Meeting here in Bangkok and coming from different countries in Asia and elsewhere, and comparing the experiences of our economies and people; listening to the stories and cries of farmers, women, indigenous peoples, fisher folk, the urban poor and slum dwellers of Thailand, and hearing similar stories from India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka; we are struck by the commonality of the consequences of debt and the globalization of the economy on our societies and on nature.

We know for sure that our faith teaches us that life is precious. Likewise, it also urges every follower of Islam, Buddhism, Christianity or any other faith to be active in the community and take part in building a peaceful and sustainable world.

The increasing cry of the people, regardless of their faith, is deafening the ears of the authorities. The people are crying aloud because they are suffering due to the present economic order called globalization, which is actually a global disorder caused by the greed of the rich, the subjugation of the poor and powerless and the silence of religious communities, not only in Thailand but all over the world.

In our countries, globalization has led to:

Impoverishment of the majority of people;
Exploitation of the marginalized especially the women, youth and children;
Wanton destruction of natural resources and an increased threat of climatic change;
Distortion and destruction of culture and national identity;
Loss of the national heritage - land, businesses, civil rights and even life.

We ask every religious community in Thailand to reflect on the theological and social implications of the present economic order. We urge followers of every creed to formulate ways and means to deter the detrimental effects of globalization, and to provide alternative solutions. Further, we ask every community to live a simple life so that we can support a sustainable life.

Lastly, we respectfully call upon all the religious communities in Thailand to be in solidarity with the poor for justice and ask the perpetrators of injustice to repent and to turn to the true meaning of life. Morally, religious communities are obliged to strive for an equitable and just world. Together, we could make a difference.

The symposium was jointly organized by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the Church of Christ in Thailand, and the Asian Cultural Forum on Development. It was attended by over 60 people from various sectors of society in Thailand and from 19 other countries, namely, Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Uganda, and Vanuatu.