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The Dialogue

A Note from Bill Shireman

We at Future 500 spend much of our time forging coalitions between odd bedfellows. We have found that, when people with very different power bases and perspectives can be brought together, they can do extraordinary things.

So far, our focus has been issue-by-issue and problem-by-problem – everything from saving rainforests in Borneo to reducing conflict in Sudan.

But today there is a need for a broader alliance – one that brings together left and right, business and NGOs, experts and lawmakers, not to battle one another, but to unite behind systemic solutions.

To help take steps toward a genuine multi-stakeholder political alliance, the Future 500 is initiating The Dialogue. Read about it here. We hope you will join in the discussion and help us find solutions.

THE DIALOGUE

The Dialogue brings together business leaders, activists, Republicans, Democrats, and independents that reject the politics of fear, hate, and demonization that are tearing the world apart.

We respect one another. We are not afraid to discuss and debate our views, to deepen our knowledge, sharpen our thinking, and when convinced, change our minds.

We do not shrink from opposing one another when we believe the other to be wrong, but we know that we each have the nation's and world's best interests at heart.

We battle when we need to, but above all, we actively seek solutions that can bring us together.

When we find common solutions, we hold businesses, activists, and Democratic and Republican candidates accountable to them, and base our support for them in part on their willingness to reach across interest group lines to support what is best for the whole.

FOUR LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES

We encourage participants in the Dialogue to engage on any issue of interest or importance to them. To keep our organization focused, Future 500 will seek the wisdom and power of Dialogue participants to shape and advance solutions on our four core Leadership Initiatives – Climate, Water, Recycling, and the technology/sustainability/human rights program we call Labor and Transparency.

Climate will be our top focus, because it encompasses security, peace, prosperity, and sustainability. But all our issues – and those of Dialogue participants – are fair game.

WHAT DOES THE DIALOGUE DO?

Discusses Issues. Online and in person, the Dialogue engages widely different stakeholders – including adversaries – to discuss, debate, and explore the root causes of conflicts that divide them.
Finds Solutions. We bring together the best of left, right, business, and NGO thought, on any issue – no matter how divisive – to identify solutions that meet the core principles of all.
Mobilizes Power. When we find common solutions, we help each other mobilize power strategically, to focus it on advancing common solutions, in both the marketplace and the political world.
Hold Politicians and Influencers Accountable. Individually and through our organizations, we hold candidates, elected officials, and their persuaders accountable for supporting genuine solutions.
Implement Solutions. We bring together business, citizens, and government to actually put solutions into place.

JOIN THE DIALOGUE

The Dialogue is carried on by individuals, not organizations. To avoid dedicating Future 500 resources to direct legislative advocacy, or tying us to specific positions, we encourage our staff and stakeholders to express their personal views in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

There are several ways to join the dialogue:

Bill Shireman on Facebook – a free-for-all on the politics of the day
Juliette Terzieff's Blog – a highly personal free-for-all emphasizing human rights
Bill Shireman on Huffington Post – featuring ideas that unify the left-and-right, business-environmental-justice communities.
Leadership Initiatives – more formal campaigns for specific objectives. See our pages for Climate, Water, Recycling, and Labor & Transparency.
Future 500 Blog – featuring contributions from Future 500 staff, Futre 500 Senior Fellows, and guest contributors.