Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations Issue 2/2004 (2nd English edition) Intergenerational Justice Intergenerational Justice Contents Review by Wilfred Beckerman Topic: Justice, Ethics, Ecology Recent inter est in envir onmental pr oblems and A theory of distributive justice specifies the impact that we ar e making on the envir on- rights to certain shares in whatever is to Intergenerational Justice 1 ment has stimulated considerable interest in the be distributed. For example, in a well- by Prof. Dr. Wilfred Beckerman pr oblem of justice between generations 1. But it known article Gregory Vlastos gave a list Congress 2005 Ecological Generational 1 is well known that any attempt to construct a of 'well-known maxims of distributive Justice in the Constitution? Europe's theor y of justice between generations encounters justice' such as 'To each according to his green future in the 21st century special dif ficulties, such as those set out by need ' or 'To each according to his wor th ' Rawls [Rawls, 1972, pp.284-291]. and so on [Vlastos, 1984, p.44]2. (Indeed, Is a Theory of Intergenerational Justice 6 One might w ell ask, at the outset, therefor e, as Nozick has pointed out that the different Possible? Response to Beckerman by Jörg Tremmel does Brian Bar ry [1978, p.205], whether theories of distributive justice can be ther e is r eally any need for a theor y of inter ge- seen as differences in the word (or ex- Constitutionalizing Future Rights? 10 nerational justice and whether, instead, one could pression) that is inserted at the end of by Dr. Axel Gosseries not be satisfied with defining our obligations to- statements such as 'to each according to wards futur e generations on the basis of com- his....') [Nozick, 1974, p.164]. It is ob- Open letter: Dear Mia, Let's Tread 12 Lightly on the Planet, Together mon humanity. Bar ry believes that there is such vious that all such principles of justice by Prof. Dr. Kennedy Graham a need. And, like Rawls and other philosophers, imply certain rights. Consider, for exam- he belie ves that in spite of the dif ficulties such ple, the first principle, 'To each according Environmental Policies in Europe 15 a theor y is possible. The argument of this pa- to his needs'. Once the 'needs' in by Margot Wallström per is that it is both unnecessar y and impossi- question have been defined and The Making of the Earth Charter 16 ble. agreed, anybody who could demonstra- by Prof. Dr. Ruud Lubbers te that he or she had the requisite needs The Rights-Justice Relationship would have a moral 'right' to be accorded Earth Charter 16 Theories of justice invariably imply as- the corresponding amount of whatever cribing rights to somebody or other or to was supposed to be given according to United Nations Commission on 20 Sustainable Development some institution or group of people. that need (e.g. freedom, income, medical by Sebastian Klüsener For example, for Rawls '...the primary care, and so on). Thus instead of speci- subject of justice is the basic structure of fying theories of justice in the form of society, or more exactly, the way in the maxims indicated above, one could which the major social institutions di- have equally have specified them in the Contents Book Reviews 21 stribute fundamental rights and duties' form: Peter Laslett and James S. Fishkin [Rawls, 1972, p.7]. (continued on page 3) (eds.), Justice between Age Groups and Generations 21 Ecological Generational Justice into the Bruce E. Auerbach, Constitution? Europe’s Green Future in Unto the thousandth Generation: Con- st the 21 century ceptualizing Intergenerational Justice 21 Protestant Academy of Berlin, 22.-26. June 2005 Andrew Dobson, Our modern society is living at the cost of fu- being discussed in Hungary) or other solutions Green Political Thought 22 ture generations. Guaranteeing the existence which may be results of our discussions at the Paul Wallace, and well-being of these generations is more convention. The innovative character of this Agequake: Riding the Demographic pressing than ever, because decisions made by project is great as hardly any effort has been Rollercoaster present generations are able to change the en- taken by other non-governmental organisa- Shaking Business, Finance and vironment for many thousands of years to co- tions to demand fundamental and far reaching our World 23 me. improvements of the ecological conditions at O'Neill, John, R. Kerry Turner and That is the reason why the Foundation for the an institutional level. The potential for ecolo- Ian J. Bateman (eds.), Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) has gising the whole society is great. Environmental Ethics and Philosophy 23 started a campaign to institutionalise "ecolo- At the convention, the primary aim is to gical generational justice" in the German con- create models of how to institutionalise Palmer, Joy A., David E. Cooper and stitution. The final goal would be to see a "ecological generational justice". Hopeful- Peter Blaze Corcoran (eds.), Fifty Key Thinkers on the Environment 24 change of the current laws accepted by Par- ly, the participants will work together to cre- liament. This could be a change of the con- ate a network promo-ting the idea that Internal matters 24 stitution or the establishment of a Commis- "ecological generational justice" should be sion for Future Generations (like in Israel) or implemented throughout Euro- an Ombudsman for Future Generations (like (continued on page 25) solution is proposed however, with im- plications for the way in which future rights should be phrased. K ennedy Graham publishes a very per- sonal letter to his grandchild "Mia", out- lining his responsibility to her. Doing this, he makes us think about intergene- rational responsibilities and obligations Dear reader, in general. Margot Wallström provides an overview Only after the appearance of the ecolo- about environmental policies in Europe, gical question in the 1970s did future ge- especially as outlined in the 6th Envi- nerations (especially the topic 'genera- ronmental Action Plan. She underscores tional justice') explicitly come into the the pivotal role of youth as agents for picture. Historically, it is to the Club of succeeding generations. Rome's credit that they promoted the in- Ruud Lubbers, the former prime mini- sight that the usage of natural resources ster of the Netherlands, reflects on his must be limited. But at this time a preci- struggle for the Earth Charter. This do- se generational ethic was not yet develo- cument itself, of utmost importance for ped. While Rawls (like Kant) assumed, ecological generational justice, is also in- almost as a law of nature, that the living cluded in this edition. conditions and the well-being of future We also report, like in every issue of this generations would constantly improve, journal, about UN activities, review the Hans Jonas pointed to the growing newest or most influential books and tell Impressum threat that the potential of modern tech- you about recent FRFG activities. The nology affects the future destiny of reviewed books are "Justice between Age Publisher: Foundation for the Rights of Future mankind. Unlike in previous centuries, Groups and Generations" (by Peter Las- Generations (FRFG) (Stiftung für die Rechte zukünf- nature might be irreversibly affected by lett and James S. Fishkin), "Unto the tiger Generationen)-SRzG acts or omissions of the presently living Thousandth Generation" (by Bruce E. generation. Editors-in-Chief: Jörg Tremmel, Diederik van Auerbach), "Green Political Thought" Iwaarden, Maarten Malczak In this edition prominent scholars and (by Andrew Dobson) and "Agequake" Editorial staff: Sebastian Klüsener, Anne Kürbs, Ger- politicians discuss questions as: What do (by Paul Wallace). fried Zluga, Tobias Kemnitzer, Beatrice Gaczensky, we owe our children? How should we In its internal section, FRFG introduces deal with our natural capital? Do future the important conference "Ecological Léonie Jana Wagner generations have 'rights'? What challen- Generational Justice in the Constitution? Layout: Kerstin Hose ges does a theory of Generational Europe's green future in the 21st centu- Concept and Implementation: Jörg Tremmel Justice set? ry", scheduled for June 22-26 2005 in Print: Druck&Medien Späthling, Berlin. 60 future decision makers will be Ruppertsgrün 6, 95163 Weißenstadt, Germany Wilfred Beckerman questions if any invited to the beautiful House Schwa- Printed on chlorine-free bleeched paper. theory of intergenerational justice is pos- nenwerder to create models of how to sible because future generations cannot institutionalise "ecological generational Postal address of Publisher: Stiftung für die Rechte be said to "have" rights in the present. justice" in European countries and in the zukünftiger Generationen He argues, instead, that one could be sa- European Union itself. Hopefully, the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations, tisfied with defining our obligations to- participants will work together to create Postfach 5115, wards future generations on the basis of a network promoting the idea that "eco- 61422 Oberursel common humanity. logical generational justice" should be Germany Jörg Tremmel responds by devising a implemented throughout European Tel.: +49(0)6171-982367 theory of intergenerational justice, countries. The application form is inside. Fax.: +49(0)6171-952566 thereby showing that it is possible. In his The preparations for the English version E-Mail: [email protected], view, it is not necessary that future indi- of the "Handbook Generational Justice" Online: www.srzg.de viduals have rights for a theory of inter- are well underway. Scholars, experts and generational justice to be functional. Tra- young scientists are invited to submit ar- The Intergenerational Justice Review is published ditional, well-established theories of ticles (see Call for Papers). exclusively for non-profit purposes. It is issued quar- justice which are based on the idea of re- Last but not least you will find in an terly (three times in German and once in English). ciprocity can be applied to the interge- interesting report about a German-Po- Membership dues of sponsors of FRFG include the nerational context. lish meeting in this issue. subscription fee. Published contributions do not Axel Gosseries addresses two challenges necessarily reflect opinions of members or organs to the meaningfulness of ascribing rights We hope you enjoy reading this edition, of FRFG. Citations from articles are permitted upon accurate quotation and submission of one to future people: the non-existence and Jörg Tremmel, Diederik van Iwaar- sample of the incorporated citation. All other rights the non-identity arguments. As to the den, Maarten Malczak former, he shows that there is an easy are reserved. Accuracy, completeness and topicality answer to it. The non-identity challenges are not guaranteed. is admittedly a more serious problem. A (“Intergenerational...” continued fr om page 1) (2) Any coherent theory of justice implies Second, I am talking about moral rights, 'Everybody has a right to what he conferring rights on people. not le gal rights. And, third, I do not wish needs', or Therefore, (3) the interests of future ge- to enter into discussion of the general 'Everybody has a right to what he me- nerations cannot be protected or pro- problem of how widely one should draw rits', and so on. moted within the framework of any the- the boundary around the 'rights', if any, The same applies to any of the other ma- ory of justice.4 that the present generation can be said to xims on Vlastos's list, or, indeed, to any The first proposition, which will be di- possess, or the particular problem of how other coherent principle of distributive scussed in more detail below, is not new far these rights include rights over the en- justice. Consider for example a contrac- and may be thought by many people to be vironment. tarian theory of justice. There are va- non-controversial, or even obvious, and The crux of my argument that future ge- rious forms of such theories - 'actual', to correspond to what is generally un- nerations cannot have rights to anything 'hypothetical', 'ideal' contracts, and so on derstood by most people to be implied by is that properties, such as being green or - but, with minor adjustments that are ir- the concept of 'rights'. Nevertheless wealthy or having rights, can be predica- relevant to the argument here, they can all some reputable philosophers explicitly ted only of some subject that exists. Out- be represented in Vlastos' maxim 'To eve- claim that future generations do have side the realm of mythical or fictional rybody according to the agr eement he has rights, as do most environmentalists.5 creatures or hypothetical discourse, if made' [Vlastos, op.cit. p.44]. This can Furthermore, certain philosophers who there is no subject, then there is nothing then be converted into a proposition do not explicitly claim that future gene- to which any property can be ascribed. about rights in the same way as the other rations have rights must implicitly be- Propositions such as 'X is Y' or 'X has Z' maxims specified above. lieve that they do insofar as they believe- or 'X prefers A to B' make sense only if Thus, in general, if some class of indivi- as do John Rawls (1972: 284ff.) and there is an X. If there is no X then all duals cannot be said to have any rights Brian Barry (1999: Ch. 3), for example - such propositions are meaningless9.IfI their interests cannot be protected within both that theories of justice imply the at- were to say 'X has a fantastic collection of the framework of any coherent theory of tribution of rights and that it is possible CDs' and you were to ask me who is X justice. In fact, Vlastos makes this point to construct some theory of intergene- and I were to reply 'Well, actually there when he writes that 'Whenever the rational justice. isn't any X', you would think I had taken question of regard, or disregard, for sub- leave of our senses. And you would be stantially affected rights does not arise, Do future generations have rights? right. Thus the general proposition that the question of justice or injustice does The general status of moral 'rights' is a future generations cannot have anything, not arise', or 'Again, whenever one is in central topic in ethics. Indeed, some including rights, follows from the mean- no position to govern one's action by re- philosophers see 'rights' as the founda- ing of the present tense of the verb 'to gard for rights, the question of justice or tion of political morality and possibly of have'. 10 Unborn people simply can- injustice does not arise', or 'A major fea- morality in general. 6 It is not surprising, not have anything. They cannot have two ture of my definition of "just" is that it therefore, that all our moral obligations legs or long hair or a taste for Mozart. makes the answer to "is x just?" (where x to future generations are often thought of In connection with the more specific ju- is any action, decision, etc.) strictly de- as being simply the counterpart of their stification given for the goal of sustaina- pendent on the answer to another 'rights'. Nevertheless I believe that any ble development, namely that future ge- question: "what are the rights of those attempt to establish all our moral obliga- nerations have rights to specific assets, who are substantially affected by x?" [ibid . tions to future generations on the basis of such as the existing environment and all p.60/61]3. their rights is a dangerous, and probably its creatures, a second condition has to be Of course, there are many different con- fatal, enterprise. satisfied. This is that even people who do ceptions of 'rights' and of 'justice' as well It should be made clear at the outset that, exist cannot have rights to anything un- as of the relationship between them. It first, I am talking about future genera- less, in principle, the rights could be ful- would be beyond the scope of this tions of unbor n people and am abstracting filled (Parfit 1984: 365). For example, monograph to try to present and apprai- from the case of over-lapping genera- since the dodo became extinct about se the arguments that have been put for- tions. Thus, I am not concerned with three hundred years ago, it would be ab- ward over the ages in favour of one con- what we may feel inclined to bequeath to surd to claim that we had a right to see a ception of justice or rights rather than our children or their descendants on ac- live dodo. In the case of rights to any another. But I believe that the concep- count of bonds of affection, or what physical objects it is essential that the ob- tions of rights and justice that I adopt are they may feel obliged to do for us for the ject exists. Similarly, in the case of, say, a those that are widely accepted. My only same reason.7 This is because I am con- right to have a clause in a mutually agreed attempt to make a modest 'original' con- cerned here with identifying what are our contract to be carried out, it must be fe- tribution is to argue that, if these con- moral obligations to future generations, not asible for the contracting parties to car- ceptions of rights and justice are adop- what we would like to do for them any- ry it out. In the same way that it does not ted, then, taken together, they do seem to way. I adopt the Kantian view that what seem to make sense to say 'X has Y' or 'X lead to a somewhat surprising conclusion, is morally right is a matter of duty and is Z' if X does not exist, even when namely, that there is no place for a theo- cannot be determined by one's senti- (continued on page 4) ry of justice between generations. ments or self-interest. In other words, My argument is really very simple and can crudely speaking, doing what you fancy is History will be kind to me be summarized in the following syllo- nothing to do with moral duty.8 Indeed, for I intend to write it. gism: many of the things that most of us would Sir Winston Churchill (1) Future generations-of unborn people- like to do from time to time are probably cannot be said to have any rights. quite immoral.

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 3 Review (“Intergenerational...” continued fr om page 3) To start with a trivial example, one may source is shared out between different X does exist it does not make sense to say allow one's neighbour to use one's tele- generations. But this would be giving 'X has a right to Y' if Y is not available phone or toilet if his own is out of or- priority, among our moral obligations to or beyond the power of anybody to pro- der without believing that he has any future generations, to what appears to be vide. 'right' to do so. One would do so out of a very minor problem as far as the well- Thus for the proposition 'X has a right to simple benevolence and neighbourly being of future generations is concerned. Y' to be valid, where Y refers to some helpfulness and fraternity. We may de- For it seems that all past predictions of tangible object, two essential conditions plore somebody refusing to allow a imminent environmental catastrophe and have to be satisfied. First, X must exist, neighbour to use his telephone to make exhaustion of so-called 'finite' resources and second, it must be possible, in prin- an urgent call but this does not mean that - and such predictions go back at least ciple, to provide Y. we believe the neighbour had a right to 2,400 years - have been falsified and that In the case of our right to see live dodos, do so. At the other extreme, if one is there are very strong theoretical reasons for example, one of these two conditions walking along the beach and sees some- backed up by powerful empirical eviden- is not satisfied. We exist, but dodos do body in danger of drowning in the sea ce to believe that they will continue to be not exist. And before the dodos became one has a moral obligation to go to his or falsified.12 extinct, the other condition did not her assistance if possible, even though But one prediction can be safely made exist; the dodos existed but we did not, the person in danger may not have any about the future. This is that there will so we could not have any rights to its pre- 'right' to expect such assistance. always be potential conflicts between servation. Hence, insofar as it is im- people. As we are witnessing throughout plausible to say that we had the right to Our obligations towards future the world today these may be about re- the preservation of live dodos before we generations sources, but they may also have ethnic, existed it must be implausible to say that Since future generations will have inte- religious, racial or ideological origins. nonexistent unborn generations have rests (and may well have rights that will The most important bequest, therefore, any rights now to inherit any particular impose obligations on their contempo- that we can make to future generations is asset in the future unless that asset raries), and since it is true that our poli- a more decent, tolerant and democratic exists. In short, however widely society cies may affect these interests we have a society than exists in most parts of the wishes to draw the boundary around the moral obligation to take account of the world today, in which their inevitable rights that future generations will have, effect of our policies on these interests. conflicts can be resolved in a just and they cannot ha ve any rights now. Nor, This view is widely held for good rea- peaceful manner. In addition to certain when they come into existence, can the sons which do not need to be spelled out material needs, the most important inter- rights that they will have include rights to here. As the Routleys put it 'Future items ests of future generations, as of today´s, something that will no longer exist, such will have properties even if they do not are the basic human desire for life, free- as an extinct species. have them now, and that is enough to dom from fear, oppression and humilia- Given the conceptions of rights and ju- provide the basis for moral concern a- tion, and a maximum of freedom to pur- stice that we have adopted, the conclu- bout the future. Thus the thesis of obli- sue their own conception of the good life sion to which they seem to lead means gations to the future does not presuppo- compatible with similar freedom for that attempts to locate our obligations to se any special metaphysical position on others. And we can confidently predict future generations in some theory of the existence of the future' (R. and V. that the inevitable conflict between inter- intergenerational justice are doomed to Routley, 1981, p.292). To claim other- ests will always be a potential threat to fail. But this would not necessarily mean wise - i.e. to confine moral obligations to these freedoms. At one point Rawls sta- that future generations have no 'moral the respect for other peoples' rights - tes that his 'just savings principle can be standing' and that we have no moral obli- would be an example of the inability of regarded as an understanding between gations towards them. For rights and ju- a rights-based ethical system to exhaust generations to carry theory fair share of stice by no means exhaust the whole of the whole of morality. the burden of realizing and preserving a morality.11 One has a moral obligation not Does it make much difference to think in just society' (Ralws, op.cit., p.289). And to behave in a way that might inflict grie- terms of justice towards future genera- since most people today do not have the vous harm on people, however removed tions rather than in terms of our moral good fortune to live in such a society, from us they may be in time or space. obligation to take account of the inter- steps in that direction will add to current One can think of innumerable situations ests that they can be expected to have? welfare as well as to future welfare. in which one's behaviour will be in- There seem to be two reasons to believe Thus there is a crucial difference bet- fluenced by some conception of what that it does. First, insofar as the notion ween, one the one hand, seeing the pro- our moral obligations are, without ne- of intergenerational justice seems to be blem of our obligations to future gene- cessarily believing that somebody or untenable, it would be unfortunate to rations in terms of, say, simply maxi- other must have some corresponding ground all sense of our moral obligations mising the extent to which the interests rights. towards future generations on unstable of all generations are satisfied and, on the foundations. other hand, seeing it as a problem of ma- A second reason to eschew the justice ximising the satisfaction of these inte- The world is full of people whose no- perspective is that, as noted above, the rests over time subject to some side constraint tion of a satisfactory future is, in fact, notion of justice between generations is consisting of the 'rights' of futur e generations . a return to the idealised past. inevitably concerned with distributive ju- The constraint would presumably be on stice, where the relevant constraint is re- the interests of present generations, Robertson Davies sources. This implies giving priority to whereas, as is argued above, the most im- issues such as the way some scarce re- (continued on page 5)

