THE IN I

1 2 THE EARTH CHARTER IN AUSTRALIA I PROCEEDINGS OF THE INAUGURAL AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL EARTH CHARTER FORUM Organised by the Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc 5–6 February 1999, Canberra

Sponsored by The ACT Government The Australian National University The Queensland Government ACTEW Corporation CH2M Hill Pty Ltd Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd

Edited by Brendan G. Mackey and Brian Dooley

3 The publishing program of the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies at the Australian National University is designed to present the results of the Centre’s research and the proceedings of conferences and workshops. Views expressed in CRES publications are the views of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Centre or any associated institution. Director: Prof RJ Wasson Executive Officer: Valda Semets Publications: McComas Taylor © CRES ISBN 086740 513 9 This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be re- produced by any process without permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher. All CRES publications are available from: Publications Section Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Tel. 02 6249 4277 Fax 02 6249 0757 Email: [email protected] URL: cres.anu.edu.au

4 Contents

PREFACE Dr. Brendan G. Mackey, President, The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc. 9 WELCOME AND OPENING Traditional Welcome Ms Agnes Shea, Elder of the Ngunnawal People 15 Opening Address Sir William Deane, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia 16 in the ACT Mr , Acting Chief Minister of the ACT 19

KEYNOTE SPEECHES 1. The Earth Charter Concept and the International Agenda for Sustainable Development Maurice Strong, Co-chair, The Earth Charter Commission 23 2. The Earth Charter Drafting Process and the Draft Earth Charter Professor Steven Rockefeller 31 Chair, International Earth Charter Drafting Committee 3. The Role of the Earth Council in the Earth Charter Maximo Kalaw, Executive Director, Earth Council 48

EARTH CHARTER THEMES: DISCUSSION SESSIONS 1. Does sustainable development mean business as usual? Chair: Mr Don Henry, Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation 56

Discussion session format and outcomes Angela Hazebroek, Forum Facilitator, Hassell Pty Ltd 56 Personal perspectives: a. Christopher Griffin, Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd 57 b. Neil Gordon, Energy Australia 58 c. Mr Mick Dodson, Centre for Indigenous Law 62 d. Alec Marr, National Campaign Manager, The Wilderness Society 63 Discussion 66

5 2. The Role of Science in an Earth Charter Chair: Professor Henry Nix, The Australian National University Personal perspective: 72 a. Dr Dean Graetz, CSIRO 72 b. Michael Waite, Department of Environmental Protection, WA 74 c. Kevin Parker, University of Wollongong 76 Summary of Session 2 Discussion, Angela Hazebroek 78 3 Social Values and the Earth Charter Chaired by Senator Meg Lees, Leader of the 80 Personal Perspectives: a. Peter Garrett , President, The Australian Conservation Foundation 30 b. The Rev Tim Costello, Collins Street Baptist Church 83 c. Paul Perkins, ACT Electricity and Water 84 d. Gatjil Djerrkura, Chairman, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission 86 Reflection 87 4. Does all life have intrinsic value? Chair: Professor Harry Recher, Edith Cowan University, Perth 88 Personal perspectives: a. Rev. Dr Paul Collins, Roman Catholic Church 88 b. Imogen Zethoven, Director, Queensland Conservation Council 89 c. Keith Suter, Uniting Church 92 d. John Walmsley, Earth Sanctuaries Ltd 95 Discussion 99 5. Options for a youth consultation program Chair: Nikki Ram, Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment 102 Strategic options for a national consultation program Virginia Young, The Wilderness Society 102 The proposed Australian Earth Charter Schools Project Fayen D’evie, ANCEC Youth Project Officer 103 The Arawang Primary School Earth Charter Project Marilyn Hocking, Arawang Primary School 105 AYPE and the Earth Charter Claire Crocker, AYPE 106 Working with the National Curriculum Framework Robert Palmer, GELPAC 109 6. Why the Earth Charter is Important – and where to from here? Chair: Senator , 114 Introductory Remarks 114

6 a. Molly Olsen, Global Ecofutures 115 b. , Former Leader of the 117 c. Mike Williamson, Managing Director, CH2M HILL Australia Pty Ltd 120 Discussion 123 ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY Brendan Smyth MLA, Minister for Urban Services, ACT 125 Rod Welford MLA, Minister for Environment and Heritage, Minister for Natural Resources, Qld 129

CONCLUSION Chair: Sue Marriott, Secretariat for International Land Care 131 Concluding comments a. Brendan Smyth 131 b. Brendan Mackey 131 Concluding responses a. Maximo Kalaw 132 b. Steven Rockefeller 132 c. Maurice Strong 133 d. Chair 135

APPENDICES 1. The Benchmark Draft II Earth Charter 137 2. The evolution of environmental education 143 3. Forum delegates and affiliations 144 4. The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc membership 146

7 8 Preface

Dr. Brendan G. Mackey President, The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc.

Imagine if every man, woman and child the Inaugural Australian National Earth were to stop for just one day in order to Charter Forum, held at Rydges Hotel consider how they value nature and Earth’s Canberra 5-6 February 1999. The sections environment, and to identify the fundamen- that follow present the results of the Fo- tal principles needed to guide our individual rum’s presentations and discussions. and social behaviour towards promoting The Earth Charter aims to be a global these values. Of course the 1 billion people document of historic significance – the who live on a GNP of less than one dollar environmental equivalent of the Universal per day might not be able to afford such a Declaration of . Given the luxury. Somewhat ironically, neither would proliferation of treaties and charters over many Australians who while relatively the last 50 years, some may challenge the affluent are so much in debt that they also value of such an enterprise – why not just could not afford to lose a day’s pay. Others get on and do the job? Maurice Strong in his while affluent enough to stop for a day closing address suggested the following would not want to, perhaps arguing that reasons: environmental concerns are simply unrealis- ‘Every action takes place as a result of tic and irrelevant to the main task of motivation. We are all activists, we are all promoting economic development – nature practical people. We are dealing with is nice but hardly necessary! Still others implementation, and too little attention to while passionate about saving Earth would motivation. We know that economic self- hesitate to spend a day in what they would interest is a strong and compelling motiva- see as philosophical abstractions that divert tion, but the heart and soul of our motiva- them from the urgent battles they must tions are our ethical and value systems. fight. These are the motivations to which we Nonetheless, the Earth Charter project respond individually and collectively. That is asking people to stop for a while and is what we are trying to do through the reconsider as members of a global commu- Earth Charter – to find a common set of nity the future of Earth as their home. For principles and values om which we, what- two days representatives of about 80 ever our diverse backgrounds and views organisations were asked to come together may be about other things, can unite in and consider this question in the context of lighting a pathway to a more secure and developing an Earth Charter. Given that sustainable future.’ these were all very busy people whose lives The Earth Charter addresses the very are full with concerns for the environ- heart of the environmental crisis – the sets of mental, economic and social conditions of values that motivate our actions and Australia and Earth, why did they chose to determine our priorities. Caring for Earth is do this? The answers can be found in this our common problem, and until we have a volume which is the edited proceedings of shared set of values we will continue to

9 waste time, energy, money, resources, lives leave for our children and our children’s and ecosystems in the ongoing environ- children.’ mental trench warfare that characterises the We were fortunate at the forum to also current debate. It is surely time to climb out hear wise words from key members of of the trenches and face our common future. religious organisations, who reminded us of As Prof. Rockefeller argued in his key note the deeper dimensions to life that lie beneath address: the hurdy gurdy of our daily affairs. Paul ‘The heart of all these efforts to envi- Collins observed that ours is the first human sion a better future for our world is the society that does not see any sacredness in search for new global ethics – a set of values nature – rather nature has become merely a that apply to all peoples and nations and collection of objects for humans to use. It is are shared by all.... Progress in human interesting to compare such calls to recog- development requires the development of nise the spiritual dimension of our environ- free and autonomous persons, but full mental concerns with the sceptical view of human self-realisation requires creation of the world taken by scientists. Dr. Dean an ethical vision of the good life and the Graetz argued that science cannot tell us good society to which people commit what is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It can describe the themselves in their freedom. If society does options and the outcomes that different not exercise its power of creating ethical actions will produce, but it is up to people to vision and decision, [then] blind impulse, assess the consequences and decide whether uncriticised habit and drift govern the they think they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’. course of events.’ The Earth Charter aims to be a truly Currently humanity is taking a ‘ran- global and historic document – but can a dom walk’ into the future – we do not know piece of paper really change the world? The were we are going let alone how we are idea, particularly in these cynical times, going to get there. Do you know of any seems far-stretched. Certainly there have private corporation that would function in been documents that captured the spirit of this way, that does not have a business plan, their times and made their mark in history. a map of where they are going? So why do Keith Suter drew our attention to the we think that the future of Earth can be left Universal Declaration of Human Rights to random forces? The challenge is to which was adopted by the transform our random walk into a meaning- General Assembly in 1948: ful journey. Mike Williamson in his presen- ‘..it is interesting to note that people tation discussed the need for planning and who earlier on may object to a declaration, cooperative action between all players: ultimately come around to your point of ‘By partnering to achieve a sustainable view. If you have really plugged into the future, all stakeholders (ie. business, gov- tide of history and you are moving forward, ernment and the community) can use the eventually the slow coaches will come resources, the tools, the imagination and the aboard...For me what is interesting about funding benefits which will allow us to the declaration is not the content, it is the understand and prioritise the problems and fact that it provides the dominant paradigm. the risks thus enabling us to manage our People refer to having rights nowadays in a environment through the integration of way that they would not have done before sustainability and development. We have no 1948. In other words, it has created the choice, we must respond to the challenge of dominant paradigm, a vision of a better providing strategies and implementable world....So the importance of the Earth plans that can be put into concrete action. Charter for me ....is the fact that it provides Let us seize this opportunity to demonstrate an alternative vision, which fits in with this that the business sector, government and notion of history. Ultimately, in due course, other stakeholders, working together, can people will get in behind you.’ build the kind of future that we want to

10 In reading these proceedings, please The global consultation process on the keep in mind that they are edited transcrip- Earth Charter will continue for another tions of live presentations and discussions. twelve months. The Australian Earth Speakers were not asked to provide written Charter Committee of which I am Chair will versions of their talks. Also, at the time of be helping to conduct regional Earth the Forum, the latest working draft of the Charter Forums throughout Australia in Earth Charter was available. Following the 1999. I invite all individuals, communities Forum in April, a new official Benchmark and organisations to consider the Bench- Draft II Earth Charter was released by the mark Draft II Earth Charter and to take the Earth Charter Commission which is some- opportunity to have their say in the devel- what different from the working draft used opment of this important document. Written at the Forum. This more recent version of comment is keenly sort and may be emailed the Charter has been included as an appen- to myself ([email protected]) or dix in these proceedings. directly to Prof. Steven Rockefeller (rockefel @middlebury.edu).

11 12 WELCOME AND OPENING

13 14 Traditional Welcome

Ms Agnes Shea Elder of the Ngunnawal People

First, I would like to explain what a tradi- here long after we have left it. To Aboriginal tional welcome means. I have been asked people the land is more than just a resource here today to welcome you to Ngunnawal for extracting minerals and farming animals land. The traditional welcome is a cultural and trees. We have a strong spiritual and practice that has been handed down by our physical connection to our country. This old people from the beginning of time. system is the foundation of our laws and Before entering another person’s country, customs. Even if we are away from our you will always announce your arrival, and land, we are still connected to it. not enter until a traditional owner of that I am honoured to be asked here today country welcomes you. to participate in this important event. Only The reason for this practice is to pro- by people working together and changing tect your spirit while you are in another existing attitudes and behaviours will we person’s country and to show respect for the achieve the changes that are needed to people whose country you are entering. This protect this land of ours for all generations custom is still practised today and I am to come. This is essential for all of us as honoured, as a senior elder of this country, Australians. But it is more important for us to say welcome to you all. – the original inhabitants of this land who Today we are here to launch the Aus- hold it so sacred. I thank you again for tralian Earth Charter. The Charter is a inviting me, and I hope you all have a very statement of principle and practical guid- productive forum. ance that will ensure that this land of ours is

15 Opening Address

His Excellency the Honourable Sir William Deane, AC, KBE Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia

I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people and Today’s meeting brings together repre- thank their elder for her welcome to their sentatives from a broad range of commu- ancestral lands. It is a pleasure for me, as nity, business, professional, indigenous, Patron of the Australian National Commit- youth, religious and academic groups and tee, to be with you this morning for the associations. It marks an important step official opening of the inaugural Australian forward in this process of participation by National Earth Charter Forum. As Gover- Australian men and women in the devel- nor-General, may I welcome all delegates to opment of the Earth Charter, a document Canberra and, in particular, your distin- which is envisaged as a truly inspirational guished overseas visitors – Professor Steven statement of universal principles to guide Rockefeller, Mr Maurice Strong and Mr individuals, communities and nations Maximo Kalaw. I sincerely hope that the towards the protection and sustainable principles, values and strategies to emerge development of the environment. In this, of from your discussions over these next two course, the Australian contribution is part of days will inspire all members and sectors of a much wider program of consultation with the Australian community to think deeply people and communities around the world, about the issues involved in concepts of leading up to an Earth Charter Global sustainable living and the care of our global Assembly next year – the year 2000 – and environment – and from there to involve the adoption of the final draft of a People’s themselves in the process of consultation Earth Charter, As you know, the intention is and public input to the Australian Earth to present the document to the United Charter program. Nations – hopefully, by the year 2002. It is appropriate that a meeting that The history of the movement goes back has such national focus should be taking quite a long way – more than a quarter of a place here in our national capital. For century to 1972, when the first attempt to Canberra is a traditional meeting place. The develop a set of universal ecological princi- very name ‘Canberra’ is an anglicised ples was made at the United Nations version of an Aboriginal word metaphori- Stockholm Conference on the Human cally referring to the plain between the hills. Environment. In 1987 the World Commis- When I was a boy growing up in this city, sion on Environment and Development – the Molongolo River flowed across the the Brundtland Commission – called for a Canberra Plain – past Pialligo which, in the new charter to guide states in the transition language of the Ngunnawal, means ‘meet- to sustainable development. Such a charter ing place.’ In pre-European times, many of did not eventuate from the 1992 Earth the indigenous tribes would gather for their Summit in Rio de Janeiro which, instead, annual Bogong moth-hunting expeditions in adopted the Rio Declaration on Environ- the Canberra Plain. Now, of course, Can- ment and Development. Nevertheless, the berra has assumed a different importance to idea of an Earth Charter was pursued by modern Australia as the ‘meeting place’ of various non-government organisations over the elected representatives of the nation. the next few years, culminating in the formation of an Earth Charter Commission

16 in 1997, which proposed the ‘benchmark environment solely upon concerns for draft’ of the Earth Charter, based on the human communities or, to advert to the principles of sustainability as they had fourth theme, do we also accord value to developed over the previous 25 years. other living organisms in their own right It is a new version of this draft on and not just for the contribution they make which Professor Rockefeller and his team to human well-being? Does all life – plants, are now engaged: consulting a diversity of animals, micro-organisms – have an intrin- people and organisations around the world, sic value in itself? Certainly, other faiths refining, expounding, building networks of have a different view on these matters from understanding and consensus, developing the Western tradition so far as moral what has been called ‘broad public owner- obligations are concerned. ship’ of the Earth Charter process. As part However that may be, human welfare of that movement, delegates to this Austra- must surely remain central to our thinking. lian National Forum have important As we look around the world, we see the opportunities and responsibilities. There is effect of environmental degradation, so the opportunity to develop ideas and to help much of it the result of human activity, carry the Earth Charter forward, perhaps at upon human communities – and so often a series of regional workshops and other the poorest communities. We see the forums in the months ahead. There is an wonderful advances in medical knowledge. opportunity to participate in formulating But while we rejoice in lower death rates, and implementing proposals to involve we also see the pressures of ever-growing Australian youth – especially school stu- populations upon the land, upon resources, dents – in the process. Clearly, if the vision upon the cities – and before long half the of a global partnership for sustainable living world’s people will live in urban conglom- and environmental well-being is to be erations. And in the context of those achieved, the participation of young people medical advances, in this country we note is essential. that the awful gap of approximately 20 At the same time, of course, it is essen- years between the average life expectancy of tial to ensure that the consultative process is non-indigenous and indigenous Australians based upon a sound and balanced under- does not seem to be reducing. standing of the many issues and principles The implications for the environment, that are involved. In that regard, I was for regional conflict, for famine, disease and interested to see that much of the discussion the host of other human ills, are clear. We during the forum will centre on the values know, as a matter of pragmatic experience, and principles contained in four key themes. that there is a correlation between a com- There are, firstly, the implications of sus- munity’s rising economic and social security tainable development for industry: what and a falling birth rate. Inevitably, questions changes might be necessary in management of environmental protection and sustainable and production practices, in the business practice are inter-related with the broad that we undertake, in the nature of those issues of global economic development and enterprises that are essential for the eco- of basic human justice. nomic well-being of society? Then there is I do not for one moment under- the role of science in the development of a estimate the magnitude of the difficulties sustainable Earth Charter. We have to involved; but the fact that a key theme of acknowledge the necessity for action to be this forum deals with human values and the based on the best scientific information, Earth Charter is, I think, of great signifi- although it is also true that other more cance. And I say that because not only do subjective factors come into play when we we have a practical reason to assist the are determining the values that lie behind poorest and most environmentally disad- such action. For example, to advert to your vantaged in terms of ensuring regional third theme, do we predicate care for the stability and our own comfort; we also, in

17 my view, have a moral obligation to do so. ethical base. I have no doubt that the As citizens of a nation we have a demo- integrity, the vision, the commitment and cratic duty to help the most vulnerable of the respect both for the environment and our fellows; and that is equally true for us as humanity that have motivated those of you citizens of the world. None of us can be attending the Earth Charter Forum will truly free from responsibility to help wher- continue to inspire and guide you as you ever suffering and disadvantage exist. We undertake the important task of consulta- cannot even claim the defence of ignorance, tion with the men and women of our for the devastations of conflict, of environ- country in preparation for the global mental and seasonal failure are brought by assembly next year. I wish you well in all satellite into our homes. And, of course, for your discussions. I personally have great those of us who are Christians, the message confidence in your success. of Chapter 25 of St Matthew’s Gospel is not And now, with great pleasure, I de- constrained by national boundaries. clare the inaugural Australian National Of course this sense of moral obliga- Earth Charter Forum to be officially open. tion must itself be supported by a strong

18 Sustainable Development in the ACT Mr Gary Humphries Acting Chief Minister of the ACT

I also acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, tors in the Territory and for the community the traditional owners of this land. It is a as a whole. great pleasure to welcome you all to Can- As many of you know, we take our berra and, on behalf of the ACT Govern- natural environment in the ACT very ment, to say a few words of support for the seriously. More than half of the Territory’s inaugural Earth Charter Forum in Australia. land is reserved for nature conservation Also, as one of the sponsors of this forum, I purposes. In addition, Canberra is the would like to give a small advertisement for largest population centre in the Murray- what we are doing in the ACT – how we Darling basin and the nature of our envi- have tackled a number of issues and how I ronment – including the sustainable devel- hope we can help in the Australian context opment of the city – means that we have no to advance some of the issues that will be small importance in an area around one- the key to the work involved in this Charter seventh of the land mass of Australia. and in other exercises associated with the Shifting the debate from rhetoric about environmentalist community. the environment to action is no mean feat. Canberra is known to all of you as a As with every government in Australia, the city set in the context of a natural environ- demands of economic growth can quite ment. It is know around the world as ‘the easily overwhelm the requirements of the Bush Capital’, a city designed to live in environment. Action is very easily of the harmony with its natural environment. I token kind unless a real focus is maintained. think the citizens of this city are enormously It is important to keep the values of this proud of that environment. As a result, the environment well and truly in the sights of protectiveness they feel about that environ- government. Tonight you will be hearing ment is, I believe, more conspicuous than in from my colleague Brendan Smyth on the any other major city in Australia. As issues to do with that. We share very much Minister for the Environment for three the pride in what we have been able to years, I saw much evidence of that – and no achieve in the past four years. doubt my successor has as well – as we I want to run through a few of our address issues that directly or indirectly achievements very briefly. First of all, we confront the demands of the environment. were very pleased to be able to effect a Sustainable development is a very im- major overhaul of the ACT’s environmental portant component – the key, one might say management laws and the introduction of – to living in harmony with our natural the new Environment Protection Act in the environment. The pressures of population last three years. That has set in place the growth in this city are as real as in many framework within which focus on the other parts of Australia. This country, and environment can be engineered throughout in particular, this region, is home to many the whole of government in the ACT. beautiful and varied species of flora and It is also important to act locally on fauna. How we manage development of our global issues. I was pleased to represent the city so as to protect those species – particu- ACT Government at the World Local larly those that are endangered, vulnerable Government Leaders’ Summit on Climate or threatened – is a high priority for legisla- Protection in Nagoya, Japan, in 1997 where

19 I signed the Cities for Climate Protection make a difference. We feel that we are able Charter to introduce a greenhouse gas to set an example for other much larger emission reduction target for the ACT – the communities in Australia. In fact, we feel first Australian government to set such a that the compactness and cohesiveness of a target. city state like the ACT presents the possibil- We have a proud tradition in the ACT ity for action to be very real – indeed, to be – I think it is a cross-party tradition – to imperative – in areas such as this. engender positive action for the environ- I know that there is always more that ment. We have established a Commissioner can be done. We are always on the lookout for the Environment, who is here today and for practices being developed elsewhere in whose role is, among other things, to Australia and the world which can better investigate environmental complaints, protect the environment. Conferences like including against government and to this are particularly useful for smaller prepare regional state of the environment communities in developing practices which reports – that is, reports that cover not just can be applied on a larger scale. I heard the impact of issues on the ACT environ- Maurice Strong make the point on the radio ment but also across the border into sur- this morning that it is often at local govern- rounding New South Wales. ment level that the greatest achievements We have begun the process of break- have been notched up in the field of protec- ing down those barriers as much as possible tion of the environment. I would hope that by working with local government in in Australia we can take some pleasure in surrounding parts of New South Wales to the work that local government has done in build up a picture of what is affecting our this area as well. environment across the whole region. Thus By working with our neighbours, we we will ensure that environmental and take responsibility for not just our own turf planning issues are addressed by all the but also for the impact we have on the governments concerned, without regard to whole region and, indeed, on the whole boundaries. planet. I recall seeing a T-shirt recently One thing of which I am most proud is bearing a slogan which has been borrowed having been involved in setting in place by a chain of stores – ‘If you think you are comprehensive management plans for the too small to be effective, try going to bed protection of a number of endangered with a mosquito’. Indeed, that is a good species and ecosystems in the ACT. These lesson for the way in which small communi- include the striped legless lizard, red and ties can and should be working in order to yellow box woodlands, the superb parrot, set examples for much larger communities the regent parrot and the northern cor- or even whole countries. roboree frog. We have some wonderful The Earth Charter calls for ‘basic species in this region – some very tiny, changes in the attitudes, values and behav- almost microscopic; others very colourful iour of all people to achieve social, economic and vibrant. But, as Sir William indicated and ecological equity and security.’ I am earlier, we realise that ensuring the place of confident that no-one in this region would each of those species and ecosystems within think that that was a difference too small to the totality of the environment is absolutely make. I hope that these goals are a small vital to ensure that we have a holistic step further forward, as a result of the work approach to the issues of protecting the that will be done at this conference over the environment. next two days. I again wish to welcome you The ACT is a tiny component of this on behalf of Canberra, and I urge you to get country. It makes up only 0.03 per cent of out and see something of this community the land mass of Australia and the popula- and its inter-relationship with its environ- tion is only 1.6 per cent of the country’s ment. I express the hope that the work you total. But we feel we are not too small to begin today will snowball and achieve great

20 things across the region, across the country and across the world in the coming years.

21 KEYNOTE SPEECHES

22 23 1. The Earth Charter Concept and the International Agenda for Sustainable Development

Maurice Strong Co-chair, The Earth Charter Commission

The opening remarks of Elder Agnes Shea tations on the Earth Charter, which is set a very good context for this forum. In the occurring all over the world. What is giving Earth Council we are accustomed to the Earth Charter its dynamism, its validity opening every meeting with a ceremony by is the fact that it emanates from people – an indigenous person – usually Pauline literally millions of people around the world Tangiore, from New Zealand. I am particu- are now becoming involved in the process. It larly encouraged that your Governor- is not just a mere backroom drafting proc- General, Sir William Deane, has taken such ess. That is what will bring it to the atten- a strong interest. It is clear that he has a tion of governments and leaders. very deep commitment to the processes that Australia is unique on our planet. It is have brought us all here this morning. I an island. It is the only island constituting have been coming to Canberra for many an entire continent. As an island that has years, so I have seen the evolution of this been isolated from other continents for tens place. When I first came to Australia, the of millions of years, it is home to a huge interest in the environment was not very assemblage of plants and animals found high. Thanks to many of you, the environ- nowhere else on earth. However you are no ment issue has moved to the point where longer an island except in the strictly Australia has been a significant factor on physical sense. I have used this expression the world stage. I will not make comments before – both inside and outside Australia – on the current situation, except to say that I but I describe Australia as ‘an environ- am very encouraged by the interest at the mental super-power’. The reason being that local and state levels! you are by far the dominant nation in one of Australia’s National Forum on the the world’s largest and most vulnerable and Earth Charter is an important national important ecosystems – the South Pacific. event. I submit it will also be an important Despite a relatively modest popula- influence on the ongoing process of consul- tion, what Australia does or fails to do

24 makes an important difference. That is why their population, or not to follow our we need a revitalisation of the environ- patterns of consumption. We will have no mental prospective, the environmental credibility – and we have very little at the dynamic, in this country. I submit that this moment – unless we set them an example is as important to the economy of Australia with what we do. They will be far more and its future, as it is to the environment. influenced by what they see us doing than Australia is therefore no longer an island. It by what we say to them. cannot escape the pressures and the realities Let me give you an example of Aus- of globalisation, or the responsibilities that tralia’s ‘ecological footprint’. As many of accompany its dominant role in this region you will know the concept of an ecological of the world. footprint is based on two simple calcula- Australia’s importance to the global tions. First, we can keep track of most of the environment does not stem only from its resources we consume and many of the rich ecological endowment. It has a unique wastes that we generate. Secondly, most of social and cultural heritage deriving from the resources and waste flows can be both its European and Aboriginal heritages. converted into a biologically productive area Both cultures attach high importance to the necessary to provide these functions. land and its resources, but for very different Let me give you an example that is reasons. David Malouf, in his recent Boyer close to home. According to current ecologi- Lecture series, notes that for Australia’s cal footprint analysis, Australia has a per Aborigines, land is the foundation of the capita footprint of 9 hectares. That means it spiritual being – as Agnes Shea has re- takes 9 hectares of biologically productive minded us. For the Europeans, who arrived space to support the average Australian’s at Botany Bay in the late 1700s, land was lifestyle. However, on a global basis, only 2 the foundation of wealth. Historically, these hectares are available per world citizen. This two philosophies have been regarded as means that Australia is consuming four and mutually incompatible – but they do not a half times its available global share. This is have to be. Sustainable development is clearly untenable, especially when consid- about making these seemingly incompatible ered within the context of the evidence philosophies one and the same. Sustainable produced at the Earth Summit. Chapter 4 of development is the recognition that we Agenda 21 says: depend on the land for our livelihood, but ...the major cause of the continued de- over-exploitation of the land will lead to our terioration of the global environment is the own demise and the downturn of our unsustainable pattern of consumption and economy. production, particularly in developed After all, those of us who think in countries. business terms should look at Earth in I cite Australia’s footprint. Canada’s is corporate terms – Earth Incorporated! Think much the same. of what would happen to a company that The emergence of the environmental tried to bring into its profit the running issue in the late 1960s focused attention on down of its capital – the depletion of its the growing imbalances within our techno- capital for profit. It would be stuck. Obvi- logical civilisation that have arisen from the ously, running a business without a depre- same processes of economic growth and ciation amortisation and maintenance behaviour that have produced such un- account would mean that that business precedented levels of wealth and prosperity would not last very long – and neither will for industrialised societies. In the physical Earth Inc. world these are manifested in the risk of The overwhelming evidence today is and ozone depletion, air and that our industrialised countries must leave water pollution, soil erosion, destruction of space for developing countries to develop. plant and animal life. In the social world We cannot simply exhort them to reduce these risks are manifested by poverty,

25 hunger inequality, injustice, racial and development as development that is sus- ethnic conflict. It is surely clear that we tainable in environmental and social as well cannot expect to be successful in managing as economic terms. This in turn prepared the physical imbalances on which our future the way for the Earth Summit held in Rio de depends unless we can manage effectively Janeiro in June 1992, which produced the social imbalances which accompany and agreement on a program to effect the global often drive them. transition to sustainable development, The good news is that we have made a Agenda 21, as well as a Declaration of promising start in this direction. Develop- Principles and Framework Conventions on ment assistance programs over the past half Climate Change and Biodiversity. century have fallen out of favour, but they I am often asked: ‘What real impact have nevertheless enabled several hundred did Rio have?’ For those who expected the million people to lift themselves from the world to change overnight, yes, they have bare poverty level. The bad news is that been disappointed. That is not the way many, notably in Africa, have still been left fundamental change takes place. Funda- by the wayside. Some are facing societal and mental change does not come quickly, easily governmental breakdown. Poverty remains or without controversy. But I am reminded one of the central challenges of the world of a story that Henry Kissinger told when he community, despite the fact that we live in had a breakfast meeting with Chairman an era of unprecedented growth which Mao to pave the way for Nixon’s famous clearly gives us the means of ensuring all the visit to China. He said that to get the world’s people have access to the resources conversation going he commented: ‘You they need for a decent standard of life. know, Mr Chairman, we do not agree with In both industrialised and developing you ideologically, but we have to admit that countries, the rich-poor gap is widening as your revolution did have some positive the benefits of growth accrue largely to impacts for your people.’ Then he asked him those with the capital and knowledge that what he thought the real, lasting impacts of are the primary sources of added value and the French revolution were. Chairman Mao competitive advantage in the new interna- looked at him with a little smile and said, tional economy, while making victims of so ‘Well, Mr Kissinger, it’s a little early to tell!’ many of the poor and the powerless. This is It is seven years since Rio, and it is a sowing the seeds of social upheaval and little early to tell – not too early to be conflict, both within and amongst nations. I disappointed with what national govern- submit that no nation will be immune to ments have done or not done because, this. The 21st century is likely to see the re- frankly, they have moved very slowly. But emergence of some of the basic, traditional there is some encouragement and hope to be issues with significant potential for conflict – gained from what others have done. access to water, land resources and liveli- Business has not been converted en masse, hoods. but more than 120 chief executives of the The United Nations Conference on the top companies of the world have joined the Human Environment held in Stockholm in World Business Council for Sustainable 1972, of which I had the great privilege of Development. They are talking about it. The being the Secretary-General, was the first Japanese – not because they have suddenly international meeting to put the environ- become greens but because they are realistic ment-development nexus on the interna- in economic terms – MITI and the Japanese tional agenda. It pointed out the need to Industrial Society – very powerful and reconcile our economic growth and behav- influential people – have come out with a iour with its environmental and social statement that they believe the next genera- consequences. In 1987 the Brundtland tion of opportunity for Japanese industry Commission articulated this theme persua- will be generated by environmental and sively in elaborating the case for sustainable sustainable development issues.

26 Frankly, Australian business has not will save future generations from these yet caught on to that. They still see the consequences. environment in very narrow terms – not in The processes of environmental deg- terms of the generation of new opportunities radation and social decay in which we are that will come about in the course of dealing now caught up are like a cancer spreading with these issues. through the body of our civilisation. The One of my disappointments in the re- symptoms may not seem too evident to sults of the Earth Summit was our inability capture our attention at a given moment, to obtain an agreement on an Earth Charter but by the time the symptoms become acute, to define a set of moral and ethical princi- it will be too late to arrest them. It will take ples for the conduct of people and nations an enlightened, collective will on the part of towards each other and Earth as the basis our generation to launch this process of for achieving a sustainable pathway to a change while the diagnosis is still incom- sustainable civilisation on our planet. plete and symptoms at a tolerable level. Governments were simply not ready for it. Surely our responsibility to future genera- But now the Earth Council has joined with tions compels us to do this. many other organisations to undertake this I am persuaded that the doomsday piece of unfinished business from Rio scenario is not inevitable. It is still possible to through a global campaign designed to effect that change of course called for at Rio stimulate dialogue and enlist the contribu- onto the pathway to a future that will be tions of people everywhere to the formation more secure, equitable and sustainable. But of a People’s Earth Charter. The process inertia is a powerful force in human affairs, began with a conference in the Hague in as it is in the physical world. Every year, May 1995, through the sponsorship of the every month, every day that we delay will Dutch Government, and has been gaining make it more difficult to change course and momentum ever since. Here in Australia, lessen the odds of our doing so. It is so easy under the guidance of Brendan Mackey, at to fall into a state of complacency. You see the Australian National University, and his things are not so bad around you; the colleagues, the process has evoked an environment looks better than it used to be. encouraging response. I am very pleased by But look into the developing world, where the quality of representation at this meeting. the cities are becoming festering sores. Some It will have an impact, not only in Australia. of them are almost unlivable in and none of I am pleased to note that much of the us can be immune from the consequences of focus of the Australian Earth Charter that. campaign is on youth. This is especially When I first came to Australia I had appropriate as the consequences of our the feeling that Australians regarded failure to make the transition to a sustain- themselves as being located just offshore able way of life will have little impact on our United Kingdom rather than in Asia. own lives, but could be potentially disas- However, you have now discovered your trous to the future of our children and real place in the world – you are sur- grandchildren. But today the individual rounded by the developing world. You have measures we may take to do this are not an influence on it, and your future will be sufficient in themselves to ensure their profoundly influenced by what happens in future. We need new dimensions of coop- that world. eration across the boundaries of nations, The way we treat each other and the disciplines, sectors and institutions to ensure way we treat Earth must be motivated by a the integrity of the ecological, resource and new sense of cooperative stewardship, social systems which sustain life on Earth. rooted in our deepest ethical, moral and We are the ones who bear the responsibility spiritual traditions, as well as in our com- for initiating the processes of change which mon interests and responsibilities. Therefore, concepts of mutual respect, of loving, caring

27 for, sharing and cooperating with our out into the cosmos, as science now permits brothers and sisters, both at home and us to do, we see how really small we are in internationally, can no longer be seen as the cosmic scheme of things, and yet how mere pious ideals divorced from reality, but significant. In no other place is there any as indispensable prerequisites for our discernible sign of life. Surely that gives this common survival and well-being. Here, the little planet immense significance. If life is ideal and the practical world are coming not sustained on this planet it will not only together. As we move into a new millen- be a subversion of everything that we live nium we face a challenge that is without for and are responsible for, it will be an precedent in human experience, one which event of cosmic proportions. will be decisive to our future as a species. That is the basis for our Earth Charter We are literally in command of our own movement. Steven Rockefeller will tell you future. What we do or fail to do will pro- more about this. He will give you more duce that future. And remember, it is not information on what this Charter attempts just what we do; it is also what we fail to to do. It includes, first and foremost, the do. principle of respect for life itself in all its The sum total of the behaviour of indi- forms and a commitment to the behaviour viduals is the main source of human impact and practices which will ensure its on the global environment. People’s behav- sustainability and its qualities. We must iour is driven ultimately by their own exercise, individually and cooperatively, a principal values and priorities. The changes high degree of responsible stewardship over called for at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 the precious resources and life systems of were fundamental in nature and will not this Earth which sustain and nourish us. come quickly or easily. Individuals often Caring for and sharing with each other can believe that they can make little difference in no longer be seen as pious ideals. the larger scheme of things. They get It is ironic that the principal threats to frustrated; they get turned off. But they can the future of life on Earth derive from the make a difference. Only people can make a very same processes that have made our difference. Governments cannot move contemporary civilisation the most success- unless they have the support of the people. ful and powerful ever and offer the pros- This is what this movement is all about. pect, if we manage it properly, of an even Without individual change there cannot be more exciting and promising future. But in societal change. the last decades of this millennium we have Values, ethics and moral principles become aware of the degree to which we provide the basic underpinnings of our are impinging on and undermining the very societies and the roots from which our conditions necessary to sustain life. We have attitudes and behaviour spring. They are the lost our innocence and face the very real secular expressions of our spirituality. I am prospect that future generations may personally persuaded that it is our innate become the victims of our success – or, more spiritual nature which distinguishes the particularly, of our failure to manage human species from all other forms of life. effectively and responsibly the forces which We are not just economic animals. Even science and technology have placed at our those who deny God and organised religion command. cannot separate themselves from the This forum is an important milestone spiritual dimensions of their being – spiritual on the road to the elaboration of a People’s in the sense of our relationship with the Earth Charter – literally a Magna Carta for ultimate source of life itself, whatever we the Earth – a worldwide millennium may believe that to be. We have emerged as campaign designed to enlist millions of a product of the cosmic forces that shape people in articulating a universal set of our universe and are the highest manifesta- ethical and moral principles; one that people tions we know of these forces. As we look

28 of all political and ideological persuasions no question about it, in my view. The good can embrace and commit themselves to. news is that the patient is still alive; the bad In the final analysis, it is the behaviour news is that his survival is still very much at of individuals as well as the priorities of risk. society which respond not only to our I am persuaded that the next century narrow economic securities, important as will be decisive for our species. All the these are, but ultimately to the deepest evidences of environmental degradation, ethical, moral and spiritual values of people. social tension and inter-communal conflict All of our diligent work in devising new have occurred at levels of population and policies, new programs, new international human activity that are a great deal less agreements and new structures – and I have than they will be in the century ahead. The been involved in that for most of my life – risks we face in common from mounting will be left unfulfilled if we do not have the dangers to the environment resource base collective motivation to give them priority in and life support systems on which all life on our own lives and in our political judgment. Earth depends are far greater as we move This means lending support to existing into the 21st century than the risks we face measures, to the fulfillment of agreements or have ever faced in our conflicts with each and commitments already in place – and to other. All people and nations have in the the development of new initiatives. We must past been willing to accord the highest raise our motivations beyond the individual priority to the measures required for their and national interests which divide us to the own security. We must now give the same broader common interests in a sustainable kind of priority to what I call ‘civilisational future which must guide us in the manage- security’. This will take a major shift in the ment of those activities through which we current political mindset and priorities. It is collectively bring about that future. a shift that can only come from an upwell- It was 52 years ago this year that I first ing of interest and awareness – the pressure fought my way into the United Nations – from people. Necessity will compel such a the year after it was born. So I have been shift eventually. The real question is can we involved with these issues for many years. afford the costs and the risks of waiting. I People ask me why I do not give up and say know that each of you would not be here if that it is time. Yes, it is time to let others take you did not subscribe to the importance of over, that is right, but it is not time to give these issues. I am extremely encouraged by up. There is a certain degree of complacency your presence and am very pleased to have setting in; there has been a recession in had the opportunity of sharing some of my people’s interest in this matter. This has to thoughts with you at this inaugural session. be revitalised; it will be revitalised. There is

DISCUSSION

Harry RECHER (Edith Cowan University, areas of the world the air is a little cleaner Perth): Why do you think complacency has – though not perfect – and the environ- set in? mental consciousness has given rise to local measures and local legislation. So people Maurice STRONG: It has not set in every- looking at their immediate environment where, but more in the industrialised have seen some improvement. On the countries. One of the reasons is that the other hand, in the developing world – and immediately observable conditions have 75 per cent of people live in the developing often got better. In some cities in many world – things have got much worse,

29 almost intolerable. Poor people do not like responsibility for the situation in the future degraded environments either. In the city will fall on the shoulders of young people. I of New Delhi alone, more than 100,000 was interested to know what level of deaths are directly attributable to air support there is internationally from young pollution problems, bringing huge amounts people for that position. of suffering, disease and subsequent eco- Maurice STRONG: I guess one of my nomic costs. In many ways the environ- greatest sources of encouragement is my ment issues have moved ‘south’. They have contact with young people. Being a young not moved away from us. Perhaps they person myself, it is fairly easy to maintain moved away from our more immediate that contact! I mentioned India. I met with sensitivities. the Indian leaders about a year ago, but The developing countries have now be- the most inspiring meeting I had was with come interested – not because they have 12,000 schoolchildren in New Delhi. I was listened to our exhortations, but rather literally overwhelmed. They had all done because they are experiencing the prob- essays and they were all just turned on. lems. Two years ago the Earth Council They had all adopted their own Agenda 21 convened Rio Plus Five in Rio de Janeiro, for their school. I do very much agree that and the Government of Brazil commis- it is not only the future that is in the hands sioned a public opinion survey, asking the of young people; it is the present as well. people how they rated environment. To Our generation is far more influenced by the government’s surprise the people rated their kids. I ran a large utility company – the environment above employment – and one of the largest in the world – and we that in a place like Brazil. The government initiated a program of energy efficiency in could not believe it, so they instituted the schools in Ontario. Young kids were another survey, which confirmed the busy testing appliances and rating them finding. So complacency may have set in and we got some complaints from some of the more industrialised countries, but there the parents because the kids were going is a greater degree of awareness spreading home and challenging their parents – very much in the developing world be- ‘Why have you got such a big car?’ ‘Why cause they are experiencing the problems. do not you buy a proper refrigerator?’ China recently recognised that their ne- Some of the parents cooperated but others glect of environmental measures, particu- were quite hostile. So young people do larly their allowing so much destruction of make a difference. the tree cover in the area surrounding the Helen PRYOR (Tasmanian Conservation watershed of the Yangtse, had contributed Trust): It all just gets slightly overwhelming immensely to the human and economic – the feeling that we can work at a local costs of their big flood. Even your neigh- level, but we should also be working at a bour, Indonesia, is now recognising envi- global level. This is particularly so when ronmental factors were associated with the basic problem is over-consumption or their fires which inflicted immense eco- bad consumption from the First World. nomic damage. Because of the experience Working in an NGO gets really frustrating of developing countries, there is a growing because we are working with so little awareness. There has been an amazing money yet we are trying to counter huge shift of the problems and the awareness of multi-national and trans-national corpora- them to the south. Unhappily there is a tions who have such huge amounts of greater degree of complacency in the money at their disposal and who are north, which we cannot afford. pushing the message of consumption not Claire CROCKER (Australian Youth only to the First World but also to the Parliament for the Environment): I com- developing countries. How can we some- pletely agree with you that a lot of the how not lose our interest or impact and

30 continue fighting against this over- Australia in terms of its gross wealth. Some consumption. might find a conspiracy between certain Maurice STRONG: Everyone can set an arms of government and corporations to example in their own lives. They may feel alienate people from their role as citizens that it is not having much of an impact, and turn them into passive consumers or but they cannot use the excuse that others customers. To what extent might that are not doing it in order to justify not effect the alienation of people and contrib- doing it themselves. That is really critical. ute to their disempowerment? Having been Let us look at some of the great movements told that government is not good for us, of history, for example, the abolition of the and that small, lean government is great, slave trade. I am a businessman and this the fact is that in the end, government is does not apply to all businessmen. Every one of the few accountable meetings of period has its enlightened leaders and its citizens to which we look for common less enlightened ones. But at the time of the goals and common outcomes. slave trade the position of the prominent Maurice STRONG: Well, I guess it is an old business leaders was ‘Well, it’s a nice idea maxim that people get the governments to get rid of the slave trade, but it will be they deserve! Often it is more apathy and disastrous for business.’ Of course it was complacency that elects the kind of gov- not. All great movements involve upsetting ernment that does not give leadership in the status quo. Those who think they the direction of the issues that concern us might be affected are going to resist – that than it is active support for those policies is sort of normal. But those who look and negative attitudes. beyond it and realise that the status quo It is true that most governments today must change and get ahead of it are those are actively promoting investment in global who are going to prevail. There are enough corporations. Globalisation is a phenome- enlightened business leaders who are non that creates an immense amount of prepared to introduce initiatives. Some of competition for the investment in new the most enlightened initiatives have come plant and equipment. There is now the from businessmen, but so have some of the beginnings of a backlash against globalisa- most dismal examples of irresponsibility. tion. When I was in Davos – I just came Do not get frustrated. At my age, I will not from there yesterday – there was a demon- benefit or lose particularly from anything stration. Its numbers were kept down by that happens, but my children will and so the snowstorm, but nevertheless there will my grandchildren. My belief is that were several hundred people demonstrat- however pessimistic you may be in your ing against globalisation. There is an analysis of the situation, you cannot afford emerging backlash. You cannot stop glob- to be a pessimist operationally. Operation- alisation, but the real backlash has to be ally we must be optimistic – it is not too against the inequities and the injustices late. It is possible, and it is people like you that can be perpetrated. who will make the difference. Do not think Public and political moods do shift. We you can not. If you do, your pessimism and have had a shift away from the environ- your opting out will be self fulfilling. ment. But why do governments act on the Ian BROWN (Australian Committee for environment? Because of people pressure IUCN): In a related question: There is a and public awareness. Public concern has mood at the moment to change people receded to some degree, as we noted from citizens into consumers with the earlier and, as a result, governments have movement of publicly-owned shared reflected that in the lower priority they resources into corporations, and with the accord environmental issues in many growth of corporations. For example, I cases. That is not true, of course, in the notice that Microsoft is not far behind ACT!

