I get a lot of questions about what ARC is, since I have posted from events in both London and Bavaria, aside talking about it frequently.
ARC is short for Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, and it is a movement of likeminded individuals that want to tell a better story. How can we unite the west and create a better future for coming generations? On the actual events ARC brings together the world’s leading thinkers, entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, policy makers, tech leaders, artists, and culture formers. Simply, ARC is a growing movement that is stepping up to meet the greatest challenges of our time.
Below I have highlighted a few areas discussed at the ARC events that matter to me.
Leadership
I am convinced that sustainable businesses and nations are built through compassion and trust. Capitalism is key, but it can be done by building company cultures that encourage innovation, and that let their coworkers develop, flourish and shine at the same time. I love the quote “if you have the ability, then you have the responsibility” which means that the elite need to lead the way by being responsible role models. We need to flatten out inequalities and unite nations and people.
Governance
I believe that entrepreneurship is key to economic and social growth. It should be easy to start your own business. But looking at some countries, it is hard being an entrepreneur, it is hard to set up and get started. African countries with potential and natural resources are still depending on aid to feed the people. They should get aid to build social structures for entrepreneurship instead. Companies let more people live prosperous lives through earning an income. The state gets tax revenue and can invest in social welfare and infrastructure. Now that is a win – win for both state and people.
Future generations
Mental health issues among kids and young adults have skyrocketed in the west. We as humans need to be in a context, we need to belong to and get support from a community. We are not meant to be alone. If you have support and feel safe you ultimately feel confident and can create a nice life for you and your family. Unfortunately, not all children have healthy communities to rely on. Then add social media, and the stress this adds through constant dopamine hits and constant comparing themselves and their lives to others. The suicide rates are shockingly high for teenagers in the west today. How do we create a new better world for our future generations through safe communities? Watch Erica Komisar speech in Bavaria last week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LgRztPiZO0 “The keys to raising resilient children”
Electricity
Access to electricity is key for growth and prosperity. Fossil fuel has pulled millions of people out of poverty. Yes, the shift to green energy is of importance, but we need to find a balance between countries. Wealthy nations that have built their social wealth from fossil fuel need to lead the way. But we need to give poorer countries more time to build their societies still using fossil fuel, until a new better alternative is available. The role of nuclear power is also key for a swift shift from fossil fuel. Access to electricity should not only be for the rich, which forces some nations to thoroughly revisit their energy policy and distribution.
Climate change
Climate change is real, but how can we move past panic and guilt towards innovation and action? I have mentioned it above, climate change will be taken care of by innovation. To get innovation to sparkle, you need entrepreneurial communities, and trusting cultures lead by heart-centered leaders. And you need to be able to trust the information thrown at you. It is difficult today to assess what is real, and what is just fitting the current narrative. For instance, the number of wildfires in the world has decreased dramatically in the past 100 years. But media are reporting about it more now because it fits the climate change narrative. Yes, climate change is real, but sensationalizing wildfires are not. Too much unconfirmed information divides people. AI and algorithms do not make it easier for us to process information and take a solid stand for what we believe in.
Do you agree? Anyone can sign up on the ARC website Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) (arcforum.com) and get the latest news, research and white papers.