4 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Intergenerational...” continued fr om page 4) longer and clumsy pr opositions that are meaningful, Maclean, D. and Br own, P.G . (eds) (1983), Ener- portant bequest we can make to future such as 'X exits and if ther e is an X it has Y', but gy and the Future, Rowman and Littlechild, New Jer- generations is one that is also in the inter- are false if, in fact, there is no X. sey ests of the present generation. 10 This fundamental and in our opinion decisive Merrills, J. (1996), 'Environmental Pr otection and point was made by De Geor ge (1981) and, if less for- Human Rights: Conceptual Aspects' in A. Boyle and cibly, by Macklin (1981). But with some exce ptions, M. Anderson, Human rights Approaches to Envi- 1 Some notably excellent collections of articles on the notab ly de-Shalit (1995; 2000: 137), it does not ronmental Pr otection, Oxford, Clarendon Pr ess more philosophical aspects of these topics are seem to ha ve been gi ven due w eight in the literature Nozick, R. (1974) Anarchy, State and Utopia, MacLean and Brown, (eds), 1983; Partridge (ed.), on this subject. The same point is also set out ver y ef- Blac kw ell, Oxford, 1981; Sikora and Bar ry (eds), 1978. In addition, fecti vely in Mer rills (1996: 31). O'Neill, Onora (1996), Towards Justice and Virtue, of course, ther e is a lar ge envir onmental literatur e of 11 Recent lucid r eminders of this include, notably, Cambridge University Press a less technical character in which r efer ence is fr e- R awls (1972), Raz (1986), and particularly the re- Parfit, D. (1984) Reasons and Persons, Oxford quently made to the rights of futur e generations and cent extensive and lucid discussion of this topic in University Press inter generational justice and equity. O'Neill (1996). Partridge, E. (ed.) (1981), Responsibilities to Fu- 2 Page r ef er ences her e ar e to a later and mor e acces- 12 See, for example, Beckerman, 1974 ch.8, and tur e Generations, New York, Prometheus Books sible reprint of this article. 1993; Cooper, 1994, ch.2 and p.75/76; Simon, R az, J. (1986), The Morality of Freedom, Oxford 3 At the risk of labouring the point, one can also find 1996. University Press. in Rawls's classic exposition of what constitutes a the- R awls, J., (1972), A Theory of Justice. Oxford, Cla- ory of justice similar references to this relation- rendon Pr ess. ship between justice and rights, as when, for example, “It isn’t pollution that’s harming the Routley, R and V. (1981), 'Nuclear Energy and he refers to 'the rights secured by justice' [Rawls 1972, environment. Obligations to the Future', in Partridge, (ed.), op.cit. p.4], or to the conception of justice that motivates pe- It’s the impurities in our air and water Sikora, R.I. and Barry, B., (eds) (1978), Obliga- ople to tr y to affirm '...a characteristic set of princi - that are doing it.” tions to Future Generations, Temple University Press, ples for assigning basic rights and duties...', [loct. Philadelphia Geor ge W. Bush cit.p.5], or 'For us the primar y subject of justice is Simon, J. (1996), The Ultimate Resource, Princeton the way in which the major social institutions distri- University Press. bute fundamental rights and duties...' [loc. cit.p.7], Temkin, L. (1995), 'Justice and Equality: Some and so on. Bib lio graph y: Questions About Scope' Social Philosophy and Poli- 4 For a much fuller exposition of this ar gument see Barry, B. (1978), in Sikora and Bar ry, (eds): cy Foundation, 12/2: 72-104 Beckerman, W. and J.Pasek: Justice, Posterity, and Barry, B. (1999), 'Sustainability and Intergenera- Vlastos, G. (1984), 'Justice and Equality', ch.II of the Environment, Oxford University Press, 2002. tional Justice', in Dobson, A. (ed.). Waldr on, J. (ed.) Theories of Rights, Oxford Uni- 5 Indeed, John Dunn, Pr ofessor of Political Theor y Beckerman, W. (1974), In Defence of Economic versity Press. at Cambridge University, almost sug gests that the op- Growth, Jonathan Cape, London posite conclusion to the one drawn her e is 'obvious' Beck erman, W. and Pasek, J. (2002), Justice, Pos- [Dunn, 1999: 77]. He writes that 'The reasons for terity, and the Environment, Oxford University Press Wilfred Beckerman is an Eme- supposing that an understanding of justice should dra- Cooper, R.N., (1994), Environment and Resour ce ritus Fellow of Balliol College, stically inhibit the harm which w e knowingly inflict Policies for the World Econom y, Br ookings Institu- Oxford and had pr eviously been on the human futur e ar e simple and intuitively ob- tion, Washington, D.C. Pr ofessor of Political Economy in vious'. But Dunn does not go as far as do Rawls De George. R.T., (1981), 'The Environment, the University of London. and Bar ry in actually pr oposing explicit principles of Rights, and Future Generations', in Partridge, E. inter generational justice. See also discussion of some (ed.), op.cit philosophers who explicitly defend the notion that un- De Shalit, A. (1995), Why Posterity Matters, Lon- bor n people ha ve rights in Beckerman and Pasek, don and New York, Routledge 2001, ch.2. Dobson, A. .(ed.), (1999), Fairness and Futurity, 6 See the chapters by Dworkin (1984) and Mackie Oxford University Press (1984). Dunn, J. (1999) 'Politics and the Well-being of Fu- 7 Ther e may, of course , be r outes by which one can ar- ture Generations', in T-C. Kim and R. Harrison ri ve at some sor t of contract betw een overlapping ge- (eds) Self and Futur e Generations. Cambridge, nerations that dispenses with bonds of affection, no - White Horse Press tably that followed by Gauthier (1986: 298ff.). But, Dworkin, R. (1984). 'Rights as Trumps 1984', in as Temkin has shown, his pr oposal does not seem to J . Waldr on (ed.), Theories of Rights, Oxford Uni- be able to handle satisfactorily the problem of sharing versity Press out r esour ces over distant generations, which is what Gauthier, D. (1986), Morals by Agreement, Oxford the envir onmental de bate seems to be mainly about. University Press. (See Temkin 1995: 79-87). Kant, I. (1964), Groundw ork of the Metaphysics of "A scientific truth does not triumph 8 At one point Kant (1964: 99) explicitly says that Morals, New York: Har per and Row. (tr. Paton) by convincing its opponents and his categorical imperati ves 'did by the mere fact that Mackie, J.J. (1984), 'Can there be a Rights-Based making them see the light, but rather they w ere r epr esented as categorical, exclude fr om their Morality?', in J. Waldr on (ed.) Theories of Rights, because its opponents eventually sover eign authority e ver y admixtur e of inter est as a Oxford University Press die and a new generation grows up motive'. Macklin, R. (1981), 'Can future generations cor rectly that is familiar with it." 9 We ar e her e using the ter m 'meaning less' to descri- be said to have rights?' in E. Partridge (ed.) Re- be propositions such as 'X is Y' when ther e is no X, sponsibilities to Future Generations, New York, Pro- Maxw ell Planck although such pr opositions could be transposed into metheus Books.

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 5 Review Is a Theory of Intergenerational Justice Possible? A Response to Beckerman by Jörg Chet Tremmel This article devises a theor y of inter generational Indirect Reciprocity in the Field of anything. Or, if something is expected in justice, and ther eby shows that such a theor y is Non-overlapping Generations return, the person who accepts the gift possible. It is not necessar y that future indi vidu - Moreover, I will lay out my argument should be able at least to understand als have rights for a theor y of inter generational that the universal principle of "recipro- what it entails as well as to refuse such a justice to be functional. Traditional, well-estab- city" can also be applied on the case of gift. Can you expect a newborn to refu- lished theories of justice which ar e based on the generations that do not overlap. At first se 'gifts' for which she will be bound over idea of recipr ocity can be applied to the inter ge- sight, this seems impossible. Future ge- for the rest of her life?" (Gosseries 2002, nerational context. nerations, unborn individuals, are not 466). here now. We cannot communicate with Let us assume for a moment, the suc- Direct Reciprocity in the Field of them, nor make contracts. But it is pos- ceeding generation could in fact delibera- Overlapping Generations sible to apply the principle of reciproci- tely accept or refuse the heritage of its Wilfred Beckerman argues in his article ty indirectly. Most people would agree predecessor-generation. What would that a theory of intergenerational justice that it is 'just' to give back to future ge- they do? To answer this question, we is both unnecessary and impossible. On nerations what we received from former must take a look at the heritage itself. It the contrary, I will devise such a theory generations (just like we owe back our can be depicted as the totality of capital mainly based on the principle of (direct children what we received from our pa- (natural, man-made, social, cultural and and indirect) reciprocity. rents). The generation that made the human capital) which is transfered one Dating back to Aristotle, theories of ju- presently living generation a debtor can- generation to another. stice can be divided into reciprocity-ba- Tab.1: Forms of Capital sed and distributive ones. It seems to me Natural capital Resources provided by nature which are that Beckerman pays too much attention of use for mankind to the second sort of justice theories Man-made and financial Machinery, infrastructure and buildings when he states that "the notion of jus- capital as well as financial assets tice between generations is inevitably concerned with distributive justice, Cultural capital Institutions (democracy, market where the relevant constraint is resour- economy), constitutions and legal codes ces." I will lay out the reciprocity-based Social capital Existing solidarity within society, stable theory of justice first in the traditional, relationships between individuals and intragenerational context and then exa- groups, values mine if its principles can be transferred Human capital Health, education, skills and knowledge to an intergenerational context. Sour ce: Tremmel (2003a), 37 Reciprocity is central to human ethics (Barry 1989, 211-241; Höffe 1996). "In- not be paid back - but that does not If we assume, that there were 30.000 ge- dividuals should treat others in the same mean that there is no creditor generation nerations so far (Birnbacher 1977), then way they themselves would like to be tre- (Gosseries 2002, 465). Like in a cascade, a more or less steady improvement has ated" is one of the widespread concepts duties and responsibilities are subse- taken place (as an example shown in fi- of justice deriving from the reciprocity quently passed on from one generation gure 2): principle. The liberal, K antian social con- Tab 2: Accumulated Capital for Groups of Generations: tract theory understands moral recipro- city to be motivated by a desire for ra- Gen. Gen. Gen. Gen. Gen. Gen. tional integrity and to consist of a 1- 5.001- 10.001- 15.001- 20.001- 25.001- commitment to impartiality, that is, to considering the interests of self and 5.000 10.000 15.000 20.000 25.000 30.000 others equally (Vokey 2001). Capital 100 200 300 400 500 600 Beckerman talks only about non-adjacent generations that do not overlap. By this (Units) exclusion, he deliberately avoids the area Sour ce: own pr esentation in which the relevance of the reciproci- to another (Hösle 1997, 808). Is this al- 100 is the average capital which a mem- ty principle is most obvious. It is 'just' ready a basis for a theory of intergene- ber of the generations 1 - 5.000 enjoys, that children care for their old parents rational justice in the realm of non-ad- and so on. Obviously, the presently living because their parents looked after them jacent generations? There are objections generation would not like to forgo all the when they, the children, were young. which we should consider. Gosseries, in capital which has been accumulated so Thus, obviously, there is a basis of the- line with Barry (1989), pointed out: far. Who would like to have the mind- ory of intergenerational justice in the re- " The 'gift-obligation' objection asks set and the commodities of a Neander- alm of adjacent generations, even if the- whether any gift should give rise to cor- thal? re is no space to outline such a theory in responding obligations. Either it is a gift But the present generation might be in- detail here. for which nothing is expected in return, clined to say: "Well, we could certainly do in which case we would not be bound to (continued on page 7)

6 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Is a Theory...” continued fr om page 6) affluence, and justice would require them "(1) Future generations -of unborn peo- without genetic food, CO2-emissions to ensure that this remains possible for ple- cannot be said to have any rights. and nuclear waste, although most of the future generations. One of the aims for (2) Any coherent theory of justice implies rest is fine." But here the same principles previous generations of parents was to conferring rights on people. apply like in civil law: It is not possible for ensure a better future for their children. Therefore, (3) the interests of future ge- a individual heir to accept only the posi- Thus, the present generation should try nerations cannot be protected or pro- tive parts of a heritage. Such cherry- to attain a positive intergenerational sa- moted within the framework of any the- picking is made impossible in civil law be- vings rate with a view to benefiting the ory of justice." cause it is considered as unfair. Thus, generations who will follow after them. being in a situation to either accept or not An improvement of our current quality I argued in the first part of my article that accept the total heritage of its predeces- of life is certainly more desirable than to hypothesis (2) does not hold. Theories of sor-generation, each generation in histo- remain at a stand-still at the status quo. Justice can be based on obligations, too. ry would have said "Yes" so far. That is The latter, on the other hand, would be Beckerman unnecessarily restricts his why we have the obligation to leave so- preferable to a worsening of the situa- notion of 'justice' to concepts of 'distri- mething to our creditors, our children. tion. It will probably never be possible to butive justice'. One could also vary the gift-obligation determine in a precise way the state of Another point is important: Beckerman and ask whether or not the newborn the equality of treatment of various ge- uses the notion 'rights' in a way which is would choose to live if he or she could nerations. In using the 'precaution-prin- not shared by most of philosophers or make a deliberate decision about that. ciple' (Birnbacher/Schicha 1996, 151) as the public. To give an oversimplified The answer would most certainly be a guide, the generations of today should example (one I do not fully support my- "Yes". strive to improve the situation for those self) of how Beckerman's argument can The idea of indirect reciprocity can be of the future so as to avoid the risk of in- be proved wrong: Beckerman argues that used to justify the existence of obligations advertently worsening the situation. Last the terms 'rights' and 'obligations' are de- towards future generations. But what is but not least, from the meta-ethical fined in a way that we can say that futu- the content of these obligations? standpoint that 'justice is what all the par- re generations do not have rights al- ticipants in a free discussion deem to be though we do have obligations towards Justice as equality just', the majority will agree with the at- them. Now, let us assume for a moment One possible working definition of inter- tempt to improve the global situation for that most of Beckerman´s colleagues and generational justice (or, shorter, genera- the benefit of future generations when most dictionaries define the term "rights tional justice) might be based on the prin- asked if 'steady-state' or 'improvement' of person A" as "the counterpart the ciple of equality, understanding the term should be the goal. obligation of a person B towards A". If to mean that it would be unjust to treat there were no obligations without rights something that is homogenous and of Conclusion: The definition of 'Ge- and no rights without obligations, because the same worth, in a different manner. nerational Justice' they were just two sides of a coin, then Article three in the second paragraph of Generational justice for the case of inter- obviously Beckerman would be wrong. the German constitution states: 'Before temporal1 generations can thus be defi- Beckerman could still argue that his de- the law, all people are equal'. The Highest ned as follows (see detailed in: Tremmel finition of the term 'rights' is correct and Court of Germany takes from the above 2003a, 34): the definition of all the others are wrong, statement the right to treat subjects that “Generational justice is attained when the but to prove this would be extremely dif- are equal in an equal manner, but those accumulated capital, which the next ad- ficult for him, if not impossible. For the that are not, differently. This approach is jacent generation inherits, is at least as rest of the world (in my hypothetical consistent with other connotations of the high as what the present generation in- example), it would also be very difficult word 'justice.' If we talk about 'gender herited.” to prove that their definition is correct. justice,' we mean that men and women From the definition of generational ju- To rightfully decide arguments about de- should be treated equally. If we talk stice, the following moral imperative can finitions is a extremely difficult task and about 'racial justice,' we also mean the ab- be drawn: a theory about it runs deeply into metho- sence of arbitrary discrimination. If one 'Behave in such a way that the conse- dology of science. Space does not permit regards all generations as equal and in do- quences of your behaviour leave the next a thorough consideration in this article. ing so applies the same set of principles adjacent generation at least as much ac- What most people think a term should for their treatment, the preliminary defi- cumulated capital as the present genera- mean is definitely a strong factor in de- nition for 'Generational Justice' could be tion has today.' ciding which definition is right, although as follows: "No generation should be de- I do not think that it is the only factor liberately favored or disadvantaged over Do future generations have rights? (for detailed study see Tremmel 2003c). another." As shown, a theory of intergenerational justice is possible. What does this mean (continued on page 8) Progress and improvement to the notion of the 'rights of future ge- However, the definition of generational nerations'? Is it possible that there is a justice can also be broadened: Not only theory on intergenerational justice wi- America believes in education: the should future generations be disadvanta- thout implying that future generations average professor earns more money ged over another, but an improvement of have rights? in a year than a professional athlete their lot is ethically necessary and should A major part of Beckerman´s article fo- earns in a whole week. thus be striven for. Generations to date cuses on the rights-justice relationship. In have experienced growth and increasing this regard, he argues that Evan Esar

