MADAGASCAR 2017

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Through our values, we can integrate in this definition the term of fairness and thus work on a reflection of « Sustainable and Equitable Development ».

The two key concepts inherent in this are, on the one hand, the understanding of needs which vary according to the development of the country concerned, but which must be focused primarily on so-called « primary » needs which are the basic needs, basic to any being on our planet.

These needs are to be taken into consideration primarily because they are essential in any human being to ensure firstly his/her survival and cover the areas of nutrition, housing, respect for human rights ...

The second concept relates basically to our environment and particularly the ecological and social environment

This touches amongst others climate change, the depletion of natural resources and their sharing, the shortage of water in certain areas, deforestation and its consequences, population growth and its distribution ...

From the social point of view, the economic crisis affects virtually every country on the planet today with significant consequences on their populations and this, both in the so-called industrialized countries as well as in emerging countries. Poverty is no longer a specific problem of emerging countries.

The concept of sustainable development calls on new universal values which are fundamentally closer to those of Traditional Freemasonry.

The Brethren according to their position in the City have each at their level; the opportunity to be actors engaged in this concept which is designed to ensure that the current generation does a better sharing of wealth, a better management of resources ensuring in future generations a better protection of our planet.

The approach initiated by this theme is primarily to educate our brethren on the importance to associate action with thought, bearing in mind the values of fairness and sharing, which are ours.

Fight against social inequalities, against poverty, the concept of natural resource management is among other objectives related to the concept of « sustainable development ».

We Regular Freemasons must be the privileged players in the implementation of this concept because our values and our ethics find their full place in this vision of a better world.

"MASONRY VALUES FOR HUMAN EQUITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT" is therefore the theme proposed in May 2017 for the XVth World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges by the National Grand Lodge of Madagascar. Inviting you to treat the three sub-themes :

1 - CULTURE to contribute to the evolution of social systems : Values and symbols of Freemasonry as a link between the cultures of the communities based on three pillars defined by tradition, conservatism and the challenges of modernity, to bring the values of sharing and solidarity in society.
The role of culture is to provide communities the intellectual and moral tools to enable them to survive disruptions that affect today's World by adopting a set of values based on the legacy of our cultural diversities transcended by our differences.

2 - EDUCATION as a source of values : The role of the Freemason in his actions as a vector of harmonization for human sustainable and equitable development.
Through education, accompany human in general in his quest for himself, in his intellectual curiosity, in the sense of civility, in his appetite for the understanding of the world: and this, for a society more in close conjunction with its natural environment and in a systemic whole.

3 - Man in his environment: The contribution of the Masonic order in the reconciliation of man in his environment as a factor of balance for the evolving society and harmonious development.
Natural resources of all kinds of our planet are scarce by the harmful actions of man on its own environment. Yet the biosphere is for man, at once, a framework of life, a source of food, raw materials and energy. The Masonic order may by his reflection, overtaking to contribute to a better understanding of the biosphere in its entirety, key component of the future of mankind to ensure a sustainable quality of life for generations to come.