Once again, the G20 gathers together: this time the agenda dictates that they debate their way out of the global financial crisis.

Against a framework of an extremely fragile and delicate ‘recovery’, (tentatively uttered) their challenge is to agree on financial reforms that might lead to a sustained and more stable global economy.
Somehow though, one gets the feeling that they are unlikely to reach any kind of consensus, these gatherings seem doomed to become arenas for each ‘side’ to protect their own interests rather than make concessions for the greater good.

A similar splintering of purpose happens with international meetings to address global climate warming. Parties digress from the core issue and degenerate to an ‘us versus them’ stalemate: developed versus developing nations or wealthy versus poor.

One glimmer of hope that distinguishes this G20 gathering from previous, is that it brings together the actual leaders of each nation, Obama and Brown and Gaddafi and Rudd et al, unlike the last G20 held in Melbourne three years ago which was a meeting of finance ministers.
I hope the G20 is successful: success being quantified in some agreed financial reforms for greater global good. There will be other issues that we face as a planet, and we need to meet these challenges together.
We need to elevate the spirit of the G20 to make everyone on the planet understand the urgent need for universal talk.

I pondered this challenge, and asked myself: have we human beings actually got it within us to succeed together?

In answer to this question I thought about one movement that offers hope and has the potential to bring out the best in all of us, the Olympics. See the link below to view an animated film created by the IOC, called “All together now”.