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 7 Review (“Is a Theory...” continued fr om page 7) nish him is only possible if he has in- The Establishment of the Rights of Beckerman`s view on the obligation- fringed somebody´s rights. Future Generations in the German rights-relationship is controversial within With their moral feeling most the people Constitution (Basic Law = BL) his science community. He writes: would, for instance, also talk about the After the German unification, a debate "One can think of innumerable situati- rights of extraterrestrials (although they about a modernization of the Constitu- ons in which one's behaviour will be in- are only 'potential living beings' as it is tion started. The majority supported fluenced by some conception of what unclear if they exist). If one imagines modifications. In 1994, Article 20a was our moral obligations are, without neces- that a being like ET would come down to newly integrated in the Basic Law. sarily believing that somebody or other earth, people would feel that it has the It says: must have some corresponding rights. To right not to be killed if it behaved peace- A rt. 20a (natural basis of life): start with a trivial example, one may al- fully. The State pr otects, also in responsibility for low one's neighbour to use one's tele- We posses a moral feeling for future ge- futur e generations, the natural basis of life with- phone or toilet if his own is out of or- nerations. Due to this feeling we can as- in the scope of the constitutional order by way der without believing that he has any cribe moral rights to future generations. of the legislation and in accordance with the law 'right' to do so. One would do so out of In this sense they do have "rights". For and in r espect of the executive power and ju- simple benevolence and neighbourly the autonomous human being no trans- risdiction. helpfulness and fraternity. We may de- cendental authority, which decides if plore somebody refusing to allow a such attributions are correct or incorrect, The version in force of Article 20a neighbour to use his telephone to make exists. If a large number of peo-ple at- Did Article 20a fulfil its purpose for an urgent call but this does not mean that tribute rights to animals - which was con- which it was integrated in the Basic law? we believe the neighbour had a right to sidered as inconceivable in earlier epochs So far Article 20a has not been the sub- do so." - animals will "receive" these rights. Ma- ject of a lawsuit in front of the Federal But are these really moral 'obligations'? If terially nothing has changed. Neverthe- Constitutional Court. The basic problem so, one could as well argue that we have less, in the collective con-sciousness of of Article 20a is that a concrete defini- the moral obligation to give each beggar mankind these "rights" now exist. Ac- tion of the responsibility for future ge- a coin. Beckerman defines the term 'mo- cording to Kant man can and has to de- nerations in terms of ecological sustai- ral obligation' in a way which one must cide by himself what is morally correct nability is not included. Article 20a only not follow. To be on a more secure side, and just. defines that the natural basis of life is to let´s examine the relationship between be protected. It however does not speci- 'legal rights' and 'legal obligations' (a field Moral and Codified Rights fy the given level of protection, so that which Beckerman explicitly avoids). Birn- Animals or future individuals or extra- the legally most decisive question for en- bacher seems to hold the opinion that le- terrestrials 'have' moral rights as soon as vironmental protection is left open: What gal rights always imply legal obligations mankind found a consensus about that. is the level of protection? "Therefore the and vice versa (Birnbacher 1988, 100). This becomes more clear when we take regulation is not only composed in an ex- Anywhere, where a party A has a legal a look on how someone gets a legal right. tremely indefinite way, but its direct po- obligation in relation to another party B, He or she gets it as soon as it is codified wer altogether has to be called into B has a legal right in relation to A. For in- by the lawmaker. I f the lawmaker would question." (Murswiek 1999). stance, if A has the obligation to stay codify rights of future generations, how away from B and not stalk him, B has the can anybody renounce that future indi- Proposal for a new version of Article right of being left alone. viduals 'have' such rights? 20a BL Presently the world-wide situation shows The following proposal of Article 20a Semantical investigation of the term that in most of the constitutions no BL would establish ecological sustaina- 'to have rights' rights for future individuals are formula- bility and therewith generational justice According to Beckerman, the general ted, although according to the conviction in the Basic Law. proposition that future generations can- of many fellow human beings, rights, for not have anything, including rights, fol- instance of life and health, should be ad- Art. 20a (new): Protection of the Rights lows from the meaning of the present judged to them. of Succeeding Generations tense of the verb 'to have'. "Unborn peo- At least considered from a bird's-eye (1) The Federal Republic of Germany ple simply cannot have anything. They view an adjustment of positive law gea- protects the rights and interests of suc- cannot have two legs or long hair or a ta- ring towards the change of moral con- ceeding generations within the bounds of ste for Mozart", Beckerman writes. victions in society has taken place in the the constitutional order through the le- But there are cases in which almost past. The increasing acceptance of the gislative and according to law through the everybody ascribes rights to non-existing future ethic has resulted in the fact that executive and the jurisdiction. human beings. An example: Imagine a world-wide, constitutions and constitu- manufacturer, who manufactures porrid- tional drafts, especially the ones which (continued on page 9) ge for two-month-old babies has a tech- were adopted in the last decades, ex- nical defect in his production centre. The pressis verbis refer to generations to result being that the products which will come. The establishment of the rights of be on the market in three month are con- future generations in the constitution is taminated with fragments of glass. Al- debated in such different countries as Is- There are no passengers on spaceship most everybody would consider him rael, Hungary, France, Uruguay, Switzer- earth. We are all crew. worthy of punishment even though the land and Germany. victims are not yet born. Legally, to pu- Marshall McLuhan

8 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Is a Theory...” continued fr om page 8) extensive study would be necessary. How- At the center of your being you have the (2) It guarantees that harmful substances ever, it is clear that future individuals will answer; you know who you are and you pollute nature, soil, air, water and the 'have' rights as soon as a lawmaker ascri- know what you want. atmosphere, only to such an extent as bes these rights to them. Moreover, it is these can decompose due to their natu- not necessary that future individuals Lao-tzu ral regenerative capabilities in the re- have rights for a theory of intergenera- spective period of time. tional justice to be possible and functio- Bir nbacher , Dieter (1977): Rawls' Theorie der Ge- nal. A theory of justice which is based on rechtigkeit und das Pr oblem der Ger echtigkeit zwi- (3) It guarantees that renewable resources reciprocity can be applied to the interge- schen den Generationen. In: Zeitschrift für philoso- are not exploited to a greater extent than nerational context. On such a basis, the phische Forschung 31. p. 385-401 they are capable of renewing themselves. moral imperative 'Behave in such a way Däub ler-Gmelin, Herta (2000): Open letter to the Non-renewable raw materials and energy that the consequences of your behaviour editors. In: Zeitschrift für Rechtspolitik, p. 27 f. resources must be used as economically as leave the next adjacent generation at Gosseries, Axel (2002): Intergenerational Justice. In: is possible by a justifiable expenditure. least as much accumulated capital as the L a Follette, Hugh (Hg.): The Oxford Handbook of present generation has today' can be de- Practical Ethics. Oxford. p. 459-484 (4) It guarantees that no sources of dan- rived. Höffe, Otfried (1996): Vernunft und Recht. Bau- ger are constructed which could lead to steine zu einem interkultur ellen Rechtsdiskurs. harm that cannot be undone or only un- 1 T wo meanings of ter m 'generation' must be distin- Frankfur t am Main done by unjustifiable expenditure. guished. Firstly it describes different age gr oups which Hösle, Vittorio (1997): Moral und Politik. Grund- all live presently. One has coined the under-thirties as lagen einer politischen Ethik für das 21.Jahrhunder t. (5) It guarantees that the existing variety belonging to the younger generation, those betw een 30 München of fauna and flora as well as ecological - 60 years of age belonging to the middle-aged gene- Murswiek, Dietrich (1999): Art. 20a, Rdn. 39. In: systems are not diminished by human ac- ration and the older generation being the over-sixties. Sachs (Hg.): Grundgesetz-Kommentar. (2. ed.) tivity. In this meaning , I speak of 'temporal generations'. München. Secondly, the word 'generation' is used in English, T remmel, Jör g (2003a): Generationenger echtigkeit - (6) Offences against paragraphs 2 - 5 that Ger man and in many other languages to describe the V ersuch einer Definition. In: Stiftung für die Rech- occur within Germany can be compen- totality of people alive today. This implies that only te zukünftiger Generationen (Hg .): Handbuch Ge- sated for by quantitatively and qualitati- one generation exists at any one time. Used with this nerationenger echtigkeit. 2. revised edition. München. vely equal compensation abroad. meaning , I speak of 'intertemporal generations'. p. 27-80 T remmel, Jörg (2003b): Positivrechtliche Verant - Foundation for the Rights of Future Ge- wortung der Rechte nachr ückender Generationen. In: nerations (FRFG) conveyed this propo- Literature: Stiftung für die Rechte zukünftiger Generationen sal to the former minister of justice, Mrs. Barry, Brian (1989): 'Justice as Reciprocity' in Bar- (Hg .): Handbuch Generationenger echtigkeit. 2. re- Prof. Dr. Däubler-Gmelin. Thereupon ry, Liberty and Justice. Oxford: Oxford University vised edition. München. p. 349-382 the minister invited 15 supporting mem- Press, p.211-241 T remmel, Jörg (2003c): Nachhaltigkeit als politische bers of the FRFG to a discussion at the Bir nbacher , Dieter / Schicha, Christian (1996): und analytische Kategorie. Der deutsche Diskurs um ministry of justice. During the discus- V orsor ge statt Nachhaltigkeit - Ethische Grundla - nachhaltige Entwicklung im Spiegel der Interessen der sion the minister showed sympathy for gen der Zukunftsverantwortung . In: Hans Kastenholz Akteure, München. the request of the FRFG, but not for the / Karl-Heinz Erdmann / Manfred Wolff (Hg.): Vokey, Daniel (2001): Education for Intergenera- concrete formulated proposal. In an ar- Nachhaltige Entwicklung: Zukunftschance für tional Justice: W hy should w e car e?, Ontario Insti- ticle of the Zeitschrift für Rechtspolitik Mensch und Umw elt. Berlin. p. 151 ff. tute for Studies of Education, Philosophy of Edu- (Journal of Legal Policy) (ZRP, 2000, S. Bir nbacher , Dieter (1988): Verantw or tung für zu- cation; www.ed.uiuc.edu/EPS/PES-Yearbook/94_ 27 f.) she favoured the following changes künftige Generationen. Stuttgart docs/VOKEY.HTM; Rev. 2004-03-19. of Art. 20a (new words in italic): " The State protects, also in responsibility for the rights of future generations, the animals and Your Contributions for our Work the natural basis of life within the scope FRFG is a non profit organisation with many enthusiastic helpers and sponsors, of the constitutional order by way of the and numerous active projects, yet very limited financial resources. With FRFG's legislation and in accordance with the expansion last year, we appeal to you to assist us further in enabling us to conti- Law and in respect of the executive po- nue working towards a better future. At this time, FRFG is working on the fol- wer and jurisdiction." lowing main projects: The German constitution has not been - Magazine 'Generationenger echtigkeit!' (cost per issue: 6000 €) changed yet. But if Germany´s lawmaker - Symposium at the Protestant Academy Berlin (Cost: 92000 €) adopted the view that future generations - International Volunteer Of fice (Cost: 4000 €) have rights, and ascribed such rights to - Book "Handbook Generational Justice" them, they juridically would 'have' these Every contribution helps, and there is no such thing as 'too small' a donation. If rights. you want to specifically support one of our projects, please identify the project name, and stating the intended purpose 'donation,' you can easily debit money from Conclusion your bank account in favour of: It is controversial if rights and obliga- SRzG, Account no. 8039555800, GLS Bank eG (BLZ 43060967), tions are just two sides of a coin. To de- IBAN: DE64430609678039555800 fine correctly the terms 'rights' and 'obli- gations' (both legal and moral), a more You will receive a tax deductible donation certificate.

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 9 Review Constitutionalizing Future Rights? by Axel Gosseries The author addr esses two challenges to the mea- some of which are not yet born, and that been harmed. However, in cases like the ningfulness of ascribing rights to future people: they will then have e.g. the right not to live one we are discussing, such a comparison the non-existence and the non-identity ar guments . a life not worth living because of given is made impossible since in the absence As to the former, he shows that there is an easy environmental conditions (such as a of the allegedly harmful action, the vic- answ er to it. The non-identity challenges is ad- nuclear winter), we can justify the existen- tim would not have existed. Once we ac- mittedly a mor e serious problem. A solution is ce of e.g. the obligation for the current cept that non-existence cannot be regar- pr oposed how ever, with implications for the way generation not to act so as to make the ded as the state of a person, we have to in which futur e rights should be phrased. occurrence of a nuclear winter very likely conclude that, unless the child has a life in fifty years. Admittedly, we only rely on not worth living, he cannot be said to Introduction a notion of future rights here (see e.g. have been harmed by the doctor's mista- Constitutionalizing the rights of future Elliot, 1989). Still, such futur e rights could ke. In such a "non-identity" context, our people is one way of acknowledging the very well be correlated with pr esent obliga- standard concept of harm is made ino- importance of taking future as much as tions as long as it is reasonable to expect perant. And once we consider that ascri- present generations into consideration some of our actions to have impacts in bing rights to people only makes sense if when making decisions today. A constitu- the future. and only if their violation could be said tional provision may then be implemen- to result in a harm to these people, this ted through legislation in various do- Harm and Non-Identity potentially affects, if not the possibility, mains. Rules may be enacted regarding e.g. The second challenge - referred to as the at least the content that could be given to pension schemes, the public debt, the non-identity challenge - is both more se- the rights of future people. long-term management of radioactive rious and more unexpected (see e.g. Par- waste or the protection of biodiversity. fit, 1984). Let us start with a simple The scope of the problem Constitutional rights alone would no case. A practitioner is being asked by pro- The non-identity challenge is relevant to doubt be far from telling us how to do so spective parents whether there is any all cases in which adopting one policy or in detail. But they would certainly give chance that a given disease could be ge- another will also affect the identity of weight to the concern for intergeneratio- netically transmitted to their child if they those who will be born, hence the pos- nal justice, whatever precise forms it may were to decide to conceive one. The doc- sibility of using concepts of harm and take. tor says "no" and the parents then deci- rights. By "affecting the identity", we do Still, advocates of the rights of future de to conceive a child. However, the lat- not simply refer to whether Paul will be generations have to face two fundamental ter turns out to be affected by the tall or tiny depending on whether we challenges. First, how could people who disease and the parents eventually find adopt a given food policy or any other do not exist have rights? This worry out that the doctor had misinformed course of action. We refer more radical- should be taken seriously. However, as it them. One may very well consider that ly to whether it is Paul or Ruth (or any- is realistic to assume that there will be at the doctor harmed the parents through body at all) who will be born, namely dif- least some people in the future and provi- his mistake. And as he should have ferent people. ded we accept that these people, once known about the serious risk of genetic In fact, it appears that the scope of the they will come to exist, could then be transmission, he also wronged them, i.e. non-identity problem extends much be- regarded as right-bearers, this is enough he violated one of their rights (as it re- yond the medical case presented above. to justify the possibility of correlative sults from their contractual relationship Hence, the non-identity challenge should obligations accruing to the members of with the doctor). There still remains an be taken very seriously. Replace our the cur r ent generation. Assuming e.g. that extra question: did the doctor also harm choice between mistaken and non-mi- there will be some people in fifty years, and wrong the child itself? In our example, staken medical advice with a choice bet- the child, albeit being handicapped, has a ween car and bike. If I take a car every Dear Reader, life worth living. But the crucial fact is day to go to my job, this will have two Your opinion matters! that the doctor's mistake is also a neces- types of relevant consequences. It will We want to improve the 'Intergene- sary condition for the handicapped have a negative impact on the present rational Justice Review' with your in- child's very existence. Had the doctor not and future state of the atmosphere, given put. Send us your comments to: made this mistake, the parents would that it will increase emissions. However, GJ-Editors, Postfach 5115, 61422 have decided not to conceive this child. it will also have an impact on the identi- Oberursel, GERMANY, Hence, the only possible existence for this ty of my future child. For, coming back Fax 06171-952566, Phone 06171- child was the one he actually has, name- home earlier or later than if I had taken 982367, Email [email protected] ly one affected with a genetic disease (on a bike will also affect the timing of my se- Please tell us of any friends to such cases referred to as "wrongful life xual intercourse. Hence, given the very whom we can send two trial issues cases": Roberts, 1998). large number of competing spermato- free of cost. If you would like to When we use a concept of harm, we zoa, it is very likely to affect the very avail of this offer yourself, then ple- compare the current condition of a given identity of the child I will conceive to- ase understand that we cannot send person (here the newborn) with the gether with my beloved. In other words, you any further trial issues. We would condition that would have been hers in if not all, at least many of our actions be delighted should you choose to the absence of the allegedly harmful ac- and policy choices in fields such as trans- subscribe to our magazine for just tion. Once the former is worse than the portation or energy production that € 20 a year. (see last page) latter, we conclude that this person has (continued on page 11)