31 There are two sides to globalisation. My I think we are in a dangerous interreg- own belief is that we have not seen the num at this stage, where the general mood final act yet. Those who rejoice in the is that immediate prosperity and consum- triumph of market capitalism are at least erism are the primary indicators of success. premature. I believe that market capitalism But that is changing. We in the Earth is a great system, provided it gets the right Charter movement must lead that change. signals in the form of the right policies and It must not be seen as a change away from system of incentives and regulations that economic advantage. I am absolutely drive the market economy to do the things persuaded that sustainable civilisation is that society needs. We have a program in the only civilisation that will sustain a the Earth Council on economic incentives decent market economy. Unless the market which is designed to do exactly that – to capitalist system can provide the mecha- try to point out to people how their gov- nisms for achieving sustainability and ernments are spending their money subsi- equity and unless it can do just as good a dising unsustainable practices and how a job in meeting our social needs as it does in shift of those resources can provide real generating wealth and consumer products, economic incentives for sustainable devel- then it will not be sustainable. opment and comparative advantage.

32 2. The Earth Charter Drafting Process and the Draft Earth Charter

Professor Steven Rockefeller Chair, International Earth Charter Drafting Committee

As the chair of the drafting committee, I Earth Charter initiative believe that the regard my major task here over the next two process is as important as the final product. days as being to listen – to listen to your There are several reasons for this. One comments, your criticisms, your recommen- of the most important is that as more and dations regarding the working draft of the more people participate in the process, more Earth Charter as we try to prepare a new and more people have a sense of ownership official version of that draft. I have been of the document. A document like this involved in this process with Maurice Strong cannot be constructed in a top-down for close on four years. I want to assure you fashion. It really must be a document that is all that this text that has been given to you is generated from the grass roots – groups like not cast in stone. It has been through many, this from different organisations throughout many revisions and I am sure it will go . This is one of the great chal- through many more. We all recognise that it lenges. Thus, the process is very important needs some more work. and I personally believe that one of the The Earth Charter drafting process major objectives of the whole Earth Charter has taken me around the world and often, initiative is simply to promote more reflec- when I return, my wife, who has been living tion and dialogue across cultural lines, through what seems like an interminable across religious boundaries, across national process, will greet me at the door and ask, and ethnic boundaries – dialogue on with expectant eyes ‘Is it done?’ I always common ground, common values and a have to answer ‘No, not yet.’ Then we vision of a future that will be better for all. remind each other of the importance of this This is really what this project is all process. I want to emphasise that today about. If nothing else comes from the Earth because all those who are working on the Charter initiative but that it has effectively served as a catalyst, I think it will have done

33 a very good thing. And in fact this is It started out as a soft law document that happening. It is happening all over the was a statement of aspirations of intentions, world. but not a binding legal treaty. Then over the Having said that, I do want to assure next 20 years it generated three major you that it is our intention eventually to international covenants, which became have a final text. The agenda is that some binding legal agreements and which time over the next six weeks we hope to translated the human rights values in the produce what will be called ‘Benchmark Universal Declaration into hard law. Draft 2’ which will have to be formally Let me begin with a few historical re- approved by the Earth Charter Commission. flections to put the Earth Charter into Then the text will go back into the consulta- perspective. Other speakers this morning tion process for 1999 and early 2000. have given you the basic story in many Sometime in the year 2000 the hope is that a ways, but one dimension of this has been final version of the Earth Charter will be left out which I think is important to keep in released by the Earth Charter Commission mind. It is useful to begin thinking about the and that at some point in that year it will be Earth Charter with reference to the found- submitted to the United Nations General ing of the United Nations in 1945 and the Assembly in the hope that by the year 2002, search for a new world order that would which is the tenth anniversary of the Rio prevent . The UN agenda for Earth Summit, it will be formally endorsed. world security at that time was an agenda I use the word ‘endorsed’ by the UN of human rights, and equitable socio- General Assembly very carefully, as opposed economic development. But there was no to ‘adopted’, because the Earth Charter has mention of ecology and, indeed, during the not been put into an intergovernmental early years of the United Nations, the drafting process. This has been done concept of world security did not include deliberately because the concern is that if it the concept of ecological security. is, it will lose a good bit of its moral power As other speakers have noted, that all and it will come out a much weaker docu- began to change with the 1972 Stockholm ment than those who have been guiding the conference, 25 years after the founding of process would like and we would end up the UN. The UN agenda became human with something like the Rio Declaration. rights, peace, equitable socio-economic That is a valuable document, but it is not an development and ecological security. That Earth Charter. It is therefore unlikely that was the beginning of the formation of a very the United Nations would adopt a text that powerful vision. Over the next three dec- none of its diplomats had actually negoti- ades, the international community, as well ated. It is possible that it will be endorsed – as many NGO groups, worked hard in and we are optimistic about that – in the trying to craft principles to clarify the year 2002. There is also the possibility that meaning of ecological security and sustain- the UN could take it, put on its own intro- able development. In addition, there has ductory preamble and maybe make some been a growing awareness that humanity’s adjustment in some language to make the social, ecological and economic goals are international lawyers and diplomats happy. interdependent. From this perspective, Then it would become officially a UN soft human rights, peace, equitable economic law document, like the Universal Declara- development and ecological security are tion of Human Rights. interrelated and indivisible. Caring for If it is endorsed by the UN, it may very people and caring for Earth are to be well begin to gain some of the power of a understood as part of one undertaking. soft law document. It is very important to This is fundamental to the whole ap- remember that soft law documents often proach to the Earth Charter. This sense is firm with time. This is what happened with increasingly becoming accepted in the larger the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. international community. During the 1990s

34 the United Nations held a series of summit blind impulse, uncriticised habit and drift conferences on the environment, popula- govern the course of events. tion, women, social development, the child There is a fundamental truth in the and the city which went a long way to statement in the King James version of the clarifying the major elements of the vision Bible that where there is no vision the for the future that integrates humanity’s people perish. At the end of the 20th social, economic and environmental goals. century the urgent need is for a vision of a Of special significance, these UN global ethic that applies to all peoples and summit conferences have involved the nations. The human species has arrived at a strong participation of hundreds of non- point in its evolutionary history when our governmental organisations as well as very survival and future well-being are official government representatives. Partly dependent upon our ability to develop and as a result of these conferences, the 1990s commit ourselves to a comprehensive vision have seen the emergence of a powerful of shared values. global civil society network that is playing The argument for global ethics can be an increasingly important role in shaping simply explained as follows: first, we live in the policies and practices that determine a world today characterised by rapid world affairs. change, increasing globalisation and The story of the passage of the land- growing interdependence; second, the mine treaty is a very important example of problems we face threaten the foundations this. The influence of this civil society of world security. The future of the human network was also powerful in Kyoto when species and the larger human community of the climate change protocols were negoti- life on Earth is in doubt if human beings ated. This international network, facilitated cannot address such problems as war and by information technology, had a major proliferation of nuclear weapons, climate impact on the government groups and change, depletion of resources like the soil business communities that were there in and water, , the growing Kyoto. In developing this understanding of disparities between rich and poor and the what the Earth Charter is about and how it rapid rise in human population numbers. is trying to accomplish its goals, I think it is Moreover, these problems we face are very important to keep in mind that one of big, complex and interrelated and can only the big stories today is the emergence of a be managed through world-wide coopera- global civil society, facilitated by the new tion and collaboration with holistic thinking information technology. and integrated approaches. Partnerships The heart of all these efforts to envi- must be formed that are inter-disciplinary, sion a better future for our world is the cross-sectoral, cross-cultural and interna- search for new global ethics – a set of values tional. Such alliances are needed at all levels that apply to all peoples and nations and of governance. Individuals, families, relig- are shared by all. Science can describe the ious organisations, civil society, private relations between things and the connec- corporations, governments and multi-lateral tions between means and ends, but it cannot organisations all have essential roles to play. disclose the deeper meaning of life. Progress In a rapidly changing, interdependent in human development requires the devel- world, where survival will depend upon opment of free and autonomous persons, collaboration, only with a commitment to but full human self-realisation requires planetary ethics that are inclusive and creation of an ethical vision of the good life integrated can we fulfil our responsibilities and the good society to which people to each other, the larger community of life commit themselves in their freedom. If and future generations. society does not exercise its power of The new information technologies and creating ethical vision and decision, then economic forces are rapidly creating the structures of a global civilisation, but as

35 Vaclav Havel, the president of the Czech It is also important to note that the Republic has observed ‘To date we have global ethics movement is not concerned only succeeded in globalising the surface of with creating a new religion that will our lives’. Havel’s concern is similar to that synthesise elements of the exiting religions. of the Indian philosopher, Radha Krishnan Shared ethical values may acquire religious who wrote 40 years ago in the wake of the meaning for many people, both within and creation of the UN that the great challenge outside the religions, but the goal is not to before humanity is to give soul to the create a new institutional religion. In emerging world consciousness. This is the addition, the focus of global ethics is not to task of global ethics. It is a search for a solid replace the high ethical demands of the ethical foundation to the world community great world religions with some new ethical that humanity has been struggling to build minimalism. It is important to keep those ever since the founding of the United things in mind. Nations and the adoption of the Universal I want to make a few comments about Declaration of Human Rights. It is a fateful the Earth Charter process. The earlier struggle that we are engaged in today and speakers have outlined for you the history of one can argue that our evolutionary future the Earth Charter process and I do not need and the future of the planet hinges on our to review all that, except just to highlight a being able to make progress in this regard. couple of things. The Earth Charter builds on all the Earth Charter negotiations have basi- developments I have been describing and it cally been going on for 10 years, since the is part of the global ethics movement. There late 1980s, following a recommendation in are critics of the global ethics movement, so I the Brundtland Commission and with want to say a few words about that before preparations for the Rio Earth Summit. As going on to talk about the process and the Maurice Strong mentioned, the charter was actual document. Some see in talk about not successfully adopted at the Rio Earth global ethics the dangers of new forms of Summit and he and Mr Gorbachev, with cultural that are a threat to assistance from Jim McNeil, who had been local autonomy, the right to self- the Secretary-General of the Brundtland determination, cultural diversity and Commission, and Prime Minister Ruud religious freedom. It is important, therefore, Lubbers of the Netherlands, reignited the to emphasise that the idea of global ethics is Earth Charter initiative in 1994. The first big not a contradiction to the principle of international conference in that regard was respect for cultural diversity. The emerging held in the Hague and there were represen- global ethics affirm pluralism and cultural tatives from 30 organisations and 80 and religious diversity. Respect for diversity different nations. is regarded as a fundamental ethical In 1996 and 1997 there was both an principle. The global ethics movement grows official UN and a non-governmental five- out of a partnership of the world’s cultures, year review of progress towards sustainable religions, nations and peoples in undertak- development since the Rio Earth Summit. ing a search for common ground. The The Earth Council was responsible for objective is not to impose a set of values on conducting the non-governmental five-year any group, but to institute dialogue to review. The Earth Council integrated Earth identify common concerns and shared Charter consultations into that five-year values. The movement is gaining momen- review, which involved national consulta- tum throughout the world because people, tions on sustainable development with other in growing numbers, realise anew that in groups all over the world. At the conclusion many fundamental ways we are one of the Rio Plus Five review process, there humanity with common aspirations and we was the Rio Plus Five Forum. The Earth are one Earth community. Charter Commission issued the first draft of the Earth Charter at the conclusion of that

36 forum. That benchmark draft was circulated tial of the Earth Charter. In Mato Grosso, widely and the Earth Council opened up an which is the geodetic centre of South Internet website, which is available today America, 24 Earth Charter national commit- and which conducts an ongoing Earth tees sent representatives – it was a group of Charter forum. During 1997 and 1998 about 100 – and in the course of four or five dozens of Earth Charter meetings were held days there was intensive debate about the all over the world. Some of these confer- draft charters that had been circulated. In ences have been organised by the Earth addition, they worked on drafting local Council, some by the Earth Charter Drafting national Earth Charters and a South Committee. However, many are organised American charter, which they finally by volunteers from the NGO world, religious completed. Then they gave all sorts of groups, schools, universities and other comments to the Earth Charter Drafting concerned organisations. In addition, the Committee. Earth Council has helped to form more than This event was hosted by the Governor 35 national Earth Charter committees, like of Mato Grosso and at the end there was a the Australian one. They are now playing a rather extraordinary ceremony. We were very important role and their numbers are simply told that we were going to a national steadily growing. park in Mato Grosso. Much of Mato Grosso The results of all these consultations is this vast plain area, including huge are channelled to the Earth Charter Draft- wetlands. But at some point there was a ing Committee which reviews the comments geological fault, where parts of the land and recommendations for improving the have abruptly risen and this area is now Earth Charter. In March of 1998, Brendan, national park. We were taken there in a bus Christine Von Weisacker from Germany, and when we arrived at the foot of these Miriam Vilella from Brazil and I met to take cliffs at the entrance to the national park we all the consultation material that had been discovered that there were 4,000 children, received since 1997 to begin that process of each one wearing an Earth Charter T-shirt, refining the benchmark draft. All through and they were linked, arm to arm all the 1998 we continued to work on that, and way up this road, winding its way up the periodically we would circulate new drafts. cliffs into the national park. A helicopter At a meeting like this, for example, the was flying up and down with two soldiers Drafting Committee would distribute the hanging out of it about 20 feet down on a latest draft, get more comments and then rope with the flags of Brazil and Mato further refine it. Then in January this year Grosso. There was a military band. The bus there was a drafting meeting held in the took us to the top; we walked all the way United States with a group of about 15 down the road – two miles – through 4,000 people to try to prepare benchmark draft 2. children, shaking their hands and talking That meeting included representatives from about the Earth Charter. They understood a Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, good bit of what it was all about. When we Germany, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia got to the bottom of the hill, there was a and the United States, and had contributing ‘Purifying the Earth’ ritual ceremony with members from India, Kenya and the Neth- indigenous peoples from the Amazon. There erlands. At that meeting we began to put was a monument that had been built by together the document that has been passed university students. The monument was a out today and about which I will comment globe and around the globe were a group of in just a minute. children representing the different ethnic One of the most interesting Earth groups in Brazil, holding hands with broken Charter consultations occurred at the chains, symbolising the liberation of the beginning of last December in Mato Grosso, people and of Earth. Brazil. I want to tell you a little bit about This all made me realise that the Earth that because I think it illustrates the poten- Charter in this case had become a symbol of

37 social liberation and transformation for guidelines of sustainable development in these communities in Mato Grosso. There environmental conservation. ‘ was a great yearning for some meaningful One very important development here symbol, some sign of hope that things can be is that in the Brundtland Commission, when changed and improved. At this particular they recommended a new charter – a ‘soft moment the Earth Charter was that symbol law’ document – they also recommended a and it worked as a catalyst for mobilising new covenant, which would be a hard law, people, bringing this community together, binding treaty. The IUCN – the World all the way from the Governor down to Conservation Union – Commission on those 4,000 children. Environmental Law went to work drafting People asked, ‘Why is the Governor that covenant, beginning in the late 1980s doing this? Is he trying to get publicity or and early 1990s. Even though there was no does he really believe in this?’ Well, he got Earth Charter then, they were expecting good publicity for Mato Grosso – in the that one would be issued by the Rio Summit. newspapers and on television. But he also Of course that did not happen. They went recognised that this was a very important ahead and drafted the document. That movement with all these people from Latin document, which is a draft for a hard law America coming together. That was a very treaty, attempts to develop an integrated moving moment in the Earth Charter legal framework for all environmental law consultation process and it is an example of and sustainable social development. It was athe kind of regional meeting that can be finished in 1995 and presented to the UN. organised. You might want to have one in No government has yet taken upon itself to this region at some point to show the start the negotiation process on this treaty. It potential and power of the Earth Charter as is a very tough treaty, but it is a synthesis of a catalyst for social change. existing international environmental and Let me now make some comments sustainable development law. The IUCN about the Earth Charter document itself. Law Commission and the Earth Charter One of the first things we did in 1996 Commission have now formed a bond and was a study of international law, identifying we are trying to coordinate the Earth 57 principles that appeared in international Charter and this hard law document. The treaties that were relevant to the Earth Earth Charter sets forward the fundamental Charter. That study was the basis of how ethical principles that underlie the hard law we began the drafting process – sifting that is in the covenant. What is not in the through those principles, asking what Earth Charter, in terms of spelling out the should go in the charter and what should be implications of principles, is spelt out in left out, how these principles could be most cases in some detail in the covenant. strengthened and so on. I have in my files The charter and the covenant will go more than 150 non-governmental declara- together to the United Nations in the year tions, charters and treaties, many of which 2000. We in the Drafting Committee and the are quite wonderful documents. IUCN lawyers are now meeting to try to As we enter into this consultation here bring these documents into harmony. about the Earth Charter, let me refer to the Let me say something about what has criteria the Drafting Committee has had to been one of the most difficult issues. Many use. There are eight criteria, which emerged groups would like the Earth Charter to be a in 1997 when the Earth Charter Commis- poem or a prayer. They would like it to be a sion was formed and the Drafting Commit- very brief inspirational document. For tee was officially asked to go to work. example, Mikhail Gorbachev, one of the co- Let me say something about the first chairs of the Earth Charter Commission, criterion, which is: ‘A declaration of funda- likes to compare the Earth Charter to the mental ethical principles and practical Ten Commandments, even though such an analogy is not favoured by some religious

38 representatives. So many people want a principles in international law and in the very short charter. Other groups want a NGO treaties and charters, and it will also much more substantial document – par- give some general interpretation of the ticularly the groups that feel marginalised or meaning of the Charter. feel that they are excluded from the deci- Let us start with the preamble. The sion-making process. They claim that a very first sentence of the preamble is very short document will be interpreted by important. It makes it clear that the Earth people who are in positions of power and Charter is basically a declaration of interde- there will be no recourse available in the pendence and responsibility. This is the document for getting an alternative inter- theme of the Charter – interdependence pretation. with and responsibility to one another, the So we have been caught in the negoti- greater community of life and future ating process between those who want a generations. very short poetic charter and those who The single most important thing this want something much more substantial. We Charter is trying to do is to suggest that the have tried to work out a balance between moral community to which we belong, in these two groups. But you can see the which we have responsibilities and for tension. On the one hand, the Earth Charter which we are responsible is not just a is supposed to be a people’s charter. People family, a local community, a nation, nor is it do not want a preamble that is written in just humanity. It includes the whole com- the traditional legal form of UN documents, munity of life and it includes future genera- even though it is very elegant. They say a tions. The theory behind this is that the big people’s charter should not be written with moral revolution that has to occur if we are this kind of formality. But at the same time going to care for people, care for Earth and they want this people’s charter to be build a secure future is this transformation accepted at the UN. So this is the constant of our sense of the community to which we tension we face in the drafting process belong, of which we are a part, and the between preparing a document that is a community to which we are responsible and people’s treaty and one that is going to be accountable. This is stated in the first line of received eventually as a UN document. the preamble. The way we tried to resolve a lot of Let us go to the conclusion of the pre- these tensions was by creating a layered amble. In the concluding sentence is a call document that can be used in a variety of for an inclusive vision of shared values to different ways. The structure is: the pream- provide an ethical foundation for the ble, three general principles, a set of funda- emerging world community. This is as if you mental ecological, economic and social are giving soul to the emerging world principles and a conclusion. The three consciousness. Then there is a reference to a principles can be used as a short running of global alliance – that fundamental to this the charter – if people want a really short whole task is collaboration and partnership version – they have it in the three principles. at all levels, cutting across all different If you want an abbreviated version with 15 sectors. principles, you can use the combination of In the second paragraph of the pre- the three principles and the set of 12 amble is the very important statement that fundamental ecological, economic and social the global environment is the common principles. But if you want a substantial concern of humanity. This is an important document then you take all four pages. ethical principle because it means that Also, there will be a commentary on the sovereign states have to take it as a serious Earth Charter, which may run to as much commitment, and that a state’s sovereignty as 100 pages. So for people who want to go does not override it. more deeply into the Charter, the commen- Paragraph 3 is an attempt to define tary will explain all the precedents for the the problem that the Earth Charter is trying

39 to address. Paragraph 4 is a statement of the people. This principle is arguing that all choice before humanity. Paragraph 5 beings warrant respect, quite apart from introduces the concept of universal respon- their utilitarian value to people. In Thomas sibility which is another term for global Berry’s language ‘the universe is a commu- citizenship. The Earth Charter Commission nity of subjects, not just a collection of made a decision not to use the term ‘global objects’. Or, in the language of Immanuel citizenship’ in the Charter because it could Kant ‘Things are ends and should not be provoke some negative reactions from treated as means only.’ I would also men- governments who would see it as a threat to tion here that some people – such as Albert the concept of the sovereign rights of states. Schweitzer – prefer the word ‘reverence’ to So we used the concept of universal respon- ‘respect’. The dictionary definition of sibility which is defined in the second ‘reverence’ is ‘respect tinged with awe’. You sentence. It is very close to the notion of might ask where the awe comes from. Many human solidarity. You will note that in the people feel that the awe comes from a sense last sentence we refer to ‘human solidarity of the sacredness of life. This is another and kinship with all life’. It is that sense of language that could be used. solidarity and kinship from which the sense Up to this point in international law, of universal responsibility grows. It is species are recognised as having a certain universal in two senses – it involves every- legal standing. But individual living beings body, everybody shares this responsibility, are not. For example,the World Charter for and it is a responsibility to the larger whole. Nature says: ‘All life forms warrant respect, In some way or another we are all responsi- quite apart from their utilitarian value.’ It ble for contributing to justice for all, to says nothing about individual beings; it says world peace, to environmental security. ‘all life forms’. The Biodiversity Convention Those are basic concepts. The last para- says ‘All species have intrinsic value...’; it graph is this call to commitment. says nothing about individual beings. What Let us turn to the three general princi- it basically means that if you as an individ- ples in Part I. Again, here the objective is to ual are a rabbit, a whale or an endangered make clear that the moral community to species, then you get moral consideration. If which we belong is the whole human you are not, you do not. That is the current family, the larger community of life and state in international law. future generations. It starts with the princi- The Earth Charter is trying to go be- ple of respect for all life. This is the way the yond that by saying ‘All life..’ not just World Charter for Nature begins. It is also species, including individual beings. This is the language that is used in the first funda- an important issue that the Earth Charter is mental principle of the IUCN draft cove- trying to push. Of course a lot of national nant. It puts an emphasis on respect for all law does talk about the standing of individ- life. Here a basic issue is clarified in the first ual species. Here there is ‘community of life’ sub-principle – ‘recognizing the interde- in all its diversity – biological, cultural and pendence and intrinsic value of all beings; all other kinds of diversity. ...’ The emphasis on ‘intrinsic value’ is basic. In principle 3 we are moving to the It all starts with respect – respect for oneself, principle of future generations. This com- for other people, for other cultures, for other bines the language from the Universal species, for other individual living beings Declaration of Human Rights with Stock- and for Earth and its ecosystems. All of holm and post-Stockholm vision. In the which is inclusive in this statement. Universal Declaration of Human Rights it Thomas Berry has commented that the says that respect for human rights and fundamental evil in the current world fundamental freedoms is the foundation for situation is the notion that, apart from freedom, justice and peace. These were the human beings, the things that exist in the big ideals projected after the Second World world exist simply as objects to be used by War. So we try to combine that with the

40 concept of saving Earth’s abundance and impossible to hunt and kill the way they beauty and linking it with the question of have traditionally done and have compas- future generations. sion for these creatures. They say they are The first three principles are the Earth perfectly happy with the term ‘respect’, but Charter in a nutshell. It is the big, broad not ‘compassion’. We have been consulting vision. In Part 2 we have tried to give the with indigenous groups around the world. integrated vision of ecological, social and In Latin America the indigenous Quiaba in environmental values in 12 principles. The Mato Grosso had no problem with the word Earth Charter benchmark draft had 18 ‘compassion’. They said that as long as the principles, which grew to 21 principles for intention was not to stop traditional hunting the 21st century. These were consolidated to practices, they did not object. The North 15 because we found that a number of American indigenous groups said that principles could be treated as sub-principles perhaps if the word ‘respect’ was included under others. I would be very interested in as well as ‘compassion’, this would be your reactions to these current 12 principles, better. The issue is whether one can hunt to see whether you think they cover what with compassion – that is, identifying with should be in the Earth Charter as main the suffering of other beings. principles. You can also look at the sub- One of the criticisms of the word principles and ask whether there are any ‘compassion’ from Latin America is that it that ought to be main principles. has a kind of paternalistic or even patronis- I will quickly run through the main ing connotation. It is interesting that the principles in Part II. The first, Principle 4, is word is heard that way. Clearly it does not ‘Protect and restore the integrity of Earth’s have that meaning in Asia. One suggestion ecological systems.’ This is a science-based here is that the Earth Charter has a very principle that uses the concept of integrity to strong Western influence, in part because refer to the diversity and health of eco- many members of the Drafting Committee systems. You can see in the sub-principles come from Western industrialised countries. what we have in mind there. So we felt it was very important to use a Principle 5 is the principle of preven- term that is very important and meaningful tion and precaution, framed in very simple in the Asian traditions. One use of the Earth language. As expressed by Alexander Kiss, Charter here can be to clarify this language an international lawyer, ‘The principle of and more clearly define it. prevention is the golden rule of the envi- Principles 7 to 12 deal with people and ronment’. Instead of seeking to catch up and the relationships between people and clean up, we should prevent the damage people’s relations with nature. Principles 7 before it occurs. You can see a whole string to 11 give a vision of sustainable develop- of sub-principles that elaborate on the ment. Principle 7 has been through many, meaning of prevention. many revisions. I want to emphasise that Principle 6 is: ‘Treat all living beings the phrase ‘human development in an with compassion, and protect them from equitable and sustainable manner’ is the cruelty and wanton destruction’. Right now language used by UNDP. It is also used in this principle is the centre of a major the IUCN Covenant. ‘Human development’ controversy about the word ‘compassion’. is a very important term because it is used to People from the Buddhist tradition and the say that the ‘development’ the economy Hindu tradition pushed very hard to include should be promoting is not just economic the word ‘compassion’ in the Charter growth. Rather, it is human development in because it is the supreme virtue, particularly the full sense that one should be supporting in the Buddhist faith. However, some the full realisation of human personality and indigenous groups in the polar North, the human potential. The term ‘human particularly the Inuit, have objected to the development’ has a very distinct, special word ‘compassion’, arguing that it is meaning here. One of the debates about this

41 principle is whether it should be ‘...promote ‘transparency, truthfulness and account- human development, social equity and ability in governance.’ There it is! The truth ecological integrity’. is that transparency is one of the most Principle 8 addresses the need to powerful tools for transformation and eradicate poverty. The poverty principle had reformation of the world. If the people been a sub-principle under 7, but it was felt know what is going on, a lot of things that that it was so important that it needed to be have been happening will not happen. So highlighted. transparency becomes a very important Principle 9 states ‘Affirm and promote principle in fighting corruption, misman- gender equality as a prerequisite to sustain- agement and unsustainable activities. For able development’. The feeling is that there example, an Earth Council analysis recently will be no sustainable development unless revealed that more than $700 million was women are empowered, given an opportu- being spent by governments each year to nity for education, for health care and for subsidise unsustainable activities. employment. This principle becomes very Principle 13 deals with knowledge. We important to any vision of sustainable do not mention ‘science’, because we want growth. to include in this principle a respect for the Principle 10 is the environmental jus- traditional forms of knowledge that you find tice principle. We have not included in the in indigenous communities. So we talk main principles one about race. But in 10 we about it in general terms. It is clarified in the say ‘Honour and defend the right of all sub-principles, which also include a refer- persons, without discrimination, to an ence to technology transfer. environment supportive of their dignity, Principle 14 is the ecological literacy bodily health and spiritual well-being.’ The principle – the principle of education, and feeling is that if we mention race, we will Principle 15 is the principle of peace and have to mention ethnic origin and religious cooperation which we see as a sort of discrimination. We are under pressure to encompassing vision. You will notice that keep these principles compact and simple. the last sub-principle in the Earth Charter Principle 11 gives a brief definition of says that peace comes from balanced and ‘sustainability’. You will notice that it not harmonious relationships with yourself, only talks about respecting and safeguard- other people, other cultures, other species ing Earth’s regenerative capacities, but also and other life. So in a sense the Earth safeguarding and respecting human rights Charter culminates with this vision which is and community well-being. Principles 7 and the all-encompassing form of peace – a kind 11 overlap, but 7 puts emphasis on human of cultural peace that allows the full blos- development and 11 puts emphasis on soming of human beings. sustainability. Under 11 are the sub- You will see that the conclusion is ti- principles that deal with what sustainability tled ‘A New Beginning’. We think this is an means for business – these sub-principles are important theme. An alternative title is very important. ‘Toward a New Beginning’; suggesting that The concluding principles deal with the Earth Charter is the promise of a radical governments, in decision new beginning. Once again human beings making, truthfulness, transparency and have this opportunity to make the equitable accountability in governance. Brendan has choices, to construct the vision, and make explicitly said that he does not want the the decisions that will truly transform one’s discussion at this meeting to get off the track own lifestyle and that of one’s community, on to the Olympics! But if you want one society and nation. In the final analysis, the principle from the Earth Charter that challenge of the Earth Charter is the chal- addresses the current problem in the lenge to open the minds and hearts of Olympics, it is No. 12, which refers to ourselves and others.

42 DISCUSSION

NORMAN HABEL (Flinders University): I believes that all these attempts to develop a am delighted with your presentation and I mega narrative or common values have would like to go back to the very beginning underneath them some secret imperialistic when you talked about the idea that you objective in which one group will try to were not creating a new religion and you dominate and control another. do not want to have a minimalist form. As The only way we can guard against this you well know, we live in a post modern is to try to make the consultation process society, where there are multiple truths, as open as possible in order to be sure that multiple orientations, multiple ideas about people who could be exploited by it are what ethics should be and what religion able to point out where the problems are. should be – in other words, the diversity of As I mentioned to you, this is one reason our world is enormous and it seems to be why we have to have a longer document getting more diverse. Are not you swim- than some would like – you need to make ming against the tide, in a sense, when you clear that these universal principles include say you are trying to create something that all kinds of protections for vulnerable has a commonality of values and ethics in groups and minorities. This is a very im- the face of all this diversity? It seems to me portant question and we have not heard to be a remarkable hope. Is it futile? the end of it! STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: As I indicated, LIZ TURNER (Australian Youth Parliament one of the basic principles of this ethical for the Environment & The Natural Step): I vision is an acceptance of pluralism and a am also here representing The Natural respect for differences. The Earth Charter Step, which tries to get consensus from all talks about respect for cultural diversity sections of society. One of the main chal- and eliminating discrimination. So you lenges for the Earth Charter now is to go have to start there. There is no question beyond the countries that are already that there is a lot of hostility to univer- involved in it and try to get as widespread salism – particularly in universities and consensus as possible. academia. Some people strongly object to STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: That is abso- the term ‘universal responsibility’ because lutely right. That is exactly the objective. they say it has a colonialistic or patriarchal Like The Natural Step program, we would ring to it. It sounds like men saying ‘We hope that a certain amount of empirical will take responsibility for our women’ or scientific experimental analysis will lead the colonial world saying ‘We will take people to agree on certain principles – that responsibility for the rest of the world.’ So there are certain things you cannot do the term ‘universal responsibility’ has to be without destroying the health and integrity designed very carefully to avoid that. of ecosystems. That is the ecological bottom There is no question that this is a tough line and you cannot cross it. We have tried issue. to identify some of those principles in the However, my position is that collabora- sub-principles under Principle 4. We see tion and cooperation are essential to sur- what we are doing as being very close to vival. Survival cannot be achieved without The Natural Step and we would like to feel some general agreement on common that we are all working together. ethical principles. If we cannot work it out, DAVID BENNETT (The Australian we will not survive as a species. That is the Academy of the Humanities): There are argument I would push with the university two possible sources of tension and I professor who is a deconstructionist and would like to know how you handle these.

43 First, you mentioned that there are re- would be some tension there. But I do not gional, perhaps even bioregional sub- think you can stop people from creating charters. Do these charters have to con- local Earth Charters. It will get a little form to the overall Earth Charter? Sec- confusing in the consultation process. For ondly, you said that these principles were example, I know that in Venezuela I have drawn from all religions and ethics, but received comments indicating that people hitherto world religions and ethics have are very confused as to what Earth Charter been aimed at human-to-human relation- they should be reacting to – the local one or ships. The Earth Charter would have a the Earth Charter Commission one. We wider circumference than that, which have to keeping working on that, but we do would mean the possibility of a conflict or not want to discourage groups from devel- a tension between the Earth Charter and oping charters that address their own existing religions. particular local problems. STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: Let me take the TIM DOYLE (Conservation Council of second part first. In the case of Asian ): I have a number of religions, such as the Buddhist and Hindu concerns with your model. The first is that traditions, there has been a sense that it seems as we move through the Charter human beings have ethical responsibilities that there is almost a constant denial of the to non-human beings. So in the East that collective noun – we do not have a species, notion is not nearly as novel as it is in the rather we have a collection of individual West under the influence of Judaeo- beings; we do not have mention of race in Christianity. However, within the Jewish, the Charter, nor do we have mention of Christian and Islamic traditions, there are particular cultural differences. I under- currents of thought that have long recog- stand that this is very much a part of our nised the importance of acknowledging the becoming a part of the global community, moral standing of animals and even plants. but my fundamental concern is that the They have not been the dominant tradi- individualisation of planet Earth which the tions, but, for example, in the Christian Earth Charter seems to promote, denies the tradition you could say that St Francis of impact upon those individual beings, Assissi would be a very good example. You whether they are species, religions, or can go into these traditions and find im- races, of structural differences, of the portant sources that will justify these reality that societies do shape the lives of principles. However, there will be a con- individuals. I see that as a major concern. flict with some religious groups about some STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: Let me clarify of these principles and we have a very big this. The second sentence of the Charter conflict around the principle that has to do says ‘...in the midst of a magnificent diver- with reproductive health and the right for sity of life forms and cultures’. In para- reproductive health. There is a real conflict graph 4 there is a line that reads ‘We can there with conservative religious groups, respect the integrity of diverse cultures.’ particularly Christian and Islamic. We like There is a clear reference to race in Princi- to avoid all conflict, but there are good ple 10 (c), which is a call to end discrimi- religious arguments that you can mount to nation based on race, religion, ethnic origin defend most of these principles. and socioeconomic difference. In Principle On the first part of your question, we 15 it says ‘..teach tolerance and promote have no objection to local and regional dialogue and collaboration cross-culturally Earth Charters. We would hope there and inter-religiously.’ So we have tried to would be acknowledgment and acceptance recognise the difference and respect differ- of this universal Earth Charter – that it ence. Surely on the local/community level would be an inspiration for local Earth and on local/national levels there will be Charters and that the local ones would not very distinct and different ways of prac- contradict it. Obviously, if they did, there

44 tising sustainability. But if there are other cally in regard to marginalised groups. You ways that you think we could strengthen said that marginalised groups generally the Charter in this regard, we would wanted explicit statements, because they certainly welcome your suggestions. We do were worried that dominant governments not want homogenising document that might narrowly interpret things their own does not recognise difference. way. You raised the question about IMOGEN ZETHOVEN (Queensland whether some of the sub-principles should Conservation Council): I am interested in be principles in themselves. In that regard, finding out, after all the consultation is I wonder whether 10 (c), which relates to over and the Charter has been endorsed by the rights of indigenous peoples, should be the UN, how the various peoples of the a principle, rather than a sub-principle. world can use the Earth Charter in their From your past consultations, what has local and regional struggles to protect the been the view from around the world on environment. this? STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: If the Charter is STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: In Benchmark successful in winning wide endorsement, Draft I that was issued following the Rio we hope to develop curriculum materials Plus Five forum, there were general princi- for the Charter for each culture that would ples, main principles and no sub- princi- adapt it to local elementary schools and to ples at all. So there were main principles high schools. It is already being used on indigenous peoples, on youth and on extensively in universities by people gender equality and reproductive health. teaching environmental ethics or sustain- In the next draft, all those, with the excep- able development ethics or other courses in tion of the principle on gender equality, social development. We would like to have been moved to sub-principles. The promote it as an educational tool. We hope argument has been that many people have that religious groups will use it to promote pressed hard to keep the main principles in the kind of ethical transformation within the Earth Charter dealing with very broad religions which is essential if there is to be issues concerning everybody, and not to let peace in the world; to encourage within the interest of a particular group get ex- religions to develop a strong ethic of envi- pressed in the main principles. I know that ronmental stewardship or care – whatever this is a very difficult and sensitive issue. language they would want to use; and also A number of people have raised the to promote tolerance and cross-cultural question with me over the last couple of collaboration and so forth. I think the weeks about a main principle on youth. I Charter has great potential as an educa- would like to hear these things from all of tional tool, and that is already beginning to you. Should there be a main principle on happen. youth? A lot of argument here is that there The other thing we would like to see is is very good language on the rights of professional organisations translating the indigenous people in many international charter into codes of conduct. This is documents and there is not the urgency already beginning to happen in, for exam- that there was before to have a principle ple, the engineering world. Maurice Strong on indigenous peoples as a main principle has had experience with world transporta- in the Earth Charter. You have to justify tion organisations on this. That is another why you would make one for indigenous dimension. We would like businesses to peoples and for no other group. Once you take it and promote codes of conduct, open the door to having main principles on norms and standards. individual groups, the number of princi- ples in the Charter will grow tremen- PAUL JENKINS (Indigenous Land Corpo- dously, and then the people who want the ration): You spoke of the tension between short document start getting very frus- the long and the short document, specifi-

45 trated. This is very difficult because there is combustion engine’s days are numbered, no question that the situation of indige- and any corporation that does not adopt nous peoples merits special attention, but it the new technology and move to hydrogen has that attention in a number of these and solar energy and so forth, is simply not international documents that have already going to survive in the 21st century. I hope been adopted and improved. I would be people like that will support the Charter. interested in your thoughts on that. Right now you have a big split in the CHRISTINE MILNE (Tasmanian Greens): business community between those who Your Earth Charter is a direct challenge to support the climate change negotiations, the world’s most powerful multinational the Kyoto protocols, and those who oppose industries – namely, the nuclear, oil, coal them. The insurance companies are all and forestry industries. Is it not true that supporting strong government action on those industries, because they are multina- climate change. Why? Because floods and tional, will exploit state sovereignty issues storms have caused $72 billion worth of wherever they operate to make sure that damage in the past year, which is the there can be no universality in acceptance largest sum in history. They know that of this Charter by the UN ultimately as a they could be driven to bankruptcy if hard document? What consultation have climate change is not brought under con- you had with business that suggests that trol. My hope is that the number of corpo- the nuclear, oil, coal or forestry industries rate leaders that are beginning to get the will do anything other than use their message and understand it will signifi- multinational power to thwart it? cantly increase over the next few years. STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: My guess is that I think it is already happening. British there will be a real fight over this if the Petroleum has just invested a billion dollars Earth Charter starts gaining wide support in research and development on alterna- in an official way. We have not had the tive fuel systems for automobiles. Ford kind of consultation with the corporate Motor Company and Daimler-Benz have world, with the transnational corpora- both bought major interests in the Packard tions, that I know we must have. One Corporation which is one of the leading reason we have not pursued it in depth yet companies producing fuel cells which use is that it was important to get the Charter hydrogen. That may turn out to be the to a level of maturity where you could major alternative energy source in the next really stand behind it. I did not want to century. engage the corporate world in a long So the corporate world is moving. We complicated negotiation and then tell them are going to have a fight over this and in that we have changed the principles the United States it will be a big fight. But I anyway. In the course of 1999 we have to think we just have to engage it, and we go into this more deeply. will have to have these conversations. I am hopeful that people like Ray An- AILA KETO (Australian Rainforest Con- derson, for example, who runs a billion servation Society): Earlier in your speech dollar carpet manufacturing company in you mentioned the importance of this Georgia and recycles all the carpets he Charter aiming at a consensus language manufactures, will support the Earth based on a diversity of principles. The Charter. In the United States there will be Principles relating to science are important a meeting in May on sustainable develop- because science is a Western concept. I ment and corporate leaders like Ray An- notice that in Principle 13 you avoid the derson will be there. I have hopes of people use of science in the main principle, but in like Henry Ford III, the new chairman of the sub-principles, the scientific concepts the Ford Motor Company, who has come are in terms of promoting research, out publicly and said that the internal whereas traditional environmental models

