Renovabis Congress, has taken place every year since 1997 with the focus this year on 'The Crisis as a Chance for Europe! - The Responsibility of the Churches'.

Culture as the Thread in the Discussion
Culture connects peoples. This was the main theme of the cultural-political 'white sausage breakfast', which the team of the Ammerserenade invited into the former Braunviehstall of the state estate Achselschwang. Dr. Thomas Goppel and the [Globethics.net Director] Obiora Ike discussed similarities between Africa, Germany and Europe.

On 31 July 2017 Globethics.net welcomed a group of students from the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs based in Taiwan as part of the organisation's current strategy focus on education.

Staff from Head Office gave a brief presentation of Globethics's main activities, including the Library, publications and the recently established Globethics Consortium.

Subsequent to the presentation, the students were invited to ask questions concerning Globethics.net and particularly ethics in education, which produced a fruitful discussion lead by Executive Director, Obiora Ike who spoke on the need for ethics in our daily lives.

Obiora Ike, Globethics.net Executive Director delivered the keynote speech today at the 12th Design & Health World Congress & Exhibition on 'The Challenge of Global Health Inequities and Salutogenic Global Ethics'

and will be a panellist in a discussion with government health ministers on the 'The Role of Heath Infrastructure in Health Promotion'.

Globethics.net team celebrates the successful end of the GE Consortium 2017

Ethics matter in higher education and are needed urgently. This was one of the conclusions made by members of the newly established Globethics Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education during its inaugural meeting in Geneva organised by Globethics.net from 21-23 June 2017.

Consortium members agreed that the topic of integrating ethics in higher education is key to tackling corruption, establishing research methodology, avoiding plagiarism and building up and forming the youth who are the future for governance in nations.

Dear Globethics.net Participants, dear Friends,

With the successful launch of the much announced Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education in Geneva on 23 June 2017, Globethics.net has taken the matter of the urgency to integrate ethics in education seriously and with action. From 21 to 23 June, 2017, several leading university vice chancellors, professors and actors in education from 16 countries representing about 60 institutions of educational endeavour at the tertiary level joined the Inaugural meeting of the Globethics Consortium on Ethics in Higher Education.

GENEVA - Faith-based organizations play a key role in the fight against HIV and AIDS and the stigma that goes with it.

So on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, the World Council of Churches started a campaign to encourage religious leaders to get tested for HIV in hopes of inspiring others across the world to seek testing, too.

Obiora Ike facilitating a workshop for SEDOS in Rome 2 to 6 May 2017 on the topic of Culture and Sustainable Development in Finance and Christian Economic - TGE need for Ethics.

Msgr. Ike attended the Christian Solidarity International round table on "Religious persecution and the defense of human right - Focus on Maiduguri". Msgr. Ike made an intervention at the Abuja meeting held on the 18th of June, 2014.

Prof. Ike delivered the lead paper at the All Nigerian Political Summit held at the International Conference Center, Abuja. The title of the paper was "Leading by example: Patrotic values, political virtues and loyal opposition."

The Summit was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, two past Heads of State, past Vice Presidents and Who is Who in Nigeria Politics. The event took place on the 12th of June, 2014.

Msgr. Ike attended a church event in Ahaus, Germany where he gave a speech titled "The value of the family as foundation of society."

The speech was presented during the Diamond Jubilee of Paul and Marlis Groten. The event took place on the 10th of June, 2014.

Prof. Ike gave the valedictory speech during the send forth of Prof. Barth Okolo, Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He spoke on the topic "The judgement of history reflects the works. Challenges on leadership" on the 6th of June, 2014.

Prof. Ike was the keynote speaker on the Conference organized by the Presidency for the Code of Conduct Bureau officials at all levels of Government. He spoke on Code of Conduct. The conference was held on the 9th of May, 2014.

Msgr. Ike participated in the Round table with Rotary International and Rotary Nigeria on Reducing Maternal and Child Motality. It was a Public Private Partnership (PPP) forum with the Government of Enugu State.

Participating were Prof. Robert Zinser who represented Rotary International, local Rotarians, Government officials and Church representatives. The round table was held on the 5th of May, 2014.

Prof. Ike attended the International Advisory Board meeting of the School of Executive Business in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa from the 2nd to 4th of April, 2014. While there, Prof. Ike drove the initiative on Africa Business Schools.

Msgr. Ike attended the international conference of CURE in Bangkok, Thailand from 4th to 8th March, 2014.

The meeting attended by 27 countries on the topic of Human Rights, Prisoners, Rehabilitation of errants and Legal Reforms to confirm with the United Nations Human Rights Declarations was addressed by Msgr. Obiora Ike who also chaired a plenary session as key speaker and panelist.

CURE has headquarters in Washington USA and is for Citizens united in rehabilitation of errants.