10 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Constitutionaliz ing...” continued fr om page 10) lap would still hold, hence that this stra- people already have rights now. Second, have no direct connection with procrea- tegy would remain available. This is wor- as the rights of future generations should tion choices will still have an impact on rying as environmental problems often be conceived as correlates of obligations the identity of our children, through mo- involve long-term impacts. However, towards future people, they can only ap- difying the timing of our daily activities, there is a solution to this problem too. ply to overlapping generations. This is an including procreative ones. For we can adopt a transitive strategy, i.e. extra reason to abandon the expression Imagine now a father having to face his one that sets up rights and obligations "Future generations have a right to…". daughter. Having grown 17 and having only between neighbouring generations For once we acknowledge that the scope become a green activist, she asks him: that will at least at some point in time of the non-identity context is a signifi- "why did you not choose the bike rather have a chance to overlap. And with a cant one, future generations beyond than the car? The atmosphere would be chain of such obligations, it still remains those which we shall overlap with will ne- much cleaner today! And given your cir- possible to take into consideration re- ver have any rights towards us, not even cumstances at that time, you had no spe- mote future generations. Imagine three future ones. Preference should then be cial reason not to take the bike!". The fa- generations (G1, G2, G3). G1 overlaps given to sentences such as "Each gene- ther may well answer: " True. Still, had I with G2, but not with G3. G2 overlaps ration has towards the previous one the done so, you would not be here. Since with G3. Members of G1 do not have right to …" or "Each generation has to- your life in such a polluted environment obligations tow ards members of G3. Still, wards the next one the obligation to…". is still worth living, why blame me? I cer- G1 has obligations towards G2. And This does not mean that future rights tainly did not harm you. Which one of among these obligations towards G2, cannot be meaningful and necessary to your right did I violate then?". Some will there might be obligations about G3. The account for some of our current obliga- find the father's answer at best misdirec- idea is not that from the point of view of tions, nor that it may not be important to ted, at worst shocking. And still, G1, members of G3 matter less morally constitutionalize such future rights. It on- there may be no obvious way out. than those of G2 because they would be ly entails that we should be clear both a- more remote in time. It is rather that gi- bout the nature of these rights and about An obligation to catch up ven the absence of overlap between G1 who their bearers are. Restricting oursel- Let me now suggest one avenue that ap- and G3 and provided that we find our- ves to the future rights of the next gene- plies in the car case, while not being ap- selves in a non-identity context, most ac- ration(s) with which we shall overlap may plicable to our earlier medical case. Let us tions of G1 having an impact on G3 seem minimalistic. It is however the assume that we want to constitutionalize would be immune from potential moral price to pay if we take seriously the two the right for the members of each gene- criticism because they would all be "pre- challenges examined in this paper. And it ration to inherit an environment in as conceptional" actions. Still, if it were to is not too high a price as most of the good a state as the one the previous ge- turn out that the long-term effects of work can be done on such grounds. What neration inherited, everything else equal. G1's actions on the members of G3 then remains to be offered is a proper de- Future people do not have this right now. were such that it would force G2 to finition of the content of such rights. But But they will, as soon as they will come make extra efforts in order to make sure this is another story (see. e.g. Gos- to existence. Still, how can we address the it would fulfil its own obligations towards series, 2004). non-identity challenge regarding this G3, then G1 may in fact violate its obli- right? If we consider that the fulfilment gations towards G2 itself. And this is how of the obligation to bequeath a "clean" the transitive approach works. Admitted- Ref er ences: environment should be assessed at the end ly, G2 should not fully compensate G3 Elliot, R., 1989. " The Rights of Futur e People ", of each person's life (complete-life obliga- for disadvantages resulting from G1's ac- J. of A pplied Philosophy, vol. 6(2), p. 159-169. tion), the following strategy can be envi- tion, as G2 has no causal responsibility in Gosseries, A. , 2004. Penser la justice entr e les gé- saged. As long as the father's pro-car cho- G1's action. However, as a matter of di- nérations. De l'affair e Per ruche à la réfor me des r e- ice was a necessary condition for his stributive justice, G2 can be expected to traites, Paris, Aubier (Flammarion), 320 p. daughter's existence, it remains unobjec- operate some intergenerational redistri- Parfit, D., 1984. Reasons and Persons, Oxford, Cla- tionable. However, as soon as the daugh- bution, such that G3 would not end up rendon Pr ess, 543 p. ter was conceived, all his subsequent pol- worse off than G2, as when a person is Roberts, M., 1998. Child versus Childmaker. Fu- luting actions were no longer falling morally expected to help another one fa- tur e Persons and Pr esent Duties in Ethics and the within the ambit of the non-identity con- cing some disadvantage caused e.g. by an Law, Lanham, Rowman & Littlefield, 235 p. text. Nor is there any reason to hold the Earthquake for which none of them can view that given his pre-conceptional pol- be held responsible. luting behaviour, the father's obligation Axel Gosseries is a philosopher (PhD., Louvain, 2000) and law- to bequeath a clean environment should Phrasing future rights yer (LL.M., London, 1996). He be attenuated accordingly. In principle, Hence, regardless of the content of the is an Associate Research Fellow at we should expect the father to catch up rights we want to grant to future people the Fonds National de la Recher- as soon as his daughter has been concei- and insert in a constitution, we have to che Scientifique (Belgium), based at ved in order to be able, at the end of his consider two constraints on the nature of the Chair e Hoover d'éthique éco- life, to eventually meet the requirements these rights. First, the rights of future ge- nomique et sociale (Université catholique de Louvain, of his constitutional obligation. nerations - more precisely of future indi- Belgium). E-mail : [email protected] This "catch up" argument relies on the viduals - can only be futur e rights. Phra- Many thanks to W. Beckerman, H. Pourtois and existence of a generational overlap .Ifwe sings such as "Future generations have a J. Tremmel for stimulating objections. are dealing with three or four generations right to…" should thus be abandoned as ahead, it is less likely that such an over- they convey the idea that such futur e Photo: copyright Jour nal Le Soir/Jean Yves Thienpont

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 11 Review Open letter: Dear Mia, Let's Tread Lightly on the Planet, Together 37,000 ft. over Oostende 6.30 a.m. Thursday, 18 March 2004 Dear Mia, I'm looking out the plane window as the thin streaks of dawn light up the European sky above my Lufthansa flight heading east over Belgium. Three days ago some young people in Germany asked me to write an article for them on the subject of su- stainability and inter-generational justice. As fate would have it, that was the day you were born. My first grandchild! Your birth makes me very excited and proud. Welcome to planet Earth! Well, when I say young people, I mean young compared to me. To you, they are not at all young. They are the same age as your father. Whether someone is old or not depends on where you are in time. But whatever age we are, whenever and wherever on Earth we were born, we are all closely related. Related in a an emotional way through familial love, related in a physical way through cooperative work for our collective good, and related in a divine way through our spiritual enquiry and a common cosmic year- ning. Everything each of us does has an effect - on ourselves, on one another, on the planet, even on the greater cosmos. Ga- briel Garcia Marquez once said that a butterfly's gentle wings can cause a ripple disturbance that is felt on the outer planets in the solar system. Whether metaphorical or literal, it is a beautiful truth. Beautiful truths and planetary disturbances are what I am writing to you about today. It will be a little while before you read this, or even have your father read it to you. Perhaps one day, when I have retired from the United Nations and Marilyn and I are living on Waiheke Island in Waitemata Harbour not too far from where you now live, all three of us can talk about this ar- ticle, and what it means for three generations to share the planet. The indigenous tribes of North America have a saying that every decision their tribe takes must have regard for its likely effect on the seventh generation down. Seven generations from you take us back through your father (David), me (Kennedy), my father (Robert), his father (Arthur), his father (Robert) to his father (Robert). And I believe the Indian saying holds great wisdom. The decisions the first Robert Graham made, in the late 1790s, are having an effect on you today. Let me explain. Robert senior owned a farm and a coal-mine in Lambhill, on the western outskirts of Glasgow. The farm, like most others, ran mainly cattle. He and his neighbours had to contend together with the potential tragedy of the commons. If the cows were completely confined to the fenced-off pastures, he simply needed to ensure that, through rotation of fields and good hus- bandry, they lived as well and produced as optimally as his skill-knowledge allowed. But if they shared land, they faced the di- lemma that it was in each farmer's short-tem interest that his cow munched more grass than the others, producing more to greater individual profit. But competitive bovine-eating soon would ruin the land for all. Humans had been facing this dilemma long before Robert Graham in the 18th century. They faced it along the Nile, seven millennia ago, that thin strip of land along the world's most beautiful blue river. The Maori people were facing it in Aotearoa precisely when he was wrestling with it in Scotland. We face it today with global fishing quotas. We may face it on the moon and on Mars, either in your lifetime, or seven generations after you. Not with cows, necessarily! But with sharing a celestial commons…. Robert junior was born in 1820. He was not the eldest and did not inherit the farm. Did that release him from the challenge of what we have come to call sustainable development? No, he got on a ship, the Jane Gif ford, at the age of 22 and came out to New Zealand and simply faced it there. It took him three months to travel out. I have his diary from those vivid days which records his daily life on the ship. He writes of his excitement at rounding Cape of Good Hope, the tedium of routine on a cramped deck, his awe at the vastness of the planet's oceans, the joy of reaching New Zealand, his grief over burying young children at sea before they arrived. On arrival he joined a brother up north of Auckland at what was then the capital, Kor orar eka . And together they went into the trading business. He spoke good maori and became friends with the warrior chief of the region, Hone Heke. That saved his life when, after chopping the British flagpole down three times, Hone Heke sacked the town. Robert had been warned by his friend, the chief. Maori had been facing the challenge of sustainable development over the eight centuries they had been living on those islands in the South Pacific. They rotated their cropland and they nurtured the foreshore seafood - the kaimoana . But they also lit clea- ring fires that would get out of control and they hunted the wonderful moa bird out of existence. The biodiversity in Aotea- roa, the last soil to feel human feet - in the ninth century of the Common Era - was phenomenally rich. A young and raw land, with no predatorial mammals and strange flightless birds. The moa stood six feet above its human predator - the largest bird of modern times - rendered extinct around the 17th century. The kiwi, flightless, nocturnal, shy, resilient - proud symbol of the nation today. The ancient tuatara with its 'third eye', throwback to a for mer geological age. Are we doing enough to preserve what's left, so that you might enjoy this unique heritage? Not really - we take it all for granted, and some just don't care. Robert soon ran cattle of his own - the first cattle station in New Zealand, on Motuihe, the island in the Waitemata next to Wai- heke. You will not know yet what Waitemata means. 'Sparkling waters'. Is it still sparkling? Well, more than when I was your age. (continued on page 13)

12 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Open letter...” continued fr om page 12) My boyhood city, with half a million souls, would discharge its untreated human waste into the harbour near one of the best swimming beaches. Some things improve. One day a century and a half ago, in the 1840s, Robert went swimming just north of Auckland at a beach called Waiw era .He wondered why the local chief had half-buried himself in the sand. Then he found the sands were warm! Geothermally heated with great curative qualities for arthritis. So your great-great-great grandfather bought the land around the beach and set up the first tourist hotel in the nation's history, for elderly Auckland colonialists seeking relief from their pains. It was a success. Did Robert run a sustainable enterprise - an eco-touristic delight? It probably never crossed his mind. Later in his life in the 1870s, Robert mediated a dispute between two Maori tribes and in return they sold him some land around Wairakei, near T aupo . That is where a famous geyser gushed out of the 'Dragon's Mouth'. The land was a huge geo- thermal area but they didn't have the knowledge then to generate power - they just used it for tourist visits. Eco-tourism? Well I think they at least looked after it well - I have photos of them posing proudly beside the geyser as it plays. Robert's generation largely devoted their lives to cutting down New Zealand's native trees. The kauri tree, in particular, is a superb native hardwood. It grows 20 metres high before the first branches start, and so it was prized for ship-building and especially for masts. Now there are not many kauri left but at least they are protected. There is a magnificent one up in the Waipoua Fo- rest, three hours drive north from where you live right now. Born before Christ, it stands over 50 metres tall and its trunk is the size of a house. It is called T ane Mahuta - God of the Forest. It attracts many tourists, and is part of a native reserve and eco-friendly. We're beginning to learn, as the generations go by. After Robert came Arthur, my own grandfather, of whom I have dim memories. He ran the farm at Wairakei in the early 20th century and tried to keep it 'sustainable'. He didn't use that word though, and certainly didn't know that, at the other end of his century, the world would turn sustainability into a global imperative. Wairakei is where my father was born, in 1907 - near- ly a century ago. There were, in those days, a billion and a half people on Earth. Today, in the year of your birth, four times that. When you are my age, six times that. The pressure of the global human population is remorseless. It is that, along with our over-consuming lifestyles, that is degrading the planet. My father's was the only pakeha family in the area, all the others being Maori. My father would go trout fishing by himself, barefoot, along the Waikato River just below the mighty Huka Falls. He loved the pristine, untamed beauty of the land. When he grew up, they sold the geothermal area to the Government which developed a power station from it. They tended to think it was renewable energy then but of course it has proved finite and not all that efficient either. And the government also de- veloped hydro-electricity everywhere along New Zealand's fast-flowing rivers. They had plans to damn the beautiful Aratiatia Rapids where my father used to fish. He formed the first environmental protest group, in the 1950s, against the idea. He used to travel to the capital, Wellington, for meetings with the Minister of Works. They had a lot of arguments. In the end there was a compromise where the rapids were damned but there was agreement at keeping a certain water level all the time. It's not too bad, and the tourists still like it, but it was never quite the same again and my father was permanently sad about it. Whenever we went back he would have a far-away look in his eyes, and he didn't go back so often either. When I was a boy I used to go fishing with my father in the big fresh-water lakes - Rotorua, Rotoiti, and T aupo - and Waitahanui River. That river was about as clean and pure as Earth offers, and is like that even today. Few people, lots of fresh rain, and a pumice upland that drains fast. There are places on this Earth still fit for the gods. When I became a young adult the green movement had started around the world, and we were all more environmentally con- scious than even in my father's day. Or so we thought. I remember speaking with David McTaggart once about his movement protesting the French atmospheric tests which spewed radioactive pollutants straight into the South Pacific skies. His Green- peace vessel had been boarded and he had been beaten up. Environmentalism - saving the planet - was becoming a serious, and dangerous, business. As the years passed I became increasingly conscious of the need to 'think globally and act locally'. I was attracted to the Gaia theory about the planet's homeostasis and the need for humans to live in harmony with it. I tried to ad- just my lifestyle to that. I am not sure what difference it has made because you are always a part of the broader economic grid. It's difficult to opt out completely. I have written books about the need to pursue the 'planetary interest' in sustainable develop- ment and environmental integrity. And I have traveled all around the world to attend meetings and conferences about these things. And yet I realize that the depletion of the ozone from all the planes that have flown me literally millions of kilometres perhaps charts up a net negative contribution on my part to helping to save the planet. It's complicated, modern living. But ozone depletion has come back to haunt me. Our Scottish cousins, along with their European and American counterparts, are principally causing the problem. We New Zealanders, along with our Australian and South American counterparts, are suf- fering the consequences. The ozone hole drifts north each southern spring from the Antarctic over our vulnerable national skies, and the melanoma rate shoots up. When I painted the roof of our cottage a decade ago my back went an unhealthy red in- stead of the wholesome brown I recall from my youth. New Zealand radio announces maximum exposure time each day and the schoolchildren wear caps and long sleeves where we did not. You will never know the care-free joy of Saturday sport and summer holidays without the spectre of a lethal skin-burn. Your father is like me, a hybrid. He is a natural environmentalist and he has thousands of young palm seedlings which he tends with great care. Yet when he was younger he drove off-road hill-buggies and jet-boats that over-consumed fossil fuels. We're (continued on page 14)

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 13 Review (“Open letter...” continued fr om page 13) all a mix when it comes to lifestyle and personal sustainable living. His generation must decide on genetic modification of food - an issue that matches productivity against prudence. His brother is environmentally conscious too. He recently made a film about climate change and denial. It showed a New Zealand family whose house became inundated with rising water but who kept living their day as if nothing was happening, watching the All Blacks playing rugby with the water rising around them. The film was shown at the Sundance Festival in Utah this year. I was proud of that and lucky to be in New York that very weekend. So I leapt on a plane and shot out to Utah to see it and to be with him. That depleted the ozone layer further. Should I not have gone? The plane was flying anyway. I was excited about his film and keen to see him. I see my sons only once a year or so. So, Mia, you see how it is. Deforestation, cattle-grazing, eco-tourism, species-protection, ozone-depletion, fossil-fuel consumption, genetic modification - seven issues for seven generations in one family wrestling with the challenge of treading lightly on the planet, a family that spread across its vast curvature until it reached the antipodes. No generation is more or less moral than another - we just tackle the changing dimensions of sustainable living as best we can. How to survive, how to be secure and happy, and yet pass the planet on, in as good a shape as once we found it. But, of course, that is not happening. You will not be very old before you become aware of how fast the planet is changing under human influence, and you will soon begin to ask yourself what you can do to help. Our fellow life-forms are dying out fast, including many in New Zealand. The forests are still being cut at an alarming rate, especially in the tropical countries. The planet cannot afford such deforesta- tion but it is hypocritical for rich countries to cry halt to the poor countries when they have spent the previous few centuries cutting down their own and don't change their lifestyles today. That's called inter-generational injustice - cross-spatial, cross- temporal - and it's a complex issue to sort out. Nor is it going away. One thing you can do, before you're very much older, and that is to start to think about all of this. I recently wrote an article about the need for a leadership ethic that requires us all to 'tread lightly on the planet'. I said that humans spend too much time fighting each other in the name of God and not enough learning how to nurture the planet. One of the problems is that we don't have many techniques for measuring just what we are doing to Earth. But there is a way of doing so that has been devised in recent years. It's called the 'ecological footprint' and it measures the amount of land you need to sustain yourself at the level of your current lifestyle. That footprint can be measured for yourself as an individual, your country as a nation and humanity as a species. The current estimate is that each human, on average, lea- ves a footprint of 2.8 hectares to live, and this is growing all the time. But with a finite amount of land and half our resources being finite, our global 'earthshare' per person is about 2.3 hectares and shrinking every day. So we are increasingly over-con- suming, ecologically borrowing forward - drawing down on credit from our children's ecological heritage. We are not leaving the planet as we found it, but rather for the worse, in a depleted state. I must say that, on behalf of my generation, I apologize to you, for that. I am not too sure what Marilyn and I can do to rectify what is a sad situation for you and your siblings and cousins to come. We plan to go home one day before long, onto Waiheke Island, and retire to our house there. We have ideas of rebuilding the house into a vision of the home we would like for ourselves, and we want it to be as eco-friendly as possible. Solar panels, grey water disposal, under-floor heating through a reverse-flow mechanism that extracts the natural heat from the ground. We'll grow much of our own food and live as lightly as we can in our daily habits. Just a small car, lots of walking and swimming. And SRI - socially-responsible investing. We'll try to make our marital footprint decently small at the end of our lives. And we'll hope that this can help. But even that is complicated. Should we just live in our modest little cottage as it stands today - and avoid the footprint of a refurbished house? Stay in our modern cave as it is right now? Stop the 'development clock'? By the time our plans are about to happen, you will be just old enough to talk with us about all this. You'll be perhaps five or six, and starting to think for yourself. How lightly can each generation tread during its respective time on Earth? Marilyn and I will look forward to our conversations with you - on behalf of Robert, seven generations back. I'm sure we'll have a lot to learn.

