F Y I - WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THE
EARTH
CHARTER
The Earth Charter is a statement of values and principles for world citizens – how we all need to learn to interact in our interdependent world. Even our American Dream is still a work in progress, but now it must become a larger dream in progress. Our loyalty now must be to the whole human species, because all of us affect one another’s well-being. None of us can meet our needs or be secure unless we are concerned about the needs and security of people everywhere.
This new document begins, “The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century.”
The Earth Charter was part of the unfinished business of the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Following that summit, its Secretary General, Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev, President of Green Cross International, with support from the Dutch government, formed an Earth Charter Commission in 1997. This initiative was in response to an earlier call by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development for the creation of a new charter that would set forth fundamental principles for sustainable development. Hundreds of experts and representatives of grassroots communities took part in the drafting of the Charter. It was launched at the Peace Palace in the Hague on June 29, 2000. A Secretariat was established in San Jose, Costa Rico. Website, http://www.earthcharter.org
The Earth Charter Initiative depends on contributions from individuals, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, and some governments. In the US, copies may be obtained from and financial contributions sent to The Earth Charter Fund/TPC, attn: Claire Wilson, P.O. Box 648, Middlebury, VT 05753.
The Document
The Earth Charter has four main sections and sixteen subsections, with additional points within each of those. An outline of the headings is given below. For the full richness of this thought-provoking document, we urge you to send for copies to read and share.
“I. Respect and Care for
the Community of Life
Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love.
Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.
Secure Earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
“II. Ecological Integrity
Protect and restore the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.
Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
“III. Social and Economic Justice
Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.
Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.
Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
“IV. Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace
Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.
Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.
Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace.”
(This last point includes supporting mutual understanding and cooperation, implementing comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict and use of collaborative problerm solving, demilitarization of national security systems to the level of non-provocative defenses, elimination of nuclear, biological, and toxic weapons, ensuring that the use of space supports environmental protection and peace, and recognition that peace is the wholeness created by right relationships.)
(The partial Outline
above is quoted from The Earth Charter with permission.)