Prof. Obiora Ike was in Nairobi, Kenya from 17th - 23th of February, 2014 carrying out media research.

Prof. Obiora Ike was in PAN Atlantic University (PAU) Lekki, Lagos for the Africa Business Ethics Network which is a coalition of all business schools for teaching, practice and research in Africa. Prof. Ike has been a member for the past 12 years.

The event which lasted from 31st Oct. to 1st Nov., 2013 featured lectures, networking and exchange of scholars and ideas of Business Education within Africa.

Prof. Obiora Ike chaired the Grand Finale of the 2013 South East Economic Summit at Nike Resort Hotel, Enugu on Thurs. 31st October, 2013. The theme of the Summit was "Opening up the South East Nigeria for Increased Trade and Investment."

25th - 27th October, 2013: Msgr. Obiora Ike was in Switzerland along with Most Rev. Callistus Onaga of Enugu Diocese and Most Rev. Martin Uzoukwu of Minna Diocese on the invitation of "Church In Need" Switzerland. The above three gentlemen were guests of the Swiss Church to discuss Persecution of Christians in Nigeria, Boko Haram and the rising growth of Catholicism in Africa's largest democracy - Nigeria.

Msgr. Prof. Obiora Ike was the keynote speaker at the Electoral Workshop for Political parties in Anambra State, held in Awka. The occasion held on Thurs. 24th October, 2013 was a Sensitization workshop for Gubernatorial candidates, political party executives and stakeholders in Awka, Anambra State.

Msgr. Prof. Obiora Ike presented a paper titled "Productivity and Competitiveness - Determinants for National Economic Transformation" at the National Productivity Day lecture organized by the Enugu State Government and National Productivity Centre at Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu on Thurs. 15th August, 2013.

Msgr. Obiora Ike attended the 8th Steering Committee meeting of the Economic & Planning Commission of Enugu State Government at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu on 30th July, 2013.

Prof. Obiora Ike attends the Development Partners Workshop on National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu on 25th July, 2013.

The workshop involved participants from UNDP, WHO, DFID, MDAs and Civil Society Organizations of which CIDJAP is a leading member.

On Sunday 21st July, 2013, Msgr. Obiora Ike received the Progressive Education Empowerment Foundation Award.

Prof. Obiora Ike attended the Black Tie Night at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The event held on 20th July, 2013 was the official send forth of the formal Deputy Vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Asouzu, who assumed office as the Vice chancellor of Federal University, Ekiti.

Prof. Ike led a powerful prayerful reflection on the occasion on "The gift, the challenge and the response to leadership by the Nigerian academia."

Niger wives (foreigners married to Nigerian men from Enugu State) paid a condolence visit to Msgr. Obiora Ike on Sat. 20th July, 2013 to commiserate with him over the death of his father, Pa Richard Maduabuchi Ike, as well as to appreciate him for his spanport to foreigners in Nigeria especially Niger wifes.

The delegation of 36 women membership was led by American born Mary Ellen Chijioke, Chief Librarian, Godfery Okoye University (GOU).

Wed. 17th July, 2013 was a great day in the life of Msgr. Obiora Ike.

On that day Persons with Disability organization awarded Msgr. Ike the title "Senior Advocate of Nigeria for the Handicap and Persons with Disability."

The organization is made up of those who are blind, deaf and dumb, have spinal cord injury, polio, are handicap, etc.

Their president, Mr. Obiefuna and his team lauded Msgr. Obiora Ike for his unique role in consistently spanporting handicap persons for the past 30 years through CIDJAP.

The award ceremony was attended by principal officials of CIDJAP, Government House representatives, media persons, the general public as well as those who disability.

From 8th - 12th July, 2013, Msgr. Obiora Ike preached a retreat at DRACC, Abuja for the Order of Augustinians, Nigeria. Topic "Challenges on Evangelization in the Modern World for the Priest."

On Sunday 7th July, 2013, Prof. Obiora Ike received the United Nations Sadik Nafis Award for Humanitarian Service and Courage.

The prize was awarded to him in late June, 2013 at the 104th Rotary International Convention held in Lisbon, Portugal. Prof. Robert Zinser received the award on behalf of Prof. Ike in Lisbon and delivered it to him in Enugu.

From the 4th - 7th of July, 2013, CIDJAP received international guests from Germany led by Prof. Robert Zinser, founder of Rotarian Action Group for Population and Development. He was accompanied by a medical director from Austria, Dr. Peter Neuner and communication consultant, Mr. Maukus from Cologne, Germany.

Prof. Ike hosted the guests and brought them to Gov. Chime of Enugu State, the State Commissioner for Health and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly for mutual discussions on the theme of health.

Enugu Rotarians held useful discussions with their counterparts since five health centers and hospitals in the State shall benefit in equipment, training and infrastructure development worth $500,000.