Love from Ken Kennedy Graham is Senior Fellow at United Nations University (UNU) in Bruges , Belgium and was Dir ector of the UNU Leadership Aca- demy, 1999 - 2002.

You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing what- ever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts. I learned very early the difference bet- ween knowing the name of something and knowing something.

Richard Feynman

14 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review pe opinions and have a positive effect on Environmental Policies in Europe the decision-making process. Access to by Commissioner Margot Wallstrom information and participation in deci- Environmental policy is one of the EU´s suc- The most recent EU Action Plan was sion-making is the cornerstones of an ef- cess stories. Over the last 30 years, major pro- launched to boost Environmental Tech- fective environmental policy. Without gress has been made in establishing a nologies for innovation, growth and su- the support of the citizens - and all sta- comprehensive framework of environmental stainable development. Although there keholders - we cannot succeed. Above all legislation and in ensuring that it is implemen- are still many barriers, including the it is the young people of today with their ted effectively throughout Europe. Thanks to complexity of switching from traditional energy and commitment, that we must li- EU environmental legislation, considerable to new technologies, and insufficient ac- sten to and involve in a continue dia- improvements have been made, for example, cess to capital, the Action Plan aims to logue on the current state and future in cleaning up the air that we breath or the qua- overcome these barriers through a con- challenges facing the environment. They lity of water in our rivers. But we still face ma- certed European effort to help maximi- are the ones that will face the conse- jor problems and in some areas the state of the se the potential of environmental tech- quences of my generation's ignorance environment is actually getting worse than nologies. and short-sightedness. The environment better. Sustainable development that ensures a is the legacy that we will leave them. healthy environment for future generations is Total rethink needed? the overriding objective. We still have a long way As environmental policy has developed, Enlargement of the European Union is to go before we achieve that goal. so too has the range of tools that policy- looming large on the horizon. An ex- European citizens are concerned about the sta- makers can use to implement it. New EU panded Community will bring with new te of their environment. Numerous surveys environmental legislation should continue challenges and opportunities. But above show the extent of that concern, an example to evolve and adapt to reflect this new ap- all, enlargement puts the spotlight, more of this being a Eurobarometer Flash survey proach to policy-making. But it is no lon- than ever before, on the need for effec- that was commissioned by the Commission ger enough to simply draw up new legis- tive environmental protection. and published in June 2002. The survey data lation and set ambitious targets; unless revealed that the vast majority of European there is broad consensus among policy- From Europe to the World citizens are worried about future trends in areas makers and stakeholders that the targets Ultimately though, sustainable develop- like environment and health, nature and wild- are feasible and cost effective and that ment is a global challenge that needs con- life protection, waste and climate change. T hey their implementation can be effectively certed international action to find long are convinced that the state of the environment monitored, those policy targets will re- term solutions. The World Summit of Su- is the greatest single factor that impacts most main tantalisingly out of reach. In other stainable development in Johannesburg upon the quality of life. Those surveyed also words, our traditional approach to pro- provided a golden opportunity for all the feel that public policy-makers should consider tecting the environment needs a total re- parties to redouble their efforts, driven environmental policy as important as the other think if it is to produce the results that on by strengthened commitment to glo- two pillars of sustainable development, name- are so urgently needed. We need a broad bal co-operation. Europe must provide ly economic and social policy. range of innovative instruments to international leadership, just as it has tackle ever more diffuse sources of pres- done with the Kyoto process. Public concern as obligation: sure on the environment. We must pro- What we wanted above all to emerge af- The EAP'S vide industry consumers or transport ter the Johannesburg Summit was a set of As Environmental Commissioner I am users with a real incentive to change their ambitious but realistic targets and a encouraged to see how so many Euro- behaviour. strong political commitment to an action pean citizens clearly demand increased A greater emphasis on the environmen- plan that can deliver concrete results to environmental protection. By introducing tal component of the sustainable deve- which we can be held accountable. The new approaches to environmental policy- lopment equation can, notably, be achie- eradication of poverty and the promotion making, as outlined in the 6th Environ- ved by actively involving all sections of of sustainable consumption and produc- mental Action Plan (6th EAP), we are civil society, particularly the younger ge- tion patterns are the overriding objective. now much better placed to achieve that neration, in all stages of the policy-ma- We share the views, expressed by the UN main objective of ensuring a sustainable king process and by harnessing their Secretary General Kofi Annan, that wa- future for generations to come. If we are commitment. ter, energy, health, and bio-diversity are to achieve this aim we must recognise the Ensuring the integration of environ- the major priorities that we must pursue. close interrelations between the environ- mental concerns into other policy areas In addition, the question of good gover- ment and social and economic develop- like transport, energy, agriculture, fishe- nance both at national and international ment. ries and industry is a key ingredient in level has to be addressed. Within this The 6th EAP, which puts forward a series achieving sustainable development. I context, the EU will pay special attention of actions that must be met by 2010, tar- would also like to emphasise that we need to and provide strong support for the ef- gets the resolution of persistent envi- to develop instruments to promote gre- forts that the African countries themsel- ronmental problems in four priority ater environmental awareness and com- ves are making to achieve sustainable de- areas: climate change, nature and bio-di- mitment amongst the business commu- velopment. versity, environment and health and wa- nity, as well as citizens. ste. The programme emphasises the need Mar got Wallstr öm is Member of for a new approach to policy-making that Pivotal role of the youth! the European Commission r e- is based on a broader participation and Better quality and easily accessible infor- sponsible for Environment. dialogue with all sections of civil society. mation on the environment will help sha-

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 15 Review The Making of the Earth Charter by Ruud Lubbers It started in the 1960s. I had young chil- a participant I recall very clearly the ama- my work in the Independent Commission dren and was living in Rotterdam. Du- zement of us politicians about the mas- on the Oceans, and this continued when ring those years, I observed in my garden sive and active presence of the NGOs I became the International President of how things became filthy quickly becau- there. the World Wildlife Fund. se of the pollution caused by the chemi- These NGOs made a strong plea to con- From 1994 and for about seven years, the cal industry. I heard from my parents solidate the new paradigm on the relation Earth Charter in the making was discus- how youngsters used to swim in the river. between nature and mankind in order not sed almost endlessly with all sorts of ci- This was already history as all the fish had to give in any longer to brutal exploita- vil society representatives. It was not ea- vanished. As a young father, this started tion and exhausting "Mother Earth" by sy to find the exact wording. There are to irritate me. creating an Earth Charter. so many different cultural and religious That was still the notion and Maurice traditions; and of course it was important In fact, my first job in local politics was Strong made it clear that one could not to conclude with a document that reflec- related to this. Then in 1970, I read the derail the practical dimensions of the ted the richness of and respect for all Limits of Growths of the Club of Rome. agenda in Rio de Janeiro by this initiati- these traditions. But we succeeded and Therefore when I became responsible for ve. At the same time, he promised the from there on, the work started to let it economic affairs and energy from 1970 NGOs to work on this after the con- function in the efforts of so many indi- to 1973, the concept of selective growth ference. And so he did. He installed an vidual and institutions who are working was obvious for me. Earth Council with an agenda and the on a just and sustainable future of man- making of an Earth Charter was a pro- kind. In the 1980s, when I had become Prime minent point. Minister, after my first term in office I was still Prime Minister of the Nether- The Earth Charter is now in place to sup- which has basically been about sound lands when a few years later friends of port all sorts of efforts as called upon in economics, I decided to devote more at- Mikhail Gorbachev, supporting him in his the Earth Charter; and the Earth Charter tention to the environment. This time, "Green Cross" initiative, came to me with initiative itself is being supported more however, it was inclusive and for the a request for support as this "Green and more through endorsements, not on- whole country. Cross" movement had, as well, an inte- ly of individuals and civil society organi- This resulted, in 1989, in the first com- rest in a similar ethical initiative as the sations but also of local governments in prehensive green plan. This was also the one Maurice Strong had begun. For me, all parts of the world. An important step first time that the coalition ended through it made sense to bring both together and towards the widespread use of the Earth a political crisis on the dimensions to I did so in The Hague. Since then, there Charter in education is the recent deci- prioritise the environment. are two godfathers of the Earth Charter, sion of UNESCO to integrate the Earth As we started as Ministers at the same Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev. Charter in the UN Decade of Education time and we were of the same age, I had After I left office in 1994, I entered the for Sustainable Development (2005- become a good friend of Gro Harlem Earth Charter Commission. 2015). Brundtland who in Our Common Futur e in- These days, I am the United Nations troduced sustainable growth as a new am- I speak now from the mid-1990s. High Commissioner for Refugees. This bition. My interest increased further through my is a rather specialised area of concern of It led to an international meeting in The activities as a part-time Professor of Glo- people for people but even here I am en- Hague. Upon the initiative of Michel Ro- balisation. Indeed, the ethical framework couraged by the Earth Charter initiative. card, the then Prime Minister of France, was needed to underpin the interconnec- Gro Harlem Brundtland and me, the De- ted efforts to realise a more just and su- Mr. Ruud Lubbers is the former claration of T he Hague was produced. stainable future. It became clear that dif- Dutch Prime Minister and cur- This document functioned as the first ferent dimensions were very much con- rently the United Nations High draft for the agenda for the Earth Sum- nected. My knowledge and interest in the Commissioner for Refugees mit in Rio de Janeiro. The Earth Sum- more limited dimension of sustainable mit was chaired by Maurice Strong and as development was further supported by

Introduction: pendence and shared responsibility for In 1987, the United Nations World Com- The Earth Charter is a declaration of the well-being of the human family and mission on Environment and Develop- fundamental principles for building a just, the larger living world. It is an expres- ment issued a call for creation of a new sustainable, and peaceful global society in sion of hope and a call to help create a charter that would set forth fundamental the 21st century. It seeks to inspire in all global partnership at a critical juncture in principles for sustainable deve- peoples a new sense of global interde- history. (continued on page 17)

16 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Earth Charter...” continued fr om page 16) PREAMBLE changes are needed in our values, insti- lopment. The drafting of an Earth Char- We stand at a critical moment in Earth's tutions, and ways of living. We must re- ter was part of the unfinished business of history, a time when humanity must alize that when basic needs have been the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. In 1994, choose its future. As the world becomes met, human development is primarily Maurice Strong, the secretary general of increasingly interdependent and fragile, about being more, not having more. We the Earth Summit and chairman of the the future at once holds great peril and have the knowledge and technology to Earth Council, and Mikhail Gorbachev, great promise. To move forward we provide for all and to reduce our impacts president of Green Cross International, must recognize that in the midst of a on the environment. The emergence of launched a new Earth Charter Initiative magnificent diversity of cultures and life a global civil society is creating new op- with support from the Dutch govern- forms we are one human family and one portunities to build a democratic and hu- ment. An Earth Charter Commission was Earth community with a common desti- mane world. Our environmental, eco- formed in 1997 to oversee the project ny. We must join together to bring forth nomic, political, social, and spiritual and an Earth Charter Secretariat was esta- a sustainable global society founded on challenges are interconnected, and toge- blished in Costa Rica. respect for nature, universal human ther we can forge inclusive solutions. The Earth Charter is the product of a de- rights, economic justice, and a culture of cade long, worldwide, cross-cultural con- peace. Towards this end, it is imperative Universal Responsibility versation about common goals and sha- that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our To realize these aspirations, we must de- red values. The drafting of the Earth responsibility to one another, to the grea- cide to live with a sense of universal re- Charter involved the most open and par- ter community of life, and to future ge- sponsibility, identifying ourselves with the ticipatory consultation process ever con- nerations. whole Earth community as well as our lo- ducted in connection with an internatio- cal communities. We are at once citizens nal document. Thousands of individuals Earth, Our Home of different nations and of one world in and hundreds of organizations from all Humanity is part of a vast evolving which the local and global are linked. regions of the world, different cultures, universe. Earth, our home, is alive Everyone shares responsibility for the and diverse sectors of society have par- with a unique community of life. The present and future well-being of the hu- ticipated. The Charter has been shaped forces of nature make existence a deman- man family and the larger living world. by both experts and representatives of ding and uncertain adventure, but Earth The spirit of human solidarity and kin- grassroots communities. It is a people's has provided the conditions essential to ship with all life is strengthened when we treaty that sets forth an important ex- life's evolution. The resilience of the live with reverence for the mystery of pression of the hopes and aspirations of community of life and the well-being of being, gratitude for the gift of life, and the emerging global civil society. humanity depend upon preserving a humility regarding the human place in na- The ethical vision presented in the Earth healthy biosphere with all its ecological ture. Charter recognizes that the pressing is- systems, a rich variety of plants and ani- We urgently need a shared vision of ba- sues of our times are not isolated pro- mals, fertile soils, pure waters, and clean sic values to provide an ethical founda- blems that can be addressed by piece- air. The global environment with its fini- tion for the emerging world community. meal decision-making. Rather, they are te resources is a common concern of all Therefore, together in hope we affirm the interconnected phenomena demanding peoples. The protection of Earth's vi- following interdependent principles for a integrated solutions based upon a com- tality, diversity, and beauty is a sacred sustainable way of life as a common stan- mon ethical framework. The Earth Char- trust. dard by which the conduct of all indivi- ter argues the need for sustainable paths duals, organizations, businesses, govern- of development that ensure ecological in- The Global Situation ments, and transnational institutions is to tegrity together with social and economic The dominant patterns of production be guided and assessed. justice. Sustainable living also means and consumption are causing environ- building a culture of tolerance, nonvio- mental devastation, the depletion of re- PRINCIPLES lence, and peace. The Earth Charter pro- sources, and a massive extinction of spe- vides a new framework for thinking cies. Communities are being under- I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE about and addressing the critical chal- mined. The benefits of development are COMMUNITY OF LIFE lenges facing humanity in the decades not shared equitably and the gap between ahead. rich and poor is widening. Injustice, po- 1. Respect Earth and life in all its The vision of the Earth Charter will be verty, ignorance, and violent conflict are diversity. implemented only to the extent that in- widespread and the cause of great suffe- a. Recognize that all beings are interde- dividuals, communities, organizations ring. An unprecedented rise in human pendent and every form of life has and governments accept responsibility population has overburdened ecological value regardless of its worth to hu- for helping to bring about a more sustai- and social systems. The foundations of man beings. nable way of living. All players and sec- global security are threatened. These b. Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of tors have vital roles to play, with those in trends are perilous-but not inevitable. all human beings and in the intellec- positions of affluence and power carry- tual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual po- ing a special burden of responsibility. At The Challenges Ahead tential of humanity. a time when major changes in how we The choice is ours: form a global part- (continued on page 18) think and live are urgently needed, the nership to care for Earth and one ano- You must be the change you wish to Earth Charter challenges us to examine ther or risk the destruction of ourselves see in the world. our values and to choose a better way. and the diversity of life. Fundamental Mahatma Gandhi

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 17 Review (“Earth Charter...” continued fr om page 17) d. Control and eradicate non-native or standards. genetically modified organisms harm- e. Ensure universal access to health 2. Care for the community of life ful to native species and the environ- care that fosters reproductive health with understanding, compassion, ment, and prevent introduction of and responsible reproduction. and love. such harmful organisms. f. Adopt lifestyles that emphasize the a. Accept that with the right to own, ma- e. Manage the use of renewable resour- quality of life and material sufficien- nage, and use natural resources comes ces such as water, soil, forest pro- cy in a finite world. the duty to prevent environmental ducts, and marine life in ways that do harm and to protect the rights of not exceed rates of regeneration and 8. Advance the study of ecological people. that protect the health of eco- sustainability and promote the b. Affirm that with increased freedom, systems. open exchange and wide appli- knowledge, and power comes in- f. Manage the extraction and use of cation of the knowledge acqui- creased responsibility to promote the non-renewable resources such as mi- red. common good. nerals and fossil fuels in ways that mi- a. Support international scientific and nimize depletion and cause no serious technical cooperation on sustainabili- 3. Build democratic societies that environmental damage. ty, with special attention to the needs are just, participatory, sustaina- of developing nations. ble, and peaceful. 6. Prevent harm as the best method b. Recognize and preserve the traditional a. Ensure that communities at all levels of environmental protection and, knowledge and spiritual wisdom in all guarantee human rights and funda- when knowledge is limited, ap- cultures that contribute to environ- mental freedoms and provide every- ply a precautionary approach. mental protection and human well- one an opportunity to realize his or a. Take action to avoid the possibility of being. her full potential. serious or irreversible environmental b. Promote social and economic justice, harm even when scientific knowledge III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUS- enabling all to achieve a secure and is incomplete or inconclusive. TICE meaningful livelihood that is ecologi- b. Place the burden of proof on those cally responsible. who argue that a proposed activity 9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, will not cause significant harm, and social, and environmental imper- 4. Secure Earth's bounty and beau- make the responsible parties liable for ative. ty for present and future genera- environmental harm. a. Guarantee the right to potable water, tions. c. Ensure that decision making addres- clean air, food security, uncontamina- a. Recognize that the freedom of action ses the cumulative, long-term, indi- ted soil, shelter, and safe sanitation, of each generation is qualified by the rect, long distance, and global conse- allocating the national and internatio- needs of future generations. quences of human activities. nal resources required. b. Transmit to future generations values, d. Prevent pollution of any part of the b. Empower every human being with traditions, and institutions that sup- environment and allow no build-up of the education and resources to secu- port the long-term flourishing of radioactive, toxic, or other hazardous re a sustainable livelihood, and pro- Earth's human and ecological com- substances. vide social security and safety nets for munities. e. Avoid military activities damaging to those who are unable to support the environment. themselves. In order to fulfill these four broad c. Recognize the ignored, protect the commitments, it is necessary to: 7. Adopt patterns of production, vulnerable, serve those who suffer, consumption, and reproduction and enable them to develop their ca- II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY that safeguard Earth's regenera- pacities and to pursue their aspira- tive capacities, human rights, tions. 5. Protect and restore the integrity and community well-being. of Earth's ecological systems, a. Reduce, reuse, and recycle the mate- 10. Ensure that economic activities with special concern for biologi- rials used in production and con- and institutions at all levels pro- cal diversity and the natural pro- sumption systems, and ensure that re- mote human development in an cesses that sustain life. sidual waste can be assimilated by eco- equitable and sustainable man- a. Adopt at all levels sustainable deve- logical systems. ner. lopment plans and regulations that b. Act with restraint and efficiency when a. Promote the equitable distribution of make environmental conservation and using energy, and rely increasingly on wealth within nations and among na- rehabilitation integral to all develop- renewable energy sources such as so- tions. ment initiatives. lar and wind. b. Enhance the intellectual, financial, b. Establish and safeguard viable nature c. Promote the development, adoption, technical, and social resources of de- and biosphere reserves, including wild and equitable transfer of environ- veloping nations, and relieve them of lands and marine areas, to protect mentally sound technologies. onerous international debt. Earth's life support systems, maintain d. Internalize the full environmental and c. Ensure that all trade supports sustai- biodiversity, and preserve our natural social costs of goods and services in nable resource use, environmental heritage. the selling price, and enable consu- protection, and progressive labor c. Promote the recovery of endangered mers to identify products that meet standards. (continued on page 19) species and ecosystems. the highest social and environmental

