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The Earth Charter

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The Earth Charter THE www.EarthCharter.org EArtH CHArter A declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century Preamble I. Respect and Care for the Community of Life II. Ecological Integrity III. Social and Economic Justice IV. Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace The Way Forward EARTH CHARTER INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL 1 The Earth Charter Council Co-Chairs Steven Rockefeller (United States) is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, Razeena Wagiet (South Africa) sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. Erna Witoelar (Indonesia) It seeks to inspire in all peoples a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the wellbeing of the human family and the larger Council Members Zainab Bangura (Sierra Leone) living world. It is an expression of hope and a call to help create a global Mateo Castillo (Mexico) partnership at a critical juncture in history. Rick Clugston (USA) Marianella Curi (Bolivia) Camila Argolo Godinho^ (Brazil) The Earth Charter’s inclusive ethical vision recognizes that environmental Wakako Hironaka (Japan) protection, human rights, equitable human development, and peace are Li Lailai (Peoples Republic of China) interdependent and indivisible. It provides a framework for thinking about, Song Li (People’s Republic of China / USA) talking about, and taking action on these issues. The Charter offers a fresh, Alexander Likhotal+, (Russia / Switzerland) Ruud Lubbers (Netherlands) broad conception of what constitutes sustainable living and sustainable Brendan Mackey (Australia) development. Julia Marton-Lefèvre (Hungary / Costa Rica) Elizabeth May (Canada) Oscar Motomura (Brazil) Shared Global Values … for Our Common Future Dumisani Nyoni^ (Zimbabwe) Henriette Rasmussen (Greenland) At a time when major changes in how we think and live are urgently needed, Mohamed Sahnoun (Algeria) the Earth Charter challenges us to examine our values and to choose a better Kartikeya Sarabhai (India) way. It calls on us to search for common ground in the midst of our diversity Tommy Short* (USA) Mary Evelyn Tucker (USA) and to embrace a new ethical vision shared by growing numbers of people in Erna Witoelar (Indonesia) many nations and cultures throughout the world. + Founding Organization - Green Cross International Answering the Call for a New Global Vision * Founding Organization - Earth Council Alliance ^ Youth Representative In 1987 the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development called for the creation of a new charter that would set forth EXECUTIVE STAFF Alan AtKisson, Executive Director fundamental principles for sustainable development. The drafting of an Earth (Stockholm, Sweden) Charter was part of the unfinished business of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Mirian Vilela, Director, Earth Charter Center In 1994 Maurice Strong, the secretary general of the Earth Summit and for Education for Sustainable Development chairman of the Earth Council, and Mikhail Gorbachev, president of Green at UPEACE (Costa Rica) Cross International, launched a new Earth Charter initiative with support from the Dutch government. The initiative grew and spread to all regions of 2 THE EARTH CHARTER COMMISSION the globe, involving thousands of people from all walks of life and experts in the fields of science, philosophy, ethics, religion, and international law. Commission Co-Chairs Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia The growth of the Initiative reflects the shared understanding of the need for Mercedes Sosa, Argentina a common vision on the journey to a just, sustainable, and peaceful future. Maurice Strong, Canada Amadou Toumani Touré, Mali A Growing Global Network of Endorsers Commission Members A.T. Ariyaratne, Sri Lanka Endorsement of the Earth Charter is an expression of support for the Princess Basma Bint Talal, Jordan spirit of the document, for the Principles themselves, and for the growing Leonardo Boff, Brazil international consensus regarding the Charter’s authority, relevance, and Pierre Calame, France Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Canada usefulness as a guiding ethical framework. Endorsement is open to all, and Wakako Hironaka, Japan Endorsers range from individuals, to cities, to governments and prominent John Hoyt, USA global institutions. Earth Charter International invites all Endorsers to take the Yolanda Kakabadse, Ecuador Ruud Lubbers, The Netherlands additional step of becoming an Engaged Endorser, by making a commitment Wangari Maathai, Kenya to promote the Earth Charter actively, to contribute to the Earth Charter Elizabeth May, Canada Initiative globally and locally, and to implement the Charter’s Principles to Federico Mayor, Spain the best of one’s ability. Shridath Ramphal, Guyana Henriette Rasmussen, Greenland Steven Rockefeller, USA For further information on endorsement – and for access to many resources Mohamed Sahnoun, Algeria supporting the use of the Charter in government, business, education, and in Awraham Soetendorp, The Netherlands many other areas – please visit our website. Pauline Tangiora, New Zealand / Aotearoa Erna Witoelar, Indonesia Kamla Chowdhry, India (In memoriam) 1 The Earth Charter International Council oversees the activities of the Earth Charter www.EarthCharter.org Initiative. 2 The Earth Charter Commission has authority over the text of the Earth Charter document. Universal Responsibility To realize these aspirations, we must decide to live with a The Earth Charter sense of universal responsibility, identifying ourselves with the whole Earth community as well as our local communities. We are at once citizens of different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked. Everyone shares respon- sibility for the present and future well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The spirit of human solidarity and kinship with all life is strengthened when we live with rever- ence for the mystery of being, gratitude for the gift of life, and Preamble humility regarding the human place in nature. We urgently need a shared vision of basic values to provide an We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when ethical foundation for the emerging world community. Therefore, humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increas- together in hope we affirm the following interdependent principles ingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great for a sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognize that conduct of all individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we and transnational institutions is to be guided and assessed. are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is I. Respect and Care for imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibil- ity to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations. the Community of Life Earth, Our Home Principles Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make 1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity. existence a demanding and uncertain adventure, but Earth a. Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form has provided the conditions essential to life’s evolution. The of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings. resilience of the community of life and the well-being of human- b. Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings and ity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its in the intellectual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual potential of ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile humanity. soils, pure waters, and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a common concern of all peoples. The 2. Care for the community of life with understanding, protection of Earth’s vitality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred compassion, and love. trust. a. Accept that with the right to own, manage, and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm The Global Situation and to protect the rights of people. The dominant patterns of production and consumption are b. Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and power causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, comes increased responsibility to promote the common and a massive extinction of species. Communities are being good. undermined. The benefits of development are not shared equi- tably and the gap between rich and poor is widening. Injustice, 3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, poverty, ignorance, and violent conflict are widespread and sustainable, and peaceful. the cause of great suffering. An unprecedented rise in human a. Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human population has overburdened ecological and social systems. rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone an The foundations of global security are threatened. These trends opportunity to realize his or her full potential. are perilous—but not inevitable. b. Promote social and economic justice, enabling all to achieve a secure and meaningful livelihood that is ecologically The Challenges Ahead responsible. The choice is ours: form a global partnership
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