The orange economy is an evolving concept based on the contribution and potential of creative assets to contribute to economic growth and development.

The creative economy is about translating the inspiration of culture and ideas into high-value businesses and enterprises.  For billions of people around the world their faith is a big source of inspiration and creativity. Artificial intelligence will be a major disruptor of our economy. It will also allow many people to join the ranks of the creative economy like never before. In essence, faith has a role to play in the unfurling of the next chapter in humanity’s economic story.

Indeed, prior to the contemporary era most acts of human creativity, we celebrate today were directly related to divine inspiration. This includes ancient artifacts like the bust of Nefertiti and the Pyramids to Renaissance objects like Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” a fresco which forms part of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican City.

Related: There are more pilgrims to Dubai mall than to Mecca and the Vatican

The recently concluded 4th World Conference on Creative Economy in Tashkent did not deal directly with faith, but attracted diverse individuals from around the globe from supermodel Naomi Campbell who took the stage to a priest who sat in the audience. Faith was even more present in part because the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, who organized the event in partnership with United Nations Trade and Development and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, is involved in restoration works around the country.

Religion in many countries is a strategic reserve for what’s called the “Creative Economy.” For example, tourists around the globe include sightseeing to mosques, churches and temples in their itineraries. Similarly, history would suggest the pop stars of tomorrow are today members of youth choirs or similar groups.

“From a historic perspective the creative economy began with religious inspiration in many places. You can see that in very diverse areas from painting and music for example around the world. In a Muslim country [like Indonesia]… we embrace differences and members of other religions bring their own ideas to the development of the creative economy,” said Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s then Minister of Tourism.

Orange is a color often associated with the Protestant faith and in Asia with Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. It is also the color associated with the creative economy to differentiate — it from other macroeconomy buzzwords like the green economy and blue economy.

“This summit is about encouraging the talented people here  not to leave the country. Instead of seeking high-paying positions abroad, we want to attract those jobs to Uzbekistan,” said Uzbekistan Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov. “Digital platforms can help achieve millions of views globally, enabling monetization and additional income. We aim to create local role models and success stories, and by combining digital tools with creative talent, we can open new doors for our youth.”

The growth and development of the Orange Economy offers a growing and important sector — especially because polls show that from fashion to video games these are sectors in the economy which a growing number of youths see as important to their futures. There are other ways in which the creative economy growth goes hand in hand with the development of faith

“By focusing on creating an ecosystem where creatives can thrive within their home countries—leveraging technology, financial management, and global platforms—[countries] can better capitalize on … cultural wealth and retain talent that might otherwise seek opportunities abroad,” said Felipe Buitrago, Colombia’s former Minister of Culture.

In the past, Buitrago also stressed that the Orange Economy can help build peace and reconciliation between diverse groups. In the past, he has pointed to the example from his own tenure as minister and the example of the Comuna 13 area of Medellín. Here, two rival gangs faced off together with little chance of reconciliation. What ultimately brought these two together was a joint music festival in which the two groups battled it out over competing forms of music (such as rap and reggaeton) in these days.

“Faith is a key element of the creative economy. Because freedom of expression and belief are necessary conditions for creativity,”  Buitrago  said, “You cannot not be creative and non-inclusive at the same time. … Of course faith is a delicate issue and you can’t force people to have certain beliefs but, overall religion has played a major role in fostering creativity. As reinforcing and building identity…which often allows people to cooperate in harmonious ways.”

Looking toward the future faith, creativity and technology will often intersect. The pathway from “prophet” to “profit” will not always be clear. However, creativity, at times fueled by faith, will help spur greater creativity where-in new technologies will allow the visionaries of the future to unlock new possibilities for collaboration, innovation, and mutual understanding more quickly than ever.

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Joseph Hammond is a former Fulbright fellow in Malawi and a journalist who has reported extensively from Africa, Eurasia and the Middle East. Hammond is also an Idove fellow at the African Union. He speaks enough Spanish and Arabic to discuss boxing, a sport he treasures. 