18 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Earth Charter...” continued fr om page 18) ceive clear and timely information on tion among all peoples and within d. Require multinational corporations environmental matters and all deve- and among nations. and international financial organiza- lopment plans and activities which b. Implement comprehensive strategies tions to act transparently in the pu- are likely to affect them or in which to prevent violent conflict and use blic good, and hold them accounta- they have an interest. collaborative problem solving to ma- ble for the consequences of their ac- b. Support local, regional and global ci- nage and resolve environmental con- tivities. vil society, and promote the mean- flicts and other disputes. ingful participation of all interested c. Demilitarize national security systems 11. Affirm gender equality and equi- individuals and organizations in deci- to the level of a non-provocative de- ty as prerequisites to sustainable sion making. fense posture, and convert military development and ensure uni- c. Protect the rights to freedom of opi- resources to peaceful purposes, inclu- versal access to education, nion, expression, peaceful assembly, ding ecological restoration. health care, and economic op- association, and dissent. d. Eliminate nuclear, biological, and to- portunity. d. Institute effective and efficient access xic weapons and other weapons of a. Secure the human rights of women to administrative and independent mass destruction. and girls and end all violence against judicial procedures, including reme- e. Ensure that the use of orbital and them. dies and redress for environmental outer space supports environmental b. Promote the active participation of harm and the threat of such harm. protection and peace. women in all aspects of economic, e. Eliminate corruption in all public and f. Recognize that peace is the whole- political, civil, social, and cultural private institutions. ness created by right relationships life as full and equal partners, deci- f. Strengthen local communities, enab- with oneself, other persons, other sion makers, leaders, and beneficiar- ling them to care for their environ- cultures, other life, Earth, and the lar- ies. ments, and assign environmental res- ger whole of which all are a part. c. Strengthen families and ensure the ponsibilities to the levels of govern- safety and loving nurture of all family ment where they can be carried out members. most effectively. THE WAY FORWARD

12. Uphold the right of all, without 14. Integrate into formal education As never before in history, common de- discrimination, to a natural and and life-long learning the know- stiny beckons us to seek a new begin- social environment supportive of ledge, values, and skills needed ning. Such renewal is the promise of human dignity, bodily health, for a sustainable way of life. these Earth Charter principles. To fulfill and spiritual well-being, with a. Provide all, especially children and this promise, we must commit ourselves special attention to the rights of youth, with educational opportunities to adopt and promote the values and ob- indigenous peoples and minori- that empower them to contribute ac- jectives of the Charter. ties. tively to sustainable development. a. Eliminate discrimination in all its b. Promote the contribution of the This requires a change of mind and forms, such as that based on race, co- arts and humanities as well as the heart. It requires a new sense of global lor, sex, sexual orientation, religion, sciences in sustainability education. interdependence and universal respon- language, and national, ethnic or so- c. Enhance the role of the mass media sibility. We must imaginatively develop cial origin. in raising awareness of ecological and and apply the vision of a sustainable way b. Affirm the right of indigenous peo- social challenges. of life locally, nationally, regionally, and ples to their spirituality, knowledge, d. Recognize the importance of moral globally. Our cultural diversity is a pre- lands and resources and to their re- and spiritual education for sustain- cious heritage and different cultures will lated practice of sustainable liveli- able living. find their own distinctive ways to realize hoods. the vision. We must deepen and expand c. Honor and support the young people the global dialogue that generated the of our communities, enabling them 15.Treat all living beings with res- Earth Charter, for we have much to learn to fulfill their essential role in crea- pect and consideration. from the ongoing collaborative search for ting sustainable societies. a. Prevent cruelty to animals kept in hu- truth and wisdom. d. Protect and restore outstanding pla- man societies and protect them from Life often involves tensions between im- ces of cultural and spiritual signifi- suffering. portant values. This can mean difficult cance. b. Protect wild animals from methods choices. However, we must find ways to of hunting, trapping, and fishing that harmonize diversity with unity, the exer- IV. DEMOCRACY, NON-VIOLENCE, cause extreme, prolonged, or avoi- cise of freedom with the common good, AND PEACE dable suffering. short-term objectives with long-term c. Avoid or eliminate to the full extent goals. Every individual, family, organi- 13. Strengthen democratic institu- possible the taking or destruction of zation, and community has a vital role to tions at all levels, and provide non-targeted species. play. The arts, sciences, religions, edu- transparency and accountability cational institutions, media, businesses, in governance, inclusive partici- 16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nongovernmental organizations, and go- pation in decision making, and nonviolence, and peace. vernments are all called to offer creative access to justice. a. Encourage and support mutual un- leadership. The partnership of govern- a. Uphold the right of everyone to re- derstanding, solidarity, and coopera- (continued on page 20)

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 19 Review (“Earth Charter...” continued fr om page 19) the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, ment, civil society, and business is essen- the quickening of the struggle for justi- tial for effective governance. ce and peace, and the joyful celebration In order to build a sustainable global of life. community, the nations of the world History is the version of past events must renew their commitment to the U- For more information: that people have decided to agree nited Nations, fulfill their obligations un- Earth Charter International Secretariat upon. der existing international agreements, and PO Box 138-6100, San José, support the implementation of Earth Costa Rica Napoleon Bonaparte Charter principles with an international Tel: + 506 205 9060 legally binding instrument on environ- Fax: + 506 249 31929 ment and development. Email: [email protected] Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, Online: www.earthcharter.org United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development by Sebastian Klüsener in cooperation with To ensure an effective follow-up of the programme plans and sessions connected in the official CSD meeting in the 2004 United Nations Conference on Environ- to it. In the second year, the "Policy session. The partnership fair provides a ment and Development 1992 in Rio de Year", it decides upon measures to speed venue for showcasing progress in exist- Janeiro the United Nations Commission up implementation and mobilize action ing partnerships for Sustainable Deve- on Sustainable Development (CSD) was to overcome obstacles and constraints, lopment, launching new partnerships created. It is a functional commission of and build on lessons learned. and networking among existing and po- the UN Economic and Social Council. For the CSD it is very important to ge- tential partners. It gives participants the The main tasks of the CSD are to moni- nerate a broad based participation in su- opportunity to network, create synergies tor and report on implementation of the stainable development. Therefore, it aims between partnerships, identify new part- Earth Summit and to follow-up meeting to increase the involvement of so called ners and funding sources, and learn agreements such as the Agenda 21 (1992) major groups in sustainable development from each other's experiences. The lear- or the Johannesburg Plan of Implemen- efforts at the UN and around the world. ning centre aims to teach and train at a tation (2002) at the local, national, re- These major groups have been identified practical level on various aspects of su- gional and international levels. The CSD by the Earth Summit 1992 as Youth, Wo- stainable developments. Participants also plays an important role in the pre- men, Indigenous Peoples, Non-Govern- should be enabled to implement the paration of the review summits which ta- ment Organisations, Local Authorities, Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of ke place every five years. The commis- Trade Unions, Business, Scientific and Implementation in their home countries sion meets once a year in spring, in April Technical Communities as well as Far- more effectively. Apart from the main an- 2004 its 12th session took place. mers. Already at the 2002World Summit nual CSD-session a number of expert Since 2004 the CSD functions on the ba- on Sustainable Development in Johan- group meetings, seminars, workshops sis of two year "Implementation Cycles", nesburg major groups were integrated in- and other consultation opportunities are each cycle focussing on a key thematic to the intergovernmental process organised throughout the year. Since this cluster of issues. For 2004 and 2005 it through new approaches and formats of years session, they also include five re- concentrates on water, sanitation and hu- participation, as they were present in gional implementation meetings organi- man settlements, while the next cycle will high-level roundtables, expert panels and zed by the respective UN Regional Com- deal with energy for sustainable deve- partnership initiatives. Major groups had missions. These are especially important lopment, industrial development, air pol- as well been involved at the 12th session for major groups that do not operate at lution and climatic change. Additionally, of the CSD in April 2004 in the various the global, but on a regional or sub-re- in each cycle around twelve cross-cutting activities planned throughout the offici- gional level. A calendar of events and a issues are used to tackle the agenda. In al session, including a multi-stakeholder guide about major group participation the current one these are among others dialogue within the high-level segment. are available on the CSD web page. topics such as poverty eradication, gen- The CSD-session does traditionally not der equality and education. In the first only include the official session, but also Website of UN Commission for year of this implementation cycle, the so numerous side events organised by major Sustainable Development: www.un. called "Review Year", the commission groups taking place in UN meetings org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd.htm evaluates progress made in implementing rooms outside the regular meetings times. sustainable development commitments For the first time a partnership fair and Sebastian Klüsener is a PhD student, cur rently agreed upon in the Agenda 21 and other a learning centre have been incorporated living in the Ukraine.

20 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review book reviews book reviews book reviews question Laslett deals with issues such as a Peter Laslett, James S . Fishkin(eds): Justice betw een Contents Book Reviews contract between removed generations and Age Groups and Generations, Yale University trust between overlapping generations, Press 1992, 243 pages, ISBN 0-300-05073-9 Peter Laslett and James S. Fishkin which can also be seen as the difference bet- (eds.), Justice betw een Age Groups and ween an intergenerational contract and intragenerational trust. He goes on to list Generations 21 Bruce E. Auerbach, the advantages and disadvantages of thin- Bruce E. Auerbach, Unto the thousandth Ge- Unto the thousandth Generation: king of justice over time in terms of a con- neration: Conceptualizing Conce ptualiz ing Inter generational tract. Interesting and typical also of the Justice 21 Intergenerational Justice other articles in the book is the practical ap- Reviewer: Maarten Malczak Andrew Dobson, plication in the form of real life examples. Gr een Political Thought 22 Another interesting article is written by Ge- "And showing mercy un- orge Sher. Sher argues that it is right to com- to the thousandth generation Paul Wallace, Agequake: Riding the Demographic pensate for the wrongs of the past. This of them that love Me and Rollercoaster / Shaking Business, shows that intergenerational justice is not keep My command- Finance and our World 23 only concerned with future generations, but ments." So it is written in O'Neill, John, R. K erry Turner also with past generations. Sher goes back the Old Testament. At and Ian J. Bateman (eds.), a long way in history and argues that ancient first it seems rather odd Environmental Ethics and Philosophy 23 wrongs should als be compensated for. He to adopt parts of a bibli- Palmer, Joy A., David E. Cooper claims that we should do our best to right cal remark for a book title which tries, as and Peter Blaze Corcoran (eds.), history`s wrongs. Once more the examples outlined in the subheading, to conceptuali- Fifty Key Thinkers on the used, do much to clarify these, at first glan- se Intergenerational Justice. But as one can Environment 24 ce, difficult concepts. already expect, the title of Bruce E. Auer- Lastly, the article by Jonathan Glover looks bach's book is not chosen accidently. By de- Peter Laslett and James S. Fishkin (eds.), at the ethical questions that come up when fining his topic as inter generational justice he Justice between Age deciding if we should aim for normal ba- tries to develop a theoretical framework Groups and Generations bies, rather than those with disabilities. It is which will make it possible to judge policies, Reviewer: Diederik van Iwaarden a difficult question. Of course, there are ma- that might even affect the thousandth fol- ny examples where disabled persons live lowing generation, whether they are inter- In this volume, part of an ongoing series happy and fruitful lives even though doctors generationally just or not. Furthermore, the entitled Philosophy, Politics and Society, the have predicted otherwise. However, with to- assembling of the book is in a way chro- editors Peter Laslett and James S. Fishkin days technology we are capable of seeing di- nological and the beginning gives another have put together interesting, wide ranging, sability at a very early stage in pregnancy, hint to book title. In the early chapters of sometimes rather difficult articles on the im- when abortion is still an option. In this way the book the reader learns that the modern portant theme of justice over time. The re- we are able to directly influence future ge- understanding of intergenerational justice is alisation that the idea of justice over time in nerations (even to the extent that we can de- rooted, besides ancient Greek influences, in combination with the concept of genera- cide who will be part of that future gene- the Bible. tions is a recent phenomenon in Western ration) in a way not possible before. In a For both, Hellenic and Hebrew traditions, thought all the more increases the relevan- clear and involved manner Glover goes the well being of the community is the pi- ce of this collection of articles. To give an through many of the moral issues concer- votal idea, while the well being is closely lin- impression of the sort of articles that are in- ning disability, screening and he uses philo- ked to the obligation of acting just within cluded in the volume, the content of a few sophical theories to strengthen his argu- an intergenerational community. Hence, un- of the articles will be shortly summarized. ments. just actions would lead unavoidably to a di- The first article by Peter Laslett deals with All the articles demonstrate a good theore- sturbance of the community and conse- the question if something like a generatio- tical basis. This, however, does make many quently have negative influences on present nal contract exists. In answering this rather difficult for readers who are not used and future generations. to scientific literature or who are not fami- This concept is taken up and further deve- Support us! liar with the central themes. The intended loped by Burke1 who argues that present ge- Become a member of FRFG today readers of the book are therefore mainly fel- nerations have moral obligations towards and support us in working towards low scientists and students. future generations. intergenerational justice. As a mem- Common to all articles is the use of exam- As Auerbach identifies, most of the con- ber you are invited to all open mee- ples and the application of the theory to temporary approaches have similar as- tings of the Board of Directors and current issues. This clarifies the difficult sumptions regarding the understanding of the Board of Trustees. The mini- concepts to a great extent and also demon- intergenerational justice. Firstly, it is widely mum annual contribution is 50 €, and strates the relevance of the topics discus- accepted that our action have an influence only 25 € for those under thirty years. sed. The issues raised can be said to be at on future persons. Furthermore we have se- You will receive our magazine Ge- the heart of all moral debates in modern so- condly a choice to determine our "courses nerational Justice! four times a year. ciety. of action based on their moral preferabili- Complete and send us the member- Finally, this work can also be recommended ty". Realizing that we have an obligation to ship form on the last page of this because of its wide range of issues. Al- future generations is identified as third as- magazine today! Your children and though each article deals with the central sumption. grandchildren might be grateful. theme of justice over time, each article does (continued on page 22) so in a completely different and unique way.

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 21 Review book reviews book reviews book reviews (“Unto the Thousandth...” continued fr om page 21) of the book is sometimes a bit long-winded growth' principle means that ecologists ac- Outgoing from these theoretical back- and tenacious, the end impresses with po- tively call for less consumption. Do we grounds Auerbach turns his attention to is- inted statement. Such as the beginning of really need all the commodities we produ- sues that in his opinion are inadequately ad- the conclusion, in which he emphasises that ce in our society? The belief that less con- dressed in today's literature concerning "it is not enough to understand how we sumption would put less of a burden on the intergenerational issues. These are identified ought to act (intergenerationally just), we earths finite resources also forms the basis as firstly, the ethical questions which stem must actually act that way!" This is an ap- for ecologists active lobbying for population from our ability to determine the size of fu- peal that FRFG obviously strongly sup- control. The idea here being: less people ture generations. Examples on a personal ports. Not only for this reason the book is means less consumption. level are the decision of a couple to be- highly recommendable. The second basic principle of ecologism is come another child, even though it might its anti-anthropocentric standpoint. Our so- be unfavourable for the family's wealth or 1 Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in ciety is largely anthropocentric meaning we genetic screening which might result in an France. New York:Bobbs-Mer rill,1955. are predominantly concerned with our abortion. On a national level such question own interests at the expense of the interests might arise when governments try to con- Bruce E. Auerbach: Unto the Thousandth Gene- of the non-human world. This has resul- trol birth rates, like the People's Republic of ration Conce ptualiz ing Inter generational Justice, ted in the ecological crisis we find ourselves Peter Lang 1995, 269 pages, China does. Secondly the affects on future ISBN 0-8204-2228-2 in today, which includes problems such as people's identities and the obligations we deforestation, climate change and pollution. owe to past generations. In order to illus- Changing our anthropocentric society trate his answers he enters shaky grounds, means a major change in human conscious- for instances as he uses the catastrophe of Andrew Dobson, ness. We should not only do something the Holocaust to address the "missing vic- Green Political Thought good for the environment because this is tim" problem in the intergenerational con- (Third Edition, London and New good for us, but we should do so because text. If the only focus is set on the exter- York, 2000) the non-human world has intrinsic value, a minated victims of the death-camps, the Reviewer: Diederik van Iwaarden. value independent of us humans. Holocaust cannot be judged as intergene- The green movement is well established The two basic principles demonstrate the rationally unjust. Those who never were in our society and is also able to make its radical change ecologism seeks to achieve, born due to the Holocaust show the effect presence felt in parliamentary politics. something that the general public is not of actions taken in the past which still How-ever, the green movement that we, aware of. Therein lies one of the main pro- have an influence today and in the future. the general public, are able to observe, blems of ecologism. Implementing ecolo- As Auerbach correctly identifies the Holo- whether it be local recycling projects or gism will not be easy. Dobson shows the caust was undoubtedly criminal in interge- direct action taken by organisations such different strategies that may be and have nerational context, beside the obvious as Greenpeace, is based on social and po- been used to implement ecologism, but it is harm done to those exterminated, because litical ideas which are often unknown to open for discussion which road to take to it was clearly aimed at the prevention of the us. It is these ideas that Andrew Dobson achieve ecologisms goal of a post industri- existence of future people. aims to present in his book Green Poli- al, sustainable society. Also the usage of three nuclear war scena- tical Thought. Dobson has given a broad, but in depth in- rios to distinguish our concerns for indivi- For the author these ideas are not random- troduction to the major ideas of the green duals versus those for the human species is ly chosen, but together form the basis for movement giving its reader the chance to not an all days approach to such problems. the political ideology of ecologism. Accor- become acquainted with the social and po- But Auerbach is keeping the track and thus ding to Dobson a political ideology must litical ideas behind the movement. The au- these examples are extremely helpful for the fulfil the following three criteria: First, a po- thor was able to clearly set the discussion reader to deal with these contentious issues, litical ideology must provide an analytical surrounding certain issues. Whereby some- even though one might come to other so- description of the present society. Second, times his own opinion was able to shine lutions. it must provide an idea of what society through, however more often this was not Finally, all his efforts lead to the conclu- ought to look like and finally it needs to the case. It sometimes seemed Dobson was sion, where he sets up four basic princi- show how to get from the present society undecided on what position to take on cer- ples which a theory of intergenerational to the envisaged society. Dobson argues tain issues. This however, can also be inter- justice must address in his view. Moreo- convincingly that ecologism meets these cri- preted as an open mind on issues that are ver he formulates a crystal-clear state- teria and therefore can be considered a po- still being defined and are continually evol- ment, in which he recognises that the litical ideology in its own right along with ving. ability of present generation to influen- other political ideologies such as socialism, Developments in this field of research do ce life of future generations is so eminent liberalism and conservatism. change rapidly. Ingolfur Blühdorn (Uni- that we have to treat them as "members T hen what does ecologism think of the pre- versity of Bath) has even gone so far as to of our moral community". sent society and what does ecologism en- speak of 'post ecologism': " The project of Auerbach's book is interesting and challen- visage for the future? Ecologism is, to say constructing ecologism as an ideology in its ging at the same time. While the beginning the least, very critical of our present socie- own right, and thereby providing a consi- ty. Dobson names two basic ecological prin- stent basis for the ecological restructuring ciples. The first is the principle that the of society, has not only failed-theoretically Peace is not God's gift to the human earth is finite and that therefore industrial as well as politically-but it has also become race, it is our gift to one another. growth on earth is limited. The way our in- outdated."1 This leads to the question is this dustrial society is growing and consuming (continued on page 23) Ellie Wiesel therefore cannot continue. This 'limits to