46 are just simply written in terms of respect. stars twinkling out there which have a If there is going to be progress, it is impor- commercial aspect! This will have a big tant that there is some effort to recognise effect on not only the planet but also on the limitations of Western science and to the way in which we human beings see have harmony. I think perhaps the word- our skies. ing for that needs to be looked at. Secondly, to me democracy is one vote, STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: That is a very one value, one influence. There is no important suggestion, and I would like to reference in the Charter to the road to- discuss it with you further. Part of the wards global government, although I see sensitivity that is at work in that language this as a step in that direction. is that we did not want to talk about STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: Let me reply to scientific knowledge in the main principle the three issues you raised: First, the use of without also talking about traditional a capital ‘E’ for Earth. This is one of the forms of knowledge of indigenous peoples distinguishing characteristics of the Char- and local communities. When we tried to ter. The World Charter for Nature, for do that, we found that the wording got so example, is a very fine document, but it long that the principle became clumsy. The just talks about ‘nature’ as the collective idea was to keep it general in the main term for Earth. The reason that we have principle and then in the sub-principle talk used a capital ‘E’ and do not use the defi- about science and traditional forms of nite article is that this is the scientific usage knowledge. However, many indigenous of the term. Eric J. Sumner who is an groups are very sensitive if you start talk- astronomical physicist at Harvard, made ing about transferring or disseminating the comment that when scientists talk their knowledge. Many of them do not about the planet they use the proper name want that. My feeling there was to use the ‘Earth’, like ‘Mars’. When they use earth line of ‘respecting it’, but then let indige- with a lower case ‘e’, they are talking nous peoples themselves decide whether about dirt. He told us that if we wanted they want to share it, whether they want the Charter to be consistent with contem- to disseminate it, whether they want to porary scientific usage, then we should use start new initiatives to develop it. I would a capital letter. The significance of this, I welcome input here from indigenous found, when I began working with the people as to how they would like the capital ‘E’, is that when you use it as the principle framed. name of the planet, it evokes the image of BOB BROWN (Australian Greens): Con- the planet in space as it has been photo- gratulations first of all, not least on break- graphed by the astronauts. This is a very ing away from the dictionaries which different experience from talking about the make Earth the only planet that does not earth, which tends to turn it into an object take a capital letter! It is good to see Earth to be used and on which we walk around spelt with a capital ‘E’ throughout this as on a stage. So I think the literary device Charter. here is significant, as well as reflecting My question is twofold. First of all, I current scientific thinking. We were criti- woke up this morning to learn that some- cised for doing this and called ‘New Age’; one is going to send a big mirror out into the truth is that it is scientific language. space – not so that we can see what we are With reference to your question about doing to Earth, but presumably to make outer space, there is sub-principle 15(c), money. Ought not space, at least so far as which talks about the exploration and use it affects the Earth, be specifically men- of outer space in a peaceful way that is tioned because that is going to be a grow- consistent with sustainable development. ing intake, even in the way it changes our We do not have a main principle on outer night skies, to see new pseudo planets and space, and perhaps we should; this has

47 been an ongoing debate. That leads to how ber of years the legislation enacted by state to word the principle on outer space. I am governments has been about how to ‘do inclined to just let the principle be some- over’ sacred sites, rather than protect thing to the effect of ‘ensure that the them. If the Commonwealth legislation is exploration and use of outer space pro- going down that same path – and there is motes peace.’ I would welcome any sug- no mention of protection of sacred sites in gestions on outer space. the Charter – then I wonder whether 10 On your final point, we do have a sub- (d) would cover those sorts of things. principle that talks about empowering STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: The principle is local governments to take care of their own simply saying that the judicial and admin- environment. So that this is not used by istrative system should be in place so that state governments to shunt off their re- people can enforce their rights. In terms of sponsibilities for taking care of the envi- protecting the cultural heritage, if you look ronment, we have a further clause that at sub-principle 3(a), which says: ‘...accept says that responsibility for caring for the the challenge for each generation to con- environment should be fixed at the level serve, rectify and expand the intellectual, which can most effectively deal with the cultural, spiritual and natural heritage and problem. The word ‘democracy’ is pas- to transmit it safely to future generations.’ sionately embraced by many groups in That is where the issue of sacred sites and South America and India, for example, but cultural and spiritual heritage would come there are others who are worried about too into play. Perhaps there should be stronger much emphasis on democracy, so we only wording on this. I would welcome a dis- use the word twice: we talk about it in the cussion on this because it is a very impor- preamble with reference to ensuring that tant issue. all men, women and children are able to MARK O’CONNOR: I am an environ- secure their fundamental freedoms and mental writer. In terms of what is causing human rights, in that sense creating a truly environmental damage around the world, democratic world community; and then I suppose there are, broadly, two causes – we use it in the principle on governance very high per capita demands and a very where we talk about ensuring ‘inclusive large and ever-increasing human popula- democratic participation in decision- tion. The second aspect is almost entirely making’. Some people argue for ‘biocracy’ written out of the document. The only – that plants and animals should have a mention is in 11(d) or (e), where it speaks voice in the counsels of government. None- of ‘making adequate reproductive health theless, the word ‘democracy’ is very available’, which is designed to make important, so it is in the Charter. If you people responsible in their procreative can suggest ways in which we could make activities. That is a very minor commit- the presence of that term stronger, I am ment, relative to the huge hit that is being happy to hear them. made on the other cause of environmental DAVID ROSS (Indigenous Land Corpora- damage. In Third World cities the situation tion): Sub-principle 10(d) -could you is quite grim – in fact, it could be argued explain that to me? My main concern is the that sheer population growth is much protection of sacred areas or sites. At the more important than the ecological be- present time the Commonwealth govern- haviour of the people in and around those ment is in the process of amending the cities. I understand, of course, that in a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consensus document there is a lot of diffi- Heritage Protection Act in Australia and culty with conservative religious attitudes, basically they are giving powers back to and we know that the US is much more state governments, rather than having religiously conservative than Australia. But control at the national level. Over a num- it is a very interesting choice that you have

48 made to write the population issue down North often wants to emphasise the so much in the document, while writing South’s population growth rate. Of course up the environmental one. Could you the truth of the matter is that the dramatic comment on that, and your reasons for increase in population over the next 50 doing so. years will occur almost entirely in devel- STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: Yes, this is a oping nations. If you cite these two issues very important issue. In the third part of in one phrase you encompass the concerns the preamble, where we discuss the prob- of both groups and both groups are rela- lem, we do make a statement – ‘the dra- tively satisfied. matic rise in population has increased the It also makes sense, however, to talk pressures on ecological systems and over- about patterns of consumption, production burdened social systems.’ Population is and reproduction because those are the big dealt with explicitly in Principle 11, which three. So perhaps Principle 11 should be says: ‘...live sustainably by adopting pat- moved up higher in the Charter. The terns of consumption, production and reason it is where it now is to let Principle reproduction that safeguard the Earth’s 7 on human development and economic regenerative capacities’. There is a clear development, Principle 8 on eradication of statement that population must respect poverty and Principle 10 on environmental and safeguard the carrying capacity of the justice come first because many groups in planet and also that population patterns the South say that the Charter simply should respect human rights and commu- confronts people, first of all with respect- nity well-being. It is in Principle 11 that a ing and caring for the Earth, protecting the strong statement is made. environment, protecting ecological integ- Many groups would like to see the term rity, and finally you get to something about ‘population stabilisation’ used. This lan- human development. So rather than put guage has been used in some UN docu- the ‘live sustainably’ principles – another ments. However, at the Cairo and Beijing heavy set of demands – earlier in the meetings on population and women, that Charter, we have put them as a sort of language came under serious attack from summary of Principles 7, 8, 9 and 10. We groups such as the Women’s Environment could move this up, and maybe we should, Development Organisation (WEDO). The but there is a North-South discussion going argument goes like this: if you focus atten- on there. tion on population stabilisation and say The issue is a tough one. We have that is your goal, it emphasises women’s greatly softened the language about repro- fertility and this is not helpful. What you ductive health, because the argument of should do is focus on the education, health many conservative religious groups is that care and employment of women, the any reference to such language is an empowerment of women and their par- endorsement of abortion, and they are ticipation in decision-making; therefore particularly exercised if you talk about the drop the language of population control right to sexual and reproductive health, and stabilisation. We accepted the Cairo- which was the language in the first Beijing consensus language which emerged benchmark draft. However, that language from these huge UN conferences. So the was approved by the Islamic group on the language of population stabilisation is Earth Charter Commission, which in- gone. cluded Princess Basma bin Talal, of Jordan. One of the reasons why it is important Indeed, it was very carefully worked out to mention consumption, production and with her and her advisers. But some con- reproduction in the same phrase is that the servative Islamic groups, conservative South wants to emphasise Northern con- Protestant Christians and Roman Catholics sumption and production. Conversely, the still have fought this. So with WEDO,

49 which used to be headed by Bella Abzug, that fosters reproductive health and re- we negotiated this new language which is sponsible reproduction’. From the point of in 11 (f). We moved it from a main princi- view of Cairo and Beijing, we feel this is ple to a sub-principle and greatly reduced one of the single most important things the controversy of the language by saying: you can do to address the population ‘..provide universal access to health care problem.

50 3.

The role of the Earth Council in the Earth Charter

Maximo Kalaw Executive Director, Earth Council

First I would like to honour the indigenous can relate to it in terms of their own per- people who have given us space and sonal behaviour and in terms of the social welcomed us to their country. It is custom- organisations they belong to and the ary for us in the Third World to do that. political regimes they support. What I will dwell on in discussing the I will give you some of the major proc- role of the Earth Council in the Earth esses that the Earth Council is helping to Charter process is perhaps to go deeper into facilitate in the deepening of this valuing what the Earth Charter process is about. process. For the Earth Charter to be authen- Other speakers have given you a broad tic, it must address the wishes of the people. sweep, while Steven has given you a very ‘Will it help me in my poverty?’ ‘Will it help detailed presentation of one of the processes give me clean water?’ ‘Will it help to give me of the Earth Charter. However, there are peace in my community or my village?’ ‘Will two processes involved and I would like to it help commit me more to my fellows and go deeper into the other one. to Earth?’ You have heard all the details of the Unless we can answer ‘yes’ to these drafting process and all the ramifications of questions, then we are wasting our time. language. Steven has gone through that You cannot go to a village and say ‘Hey, very thoroughly, meticulously and profes- look at this beautiful document’, but not be sionally. What I would like to talk about is able to answer the question ‘What can it do this: we wanted to create an Earth Charter for the people’s situation?’ that belonged to the people – one that the Whether we are North or South, we people contributed to and had access to. The have to face the realities of the situation. It is document is not the end, but only the very interesting to note that when the beginning of that process. We call that the UNDP Development Report was quoted in valuing and differentiation process. The the New York Times and CNN, it was called purpose, as I indicated earlier, is so that ‘Kofi’s Facts’ (the UN Secretary-General’s). people can own it and say, ‘I contributed to It included interesting footnotes such as ‘80 that’ – not expert groups and UN bureau- per cent of all consumption is done by the crats, but ordinary people. Therefore, people top fifth of humanity, and only 1.3 per cent

51 is consumed by the lower fifth of humanity’; them, then we cannot contribute to a global, ‘Expenditure on cosmetics in the United universal responsibility. States is $2 billion more than what would be This is fundamental. So we encourage needed to feed the poor with basic necessi- groups and countries to have their own ties’; and ‘Europeans spend $17 billion on personal charter or national charter. But we their pets – $4 billion more than what is have to move them all into common values – needed to ensure the nutrition and health what can they contribute to the universal care of all the peoples of the world’. responsibility for taking care of the global If we are really serious about taking family and the global life process of the responsibility for Earth and its people, then Earth? It has to be in this form. Respect and these are serious matters. Unless we can say empowerment are necessary to be able to that we are serious about this focus on move from competition and conflict to village level, then the Earth Charter cannot cooperation. be a People’s Charter. We can have the The third element of the valuing proc- major forces of globalisation and some ess is this: what happens after the Charter is universal values, but unless we are able to adopted? The valuing process of the Earth localise them so that local sustainability can Charter principles cannot be meaningful or make local communities viable, then global- effective unless they are translated in at least isation cannot be viable at the same time. four basic areas with the valuing process You cannot have a healthy organism with targets. One is that they be internalised by sick cells – it is a contradiction in terms. So the person in terms of personal values. You that is what is important to address – the can read these beautiful words, but unless needs of 70 per cent of the human family, they mean something to you and unless they who live in this situation. affect your behaviour, they really do not Secondly, in the process we must ac- bring change. This requires a different knowledge – as was brought up earlier in process. This requires some kind of reflec- this forum – that differentiation is reality. tion, silencing, meditation and a process of We must accept that there are differences in internalisation. This is part of the valuing belief systems, in world views, in cultural process. practices, and even in morality of Earth’s Also, the Earth Charter process must people. This is part of the reality and also translate into work ethics, into our educa- part of the resources of the human family. tional system and into religious teaching. The main task is that from these dif- The processes need to work out how the ferences we must create common responsi- doctors, the lawyers and other professions bilities and common cooperation. The can put these principles into their codes of question was raised: ‘What will we do if we conduct. There is a representative here of have several countries that have their own the World Organisation of Engineers and national charters?’ To me this is a necessary they have gone a long way towards adopt- step. A principle that we have learned in ing some of these principles into their own this process in more than 35 countries is that code of ethics. In the UK there is a move to we must affirm, acknowledge and respect have some of these principles included in the identities of different people. We must the Hippocratic oath of doctors so that it respect their cultural and spiritual identity becomes part of their work ethic. Unless it is and thereby encourage them to use the translated into this form, it really will not charter draft to elicit their own values that take on any effective meaning. reinforce this identity. Because without In Mexico the government has legis- respect you cannot have cooperation. Unless lated that the Earth Charter principles be we first show them that we affirm who they part of the secondary educational curricu- are, and therefore their right to be able to lum of the country. The Greek Orthodox express this in terms that have meaning for Church of Russia has adopted a very stern position with regard to ecological destruc-

52 tion, naming it an ecological sin. This is So this is the process to make the Earth operational and it has practical meaning. Charter more meaningful and it is happen- At the political level, we are saying be- ing very much in all countries, especially in fore it even gets debated in the intergovern- Latin America and Central Europe where it mental process of the UN – there is a joke has become a movement – a movement that that if you put the 10 commandments into seems to offer a promise and a political that process, all of them would be in alternative to neo-liberal capitalism and the brackets! – there is a need for these princi- centralised socialist idealogy. The people are ples to form part of the national Agenda 21 taking on a notion that is, perhaps, of each country. Any negotiation in the UN grounded in their own cultural and spiritual would benefit from endorsement of coun- values and is, at the same time, focused on tries that had accepted the principles. This is sustainable development. what the Earth Council is trying to do in 56 Steven tried to describe the dynamics countries, where it is working with national of what he saw in Mato Grosso. But this councils for sustainable development – to took one year of basic national consultation put this on the table as an ethical framewok processes, where people brought out their for their national plan. When we bring it up old values, and their longing for an alterna- at the higher level of international politics at tive to address the issues of poverty and the UN, this is part of the stepping stone deprivation. That is why when Brendan towards that debate. was able finally to put the views of this The process of drafting a charter can- group together, I came with much excite- not stand alone. It has to come with differ- ment to join in this process. I remember ent mechanisms; it has to come with some years ago, at a World Fair in Mel- legislation – not only at the UN level, but in bourne, hearing about the 40,000 years or terms of translating it into national and more of Dreamtime that your Aboriginal community laws. This is one of the areas people had at Ayers Rock. That was very that the Earth Council is working on. We moving. At that fair there was a diorama in are working with parliamentarians from all holographic form, and it brought together over Latin America to look at a sustainable the promise of integrating your very rich development legislative agenda that will mythological heritage, where energy lies in create a legal framework based on the Earth terms of visions, values, and your entrepre- Charter principles. The Earth Council has neurial zeal for development. That was the initiated an Ombudsman function for promise of your Australia at that time. sustainable development. We have to be able That to me is a very exciting contribu- to gather together different disciplines that tion to the global movement of the various bridge the different value spheres in a disciplines all over the world. For what we knowledge resource facility where people are crafting is really a common conscious- can get access to them. What we are really ness, a global mind. We are crafting a bridging here are not only generations but common kind of value for a global society. also paradigms. We are bridging different But most of all, it is really the crafting of a kinds of world views and this is really the global soul, and you have a lot to contribute hard part. How do you get them together so to that. I am very pleased to be with you that each value sphere – of economics, today, representing the Earth Council in this sociology, religion – can come together and process. work out a common ethical framework for the future of humanity?

DISCUSSION

53 CHRIS TIPLER (The Collins Hill Group Pty are simply slogans. As a corporate adviser, Ltd): I actually come from the world of if I were advising you, I would say to you business – I am a strategic adviser; the role that I like the Charter, but would you of my firm is to advise corporations and please try to build in a stronger sense of government bodies on strategy. I would movement to make something happen, like to address the question of translation – instead of just assuming that it will happen how you translate principles into out- in some downstream process over which comes. Most businesses have charters and you have no control. they call those charters strategic plans. In summary I would say: the risk is that Those plans have mission statements, we will dance to Armageddon all the time goals, strategies, and most of those plans talking the language of sustainable devel- do not work. So many corporations today opment while we are going down the are questioning the value of the planning gurgler. That is what we have to avoid. process because it does not generate any A couple of examples of the sorts of outcomes. The intelligent question to ask is: things that engender movement which I How do we move out of the field of slo- can think of are: in the corporate world gans into the field of action? So many of measurement is critical. People do what the plans that you see are nothing more they are measured on. If I say to you ‘do than slogans or simply statements of what X’, but I measure you on Y, then you will we would like to see, but they have no do Y. So it is critical that this document sense of movement in them. build in as much as possible a sense of In that context, in social life – including what will be measured and how it will be that of this country – there are many measured. I do not see much of that at the examples of where the things that we say moment. are fundamentally inconsistent with the A second issue related to this is the things that we do. That is similar to corpo- question of transparency. It was touched rate behaviour. For example, in this coun- on by Professor Rockefeller. I think that is try we talk about social justice but we absolutely critical and I think the docu- constantly reduce the budgets in relation to ment could be strengthened very greatly in aged care, health and so on. In education the area of making the dissemination of you will find in almost every school a information mandatory across all levels of mission statement about the need for a government and across all corporations. In comprehensive education with broad this country right now, particularly in the values, and yet we overwhelmingly focus State where I live, we are facing real on a narrow academic curriculum, because pressure on freedom of information. It is that is what the community or the econ- harder and harder to get information from omy demands. In the corporate world we government about fundamental govern- get major companies like BHP, who talk ment processes. That is the very opposite of the language of environment in all their what we need. In the world of corpora- annual reports, but the reality is they are in tions, they basically do what the invest- the process of trashing Ok Tedi in New ment institutions tell them. BHP listens to Guinea – an appalling environmental the investment companies. Yet there is catastrophe for that country. nothing in the Charter, for example, as to When I look at the Charter in its current how we might influence corporate behav- form, I see essentially a lot of slogans. I am iour by putting enormous pressure on not criticising what is there, because as far those people who control the purse strings as it goes, I like it, it gives me a good, warm of investment. What charter are they feeling. But of the 45 sub-principles you working to? When they invest are they have there, only a handful really have any working ethically? Do we require them to sense of movement in them. Most of them work ethically?

54 I would pick up two more points. First, The draft is a state of play, but it needs education: it seems to me that the educa- to be translated into operational terms and tion agendas, the curricula, are really then it becomes a movement, both on the critical to the future. I thought the Charter corporate and professional side and on the should be more prescriptive about what it educational side. I think we are getting believes education should be. Secondly, the there, and that is what distinguishes this control of the media: in my view the media effort of the Earth Charter from the previ- in this country is almost out of control. It ous work of just drafting. What is sup- reinforces very destructive values associ- posed to be well thought-out sometimes ated with materialism; it reinforces very turns out to be just a slogan and people little that has to do with care and consid- cannot connect with it. You have put your eration and genuine compassion for others. finger on the problem. Finally, I want to touch on the question STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: Could I just add of regulation and punishment. There is one comment to that? There is a plan to very little in the Charter at the moment develop goals and measures for each about the fact that if you do wrong you go principle. What we would like to do is to gaol. In any sane system there has to be have an accompanying document that lists appropriate emphasis on punishing what four, five, or 10 goals that communities is inappropriate and anti-social. In sum- could pursue if they wanted to implement mary, I think what you are doing is won- these principles. Then there would be derful; I think that real intelligence is being measures that they could use to determine applied to the principles that are there, but whether these goals had been reached. I think what is missing is a sense of move- That is something that has not yet been ment. developed, but when the document MAXIMO KALAW: Thank you, that is reaches a high level of maturity, we need precisely the crux of the matter – how do to sit down and work that out very specifi- we bridge the various incongruences, from cally. Thank you for your comments. personal morality to systems morality. IAN BROWN (Australian Committee for What people hold as their moral values IUCN): You talked about principles, sub- does not get translated to the system of principles, and the hierarchy of the docu- labour laws, and fair practices. It is not just ment. But there is within the principles because these are just slogans, but they also a hierarchy. Some of them are to do have not moved on to the operational with broad matters such as the terms. First, there has to be an under- sustainability of life on Earth, and some are standing of the larger process and the to do with those processes that might lead larger picture. Even in business the whole us towards this sustainability. Some of issue of value stream management can be them in fact are quite precise – prescrip- expanded so that the value stream is really tions almost – for those things that might congruent with the value stream of the assist the processes of achieving market, the community and its eco-system, sustainability. I am thinking here of Princi- because that is what sustains the business. ple 9, which is the promotion of gender But we have not done that yet. equality. This, in itself, is obviously a very It is very important that we do not just significant, fundamental and important consult, but we go through the process of part of human society. Its relationship to the praxis. This is where the movement the environment, presumably, is that this is starts. The movement is starting in local one of the mechanisms that will enable the communities and in a very few enlightened process of sustainability to be achieved; the business and professional groups, like the process of sustainability is towards main- engineers. This is what is needed and this taining life and the functioning of the is what we hope to target. Earth’s eco-systems. How much tension

55 has there been in the drafting of this LEE BELL (Conservation Council of West- document – the hierarchy within the ern Australia): My question relates to the principles themselves and the interrelation issue you raised of valuing and divisioning between principles? Also, does tension the process for the Earth Charter. My arise from the insertion of social values particular interest is how that relates to which are for the common good of hu- local communities. Increasingly there is a manity and which may not, of themselves, trend towards a rationalist, scientific be directly related to sustainability? interpretation of environmental problems STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: The assumption and issues. One I am familiar with is is that all the principles are interdependent contaminated sites. The way that govern- – that you cannot achieve any of them ments look at those sorts of issues is to without working with all of them. In terms basically summarise the situation in terms of the hierarchy here, there is no question of dollars and cut-off levels for what is that some principles, like the poverty acceptable and what is not in this Western principle, could be made a sub-principle of scientific, rationalist paradigm. How can the human development principle. It has we use the Earth Charter, through its been pulled out and highlighted because it drafting process or in a soft law form, to is such a major issue. If you are looking at bring some sense of humanity to the way the structure of the Charter very logically, governments look at environmental issues this does create some problems. Some of and to address the more holistic part of the the principles are broad, some are very problem, which is not just the scientific specifically targeted. I do not know how to rationalist basis of looking at it, but the get around that. What will help settle those wider one of human rights and human issues is when you try and develop and empowerment in the face of those envi- abbreviated version of the Charter, then ronment problems? you have to ask: what has to be there for MAXIMO KALAW: The experience we had people to be satisfied? That has been the in working with communities is really not criterion for keeping gender equality and to get stuck with what the government poverty as main principles. But there is a says. It is a people’s process, although the tension around that problem and if you government is invited to participate in that have some suggestions as to how we can process. To give you an example of a work it out, it would be very helpful. process we conducted in the Philippines: There are those who would like to we conduct a council for everyone from eliminate any structure in the principles, the communities, for indigenous people who would just like 15 principles – no and for politicians. They can say anything. general principles, no set of 12 that flow You would be surprised how the politi- from them. That is another way of doing cians felt about this after speaking at these this. But the intention in listing them is not gatherings – they did not realise there was to put them down as one being more so much grief until the people were al- important than the other, but rather to try lowed to talk this way and the community to create some meaningful way of cluster- came together in that kind of cooperation. ing them and organising them. We are still It is about respect and about going deeper struggling with that. Right now we have into the psyche of the community, into the three that are very general and cover the deeper sources of its energy. For the first big picture; three that deal with ecosystems time, the value of the self, and its resources and all living beings; then four or five that – both cultural and ethnic – are available deal explicitly with sustainable develop- for helping the community come together. ment; then a cluster on governance, educa- FAYEN d’EVIE (Earth Charter Youth tion and peace. That is the way it has Project Officer): Both you and Maurice progressed. have talked this morning about part of the

56 validity of the Earth Charter coming from translate it into government policies; you the process itself and from it being a peo- need the professional groups. In some ple’s charter. What happens once that countries we have organised what we call process has gone on and there has been a values circles. There are values facilitators global consensus about an Earth Charter? in the lawyers group, the doctors group How do you make sure that the Earth and so on. These values facilitators organ- Charter remains dynamic and that there is ise themselves into what is the equivalent that commitment from those future gen- of quality circles, but only looking at as- erations of people who have not partici- sessing their work in terms of values. This pated in the process? is an ongoing support system that analyses MAXIMO KALAW: There are two things how or why things are being implemented to keep in mind here. The Earth Charter is in their professions. So designating values a living document; it is never closed. It is facilitators and values circles as support also a transparent document. But at the groups has been very helpful in some same time you need the mechanism to areas, even in government bureaucracies. translate it; you need a national council to

57 EARTH CHARTER THEMES: DISCUSSION SESSIONS

58 59 DISCUSSION SESSION 1.

Does sustainable development mean business as usual?

Chair: Mr Don Henry Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation

Angela Hazebroek Forum Facilitator, Hassell Pty Ltd

First, I would like to acknowledge the initiated by four or five short presentations Ngunnawal people, on whose land we are by speakers who have been invited by the today. I thank them for their welcome this Committee to present their personal and morning and for their hospitality. professional views on a specific aspect of I am a town planner by profession, but sustainable development. This will be a bit I hope you will not hold that against me! I different from other conferences you might have spent more than a decade in practice have attended where the presenters are the in community consultation and community experts who are there to inform and educate development processes. I got involved some you. That is not their role today. They have months ago, thinking how we might take been given a very short period – only 10 the ideas of the Earth Charter out to the minutes – not to provide an expert view community and enable them to have a say. with which you can agree or disagree, but My role this afternoon is to be facilitator for to be stimulators and catalysts. They will the forum. illustrate the range of issues which the We will now begin the first of our dis- relevant Earth Charter principles cover. cussions on the four themes, selected by the It is important to stress that they have forum organisers to promote dialogue about no advantage over you in terms of having the fundamental principles that underlie the had the latest draft of the Earth Charter any Earth Charter. Each discussion will be earlier. Most of them have seen it for the

60 first time today. What they will do is There are a diversity of values between provide some insight into the values and the countries, within countries, within organisa- views that surround each topic. You will be tions and even within families. The Earth encouraged to reflect on what the Earth Charter process is not about neutralising Charter principles mean to you in your this diversity, but about acknowledging it. personal, professional and community lives. Together, we need to commit ourselves to Every one of you is an expert on your own finding the common ground so that we can values and every one of you is the person find solutions to our common problem of responsible for deciding how you will caring for Earth. express those in all aspects of your life. My role at the forum is to assist you in A fundamental aim of the Earth Char- moving towards that purpose, to ensure ter project is to make explicit the ethical that we respect each other’s views and framework, and we have heard a lot about values and that we move beyond positions that this morning. An ethical framework to principles. The process will be most cannot be imposed from above. It needs to effective if you hardly notice I am here, so I emerge from our respectful dialogue. Our will only intervene if I feel that we have got deliberations need to be based on the stuck in positions or if we have got into a fundamental values we hold about life and debate that is not moving us forward. I look our guidance should be the kind of Austra- forward to your contributions in helping us lia we want to leave for our children and to make the principles of the Earth Charter our grandchildren, as well as the one we a defining framework for ethical action in want to enjoy today. this land and on our Earth.

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES a. Christopher Griffin Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd

It is really good to be here and to be a emotional such as the negatives associated sponsor of this conference. You are probably with landfills. It makes it very hard. wondering how we, in a waste manage- Having said that, I stress that there is a ment company, are going to get into sus- need for our industry. Earlier we heard how tainable development. We have been asking there are many cities in the world that are ourselves that question for a long time also very dirty, and we have an important role in and it is only recently we have decided we keeping our cities clean. We can reduce might as well make it official and let people illness and disease. know about it! However, the important issue is that Our industry, because of the type of people after we have collected the waste, that involved and because of the emotions it waste is then treated correctly – it is treated attracts, has drawn some bad publicity. so that it is innocuous and it does not harm There are renegades out there who engage the environment and everyone on the in illegal tipping and bad habits like that, planet. and there are other issues that are very Many people in the industry do want to get involved in what we are talking about

61 here today. But they do not know how to We believe that the only way we can handle it and they do not want to stick their maximise what we can do is to get involved head up in case it is going to get chopped with people like yourselves and people off. We are prepared to stick our head up within each of the communities in which we and if it gets chopped off, well, at least we work. We have done some of this already, will have had a go. and are seeing the benefits of it. Commer- One of the questions posed this cially also, we are doing well. morning was: how do we move forward? Apart from pledging Collex’s com- That is a big question, and it is one that our mitment to sustainable development, I also industry has thought hard about. As I want to highlight the problems we are up mentioned, we have just stated officially against because of the perception of our that we are into sustainable development. industry. I do not know how to overcome When we implemented our quality assur- that one. If anyone has any ideas, please ance system, we considered the ways to go. come and talk to us. I had a meeting with One way to go was to bring in outside Janice Mifsud, from Interface, earlier this consultants to define the processes and tell week. Janice said: ‘You do not really want to the company how to get accreditation. We talk to me, Chris.’ I asked why not, and she could then pay them a $50,000 cheque, and said: ‘We are talking nil waste, we are not worry about it anymore. Then we said: talking nil omissions, we are talking no ‘No, hold on. That is not the way to go. The water discharges’. I said: ‘But Janice, we are way to go is to learn what quality is about. happy with that.’ She then said: ‘But Chris, Document the processes and understand we are going to do you out of business!’ I what it is all about. Let us have a new replied: ‘No, not really. We can run your internal culture and get accreditation. Then waste water plant for you. We can collect let us have a sustainable quality system, so that second-hand carpet and take it back to that as the years go on we can continue be recycled.’ Then she said: ‘Well, maybe we with our accreditation with ease. Let us can work together.’ I said: ‘We certainly develop our people.’ can. That is the only way we, as an indus- We intend to head down a similar try, and you, as a company, can push track in our company and develop such a forward.’ I thought that was a very good culture within Collex. It is not easy in the meeting. waste industry. People are going to have a Sometimes it is not what people learn lot of difficulty getting their head around about what other people do; it is what ‘triple bottom line’, and words like that. mistakes they make. I have asked Janice on However, if we do it in-house, we can call a number of occasions to tell me about the on some outside consultants who are very mistakes she has made on the way along. good and who will help us through the She has told me and I have got a lot out of process. We will develop champions within that. I think that is one of the things we each State; we will take the message out; should be talking about here today: What and we will work with the community. have we done wrong? Let’s talk about it. How can we fix it for the future? b. Neil Gordon Energy Australia

Thank you all for inviting me today; it is a awe, listening to the expertise of the panel pleasure and a privilege to be here. I must and wondering how I was going to fit in admit that I sat here this morning in some with this!

62 My background is in technology and of the greenhouse gases emitted are energy engineering. I work with Energy Australia related. Thirty per cent of those come and the energy area is the one to which I directly from the generation of electricity. will direct my remarks today, which will be Not only does it mean that for us in the delivered more from a personal point of energy industry ‘business as usual’ is view than from a company perspective. nothing like what we will be doing as we When I was first asked to speak, I move to sustainable development in the wondered what approach I should take. longer term, but also it means that this is a Then I posed the question: what can be very important issue for me as an energy done to engage business in the revolution professional in the energy industry. that is sustainable development; what The world-wide trend from public changes are required to protect our planet? I ownership and control in the energy want to talk about what that means. industry to private ownership and open Coming from the energy business, I markets has caused quite a bit of protest. must emphasise that, clearly, sustainable There is a current debate here in the ACT, development does NOT mean business as as there is around Australia and all over the usual. If we look back over the broad sweep world. At a personal level I happen to of human history, we see that our intellect believe that it is the right way to go because has set us apart and become our main I think it can harness more power for survival tool. The reason we have survived change than the older constructs with and flourished on this planet is the fact that which we were working before. we have used our intellect. But we have In the same way that it can be said used that intellect to adapt our environment that democracy is the worst form of gov- to our needs, rather than to change our- ernment except for all the others, I think selves to adapt to our environment. That has open markets are probably the worst way to meant we have an ability to live here; it has manage economic systems – except for all also led to most of the damage and most of the others! The problem is that we often do the difficulties that we now face. not get the drivers right. The markets are I do not subscribe to an anti- powerful, but again they are just a tool, technology, anti-business view of the albeit a very powerful one. If we set them sustainable development argument. We base up with wrong drivers they will powerfully our views on the history of how this species drive us into the wrong place. and civilisation have developed. The use of I want to make some comments about our intellect and the way in which we some things that we have done at Energy approach our problems suggests to me that Australia that engage business in this debate technology and the engagement of business, and also about some government actions. which is one of the prime tools of this Before I do this, I stress that I do not mean human civilisation, will be some of the key by this to criticise governments. I think there elements in the solution to our environ- is too much in this debate of people hiding mental sustainability problems. behind faceless facades. On both sides of the Of course a very significant part of equation, governments, organisations and using those new approaches we are devel- businesses are made up of people just like oping will be energy. At the same time that you and me. Those people all have the same energy is at the crux of the solutions to sorts of basic drives, needs and desires as we providing sustainability on our planet, it is do. If we think through these arguments also one of the key problems. One of the and relate them to what the problems are most threatening global issues at the mo- and if people will consult rather than blame, ment is global warming. It is so predomi- we can do some more profitable things. nantly driven by the way we use and In Australia at the moment there is an manage energy that it is on both sides of the electricity market that functions very well in equation. In Australia more than 60 per cent an economic sense, and it is probably one of

63 the better market structures in the world. way to reduce greenhouse emissions, it But it has not delivered any environmental suddenly became an industry development improvements. So people have got scared initiative. After it was pointed out that it about that and it has led to the introduction was a very inefficient and expensive indus- of a series of regulations, which are at- try development initiative, it became both tempting to work against the market and and now it is somewhere in between. trying to change some of those outcomes. This is the wrong way to manage In New South Wales, where I come these things. These approaches fail to from, there is a regulation that if you want engage the market and the business – they to be an electricity retailer you must hold a fail to work with it. They are working licence. If you want to hold a licence you against the natural forces of the market and must develop strategies for the reduction of the natural desires of the business. In the greenhouse gases attributable to the energy time I have been engaged in working with you supply. Three years down the track industry procedures, I have noticed that since that regulation passed into law we still there is an ethos in a lot of regulatory have the spectacle of the government trying departments. It goes along the lines ‘if they to work out what the methodology should are not complaining a lot, then we probably be, how it should be recorded and meas- are not doing the right thing.’ You cannot ured. We still have the situation where we work with those who regulate and get the are trying to impose State controls over right objective when they believe that if something that is traded in the national people are not complaining, they are market. We are failing to recognise the fact probably not trying hard enough! I think that electricity, by virtue of its real nature, that leads to much bad regulation. cannot be traced from the point where it is They have failed to include any ability used back to the source it came from in the to create value, or to internalise the costs of interconnected market system. We are environmental degradation. If you look at trying to build regulations that would have the Draft Earth Charter, there are principles worked in the old context of regional in there that talk about ‘reflecting the cost of monopolies, but that do not work in the environmental degradation through end current market situation. This has led to a prices’. That is a very important fundamen- great deal of uncertainty, regular changes of tal principle. Economic systems do not work the rules and, not surprisingly, no signifi- in an environmental externality. Internalis- cant impact in any way on greenhouse ing those costs is an important part of the emissions. answer. If we leap up to Commonwealth level, I’d like to talk now in terms of not just the picture is not much better. Prior to passing costs, but of passing value. There is Kyoto the Prime Minister made a statement a value that can be attached to sustainable about a range of policies, one of which was development. We need systems that enable a requirement that all retailers and large those values to be captured. Businesses exist users in Australia would have to buy 2 per fundamentally to create value for others and cent more renewable energy by the year to be rewarded for creating that value. If we 2010. Similarly, we are still bogged down in want to harness the great drive of business trying to work out how to measure it, how and the ability for business as a tool of to enact it and how to manage it. Nothing humanity to really change things, then much has happened and there have been business must be able to create value from similar problems. But also this suffers from sustainability. being far too prescriptive and not allowing How might that be done? First, it is innovation to come to bear to reduce apparent that some people are prepared to greenhouse emissions. When it was pointed pay more for environmentally friendly out that this Commonwealth initiative products. A survey in 1997 showed that 87 would be a very expensive and ineffective per cent of people said they were prepared

64 to buy products if they were more environ- those who can comply more easily and mentally friendly. We have a product which cheaply can trade with those who have we call pure energy, which means that difficulty in complying over particular time customers can pay more for their power and frames. It also provides much higher in exchange we guarantee that we will buy efficiency and is a much more cost effective power from renewable sources. We now solution. have a portfolio of sources covering the This engages the innovation in society range of solar, wind, hydro and biomass. – the ability of all the different people in the We had 7,000 people sign up in the first society as they think about ways to solve the year. That demand has driven our ability to problem. They can all realise that they are invest, for example, in the largest solar part of that value. I am completely and power station in the southern hemisphere. utterly confident that if we introduce such a All that has happened in the course of about comprehensive scheme we will discover that 18 months and there has been some real dealing with the greenhouse problem in greenhouse saving. I, of course, subscribe to Australia is far cheaper and far easier to do 100 per cent pure energy. It costs me the than we currently think it is, using our equivalent of one cup of cappuccino per normal approach of deciding how to do it, week – it is pretty incidental in terms of cost, then costing it and telling Treasury that it but I know that when I turn the light on in will destroy the country’s economy. my house, the greenhouse effect is not being It works in concert with the market. enhanced. It is an important personal The users at the far end actually see the statement, and I believe that is a very costs. The electricity prices will rise. That powerful way for me to capture the value will enable you to use less and make a that I hold dear. I want to protect the greater saving; therefore you are at the very environment and I am prepared to pay end of the chain, participating in the something extra. If a lot of people do that, solution. But all the way down the line all the leverage will be enormous. those other solutions can be engaged by all That is one way to realise the value of sorts of people so that the costs are reduced. sustainability, but it is limited. It provides a It can also accommodate sources other good demonstration of alternatives and how than electricity and it does not have to be things can be done, but in order to make a industry-specific. Indeed, it should not be. substantial difference, we need a much The cap can be very precise, the government broader framework. We all need to bring to can exactly control the amount of emissions bear our force on governments and get because it knows how many permits there governments to work with business and are. It can also integrate with carbon sinks with markets to start to create new systems. and it can integrate with the international The sort of example I can draw in the trading market. I think the thing the gov- case of energy is tradeable emissions per- ernment has to avoid is the temptation to mits. They were talked about at Kyoto, they convert it into a tax for a revenue grab, have been talked about here, but everyone which seems to happen to a lot of good thinks they are too hard. In fact, they are a ideas. lot easier. The idea is that you establish a set The reason I gave those examples was of permits. You can emit greenhouse gases if to draw up some big principles. I believe you own a permit. There are a fixed number that in order to achieve sustainable devel- of permits, and you can trade those permits. opment and sustainability for the planet we The permit is the way we can create value – will need to harness the power and drive of holding the permit means that you have business. We cannot say this is something value. Alternatively, the cost of a permit can we have to do despite business. Business is be seen as an internalising of the cost of going to be the key tool and business is only environmental degradation into the chain. comprised of people. Many businesses are Trading means that we can provide equity – going to have to make very significant

65 changes to their ‘business as usual’ scenar- process involves a lot of people, and if any ios. This will require a great deal of invest- of them get scared, the likely decision is for ment of time, money and resources. There no change. needs to be the opportunity for businesses to That will not come from piecemeal create value from sustainability. and short-term focus that we are getting One of the greatest needs is certainty. from governments particularly. We need to You are not going to get investment or get together and change that focus and take change with uncertainty. One of the a much stronger, longer-term view of greatest defeaters of change is uncertainty. creating sustainable markets that will be If we are not sure that we want to do it, the driven by that core value of sustainability, easiest thing to do is keep on with what we supported by a broad international consen- are doing. That applies to all of us, not just sus of the type that is being cultivated here, businesses. But it is particularly so in which really is our all agreeing that this is business because the decision-making the way we want to live.

c. Mr Mick Dodson Centre for Indigenous Law

May I also join with other speakers in and more particularly a perspective from expressing my gratitude for the welcome my part of the planet, which is in the this morning from Agnus and the Ngun- Kimberleys. nawal people. It is very good to be on your I hear and see a different language ancestral land. being used in the draft Charter, some of I am a lawyer and my interest in the which disturbs me because it has the stench last decade or so has been in the promotion of ‘business as usual’. We heard, for exam- and protection of human rights of indige- ple, language suggesting that we talk about nous peoples, not only in this country but compassion in relation to the creatures of throughout the world. the earth, the non-humans. I do not have I once heard someone say that sus- any problem with the use of that word in tainable development is a bit like fornicating the Charter, but it must be coupled with a with a virgin. I do not take that view, but number of other words – for example, the one of the things that strikes me in the word ‘respect’ and perhaps the word approach to sustainable development is that ‘protection’. To me, ‘compassion’ is a word there does not seem to be any real ques- that conjures up paternalism. It is a patron- tioning or critical analysis of Rio and the ising word; it is also a word that evokes original agenda. In so far as it is reflected in welfarism in my view. protecting the rights and interests of indige- When you look at our historical con- nous people, there are fundamental flaws in nection and association with the land in my the original agenda. I think it is not unrea- part of the world, in the context of our sonable to conclude that if you start from a spiritual and religious traditions, you see flawed basis you will have a flawed out- that these creatures are the present-day come. So perhaps we need some more embodiment of our ancestors. They are energy focused on the original blueprint. people who have been transformed into the As to ‘business as usual’, I do not kangaroo or the emu. So there is compas- speak on behalf of the world’s indigenous sion, but there is also deep respect for those peoples’ perspective; I come here to speak as beings. We have songs for them, paintings an indigenous person with a perspective for them and stories for them. We dance for

66 them. This is a different perspective – the discrimination. That is probably the most way that the indigenous person views the important human principle of all, yet we planet and the way in which it can be have an Earth Charter that is too afraid to nourished, enriched and sustained. It is so spell it out as a main principle. much part of the culture of my people in my What will result from that is a licence part of north-west Western Australia. for racial discrimination and we have seen it These things are so interlocked, so in- in Australia in so many ways – such as extricably interwoven – our world view, our native title legislation, proposed heritage spiritual condition, our religious ceremonies changes and the process of reconciliation. I and the way in which we do things, our will not have time to deal with those and association with the environment and our perhaps we can raise them in discussion whole society, its politics and economics. during the plenary sessions. These are all part of the unit. When we call What has happened in the process of the Earth ‘mother’, of course we will have the amendments to the Native Title Act is compassion for her creatures, but above all, that we have been seen at the federal level there is a deep respect and a burning desire as an important but unequal stakeholder. to protect. Our rights and interests, our right to One of the other things that strikes me property, has been dealt with. That is why as being a bit ‘business as usual’ is this. in using words like ‘compassion’ instead of When you examine the present circum- ‘respect’ and ‘protection’, you diminish the stances of indigenous people around the position of that stakeholder. You would world, the inescapable conclusion is that we think our place as a stakeholder in native are in those circumstances because of what title would be paramount, because it nation states have done to us over the past fundamentally affects our property interests. 500 years through the colonisation process. But our role as a stakeholder was almost In many countries, those colonising nations obliterated in the process. We were almost have returned to their own environments, made invisible. As a result, you have a piece but some have stayed – as is the case with of legislation that is unequal, unfair, dis- Australia. What has happened here and criminatory and, above all, treats the stake what continues to happen, when new of indigenous Australians in a racially settler states are in power, is that the discriminatory way. For example, you get a colonisation process continues. In relation to situation where we are removed as a the concept of sustainable development, stakeholder, where the Commonwealth, those who have power must be prepared to through racially discriminatory laws, allows let go some of that power. When you talk the Queensland Government to recently about stakeholders, you have to talk about pass laws in relation to grazing homestead equal stakeholders. You have to talk about perpetual leases. This takes indigenous stakeholders in terms of human rights and interests out of 16 per cent of the land mass in terms of principles that underpin those of the state of Queensland, just removes us human rights. A healthy, safe environment altogether as a stakeholder – not by adher- is a human right of all peoples. ing to principles of equality and non- If you are going to honour, respect discrimination, but by the brutal exercise of and protect human rights, you have to do it power. We are yet again recolonised, according to fundamental principles. Three marginalised, dispossessed and taken out of of those principles are: first, it has to be done any opportunity to have some meaningful on the basis of equality; secondly, it has to say and make some decisions about envi- be done in a spirit of non-discrimination; ronmental sustainability. Thus we are and thirdly, and above all, it has to ensure unable to transfer and transmit our values that there is an absolute prohibition of racial to the environment.