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To promote interfaith climate action, faith communities came together to host the first-ever robust Faith Pavilion at a UN climate conference, COP28. The Faith Pavilion featured 65 sessions and 325 speakers, and took place at COP28, the UN climate conference that concluded last week in Dubai, UAE. Among the speakers were Pope Francis (via video), Sadhguru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Grand Imam of Al Azar El Tayeb (via video), and Chief Rabbi David Rosen.

The first chapter of Genesis records that after creating the world, God saw creation and ‘behold it was very good.’ Out of our love for this wondrous and majestic world that we are blessed to live in can emerge a call to protect it and take responsibility for it. You can read Eco Bible for a new Jewish take on planet and faith. It was co-authored by Rabbis Yonatan Neril and Leo Dee.

Eco Bible

The Faith Pavilion mobilized faith leaders and communities to call for urgent climate action, inspire the world with solutions, and demonstrate the pivotal role of faith communities in tackling the climate crisis in support of people and the planet. During COP28, faith communities issued a Call to Action urging for more ambitious agreements, reflecting the values of justice, interconnectedness and compassion for those most affected.

Situated at the heart of COP28, adjacent to the Global Climate Action Hub, the Faith Pavilion brought together religious and other civil society representatives, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, youth, and political leaders. As a hub for sessions, advocacy and media, the Faith Pavilion furthered the leadership role of religion and spirituality in the climate movement.

#FaithAtCOP28  #FaithClimateAction

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Faith and community leaders from around the world will be speaking on ecological, urban and social development as influenced by mass pilgrimage.  Our report on the massive urban sprawl that Mecca is becoming illustrates the ecological impact of the Haj, for example. Efforts like this one to make the Haj green need to be supported, and we look forward to hearing encouraging developments along those lines as a result of Jerusalem Symposium on Green Pilgrimage.

Over 200 million people go on pilgrimage each year and the numbers are rising. These pilgrims create additional stress on the water, sewage, waste disposal and food supply systems of their pilgrimage destinations and often cause some form of environmental damage.

In cities which are inundated with pilgrims, the role of the residents is often not an easy one, and they should be encouraged to be engaged in the challenges, as well as the opportunities. In some instances, the stress is seasonal, but in many cities and sites, there is a constant burden on the local infrastructure.

The sanctity of pilgrimage sites is often enhanced by the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. The influx of large numbers of pilgrims constitutes a threat both to the beauty of the ambiance, as well as to the flora and fauna that form part of each heritage landscape.

The Green Pilgrimage Network brings together representatives of major world faiths who will be working together and learning from each other how to green both the journeys and the destinations undertaken by pilgrims everywhere.

The program covers topics as diverse as freedom of movement for the physically challenged pilgrim,  green mapping pilgrim routes and sites, and the always-controversial topic of women’s empowerment in the world’s religions.

There will be  two days of eco-tours. Special events include  a showing of solar-powered cinema inside the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, a hands-on workshop of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, and even a culinary competition where top Jerusalem chefs present their Green Pilgrim Jerusalem dishes.

Read more about the Jerusalem Symposium on Green Pilgrimage on the event’s website.

And to view the event’s jam-packed schedule, click here. Green Prophet will be there!

The symposium will interest environmental activists and professionals, faith leaders and faith-based communities. Also welcome are non-profit organizations, academics, elected officials and tourism and hospitality industry entrepreneurs.

More on faith, pilgrimage and the ecology on Green Prophet:

• Baptizing in the Jordan’s Holy Sewage
• Sewage Flows Where Pilgrims Once Trod
• SARS-Like Virus Alerts Haj Pilgrims
•  Saudis Approve Haj Safety Guide

The post Jerusalem Launches World Pilgrimage Conference for People of Faith appeared first on Green Prophet.