22 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review book reviews book reviews book reviews (“Green Political...” continued fr om page 22) the decline in mortality rates in the past de- makes it also possible for non-scientific book already outdated? The answer should cades. reader to approach this topic. He addres- be a resounding NO! The issues dealt with One can agree with Wallace that "immigra- ses popular topics, like as it seems in this in the book are still relevant today, maybe tion can only mitigate, not prevent ageing." context, the unavoidable Viagra example. even more so. Remains to be said that this It is impossible to immigrate for example 66 Altogether the book can be recommended book is highly recommended. million people into the United States from because it depicts the demographic pro- 2020 on to stop old age dependency. The blems of the future with its influences in Literature: number is inconceivable and accompanied many aspects. It depends on the reader if he 1) Ingolfur Blühdor n, "Post-Ecologism and the Po- by problems which a state cannot solve to- uses this book as a "survivor's guide " for litics of Simulation" day and it is unlikely whether this problem the upcoming events. It's a book for all peo- http://www.essex.ac.uk/ecpr/events/jointses- is solvable in the future. Even a country ple, "from City and Wall Street financiers to sions/paperarchive/turin/ws10/Bluhdorn.pdf like the United States, which traditionally private investors, from company chiefs to (2002)p3. has high numbers of immigrants will be ordinary workers, from government plan- swamped with this challenge. The new im- ners to citizens." Andrew Dobson: Green Political Thought 3rd ed., migration laws in the aftermath of 9/11 Routledge 2000, 230 pages, make it even more unrealistic for the USA Paul Wallace: The Agequake: Riding the Demo- ISBN 0-541-22203-6 (hbk) to find the answer of the demographic pro- graphic Rollercoaster Shaking Businnes, Finance blems in more immigration. and our World, Nicholas Brealey Publishing Lon- So how can one survive the upcoming age- don 2001, 266 pages, ISBN 1-85788-193-1 Paul Wallace quake? Wallace suggests that due to the Agequake: Riding the De- aging the whole economic system will be re- mographic Rollercoaster volutionized. In the past, the industries O'Neill, John, R. K erry Turner and Ian J. Shaking Business, Finan- which produced goods and services for Bateman (eds.) ce and our World young consumers were likely to yield a pro- Environmental Ethics fit, in the future it will be the other way and Philosophy Reviewer: Gerfried Zluga around (as one can see with the profits ma- The author of Agequake, de with Viagra). Therefore it might be use- From the back cover: Paul Wallace, describes ful to invest in products and services rela- 'Sustainability' and 'su- in his book upcoming ted to aging. The entire industrial and stainable development' have become key phra- events owing to the ri- post-industrial system has been built on cer- ses of the politics of the sing of the mean age of tain demographic assumptions of when we environment. They are at the world population in work, reproduce and retire. This is all chan- the centre of much envi- the twenty-first century. ging and Paul Wallace reports in his book ronmental discourse and He forecasts dramatical that we are not prepared yet. His explana- indeed of the series of repercussions that will rumble all aspects of tions are evident as one can see in the stag- which this collection is a part. This major our lives, like business, economies and the nant reformation of the social systems espe- volume brings together a number of recent finance system. In Wallace's opinion it will cially in Europe. papers that address the ethical and political affect everyone, from Wall Street financiers In Wallace' opinion certain countries like the assumptions that underlie different uses of to ordinary citizens. USA and England will retain its powers be- those concepts. In today's demography it is common sense cause of its relatively young population, al- The book opens with an examination of the concepts of equality and justice presuppo- that the population in western societies is so Ireland will do well. However others sed in discussions of sustainability. The fol- aging because of low birth rates. Wallace al- like Germany and Japan will be the losers lowing three sections consider justice and so acknowledges these facts and hence he because of " falling working-age popula- equality between generations, the moral tries to give a "survivor's guide to our new tions." Hence he derives the new world or- considerability of the non-human world and demographic future", in order to show pos- der which in his opinion will depend on the the often neglected topic of environmental sible solutions resulting from these deve- average age of the population. From the justice within current generations. After lopments. Therefore he combines "demo- economic point of view a young popula- consideration of recent arguments on mo- graphic projections about the age structure tion is more effective and innovative than an netary valuation of environmental goods, of populations with current patterns of ac- overaged. the final two sections of the book discuss tivity as they relate to age and cohort trends In an overaged population a generational the philosophical issues raised in the deba- in economic and social behavior." war is the likely future, especially where pen- tes between weak and strong conceptions of sustainability and the relation of sustaina- As we already have seen above the popula- sion schemes have not been reformed. In bility to nature conservation. tion pyramid is reversing, especially in the the West "the old will use their voting po- This volume will be an invaluable source of western nations. The pyramids that we wer to insist that younger workers fork out reference for scholars of environmental know today have a broadly based central to pay for their pensions. But the young will economics, environmental political theory, block but in the future this central block will resist with their economic power by pushing environmental ethics and geography, and all move up to the top of the pyramid. While up real wages for ser vices that the old have those concerned with the philosophical the ageing of populations takes rather long, to pay and evading contributions wherever foundations of sustainability. the impacts and consequences are dramatic. possible, so that the gap between the legiti- For a long time Europeans have not noti- mate and the black economy grows even wi- O'Neill, John, R. Kerry Tur ner and Ian J. Bate- ced the constantly rising mean age of the der." This affect is observable in its begin- man (eds): Envir onmental Ethics and Philosophy, population because of immigration, extra- nings already today. Edward Elgar Publishing 2001, 654 pages, ISBN ordinary high fertility rates in the 1960s and In a summery, Wallace uses a style which 1-84064221-1

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 23 Review book reviews book reviews book reviews Palmer, Joy A., David E. Cooper and Pe- ronmental matters, has assembled a team of • major religious and spiritual figures ter Blaze Corcoran (eds.). thirty-five expert contributors to summa- such as the Buddha and St Francis of Fifty Key Thinkers on the rize and analyse the thinking of fifty di- Assissi Environment verse and stimulating figures - from all over the world and from ancient times to the Lucid, scholarly and informative, these fif- From the back cover: present day. Among those included are: ty essays offer a fascinating overview of Fifty Key Thinkers on the mankind's view and understanding of the Environment is a unique • philosophers such as Rousseau, physical world. guide to environmental Spinoza and Heidegger thinking through the • activists such as Chico Mendes Palmer , Joy A., David E. Cooper and Peter Bla- ages. Joy. A .Palmer, her- • literary giants such as Virgil, Goethe ze Corcoran (eds): Fifty Key Thinkers on the En- self an important and and Wordsworth vironment, Routledge Key Guides 2001, prolific author on envi- ISBN 0-415-14698-4 (hbk)

Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters Youth for Intergenerational Justice and Mesarovic (Club of Rome), Prof. Dr. Dr. Contents Sustainability (YOIS). Radermacher (Club of Rome), Prof. Dr. Internal matters Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker (Club of What are our activities? A young think-tank presents itself 24 Rome), Lord Ralf Dahrendorf (UK FRFG takes action whenever the chances House of Lords) and Kennedy Graham Congress 2005 25 of succeeding generations are reduced by (UN University). Furthermore, an entre- measures of the current political estab- Congress 2005 Application form 27 preneurial with highly reputable members lishment. assist the work of FRFG. Call for Papers 29 FRFG organized several congresses, symposia and meetings, like the congress Awards Polish-German meeting 29 with 330 young decision makers from all FRFG received the Theodor-Heuss-Me- Volunteers Office 30 over Europe which took place at the dal and the Medal for Good Citizenship World Exhibition (EXPO) in Hanover of the town of Oberursel for its en- YOIS Europe 31 2000. It publishes books which are also gagement. Furthermore, FRFG is asso- A young think-tank understandable for non scientific readers ciated with United Nations Department (i.e. the Handbook "Generational Jus- of Public Information (DPI). presents itself tice") and issues policy papers, which We need you Who we are give precise recommendations or possi- We are always looking for people and or- The Founda- ble future scenarios. The main emphasis of work lays, among other things, on eco- ganizations that want to work with us on tion for the reasonable solutions for intergenerational Rights of Fu- logical policies, financial policies, the pension scheme, education policies, la- justice. You may become a member by jo- ture Genera- ining our association of supporters. On tions (FRFG) bor-market policies, youth policies and Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations policy of peace. Beside these activities demand we will be pleased to send you is a research more detailed information on FRFG. institute on the interface of science, po- the FRFG publishes a journal called "Ge- nerationengerechtigkeit", which reaches Please, contact us at [email protected] or vi- litics and the business world. In 1997, it sit our web page at www.srzg.de. was founded by a group of European many thousand of today's and future de- students that worried about the future cision makers (all German members of Parliament, numerous managers, journa- Join FRFG and make the world and wanted to promote intergenerational with us more generationally just! justice in terms of ecology and economy. lists and professors, 3000 students from To FRFG, intergenerational justice various fields of study). means that today's youth and future ge- Through the so called "Generational Jus- nerations must have at least the same op- tice Price", endowed with 8000 €, young portunities to meet their own needs as scientists are encouraged to take a close the generation governing today. Exam- look on issues concerning the future. ples for the discrimination of the suc- Numerous of politicians asked for ceeding generations are the unprece- FRFG's advice in questions concerning dented ecological destruction, the pen- Generational Justice, among them the sion crisis, the disenfranchisement of the German ministers for Work (Reform of young generation, youth unemployment the pension scheme), and the minister for and national indebtedness. FRFG aims to Justice (establishment of Generational provoke, challenge, and ultimately, sti- Justice in the German constitution). mulate politicians to recognise the rights Who supports us While we try to teach our children of future generations and to implement FRFG is supported by a scientific advi- all about life, our children teach us what life is all about. measures to protect these. In this sense, sory council that comprises distinguished FRFG conceives campaigns in close col- personalities like Prof. Dr. Mihajlo laboration with its sister organisation, Angela Schwindt

24 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters (“Ecological Generational...” continued fr om page 1) 2) YOIS Europe is a European youth or- room, a stand-up café, a prayer room and pean and non-European countries. It is the ganisation (age limit for Board members other rooms, is surrounded by 15000 aim that the participants carry the idea of is 32) for generational justice and sustain- square meters of parkland. "ecological generational justice" further. ability. A further goal of YOIS is to pro- mote European integration. The or- Target group Participants ganisation was founded in 2000 during a As mentioned, the target group are The participation in the convention is European youth congress, which was or- future decision makers who supposedly highly selective. Young leaders who will ganised by FRFG and substantially spon- will have a decisive influence on the have a decisive influence on the policies sored by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung policies of their respective countries in a of their respective countries in the futu- Umwelt, during EXPO 2000 in Hanover. few years from now. The organisers will re are the target group. The convention Since then YOIS organises a yearly youth contact government agencies, interna- should count around 60 participants conference and a yearly, international cy- tional NGOs, foundations etc. to nomi- from many European countries and a few cling tour. In the here described con- nate people. But individuals can also ap- obeservers from other continents. The ference 2005, YOIS Europe will be in- ply without nomination by sending a CV language used during the convention will volved with recruiting, selection of and a motivation letter. The applicants be English. In choosing the participants, speakers, fundraising and other organi- should show that they are already active- the FRFG will put the emphasis on par- sational tasks. ly engaged in some kind of NGO or ticipants from as many different coun- similar activity, preferably they also have tries as possible. At least 75 per cent of 3) The Protestant Academy in Berlin is some experience in the environmental the participants will be between 18 and an institution of the Protestant Church in field. 30 years old. Most participants should be Germany which pushes ahead dialogues Young adults and students up to 30 in the age category of 20 to 27. Partici- in the fields of politics, society and cul- The conference will make it possible for pants will receive a travel cost allowance, ture. As a forum the academy encourages young, devoted people from different the amount of which depends on the re- the exchange of controversial themes countries to meet each other, exchange spective country of residence. and problems - not only in recent di- experiences and ideas and to work to- scussions but also in looking ahead to fu- gether in trying to strive for an ecologi- The organisers ture developments. While running an ex- cal Europe. However, much effort will al- Although the FRFG is itself active in change of ideas between different so be made to contact those youths who international fields, the FRFG has found lifestyles, political opinions, sciences, re- are not politically active or part of a two partner organisations which will ligions, philosophies and generations, IYNGO. carry out the event together with FRFG. Protestant Academies lead to an orienta- The partners are: tion of mind and support the political Teachers and Educational Staf f - Protestant Academy in Berlin culture. Being a neutral ground, the Pro- We hope to achieve that teachers and (www.eaberlin.de). testant Academy in Berlin offers time and other responsible in educational institu- - Youth for Intergenerational Justice the opportunity to test the differing po- tions (Bildungsreferenten) visit the con- and Sustainability Europe (www.yois- sitions in discussion and to look together gress and are motivated to include the europe.org) for answers to the questions concerning idea of "ecological generational justice" presence and future. in their curriculum. As a broad support The Foundation for the Rights of Futu- The Protestant Academy in Berlin prac- base is necessary in order to achieve the re Generations (FRFG) is a non profit re- tices a long time running dialogue in the goal of the convention, we want inter- search institute linking the academic topics of sustainable economy, ecologi- ested citizens as participants. That is why world with the world of politics. By way cal politics and justice between genera- we open the congress on Thursday of its practice orientated research it dee- tions as well as in encouraging people for through an event in the Friedrichstadt- pens the knowledge surrounding the sub- the "civil society". Church. jects of generational justice and ecologi- cal sustainability. Young academics from Congress venue All applications are selected through a different backgrounds work on different As the main congress venue the Prote- transparent procedure, identifying the interdisciplinary projects within the stant Academy in Berlin uses the Schwa- best 65 (which will be informed until FRFG,an example is the quarterly Inter- nenwerder House, the congress- and April 2005). generational Justice Review,which is pu- guesthouse of the Protestant Church in blished three times in German and once Berlin-Brandenburg. It lies in the idyllic "Get to know the NGO" in English. The FRFG relies heavily on countryside on the island of Schwanen- One element during the conference is a the young generation, because it is con- werder in the lake 'Großer Wannsee' and NGO fair. Many youth organisations (for vinced that young people have creative is comprised of two houses. The villa example YOIS Europe, BUNDjugend, ideas at hand that help solve problems with four lecture rooms, a conference N AJU, Greenteams, aej, BDKJ, WWF now and in the future. The FRFG is not youth etc.) have the opportunity to in- just a think tank that is satisfied with des- troduce themselves and to present their cribing the current situation, its goal is al- You don't get to choose how you're current projects and activities. In so do- going to die. Or when. You can only so to actively change society. It there- ing, an international forum based on the decide how you're going to live. fore, seeks to install the ideas of genera- exchange of ideas will be created, a Now. tional justice and sustainability in the great opportunity for networking. minds of all in society. J oan Bae z (continued on page 26)