67 d. Alec Marr National Campaign Manager, The Wilderness Society

First of all I would like to thank the Ngun- Earth’s creatures in the process. Our fellow nawal people for giving permission for this creatures have the right to exist for their conference to be held on their land. My own sake, for many of them human re- subject is whether ‘sustainable development’ straint will be pivotal to their survival. means business as usual. Because I do not I do not believe that achieving ecologi- want to keep you hanging in suspense, cally sustainable development will be an wondering if I think ‘sustainable develop- event. It will be a process that will take ment’ means business as usual, the short many generations and it will take an answer is – no! enormous effort against some very powerful Some people of course start from the vested interests. A crucial step on the road premise that every bit of development the road to sustainable development will be undertaken since the advent of agriculture a philosophical and ethical change in the about 10,000 years ago has been ecologically way that our species sees itself in relation to sustainable. I’m not one of those people. If our planet and the other species on it. For you are one of those people, you have to me this is what is at the heart of the Earth start answering tricky little questions like Charter and why The Wilderness Society where did the cedar forests of Lebanon go? enthusiastically supports the work of the Where is all that top soil from Oklahoma – Earth Charter Committee. given that most of it is not in Oklahoma The Earth Charter process quickly cuts anymore? Who misplaced all those passen- through the public relations rhetoric and ger pigeons and why do all the pig-footed forces the participants to confront real bandicoots hang out with Elvis? philosophical and ethical choices. For Although the idea of ecologically sus- instance I have no doubt that many indige- tainable development is eminently sensible it nous people will be demanding that mining is also extraordinarily confronting, at a developments should not proceed on their personal level, at a national level and for traditional lands without their express humanity as a species. It will require a permission. I have no problem with that fundamental re-evaluation of our place in whatsoever, but I’m going to enjoy hearing the scheme of things. We will have to vastly the mining industries response. improve the way we interact with each The environmental, social and eco- other as human beings. nomic problems facing humanity are not Indigenous people will have to have new, though they are even more urgent their rights recognised and respected, we today. People may have got excited by the will have to redefine the relationship Bruntland Commission report but many of between our species and all other species, the ideas were already established for and just as importantly the ecosystems that instance, Aldo Leopold calling for a ‘land they rely on to survive. ethic’ back in the 1940s. Also in the 1940s, I start from the fundamental premise Gandhi was asked by a supporter how long that human beings should have a right to it would be before India was as rich as exist as a species, but it is a right which England. Gandhi responded with a question should be shared by all other species. We that I think was an elegant answer: ‘if it cannot continue to use our ingenuity and took half of the world to make England as technology to exploit every possible ecologi- rich as it is, how many worlds will it take to cal niche without obliterating many of the make India that rich?

68 Some industries will never be sustain- 12C in the current draft of the Earth able and should be closed down. For Charter. instance those involved in the nuclear fuel It is hardly surprising that, given the cycle: uranium mining, nuclear reactors, etc. complexity of the problem and the sheer These are the easy ones to identify as a good scale of the difficulty involved in achieving sign post on our way to sustainable devel- sustainable development, many panaceas opment. If this sounds outrageous and are offered. unrealistic and fairies at the bottom of the Some people believe that only working garden then we need to remember that that with industry and government in a coopera- obscure little country the Federal Republic of tive manner can achieve results. I believe Germany has just decided to phase out its this can work – sometimes. nuclear industry. Sweden has a phase out Conservation groups including The policy. Norway, Denmark and our next Wilderness Society, Indigenous people, door neighbor New Zealand never had a industry and government are working in a nuclear industry. The Germans and Swedes cooperative manner to protect Cape York. I are heading down the path toward sustain- am expecting to see some very large and able development on the nuclear issue, this important areas of Cape York protected and shows that even when we take a wrong handed back to the control of its traditional turn it can be changed. owners later this year. The greatest gesture of goodwill from If the planet is in trouble, governments industries such as woodchipping, uranium and industry who currently dominate our mining and their ilk is to close down societies have an important role to play in voluntarily and save civil society mobilising solving the problems. Clearly, at least in to do the job. The response of industry and fairly safe , mobilisation of civil Government to the environmental crisis is as society will be crucial. varied as the rest of their population’s. Some Why will it not be business as usual? are genuinely trying, some are still in denial Because conservation NGOs are committed mode, some are aggressively hostile. to 12D, that is: ‘Holding governments, Some people believe that most indus- international organisations and business tries and Governments are inherently enterprises accountable to the public for the untrustworthy and disingenuous. Unfortu- consequences of their activities’. nately, this is currently a large part of the An example of this is conservation Australian experience. It is also a significant groups’, including The Wilderness Society’s, part of the experience around the world. In support for the Mirrar, the traditional many parts of the world many social change owners of the section of Kakadu covered by activists are dispirited, exhausted, cynical the Jabiluka uranium lease. and fear for their lives. Many have been The company concerned, ERA, and killed for trying to bring about change. it’s parent company North Limited are two Some companies are still doing busi- of the worst in Australia. If building a ness as usual. For instance, in Nigeria one uranium mine on the land of the traditional particular company is working hand in owners against their will is not bad enough, glove with the Government to terrrorise and they are doing it in the middle of a World murder the indigenous people, the Ogoni, Heritage area. for the oil beneath their traditional lands. If Thankfully people from all walks of you think that is appalling, you are right. If life around Australia and around the world you think that it could not happen in a have mobilised to assist the Mirrar in their civilised country, you should be aware that fight to protect their country. As a result you can visit one of that company’s outlets around 500 people have been arrested and within a few kilometers of here. I have the World Heritage Committee has called raised the Ogoni experience simply as a way for an immediate stop to all construction of highlighting the need for clauses such as activities. The Government and company

69 have ignored their call. It is possible that to developments, instead of paying in- Kakadu will be placed on the World Heri- dustry associations to do the dirty work tage in danger list in July. We are also for them. Publicly calling for the protec- mobilising the community to pressure banks tion of ecosystems, etc. such as Westpac to stop funding the project. · establish an international activists One of North’s other activities is university to train people in how to mo- woodchipping rainforest in the Tarkine bilise civil society at every level. wilderness and in some of the tallest forests · use the Earth Charter as an important in the world in Tasmania’s southwest. This vehicle to drive the ethical debate. is not a company interested in sustainable I think the latest draft of the Earth development! We generally communicate Charter is a vast improvement on previous with them via press release! versions. I think the balance is getting closer We all know that many in government to what is required. If the Earth Charter and industry have taken the view that there simply becomes another anthropocentric is no environmental problem, there is simply document which simply strives to ensure a public relations problem. There is no that all of humanity gets an even share of environmental problem that can not be the spoils while the planet is degraded then removed from the public eye by spending it will have failed. At its core the Earth enough money on public relations. Who said Charter must be about the totality of life on conservationists do not create jobs? There is Earth to remain relevant. Of course we must a whole section of the public relations create a set of circumstances which allow industry employed to keep environment people to protect Earth without dying of issues off the front page! In fact it has a starvation or being killed for trying to stop great multiplier effect. Every time the the damage. conservation movement employs an activist Perhaps the next crucial step in our on $20-30,000 dollars per year industry own spiritual evolution will be to allow employs at least a couple of PR people on other creatures enough physical room on $100,000 and the government takes on our planet to evolve unhindered by us. I another six bureaucrats. believe the Earth Charter has the potential Some tips on the way forward: to be one of the spring boards for the leap in · woodchipping of native forest and all consciousness which will be required before industries associated with the nuclear we achieve sustainable development. fuel cycle should be phased out immedi- I would like to congratulate everybody ately. involved in the Earth Charter process. For · companies should cut their public industry and government to participate in relations budget in half and spend the this process takes genuine courage. To help savings on genuinely engaging with the sponsor such a forum, I think, shows community and changing unsustainable exceptional leadership. The fact that this practices. process is underway at all is an important · companies need to demonstrate pubic sign that – at least for those of us involved in leadership on policy issues relating to the Earth Charter – sustainable develop- sustainable development, eg. public sup- ment can never mean business as usual! port of traditional owners right to say no

DISCUSSION

70 CHAIR: We now have a period of time for while I deeply respect your ethical ap- discussion. My colleagues here have given proach, I think that in many ways we have us plenty to work with. I think we have sidestepped the real issue there. It is a heard clearly from this small group that question of whether our lifestyle is sustain- ‘business as usual’ is not good enough. We able and whether perhaps we have al- have heard about some actions that can ready got too many people for this conti- occur in the business arena; we have also nent to carry. heard a loud cry for fundamental change FABIAN SACK: It is dangerous to paint the to ensure that as a species we do not end picture too bleakly. I am also wary of going up with the pig-footed bandicoots hanging down the ‘we’ve got too many people’ line; out with Elvis! I think there are some dangerous ethical If I might make a personal observation: issues down that path. Obviously we are if we all look at our own values and put- talking about behaviour change and that is ting those values into practice, can we a slow thing to happen. There are various honestly say that any of us are doing government, private sector and commu- enough in our own lives for our communi- nity-based activities which try to drive ties, through the companies and organisa- towards behaviour change. Under the tions we work with or through govern- rubric of demand management there are a ments that represent us, to really bring lot of activities aimed at reducing the about the amount of fundamental change community’s use of water. There is a lot of that is required, given the challenges we research going into re-use cycles. For face? instance, Sydney Water has made a com- mitment not to build a new dam in the We have had a very insightful and pas- foreseeable future, which is a change from sionate reminder that silence and inaction past policy. This is not a new commitment, are as much a licence for ‘business as but it is a fairly major thing of long-term usual’ as business as usual is. significance. It is not all gloom. PAUL COLLINS (Catholic Church and the DAVID BENNETT (The Australian Charter Committee): I have terrible prob- Academy of Humanities): I have two lems with this term ‘sustainable develop- reflections: the first one is whether the ment’. Let us just take the example of Earth Charter should use the Australian water. This is not in any way directed at version of ecologically sustainable devel- Sydney Water, it is a reality for all our opment – that notion which lifts ‘sustain- rivers. You get water for cities by damming able development’ from an oxymoron into the rivers. Just look at the Snowies and at something meaningful. Secondly, I want to the Murray-Darling. The simple reality is ask Chris if he knows of anyone with that the way in which we use water is intractable waste problems who has gone utterly unsustainable. You have to dam back to the manufacturers and said to rivers in order to supply water for a city of them: ‘If you can build a better cradle end four million people, such as Sydney. I item we can give you a better return at the really respect the three gentlemen from grave end and save you money.’ For in- business here today because they have stance, I know that Mercedes Benz is tried to address serious ethical issues. But it trying to build cars which can be recycled. seems to me that all of us are caught in an Have you looked at it from your end, from almost unresolvable problem which is the perspective of getting the manufactur- about the size of our cities, the carrying ing end to work better, so that we actually capacity of our continent and the way in have a more sustainable lifestyle? which we use water. Ultimately, no matter what we do, it is almost unsustainable. The CHRIS GRIFFIN: I will not attempt to level to which we would have to drop our touch the first question! Yes, we have on standard of living is really challenging. So our team many consultants, experts in

71 cleaner production and waste minimisa- bottom line is that these corporations are tion, who will actually go out and do there for a very legitimate and valid reason waste audits on customer sites and help and that is to make money for their share- them with their process. Probably one of holders. Their first obligation is to make our major problems is getting our custom- money for their shareholders and that, ers, or our potential customers, to under- ultimately, is what they have always done stand the benefit of that. One of our people and what they will always do. Their goal was in Tasmania recently at a Tasmanian in pursuing that objective is to maximise government-sponsored seminar talking the price at which they sell their products about cleaner production. It is hard to get and minimise the costs. That is a require- buy-in from industry in many cases. We ment imposed on company directors and are forever promoting it, it is happening, that is what they do and what they should but not to the level that we would all like. do. CHRIS TIPLER (The Collins Hill Group Pty In that context there is very little place Ltd): I think we have to get real here. My for ethics. You start to get a sense of the understanding is that what we are doing underlying reality. Ethics, in the proper here is focusing on what we can contribute meaning of the term, has very little to do to the concept of the Earth Charter and the with the way in which corporations oper- drafting of it. The specific context is ate. Most companies view ethics as some- whether the concept of ‘business as usual’ thing which is externally imposed on them is consistent with sustainable development. – by government, by statute, by the EPA, I am 52 years of age and I have been in by whatever – and they are willing to business since I was 22. I have been advis- comply. But they certainly do not want to ing companies on strategy since 1981. I contribute to the ethical debate. They do think I have a reasonable grip on how not see that as their role. I have sat in so people in the business community think many forums and at so many board tables about things. I support the way they think where the subject occasionally arises, and because I think most of them are entirely there is almost no sense of genuine ethical consistent in the way that they behave. consciousness in most corporations be- But, first of all, let me say that, by and cause it is not required. That is the bottom large, the concept of sustainable develop- line. ment is a failed concept. It is so compro- One of the earlier speakers – I think it mised and has been so bastardised through was the gentleman from Sydney Water – its use that it almost has no meaning at all. said that business is the key to this. That is It has been helped very much by the spin right: business is the key to it, but the doctors who have managed to put a green trouble is business is out of control. The wash over it to the point where it could globalisation of corporations, the manipu- almost mean anything we want it to mean. lation of tax regimes and so on, really That is the reality of the concept. mean that these days corporations have For most people it means not only busi- enormous power and that power is grow- ness as usual, but what I call D+ – devel- ing, aided very much by the privatisation opment plus. The D+ concept is that it is of public assets. The government is helping really just a slight variation from what we by taking away forever public control over are already doing. You can talk about what have always been public assets. If we multiple bottom lines, but the second and are to make any progress at all on this third bottom lines are very much subsidi- matter in terms of ‘Is it business as usual’, ary to the first one which is the maximisa- we have to build some very tough stuff tion of profit. into the Charter somehow – whether it is Now we come to the central issue, in the statement of principles or in subsidi- which is why corporations are there. The ary documents. These are the sorts of

72 things that will have to go in. This is a bit FABIAN SACK: I think that taking the of a radical voice. I recall that Jesus said Milton Friedman line on business ethics – when he was here last time he came as a that business has a stakeholder only ap- lamb; next time he would come with a proach to business ethics – is neither sword. I think it is time for the guy to come realistic nor appropriate. If we are hoping with the sword. to progress the kind of agenda we are Here is what is required, and you can discussing today, then we have to give take this as a rough laundry list. First of all, business some credit for the ability to adopt we must internalise social costs that are ethics. I am not saying that they all cur- created by profit maximising enterprises. rently exercise that ability, but to write Those costs must be internalised by statute them off out of hand is, I think, a mistake. – that is a requirement. Secondly, we must NEIL GORDON: Having worked in a introduce emission and energy consump- range of public, corporatised and private tion controls much faster and we must industries, I think it is quite difficult for a introduce trading in energy credits much corporation to take an ethical view that is faster than what is contemplated in this in contradiction to its fundamental finan- country. Thirdly, all the top companies cial drivers. The ways in which companies must be made accountable for environ- can use the sorts of things that can make it mental consequences, and there should be appear to be ‘a nice company’ for envi- requirements that corporations undertake ronmental or any other reasons are in- an environmental audit, which has the variably connected to legislative require- same status as a financial audit. The sanc- ments, albeit ones that are compatible with tions for breaking that must be no less than the business’ requirements in terms of its the sanctions for breaking the corporations basic drivers. It is very important for us in law as it is currently constituted. The next this movement to bring about a change in point is that we should require corpora- the way in which we treat the planet to tions to issue a very clear stance on their come up with ways in which we can align ethics. I am not talking about their com- the basic profit drivers in businesses, so plying with public ethics, but they should that they are not fundamentally opposed be required to make a statement about to the ethics we hope those businesses will their ‘ethical envelope’, if you like, so that follow. we understand where they are coming MICK DODSON: You raised an issue that from. was raised this morning and perhaps ANGELA HAZEBROEK: I am going to demands some discussion. The Charter is a interrupt you there. Your comments are set of standards that will be laid down terrifically interesting and I am sure they and, hopefully, adopted as a world stan- will generate some other thoughts, but it is dard. But there is another question about really important that we try to give as who polices that and how you compel many people as possible the opportunity to people. What is the mechanism? Where is contribute. Perhaps you could just make the big stick and who wields the power if one final point. you step out of line? That is another issue CHRIS TIPLER: I have another half a which at present is a shortcoming in the dozen points, but they are all fundamen- way in which the Charter is formulated. tally inconsistent with the way business is CHRIS GRIFFIN: I agree in principle with done today. If we do not introduce some most of what has been said. We do need a pretty radical initiatives we will not get method of keeping people honest and the any change in corporate behaviour which only way to do that is to develop measur- is consistent with any sense of ing sticks. I think that was mentioned this sustainability. morning by Professor Rockefeller. If we do not do that, there will be no accountability

73 levels, no transparency and nothing will his peers was the only executive in the happen. group prepared to stand up in public and CHRISTINE MILNE (Tasmanian Greens): I call for an immediate carbon tax. So we have a couple of questions for Neil. You have something of a unique position in the said that you are primarily responsible for industry. However, he said his reason for sustainable development with Energy saying that was that he believed that such Australia, so I ask: Does Energy Australia a tax was easy to introduce. Carbon taxes believe that the nuclear industry should be and tradeable emissions permits are the recognised as greenhouse friendly, there- two options and we have to look at the fore a clean development mechanism and ways in which those two instruments eligible for carbon credits? If so, if that is could work. Carbon taxes are a much sustainable development, how can Energy blunter instrument and are less likely to Australia line up with the Earth Charter? bring forth the sort of innovation which would reduce the cost to the whole com- Secondly, you talked about emissions munity of achieving the end. They are trading permits as being a win-win situa- much harder to control – you have to tion because you would create a financial constantly adjust the tax rate in order to trade in pollution and therefore have achieve the outcomes. There are a range of profitable markets etc. and supposedly we reasons why tradeable emissions permits should all think that is a good idea because actually work a lot better than carbon the industry profits and the community taxes, but they are a little more difficult to profits from the reduced levels of carbon. implement. But the net result is very simi- But what has happened in America is that lar. you have school groups all over the place raising money to buy those emission per- Your example of schoolchildren raising mits that are already out there for sulphur money to buy permits is, I think, a very dioxide and raising substantial amounts of good one and I would couch that in posi- money to buy back clean air when that tive terms – that that is an opportunity money from those schools ought to be that would never exist if those tradeable going into education, not rewarding indus- permit structures did not exist and there try. Would not a carbon tax have exactly would be nothing those schoolchildren the same effect as far as the community is could do in terms of personal action to concerned by forcing industry to stop change the amount of sulphur dioxide polluting and reduce those greenhouse gas going into the air. I am not saying that the levels? Also would it not force the whole industry that put sulphur dioxide into the community to have to buy back what was air did a wonderful thing. But we accept part of the global commons in the first that it happens and we want to get back to place? a different position from there. Under a tradeable emissions permit structure, NEIL GORDON: Firstly, I am not in a anybody – be they governments, or you position to answer on a policy basis for and I – could enter into the market in Energy Australia. From a personal view- buying permits out of the system to ac- point, no, I do not believe that nuclear tively reduce carbon emissions. That is an energy is liable to be called sustainable opportunity that would not exist other- energy. Therefore, no, it should not form wise. part of any future pattern. We have not had to formulate a policy position on that BRIAN WALTERS: I am a barrister from simply because nuclear energy is not an Melbourne. I also have some business issue in Australia. expertise in that I am a director and foun- der of a business called Wild, which is a The second question is a fairly broad publication business. We won the Small one. At a recent industry conference, my Business Award in Victoria. The question managing director, Paul Broad, amongst

74 that the panel has addressed is ‘Does ethic within the organisation, the key Sustainable Development Mean Business decision-makers are still the ones who as Usual?’, but I wonder whether that is propose old pumps and pipes mentalities. the right question. Should not we be talk- the approval of Sydney’s Northside sewage ing also about a sustainable environment? storage tunnel, which props up ocean Are we just talking about development outfalls is the most recent example. with a bit of a brake on it, so that it can be I think the speaker from the floor with called sustainable? In that context, to the large agenda, was getting close to it. illustrate the question: Fabian said earlier When we look at corporations we tend to that we were dealing with behaviour assume that these are just agencies that are change; is that right, or are we really there to accumulate profit. But in fact they talking about some changes in vested are associations of people and they are interests in this country and, indeed, world creatures of legislation. Should we reform wide? corporate structure and require more CHRIS GRIFFIN: That is not an easy one. I democratic procedures within corporations do not see how you can stop the produc- themselves in order to engender more than tion of waste. You can go back to the just ethical debate within an organisation? people who produce the waste and say, Should we try to get it up to the broad ‘Here’s what we think you should be able level by looking at things such as one to do’, but at the end of the day we cannot shareholder-one vote for some kind of dictate; it has to come from somewhere organisational top tier in order to really else. I think there is a genuine attempt out engage the top levels in the broader debate, there by organisations, like Interface, to rather than sticking to the profit bottom make a difference. I do not know how they line as being all that matters? become completely clean. Their product is CHRIS GRIFFIN: I disagree completely. I a carbon product, so do we say that we do think the question on its own is creating an not want any carbon at all? I do not know. area of grey. Having said that, I do agree JOHN CONNOR (Nature Conservation that what we need to do is develop meth- Council of New South Wales): When Alec ods of measurement of people’s approach said the short answer to the question ‘Does towards sustainability. Without that, sustainable development mean business as nothing will happen and it will be business usual?’ is no, I thought he was going to say as usual. Until we get those measures of that the long answer is yes! Having had accountability, board meetings will not some experience with each of the organisa- head the right way – unless, of course, tions represented on the Panel, I found they have the moral ethics, and there are that each one of those, when it has come to some of them out there. the crunch, has not really participated FABIAN SACK: I think there is another meaningfully in ecologically sustainable issue. I have mentioned behaviour change development agendas as fully as it could. and how slow that is. I think even slower Collex has been quiet on the whole ques- is cultural change, and that is the main tion of producer responsibility in the waste impediment to generating real under- management debate; Energy Australia is standing which leads to operational not alone among the electricity distributors changes. That is a very slow thing to in New South Wales who have failed to generate. It is difficult to know what to do, meet their own benchmark targets in and it takes time. It has to work up emissions reduction; and Sydney Water, through the organisation and back down despite having made a number of efforts to through the organisation. Patience is a engage us as stakeholders, which I com- virtue in these exercises. mend, in attempts to inculcate a different

75 DISCUSSION SESSION 2. The Role of Science in an Earth Charter

Chair: Professor Henry Nix The Australian National University

Professor Henry Nix Centre for Resources and Environmental Studies,ANU

For the past 12 years I have been educating religion and all those other factors that and being educated by the next generation divide people. Unfortunately, the corporati- of environmental scientists, not the least of sation – the globalisation that we are seeing whom is Dr Brendan Mackey. Our topic is now – is beginning to challenge that par- the role of science. I just want to make a few ticular world view that science had devel- comments, one being that science is not an oped and established. It is now becoming object; it is a process. If I had to describe the much more secretive, proprietary; knowl- process in two words, they would be edge is withheld and not published in a ‘systematised scepticism’. Nothing is abso- timely way; and I can see very serious things lute, everything is subject to tests. happening in the scientific world, which are I also make the point that globalisation quite independent of the role of science in is not new. Globalisation has been an aspect terms of the environment. of science almost from its beginning, where Our first speaker is Dr Dean Graetz, one’s standing is based on intellectual who acknowledges that he is from the contribution and is independent of race, CSIRO!

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES a. Dr Dean Graetz CSIRO

Reading the documentation and whatever has three parts. (Slide) The first is searching else I could find, my distillation of the whole for a common set of values – that is the effort of the Earth Charter is really that it ‘WHAT’ of the equation – what is good for

76 the planet Earth. The second is the guiding what is good for their bit of planet Earth, principles – the HOW – how we can achieve but these would be very different. through action what those values entail. The Science has transformed our world third is the constraint – and it is a significant and our societies – or at least the application constraint – that the well-being of man and of scientific understanding through technol- nature will be simultaneously optimised. ogy has done so. But science really has very Any economist will tell you that you little social credibility. As an example, there cannot optimise two things together. I can are more paid astrologers in Australia than understand why that objective is in there – there are astronomers – by a factor of about it is the most difficult part of the whole 20. Science has very little credibility in Earth Charter. With organised objective popular culture and consequently scientists scepticism, I am really racking my brains to have very little political power. There are think of any time in human history when very few scientists who talk to high-level man has come off second-best to nature. political groups. Economists are different: Nature has been subjugated by man, they have enormous power in our political increasingly so with more powerful technol- system – and perhaps properly so. ogy. To me, the deepening hole in the whole We now come to the connection be- problem is in that bottom line. tween the two aspects – the WHAT and the Henry stole most of my points!! What HOW. Scientists can and will have a role in is science all about? I wanted to say this significant problem solving and an increas- because words and phrases like ‘sustainable ing understanding of the environment. development’ and ‘good for the country’ Some of the background literature I saw and ‘indigenous people living in harmony was from the Brundtland Report that said with their environment’ are all freely used. that ‘scientists could not understand Science is one of those caustic soda tests that complex ecosystems’. That is rubbish. Also looks at all of our common beliefs, religion the Bruntland Report concluded that included. ‘science has no predictive power of what Science is a logically structured body our impact will be on the environment’. of knowledge and really does give us an That is also rubbish. It goes with all these explanation of our universe. Most impor- beautiful words and the candlelight – ‘Oh, tantly, science is a process – the way we ecosystems are so complicated and so fragile think about things. Henry used the words and we know nothing.’ That is not the case. ‘organised scepticism’ and no subject is There are very few ecosystems in the world exempt from scientific analysis. The impor- that actually are fragile, perhaps freshwater tant point is that science is really value-free lakes being the curly ones. And we scientists and cannot choose ‘good’. I know that do know what’s happening. several scientists in this room would quibble Science can help to find the ‘good’ by with that: you can never get away from saying ‘Here are the options: these actions your own value-set, your own cultural will produce these outcomes. You choose.’ perspective. But essentially we cannot use That is all science can do towards the choice science to answer questions like ‘What is of the ‘good’. It can help you make the good?’ and ‘What is bad?’. Those questions, choice, but it can never make the choice for stemming from ethics and relating to you. For example, science will tell you the morality and how we act, cannot be ad- state of the rivers in New South Wales and dressed by science because they are so that 85 per cent of water goes to agriculture; biosyncratic. What someone who lives in but scientists cannot say that the current Calcutta thinks is a wonderful world is very National Party policy in New South Wales different from the perception of someone to build more dams for more irrigation is who lives in Tibooburra or someone who bad. All that scientists can say is that the lives in China. They would all have ideas of consequences of those actions will be these, etc. You have to assess the consequences

77 and decide what you think is ‘ good’ and topic to raise. It is almost impossible in many what is ‘bad’ for you and for society. UN meetings. The HOW: If you really want to I think scientifically the achievement achieve things you have to have power. of the third aspect – the CONSTRAINT – is There are two sorts of power that you can very appealing, but it is unattainable. As a have in a legal society – moral power and human being, not a scientist, I add that (ultimately) political power. You must have politically we have to try. There are a lot of those as well as your guiding principles, and expressions common in all cultures, which science really cannot contribute there. deal with the impossible situation. Perhaps I Science is really about the art of the soluble, can recall Mao Tse Tung who said: ‘The while politics is the art of the possible – march of 1,000 miles begins with the first finding common ground among disparate step’. Alternatively, a cold, scientific analysis groups. I sat through the previous session. leads to the view: ‘Jesus, it is a hell of a None of the speakers were on the same problem!’ But, if we do not start, then we track; everyone was pushing their own little will never achieve anything! My take-home barrow. The political process could not points are: make sense out of that. My assessment of · Scientific knowledge can contribute to, the political impact of everything I have but never make the choice of what is heard in the last hour was zero – a litany of ‘good’ for planet Earth. What are the sorrow and slanging off at large companies. values, the things that define the Earth That achieves a lot – it is about as effective Charter? Science cannot contribute as being a pacifist! directly, it can only inform those who The last aspect is the CONSTRAINT – make the judgments. the simultaneous optimisation of the well- · Science cannot help in the acceptance being of man and nature. Mankind is and implementation. If you really want increasing at the rate of about 90 million to change things, get power! new human beings (net) every year. Eighty · I do not know any culture on Earth to 90 per cent of those are born into coun- where nature is valued more than tries where the average income is $2 a week. humans, ie. me, my family, my children, Nature, depending on whom you believe, is my relatives. It is extremely difficult to see not doing quite so well. It is not as bad as man and nature ever being equally what Greenpeace says, but there are valued, ever! significant environmental concerns and they · One thing I am sure: the meek will never are not without foundation. Generally, in inherit the Earth. If you want to change world thinking and in national thinking, things and you want the Earth Charter to only one of the above is regarded as a achieve its goals, then you need moral matter of concern, and that is the second and political power. By all means, go for one. Even discussing human population the jugular! growth and its impact is a very difficult b. Michael Waite Department of Environmental Protection, Western Australia

We have already had two fairly separate bureaucrat, and I work for the Department views on the topic; we might now have a of Environment Protection in Perth. I should third one! First of all, a little bit of an also add that I am an environmental introduction so that you will know where I scientist and an ‘environmentalist’ as well. am coming from. I am a regulator and a

78 I was interested in the last speaker’s down to zero – although I think the time suggestion that there were no environmen- frame would be considerable. talists who were also scientists. I do not Air dispersion studies have been done quite agree with that and in the short time in Perth, and we now have a Perth Air allocated to me, I will just run through the Quality Management Plan which ties in role of science in the Earth Charter. with our greenhouse work. As an aside, we First, I would like to run through some can bring transparency of process in here, of the limitations on the role of science. The and I would like to think that, through documents in your conference package transparency of process and using the relating to the role of science in an Earth precautionary principle, we can partly deal Charter list five limitations of scientific with some of the limitations I spoke of methodology. I will just quickly run through earlier. those. Then I would like to give some The last example of ‘carrying capacity’ examples of how my department, at least, is Perth coastal water studies which the uses science in its role as an environmental department has also done, and which have watchdog in Western Australia. led to an Environmental Protection Policy I turn to the limitations – with very for our Perth coastal waters. This says in a obvious input from Dr Brendan Mackey! statutory way what people can or cannot do The first one is that science can only de- in those waters, what the beneficial uses are scribe impacts, causes and effects and that and so on. sort of thing. Whether these are then seen as Science can also have a role in main- beneficial or detrimental depends on who taining the stock of biological wealth. Again, judges the impact. Secondly, science is not we have just finished the Perth Bush Plan certain. It always has competence levels, which, some would say, has been some 25 which requires technical interpretation. years in the making. I think it is more like Thirdly, standard scientific techniques are five or six. These are flora studies, the idea not easily appropriate for all complex being to reserve the remaining bushland ecosystems and scientific understanding that is not otherwise conserved elsewhere in changes over time. Using Brendan’s words the Greater Perth area. ‘Scientific facts one day can be replaced Science can also ensure that resources with an entirely new paradigm the next.’ are used at sustainable rates. We have just Given those limitations, one of the finished our second State of the Environ- questions we need to look at, rather than, ment report. The first report was largely a ‘the role of science in an Earth Charter’, is snapshot, in which science was used to ‘Is there a role for science in an Earth determine ‘this is where we are at the Charter?’ I think there is, so what I will try moment; this is what our emissions are; this to do is give some examples of what I see as is what the effect of those emissions has the useful role of science, from a personal been etc.’ Our second State of the Environ- viewpoint. ment report, which has just been released, Although my department has a num- actually puts some projections on that. It ber of community information and partici- compares the first and second reports and pation programs, I will concentrate on the says ‘this is where we are going; this is what scientific ones. For example, science can be we have achieved; and this is what we still used to determine what I call the ‘carrying have to do.’ It has actually given star ratings capacity’ of an ecosystem. In WA the DEP to our environmental problems. The five-star has conducted some sulphur dioxide studies rating goes to our salinity problem, with which have led to environmental protection four stars going to issues such as greenhouse policies which, in time, will clamp down the and eutrophication. SO2 levels that have been determined in Science can help with equitable distri- various places to more acceptable levels. bution of resources. We have a landfill levy Eventually, I guess, the aim will be to get it which generates money, which goes into a

79 recycling fund. Science can also be used to house Strategy, which was released re- undertake technical stocktaking of natural cently. That WA implementation plan resources. An example of that is recent should be ready in another month or two. studies into our groundwater. Again, I am I hope I have been able to convince just using the Perth metropolitan area, but you, at least somewhat, that science has a the groundwater studies have been State- role in an Earth Charter, bearing in mind its wide. In the metropolitan area those restrictions. However, I would like to finish groundwater studies have led to Environ- with two sobering stories which I use as a mental Protection Policies which protect reality check from time to time. I actually some areas from development at any stage. worked for the United Nations for a while, They have also led to the cleaning up of and some of that time was spent in Africa. I some areas which had already been devel- remember attending a methyl bromide oped and to some areas which were in workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe. The people private ownership being bought by the who were invited to the workshop were the government to put aside for posterity. representatives of the African nations that My final example is that science can used methyl bromide, largely on tobacco also be used to enable central decision- crops. The invitations were based on the making. There is a very large study into the scientific guesstimates of what their methyl North-West Shelf going on at the moment. bromide use had been recently. I was This study is into economic development, as speaking to a delegate from the Sudan, and opposed to ecologically sustainable devel- I asked him what his country’s methyl opment. The development going on in the bromide use was now. He said ‘Zero’. I said, North-West Shelf, both now and in the next ‘That is strange; our scientific guesstimates 20 or 30 years, is extensive. The study say that it is a lot.’ He said: ‘Well, it is zero, intends to do a number of things: most because we do not have any agricultural importantly, set a baseline so that we can land – it is all full of land mines.’ That is see what the pristine area is like; plan where when you start to get some reality checks. development can go and how it can de- My second story relates to a CFC velop; then, through monitoring, work out workshop in Dakar in Senegal. The Senegal whether there are any adverse effects in government was doing ultra-violet meas- time to do something about them. urements to measure the danger from the We also have a WA Greenhouse hole in the ozone layer and broadcasting to Council with a series of technical panels the population so that they would not go underneath it. The technical panels are out in the sun for too long. However, if you collecting information at the moment in the get about 10km out of Dakar you find there various sectors, such as transport, energy are people who are starving and do not and so on, in order to work out just what even have fresh drinking water. our greenhouse emissions are so that we can My message is that science has a role come up with an implementation plan in the Earth Charter, but it must be seen in which will implement the National Green- the context of the other roles. c. Kevin Parker University of Wollongong

The highly reputable text the Angels a method called scientific – holy of holies – Dictionary, describes science as ‘a form of thereby causing many theological disputes exact knowledge that is produced by people as to what is known and is not known by called scientists – blessed is that tribe – using whom’!

