As the founding father of Forum 2000 Havel has always sought to
bring together people from different backgrounds and who hold
different viewpoints to jointly discuss and look for solutions to
pressing global issues in a neutral setting.

These forums, held first in 1997, have also always been about
transcending race, religions and political systems, said Mr
Sasakawa, a prime motivator and financial supporter of the Prague
meetings.

"The fruits of the conferences were compiled in The Prague
Declaration and submitted to the United Nations," Mr Sasakawa
said. "That declaration calls for the necessity of sustained and
constructive dialogue."

Mr Sasakawa is one person that is intent on using cash to advance
the cause. What a pity that we, even as less-than-public global
citizens, cannot make an effort occasionally. What I refer to is
the hundreds of millions of wealthy people from the United States,
Western Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and I wonder how often
they may think about the big picture. Are they, are we, making a
contribution?

"It seems to me that modern society has been striving for the
realisation of a world where all people are accepted as equal,"
said Mr Sasakawa.

"On the other hand, globalisation has also been widening and
solidifying the gap between those who have and those who do not. We
can't tolerate these inequalities."

He said globalisation has helped many countries to advance up the
development ladder. But many countries have been left behind and
poverty is getting worse; the gap between the haves and have-nots
widening.

This year, the Forum 2000: Bridging Global Gaps Conference focused
on such issues as international trade, corporate accountability and
responsibility, debt management and global public goods.