THE INTERNATIONAL ROUND TABLE

Paris, France - 14 November 2001

	Venue:			INTERNATIONAL ROUND TABLE UNESCO - 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France Hall No. 5
				AGENDA
	1.			The need and place for New Thinking in world affairs
	2.			New Thinking in the 21st Century: - Culture - Education - Environment - Health - Media - Politics
	3.			Practical Steps Towards the establishment of The World Centre for New Thinking: Strategy, suggestions and discussions
	4.			The next steps
	5.			WANT (The World Academy for New Thinking)
	6.			Summary and conclusions
				SEQUENCE
	Registration:			08h30 - 09h00
	Start:			09h00
	Tea:			10h00 - 10h30
	Lunch:			12h30 - 14h00
	Cofee:			15h30 - 16h00
	Close:			17h00
				CONCERT AND DINNER
	Venue:			The residence of His Excellency Professor Salvino Busuttil, Ambassador to Malta to France
	Address:			30, rue Spontini, 75016 Paris
	Time:			19h15 - 23h00

foreword

by Dr Edward de Bono We analyse problems in order to find the cause of the problem. We then seek to remove this cause. This is an excellent and well proven method which succeeds in the majority of instances. But when we cannot fid the cause, or when the cause cannot be removed even if identified, then we are paralysed. There may be a need to 'design' a way forward, even if the cause has to be left in place.

Before any negotiating conference there needs to be a design phase in which new possibilities, new concepts and new options are created. These then provide a richer field in which to conduct the negotiations. During a negotiating session it is almost impossible since they are immediately seen as a negotiating move.

Most of the major problems in the world will not be solved by redundant analysis. Yet we are trained to approach problems only along this pattern, rather than to create or design solutions.

Creativity is not just a desire but a usable process. There need be no mystigue about creativity. Information in self-organising systems, like the human brain, sets up asymmetric patterns. Creativity involves moving across such patterns instead of just along them.

The formal techniques of lateral thinking are based on this understanding. ABB in Finland used to spend thirty days on their multi-national project discussions. Using better thinking methods they now do it in two days. In the Karee platinum mine in South Africa there used to be 210 fights every month between the seven tribes working there. Following the introduction of better thinking this number has now been reduced to four.

There is a need for an international body with the express function of creating, designing and putting forward new concepts and options. Such a body does not exist, nor is it a part of the function of the United Nations.

Therefore, it is proposed to set up such a body with the express function of generating and promulgatin new concepts - particulary where traditional analysis is not making progress.

This body would have a focusing function, an organizing function, a facilitating function, a training function and a generating function. The body would provide a platform on which to launch new approaches from any source.

The specific purpose of the meetin in Paris is to initiate the process of creating such an organisation. Those attending are invited to become its founding members.