80 Today,we have heard science de- which many of us in the room have been scribed as ‘neutral’, ‘objective’, ‘stripped involved over the years. clear of emotional and spiritual qualities’ or, Policy and decision-makers and yea, as a previous speaker described it, ‘scepti- verily, activists actually really rely on cal’, ‘following a process of falsification, decent, transparent scientific analysis. We reduction, induction, empirical gathering of need it in a language which is clear. I want evidence involving a systematic gathering of to know, before I eat a piece of uranium, knowledge and then it is over to the rest of how much of it is safe to eat. I want to us to make the decisions’. know what the dosage is. That dosage, as Science, however, does not exist in a we all know, has changed considerably over vacuum. Throughout history it has existed the years. I did quite a lot of work with the in a cultural, psychological, political, team that were acting as expert witnesses economic and religious environment, to for Maralinga veterans. Soldiers were told, which it gives and receives feedback. To yes, they could watch the blast, as long as some extent we all have a responsibility for they put their hands over their eyes! That the way science has been conducted. was the state of science at the time. We have Scientists certainly should be accepting a lot spoken about paradigm shifts, where the more responsibility for their own conduct. state of knowledge in one place is not the At this stage the Earth Charter – state of knowledge in another. When we are which I too commend, does not place talking about evolutionary processes, which proper emphasis on science and its respon- go on over millennia, if I am a long-footed sibilty to our planet. However, we will potoroo, I do not want a short term, best accept that scientists are not malevolent guess answer which is going to serve for the beings, trying to get at us or do in the planet next system of government, thank you very – although I wonder about the person who much! invented the polystyrene cup! Science is not Regardless of what might be said homogenous; there are many tribes of about the complexity or otherwise of scientists – whether we are talking about ecosystems, progress and the values which biochemists or rocket scientists or what have undermine science are complex and intro- you. I was trying to think of the collective duce complexity into environmental systems noun for scientists. The scientific community which nature has no strategy to cope with. would probably think of themselves as ‘a It does not understand synthetic chemicals; solidity of scientists’, whereas those of us it does not understand ‘I am a rainforest, who come from a more social movement this is a clear fell’. Although Forestry background might think of them as ‘a Tasmania would say that that gives an stutter’, ‘a stagger’ and, on occasions, ‘a opportunity for full sunlight regeneration slur’, certainly ‘a stack’, because science and will enable another scientific process to does have a lot of political power. You may get underway! not believe it, but at the top, they are using Science is imperfect, it is value-laden, this power all the time! Perhaps we could it is subjective and it is as metaphysical as call them ‘a sorrow’ and occasionally ‘a any belief system anyone here might care to slander’. Others might have some sugges- put up. A critic in society would say that it tions. is linear, it is reductionist, it is mechanistic As to whether science has a role in the and it is governed by managerial logic. It Earth Charter, I think the answer at this walks arm in arm with technological stage of the proceedings is yes and no. I determinism and economic rationalism. think we need to see the end of science – or Let us talk about funding – herding at least science as it has been constructed scientists into particular areas to invent the and used in a Western sense and used perfect coca cola can. It is very hard for a through the environmental processes in science graduate to find work in an envi- ronmentally or ethically oriented area. Good

81 luck! Come and work for a corporation. Go today’s forum we have been talking mostly and find the way to perfect this particular about macro species. What about the micro item, which we will then sell – whether it be species? What about the microbes, upon a vacuum cleaner or, my particular hate at which we all depend, for goodness sake? the moment, a lawn mower. They are not taken into any consideration Science has let us down and we have whatsoever. Science needs to rediscover a let science down. Science cannot operate as new excitement about itself. It needs to an effective environmental guardian, it become much more reverent in the way it cannot operate in an Earth Charter sense, deals with things. It has to be in the Earth unless we as a community let it. One of the Charter. It has to be holistic. No-one has things I really like about the Earth Charter is mentioned the word ‘gaia’ here today – that collectivity of values, which do need to perhaps we could have a discussion about work together. Science has been let down, in that in another forum. But science has no my view, by its arrogance, its cowardice on place in an Earth Charter in the way that it occasions. Do you know how hard it is to is currently being practised. get scientists to stick their heads up in My final point: one of the things I feel various forums. I do not know where their is lacking in the debate generally is the habitat is, but I think it must be deep notion of ‘soul’ or ‘wisdom’. I would add underground! Like the rest of us at the end that in the Charter, certainly as far as the of the twentieth century, I contend that scientific community is concerned, we need science is a disciple of the reigning consum- to introduce the notion of restorative justice. erist paradigm and like many of us, regret- It is not just enough to stop extinctions; it is tably, Western science is cognitively malad- not just enough to get on some trajectory justed so the current imperatives are where, after exhaustive discussion, we will consumers’ demands and so on. Homo change practices; we will have to fix the economicus is really reigning supreme. mess-up that we have made so far. I believe In my last couple of minutes I have that science, like the rest of us, should be put some specific suggestions in regard to the on a totally ecologically sustainable footing. Earth Charter. Science, for mine, as far as It would provide plenty of employment, the Earth Charter process is concerned, believe you me, and would give us a new needs to take a good, serious look at itself. It value set and way to live our lives, which needs to realise there are many sciences, would have much more meaning than the including the sciences practised by indige- absolute farce that most of us exist in now. nous people, which they call cosmology. In

SUMMARY OF SESSION 2 GROUP DISCUSSION

Angela Hazebroek Forum Facilitator, Hassell

There was a fair degree of commonality cance; it was a contributor to a knowledge between the groups who took the philo- base but, in itself, lacked wisdom. A lot of sophical question. Three of the groups were people then went on to say that science united in saying that science was a tool; it should be expanded to include traditional was important, but not of primary signifi- forms of knowledge, not purely what we

82 would see as Western science. In fact, achievable goals. So if we say where we intuition and knowing, that comes from want to go, science can give us some useful other places, could also help in under- information about how we are doing in standing the predictive effects of certain moving towards that goal, and any kind of actions. impediments or barriers facing us. The There was also some consideration of precautionary principle – Principle 5 – was the fact that the role of funding in science also addressed by that group, and they felt meant that science was not necessarily that while the concept could be useful for setting its own directions, but was having dealing with politicians, it was almost never directions set for it by others and that used. Certainly when the scientists were perhaps – and these are my words, not any uncertain, it seemed never to be used. There of the groups’ – science does not have a was a view that that needed to be expanded conscience about those kinds of things. in some way. It was felt, however, that Perhaps it should. science had a role in that process by pro- People suggested that the Charter and viding baseline assessments, against which the values that we hold as a community one could make decisions about develop- should set the benchmark within which ment. science should operate. The moral principles People were concerned about the way that guide science should come from us as a in which this was expressed in the docu- community. There was also the suggestion ment. It is not clear whether it is intended to that there was a too heavy focus on science stop all harmful activities, to stop all activi- and technology which disempowered ties, or whether you use it as an excuse not indigenous people and other sources of to do what you do not want to do anyway. knowing. So it is flagging to the drafting committee The group that focused on the princi- that it needs to think very carefully about ples did say that science had a useful role to the wording in Principle 5 and to be clear play in articulating the problems and about what it wants that principle to say.

83 DISCUSSION SESSION 3 Social Values and the Earth Charter

Chaired by Senator Meg Lees Leader of the Australian Democrats

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES a. Peter Garrett President, The Australian Conservation Foundation

The first thing I want to say is that all this being built to drive to it. I cannot relate to talk about social values is pretty sticky the shopping centre. My values are not the territory for us. For that reason, I think it is values of the shop, even though I am absolutely essential that we, as a group of wearing clothes, I came down here in a car people who are participating in this difficult and I am reading this speech on my laptop! but worthwhile process, are very clear about But the shopping centre is providing the what it is we mean when we talk about dominant values of today, not the values of values. Are we prescribing values for the people sitting in this room. That is people? Are we describing ideal states? Or something I am absolutely certain about. are we identifying things which we think Let us look at someone like the former are absolutely necessary in the Charter? aspiring Prime Minister of Australia – Dr Imagine a world without shopping Hewson. When he was asked what he centres. I wonder if you can. I cannot quite believed in, he summed it up in one sen- understand where the drive to build shop- tence: ‘I believe in the market’. That is what ping centres and the drive to go into them Dr Hewson said. It is a view that is shared comes from. But quite clearly, it is part of by many. It is certainly a view that is shared the life that I live in. Every time I drive by many who will be responsible for driving through Sydney, there is another shopping through some of the changes that we want complex being created, and another road to see happen.

84 I am making a couple of assumptions have such a document because it acts as a in this gathering. The first assumption is spur to governments, as a reference point. that there is not really going to be a vigorous As Elizabeth Evatt said in the middle of last debate about where the environment is at. year, it makes it harder for governments to We might want to talk about the margins; get away from their responsibilities. we are certainly not going to talk about The ACF has not given a great deal of whether there is a crisis on or not. I am also attention to the question of social values. going to make another assumption, and that Most conservation organisations and is that ultimately the conservationists, environment groups are in the same posi- because their work is reactive, because they tion. We could identify, for example, the are stretched, because resources are short, social values that gave rise to Greenpeace. because the crisis is all around us, do not We could say that those first Quakers who ever really get the chance to do what we are went out in that boat to protest against doing today. And this is a very worthwhile atomic testing were bearing witness. But we exercise. would also have to say that the bearing If you look at the draft material in the witness that the Quakers were involved in Charter, you see that there are two words off the shores of Canada many decades ago, that jump out at you – ‘compassion’ and as a set of shared values, are not values that ‘love’. All the other phrases that have been are predominant in the Greenpeace organi- dreamt up by the academics and the sation now. I say that with all respect to scientists are terrific – no disrespect to Greenpeace, an organisation which I have academics and scientists; we need you and been involved with. They would be an you are doing good work – but element of the values there, but they would ‘intergenerational equity’, ‘ecological by no means reflect the values of the sustainability’ and the like really mean organisation. nought when we get down to what it is all For the Australian Conservation about. Do not get me wrong – these are Foundation’s part, we have occasionally phrases that I have used a lot and which the addressed this issue over the years. We have organisation that I have the privilege of applied our thinking to it and we have come heading in an honorary capacity uses a lot. up with some interesting expressions. We This is the 50th anniversary of the have come up with the expression of ‘a Universal Declaration of Human Rights – or conserved society’. We have identified the last year was, actually. That declaration necessity for ecological sustainability, for came about as a result of one of the most social equity, for freedom of political extraordinary periods of suffering that the expression, for empowering communities human community has experienced. It came and citizens to make decisions, for consid- out of the two great wars. People and ering the consequences of our actions in the governments of goodwill set themselves to future – the seventh generation, and so on. try to consider what it would be like if they But it not something that we have talked were to prescribe and identify the rights that about a great deal since. humans should have and which ought to be When she addressed an ACF confer- protected. That document has been as- ence like this 10 years ago, Judith Wright saulted over the years for being all sorts of spoke about ‘the sacred element of nature’, things, but I think it is fair, on reflection, to the fact that people may have forgotten the make two assertions. sacred element, the fact that we need to First, it is good to have a document reclaim that element, and having social like that. It is kind of like having a road values that identified that was very impor- map. It is also a bit like having a school tant. pledge. It tells you where you are at and I have not been able to address you in reminds you what you are meant to think great detail, but I am looking forward to about other people. Secondly, it is good to participating a bit later on in the group

85 discussions that we have. I want to say that to Canberra in my car, I was listening to the idea of an Earth Charter is an idea Maurice Strong on the radio. He expressed it whose time has come. People come into much more eloquently than I ever could. I these gatherings thinking, ‘Gee, what is it all think its time has come and it is good to be about? Where are we going?’ Driving down here. b. The Rev Tim Costello Collins Street Baptist Church

As a minister of religion, each Sunday semantics and it all becomes quite complex. before I preach, I normally do a children’s I am not suggesting that we can avoid doing talk, which is usually much more popular the explanation, but I am arguing that for and acceptable to the congregation than the the Earth Charter to be truly effective, we sermon. What invariably happens in the must retain the story-telling element of it children’s talk is that people lean forward that catches the imagination and fires with interest and excitement in their eyes as people up. the story unfolds. When the story finishes Well you know the elements of the old and you get to the point where you make story. There is the Copernicus story that the religious or spiritual application to the pushed humans right out of the centre of children, there is a glazing over of the eyes, the world. Since being pushed out, we have a sitting back and people turn off again! So I been trying to get back again to the centre – have actually discovered that the power of not just as caretakers, but trying to claim story is wonderfully inviting; it allows power over the web of creation. people to enter at points that are emotional There is the Newtonian story, which is and sub-rational, but still as true. A great still very dominant. The cosmos is an South American advocate for the poor was immense clock, a complex mechanism once asked, ‘Which is the most powerful whose basic components and principles way to change society – is it revolution or is could be revealed and examined through it reformation?’ He replied, ‘Well, no, it is science. Part of yesterday’s debate was not revolution and it is not reformation. If about this. According to the Newtonian you want to change society, you have to tell view, nature is a machine and is no more an alternative story.’ Thomas Berry, in The than the sum of its parts. Scientists could Dream of the Earth, put it like this: add fragments of information together, like It is all a question of story, and we are in the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, until they trouble just now because we do not have obtained a comprehensive picture of the a good story. We are in between stories. whole. Thus, to those who accept Newton’s The old story, and the account of how we idea, the natural world, like any other fit into it, is no longer effective. Yet we machine, is knowable, adjustable and have not learned the new story. manageable. And above all, it belongs to the people who control it. That is a very power- I think the Earth Charter really is an ful story and one that is still quite dominant. attempt to do that. Its difficulty is that some Then there is Darwin’s story. I will not go of us read it – as I have done – and say, into that because I am sure you know it ‘Yes, that draws me in; I resonate with that.’ fairly well. Others ask, ‘Well, what does this word There are still some stories around mean?’ and as soon as we actually start to which the Earth Charter has picked up, do the explanation, it is as if the magic starts which combine ancient wisdom and which to disappear a bit. We get bogged down in are very powerful. About 30 or 40 years

86 ago, anthropologists were examining the setting up home today you would add a Indian tribe, the Hopi, who inhabit the microwave, a dishwasher, a clothes dryer, a Mesa, those sort of half cut-off plateaux in computer and on and on the list would go. the United States. Someone told me that a In fact, we are much, much wealthier than definition of a primitive tribe is ‘parents, our parents, yet we feel that we still have grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and 15 not got enough. The growth myth continues anthropologists’! Well, here were the to drive us. anthropologists examining the Hopi and My wife and I met at university, and they discovered that the tribe rose before recently I said to her: ‘Do you remember in dawn every morning, and had done so for the mid-70s sitting in tutorials at Monash centuries and centuries, to pray the sun up. University and being told that by the 1990s These anthropologists said to them as an the great challenge we would face was experiment, ‘Why do not you just sleep in what we would do with all our leisure and one morning, not do your prayers and see recreation time!’ She said: ‘Yes, did not they what happens’. The Hopi looked at this lie to us!’ As we talked about it, we realised anthropologist in utter disbelief and said, that, no, they did not lie to us; they were ‘What! and plunge the whole world into right. If my wife and I were prepared to live utter darkness for the sake of your stupid with the living standards we had in the experiment!’ Now which story is actually mid-70s, as our parents were prepared to right? From the scientific point of view we live with far less, we would only be working would say that we knew our story was 20 hours a week and the time for planting right. But in terms of the attention to the trees and community building and doing the universe, to spiritual responsibilities that things that we say matter, would be there make us alive to the intricate web and the for us. There are very profound choices that sacred trust, which story is right? Where is we are blind to because of the story we have truth really located? plugged into. Of course the dominant story today – My time is almost up, but I thought I and Peter Garrett referred to it – is the story might finish with the wonderful appeal that that we will all be happy as we see ever- David Suzuki’s daughter, Severn, gave at increasing growth, as we see more and more the Rio conference. Maurice may remember shopping markets being built, and as we this. She was the last to speak in this huge consume more. In religious terms, once we room that swallowed a few hundred used to think of giving to God our surplus, delegates. She was only 12 years of age and today in the dominant story, our surplus has she had written her speech herself. She got become God. The growth surplus has up and said: become the whole point of existence. I am only a child and I do not have all This paradox of values is very puz- the solutions, but I want you to realise, zling, because we only have to look at our neither do you. You do not know how to parents’ generation. My parents are not a fix the holes in the ozone layer. You do bad example. They slept on a mattress on not know how to bring the salmon back the floor for the first 12 months of their up a dead stream. You do not know how marriage – they could not afford a double to bring back an animal now extinct. bed. They had blankets for curtains. They And you can not bring back a forest got a car in 1965, when I was 10, and TV a where there is now a desert. If you do not year later. They were people who, nonethe- know how to fix it, please stop breaking less, felt great generosity in their giving – it...In my country we make so much their local church commitments and their waste; we buy and throw away, buy and other responsibilities. When I married in throw away. Yet northern countries will 1979, it was unthinkable for my wife and I not share with the needy. Even when we that we would not have a car, a TV, a have more than enough, we are afraid to double bed and curtains. And if you are lose some of our wealth, afraid to let

87 go....You teach us how to behave in the not interested in poor people; I want to save world. You teach us not to fight with trees’. Well, I was quite pleased with that! others; to work things out; to respect At least she has some mission and purpose others; to clean up our mess; not to hurt in life! I realised that part of my task was to other creatures; to share, not be greedy. show her that there is actually a connection Then why do you go out and do the between poor people and trees; that if we go things you tell us not to do?... My Dad on standing on the shoulders of those in the always says, ‘You are what you do, not Third World, saying ‘We are fireproofed in what you say’. Well, what you do makes Australia from the Asian meltdown; we are me cry at night. You grownups say you fine’, they might just go on cutting down the love us. I challenge you. Please, make forests and putting a bigger hole in the your actions reflect your words. ozone layer above us. We are interdepend- These words apparently electrified ent. But at least that story-telling idealism of those in the conference room. That is a very her age and generation was very pleasing to powerful story and it is from the mouths of me. The alternative story is the Earth babes. Often that is where truth is spoken. Charter. This is a wonderful beginning to My daughter, who is 14, said to me last tell that story, and I hope we do not become year, ‘Dad, when I grow up, I am not going too bogged down in the technical analysis to be like you’. I waited, wondering what that could kill it. was going to happen. She went on, ‘I am c. Paul Perkins ACT Electricity and Water

I represent business. But I am also an done since 1992 – not as a freestanding environmentalist. I have been very privi- environmental issue, but as a core business leged in the last 10 years of my life to be issue. Sustainability means linking the involved with sustainable development in all dynamics, as the world becomes more its facets. So I firmly believe that the Earth interconnected, of social, economic and Charter is a huge step along the long environmental values – and a few others. It journey for our civilisation. also means sharing by those who have with I am not going to talk in theoretical those who have not. depth on social values this morning, but I I will give you a couple of examples of want to draw out two issues leading how ACTEW does that. First, we have the sustainable development to the principles of world’s best sewage treatment here in the Earth Charter. They are diversity and Canberra. People get offended by that, respect. Respect because it is only if we learn which is strange. That is the politics of envy, to respect the contributions of others that the politics of self flagellation. We do not we will make progress along the way or, at believe we could ever imagine we are doing least, minimise the disfunction and the the best, but we do. But it is not enough to waste of energy that goes on as the dynam- do the best. We must keep improving ics work in our country and in our world. because that is what sustainable develop- I mention that my organisation – ment is about – continual improvement. So ACTEW – is a business. It is a multi-utility. what are we doing about it? In my house When I talk to you this morning I do not and 10 others in Canberra, for the last four have time to give you examples, but we aim years we have had full recycling of all our to live sustainable development and have waste water. Yet I did not have to go and

88 live in a mud hut – I have one of the pretti- made up of a miasma of interrelated parts. est gardens you will ever see. Yet it is done Of course there are some dreadful people in economically and in an environmentally the business world, but they do not last. If friendly way. you think of business cycles or development Secondly, we have to share what we cycles, you realise that the dreadful people have in one of the modern sustainable cities are the ones who wither and die. In the end, in our world – Canberra. We have to share the knowledge of the world will not tolerate it with people who do not have it. It is what they are doing. That is why we see the middle-class hypocrisy for us to take a chemical industries of the world probably narrow view of the Earth Charter. We have making as much progress in the last 10 to think of development as not just building years as anybody else in the area of envi- supermarkets; we have to think about the ronmental improvement. My God, they have worst in the world. So what we are doing is a long way to go; but they have made a teaching our people to understand the worst start, because they have been forced, by the in the world and to share their knowledge. knowledge of the world, to address some of We have people doing institutional their most heinous practices. strengthening in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, India, The process is that we have to learn to China and Cambodia – all earning money, respect the contribution of all different all learning the cultures, all seeing the groups. That, I think, is what the Earth differences and the huge road that those Charter is all about. It is not about getting a people have to follow if they are to have finite definition of every word; it is about development and we are to share our understanding something that we can wealth. It is all very productive. So our share. And it should be very simple. We people are learning but we are not sending should surely share a recognition that our them to seminars, they are actually learning environment is our future, or our children’s by doing. future. The fact that we do not only reflects The issue of sustainable development the fact that we are all too narrow and we is about continual improvement. I have one do not respect where everybody else is slide I want to show you, which enables us coming from. to see the real issues. Whether we are If you look at the whole contribution talking about products in business, firms or to the cycle, the eco-loon – someone who is industries, cities or towns, all of them – if so stressed and worried about some par- you think ecologically – can either meta- ticular facet – makes a contribution, because morphose to the next cycle or wither and he or she is attempting to do something. The die. If you think ecologically, that is what person who makes a product which is better happens in all life. Both options result from than the last one and produces less waste competition. It is not the competition that and less toxicity is also making a contribu- the flat earth economists talk about here; tion. But we, the people, have to keep this is competition for resources, judgment, pushing that forward. It is only when we knowledge and everything else. Survival in recognise respect for everybody else’s that regard requires transformational contribution that I think we reduce the change. But the trouble with transforma- waste. That is not to say we should not be tional change is that it does not come easy. activists. I am an activist, the same as many Transformational change causes a whole people here. But we all cannot possibly do it different group of people to be involved in all – we have to focus individually on some the debate – it is competition for ideas and area. so on. The final thing I want to mention is My plea is to see that we are not com- that sustainability and sustainable develop- prised solely of rednecks on the one hand – ment are intergenerational – they are about those dreadful business people – or, on the the future. They are not about fixing a other hand, eco-loons. In fact, the world is specific little problem here and now. If you

89 read the 38 chapters of Agenda 21, you can people like Maurice Strong have been doing see that. It is about recognising the contribu- for a lifetime. It is moving forward on the tion in an ecological way; recognising that journey. with all the charters in the world, if there is Interestingly, the same principles of not goodwill, if there is not cooperative ESD, as annunciated in Agenda 21, are the competition, we will never reduce the waste principles of total quality management and therefore speed up the process of which the business world uses. The differ- achieving our aims. Those aims are obvi- ence is that the business world leaves it to ously all ours. The complexity is getting one product cycle. In Agenda 21 we link it agreement to move forward. I say you do to the almost infinite future; it is not have to agree; as long as you have some intergenerational and long term. The shared values, as long as we respect that challenge is to respect the contributions of everybody else is doing their best and all people in all areas. When we do that we making a contribution in their area. That, I will have much more energy and much think, is the challenge of this group, of all more effort invested in our ecologically the groups around the world. That is what sustainable future.

90 d. Gatjil Djerrkura Chairman, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to opment, but it is a matter of trying to live speak today. This issue is very important to with the land in harmony and peace. all of us in the global family. The land is We believe that there is much to gain something we love so much because it from a closer relationship with those who makes us who we are and what we are. seek more sustainable practices, but we are Therefore we should provide the same sort mindful, nevertheless, that our culture does of return to our motherland. not necessarily protect the land from change Before I proceed, I would like to ac- and development. We are happy to change, knowledge the Ngunnawal people of this to share much of our land with our Austra- area who are the traditional owners and lian people and, of course, with visitors to they have welcomed us all. I thought the Australia as well. In my community of presentation by the Governor-General was Yirrkala in Arnhem Land, I have sacred very inspirational; he is certainly a man of cultural responsibilities to the country wisdom and a down-to-earth sort of bloke. around my community. But I also spent the To have that sort of commitment from a last 10 years as the general manager of a person in such high office gives us a lot of business contract company, which was very encouragement. much involved in construction work, The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Is- rehabilitation. It is taking those sorts of lander Commission gives its full support and opportunities to benefit from the develop- endorsement to the principles underlying ment that happens. We become participants the proposed Earth Charter. No-one could in, not just bystanders of those develop- disagree with the principle of sustainable ments. I think that is very important. development. From our point of view, we In the past people, particularly the de- are all about forming partnerships with velopers, the miners and the government, those who understand our need for recogni- have not taken us seriously in terms of our tion and respect. attachment to land and the benefits that we As I said earlier, the land is our life. can get from that, particularly in the present The land is a living thing for us. We exist context. I see no conflict in these two roles because of the land that we live on. We have that both involve nurturing the sustainable been grateful for the support we have development of my community and of my received from organisations such as conser- land. For indigenous Australians the most vationists and others concerned with the important thing about joining the Earth protection of our land. It has been a tre- Charter is how it affects our rights, how it mendous partnership in that respect, and a affects our power to give or withhold our lot of us thought we had gained over the consent, in having a meaningful say as to years. In situations like the one occurring at how our land is used and the benefits Jabiluka, there is a sensitive issue for Abo- thereof. This is a normal right that any riginal people, faced with mining develop- landholders enjoy – the right to negotiate ment, and this is the sort of thing that we and the right to make a compromise solu- have always fought with this government tion. about. It is about coexistence, negotiation Our struggle for a native title debate and so on. It is not a matter of trying to was all to do with negotiation and coexis- prevent the economic gain from the devel- tence. In the Northern Territory the Land Rights Act gave us the power to insist on

91 negotiation and participation. For a short process. Success of the Earth Charter will time the Native Title Act gave indigenous depend on the respect that all parties Australians in other parts of the country the demonstrate towards each other. The rights opportunity to negotiate over the use of of indigenous communities to manage our their land, but now those rights have been lands and make our own decisions must be largely lost, unfortunately. part of that respect as an integral part of the Now the Land Rights Act in the process I urge you to talk to us about our Northern Territory is under threat. How- needs and listen closely to the things that we ever, I find it encouraging that the principles have to say about our motherland. of Earth Charter stress recognition, partici- So once again, I thank the organisers. I pation and negotiation for all stakeholders. I wish you all the best for this forum and, find it encouraging that the principles of hopefully, we will be able to establish a Earth Charter emphasise participation and much closer relationship and partnership discussion about economic and social goals, which will lead us to the better care of the as well as ecological goals. All stakeholders mother we love so much. will bring a different perspective to the

Reflection

CHAIR: Those of you who heard the news had a terminal cancer which, as you have this morning will be aware that last night just heard, has finally claimed him. saw the passing of two great Australians – With Don Dunstan, there are many Don Dunstan and Neville Bonner. I ask others more fit to pay tribute to him, but he Tim Costello to lead us now in some reflec- was one of our great social architects. In tion on their contribution. leadership, he showed enormous courage. TIM COSTELLO: The most electrifying Any leader has to show courage, and moment of the Constitutional Convention leaders like Don Dunstan typify courage, this time last year, in the midst of all the in terms of the way he led and the justice layers and layers of words, was when of his commitments and causes. I think we Neville Bonner stood up and sang a la- should have a moment of silence. Those ment. The haunting power of it completely who are religious can offer a prayer; others stopped all tongues and almost tran- can honour them with your thoughts. scended the moment of discussion about our identity and who we are. He explained [The meeting stood for one minute in to a few people later that the lament was silence] as much a lament for his land and his people as it was for the knowledge that he

92 DISCUSSION SESSION 4

Does all life have intrinsic value?

Chair: Professor Harry Recher Edith Cowan University, Perth

Like everyone who was here yesterday, I a few seconds of silence for the billions of was really pleased with the traditional individuals of other organisms whose lives welcome we got. But I think I should point and evolutionary potential has been sacri- out that before the traditional owners, there ficed so that Canberra could be built and so were other organisms here. We had a period that we could be here today. of silence before we broke for tea, for two cherished Australians. Can I just ask you for [The meeting observed 10 seconds silence]

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES a. Rev. Dr Paul Collins Roman Catholic Church

Some years ago I was at Parliament House here because it is a sin to log old growth to launch the Wilderness Society’s forest forests.’ I could see that I had the journalists’ policy. We had a reasonable number of the attention, so to re-enforce it I said: ‘It’s a media there. At that time I had just left the worse sin than adultery’ but added in an ABC so I could read the faces of journalists undertone, which was fortunately not fairly well. A number of experts spoke very recorded, ‘but not as much fun!’ I am here learnedly about global warming and the today because I seriously think that that powerful owl, the tiger quoll and biodiver- there is such a thing as environmental sin. sity and so on. I could see the faces of the The question you have asked me to journalists clouding over – journalists make address is: does all life have intrinsic value? it quite obvious when they are bored! I My unequivocal answer is ‘Yes!’. That is intended to say that I was there because I why I am specifically interested in the role thought that the logging of old growth theology might play in the Charter devel- forests was a moral and ethical issue. But I opment process. For Charters are about thought, ‘If I say I’m going to talk about ethics and ethics are rooted in beliefs. Judeo- ethics, that will be the end!’ So I said: ‘I am Christianity often gets blamed for destruc-

93 tive Western attitudes towards the environ- Western culture should move. Our culture is ment. Certainly, our faith tradition is different and we need to recover and responsible for a constellation of unspoken develop, as Passmore suggests, the best assumptions about anthropocentricism and elements of our own tradition. So I am exploitative attitudes toward the natural proposing that discussion of the Charter world and these are often based on dualistic needs to move onto a different plane. It and only partially understood Judeo- needs to recognise the symbolic, Christian values. iconographic and sacramental significance Critical of the traditional Christian of the natural world and all the parts that approach a number of philosophers have go to make it up. argued that we need to develop a new Taking a eco-theological view like this ethical attitude. Roderick Nash’s The Rights will certainly create a philosophical tension of Nature’ [Sydney, 1990] outlines the in the Charter development process. development of this movement in North Throughout yesterday our discussions America and Australian thinkers like John reflected something of that tension. The Passmore have spoken of Western attitudes tension is ultimately about whether human which ‘are infected with [an] arro- beings and human society are at the centre gance...which has continued into the post- of everything or not. I would argue that if Christian world’ [‘Man’s Responsibility for the natural world has intrinsic symbolic Nature’, London: 1974, p 5]. Interestingly, value in itself, then we are not the centre of he makes the observation that elements of everything. Saying this implies considerable this new ethic are ‘already inherent, if only ethical re-alignment! as a minor theme, in Western thought’. I think the poet Gerard Manley Hop- However, I think that the pragmatic utili- kins is helpful in developing this kind of eco- tarianism which still underpins much of this theological understanding. He invented this discussion is insufficient as a foundation for word ‘inscape’: by that he means a pene- a new environmental ethic. trating intuition, a profound insight into the I want to start with a simple theologi- essence, the individual ‘thisness’ of every- cal assertion: the natural world has a thing in the natural world. He derived the profound symbolic – as a Catholic I want to concept from the medieval Oxford theolo- say sacramental – value. If I were Orthodox gian, John Duns Scotus. He also uses the I would say an iconographic value. This term ‘instress’, which is the energy that value far transcends economic, social or binds all of those individual natural realities even human needs. For within nature, and together in a community. That has profound especially in beautiful and wild parts of it ecological resonances for me. So I am which have not been manipulated and arguing that for the perceptive person there modified by us, there is a deeper numinous is within the natural world a note in nature and sacred quality to be found, a vector of simultaneous presence and transcendence towards the transcendent. The sum total of that draws us both inward and outward at the natural parts do not explain the mystery the same time – inward to the profound and sense of timelessness that we encounter existential emptiness that exists in our core, in the natural world. but which we rarely confront; and outward In this context, Western culture is to a transcending presence that both cradles probably the oddest culture ever! Most other and confronts us. peoples have seen the world as somehow There is a marvellous passage in the sacred. For indigenous people the landscape Book of Genesis, where Jacob encounters and the beings within it are endowed with God in a dream at Bethel [Gen 28:17]. In the meaning and personhood, and specific old Vulgate translation – Saint Jerome’s places have a sacred or numinous quality. translation of the Hebrew Scriptures – the However, while acknowledging this, I am Latin text reads: ‘Terribilis est locus iste’ not suggesting that this is the way that [‘How awesome is this place’]. The word

94 ‘terribilis’ in Latin conveys a sense of being Every human culture before us has been in a place that we do not control, in a state able to see that, yet we cannot. of acute vulnerability and radical openness. So we have to be honest with our- It is an experience of a transcendent pres- selves. We have to realise that we need some ence that is non-personal and undifferenti- counselling, not perhaps from Dr Freud, ated, but it is also real and transforming. because I think we have fixed the sexual So I am talking about a view of the problems – at least I have! But we need a natural world that is profoundly different latter-day Dr Freud to help us deal with the from that of economics or business. I am not absence of the sacred in our view of the saying that these two views are incompati- world. Thomas Berry talks about ‘a new ble but I do not think we should under- story’ and I think that new story will be a estimate what the process of reaching across sacred story. We need to reinvest the natural divides will be. Our community has a lot of world with its due sacrality. ethical people in it and all the time we have So what are the consequences of this to be struggling across our barriers, our for the Earth Charter? presuppositions and our philosophies so Firstly, it lays the foundation for a that we actually begin to talk to each other. Charter that is acceptable to a broad cross It is the nature of the democratic polity to do section of people from most cultures and that. But I think it is important that we spell religions. It also moves the ecological out the sacramental or iconographic nature discussion beyond old shibboleths to a more of the world around us and recognise how contemporary cultural context: talk about difficult it will be to reach across two the ‘sacred’ makes sense to many today. different views of life. Secondly, if nature is a symbol of tran- This tension will be there in the Char- scendence it is clear that our first principle ter process. The problem with a sacramental must be the preservation of the natural view of the world is that this does not really world, no matter what the cost. fit into our mental horizon; it is not part of Thirdly, this approach helps us re- our rational culture. We see the world as a cover a perspective and context for our- neutral, secular reality that is valued solely selves. Our lives belong within the matrix of in terms of its economic potential or com- the natural world. We have no meaning or mercial realisation. Literally, we cannot see purpose separate from it. It is our only home the trees for the woodchips! That is the and ought to be treated as such. problem we face and somehow we have to Finally, the Judeo-Christian tradition get these two views together. has always believed that the natural world I have no immediate solution to that. in all its complexity and beauty is God’s Let me put my cards on the table. In the creation and that it mirrors God’s splen- ABC television documentary that was based dour. To destroy it, for whatever purpose, is on my book ‘God’s Earth’, I described our to destroy our most precious image of God. culture as ‘mad and insane’. I have to say There is much in our Christian and cultural that I think that is true. We live in a very, traditions that sees it as our primary sacra- disturbed society – so disturbed that we ment. cannot even see the sacrality of nature. b. Imogen Zethoven Director, Queensland Conservation Council

I want to pay my respects to Agnes Shea thank them for allowing us to hold this and the Ngunnawal people of this area. I meeting here.

95 The environmental history of Australia abundant opportunity for us to develop a since 1788 has been one of quite serious closer connection to the living world. irreversible loss and extensive degradation. I see the development of the Earth Although I sometimes wonder whether Charter at this time as a potential catalyst there has been something exceptionally for transforming the way we have perceived brutal in the rapid transformation of much the Australian environment. Both now and of the Australian continent, it is probably in the past we have regarded this continent more accurate to interpret the phenomenon as harsh, unforgiving, hostile, a wilderness within the social context of the time, where empty of people, barren of food and bereft human endeavour was and still is valued of sustenance. Obviously there is an over a perceived ‘hostile’ and ‘harsh’ enormous gulf between the attitudes and environment. value systems of white and black people in The spirit of embattlement still burns this country. Yet there is now a growing very fiercely in parts of Australia, particu- recognition that we are highly dependent on larly the north. I work for the Queensland the health of the Australian and global Conservation Council and part of my job environment. takes me out to Western and Northern Genuine widespread recognition of the Queensland, where I have had quite a lot of material interdependence of humans and interaction with graziers. There was one other living beings would be a major leap unforgettable moment when I was sitting in forward for Western society. However, a four-wheel drive with one particular acting to protect, maintain and conserve grazier, driving through his property. He species because of their utilitarian value has said to me that nature was raping his land. I enormous dangers. For example, would we sat there in a state of disbelief and asked just save a species because it was useful to him what he meant by that. He said, ‘The us? Would we have the technological means wallabies are raping my land’. After a while to exploit it? Are we likely to in the near I realised that what he meant was that after future? If we assumed the species was not bulldozing his property, he had had some useful to us, presumably we would not be rain, the green shoots came up and the prepared to find the precious resources to wallabies were coming from a neighbouring prevent its extinction. property and eating those green shoots that If we are trying to shape a better he wanted his cattle to eat. So his solution to world – which obviously we are through this was to forget the bulldozers, to get a this Earth Charter – then such a scenario is blade plough and blade plough the brigalow unsatisfactory. It ignores the deep sense of so that it would never regenerate. connection that can occur between people The most important thing about this and nature, which is necessary for lasting was that this man was not an ogre. He came change. across as a gentle, modest, humble man. He Because we have been talking about loved his land, but he regarded nature as a telling stories, I will tell a short story about threat to it. This exchange disturbed me this type of connection. Last year I was up profoundly because it symbolised the at Hervey Bay in Queensland whale schizophrenic value system that we have watching. We went out on a boat and had to our land in Australia. On the one everyone sat inside the boat listening to the hand, we have done terrible things to the ranger give a talk on humpback whales. flora and fauna and the land of Australia; Suddenly the pilot announced that there we have mined our biodiversity and our was a whale outside. Everyone immediately natural resources. But on the other hand, abandoned the ranger in mid-sentence. We we as a people love the Outback; we love ran outside and all piled on top of each the coastal environment and we are other. Everyone was running towards one immensely proud of our unique wildlife. In side of the boat and we flung ourselves such an extraordinary continent, there is an upon each other. We were all strangers, but

96 there was absolutely no sense of personal The Earth Charter is about principles space, it completely vanished. Many of us, to guide action for sustainability. Finally, I including myself, just started crying. No-one would like to apply this to an issue I have could comprehend why this was worked very closely on – and that is land happening, but we were so moved as we clearing. Land clearing is worse in watched this whale coming towards us. I Queensland than in any other state in guess that shows there is something really Australia. We are clearing more than a incredibly special there. quarter of a million hectares a year. That is a Of course, most of the world’s massive expropriation of Queensland’s biodiversity is smaller than the whales and I biodiversity. To stop this daily and suppose that instantaneous connection is wholesale expropriation we could decide as not so forthcoming. Perhaps this is the crux a society to destock that land and to offer of the matter. It takes time to unravel oneself graziers the option of leaving or becoming from the disconnected world most of us ecological land managers. Productivity inhabit, and to let our deeper self slowly would then be measured by the presence of emerge and reach out to encompass all the healthy native grasses, the regeneration of non-human life around us. forest and woodland, the composition and When we allow ourselves to reach out density of fauna species and so on. The in this way, we experience a knowledge that value of the property would be based on its is beyond science, that feels incontrovertible in situ value or its intrinsic state, rather than and primeval. Maybe we are connecting to a the value of the resource exported. knowledge that is stored in the atoms of our Looking after the country opens up bodies; the same atoms that have existed new commercial opportunities. It is possible since the beginning of life on Earth; the that being paid by governments to restore same atoms that have been in other human and conserve the land could be a bodies and in other living beings. Perhaps transitional strategy, allowing for the there is an encoded connection within our emergence of new rural industries rooted in bodies that recognises the the respect for and understanding of the interconnectedness of all life, and therefore Australian bush. the intrinsic value of all other life. Because if In even the short time I have been we have value, and we have been and will working on the issue of land clearing in be part of other living things, then all living Queensland – three and a half years – I things have value. have noticed a slight shift in values. Due to I feel it is unnecessary to debate the public debate, there is a change in whether plants and animals have rights. It is values. People do not feel that it is socially irrelevant if we come to recognise that life is acceptable to bulldoze an endangered shared amongst all living things. From this, ecosystem, as they did, even two years ago. other things arise: a sense of deep respect for Values can change. Whaling used to be a Earth and its biodiversity; a burning desire thriving industry in Australia; it is now as to protect and conserve all living things and socially unacceptable as murdering another to safeguard their evolutionary future; a human being. One day I am sure that spiritual sense of being at home on Earth, bulldozing some vegetation will be rather than being alienated from one’s considered as horrific as whaling and surroundings; and a sense of deep respect murder. for indigenous cultures that have not lost The Earth Charter could play an this sense of life’s interconnectedness and important part in achieving this cultural renewal. transformation. It challenges us deeply. It is a message of hope, respect and justice.