Mon. 1st July, 2013: Prof. Ike addresses Administrators, Secretaries and members of Local Government Development Areas in Enugu State as a Resource person.

He spoke on two topics; "Transformation Leadership and the Challenges of Governance in Enugu State" and "Integrity and Ethics in Politics."

June 27th - 28th, 2013: Prof. Ike attended the Governing Council meeting of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu. He is a member of the Council.

From 24th - 29th of June, 2013, Professors of Catholic University of Washington D.C., USA promote Catholic Social Teaching Summer Course at CIDJAP, Enugu.

From 16th - 17th, 2013: Msgr. Ike Obiora attended the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bonn, Germany. There he presented a paper titled "Energy Policy and Economic Growth, Conflict or Convergence; Perspective from Africa".

Godfery Okoye University's Vice chancellor, Prof. Christian Anieke, Pro-chancellor of the University, Prof. Christian Okeke and Board of Trustees member, Prof. Msgr. Obiora Ike promoted university collaboration between USA and Nigeria.

The trio visited Golden Gate University, San Francisco; Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston and Harvard University exploring mutually beneficial linkages with success stories.

Also meetings were held with Igbo Catholics in Philadelphia and San Francisco where Msgr. Ike preached on the need to transform brain drain to home gain.

All these took place from 1st - 15th of June, 2013.

Prof. Ike attended the inaugural Board of Trustees meeting of the Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Institute for Africa (MHARIA) in New Jersey, USA on Thurs. 6th, 2013.

Msgr. Obiora Ike gave an overview of CIDJAP at the joint meeting of The Africa Initiative (TAI), CIDJAP and Godfery Okoye University organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Robbinsville, New Jersey, USA on Thurs. 6th, 2013.

On Monday 27th May, 2013, Msgr. Ike attended the Enugu Diocesan Priests Annual Seminar which discussed the upcoming Synod of the diocese focusing on the topic;

Renewing The Mission And Identity Of The Church In Enugu Diocese In Service To Integral Education, Reconciliation And Human Development
(That they may have life and have it more abundantly - John 10:10)

Present at the occasion were the Bishop of the Diocese, His Excellency, Most Rev C.V.C. Onaga, the Vicar General, Msgr. Luke Adike, Msgr. Obiora Ike who is the Chairman, Synod Preparatory Committee as well as the organizer of the event, all the Deans of the six deaneries, over 200 priests, 300 religious and 400 lay faithful.

The seminar was held at the Jubilee Hall, Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu.

Msgr. Obiora Ike participated at the Night of songs and tributes in honour of Late Prof. Chinua Achebe.

The event was held at the Main Lounge of the Enugu Sports Club on 24th May, 2013.

CIDJAP in collaboration with Christian Defense Force (CDF) and Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Action, Godfrey Okoye University organized an International Conference/Workshop on "Religious Freedom, Christian Persecution and Intolerance in Nigeria; The Need for Dialogue."

The conference was attended by Christian Solidarity International (CSI) Switzerland, N.G.O.s from various states in Nigeria, leaders of churches, Government representatives and cultural groups.

The conference ended with a communique signed by Msgr. Obiora Ike and Herbert Meier of Christian Solidarity International (CSI) appealing for dialogue and end to hostilities against Christians by Boko Haram in Nigeria.

The conference was held on 22nd May, 2013 at the Ofuobi Africa Centre for Catholic Social Thought and Action, Enugu.

Msgr. Obiora Ike buried his father, Pa Richard Maduabuchi Ike, aged 101 on Thursday 16th May, 2013 at a ceremony that attracted 10,000 mourners, 300 Bishops and Priests and numerous Reverend Sisters at Umana Ndiagu in Enugu State.

The preacher at the burial mass was Fr. Christian Anieke.

57 cows were used to entertain the guests!

Prof. Ike in Salzburg, Austria, addressed the German and Austrian Parliamentarians of the CDU, CSU and OVP political parties on the topic "Religious Fanatism, Fundamentalism and Rule of Law in Nigeria" from 29th - 30th April, 2013.

The Parliamentarians resolved to uphold, protect and promote freedom of religion and freedom of conscience in all countries.

Msgr. Ike who is the spiritual father and friend of Radio Nigeria, Enugu attended the Station's 2013 FRCN Enugu Musical Cantata held at the FRCN pavilion, Enugu as the special guest.

He gave the homily at the event held on 25th April, 2013.

On Sunday 7thApril, 2013, Mr. Peter Obi, the Governor of Anambra State attended mass at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church where Msgr. Obiora Ike is the Parish Priest.

While there, he and Senator Ben Obi who is the Senior Special Adviser to the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, met with Biafran war veterans and both gave donations to these veterans.

They both promised to pursue the matter of their entitlements with the Federal Government.