97 c. Keith Suter Uniting Church

I agree with what Father Paul Collins has forward, eventually the slow coaches will said in theological terms. I am not going to come on board. dwell on that topic. I want to look at where It is also worth bearing in mind that we go from here and just make three points. the Declaration on Human Rights is quoted First, reference has been made to the extensively, but hardly anybody reads it! It Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is not that it is a long, complicated which was adopted 50 years ago – on document; it is only 30 articles long and it December 10, 1948. Just by way of a bit of fits on two sides of an A4 sheet. For me history, because I think we can take some what is interesting about the declaration is guidance from that declaration to help us not the content, it is the fact that it provides with this Charter, there were five the dominant paradigm. People refer to abstentions when it came to the final vote. having rights nowadays in a way that they Mrs Roosevelt was able to make sure that would not have done before 1948. In other nobody voted against the declaration, but words, it has created a paradigm, a vision of there were five countries who abstained on a better world. the vote. Three were from Eastern Europe, People are still dying, they are still who said that where the declaration said having their rights violated, but they are not there was a right to own property and this dying in ignorance. They know they have obviously was contrary to communist their rights. If you look back at the long ideology. South Africa abstained because it sweep of history, you see the change that said that the declaration talked about the has occurred in terms of the increase of equality of whites and blacks, and obviously awareness of the importance of respecting that was inappropriate in a country where human rights. the apartheid regime was emerging. Also, So the importance for me of the Earth Saudi Arabia said it could not support the Charter is not necessarily the wording – declaration because it talked about women although obviously the lawyers amongst us being the equal of men, which they will rejoice in arguing over words – it is the interpreted as being contrary to their brand fact that it provides an alternative vision, of Islam. which fits in with this notion of history. It is interesting to note just how much Ultimately, in due course, people will get in of a change has taken place in the last 50 behind you. years. Those three East European countries I also offer an important piece of have all now got rid of communism and advice: you have to talk the document up. have accepted the market system. In fact That means talking it up not just among our they are rapaciously going after private mates here, or those who listen to the ABC, enterprise just like everywhere else. South but actually going out and talking to the Africa now has a black president. The only wider community. For example, I broadcast exception to those who abstained is Saudi for two hours a week on Radio 2GB, where Arabia, which still sticks to its interpretation the highest rating person is Brian Wilshire, of the Koran. But it is interesting to note that who is one of the most well-known people who earlier on may object to a supporters of Pauline Hanson and One declaration, ultimately come around to your Nation. I broadcast with Brian for those two point of view. If you have really plugged hours, not because I expect to win over his into the tide of history and you are moving Hansonite supporters, but simply to sow a

98 few doubts into their certainties. He are more people in church on a Sunday provides a vital role for me because those than watching sport on a Saturday. It seems people never come to any of my meetings, to me that we need to find ways of bringing but they will listen to Brian Wilshire. He the church in behind this document. rounds them up for me to talk to them. Let me just let you in on an insight The advice that I keep giving to people that I have gained through chairing the in a variety of contexts is ‘Get out of your Environment Committee of the Australian comfort zone and go and mix with the Institute of Company Directors. Our task is wider community. Do not just talk to your to keep our members out of gaol! Some tell friends.’ What happens is that the their workers to pour their toxic waste politicians out there, responding to public down drains. Environmental laws, opinion, will realise that they themselves irrespective of what is in have also got to change their tune and that power, have been increased over the years, the Earth Charter will be a good thing. I and the important point is to get our have worked with a lot of politicians. They members to realise that they can go to gaol are the slowest people to learn and when for breaking environmental laws. they do learn they pretend it was their idea What is important is the way in which anyway! that paradigm shift has come about, What is interesting is that ultimately irrespective of the political party in power. they do suddenly change. They will say, ‘I We have tighter environmental regulations have always supported a ban on mining in now. It could be argued that we are Antarctica,’ when we know Bob Hawke did winning the battle, but losing the war not always do that. We won him over on because there are so many other bigger that one 10 years ago. We beat that environmental issues that are emerging. But Wellington Treaty and we did it through nonetheless the trend is flying in our using public opinion. Now, of course, you direction. If I want to bring on heart attacks have the Green Goddess of No. 10, Margaret in the Australian Institute of Company Thatcher, and Bob Hawke coming out and Directors, I simply have to use the word saying that they had nothing to do with this ‘Greenpeace’. The blood runs cold, people Wellington Treaty to mine Antarctica. They freeze in their seats. They feel very were lying, but they were concentrating on vulnerable. the media and, with their short That takes me to the issue of the concentration spans, they were not impact that we can have – as churches or as remembering the statements they made individuals – in terms of business. With a earlier supporting the treaty. But we beat politician you can only vote for them once them and we did it through public opinion – every three or four years. With a company not just talking to ourselves, but by going you can vote for them every time you spend out and talking to mainstream Australia. a dollar. There is power in the consumer So we must learn from what we did dollar. In other words, we need to get with the Universal Declaration on Human consumers to act more responsibly. One Rights – talk it up extensively. I do not way is through boycotts – that is, not buying personally worry too much about the products of which you disapprove. As a words; it provides that dominant paradigm, Methodist, for example, I obviously do not that vision of a better world, and that is buy alcohol or gamble – pleasures which are really what we should be selling. available to the Catholics! Secondly, let me say something about The first weapon therefore is boycotts. church and business. The church is a major The second is ‘girlcotts’ – deliberately buying player in this country. It is worth bearing in products. For example, in the 1980s when mind that with the downsizing of BHP and New Zealand was the voice of sanity in Telstra, the Roman Catholic Church is now standing up to the Americans over the the largest employer in Australia and there nuclear issue, President Reagan decided to

99 ‘punish’ New Zealand. The American peace power. The churches as major institutions activists ‘girlcotted’ New Zealand nuclear- have power, but so do the ordinary lay free butter. They were saying that they did people in terms of how they choose to spend not agree with what President Reagan was money. doing and they supported the New My final point is to comment on one of Zealanders. That is using your money to the attractive features of the Earth Charter reward good behaviour. in that it provides a holistic approach. One Thirdly, there is the issue of buying of the worries I have had, as someone who shares in the companies of which you has been involved in non-governmental disapprove. The people who do this best are organisations for 30 years, is that we tend to American orders of nuns. They have lots of compartmentalise issues, separate them out, money, so they buy the shares and then turn so that you are either handling development up at the meetings where the company is of the Third World, or you are handling discussing, for example, employment disarmament, or you are handling the practices or the hiring of women or environment. In 1982, when I was working minorities and so on. A nun gets out to the for the United Nations Association, I asked microphone and then starts making a long the Australian Conservation Foundation to statement about why her company is circulate in their Habitat magazine copies of behaving wrongly. The board of directors – our disarmament petition, which I was then all men – at the far end of the boardroom to present to the UN Secretary-General. are all highly repressed Catholic schoolboys When we circulated the petition, members who cannot tell a nun to be quiet! of the ACF resigned because they said that So this is another thing that can be disarmament was not an environmental done. You buy the shares, as I did 20 years issue. That is the type of approach we must ago with Mary Kathleen Uranium, to use it try to avoid. as a way of talking about the uranium For me it is a triangular peace – industry. In other words, we can have disarmament, conflict resolution and justice, shareholder activism. So they are just three which has to include the environment things we can encourage people to do – because the Tree of Peace has its roots in boycotts, girlcotts and buying shares in justice. So you need a holistic approach and companies of which you disapprove. This is the value of the Earth Charter is that there is particularly so for large religious a bit in it for every type of organisation. It organisations because we have a lot of will attract a variety of organisations and money in our organisations. We ought to be that is why we should be supportive of it. It using our financial power. But I also provides that holistic vision that we had encourage individuals to do the same thing. back in 1948 with the Declaration of So my second comment then is simply Human Rights. We now want to do the to recognise that we as consumers do have same with this Earth Charter. d. John Walmsley Earth Sanctuaries Ltd

[NB: the reader can view slides and photo- graphs that illustrate many of the points Introduction made in this presentation at this web site The story of Australian wildlife is a real life ‘http://www.esl.com.au/’] tragedy. One third of the mammal species

100 lost to the world over the last 500 years to become Warrawong Sanctuary. Thirteen were Australian. Over half the mammal years later a remarkable transformation had species lost to the world over the last 200 occurred at Warrawong Sanctuary. Over years were Australian. Today, over half the 50,000 trees and shrubs had been planted. world’s endangered mammals are Austra- Over a kilometre of creeks and pools had lian. No other country has lost a mammal been developed. The whole area had been species in the wild in the last decade of the surrounded by a fox, cat and rabbit proof second millennium, Australia has lost two – fence. The feral animals had been destroyed the mainland mala of the Northern Territory and the wonderful native animals which and the mainland barred bandicoot of had lived there just 100 years before had Victoria. been reintroduced. This is the story of my attempt to save Let me talk for a little while of the Australia’s wildlife. It began as a boyhood animals of Warrawong. Let me begin with dream. When I was seven, my father bought the . This tiny kangaroo only 7 inches 66 hectares of virgin bushland between high once filled the niche of the rabbit across Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales. the non-arid zone of Australia. They were It was surrounded by millions of hectares of as dense as rabbits are in a rabbit plague virgin bushland. It was covered with huge today. In 1988 Tim Flannery, of the National gum trees but underneath there was little Museum, in his book titled Vanishing undergrowth. I remember that I could walk Australians stated that there were less than barefoot anywhere I wished for the land a few hundred left in the world. At was kept clear by thousands of small that time there were over three hundred at animals. There were pademelons, wallabies, Warrawong Sanctuary. potoroos and bettongs. The leaf litter was The Tammar Wallaby was the most continually worked by lyre birds and common kangaroo of the Adelaide Plains bandicoots. It was indeed a paradise for an just 150 years ago. It is the smallest of the impressionable youth. true wallabies. Unfortunately they are easily My father cleared 14 hectares for an caught by foxes. The last one was recorded orchard. The mighty blackbutts were felled. on the mainland in 1910. They are now Every one was a city of life. Every tree officially extinct on mainland South Austra- would have gliders – both big and small. At lia. The Potoroo is the most ancient of our ten years of age my family and I moved to living real kangaroos. It is the same today as live there. I was indeed fortunate to see it was 10 million years ago. Ten million Australia as it was and how it still should years ago all kangaroos were as small as this be. potoroo. The largest viable colony left on The opening up of this area caused an mainland Australia of these delightful tiny incredible change. At 12 years of age I saw kangaroos are at Warrawong Sanctuary. the first of the foxes and cats move in. By 14 The Red Bettong once lived along the whole years of age my animals had all gone. By 16 of the Murray-Darling River System. Alas, years of age I could no longer wander at today it only remains at the northern end of will through my bushland. The forest the northern Darling River. The Southern grazers had disappeared. Then the big Brown Bandicoot is very quickly reducing in bushfires came and my paradise was lost. numbers today. Less than 5% remain compared with 20 years ago. Hundreds of Warrawong Sanctuary these animals live at Warrawong Sanctuary. The Eastern Quoll, one of the rare It was to be another 14 years before I could marsupial predators, feeds on insects and start rebuilding my dream. In 1969 1 grubs as well as any of the tiny kangaroos purchased 14 hectares of land in the that need to be culled from the group to Adelaide Hills. It was a degraded dairy. keep the colony healthy. The White striped There was barely a native plant on it. It was Red-necked Pademelon was one of the main

101 forest grazers of eastern Australia 200 years returned to Yookamurra Sanctuary. The ago. It was their job to keep the forest floor bilby is a real cartoon caricature. They are clean so that we did not have the big now thriving at Yookamuffa Sanctuary and bushfires so common today throughout can be easily seen by tourists visiting there. Australia. The last 40 of these small kanga- And of course, another favourite – the roos live only at Warrawong Sanctuary. wombat. And, of course, everyone’s favourite – the platypus. These have bred every year at Buckaringa Sanctuary Warrawong Sanctuary since 1990. What old hollow trees are to Yookamurra – In 1985 Warrawong Sanctuary rocks are to Buckaringa Sanctuary. Known opened to the public and once again the as the best yellow-footed rock-wallaby beautiful wildlife of Australia could be seen habitat in Australia, Buckaringa Sanctuary by all who wished to see them. Many contains the largest remaining colonies of visitors wanted to get involved so in 1988 yellow-footed rock-wallabies left. These the company Earth Sanctuaries was formed beautiful kangaroos were once plentiful so that people could invest in saving Aus- throughout the Flinders Ranges in South tralia’s wildlife. Australia. Now they can only be seen in protected areas. Yookamurra Sanctuary In 1989 work commenced on Yookamurra Sanctuary in the Murray Mallee. Over one Scotia Sanctuary is our largest project. Over fifth of Australia was mallee 200 years ago. 65,000 hectares are being fenced in what is Today it is all but gone. It has been pulled the world’s largest conservation project. over or burnt. Yookamurra Sanctuary Less than 700 bridled nailtail wallabies are contains Australia’s oldest forest – over left in the world. Scotia Sanctuary will allow 100,000 trees, each over 1,000 years old. It their numbers to increase to an estimated takes 400 years for a mallee tree to grow a 10,000 individuals. One of the world’s rarest hollow in it big enough for a to live mammals is the sticknest rat. Once plentiful in. Our mallee national parks burn every 20 across the southern half of Australia, the or 30 years. There are no hollows for sticknest rat only survived on one tiny wildlife in our mallee national parks. offshore island. Now it is being returned to Yookamurra Sanctuary is covered by mainland Australia at Scotia and Yooka- ancient trees all full of hollows. Yookamurra murra Sanctuaries. The mallee fowl is one of Sanctuary has been surrounded by a feral- Australia’s rarest birds and can now be proof fence. This was to be the largest area found nesting at Scotia Sanctuary. in the world from which rabbits, goats, As I said earlier over half the world’s foxes and cats were eradicated. endangered mammals are Australian. In In 1982 David Attenborough ap- fact over half of Australia’s endangered peared on television holding a numbat. He mammals once lived in Scotia Country in said that these animals could not survive in Western New South Wales. Scotia Sanctu- today’s world. There were less than 200 left ary will save all these endangered mam- in the world and because of their diet of mals. termites they could not be kept in captivity. Probably over $50 billion per annum Today, over 200 live at Yooka- are spent annually throughout the world in murra Sanctuary alone. The boodle filled the the name of endangered mammals and their niche of the rabbit throughout the and zone habitat. Scotia Sanctuary will, in fact, save of Australia just 200 years ago. They were over one quarter of the world’s endangered as dense as rabbits are in a rabbit plague mammals in one hit. It will do this without today. The last one was seen on mainland any cost whatsoever to the public sector. Australia in 1940. They have now been

102 The real tragedy of endangered in 25 years over 100 species of Australian mammals can best be explained with the mammal will only live on our land. If we fail story of the mala. Twenty years ago there then we believe we will lose those 100 were several thousand mala left on main- species. land Australia. The Mala Recovery Group was formed. Since then the numbers have Wildlife Summary steadily decreased. They disappeared from I have stated that Australia has the worst the wild three years ago. Today there are record, in the world, for wildlife manage- less than 100 left. These are all in cages with ment. I have also pointed out that the the males and females separated so they will problem is introduced feral animals, princi- not breed for ‘there is nowhere to put the pally the fox and cat. It is my view that we young’. Members of the Mala Recovery can save Australia’s wildlife. The solution is Group visited Scotia Sanctuary. One said, simple. We just need to: ‘This would be wonderful for mala. If they were put here they would quickly multiply 1. Acquire Land; into the thousands.’ But no mala can be 2. Feral Fence the Land; released at Scotia Sanctuary because ‘There 3. Eradicate the Ferals; are no protocols in place.’ 4. Reintroduce the Wildlife; Twenty years of work on the mala and 5. Save the Whole Ecosystem. today there are still no protocols in place to The only real problem is funding. Let save it. Yet the head of the Mala Recovery me now demonstrate how we solved the Group states that the programme has been funding problem. enormously successful. Over $6 million of public money has been spent. Over 85 Funding research papers have been published. The There are two types of funding needed to Group has traveled Australia 12 times. Over save our wildlife by developing safe areas. 3,500 people (including volunteers) have Firstly one has to raise the development been involved. ‘There was really only one funds required to develop the sanctuary. thing that went wrong – We lost the mala.’ Secondly one has to develop a method of Probably the most wonderful thing raising the necessary funds to allow the day about Scotia Sanctuary is the unemployed to day running and maintenance of the kids building it. Or at least they were sanctuary. unemployed before Scotia. Now they have jobs for life. They have careers. They have a a. Running Expenses purpose in life. We could employ hundreds of unemployed kids if only the government According to the Australian Financial got out of endangered species and let the Review (October 3 1997) 50% of inbound private sector do the job. tourism to Australia is nature based. According to tourism statistics, tourism The Present earned Australia $16 billion in 1997/98. This means that wildlife tourism earned Today, we have 7 projects underway. We Australia $8 billion last year. This is more plan to open Earth Sanctuaries along the than three times what sheep earned Austra- east coast of Australia soon. These sanctu- lia last year and more than our biggest aries will earn funds to allow more ‘Scotia export earner, coal, earned Australia last Sanctuaries’ to be developed in the outback. year. On the other hand over 90% of tourists Our plan is to develop 100 sanctuaries coming to Australia to see wildlife go home averaging 1,000 sq kms each over the next disappointed. Most are taken to a zoo and 25 years. This will mean that we will have see no more than they could see at home. over 1% of Australia under management for Earth Sanctuaries has harnessed the wildlife within that time. We estimate that tourism dollar to fund the day to day

103 running of its sanctuaries. In 1997 Conde Environmental Accounting. I believe that Nast named Earth Sanctuaries the world three years later, Earth Sanctuaries Limited runner up for eco- tourism and in 1998 is still the only company in Australia to Travel Holiday named Earth Sanctuaries adhere to the United Nations Policy on Australia’s best. Environmental Accounting. The recommen- dations were fairly simple. They stated that b. Investing in Wildlife an asset has two distinct monetary values. Firstly there is the value the asset has to the I am going to begin by stating what I mean individual owner. This is basically what the when I talk about investing in wildlife. I owner can sell it for. This is called the wish to do this because I am constantly financial value. On the other hand the same misinterpreted on these matters. By ‘Invest- asset has a value to society (or the country, ment’ I mean to employ money for individ- in our case Australia). This is still a dollar ual profit. Investment in wildlife does have (economic) value but it is not a market value. great benefits for society, indeed we meas- For example let us look at the value of ure those benefits to measure conservation a bilby. Since it is an endangered mammal it success or failure and these might be called cannot be bought and sold in the market- intrinsic benefits and are dealt with in this place. Therefore the financial value of a discussion. But by individual profit, here, is bilby is zero. On the other hand, wildlife meant the actual dividends paid to the tourism earned Australia $8 billion last year. investor plus the increase in capital value of If we capitalise that figure over the 10 year the investment as judged by the market bond rate of 5% then our wildlife has an place. By wildlife I mean animals living in a economic value or worth to Australia of wild state, filling the niche they evolved to about $160 billion. Now there are about 160 fill. Note that I am not here advocating the species of wildlife in Australia that a tourist selling of wildlife in boxes or wildlife could see if they were lucky enough. products. In fact if an animal were taken Therefore it is reasonable to say that the from the wild and placed in a pen or cage bilbies of Australia, as a species, has an then it would no longer be wildlife. That is, I economic value of $1 billion. Now since am using investment and wildlife to mean there are 5,000 bilbies left in the world, one that which is their normal meaning. could argue that the economic value of a bilby is $200,000 – hardly zero. Environmental Accounting The real breakthrough, for us, started with Conservation and the Market Place the 1982 United Nations Session which gave What we have done therefore is simple. We a mandate for environmental accounting. In have a publicly listed company, Earth 1983 five joint United Nations/World Bank Sanctuaries Limited. It issues shares to the workshops commenced to look at the public in return for funds. It spends those problem. In December 1993 the results were funds developing sanctuaries for the published in a United Nations Handbook on wildlife. Its assets are wildlife and the A System For Integrated Environmental and ecosystem and funding needed for the Economic Accounting. In 1995 the Australian wildlife to survive forever. The shares are Government published a handbook, jointly openly traded. The species have an eco- edited by the Commonwealth Department nomic value which is set out in ESL’s annual of Environment and the Commonwealth report. This leads to an economic value per Department of Finance, titled Techniques to share. The trading in the shares leads to a value environmental resources. financial value of the shares. Note that an In 1996, with the publication of its an- ESL share is worth exactly what it can be nual report, Earth Sanctuaries Limited sold for. Now, the financial value of the became the first company in Australia to shares lead to a financial value of the species adhere to the United Nations Policy on

104 of wildlife. Note that we can calculate its survival is $10 million. The financial exactly what the financial value of our value of a species as judged by the market assets are. We can calculate exactly what place via the sale of ESL shares is $300 our market capitalisation is. We can, million. This means that I can return $30 for therefore, calculate exactly what the every $1 invested in Earth Sanctuaries financial value of our wildlife is. We can Limited. I can therefore, confidently predict also calculate exactly what it costs to save a that we are able to save our wildlife. In species. We can then ask the question – Is closing I would like to note what ESL shares the financial value of the species greater have traded for in the period 1986 – 1998: than the cost of saving that species? If the $1 invested in Earth Sanctuaries in 1986 can answer is yes, then we can save the species. be sold for $60 today. I believe that to be one If the answer is no then we must appeal to of the best returns of any Australian com- welfare to save the species. panies over that period. Information and Since we have now been operating graphs on financial and economic matters this system for 12 years, we are in a position can be found within the Annual Report and to state some figures which I believe you will Prospectus section of our web site find amazing. The cost of saving a species (http://www.esl.com. au). by saving the whole ecosystem necessary for

DISCUSSION

IAN BROWN (Australian Committee for on our land. It was and we had to change IUCN): Principle 6 in the Charter says: the law. That is what started the whole ‘Treat all living beings with compassion, debate. Yes, there are some very serious and protect them from cruelty and wanton problems there. There are some very seri- destruction’. Steven Rockefeller was at ous divisions. There is a European conser- pains to tell us that this was a move away vation group for feral horses. I think they from species as the centre of attention, as is should all be hung up by their toes and left the case in a number of charters and to die – that is the conservationists, not the conventions, to individual organisms. I horses! There are serious problems and I do would be interested to know how this not know what the answers are. might affect our compassion towards foxes IMOGEN ZETHOVEN: I guess the obvious and cats, for example, and the whole answer is that the feral animals do need to question of ferals. I imagine that there be eradicated, ideally, and at least con- would be quite a few people – John Walm- trolled at sustainable levels. But it has to be sley among them – who would be quite done in the most humane and quickest pleased to see the wanton destruction of way possible, which may be shooting. It is foxes and feral cats in Australia. Is there a controversial, particularly when groups dynamic there that you can address? overseas generate campaigns against JOHN WALMSLEY: No doubt there is a Australia in this regard. From a conserva- problem there if you put value on all life. tion perspective it has to be done, but it has The whole cat debate in Australia started to be done as humanely as possible. because of us. When we opened Yooka- NORMAN HABEL (Flinders University): murra Sanctuary, we were approached by We have answered the question ‘Does all an animal liberation group who informed life have intrinsic value?’ and we have us that it was illegal in South Australia to decided it does. If we go back to Principle kill a feral cat that was destroying wild life 1, we see it says: ‘Respect Earth and all

105 life’. Why does not it say ‘respect the financially we are very big, but in the case intrinsic value of the Earth and all living of the Uniting Church, our members are beings’? dying off because we are an old church – JOHN WALMSLEY: I have no problem they are looking for scapegoats. ‘New age’ with that. I think it should say that. I think in particular threatens the churches, and the Earth could be considered a living so this notion about intrinsic life, coming organism. I have no problem with that from traditions where you are in favour of, whatsoever. say, capital punishment or whatever, is obviously very threatening. It is very PAUL COLLINS: I think we actually tried controversial for them, the more they think to reformulate Principle 7 along those lines about it. The Centre for Independent in the group. I agree with that. It does Studies is already trying to panic the connect very closely with that previous churches to make sure they do not go question. I happen to think that my fa- down this track. It will be a big battle. But ther’s cat has helped him in his old age in given the debates that go on in churches the nursing home, but I agree with John anyway, these things are always battles, as that that cat is an absolute menace when you try to bring the church up to date in let loose anywhere else. There are real some areas. Or there is a rediscovery of old problems with that. I do not have any ideas, which I think was what Paul was problem with the eradication of feral getting at. The industrial revolution animals in Australia. While I say that all changed our outlook on the world, so in a life has intrinsic value, that does not mean sense we are yearning for a pre-industrial that all individual lives have to be pre- approach to nature. served at all costs. Even within the Chris- tian tradition, there are grounds for people PAUL COLLINS: I think churches that giving up their lives – even human life is have a stronger iconographical, sacramen- not an absolute. I do not have any problem tal tradition have much less problem with with the elimination of ferals, especially this – those in the Orthodox and more when other species are ultimately on the generally small ‘c’ catholic camp. In fact I verge of extinction because of them. I think think that within the Catholic Church in we have to get it broader. Australia – which I know reasonably well – there is real concern about the whole KEVIN PARKER (Wollongong University): issue of the environment. It is a big issue in My question is directed to Paul and Keith the community. It is not in the Vatican. I mostly. One of the challenges that we seem am the one in Australia who told you all to face with the notion of intrinsic value about what they got up to. Even an Aus- within a theological setting is the weight of tralian was part of what the Vatican got theological beliefs. Given the status quo at up to in Cairo, which I utterly and publicly the moment, how do you visualise opera- deplore. But the reality is that the Vatican tionalising a document such as the Earth is not the Catholic Church, as I keep Charter in the areas you both work in? saying. How do you do it at grass roots level in the church? The other thing is that the Anglican Church has also expressed considerable KEITH SUTER: I actually think that the interest. I talked to a number of Anglican notion of the intrinsic value of life is very leaders in preparation for this conference, controversial. The Centre for Independent and there is real concern in the main- Studies produced a critique of this in the stream churches. Keith is pointing up the early ‘90s. It was very critical of this ap- tension between the fundo-crazies and proach, saying it was ‘dangerously New those who actually live in the real world. Age’. In a sense, as the mainline churches are under threat – I made a comment HENRY NIX (Centre for Resource and earlier about the size of the churches; Environmental Studies, ANU): What I

106 would like to see is a greater emphasis on One other thing it would be useful to the extraordinary community of life on this point out here is that Principle 1(a) talks planet, which I will illustrate by a short about ‘recognising the interdependence story. The galactic survey people, exploring and intrinsic value of all beings’. I want to the galaxy, arrive at the planet Earth to relate one comment that was made earlier. make a decision as to whether or not this ‘All beings’ includes Earth. If you regard planet is worth preserving. After some the Earth as being in some sense an or- consideration – admittedly very brief – ganic whole, the Earth is included in that they decided that it was a very boring and vision of all beings. The word ‘interde- monotonous planet because all life was pendence’ was introduced into that phrase DNA structured and carbon based! as a result of a lengthy discussion with the CHRIS TIPLER (The Collins Hill Group): I Buddhist community, particularly Bud- just want to comment on something Peter dhists from Japan. The issue there is that Garrett said this morning. He talked about from a Buddhist perspective, it is some- the importance of rediscovering a sense of what problematical to talk about the the sacred and the sacred connection with intrinsic value of beings because things do nature. Paul Collins also discussed that not contain a static fixed self. The Dalai matter. It reminded me of something Lama himself raised this with us. The which that wonderful man, Joseph Camp- being of everything comes from its rela- bell, once said: ‘You see the world very tionships with its environment. So Bud- differently when you refer to it as ‘thou’, dhists are concerned by any implication rather than ‘that’ – ‘thou rock, thou grass, that there is some fixed entity in things thou tree’ as opposed to ‘that rock, that which a Buddhist says empirically you will tree, that grass’. That has certainly been never be able to find. Everything is in a true in my life. Whenever I step back into constant state of change, and the reality of being my Chris Tipler self, with an enor- things comes from their interdependence. mous capacity to destroy things, and I So it was suggested to the Buddhist remember that it is ‘thou rock’, then I get community that we talk about ‘interde- back to where I need to be. I ask you the pendence and intrinsic value’ and they question: would it be worth thinking about were satisfied with that. I pointed out to incorporating this sort of concept into the them that if you abandon the language of Charter itself so that we get a sense of ‘intrinsic value’ this could set back the movement towards connection with the whole course of development that has Earth? occurred in international law around this STEVEN ROCKEFELLER: Just one com- concept. The concept of intrinsic value is ment about that: the other day the ques- used today in international law to give tion was asked why we used Earth with a moral standing to non-human species, and capital ‘E’, rather than lower case ‘e’ with you do not want to back off on that. If that the definite article. One answer to that is were abandoned, the whole debate in that just your point. When you address the area would be set back about two decades. planet as Earth and use its name, this So the compromise was to use this combi- opens the possibility of a relationship with nation of interdependence and intrinsic it. That is part of what the agenda is. But it value. Interdependence is, of course, a is also scientific usage. The term Earth is concept that is widely accepted in the West not just being introduced for the perspec- because of the ecological significance. tive of any religious purpose, but it also reflects the scientific usage.

107 DISCUSSION SESSION 5

Options for a youth consultation program

Chair: Nikki Ram, Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment

Strategic options for a national consultation program

Virginia Young The Wilderness Society

When Brendan first raised with me the idea government and to speak directly to of the Earth Charter and asked whether I industry and government, which is what would become involved, my first reaction the Charter potentially does, seems to me to was that the process of engaging the be a very powerful tool indeed. But that community in discussion about the charter power absolutely depends on whether or would be as important as the final content. not we can really get a broad outreach into The charter is a powerful way to re-engage the community and that is why you are all the community, providing us with a positive here. You are the first step in that outreach way of bringing the community into the program. debate on the environment. We have struggled over two years to As we all know, so many in the look at how we can conduct a community community are worn down by the constant consultation program with literally no conflict and the seemingly insurmountable money and no government support. How difficulties that face us on the environment. on earth were we going to do this? We are To find a tool which enables people to still struggling with those problems. We bypass the mysteries and inaccessibilities of have a company helping us try to find

108 commercial sponsorship for some aspects of representatives here today will be part of our program. As you will hear from starting that leverage process working, that following speakers, we have designed what you will go back to their organisations, talk we think is a wonderful program for about what has happened and become schools. We sat down with Angela, from involved. HASSELL, and we designed a potentially I am not going to take up very much effective program of regional forums, time, because I think that the really resourcing participants to go away and inspirational work we have done on the conduct their own consultation processes. consultation program comes from the We have a media strategy based around a schools’ work. As Maurice noted earlier, it is series of events. All of these things will work really the young that have the biggest stake well provided we get sufficient resources to in this whole process and have the most to do it. gain or the most to lose. I will sit down at The whole program to date relies on this point, and we will hear about some of leverage, and we hope that the the exciting work that has been happening.

The proposed Australian Earth Charter Schools Project

Fayen D’evie ANCEC Youth Project Officer

The very notion of sustainability charges us constructive and positive way so that they to consider how we may be impacting the feel that they can make a difference, both needs and the opportunities of future locally and globally, in protecting their generations, yet often in discussions about heritage; so that they can be architects of sustainability and how we might get there, their own future, and can act to secure the the voices of those future generations are future they want. conspicuously quiet. Young people have a In the Australian Earth Charter very important role to play in the Earth consultations, we are committed to Charter process in putting their views providing positive opportunities for young forward about what they want for their Australians to have their perspectives heard future and what we should be doing now to and counted. The main way we plan to do allow them to get there. this is through a schools-based project. However, engaging young people in Essentially, we are asking schools to take the Earth Charter process is not a simple part in Earth Charter activities, which task. In an age where the environment is provide students with opportunities to often portrayed in a very negative way – explore and express their environmental disasters, degradation, global warming and values as well as the principles and actions so on – young people are often given a that might help realise these values. picture of hopelessness and of a future Given that the school calendar is which seems bleak and overwhelming. At always busy, we have designed the material the same time, globalisation can reinforce a so that it can be done within the school feeling of individual powerlessness. A key curriculum and is not an extracurricular challenge is to engage young people in a burden. The resource material consists of

109 two manuals. There is one for primary prescriptive. It catalyses and stimulates schools and one for secondary schools. Each students to explore their own values rather of the manuals is divided into three sections. than telling the students what they should The first section describes the broad Earth think, feel or do. We also encourage Charter concept, which might be enough to students to drive the consultation processes stimulate some schools to develop their own in their schools so that they can demonstrate Earth Charter consultation processes. a positive commitment to their vision for However, many schools are not in the Earth. position – time or resource wise – to develop From these Earth Charter activities, a program from scratch, so the second we would like schools to send us the section of the manuals provides background following things: firstly, a page of principles to the Earth Charter themes, as well as or guidelines that their school community suggestions for activities across the entire would like to see in the Earth Charter; and, curriculum. secondly, we would like them to send a Activities are suggested for each of the page of actions that students could do in seven key learning areas within the national their school or their local community to curriculum – English, science, maths, promote these principles. This is an technology, health, society and the important step if the Earth Charter environment, and the arts. Suggested principles are to be seen by young people themes to explore for English include: can not just as abstract words but as a basis for written words really inspire people to sustainable actions that they can take. I change their behaviour? Are there universal recognise that many young people prefer to concepts which can be translated into all express their ideas through the creative arts. languages? What might be the appropriate We would also like schools to send us some style and format for a people’s Earth cultural items, such as a song or dance or Charter? We could have possible activities painting or a digital image or some other such as finding examples of writing that has cultural form that expresses an Earth tried to inspire people and debating whether Charter theme. this writing has motivated people to change Finally, we would like each secondary their behaviour; or perhaps writing a poem, school to nominate one student for a youth lyric or short story that tries to inspire all drafting team which will synthesise the people about that student’s vision of what various school contributions into one single the Earth should be like in, say, 25 years youth charter. This is important so that, as time. Some schools may wish to use the far as possible, the perspectives of young second level of material to help guide their people are faithfully portrayed and are not program of activities. filtered or sanitised by their elders. The third section of the manuals The schools-based project has been contains classroom work sheets. There is a designed to be flexible to each school’s work sheet for each of the key learning circumstances and its own environmental areas for each of the school levels – the interests. In the spirit of the Earth Charter lower, middle and upper primary, and process, we recognise the diversity of school lower, middle and upper secondary. The communities. We also recognise the diversity work sheets provide a straightforward way of young people, and we have started to for any teacher to involve their students in look at how the youth project, including the class in the Earth Charter project. There are educational manuals, may need to be a number of work sheets for you to have a reworked to make them relevant to look at. They are drafts, but we would particular groups of young people, appreciate some suggestions from you. especially indigenous young people. As we are seeking young people’s A number of ATSIC commissioners perspectives, we have made a real effort to have already provided valuable suggestions ensure that the educational material is non- to us about consulting indigenous youth.

110 They emphasised the need to encourage university grounds! I am sure they would all young people participating in the Earth be very happy to talk to you about their Charter consultations to draw on the skills, experience in trying to run a consultation, the knowledge and the histories of elders and what they have planned for the future. within their communities. As this principle It is important to emphasise that, at from the draft Earth Charter expresses, we the moment, we are still actively seeking need to recognise the role of youth as sponsors for this program. If you have links fundamental actors for change, and we also to a school or perhaps a youth group, I urge need to value the wisdom of elders in the you to talk with us about the possibility of pursuit of a better future for us all. So this participating in the Earth Charter youth type of integrated and cross-generational consultations. I also invite suggestions from discussion and action will be encouraged. any of you who might have ideas about If resources allow, we also want to how we can improve the project. look at how we can engage those young As future generations, young people people who feel distanced from the school will bear the consequences of our failure to system, or young people who are outside of make the changes needed for sustainable the primary and secondary school system. living. Young people are also the One group of people who fall into the latter fundamental actors for change. The category are the volunteers who have been commitment and drive of young people is manning the conference desk and the essential if we are to secure a sustainable microphones over the past few days. They future. It is therefore vital that young are all undergraduates from the Australian Australians be given a real opportunity to National University, who last year initiated think about, to be inspired about, to their own Earth Charter consultations with communicate and to be empowered to the university community. It was themed, secure their vision for the future and for the ‘What stench is that?’ and it focused on future of Earth. Sullivans Creek, which flows through the

The Arawang Primary School Earth Charter Project

Marilyn Hocking Arawang Primary School

My involvement with the Earth Charter idea is that we are reaching children at an began because colleagues from the Austra- age when this sort of work will have the lian National University who run an biggest impact. This was a culmination of outreach program, a BISACT program, basically two terms work involving studies invited us to do something creative, know- of particular ecosystems – for example, the ing full well that we would respond to that Black Mountain ecosystem – debates about request! environmental issues, essay writing which We have been working with the was based on viewing the Nature of BISACT team for the last five years. They Australia videos produced by the ABC. The come into our school and they work with children then chose a topic that interested the children in the biological sciences. The

111 them and wrote an environmental essay on ‘earth keepers’ is actually the name of a that topic. program that Birrigai Outward School runs, When we were asked to think about so that linked with the children who had the Earth Charter, we then had to bring done the earth keepers program in Year 5, together the work we had already done and which was still fresh in their mind. try to focus it in a slightly different way. We On the banner you will see global asked the children to individually statements of what they hope for everyone brainstorm their hopes for the future of the on the planet. You will see more individual planet, and we asked them to look at local and individual-type statements, and you issues, Australia- wide issues and global will also see poetry that they have written issues. We had lots and lots of discussion. about the creatures or the places that they Lots of information was gathered and feel very strongly about. That was how our recorded on lists and concept maps and so banner was created. It was the culmination on. We then came together, shared our ideas of a wonderful two terms of work, really in- and chose the ideas that we thought best depth study with lots of opportunities to expressed what everyone in the two groups discuss environmental and personal issues. – 60 children – were hoping for the future. Being school children, they enjoyed the We then had to standardise the form opportunity to be creative. Behind me on the of expression for putting the work onto the wall is the Earth Charter banner from banner, which we also did as part of our Arawang Primary School. English work in the classroom. We then had KATHRYN BURGE (The Natural Step): to plan the banner and what we were going Have you ever made a copy of that which to put on it. We decided that we would use we could see to give us some inspiration? the ecosystems that the children had been MARILYN HOCKING: Some photographs studying as the basis. These ecosystems were were taken, but they did not really do the desert, the ocean, the rainforests, the justice to it – it is so large; it turned out woodlands and the wetland areas. larger than it was meant to. Photographs After deciding on that, it really of the individual stages could probably be became a happening. I put all the children made. in one big room, gave them the fabric and said, ‘Here you go, kids. What are we going FAYEN D’EVIE: I did not mention it in my to do?’ Once again, with consultation, we talk, but the idea is that schools should worked out that our banner should take a send in cultural items to be archived at the circular form to give that feeling of Australian National University Institute of continuity and wholeness, and that the the Arts and then turned into exhibitions banner would be divided into the different and so on. Because this banner is a lot areas. From there, the children just took it, larger than normal, we felt that we would as children will do when they are given the probably take photographs of it. You could opportunity. They found the creatures that speak to us later about whether that will appealed to them that they would like to happen. have on that banner. We painted them on A PARTICIPANT (Name not given): I fabric, cut them out, glued them on, et notice that you have given Earth a gender. cetera, and that was how it came about. How did you introduce that concept to the They had also done a lot of creative children, or was that just something that writing, especially using the Japanese Haiku they felt? form, which fits thoughts about nature MARILYN HOCKING: That was just beautifully – it is designed to do that. We something that came from them. wrote the poem in the centre together. After we had written it, we realised that the term

112 Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment and the Earth Charter

Claire Crocker Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment

I would like to begin by acknowledging the may not have fresh food available on the very warm welcome we had yesterday from scale that we do now, and that is something Agnes Shea. Thank you very much to her that is quite confronting for us. But we do and to her people for their permission to be not operate from fear and upset – we have here today. had kids cry at our conferences when we I would like to talk about the project have given them the scale of the problem, that I created jointly with Liz Turner. She is and we do not believe that is the way to the other national coordinator of the handle it. The way that we need to handle Australian Youth Parliament for the these issues is to work together in Environment (AYPE). Liz and I went to partnerships with all sectors of society, and high school together and, at the end of Year to come from inspiration and from love for 12, we began working together on the AYPE the environment and for what the future is as a project that I think reflected both our that we need to be creating together. feelings for the future – that it is time for We bring together young people action; it is time to actually get out there and between the ages of 12 and 18, and our goal start solving things. is to become a fully national Youth We were in year 12 and just about to Parliament for the Environment. We want go out into the world. Our perspective was to create a parliament that can work with that there was so much going on. We were the parliament that currently exists so that both young and were overwhelmed by the young people can point to the AYPE when state of the current environment, but we did they are 14, politically ambitious and want not have a channel to express that through. to use their political knowledge or desire in We were both under 18 years of age, and the right way, which is the way to create we both wanted to do something positive something positive outside of themselves. To and to feel that our lives made a difference, do that, we want a structure on a national but we did not know how to actually do scale that will bring together young people that. So that was the motivating energy that once a year. They would be elected at the led us to creating the AYPE, which is now a electorate level by their peers. We do not national project. know whether something like the I want to share with you a little of Australian Electoral Commission or what the AYPE is all about, and then to anything like that would be involved – at suggest how we could work with the Earth this stage, they would have the name of Charter program – because that is a really every young person in the country – but we important process – to bring youth into this are looking at creating a way for young actively. The main motivation behind the people to see that there is a way they can AYPE – the only reason for our being here – act for their future. is that we are here to create a sustainable We are currently piloting our youth future. That is not a future in the distant but ecocivics program, based on the electorate a future that needs to be created now. We structure and which brings young people in are already faced with the fact that our kids consultation with their federal MP, so that

113 they can sit down together on an equal we need to fight for it. There is a war going platform to work out issues such as how we on, and I think we all know that. It is are going to create sustainability in our area probably the most serious war that we have and how we can work together to create a ever come across because we are fighting positive partnership. Three of those are against our own destiny and our own being piloted around the country now, but future. We need to unite and to say, ‘No. We another 17 will be launched in the next are not going to lose this one.’ The AYPE is month or two. hoping to inspire kids not to feel that the The main thing we are leading up to is war has been lost, because when they feel a large scale convention this September, that, they give up. That is the biggest probably at Old Parliament House. That will tragedy that we can possibly have as a bring together, for the first time, young society. people from every electorate in the country, We work with another project, the who will come to look at how they can Natural Step – the Environmental Institute work together for solutions for creating a of Australia. Two representatives from the sustainable future. That is the direction that Natural Step are here today. The youth we are moving in. We have already done a parliament began with their support. From lot towards this. This is not idealistic, so to the beginning, Liz and I felt that if we did speak. We have already had three not come from an educational base we conferences that have brought together would not have the strength. Our original increasing numbers of high school students principle was that the only way to inspire to achieve that end. This is our fourth year young people was to make them feel that of operation, and we are getting to be a we are not going to be beating around the more fully national project with strong state bush, but for them to feel that this was based structures operating in Northern constructive, pro-active, solution-based and Territory in particular. They are really ready to create partnerships and work with strong and pushing us as a national project all sectors of society and government to to be active on a state level as well, which is achieve the result. really good. For that reason, we have gone into I know that a lot of people have partnership with the Natural Step so that devoted their lives to this issue of they can provide us with that educational sustainability and creating a sustainable framework. We see that as one of the most future. We all inherently know that we have important pillars of the AYPE because that our values slightly mixed up. We have a will be our platform for providing kids with slightly schizophrenic society. I think a lot of enough strength so that, when they sit us know that. A lot of people here are very down with politicians, they do not feel they strong – some have spent at least 50 years of are going to be swamped by statistics. There their life working towards this process. are some political decision makers and From our perspective, we can only express business decision makers who will respond our most tremendous thanks for that, and to young persons by saying, ‘It’s all very add that with our own commitment that the well, but are you aware of this, this or this fight has not been put to the wayside. We policy that we already have in place, or this, are taking up the fight for the future in a this or this piece of legislation.’ The Natural very active way because that is what we Step enables those students to say, ‘That’s all need to be doing. I am very excited. very well, but the accumulation of carbon Part of what we wanted to do was to dioxide is still increasing, and I do not see convey to you that youth are taking it up, how your policies are affecting that at that that youth are actually joining with you in level.’ not saying, ‘You guys have stuffed up the We find that education enables us to planet.’ To the contrary – we are saying that keep coming back to basics and to provide we have a very big problem together, and young people with the confidence to really

114 push decision makers and say, ‘Look, you Rockefeller had: ‘If you have youth, then can still cradle the things that you value. We you have to have women, and indigenous just need to work in a different way.’ I want groups and a set for everyone’, which is to acknowledge that. We think it is quite very important, but we feel that youth are exciting that a central part of the AYPE is essential to these processes of sustainability. education. It is quite an interesting strategy The problem with a lot of youth clauses is for a project of this nature to be looking at that they might just say: ‘to consult with training young people to be fully educated youth’. It needs to be a lot more than that. It in sustainability. That is a platform for them needs to be to structurally bring young to go and explore all sorts of models and people into this so that they identify with it ways of looking at it, but at least it gives themselves. them a structure to start with. That is an It could be quite a challenging thing if important part of what we are doing as the Earth Charter document itself had as a well. principle that it was formally engaging On another note, we would like the young people as equal partners in this convention this year to be quite an process of participation. I do not know the international event, because this challenge logistics of it, but I am just conveying the cannot be handled by Australia alone. We message that, for young people to be are looking to create allies in this war – allies consulted is all very nice, but it is our future internationally of young people who are that we are consulting about. In many prepared to stand up in whatever ways, it is important that young people are circumstances they are in – and to work in there not just as consultants but as directors the same way with decision makers on a and partners. We have not spoken to our global scale. We have already spoken briefly delegates about that – it is just the AYPE to Maximo Kalaw about Costa Rica, and it organisers having a discussion here today – looks like we are going to have some Costa but we would like to put that down as Rican kids coming, which is great. something we think could be very important I am sure that many of you have for the Earth Charter document so that contacts with youth projects overseas – or students identify with it as their own. even a young person overseas. If you think In addition to that, there is room with you know someone who could be a really the AYPE – because we are quite grounded great leader on this on an international in schools; we do a lot of practical work in scale, please see Liz or me, because we are schools – to tie in with the Earth Charter looking at getting the funding for that. We program on a school level. There is raise the funding for the youth parliament opportunity for the convention to have ourselves, so we need to start now for linkages there. That is another eight months September so we have enough time. away, but it is enough time to have an In relation to the Earth Charter, we evaluation and see how the process is going. see that as being really important as well. There is lots of room for that. We would like The scale of the problem is so huge that to raise two main points – a figurehead, and there is a need for so many different a youth clause. Often it is important to have initiatives, but the Earth Charter is a figurehead to identify with. Peter Garrett something that people can point to on an was fantastic – he still is fantastic – for the international scale and draw a lot of environmental movement. You need encouragement from as well as have someone that you identify with and then identification with the values that we all feel comfortable with in exploring the issue. share. That is something that the Earth Charter We do feel that a youth clause or a could benefit from as well – having someone youth principle is something that is very perhaps not political but someone who is important to the Earth Charter. I can out there and committed, that people could understand the response that Steven identify with. It then gets them into it. The

115 other point is the youth clause, which is another big thing.

Working with the National Curriculum Framework

Robert Palmer GELPAC

I first met Brian Dooley, the Secretary of the many common goals concerned with Australian National Committee for the building a sustainable future through Earth Charter Inc. (ANCEC) several years environmental education. A Memorandum ago while we were both working on pro- of Understanding between ANCEC and posals for the Malaysian Smart Schools GELPAC was signed at that time. initiative. We both had extensive educa- GELPAC had already undertaken and tional experiences involving classroom completed considerable research, data- teaching, school administration, teacher gathering, sequential planning and training and curriculum design. I had also school/community trialling while fine- been involved in educational publishing and tuning its programs so ANCEC commis- multimedia development and was the sioned the writing of a Primary School Education Director and Chairperson for Teachers’ Manual and a Secondary School Global Eco-Learning Publishing and Com- Teacher’s Manual to take advantage of munications Pty. Ltd. (GELPAC) what was already in place. Both manuals The Global Eco-Learning System had were to include introductory information then been eight years in development and about the Earth Charter movement, student was highly regarded as a unique educa- information and colour-coded activity sheets tional initiative to promote environmental for three primary school and three secon- understanding and encourage positive, dary school levels, and address identified sustainable action through the production of curriculum areas for Australian schools. An age-appropriate resources and activities. It iteration process was undertaken under the involved primary and secondary students, direction of ANCEC President Brendan their teachers, their families and their Mackey. communities locally, nationally and globally. The comments gleaned from the itera- It had already generated much interest at tion process strongly supported the quality United Nations Environment Programme of the draft content and identified a wide conferences in Oxford, Warsaw, Vienna, range of experiences and expectations held Bangkok and Manilla – and also at Habitat by teachers and the general community. It Conferences, an ANZEC conference and the clearly showed that although teachers O.E.C.D. Sustainable Cities conference in viewed the student activity sheets most Melbourne. favourably, many teachers also saw the When ANCEC was constituted Brian materials as a way to update their environ- was instrumental in bringing the two mental knowledge in non-threatening and organisations together to work on the Earth easily-accessable ways. It is intended to Charter schools’ program structures, release these manuals to schools and content and implementation plans. This educational groups Australia-wide. involved the identification and pursuit of

116 With both the GELPAC and ANCEC members should be constantly on guard mission statements in mind the contents of a against those who may attempt to censor or discussion paper released on January 13th. inhibit genuine comment by pursuing 1999 entitled ‘Today Shapes Tomorrow’ are personal agendas, and also resist groups most interesting. In it Senator Hill’s De- who wish to unfairly influence the process partment of the Environment and Heritage, and outcomes of the Earth Charter process. outlined their principles of environmental Another of my concerns is that the education as follows: Earth Charter process, at present, is limited · Environmental Education must involve and finite. everyone · It is limited because ‘one swallow does · Environmental Education must be not make a summer’ and one teacher’s lifelong manual does not constitute an ongoing, · Environmental Education must be sustainable program. holistic and about connections · It is finite because the information, · Environmental Education must be opinions and materials it gathers will be practical. One of the most fundamental presented to the General Assembly of the defining characteristics of effective envi- United Nations at a predetermined time. ronmental education is that it must lead A most important question to be asked is to actions which result in better envi- ‘What will happen to student, school and ronmental outcomes, not simply the ac- community confidence if ANCEC raises cumulation of inert knowledge or im- expectations and then cannot properly practical skills. This is ultimately the address these expectations?’ There are yardstick by which we are able to meas- presently no answers to these concerns but ure the effectiveness of our efforts in en- it is my belief that the Global Eco-Learning vironmental education. system, which has a proven age- · Environmental Education must be in appropriate, holistic approach and ANCEC harmony with social and economic can strengthen their Memorandum of goals. Effective environmental education Understanding by working out ways to should not be taught in a vacuum, or meet ongoing individual and community simply equip people to pursue an expectations. agenda on the margins of society. Envi- I understand through Brendan ronmental education needs to incorpo- Mackey and Brian Dooley that genuine rate this reality by providing people with global interest has been generated by the the knowledge, understanding and ca- draft ANCEC Teacher Manuals, although pacity to influence mainstream society in they have specifically targetted students and a way which progresses environmental teachers in Australian schools. This interest objectives along with other legitimate was to be expected because the Global Eco- social and economic objectives. Learning System with its print-based, These principles parallel, or mirror, those multimedia and on-line approaches has addressed by GELPAC and ANCEC, and I generated strong interest from more than urge as many people as possible to acquire forty countries throughout the world – with and study the discussion paper and respond China, Pakistan, Vietnam, and the Euro- to Senator Hill’s invitation to provide ‘... pean Union leading current negotiations. feedback from stakeholders and the com- Another initiative of possible interest munity about the many issues raised ... .’ to the Earth Charter movement has been I would like to make further comment developed by GELPAC with the assistance on a statement in the discussion paper that of Brian Dooley and his colleagues at the effective environmental education ‘should Centre for Continuing Education at the not be taught in a vacuum, or simply equip A.N.U. It is a nationally accredited, six people to pursue an agenda on the margins module, Certificate IV course in Functional of society’. ANCEC and ANCEC network English to develop English as a Second

117 Language skills through a strong focus on interactive telecommunications systems, the environment. Although it does not curriculum software, and print publications currently fall under the ANCEC banner for has the potential to redirect and re-build curriculum materials it should certainly be education. recognised as an exciting new development On page 4 of A statement on technology for the teaching of English and for develop- for Australian schools the importance of ing sustainable and environmentally- technology is re-inforced- ‘Social and friendly individuals and communities. environmental changes in Australia make it I would like to conclude this presenta- imperative that people become more tion by providing some extra food for innovative, knowledgeable, skilful, adapt- thought about the kinds of initiatives we able and enterprising. These qualities will need to be thinking about when devising enable people to: respond critically and environmental education programs. resourcefully to challenges, devise creative Social analyst Richard Eckersley cur- ways of generating and applying ideas, rently argues ‘Despair in Western society is translate ideas into worthwhile outcomes, growing, as seen in increasing suicide rates find innovative solutions to community among the young, rampant alcohol and needs, focus on the design of techniques and drug abuse, depressive illness, obsessive products, deal with uncertainty in an dieting, and other social ills. He believes that informed way, co-operate in flexible teams, this growing despair is due to the failure of appreciate cultural differences, learn Western culture to provide a sense of throughout their lives. and use local, meaning, belonging, and a purpose in our national, regional and international net- lives, as well as a framework of values.’ works.’ At an Australian College of Education Sir Mark Oliphant concluded his ad- seminar held in 1981 it was clearly stated dress to a meeting of the South Australian ‘with the emphasis now being given to the Institute of Inspectors of Schools with these administrative and structural change in words: ‘If the young today are to face a education, we face the prospect of having reasonable future, war must be abolished the most efficient processes for the distribu- from Earth, as has smallpox. The nature of tion of a product, but a product that itself is our social institutions – government, not only well out of date, but of such banking, education, health, and so on – inferior quality as to be of little value to must be revolutionized. Like the phoenix, anyone who receives it.’ what is must be destroyed in order that the John Goodlad tells us that: ‘Other gen- new can arise from the ashes. It is two erations believed that they had the luxury of minutes to midnight. Gradual transition is preparing their children to live in a society ruled out by the natural conservatism of all similar to their own. Ours is the first genera- people. For the sake of the young and the tion to have achieved the Socratic wisdom unborn we must strive to make the inevita- of knowing that we do not know the world ble revolution as painless, and as productive in which our children will live.’ of human happiness, as possible. The In 1977 the Department of Education alternative is chaos.’ and Science reported ‘We live in a complex, Twenty-five centuries ago Guatama interdependent world and many of our Buddha taught that this world and all it problems require international solutions. reveals is ‘a single, seamless garment’, and The curriculum should therefore reflect our that ‘there is no ultimate dividing line need to know more about, and understand between man, the tree, and the mountain.’ other countries.’ In 1855 Chief Seattle told us ‘Man did Multimedia technologies, including not weave the web of life; he is merely a audio and video recordings and broadcasts, strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he still images and projections, computer-based does to himself.’ programs, data and information systems,

118 Aboriginal groups have accumulated a Human interaction is something that will go wealth of knowledge in their 60,000+ years on through teacher’s lives and through of occupation and sustainable interaction student’s lives. Teachers should be willing to with a diverse and changing environment. include a real and open sharing communi- Education in general, and about the envi- cation as part of the learning experience. ronment in particular, can be greatly This is the beginning preparation for living enhanced by the Aboriginal dimension that in a world of people. The teacher should be overlays all parts of Australia. It presents a seen to be a person who is vulnerable, with real opportunity for meaningful partner- moods, with feelings, making mistakes, ships between Aboriginal groups, educators occasionally inspired.’ and students to forge new cross-cultural (See Appendix 2 for additional com- enterprises.’ mentary on environmental education in Carl Rogers wrote: ‘Teachers are falli- Australia.) ble persons dealing with fallible persons.

Concluding remarks

ANGELA HAZEBROEK: Thank you to all that you can make to the young people speakers. I think we have heard some who spoke, and to Fayen, and to come interesting ways that people are already back with some suggestions for engaging engaging with young people. I would like young people in the Earth Charter you to go into groups for just 20 minutes process. and to come up with some suggestions

Ideas for youth participation in the Earth Charter process

· Involve community arts and try to get GROUP 1 funding through community arts proj- · Consult with children to find out what ects. their expectations, interests and sugges- · Youth forums which already exist, tions are. eg.UNAA, GESS. · Integrate activities within the wider · Concerts and entertainment focus that community. relate to environmental issues/themes. · Important to link activities with tangible · Involve youth networks, eg. Triple J – results also phone-ins and public radio stations. · Focus on youth centres – not just · Grants/funding from technology schools. corporations and governments. · Involve community and charity organi- sations, such as the Smith Family and the Salvation Army.

119 GROUP 2 · Tie in Earth Charter to pop culture · Hands-on experience with ‘earth’ · Young people – all youth – under 25 to activities, eg. plantings, gardening. be included. · Contact with farms – perhaps a network – so that the issues may be observed. Connect these with the Earth Charter. GROUP 4 · Allocate one of the top 1,000 corpora- · Children presented with the vision. tions to a school group who will investi- · Co-ordinate already-existing children’s gate that company from an Earth Char- projects so that they come under the ter perspective. umbrella of the Earth Charter. · If an ‘icon’ is used, credentials must be · Network this through the Web – this to impeccable. be done by the Youth Earth Charter. · Grandparent program – Child care · Invite youth groups to commit to the centre program – Younger sibling pro- process. gram (kits, stories, pictures and blocks). · Introduce Young Earth Charter, AYPE, · An Earth Charter story book. etc, to already-existing groups such as · Involve Junior Landcare Australia Young Christian Students and Young groups. Christian Workers, etc. · Supplement education facts with ‘This is GROUP 3 what YOU can do’ Reaching kids through schools · Good news videos and materials – ‘This · Reaching kids outside schools is what’s happening and there is more · MCG football match that you can do.’ · Triple J have rural focus

120 DISCUSSION SESSION 6

Why the Earth Charter is important – and where to from here?

Chair: Senator Bob Brown, Australian Greens

Introductory Remarks Chair

I have a suggestion to make following that influential revolution that brings us back wonderful presentation by young people. I into consonance and harmony with this would like to see that kit go to every remand beautiful little planet of ours, and gives us centre for young people around the country. the longevity, sustainability and security of I think you would be surprised by the the future which is, of itself, a staple of returns you would get from that. human happiness for each of us as we take We are finishing today with a section the baton and pass it on to future on why the Earth Charter is important, and generations. whereto from here? I think we would be in To quote from Fayen in the last general agreement that one way or another session: Will the Earth Charter not be just we are headed for revolution. It can be the abstract words, but a real basis for action? sort which comes out of failing to act, which We are now to hear a little bit about that. becomes violent and destructive and with Our first speaker is Molly Harris Olsen, almost unimaginable consequences, not just Director of Global Ecofutures Pty Ltd, and a for the largest mammal on this planet, but former Chief Executive Officer of President for all our fellow species. Or we can use our Clinton’s Council on Sustainable God-given heart and spirit to bring on an Development.

121 Molly Olsen Global Ecofutures Pty Ltd

It is a pleasure and a privilege to be here. I another issue that crops up or another thing want to make five very short points, focus- that someone wants to put in and it will be ing on where we go from here. very difficult to walk that line between I think it is very important as we something that is memorable and really hits embark on this whole process that we think the bottom line principles that we need to about this inner systems approach. It begged drive to for the future of the planet and the question for me: why were the 10 something that is just too complicated and commandments so successful? I think they with too much baggage. were successful because at least 12 people The second point I want to make is could remember them! I do not think that that we need to make sure and remember, any 12 of us in this room could, at the particularly those of us in the environment moment, remember all the principles in the movement who have been pushing for this Earth Charter. We need to think about these for so long, that all of us are involved in this things in a systems approach, and we need paradigm shift. It is not just about telling to try to keep them as simple as possible. business that they have to change the way I want to share with you an they do things. We are all involved in this illustration. Bob mentioned the work that I paradigm shift and that means that it affects did with Clinton at the White House. As we all of our lives and the way that we think were ploughing through some very difficult about things. It is particularly incumbent on times with the Sierra Club and Dow the environment movement to make sure Chemicals, and we were all arguing about that we are constantly reminded that we principles, somebody wrote this for me, and have to start looking for solutions. It is not I have been grateful to him ever since. He good enough any more to just sit back. We was comparing God’s principles with those have to start thinking in a really of the President’s Council. He said that sophisticated way about the opportunities God’s version was ‘Thou shalt not steal’; the there are for affecting things in a different President’s Council’s version was ‘While way. I would suggest that we could do that protecting the environment, promoting in very creative ways. We could even affect social equity and maximising economic investment and capital markets in a growth, individuals, institutions, businesses significant way with very strategically and government at the federal, state, local focused campaigns. But I think we have to and tribal level, should be encouraged, focus more on solutions and less on blame. through market incentives, to stabilise and The process to date has been inclusive. continuously move toward a reduction in Maurice is famous for designing processes the unauthorised use of materials, objects, that are wholly inclusive, but I think we wealth and natural resources that are need to focus on that a lot in Australia, owned by others’! linking as much as we can with so many of I was reminded of that because I really the initiatives that are going on. I am do think that the Earth Charter has made a familiar with at least half a dozen major lot of strides in terms of being simple and business and environment initiatives and I straightforward, but I think that we will will mention a couple of them here. constantly have to work toward that One is that the World Economic because in every iteration there will be Forum will host a major event in the year

122 2000. The WEF is made up of 1,000 of the Everyone in this room has real spheres of largest multi-national corporations. They are influence in both their professional and holding a special focused meeting in personal lives. There is a real opportunity to Australia on sustainability in the wake of not only share the Charter and its ideals the Olympics. They are based in Melbourne. with our friends and families, but also to Also based in Melbourne is the Myer make sure that we do not walk away and Foundation which set up a group called leave the meeting and forget that the Agenda 2000. They are writing a book at Charter exists. We must really try as actively the moment on appropriate sustainability, as we can to move it through all of our community sustainability and stakeholder spheres of operation and influence. issues. For those who doubt that something There is a group operating out of BP like this can have a real impact, I would just offices called ‘Business and the Environment remind them of this: when the Earth Debate’. The Australian Graduate School of Summit was coming together and Maurice Management is doing a book and also has a was running all around the world trying to group operating on corporate sustainability. pull together Agenda 21, I remember so There are many, many of these. The Natural many people saying: ‘Oh, this will never do Step was also mentioned. I think we need to anything; it will never get there.’ This be very careful to be as inclusive as we can morning I had to miss part of the session and coordinate as much as we can with the because Phillip Toyne and I are involved in existing efforts that are out there. Because a community effort in Gundaroo, which is a those who are already out there know a lot little village just outside Canberra, doing a about these issues and really care about community visioning exercise that them. The Earth Charter could and should incorporates Agenda 21 and its philosophy be a very important vehicle to help them in developing a community plan. I had to achieve their own objectives and laugh this morning because I thought: ‘Here aspirations. we are, from the ridiculous to the sublime – This morning Paul Perkins talked a operating literally at the grassroots level in little bit about this matter. I am working our own community, trying to get a plan with the Environment Management that will help us.’ Agenda 21 is the vehicle Industry Association to develop, with the to help the community envision what its Environment Minister and the Department future could be if it really thought carefully of the Environment, a business leaders’ about it. forum on sustainable development. The It finally reminds me of the story of the purpose of this is really to help accelerate three men carrying the stones. Someone business leadership on sustainable asked them what they were doing. The first development issues and to help identify the one said: ‘I am carrying stones’. The second mechanism to help support businesses that one said: ‘I am feeding my family’. The third want to move in this direction, and one said: ‘I am building a cathedral.’ It is recognise that there is, potentially or easy to be cynical and Australians have a certainly, for their own businesses a real very strong dose of cynicism in their strategic advantage in this. We want to attitude, which I think is a healthy thing figure out how we can support their efforts, generally. But I think that we do need to how we can accelerate that leadership and remember that from acorns oak trees grow. recognise the leadership that does exist in From these humble efforts we really can Australia. That is a happy initiative that I produce something that can have a major would be absolutely delighted to coordinate impact on the future of the world. We have with you in the Earth Charter. seen Maurice’s tireless efforts and optimism The last point I would make is that we over the years. I think that we can all all need to act locally. We hear this all the contribute to an opportunity to really make time, but now is a real opportunity. this thing meaningful in a way that affects

123 us both in our own backyard and for future responsibility. generations for which we all have a

124 Christine Milne Former Leader of the Tasmanian Greens

First I would like to acknowledge and thank The Earth Charter has the capacity to the Ngunnawal people for their welcome to unleash that kind of power – the factor of their land. I have been asked to address the one to the power of billions. That is why it is topic ‘Why is the Earth Charter important exciting and different from just another and where to from here?’ I thought: well, warm and fuzzy therapy session for the what does it actually say to me? As Molly converted at a time of incredible oppression. said, there is a fair dose of cynicism around I do not believe that people have and I have probably copped as big a dose of become complacent about the environment it as anyone after 10 years in politics in by choice. I think that has happened out of Tasmania! confusion. As society has become more I am excited about the Earth Charter complex and fragmented, humankind has because it cuts through the fog, it cuts lost contact with the essential truth through the mass of information that we are understood by indigenous people that the confronted with in the last years of this human species has evolved as part of the century, and it goes straight to the core. Earth community. Instead we now organise That excites me because at a time of for isolation from that Earth community. widespread human confusion, it is going to People live in one place, they worship in clarify for millions of people what they another, go to school or work somewhere already know in their inner selves as being else, play sport somewhere else again, often true, but somehow they have lost sight of it with entirely different groups of people. Our or they have deliberately suppressed it as whole lives are divided into compartments they struggle to incorporate and to which we can diligently separate so that we rationalise several different value systems in can accommodate a variety of value systems their own lives. It is that new clarity of – a different one for home, for work and for thought, its accompanying value system and play. How many politicians, company the hard law covenant that will generate the directors and bureaucrats teach their people power that will revitalise the children to care for the Earth, to be honest environment movement dynamic as we go and to share and then write position papers, into the next century. As Philip Adams speeches and make recommendations to wrote in his column last weekend: ‘It’s mislead and deceive the public, to slash philosophy, not Prozac!’ budgets to education, health and welfare, to The power of the Earth Charter and justify logging old growth forests on the the underlying principles is its capacity to basis of what is socially and economically empower people – people all over the world achievable? – to rediscover and change themselves. As So is it any wonder that when things Manfred Max Mead said – I do not have the go wrong, people find it hard to work out exact quote so I will paraphrase it – ‘The what is right and what is wrong; what is only thing I can change is myself and if I true and what is false. Our sense of moral choose to do so, there is no army, no police obligation grows out of our relationship force, no other person who can stop me with each other and with Earth. If we have from doing so. If I change myself, then no relationship with the people or the place, something exciting might happen to the then it is not difficult to destroy it. world.’

125 Earth Charter has the capacity to less.’ The Earth Charter and covenant change all that because not only is it holistic together will give definite shape, meaning in its vision, it is soundly based on the and definition to sustainable development, principles of the world’s great moral and which will take away the current flexibility religious traditions. Most importantly, it of interpretation which to date has reawakens that primordial instinct of being undermined it as a concept in this country. part of the Earth community. As Paul Combined with hard law, it will be achieved Collins said, it is that sacredness – the kind in a process which bypasses the two groups of sacredness Imogen talked about in her of people who currently marginalise the experience with the whale. environment – the corporate sector and So the Earth Charter defines identity business. We can bypass those through this with Earth. It defines relationships between process and that will be frightening to them. people and it defines the process through The tandem process has to be kept. sustainable development to achieve it. That Environmentalists will lose faith in an Earth is why it is important. Charter that does not have the twin process For those of us who already identify as – the covenant and hard law. It is not that Earth citizens with global responsibilities, we are focused on retribution but, as with this Charter is important because it gives us everything else, legal responsibility and the will to keep going. It gives us a new accountability help to keep people focused. hope and a point of connection with others Co-option of the moral language of soft law working in the non-government sector is possible, but evasion of hard law is much globally at this time. This is facilitated by more difficult. What we need to have clear information technology, particularly the is that politicians, corporate boards, Internet. directors of forestry corporations who Energising campaigners is a major endorse and engage in unsustainable function of the Earth Charter because we practices will be vulnerable to future are in the equivalent of the Dark Ages in prosecutions for their crimes against the Australia. It is a dangerous time. To be environment. Just as the knowledge that operationally optimistic at the moment is they have rights sustained people while they very difficult because we are working with a were campaigning for the Declaration of pessimistic analysis. It is really important to Human Rights, so too the knowledge that have some point of hope and connection to the rights of the Earth community will soon take us forward out of that particular mood. be recognised, will nurture Committed environmentalists every- environmentalists back into activism and where in Australia are disengaged at the enthusiasm, and give them a whole new moment. They are tired of facing a media so lease of life. narrowly owned that it does not report the It is a perfect time to do it now real issues surrounding the corporate because of the dawn of the new millennium. activities of associated companies. They are I believe this moment of time will make tired of government processes which sap people reflect on what they want to leave energy and go nowhere, and they are tired behind in the old century and what they of millions of dollars being spent on want to take forward into the new one. It is ‘greenwash’ and PR to convince the public a defining point, if you like, for a lot of that we are all conservationists, that things people for what was bad about the are getting better and sustainable industrial age and what they want to define development has been achieved. for the future. It is perfect timing. What are What we have in terms of sustainable we going to take forward? How do we development is what Lewis Carroll translate the principles and value systems of described thus: ‘When I use a word said the Earth Charter into a ‘can do’ list? In Humpty Dumpty, it means exactly what I other words, what does it mean for our day- choose it to mean, nothing more, nothing to-day living? What does it mean for our

126 livelihood and work places? How does it Hippocratic oath to incorporate Earth inform our actions in terms of the Charter principles. But what about lawyers organisations we join, the activities we looking at corporate law to change the undertake, the way we communicate and in responsibilities of company directors terms of the political advocacy we because realistically companies under undertake for the public interest? current company law will find it difficult to First of all, education is fundamentally spend money on the environment and important and the session just before this change direction, because it does not highlighted how important young people actually sit with their responsibility to and the combination of education, the generate maximum profit to their formal education process and curriculum is shareholders. So lawyers can take up that going to be. issue. They could also take up the issue of Secondly, informal education of civic the legal system itself. As the Australian said societies is critically important. Governments this week: ‘We’ve got a system that are getting smaller. Business, private sector celebrates winning, instead of celebrating and non-government organisations are truth and justice’. The Earth Charter can where the action is going to be, and we need only be served if truth and justice are what to educate the Mums and Dads of Australia the legal system is about. We have – who are now the shareholders of engineers, scientists, teachers, journalists – Australia as a result of current government all of them should be asked how can they policy – about their power. There are translate into practical terms Earth Charter superannuation billions floating around this principles. country and there are people who would be Then there is the role of the churches. horrified that their money is going into all Would not it be fantastic if in the largest these unsustainable activities. What we have cathedral in Melbourne or Sydney there was to teach people is that they can ring up their an ecumenical service in which all faiths superannuation fund and ask where their were asked to pledge support for Earth money is going and then shift their money Charter and explain how they were going to of they do not like it. interpret that for their faith communities. It It is that investment dollar that will is all very well for the churches to say that drive corporate change through an they endorse in principle the Earth Charter, education process. As John Walmsley said but what are they actually going to do about earlier, it is interesting that people put their it? How are we going to see this in practice? superannuation money into a fund that It would be a fantastic symbol for the rest of generates the most for them and then spend the community to see the churches take that all weekend planting trees. If they were kind of a lead. more careful about where they invested We also have the arts community, the their dollar, they would not have to plant popular culture community. Already many the trees at the weekend because companies of those creative minds in this country are like North that are out there woodchipping informed and motivated by Earth Charter them would not be supported by the formal principles. But the problem for them is that investment community. So it is really they are constrained by the power of the important for people to use the power that advertisers. I am confident that the Earth has been vested in them as a result of Charter will find expression in the visual government abandoning responsibility in and performing arts if the restraining hand the public interest, to turn that around and of media ownership and advertising is actually force change in the private sector forced to back off. That is where the power through influence on boards. of public advocacy and shareholder clout Thirdly, there is empowerment of are critical. professional groups. Maximo talked about The other issue is the formal political British doctors looking at amending the process. In Tasmania I tried to move from

127 an adversarial two-party system to a burden our souls with whether or not we cooperative multi-party process. It failed are going to be successful.’ Because if we do because the other people in the process did not do the right thing, we will be doing the not want it to be so – like the legal system, wrong thing. We will be part of the disease they value winning more than truth and and not part of the cure. Earth Charter and justice or long-term strategic planning for its accompanying convenant give us a clear the community. But it does not demean the view of the right thing, a renewed energy effort to have tried. Cooperative politics has for doing it and a process to do it through to be the way we govern ourselves in the sustainable development. Whilst we cannot future. We have to further define and refine know whether the disease or the cure will how it happens and make sure we elect prevail into the next century, I am people who are committed to cooperative convinced that Gandhi was right when he and inclusive frameworks, not just said: ‘What is true of the individual will be committed to power and winning. tomorrow true of the whole nation if In conclusion, Schumaker once said, individuals will but refuse to lose heart and ‘We must do what we conceive to be the hope.’ right thing and not bother our heads or

Mike Williamson Managing Director, CH2M HILL Australia Pty Ltd

Thank you ladies and gentlemen for allow- the Asia Pacific region we have over 250 ing me this opportunity to represent a staff working from offices and project sites personal perspective at this week’s work- from Auckland to Seoul. shop. I have been introduced to you today Our clients include private and public as both an environmental engineer and a sector organisations including lending marine engineer who lives in Sydney. Most institutions, multinational corporations, importantly, I am also a father, potential public utilities and developers. grandfather (but not for a few years – I Before I proceed further however, I hope), and fellow traveller on this spaceship would like to borrow from comments made Earth. I grew up in North Queensland and by our Chief Executive, Ralph Peterson I think you will agree that growing up in an during several addresses he gave last year environment which includes the Great which dealt with competitive factors and Barrier Reef and the rain forests in that part environmental issues. of the world makes it easy to see why my We see four significant trends shaping career led to one which is focused on the future. These are the ‘competitive preserving the good things of this world for factors’ that will materially influence the future generations. way we run our businesses in the years I’d like to start by telling you a little ahead. These competitive factors are: about the organisation I’m proud to work · Global economic trends for. Our mission statement is unambiguous. · Privatisation and new project deliv- We are a global project delivery company ery models making technology work to help build a · New business alliances and partner- better world. ships We are an employee owned organisa- · Sustainable development practices tion with a staff of over 7,500 operating Economic growth rates in the developing from over 120 offices around the globe. In world have been averaging nearly twice the

128 growth rates in the developed countries (US, engineering and construction projects in the Europe, Japan, etc). The Economist maga- years ahead, namely, privatisation and new zine recently forecast that in the year 2020: project delivery models. · 9 of the 15 largest economies on the It has become a widely accepted planet will be what we now call ‘de- canon of our day that our industry is veloping’ countries headed toward a new era of privatisation · China may well replace the US as and risk-sharing with client and project the largest economy on the globe partners. Direct investment from rich · developing countries will represent countries to developing ones tripled between 62% of the global GNP 1990 and 1995, to $112 billion. In addition, The environmental pressures which attach private capital flows to developing countries to this kind of economic and population (including not just investment in plants and growth are staggering. But one conclusion is equipment but also passive financial invest- inescapable: ‘companies and nations who ment) have risen 30% annually this decade, do the best job of efficiently managing the to $231 billion last year. What these statistics environmental consequences of economic clearly show is the global trend toward development will have a compelling com- private financing of projects. petitive advantage in the world marketplace As Forbes magazine succinctly put it of the next century.’ recently, ‘governments are learning that it This is about economic growth and en- cannot be bureaucratic business as usual if vironmental stewardship, and how the they hope to keep up with the demands of handling of both together will define the their economies.’ winners and losers among businesses, and To ‘keep up with the demands of their among nations. economies’ and move away from ‘bureau- We are encouraged to take a broad cratic business as usual,’ most governments view of environmental technologies; to think (at both local and national levels) have not just in terms of products and services in begun to explore new ways of building, the ‘traditional’ sense of environmental operating and maintaining public infra- cleanup applications, but to think in broader structure. Consequently, we see an increase terms of any process, from manufacturing in alternative project delivery and processes to new materials, that reduce the outsourcing of traditional public works environmental consequences of economic functions. Design/build approaches to growth and development. infrastructure development, performance- Last year The Wall Street Journal re- based government contracting and ‘con- ported that ‘reductions in the scope of tracting out’ plant and facility operations government and an explosion in trade and are all indicative of this economic efficiency private investment, has produced a world trend. growth rate in the past three years nearly Hand-in-hand with the trend towards double that of the prior two decades’. privatisation and new project delivery The World Bank estimates that Asia models flows the third competitive factor, will require up to $2 trillion in power plants, namely, new business alliances and partner- water systems, airports, highways, tele- ships. communications systems and other infra- In addition to globalisation and the structure investment in the next decade. changes in project delivery and perform- That’s a $4 billion investment per week. ance-based contracting, the shift from public This shows that the world is moving rapidly to private financing of infrastructure to a finance-driven web of trade relation- development and operations will have ships that will dominate the world’s eco- perhaps its most dramatic impact upon the nomic development for years to come. alliances and partnerships that will be This brings us to the second of the needed to deliver the projects and contract competitive factors that we see driving

129 services our clients will require in the next the resource and energy demands that this century. development represents. Prime examples of the types of projects According to the World Health Or- that spring from the new world order, and ganization an estimated 80 percent of the types of cross-professional, cross-border disease is caused by untreated, infected partnerships they engender can be seen in water. The Washington Post recently re- such places as Guangxi Province in China, ported that 500,000 children die each year where consortia, including the likes of from diarrhoea stemming from poor public Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB, sanitation. Japan’s Mitsui, Britain’s National Power and William Ruckelshaus, former head of Chinese firms, have bid on a major power the US EPA and Chairman of Enterprise for plant. Bechtel’s partnership with Britain’s the Environment has eloquently stated, Northwest Water (now United Utilities) and ‘…The fact is that the human population Keiwit for water infrastructure development will stabilise in the next century. The choice is another example and most recently we is whether it stabilises through the invention saw multi-firm design and construction of a sustainable form of development, or teams bidding for the $NZ 320 million through the services of the Four Horsemen Manukau Wastewater Treatment Plant in of the Apocalypse...’ Auckland which, I am happy to say resulted The UN defines sustainable develop- in the selection of our own team of US, ment as ‘Meeting the needs of people today Australian, New Zealand and European without destroying the resources that will be engineers and operators. needed ... by future generations.’ It is Private sector financial and project increasingly clear that sustainable develop- partnerships are not the only new alliance ment principles will not be dictated just on the horizon. While governments may not because it is the morally correct thing to do, continue to have the direct, exclusive role in but because it makes sound business sense. public infrastructure as they have in the The huge pressure on our resource base and past, their interests in overseeing the our planet caused by economic and popula- interests of their constituencies will be no tion growth will cause it to make business less diminished. And what we have seen in sense. And this will be a factor of growing action is a more collaborative, less adver- competitive significance to the engineering sarial relationship between industry and and construction industry. government. Already we see Agenda 21, ISO 14000 This brings me to the final competitive and related benchmarks being globally factor that we see taking hold over the next adopted both in public policy and as decade and beyond: sustainable develop- standard business practice. The City of ment practices. Portland Oregon has for example, estab- We must never lose sight of the fact lished a sustainable future policy which is that more than one billion people on our beginning to make its way into procure- planet subsist on a GNP of less than $1 a ments and projects in the area. For exam- day, and more than half of the world’s ple, the contract to construct the Rose population has a GNP of less than $2 a day. Garden Arena (the new home of the Portland When that is your reality, you do not think Trailblazers) contained a requirement which in terms of sustainable development as an led to recycling over 95 percent of the important legacy to leave your children. 45,000 tonnes of construction waste from When abject poverty defines your existence, the site. Closer to home (for me) the you are more likely to see some kind of Sydney Olympic Games bid was largely development as the only hope your children successful as a result of its commitment to may have of surviving to adulthood. It is delivering an Olympic Games firmly focused this reality which drives the furious pace of on complying with the principles of ecologi- global economic development, with all of cally sustainable development. In so doing

130 the NSW Government in close cooperation By partnering to achieve a sustainable and coordination with the private sector future all stakeholders (ie business, govern- have converted a waste land into an area ment and the community) can use the which future generations will continue to resources, the tools, the imagination and the benefit from. funding benefits which will allow us to To many, the construction industry understand and prioritise the problems and certainly looks like a prime candidate for the risks thus enabling us to manage our improvements in sustainability. By one environment through the integration of estimate, our industry accounts for 25 sustainability and development. percent of the deforestation and 40 percent We have no choice, we must respond of the total flow of raw materials into the to the challenge of providing strategies and growing human economy... some 3 billion implementable plans that can be put into tonnes per year of stuff. concrete action. Let us seize this opportunity We are firmly convinced that the eco- to demonstrate that industry, government nomics of sustainable development will lead and other stakeholders, working together, the design and construction industry to shift can build the kind of future that we want to its focus to a longer term life-cycle approach leave for our children and our children’s to building and infrastructure in the years children. ahead.

131 DISCUSSION

ANGELA HAZEBROEK (Hassell). In April But a lot of them will not want to get last year a group of us met and put to- into the discussion of the details of the gether a comprehensive program for wording of the Charter and into the sub- consulting the Australian community on principles. The way to engage those people the Earth Charter. That was aimed at in discussions about the Earth Charter is to giving people the opportunity to have focus on their values, how they relate to input from the national level down to the Earth Charter principles, and what it local level. Despite exhaustive attempts, to would mean to them to express those this stage it has not been possible to find values in a way which cares for Earth. the funding to do that exhaustive and They also need to be encouraged to con- comprehensive process that we were sider what changes they would need to planning. make to live sustainably. They need to be I was reflecting on it last night after the encouraged to express clearly the kinds of first day’s session, and I thought that support they need to help them live out maybe that was not such a bad thing. those actions; the kinds of support they Principle 12 in the Charter reinforces the want from governments, from business role and responsibilities of communities at and industry, and from us – the people the local level for caring for their own who are active in the organisations in their environments, and perhaps the challenge communities. is really for each one of us to take the Earth There are ways of doing this that will Charter to local communities and help reach people, but they will be different them to make it real, to engage with them. ways for different communities. That is In your satchels you have a green sheet why there cannot be a prescriptive ap- which is entitled ‘Beyond the Forum – proach to how you do this – there can only Consulting on the Earth Charter’. It sug- be some guidance. Specific groups within gests a couple of ways in which you might your community will have different needs engage people in discussions about the and different responses. We have talked Earth Charter, recognising that they will today about young people. They are only have different levels of base understanding one of those specific groups. The indige- about the issues. They will also have differ- nous people will want and need different ent levels of interest in the Earth Charter ways of being involved. The best way will per se. But I think you will find that they be to work with those indigenous people have, as a common base, support for the who already understand the principles of general principles of the Earth Charter. the Earth Charter and who are already I do not think there will be too many committed and aware. Australians who will disagree with the Similarly, we have heard about the need idea that we should respect Earth and all for business to speak to business. We need life; that we should care for Earth’s com- to engage the business sector and to do so munity of life in all its diversity; and that in ways that suit them – business break- we should secure freedom, justice, peace fasts and forums; the kinds of things that and Earth’s abundance and beauty for the work for business leaders. present and future generations.

132 You need also to recognise that we have make sure that voices were heard. We not heard anything over the last couple of have reacted and responded to what has days about people from non-English been going on. The absolutely fundamental speaking backgrounds, for whom English principle – and it is the only one that really is not their first language. The kind of matters – is respect: respect and reverence structured format forum that we have for the contribution that each person can been running would probably not be make. somewhere they would feel comfortable. So within your Earth Charter processes, Yet there are many of those people who it is not a group of experts preaching to the would share absolutely the values behind unknowledgable, ignorant masses; we are the Earth Charter. all learning together. We have heard from There are people with disabilities and the scientists that they do not know it all. older people for whom access in the usual We have heard from so many people that way to meetings and so on is not always there are gaps in our knowledge and easy. If we plan those events, we need to understanding. It is a problem that we plan a way that includes those people. The have all got to solve. So when we run our principle of inclusiveness is one that has processes, the most important thing is that been very strong here, and it is a challenge we do so in a way that makes everybody for those who go out and do that work at feel powerful and valued. the community level to actually check that At a more concrete level – and we do you are including people in your processes. need to have this discussion at a range of It could be possible for an individual levels in society – the challenge is for each organisation to go away from today’s one of you to go back to those organisa- forum and say that they will run a local tions that you are members of and have a level consultation. I encourage you to constructive discussion among your mem- model the principles of the Charter and see bership about the values that they cur- who else in your community you might rently hold. Most of us have some kind of partner with to do that. What that does is values in our organisation – some kind of say that this is not just about a particular mission statement, some kind of vision or organisation or church or business group. direction. Many of you have some body of This is about the whole community. So the knowledge or code of practice that you broader the base of the group that is seen abide by. I ask you to get those documents to sponsor this, the more likely you are to out and together with your members send the message that this is about every- examine them in the light of the Earth body. Charter. Shine the spotlight of the Earth I encourage you to go away, to think Charter on the things that you currently about who might partner with you in your do in your organisations, the values you community, and to call together some kind hold, and see where the connections are of meeting or gathering. We can actually and whether any changes need to be made explore with people the values, the changes in your organisations so that you actually they want, the commitments they are reflect the Earth Charter in your opera- prepared to make and the requirements they tions. have of business, government and others. It is both an individual and collective The other really important thing is that responsibility, but I think we have heard in some ways it is absolutely not hard to do from all our speakers that each one of us – and many of you do it already, so this is has the responsibility to take action. Each not meant in any patronising way. We one of us can make changes, and those have been enjoying it here for the last two changes, brought together, can care for the days. We have been struggling with proc- Earth and give us the sort of direction we ess and we have tried different ways to

133 are looking for in terms of the Earth Char- you to think what you will do in terms of a ter. pledge to take forward the message and What I want you to do now is to take a process of Earth Charter into your organi- couple of minutes to think about one thing sations and communities. We need you to that you will pledge yourself to do after tell help make the Earth Charter a dy- you leave this forum. I want each one of namic force in the Australian community.

134 ADDITONAL COMMENTARY

Brendan Smyth MLA Minister for Urban Services, ACT Government

I was very pleased to hear his Excellency the me particularly in the light of the issue of Governor General’s reference to Matthew sustainability. 25. I’m not a Bible scholar so the chapter did I’d like to address the question of not readily spring to my mind. I was sure ‘sustainability’ as an idea in itself, and as that the Governor General had offered us a an idea whose time has come, and challenge, he often does that. The hotel has wonder aloud why this has happened, or kindly obtained a Bible for me and in has it. I was a bit worried today to hear looking through Matthew 25, I see that it some saying sustainability had had its starts with five wise maidens and five day, and others saying it had not actually foolish maidens. I am not so sure that I want arrived. to get into a discussion about who’s wise Richard Dawkins, Professor of Biol- and who’s not, so I looked further. The next ogy at Oxford, coined the term ‘meme’ section deals with masters, servants and more than a decade ago to describe the talents. I guess wise use of resources may have been what Sir William was referring to genesis, development and spread of but I checked the final section of the chap- ideas. Like life, ideas will take hold and ter. The final section of Matthew 25, verses grow only in an environment that is 34 to 36 says: receptive to them. As the mental land- Come o blessed of my Father, in- scape changes, ideas will either evolve herit the kingdom prepared for and adapt, or they will die. you from the foundation of the Memes also need to compete with world; other ideas for space within our minds, For I was hungry and you gave me and it is those memes that are best food, adapted to our intellectual environments I was thirsty and you gave me that will ultimately populate our minds. drink, The concept of memes is an interesting I was a stranger and you welcomed one, especially if we apply it the growth me, and spread of the idea of sustainability I was naked and you clothed me, over the last three or four decades. Why I was sick and you visited me, has this happened? I was in prison and you came to me. Unlike many other popular memes, ‘Coke is it’, ‘I’ll pay for it with the card’, I suspect that Sir William was probably ‘it goes faster in red’, sustainability does referring to the whole chapter of Matthew not promote short term gratification at a but these were the verses that stood out for long term cost. Indeed, it has quite the opposite effect. So why do we make

135 room for it in our minds? Why has it been United Nations and the Universal Decla- successful as an idea? Has it been suc- ration of Human Rights, and whether cessful as an idea? there were any analogies that might As a starting point, I should temper provide helpful. Perhaps the first thing I my enthusiasm and say that it has not noticed was the cataclysmic events that been universally accepted. While I do not had preceded and prompted both the UN believe anyone can realistically promote and the Declaration of Human Rights acting unsustainably, we are not neces- were so clear and definite in the horror sarily looking at everything we do or that they caused. After the Second World consume and asking the question, ‘Can War and the Holocaust still other appall- we carry on like this?’ ing abuses of human life, liberty and I have to admit that I was a little dis- dignity continued to take place right turbed today when during one of the through the late 1940s. In retrospect it is sessions several people used the time to no surprise that we felt the need to have a shot at some of the industry strongly react against our history and representatives. These are the good guys, spell out our aspirations for our relation- there are representatives of industry who ships on a global scale. are trying to do the right thing and some Interestingly, we are beginning to of us took the opportunity to beat them hear and understand the message of the up. Little wonder we have so few indus- Earth Charter without a single, global try reps here when this is how we treat defining event. While there have cer- the ones who are doing the right thing. tainly have been major events that have Regardless of how widespread its demonstrated why we need an Earth acceptance now, sustainability as a Charter, these have largely worked on a concept is becoming more important to national basis, or indeed on an individ- us all the time and its importance will ual basis. increase. Of course, just because an idea Many Australians would point to a spreads and takes root in our minds is time in 1982 or 1983 when the mooted not in itself guarantee that the idea is damming of the Franklin River trans- worthy. It just means that it has found a formed the environment into a main- niche in our collective grey matter. stream issue. Is there a single event in The twentieth century is littered your personal journey that has led you with the remains of ideas, mostly politi- here today? For me the event happened cal ideas, that have held us captive, kept over a period of ten or fifteen years. I was us subjugated and in many instances very lucky at school. One of the teachers, destroyed both their hosts, who believed, Brother Kevin of Marist College Pearce as well as those who were not receptive here in Canberra, believed that city kids to them. It is a credit to our maturity as a should be taught how to be self reliant in species that on the edge of a new millen- the bush. Through the Duke of Edin- nium, so many of us have embraced a burgh Award Scheme he did just that, meme that is at its heart one devoted to and along the way I found my sacred site. our long term preservation. So how did It’s called Blue Water Holes and its on this happen? Why are we now thinking Cave Creek up in the Brindabellas. It’s a more about environmental issues at this beautiful mountain creek, freezing cold point in time? all year round. Crystal clear all year Beyond the Earth Charter, I began round. thinking about the genesis of the other But as Canberra grew, more and two pillars of global sustainability, the more people began to use the area and so

136 began to impact on the area. Eventually strengthen our hold over the one thing they put in a barbecue site and the toilets we have in common – Earth. and then a barrier on the road to stop Whatever the reason, we are now vehicle access. But the four wheel drivers looking further into the future when we pulled out the barrier and too many consider the consequences of our actions, ignored the signs and the disturbed soil and we are now becoming more conser- settled in the creek, and the nutrients vative about embracing new technologies promoted weed growth and so Blue if we think there is potential for environ- Water Holes is not what it used to be mental harm. Had gene technology been anymore. So what event started you on available in the 1950s, who would doubt your journey? that transgenic food crops would be well What interests me is that so many of established by now, and who knows us are prepared to commit to an Earth what the consequences might have been? Charter without the environmental The current debate on animal cloning is equivalent of the Second World War, another example to consider. without a single defining event that We in the ACT are certainly think- unites us in horror and remorse. This is ing about the consequences of our long important, because the potential for term actions. Sustainability is now the horror in the long term is real. Maurice principle feature of our land planning Strong has addressed the question of system. As the Minister responsible not going south, of forcing the burden onto only for the Environment but also for developing countries instead of taking Planning, I want to be sure that my responsibility for what we ourselves actions help to build a socially sustain- have done. I think this can be explained able Canberra, an environmentally by two factors, and they both suggest a sustainable Canberra and an economi- fundamental shift in our thinking over cally sustainable Canberra. This means the last few decades. we have to look at things like: The first is simply the lesson from · the whole of life environmental costs the past. We know what we are capable of the houses we build; and of inflicting on ourselves, even when we · the environmental costs of where we understand the consequences of our build them, whether it be the energy actions. The twentieth century has taught efficiency of their aspect, the energy us that our capacity for self-destruction is costs of transporting people to and almost limitless. How much worse then from their houses or indeed the eco- is our attitude towards the Earth, when logical impact of putting a house on a we have little idea what will be the long particular bit of land. term outcome from our actions? In short, We are also the first Government in Austra- we know what we are capable of, and the lia to commit to greenhouse gas targets, and results are terrifying. ‘We have seen the the first Government in the world to commit enemy, and he is us’. to a ‘No waste by 2010’ policy. It may be a The second reason, I suspect, is that truism, but we like to believe we are the lag between social change and thinking globally and acting locally. technological change seems to be increas- Perhaps truism is not the word – perhaps ing, and we are beginning to realise that it is now a meme. we need to move into the future with I would like to conclude by quoting caution. As we seem to be losing grip on from one of my favourite poets, T. S. our familiar social structures, we need to Eliot. It is his poem ‘The Hollow Men’. Today I have at times felt that some here

137 feel a sense of defeat rather than opti- Between the Potency mism and that: and the existence This is the way the world ends Between the essence This is the way the world ends And the descent This is the way the world ends Falls the Shadow Not with a bang but a whimper. For thine is the Kingdom For Thine is The verses before that sad conclusion go like Life is this: For Thine is the This is the way the world ends Between the idea This is the way the world ends And the reality This is the way the world ends Between the motion Not with a bang but a whimper. And the act Falls the Shadow So for those of us who have the essence, For thine is the Kingdom who have the potency, who have the desire, Between the conception who have the emotion, who have the And the creation conception, who have started the motion, Between the emotion we must tell the reality, we must stop the And the response act, we must confirm the creation, we must Falls the Shadow spread the response, we must harness the Life is very long spasm, we must affirm the existence, that Between the desire halts the descent and stop the Fall of the And the spasm Shadow.

138 Rod Welford MLA Minister for Environment and Heritage, Minister for Natural Resources, Queensland Government

The formulation and declaration of an Earth well. It is time to move beyond mere aware- Charter is not merely an exercise for the ness and positive feelings to a more funda- ‘environmental lobby industry’. It should mental level of attitudinal change that not be merely an excuse for another confer- brings about a real change in the way we ence but a charter for action which has conduct business. To move beyond global relevance to the whole community. We must thinking to practical local action. ask ourselves what purpose the charter can While there are pockets of good work have and what practical effect it might being done the wider adoption of environ- achieve – this will inform us in its drafting. mental best practice and the routine incor- A starting point is take stock of prog- poration of environmental factors into ress in the community’s developing interest economic decision making is still a long way and awareness of the environment. This will from home. be different for different countries and As we sit in this room contemplating different cultures. In Australia, there is now the adoption of an Earth Charter, in the undoubtedly a high level of awareness of very next room a trade display is promoting the importance of the environment and the ‘Rivergarden Condominiums’, an expensive need to take it into account in our daily lives item of real estate which somehow attracts and in the business life of the community. the benefit of enabling you to save ‘up to This awareness has translated into $18,000 in Stamp Duty’. practical measures such as the comprehen- The values inherent in this component sive kerbside recycling systems operating of the ‘real world’ of business are light years throughout Australia’s local government away from recognising the environment as areas. It is unquestionably the most success- an issue. Yet it is a reflection of the distance ful manifestation of the community’s we have still to go in having the environ- commitment to environmental improvement ment register as a significant issue in the achieved to date. But it is almost too con- daily lives of people in a country as com- venient, it does not involve a conscious paratively affluent as ours. understanding of what happens to materials Taking account of where the commu- once they are beyond the front gate, and it nity is at in its growing but still modest has not led to a significant reduction in the understanding of environmental issues – volume of materials produced or consumed. and recognising the characteristics of It is time to tackle the next step in de- Australian culture that are not homogene- veloping broad community commitment to ous with cultures in less affluent or devel- the environment, not just because protecting oping countries – is relevant to how we the environment is good in itself, but draft an Earth Charter which can have a because it makes good economic sense as constructive effect here.

139 So what benefit can such a charter Enough – after at least two decades of have? cultural development which emphasised the At the international level it can have a ‘value’ of consumption with almost religious role like the role of other international fervour, it really is time to ask ourselves charters such as the International Covenant when enough is enough. Coming to grasp on Political Rights and Freedoms and other the idea of enough – that is knowing when charters of human rights. They can inform we have enough of anything and learning to political debate and engender a level of be satisfied with it – will be a vital shift from moral persuasion in the policy making of habits of acquisitive self interest if we are to governments. In this sense the effect in live meaningful lives within the carrying Australia is subliminal so far as ordinary capacity of our environment. Australians are concerned, but like all The common good – a complete con- subliminal messages it can also be cumula- version to altruism is not necessary for us to tive. at least understand that many of the To be truly effective however the environmental assets which contribute to Charter must be more than this. It must our quality of life are not things we can contain more than the established clichés of personally acquire or create. They are part ‘global thinking’. It must carry an injunction of ‘the commons’ which are our shared that moves us from talking to doing – from inheritance with others in the community merely thinking favourable thoughts about and other communities. Building a healthy the environment to a praxis for local action. appreciation of community responsibility, It must provide those of us who lead this our sense of community and respect for debate with a tool for engaging the commu- others is a necessary concomitant of a world nity in a way which lifts our sights above in which caring for the commons is seen as mere awareness to a level of sophisticated being for the common good. understanding that drives real change in Economic benefit – at a time in history our culture as it relates to the environment. where the language of economics dominates While there is no one Strategy, the our social discourse, it needs to be recog- Charter could aid in four key elements of nised that the debate about environmental such a change. ethics cannot be held in isolation of the Discovery – part of growing up in a economic sphere of society. On the contrary, modern materialistic society is that too sound environmental practice is good for many of us lose touch with those elements business and makes good economic sense. of nature which require our continuing Commercial enterprise which engages respect if we are to survive as a species. An environmental best practice is proving to be environmental ethic or spirit is difficult to more profitable than those which do not. In grasp when we are raised to become so a global marketplace characterised by disconnected from natural systems of life accelerating change, identifying and support on the planet. So we must first re- harnessing the synergy between environ- ignite a passion for discovery and a sense of mental and economic goals has the potential awe and reverence for the functional and to drive the cultural shift toward a more aesthetic beauty of nature, especially among environmentally benign world faster than children, who will steer the next generation all the government regulation and ethical of decisions about the environmental lectures combined. significance of their social order.

140 CONCLUSION

Chair: Sue Marriott, Secretariat for International Land Care

Brendan Smyth

I hope you have all had a tremendous two assist. Thanks also to , Green days – two days of hope and of action. It MLA for Canberra, who took the idea of was very encouraging to hear the list of the helping to sponsor this forum to myself and things we felt we could go away and do. I Michael Moore, an Independent. The fact simply say that I am very pleased that many that you can have the Queensland Labor of the speakers over the past two days have Minister standing next to the ACT Liberal acknowledged that we are here on Ngun- Minister with a Greens senator, a Democrat nawal land. I think that is really important. senator and a Greens MLA all linked On behalf of the ACT Government, I would certainly gives me great hope. Let us get out like to say thank you for being asked to there and get started.

Brendan Mackey

For my part I can say that I will continue medium to communicate it with whomever the Australian Committee’s work so that it you wish. All we ask is that you use that can be the focal point of activities in Austra- material for the purposes of the Earth lia. I will also ensure that the process in Charter and you do it in a way that is Australia maintains its integrity and that it consistent with the inclusive vision of the continues in a way that is consistent with Earth Charter. We need to ensure that the the ethics and principles of the Earth consultation process proceeds in a way that Charter itself. I will do my best to maintain is consistent with those values. the integrity of the ideal. We have given you I also ask you, whatever you do, various versions of the draft Earth Charter whatever comment you have individually or in your satchels; please feel free to use that collectively, please commit it to the printed material however you want – reproduce it word and send it to us because we really or print it in whatever form in whatever need input in writing in the final analysis.

141 At the end of the day, the committee will tional drafting team will consider very produce an edited volume of whatever seriously whatever comment the Australian comment we get in. Our job is simply to be consultation process delivers. an honest witness to that dialogue and to [Dr Mackey then thanked the organisers, faithfully document the comment that is sponsors and the international speakers] sent in. I can guarantee that the interna-

Maximo Kalaw

I feel that, having listened to all of you, I how the Earth Charter principles can be should also be doing some pledging. One of implemented. the things that I think is needed is a support In Latin America we are now net- mechanism. As the processes go on all working 680 registrations, including univer- around the world, we should ensure that sity registrations and community registra- they are linked to create a collective intelli- tions, into the television network. Preparing gence that is more than the sum of its parts. for the Summit, they are holding half-hour Here I can see a commitment to input in the weekly programs looking at development areas of youth and education. programs of government in terms of the There is to be a major meeting about criteria of the Earth Charter. So there is an changes in terms of a realistic agenda for accountability process. This is maybe sustainable development. The meeting will something that could also be done in be attended by parliamentarians from Latin Australia. These are some of the things that American countries to review a legislative facilitate the linkages between you and policy for sustainable development which other countries. supports the Charter. I think that your I pledge my work in support basically politicians could plug into that and really of the Earth Charter Committee, and benefit from this kind of interchange. Brendan’s committee in Australia. I was There is also a major effort to use the excited when I came here, for there is media this time. We are trying to organise, nothing like seeing the personal engagement through the media, a People’s Earth Charter of people. This Australian committee is Summit, working from the bottom up, going to make the movement work. I am rather than the top down. We will try to use very privileged to have heard you and to major television stations, broadcasting two have been part of your process. I have seen hours a day for three days, like a confer- the quality of your people during the ence, and networking radio programs to the discussion sessions. I thank you for this kind TV stations and the Internet, so that people of engagement. I am very optimistic that the can contribute their experiences and ideas of movement will succeed.

Steven Rockefeller

First of all, it has been a very heartwarming to express profound thanks to all of you. and inspiring experience to have been here There is enormous talent and creativity in with all of you for these two days. It has this room and the visions you have all certainly renewed my energy and my shared with each other over the last few commitment to this whole effort and I wish hours will, I am sure, make a profound

142 difference here in Australia. The ripple reverence for that mysterious spark of life, effects of that will be felt far and wide. which is really the spark of the whole I want to share with you that the universe and which is alight in us. Each one Earth Charter Drafting Committee is in the of us is a manifestation of the totality; and process of finalising benchmark draft 2, and each one of us has a responsibility to that we hope to have the draft ready for the larger totality – to realise the potential that Commission sometime in March. The hope that spark of life has brought to our being. is that the Commission will issue an official So I urge all of you in the thick of the benchmark draft 2 document, probably struggle to stay in touch with that dimen- towards the end of March. So you can be sion of your own being and I think that way looking for that, and we will get it to you as we can all be sustained in the midst of the soon as we can. struggle. Two last reflections: I like to think of When I was flying across the Pacific the world we live in as having many coming here, our flight was in darkness for dimensions – at least two of particular about 12 hours. The sun had disappeared importance to us. One you could call the over the horizon, and was actually coming surface of things and the other the depth up behind us as we flew across the Pacific. I dimension. It is very important in this whole had been awake for about an hour or so process to remember there is a depth when all of a sudden I noticed out of the dimension to reality. The surface of reality is corner of my eye the light coming up over explored by the empirical sciences and it the Pacific. It was a stunning sunrise. As I gives us the power of prediction and control was sitting here in this meeting, the connec- over the physical world. But there is a depth tion between what has happened here and dimension and we enter that depth dimen- that sunrise occurred to me. sion through expanding and deepening our The last part of the Earth Charter is awareness. Perhaps the most important called ‘A New Beginning’ and we are now exercise in all of that is the deepening of our in the midst of that new beginning. It is a awareness of the miracle of life, which is at new era for humanity; an extraordinary the very core of our own being. time of transition and transformation. I We have shared a lot of thoughts think that new beginning is happening here, about respect and reverence. In many ways and I am glad to be part of it with you. it begins with reverence for ourselves –

Maurice Strong

This has been a landmark experience for me. you. In the course of my activity I go around I would like first to echo the feelings of the world a lot and meet with a lot of appreciation that my colleagues, Maximo people. I am very sincere when I say that and Steven, have given you for this experi- this has been a very special meeting. I am ence, particularly to those who organised very moved and impressed by the fact that the conference. You have really done a you have stayed with it, by the pledges that superb job. It was just a delight. Brendan you made at the end of the meeting, by the mentioned earlier that the journey we made diversity of this group and the interests that across the Pacific to be with you was you represent. It has indeed been a moving ‘arduous’. It was long, but not really experience. arduous. I always approach this sort of I was going to tell you about my thing with a sense of excitement. I also want grandchild – there really is not anyone quite to pay tribute to the sponsors and to all of like her! I am sure most grandparents will

143 have that same feeling. At Christmas time I trustees – for life. We are also vessels of life. was sitting in the living room of my daugh- We are vessels and when these vessels are ter’s home and my granddaughter brought spent, life will continue. in some friends who were looking and But life will only continue if the whole pointing at me. I said: ‘What’s up; what is system of life continues. If you look into a all this about?’ ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘We are tropical forest you see vast numbers and looking at the grandfather – not my grand- varieties of species of birds, animals and father, mind you – who is on television.’ I insects and every one of them is precious. asked: ‘Why am I on television?’ She said: But the system, which permits all of them to ‘Because you are fighting those polluters, flourish and of which all of them are part, is and those polluters are very bad people.’ So the actual basis for their life. They are all the message does really start with young individual and yet they are a collective in people and their perceptions. the system. That is the same with us. We are I was very pleased that Steven all individual and very precious and distinc- touched on something that has really tive as individuals, but we are all part of a motivated me throughout this process. I was larger system of life which will continue very impressed with Albert Schweitzer and without us when we, as vessels, give rise to his philosophy of reverence for life. I believe some new vessel. But we are part of that that is what this is all about. It is not any system of life; we are custodians of that near-rhetorical expression, because one of system of life. the things that bears in on me as I go One thing that I have been pressing around and join groups like this, is the fact for in my UN role is to turn the trusteeship that we have not yet taken on the signifi- council of the United Nations into a new cance of the fact that we are the first forum to be the place where the people and generation in the history of human life who nations of the world gather to exercise their are literally the architects of our own future. common trusteeship for the global commons Civilisations have come and gone in the past – oceans, atmosphere and biological systems and their demise has often been tragic in – the Earth’s life support systems. And more global terms. But today ours is a truly global and more we are going to have to move in civilisation and this civilisation will survive that direction. We do not have to have a or perish as a global civilisation. homogenous civilisation. We do not have to Human numbers and the scale and in- have homogenous views or homogenous tensity of human activities have reached a ways of life. After all, in the physical world point where we are literally the principal diversity and variety are the key to strength agents of our own future. What we do or and resilience of ecological systems. So in fail to do will literally determine the future human society, diversity and variety are the of our species. That is a very awesome key to the richness of human life. We do not responsibility. I do not really believe that need to develop a homogenous civilisation. most people or most leaders have really It would not survive. Monocultures are taken on the implications of that. We are vulnerable cultures. But we do have to trustees for the continuity of life on our develop that system which permits variety planet. As I said in my opening remarks, we and diversity and life to flourish. That is the may be just a speck in the universe, but we key to life. And that system has got to have are the only place we know of in which its origins in our own values and beliefs. there is a form of life. I think that mathe- Every action takes place as a result of matically one can deduce that there proba- a motivation. We are all activists, we are all bly must be life – perhaps even higher forms practical people. We are dealing with of life – in other parts of the cosmos. But if implementation, and give too little attention life in the cosmos is not unique to Earth, it is to motivation. We know that economic self- at least a very rare and precious phenome- interest is a strong and compelling motiva- non. And we are literally custodians – tion, but the heart and soul of our motiva-

144 tions are our ethical and value systems. to be used by people to underpin sustainable These are the motivations to which we living. The tensions which have been elicited respond individually and collectively. This is here reflect concerns about how the Earth what we are trying to do through the Earth Charter will be used. In one sense the Earth Charter – to find that common set of Charter will be simply words, but those principles and values on which we, what- words must be the symbols of real values, ever our diverse backgrounds and views real ideals and real commitment. We must may be about other things, can unite in reinforce good ecological behaviour. Or the lighting a pathway to a more secure and Earth Charter could be used to mandate for sustainable future. That is what the Earth the continuation of ecologically unsound Charter is all about. behaviour. Let me briefly review some of the main Your participation in helping to frame points I saw emerging out of the last two these words so that they speak to you and to days’ discussions. The fact is that partner- the entire human community is extremely ships between conventional protagonists are important and I must say I am impressed by the key to change. We have to forge new the efforts you have made here to ensure partnerships and we see evidence of that that this process continues. Our job is to happening here. The Earth Charter national help you to link it to the larger community forum has shown that there are opportuni- in which these same consultations are ties for constructive debate and partnerships occurring. between business and environmental Finally, I just want to say that in my groups, academics and communities. To own experience I have had a great many achieve sustainability we need to harness opportunities, but I believe the pathway that the power and drive of business and we are launching in this Earth Charter environmental groups and other constituen- process is the most important venture that I cies. Silence and inaction can provide a have ever had the privilege of being in- licence for ‘business as usual’. We need volved in. I do not believe we will succeed in debate and collective action. We need to exercising the trusteeship for the future of respect the diversity of the different contri- life on Earth that is squarely in our hands – butions that the various groups can make. we cannot avoid it – unless we develop a There are tensions in the present Earth common system of values and ethical Charter and the discussions here have principles which will guide and motivate highlighted a number of them. There are our actions. That is the larger task we face; philosophical tensions, particularly regard- it is the most important thing I have ever ing the place of economics in the Charter been involved in. and, indeed, in society. I am a great believer I was called an optimist earlier. I am that our economic life should be a means, an optimist operationally because I believe not an end. It should be a means to achiev- optimism is the only philosophy that we can ing levels, higher qualities of life. When possibly adopt, however pessimistic we may economics is elevated to the goal of our be when we read the hard evidence. My society, we will be on the slippery slope. optimism springs from your commitment. I That is why we seem now to be on an want to thank you for the opportunity of unsustainable pathway. I am a great joining you in this experience. I pledge to respecter of the practitioners of economics, continue to work with you to realise the but we must use economics as a means to aspirations that we have shared with each our goals, and not as an end in itself. other in this conference. There are some added tensions which need to be unravelled if the Earth Charter is

145 Chair

In summing up, I want to tell you a very would be all right to ask for third prize. He short story about this wonderful modern- prayed: ‘Please, God, just give me some sign day prophet who was married with many that I have been a good person. Let me win children. He was old and coming towards third prize in the soccer pools.’ With that the end of his time. He had not put anything there was a big bang, and God said to him: away in superannuation, so he thought he ‘You have been fantastic, you have been should pray to God and ask him if he could wonderful. I would love to help you but win the soccer pools. So he went down into meet me half way – please go and take a the garden and said: ‘Please, God, I have ticket!’ been really good, but now my end is coming This is what we are talking about and I need you to help me to look after my now. It is about taking a ticket. The idea to family when I am gone. Please let me win me is that when we have six billion tickets of first prize in the soccer pools.’ Saturday Earth Charter that is when we will have got night came and went and he did not win. there. So he thought that it might be all right just Thank you very much to our speakers to ask for second prize. So he prayed: and to all of you for coming. Our job now is ‘Please, God, could I win second prize – just to go out and to lead gently, listen, debate to show that I have done a good job and and remain passionate, but also to be that you are willing to look after my wife dispassionate enough to be objective about and children.’ Again nothing. By this time what we are doing. Travel lightly and go he was starting to get more feeble and more well. desperate. So he thought that perhaps it

146 APPENDICES

Appendix One. The Benchmark Draft II Earth Charter, April 1999

PREAMBLE In our diverse yet increasingly interdependent world, it is imperative that we, the people of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations. We are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny.

Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The well-being of people and the biosphere depends upon preserving clean air, pure waters, fertile soils, and a rich variety of plants, animals and ecosystems. The global environment with its finite resources is a primary common concern of all humanity. The protec- tion of Earth’s vitality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred trust.

The Earth community stands at a defining moment. With science and technology have come great benefits and also great harm. The dominant patterns of production and consump- tion are altering climate, degrading the environment, depleting resources, and causing a massive extinction of species. A dramatic rise in population has increased the pressures on ecological systems and has overburdened social systems. Injustice, poverty, ignorance, corruption, crime and violence, and armed conflict deepen the world’s suffering. Fundamental changes in our attitudes, values, and ways of living are necessary.

The choice is ours: to care for Earth and one another or to participate in the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life.

As a global civilization comes into being, we can choose to build a truly democratic world, securing the rule of law and the human rights of all women, men, and children. We can respect the integrity of different cultures. We can treat Earth with respect, rejecting the idea that nature is merely a collection of resources to be used. We can realize that our social, economic, environ- mental, and spiritual problems are interconnected and cooperate in developing integrated strategies to address them. We can resolve to balance and harmonize individual interests with the common good, freedom with responsibility, diversity with unity, short term objectives with long term goals, economic progress with the flourishing of ecological systems.

To fulfill these aspirations, we must recognize that human development is not just about having more, but also about being more. The challenges humanity faces can only be met if

147 people everywhere acquire an awareness of global interdependence, identify themselves with the larger world, and decide to live with a sense of universal responsibility. The spirit of human solidarity and kinship with all life will be strengthened if we live with reverence for the sources of our being, gratitude for the gift of life, and humility regarding the human place in the larger scheme of things.

Having reflected on these considerations, we recognize the urgent need for a shared vision of basic values that will provide an ethical foundation for the emerging world community. We therefore affirm the following principles for sustainable development. We commit ourselves as individuals, organizations, business enterprises, communities, and nations to implement these interrelated principles and to create a global partnership in support of their fulfillment.

Together in hope, we pledge to:

I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. Respect Earth and all life,

recognizing the interdependence and intrinsic value of all beings;

affirming respect for the inherent dignity of every person and faith in the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual potential of humanity.

2. Care for the community of life in all its diversity,

accepting that responsibility for Earth is shared by everyone;

affirming that this common responsibility takes different forms for different individuals, groups, and nations, depending on their contribution to existing problems and the resources at hand.

3. Strive to build free, just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful societies,

affirming that with freedom, knowledge, and power goes responsibility and the need for moral self-restraint;

recognizing that a decent standard of living for all and the quality of relations among people and with nature are the true measure of progress.

4. Secure Earth’s abundance and beauty for present and future generations,

accepting the challenge before each generation to conserve, improve, and expand their natural and cultural heritage and to transmit it safely to future generations;

acknowledging that the benefits and burdens of caring for Earth should be shared fairly be- tween present and future generations.

148 II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY

5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain and renew life.

1. Make ecological conservation an integral part of all development planning and implementa- tion.

2. Establish representative and viable nature and biosphere reserves, including wild lands, suf- ficient to maintain Earth’s biological diversity and life-support systems.

3. Manage the extraction of renewable resources such as food, water, and wood in ways that do not harm the resilience and productivity of ecological systems or threaten the viability of individual species.

4. Promote the recovery of endangered species and populations through in situ conservation involving habitat protection and restoration.

5. Take all reasonable measures to prevent the human-mediated introduction of alien species into the environment.

6. Prevent harm to the environment as the best method of ecological protection and, when knowledge is limited, take the path of caution.

1. Give special attention in decision making to the cumulative, long-term, and global conse- quences of individual and local actions.

2. Stop activities that threaten irreversible or serious harm even when scientific information is incomplete or inconclusive.

3. Establish environmental protection standards and monitoring systems with the power to detect significant human environmental impacts, and require environmental impact assess- ments and reporting.

4. Mandate that the polluter must bear the full cost of pollution.

5. Ensure that measures taken to prevent or control natural disasters, infestations, and dis- eases are directed to the relevant causes and avoid harmful side effects.

6. Uphold the international obligation of states to take all reasonable precautionary measures to prevent transboundary environmental harm.

7. Treat all living beings with compassion, and protect them from cruelty and wanton de- struction.

149 III. A JUST AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC ORDER

8. Adopt patterns of consumption, production, and reproduction that respect and safe- guard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.

1. Eliminate harmful waste, and work to ensure that all waste can be either consumed by bio- logical systems or used over the long-term in industrial and technological systems.

2. Act with restraint and efficiency when using energy and other resources, and reduce, reuse, and recycle materials.

3. Rely increasingly on renewable energy sources such as the sun, the wind, biomass, and hy- drogen.

4. Establish market prices and economic indicators that reflect the full environmental and social costs of human activities, taking into account the economic value of the services provided by ecological systems.

5. Empower consumers to choose sustainable products over unsustainable ones by creating mechanisms such as certification and labeling.

6. Provide universal access to health care that fosters reproductive health and responsible re- production.

7. Ensure that economic activities support and promote human development in an eq- uitable and sustainable manner.

8. Promote the equitable distribution of wealth.

9. Assist all communities and nations in developing the intellectual, financial, and technical re- sources to meet their basic needs, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life.

10. Eradicate poverty, as an ethical, social, economic, and ecological imperative.

1. Establish fair and just access to land, natural resources, training, knowledge, and credit, empowering every person to attain a secure and sustainable livelihood.

2. Generate opportunities for productive and meaningful employment.

3. Make clean affordable energy available to all.

4. Recognize the ignored, protect the vulnerable, serve those who suffer, and respect their right to develop their capacities and to pursue their aspirations.

5. Relieve developing nations of onerous international debts that impede their progress in meeting basic human needs through sustainable development.

150 11. Honor and defend the right of all persons, without discrimination, to an environment supportive of their dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being.

1. Secure the human right to potable water, clean air, uncontaminated soil, , and safe sanitation in urban , rural, and remote environments.

2. Establish racial, religious, ethnic, and socioeconomic equality.

3. Affirm the right of indigenous peoples to their spirituality, knowledge, lands and resources and to their related practice of traditional sustainable livelihoods.

4. Institute effective and efficient access to administrative and judicial procedures, including redress and remedy, that enable all persons to enforce their environmental rights.

12. Advance worldwide the cooperative study of ecological systems, the dissemination and application of knowledge, and the development, adoption, and transfer of clean technologies.

1. Support scientific research in the public interest.

2. Value the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities.

3. Assess and regulate emerging technologies, such as biotechnology, regarding their envi- ronmental, health, and socioeconomic impacts.

4. Ensure that the exploration and use of orbital and outer space supports peace and sustain- able development

IV. DEMOCRACY AND PEACE

13. Establish access to information, inclusive participation in decision making, and transparency, truthfulness, and accountability in governance.

1. Secure the right of all persons to be informed about ecological, economic, and social de- velopments that affect the quality of their lives.

2. Establish and protect the freedom of association and the right to dissent on matters of en- vironmental, economic, and social policy.

3. Ensure that knowledge resources vital to people’s basic needs and development remain accessible and in the public domain.

4. Enable local communities to care for their own environments, and assign responsibilities for environmental protection to the levels of government where they can be carried out most effectively.

5. Create mechanisms that hold governments, international organizations, and business enter- prises accountable to the public for the consequences of their activities.

151 14. Affirm and promote gender equality as a prerequisite to sustainable development.

1. Provide, on the basis of gender equality, universal access to education, health care, and employment in order to support the full development of every person’s human dignity and potential.

2. Establish the full and equal participation of women in civil, cultural, economic, political, and social life.

15. Make the knowledge, values, and skills needed to build just and sustainable commu- nities an integral part of formal education and lifelong learning for all.

1. Provide youth with the training and resources required to participate effectively in civil soci- ety and political affairs.

2. Encourage the contribution of the artistic imagination and the humanities as well as the sci- ences in environmental education and sustainable development.

3. Engage the media in the challenge of fully educating the public on sustainable development , and take advantage of the educational opportunities provided by advanced information technologies.

16. Create a culture of peace and cooperation.

1. Seek wisdom and inner peace.

2. Practice nonviolence, implement comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict, and use collaborative problem solving to manage and resolve conflict.

3. Teach tolerance and forgiveness, and promote cross cultural and interreligious dialogue and collaboration.

4. Eliminate weapons of mass destruction, promote disarmament, secure the environment against severe damage caused by military activities, and convert military resources toward peaceful purposes.

5. Recognize that peace is the wholeness created by balanced and harmonious relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part A New Beginning

As never before in human history, common destiny beckons us to redefine our priorities and to seek a new beginning. Such renewal is the promise of these Earth Charter principles, which are the outcome of a worldwide dialogue in search of common ground and shared values. Fulfillment of this promise depends upon our expanding and deepening the global dialogue. It requires an inner change – a change of heart and mind. It requires that we take decisive action to adopt, apply, and develop the vision of the Earth Charter locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Different cultures and communities will find their own distinctive ways to express the vision, and we will have much to learn from each other.

Every individual, family, organization, corporation, and government has a critical role to play. Youth are fundamental actors for change. Partnerships must be forged at all levels. Our best

152 thought and action will flow from the integration of knowledge with love and compassion.

In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their com- mitment to the United Nations and develop and implement the Earth Charter principles by negoti- ating for adoption a binding agreement based on the IUCN Draft International Covenant on Envi- ronment and Development. Adoption of the Covenant will provide an integrated legal framework for environmental and sustainable development law and policy.

We can, if we will, take advantage of the creative possibilities before us and inaugurate an era of fresh hope. Let ours be a time that is remembered for an awakening to a new reverence for life, a firm commitment to restoration of Earth’s ecological integrity, a quickening of the struggle for jus- tice and empowerment of the people, cooperative engagement of global problems, peaceful man- agement of change, and joyful celebration of life. We will succeed because we must.

Appendix Two. The evolution of environmental education

A model developed in the Netherlands sectors. There is community participation (Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for and objectives are oriented towards sus- sustainable living IUCN,UNEP, WWF 1991) tainable living. suggested a series of stages in the evolution · Pro-active: in which the culture of all of environmental education. The four stages organisations is defined in terms of ecol- suggested are: ogically sustainable living supported by · Reactive: providing particular products comprehensive, lifelong environmental and programs in response to limited de- learning integrated within education mand. Education is often instigated by systems, industry, social organisa- isolated individuals, specialists, voluntary tions/neighbourhood groups and gov- organisations, or the informa- ernment. tion/community relations/education It can be argued that environmental educa- units of some government agencies. Edu- tion in Australia is generally in the second cation aims at reducing ecological igno- stage described by this model with some rance. evidence of progress towards the third. · Receptive: in which organisations include Further substantial action is required to take environmental education objectives in us towards the fourth stage. their policies and planning. School cur- Some of the areas of knowledge we riculum development bodies become must deal with are: involved, but programs are implemented · the planet earth as a finite system without reference to work elsewhere in · the resources of the earth, particularly the education field. Objectives emphasise air, soil, water, minerals, their distribu- changing knowledge and attitudes. tion and their role in supporting living · Constructive: in which programs and organisms objectives are more thoroughly imple- · the nature of ecosystems, their health and mented. There is wide dissemination of interdependence within the biosphere developments, links are made across

153 · the dependence of humans on the situations using a range of relevant re- environmental resources for life and sus- sources and technologies tenance · analyse problems, and frame and investi- · sustainable relationships within the gate relevant questions environment · assess and evaluate differing points of · the implications of resource distribution view in determining the nature of societies and · develop hypotheses based on balanced the rate and character of economic de- and accurate information, engage in velopment critical analysis and careful synthesis, · the role and values of science and and test new information and personal technology in the development of socie- beliefs, explorations and experiences ties and the impact of technologies on the against these hypotheses environment · communicate information and points of · the interconnectedness of present politi- view effectively cal, economic, environmental and social · develop partnerships and the foundation issues, and for cooperative and consensual action · processes of planning, policy-making and · develop strategies for action, including acting to solve problems. locating appropriate resources, and The skills which should be acquired include means for their implementation. capacities to: · define and explain fundamental concepts such as environment, ecological systems, community, development and technology and being able to apply them to specific

Appendix Three. Forum Delegates and Affiliations

Ms Esther Abram Environment Victoria Rev Moss Arnot Environmentalist – Victoria Dr Joe Baker Commissioner for the Environment – ACT Mr Lee Bell Conservation Council of Western Australia Dr David Bennett The Australian Academy of the Humanities Ms Margaret Blakers Australian Greens Ms Robyn Briese Australian National University Sen Bob Brown Australian Greens Mr Ian Brown Australian Committee for IUCN Ms Susan Brown Australian Democrats Mr Walter Buchanan The Australian National University Ms Kathryn Burge The Natural Step Dr Neil Byron Productivity Commission Ms Jeanine Catton Aranda Primary School Dr Paul Collins Catholic Church Mr John Connor Native Conservation Council of NSW Mr Peter Cosier Environmental Advisor to Sen Hill Rev Tim Costello Collins Street Baptist Church

154 Sr Mary Cresp Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes Ms Claire Crocker AYPE Mr Leigh Crocker The Natural Step Ms Fayen D’Evie Earth Charter Committee Ms Nicola Davies Conservation Council of the SE Region & Canberra Mr Douglas Dean Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd Sir William Dean Governor-General of Australia Mr Gatjil Djerrkura OAM Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Commission Mr Mick Dodson University of NSW Dr Bill Donovan The Australian National University Mr Brian Dooley The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc Dr Tim Doyle Conservation Council of South Australia Ms Indra Esguerra Conservation Council Rev. Dr Graeme Garrett St Mark’s National Theological Centre Mr Peter Garrett Australian Conservation Foundation Mr Neil Gordon Energy Australia Dr Dean Graetz CSIRO Mr Christopher Griffin Collex Waste Management Pty Ltd Prof Norman Habel Flinders University & Adelaide College of Divinity Molly Harriss Olsen Eco Futures Pty Ltd Mr Lincoln Hawkins ACT Government Planning & Land Mgmt Ms Angela Hazebroek HASSELL Pty Ltd Mr Don Henry Australian Conservation Foundation Mr David Hood The Institute of Engineers Mr Gary Humphries ACT Government Mr Grant Jay University of Canberra Mr Paul Jenkins Indigenous Land Corporation Mr Maximo Kalaw Earth Council Mr Stefan Kaufman The ANU, Student Mr Michael Kennedy Humane Society International Dr Aila Keto Australian Rainforest Conservation Society Inc. Ms Meg Lees Australian Democrats Dr Robert Lesslie The Australian National University Dr Brendan Mackey The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc. Mr Alex Marr The Wilderness Society Ms Sue Marriott International Land Care Pty Ltd Ms Julie McGuiness The Wilderness Society Mr Mark McKenzie GELPAC Pty Ltd Dr Don McMichael Environment & Heritage Consultant Mrs Frances Menz Principal Merici College Mrs Christine Milne Tasmanian Greens Ms Janet Morgan Environmentalist – Victoria Ms Fran Murray WWF Mr Simon Nash ANU Student Prof Henry Nix Centre for Resource & Environmental Studies, The ANU Mr Mark O’Connor AESP Mr Robert Palmer Global Eco-Learning Publishing & Communications

Mr Kevin Parker University of Wollongong Mrs Maddi Parker The Wilderness Society Mr Paul Perkins ACTEW Corporation

155 Ms Bronwyn Pike Finance Sector Union Ms Margie Prideaux Australia Conservation Foundation Ms Helen Pryor Tasmanian Conservation Trust Mr Robert Quimby Professional Careers International Miss Nicky Ram AYPE Mr Greenpeace Prof Harry Recher Edith Cowan University Ms Lynne Reeder Institute of Engineers Dr Brian Robinson Environment Protection Authority Prof Steven Rockefeller Earth Charter Drafting Team Mr David Ross Indigenous Land Corporation Mr William Rourke WFEO Miss Victoria Rundle The ANU, Student Mr Fabian Sack Sydney Water Corporation Mr Lyndon Schneiders The Wilderness Society Mr Colin Simpson Colin J Simpson & Associates Ms Krista Singleton-Cambage Dept of the Environment & Heritage Mr Brendan Smyth MLA ACT Government Pastor Sean Stanton Assembly of God Mr Maurice Strong The Earth Charter Commission, The United Nations

Dr Keith Suter Uniting Church Ms Diane Tarte Australian Marine Conservation Society Mrs Carol Tipler The Collins Hill Group Pty Ltd Mr Christopher Tipler The Collins Hill Group Pty Ltd Mr Phillip Toyne Eco Futures Pty Ltd Ms Kerrie Tucker MLA ACT Greens Ms Liz Turner The Australian Youth Parliament for the Environment

Mr Brian Walters Barrister – Environmentalist Dr John Wamsley Earth Sanctuaries Ltd Rev Ann Wansbrough Uniting Church Prof Ian White CRES, The ANU Mr Michael White EPA – WA Mr Rod Wilford Minister for the Environment Queensland Government

Mr Mike Williamson CH2M Hill Pty Ltd Ms Virginia Young The Wilderness Society Ms Imogen Zethoven Queensland Conservation Council

Appendix Four. The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc Membership Details

156 The Australian National Committee for the Earth Charter Inc (ANCEC) is a ‘not-for-profit-of members’ incorporated association. The patron of the Committee is His Excellency The Honour- able Sir William Deane, AC, KBE, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. The president of ANCEC is Dr Brendan Mackey. Brendan is a member of the International Earth Charter Dafting Team, a member of the IUCN Environmental Law Commission, and an envi- ronmental scientist at The Australian National University. The aim is to have a balanced Committee made up of committed individuals from a wide cross-section of Australian society, in particular, business and industry, environmental NGOs, indigenous Australia, peace and social justice groups, faith traditions, and youth. The current members of the committee are: Rev Dr Paul Collins Rev Tim Costello Doug Deane, Managing Directir, Collex Pty Ltd Michael Kennedy, The Humane Society Inc. Australia Gatjil Djerrkura, Chairperson, The Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Commission Margi Prideaux, The Australian Conservation Foundation Mike Williamson, Managing Director, CH2M Hill Australia Pty Ltd Virginia Young, The Wilderness Society

The aim of the committee is to promote the Earth Charter as a universal code of conduct for sustainable development in Australia and the region.

157