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 25 Review Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters (“Ecological Generational...” continued fr om page 25) nability. A group of young MPs have quately demonstrates the limits of re- brought forward such a motion recently. courses available at short notice, but can Sequence of events We will debate their development, pro- also be used as an icebreaker, creating an Befor e the congr ess blems and chances for success. This ini- intimate working environment. The preparation for the convention will tiative of "ecological generational justice" On Saturday, the participants will attend be done via an Internet University (IU), in the German constitution will be in- Study Groups (maximum of twelve per a discussion forum on the internet. troduced and discussed in a podium di- workshop). With the help of academic li- Hundreds of participants will be able to scussion with the following members of terature on ecological management prin- log on at the same time and react to each the German Parliament: Anna Lühr- ciples the participants will receive the first others contributions on many different mann (Grüne), Daniel Bahr (FDP), Jens tools needed to discuss ecological sustai- issues. The literature that will be discus- Spahn (CDU) and Marc Bülow (SPD). A nability and generational justice (GJ). We sed at the convention will be put online possible venue for this event, which can will at this point hand out literature from two months before the congress so that also be opened to the public, is the Frie- renowned English academic journals everyone can come to the congress well drichstadt-Church at the Gendarmen- such as Environmental Values, Interna- prepared. markt (opposite of the headquarters of tional Journal of Sustainable Develop- If there are more applications than the Protestant Academy). ment and Ecological Economics, where there are places at the congress (some- Directly afterwards open questions of the authors speak of the principles of eco- thing that is to be expected), the partici- participants on how to organise such logical sustainability. Included in the re- pation at the Internet University will be campaigns in their countries are answe- aders will be texts about the problem of decisive. red. The participants commit themselves "short-termism" and about the different Apart from preparing the content and or- to start adequate campaigns to institu- approaches of GJ institutionalisation in ganising the results of the congress the tionalise GJ in their countries. FRFG will different countries (e.g. South Africa, EU Internet University also has the goal of function as advisor, competence and do- draft constitution, Israel, Hungary, Ger- giving participants an early opportunity cumentation centre. The convention par- man Länder like Thuringia, Brandenburg to get to know each other. Youths who ticipants will report regularly about the and Saxony). This should enable the par- will not attend the congress itself can al- status of their campaigns in the internet ticipants to critically assess these appro- so join in and voice their opinions on dif- university forum. aches. Each group will be assisted by a ferent issues. Ideas, opinion and criti- On Friday morning, the participants will member of the organising partners in or- cisms can be freely placed by all. This have the opportunity to visit places of in- der to get a grip of the, sometimes com- open communication platform encoura- terest in Berlin, like "Checkpoint Charlie" plicated, academic texts. The groups ges a communal feeling among the youth. or the "Jewish museum". Around midday should summarize the texts and present Distances can be bridged and participa- a transfer to the congress venue in them to the plenary. tion is open also to those youths who find Schwanenwerder will be organised. After After lunch new study groups will be for- themselves at the distant borders of Eu- lunch an introductory presentation will med. They will work on existing instru- rope. Choosing English as the working be given on the idea of institutionalising ments which try to establish ecological language does not in our opinion restrict generational justice under an ecological generational justice in different ways, contact, but works to integrate because it perspective by Dr. Jörg Tremmel in order discussing their opportunities to influen- is already the "lingua franca" all over Eu- to introduce the idea of generational ju- ce politics (based on a concept of An- rope (esp. in Eastern Europe). stice and the goal of the congress: Insti- emon Boelling): The congr ess tutionalisation of "ecological generational - Constitutional Change On Wednesday the congress will start justice" in the constitution or by other - Commission for Future Generations with the welcoming words of the three ways. Following this event, a dispute (fol- - Ombudsperson of Future Genera- organising orgainsiations. It will be fol- lowed by a discussion) will be held by two tions lowed by the dinner and a welcoming par- experts (European Commissioner Dr. - Third Chamber ty which will be organised by YOIS-Eu- Franz Fischler (alternative: Margot Wall- - What impulses can come from EU di- rope. ström or) and a representative of the far- rectives? mers organisation (alternative: industry On T hur sda y, the participants will visit The following discussion (led by one of manager) on the theme "Drawing up the the Aspen Institute where the following the speakers) should focus on the best balance: "13 years after Rio - how far are presentation and discussion will take way how "ecological generational justice" we in achieving an ecologically genera- place: “Bad examples for other coun- can be implemented in the respective po- tional just Europe?" The focus should be tries?”After lunch a case study trip to litical framework. put on the situation as it is at the present Berlin will be organised to get an im- Later in the afternoon session, partici- time in Europe concerning environmen- pression of ecological model projects in pants will present own projects and case tal protection. the city of Berlin. One of the site visits studies within the fair "Get to know the In the evening the congress may continue will be the "Reichstag" - German house NGO". (continued on page 27) with playing the Fishbank Ltd. game (cre- of parliament. 95 % of its energy con- ated by Dennis Meadows). T he game gi- sumption is covered by regenerative ves an entertaining introduction into the energies. The Board, Trustees, Volunteers different themes and should also create a In the evening, while still in Berlin, we and Staff of FRFG are grateful to good atmosphere for the rest of the con- take a closer look on the initiative of the Robert Bosch Foundation for gress. Experiences with this game young German members of parliament their substantial have shown that the game not only ade- to give guarantees for ecological sustai- financial support for FRFG.

26 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters (“Ecological Generational...” continued fr om page 26) (Presentation of national drinks, food vernment (for example from the Eu- In the evening a - hopefully -heated de- and clothes). The participants will be in- rope section of the federal environ- bate will take place around the question vited to ironize ecological habits of their ment Ministry) "Bad news are good news" - The image own country. - 1 member of the German Parliament of ecology in the media" The following (for example Anna Lührmann) Sunday starts with an inter-religious people may participate: - 1 member of the European Parlia- service focused on the question of su- - 1 presenter (e. g. member of the ment (for example Klaus Hänsch) stainability and justice. board of trustees FRFG Rolf Krei- - 1 representative with international Afterwards individual presentations from bich, IZT) background (for instance Prof. Dr. H. participants of different selected Euro- - 1 journalist (for example Fritz Vorholz Lovins or Prof. Dr. A. Lovins) pean countries will be held in plenum. of "Die Zeit") They address the question which way to After this discussion, the conference will - 1 futurologist (for example Matthias establish ecological generational justice in be officially closed. Horx) their countries may be the best and most - 1 board member of Greenpeace successful and even which steps they try Documentation - 1 representative of a youth environ- to do next. The results of the congress will be pub- ment organisation Afterwards, the results will be discussed lished in a journal which will be sent and - 1 renowned representative from Ame- in a podium discussion with renowned distributed to present and future deci- rica (for example Roland Emmerich) politicians and academics. The discussion sion makers, including all the members of The following questions should most cer- is titled: "25 years after Johannesburg" - the European Parliament, numerous jour- tainly be addressed: Visions of an Ecological Europe in a su- nalists, business people, libraries, and How is ecology portrayed in the media? stainable world" Participants should be educational institutions. The magazine of Why is the focus always put on the cat- the following: which 5000 copies are printed, will also astrophes, never on good news? Are we - 1 presenter (for example Prof. Dr. Ro- be sent to over 3,000 students and young living in a period of unjustified hysteria, bert Leicht, Protestant academy) leaders (of course including the congress in which Greenpeace still dominates the - 1 academic (for example Prof. Dr. participants). (fundraising) scene with spectacular ac- Ernst-Ulrich von Weizsäcker of the tions? Club of Rome) We ar e looking forward to a exciting congr ess Later in the evening will be a country fair - 1 representative of the German Go- with many attendees fr om all over Europe! Application Form Components of a complete application: A. Completed application form

B. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

C. Essay: What is the significance of ecological generational justice in the public debates of your countries' society? Do you think the issue is addressed sufficiently enough and what kind of changes would you suggest? (approximately 2000 characters without blanks)

D. Sufficient participation in the Internet University

Note: The application must be completed in English, as this is the language used during the conference. All necessary documents should be translated into English. Please fill in this form clearly and submit by email or fax. We would also appreciate it if you could send the form with an attached passport-size photograph to:

To: SRzG /FRFG Ecological Generational Justice (Please affix Postfach 5115 photograph here) 61422 Oberursel

Tel: 0049- 6171/983267 Fax: 0049- 6171/952566 Email: [email protected] For further information please visit: www.srzg.de or www.frfg.org Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us. All candidates will be notified of the results by email: [email protected]

(continued on page 28)

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 27 Review Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters (“A pplication Form...” continued fr om page 27)

[1] Personal Particulars

r Ms r Mr r Mrs r Dr (please tick as appropriate) Full Name : Family Name / First Name / Middle Initial (please underline Family Name) Date of Birth : (DD / MM / YYYY) Occupation : Department : Organisation / : Institution Contact Address : (City, Province) : (Country) : Phone : Fax : Mobile : Email :

[2] Background Information

Areas of Interest : Areas of Specialisation (if applicable) :

[3] Involvement 1. Please state international / regional networks that your organisation is involved in (if any). 2. Please state international / regional co-operation programmes, or projects that your organisation has been involved with (if any). 3. Have you had any experience in the field of social / cultural / political / economic development, particularly in the youth field? If so, please give a brief background. 4. Motivation for participating in the conference (max. 1 page)

Note: For questions 1-4 please use an additional paper sheet

28 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters CALL FOR PAPERS For: Handbook 'Generational Justice'

The Foundation for Rights of Future F Please keep to the size limit: Cutting Last name, First name (ed.): Title. edi- Generations (FRFG) is a non-profit in an article is not pleasant for you, nor tion (First edition). Place/ Place. p. x-y think-tank whose mission is concerned is it pleasant for the editors. That is why Example: Jonas, Hans (1981): Technolo- with generational justice and sustainabi- we ask you to stick to the length of a- gy and Responsibility: The Ethics of an lity. It advises politicians and companies bout 40,000-50,000 characters, inclu- Endangered Future. In: Partridge, E rnest and publishes books and policy docu- ding blank spaces (appr. 6500 words). (ed.): Responsibility to Future Genera- ments that are intelligible to all. The en- The abstract should have 2,000-3,000 tions. 1st edition. New York. p. 23-37 vironment, the pension scheme, educa- characters. tion, the working society, state debt, F Information about the author:For genetic engineering and population de- F Graphs: The use of graphs, tables and every article we would like to include velopment belong to some of its study cartoons for illustration purposes is some information about the author. groups. It has recently organised and most welcome. Please send these files in This would include occupation, field of edited the publication (in German) of a .tif, .jpg or .eps format. If this is not pos- study, position, institution and also the handbook entitled 'Generational Justice' sible please send a copy on white paper, address, telephone-/fax numbers and the and wants a similar publication to be we will then be able to scan it. E-mail address. made available for the English-speaking world. F Text format without extra commands: F Feedback of editorial alterations:As The text should be handed in soon as your article has been edited and We are looking articles in English under without tabs, without word separations the layout has been finalised, you will re- the headings of: and without the constant command ceive a printed copy for your approval. "new paragraph". "new paragraph" Please understand that if you wish to al- - The foundations of generational justice should only be used to create a "new ter parts of the text, this will have to be - Generationally just policies paragraph". conveyed to us at short notice meaning - Institutional establishment of generational in a matter of days. If you are not easi- justice F No abbreviations: Units of mea- ly reached, please notify us of this fact - Generational justice and economics surement and the like should not be ab- on time. breviated, for example not "m" but We would like to ask to keep in mind the "million". Counting numbers up to 12 Contact and further information: following guidelines when writing your are written as words. Jörg Tremmel (Editor), article: SRzG, Postfach 5115, F Footnotes and quotations:Referen- 61422 Oberursel, F Sending of your article: Please send ces to quotations are put in parentheses, Telephone: +49-(0)6171-982367, us your article at the time that you have for example "....as is shown in this work Fax: +49-(0)6171-952566 agreed with the editors, either by E-mail (2)" The format of the literary referen- E-mail: [email protected] or on a disk saved in a customary word ces in the bibliography is as follows (for processing programme (preferably in anthologies, monographs and other sour- The trouble with our times is that Word). Please send an abstract of the ar- ces some details may be left out): Last na- the future is not what it used to be. ticle as soon as possible. me, First name/ Last name, First name (year): Title. In: Last name, First name/ Paul Valer y

Committed students from Poland and Germany meet in Oberursel

Six young Polish representatives of the man and Polish. During the meeting the sel houses volunteers and interns from all international youth organisation YOIS situation of intergenerational justice and over the world. Poland visited the Foundation for the sustainability in the two countries was The whole meeting was financially sup- Rights of Future Generations (FRFG) in discussed. The young Poles expressed ported by the German-Polish Youth- February 2004. Together with FRFG their view that there is a lack of aware- work (deutsch-polnischen Jugendwerk). staff, they planned a new bilingual (Ger- ness of the topics in Poland. The six guests from Poland, next to their man-Polish) issue of the Inter generational " The meeting achieved the aim to en- volunteer work for YOIS Poland, study J ustice Re view . It is to be published this courage international and German-Po- in Gdansk, Krakow and Warsaw. The summer for the first time in both Ger- lish cooperation and understanding", FRFG members responsible for the says Jörg Tremmel, Chairman of the journal are looking forward to the next Walk with those seeking Truth. FRFG. The German-Polish meeting was meeting. This final meeting, concerning Run from those who think they've held at FRFG`s own International Vo- the bilingual issue, will take place in found it. lunteers Office in Oberursel. The buil- Gdansk. Deepak Chopra ding on the edge of the city of Oberur- Beatrice Gaczensky

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 29 Review Internal matters Internal matters Internal matters ture. Additionally a magazine "Genera- The FRFG International Volunteers Office tional Justice!" is published by FRFG. What is the 'International Volun- Support for the IVO program comes The first English Edition of this maga- teers Office'? from a variety of sources. The office en- zine was published in Fall 2002. The International Volunteers Office joys in kind donations, including compu- (IVO) allows students, interns, and volun- ters, a television, a car, and financial sup- Interested in joining the Interna- teers from around the world to work to- port, from a variety of companies tional Volunteers Office at FRFG? gether on different projects concerning (Taunus Sparkasse, Neckura Insurance, International volunteers must have a ge- intergenerational justice and sustainabili- Mainova, Dimension Data). Volunteers nuine dedication and interest in interge- ty. Moreover, the participants build a benefit from free subscriptions to seve- nerational justice and sustainability, as community of living, a lively forum of ral newspapers and magazines, including well as a high capability to interact with debate, and strong social ties. They are Spiegel, FR, FAZ, and Süddeutsche. high level politicians and executives. Vo- developing interpersonal and intercultu- FRFG has received official endorsement lunteers work individually as well as in te- ral communication skills that enable of the Mayor of Oberursel, and was ams with their colleagues, who will come them to develop a more complete un- awarded the Medal of Good Citizenship from a great diversity of backgrounds. derstanding of the complexities of the of its home town oberursel for the IVO If you are interested in doing an intern- world in which they live. Recent interns program. ship or working as a volunteer, send us have come from Eastern Europe, USA, The FRFG IVO office organises semi- your CV with cover letter. Relevant India, China, Africa and Germany. The nars and workshops on different topics. supplementary materials are welcome. group at the IVO consists of volunteers Articles and papers are compiled into and students, who stay between 6 and 12 books intended to inform and advise po- International Volunteers Office months, and the head of the office, Jörg liticians and business managers, including SRzG, Postfach 5115 Tremmel. FRFG believes strongly that CEO's. The FRFG annually awards the 61440 Oberursel this opportunity, especially for youth, is Intergenerational Justice Prize, for which Phone: + 49 (0)6171 98 23 67 incredibly important in the movement to young academics are invited to write ar- Fax: + 49 (0)6171 95 25 66 achieve generational justice. ticles concerning certain topics in the fu- [email protected]

and exciting field of generational justice. interested in generational justice and su- Personnel Furthermore it gives me the opportunity stainability, especially in the field of so- Jörg "Chet" Tremmel. to improve my German. During my cial policy. During my studies I was hea- Together with friends I internship I will be responsible for the vily involved in higher education policies. founded the FRFG in English edition of the Journal. Here at FRFG my area of responsibility 1997 and since then I am is the preparation of the congress "Ge- its Managing Director. Maarten Malczak nerational Justice and Companies". Fur- I studied from 1992-1998 I am 26 years old and thermore, I am updating the press review. business management at from 5th April 2004 on I After my time at FRFG I will start my the "European Business School" in am the new intern at the teacher-traineeship. Oestrich-Winkel and at the "Open- " Foundation of the Right University Hagen" and I also finished a of Future Generations" Beatrice Gaczensky second course in political sciences at the (FRFG). I was born in I am 22 years old and at " Johann Wolfgang Goethe University" in Hamburg and I am currently studying the moment I am studying Frankfurt. The most exciting times during political science and economics at Bre- communications theory my studies were my semesters abroad in men University. Additionally to my main and media studies with the La Rochelle/France and in Harrison- course I have studied an extra subject in main emphasis on public bourg/ Virginia/USA. I also learnt a lot the field of Social Policy Research, relations. My subsidiaries during my internship at the United which I successfully completed this year. are English and economics. For one se- Nations in New York. Fortunately I near- Furthermore, I studied for two semesters mester I studied in Den Haag/Nether- ly finished my PhD thesis in the field of at the Department of Social and Policy lands where I made many new experien- population development and ecological Sciences at Bath University in England. ces and learnt a lot. While I was an intern sustainability. I enjoyed it thoroughly and consider it at the Foundation of the Rights for Fu- as my personal study highlight. My area ture Generations I was responsible for Diederik van Iwaarden of responsibility at FRFG will be the ad- the preparations of the german-polish I am 25 years old and ministration of members and I will work edition of the journal "Generational come from the Nether- on the journal "Generational Justice!". Justice", where I made not only new ex- lands. My course of study periences in dealing with authors from is history with the empha- Anne Kürbs various fields, but gained also compe- sis on German Economic I will be the new intern for tence in the field of intercultural ex- History and I study at the two and a half months at change. "Rijksuniversiteit" in Groningen. I am FRFG. I just finished my (continued on page 31) happy to join FRFG for a placement, studies of political science The future ain't what it used to be. because this gives me the opportunity to and mathematics at Hei- deepen my knowledge in the important delberg University. I am Yogi Ber ra

30 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review (“Personnel...” continued fr om page 30) for one year in Bilbao/Spain beginning Gerfried Zluga this summer. During the university vaca- is 21 years old and cur- Léonie Jana Wagner tion I am working as an intern at the rently studying history and I’m 20 years old. Since " Foundation for the Rights of Future political sciences in Gie- 2002 I am studying politi- Generations" and my area of responsibi- ßen. He is looking forward cal sciences with the subsi- lity is the preparation of the congress to his time at FRFG and he diaries law and conflict "Generational Justice and Companies". hopes to make is contribu- studies. After I stayed tion to the goal of Generational Justice some months at a boar- during his time as an intern. ding school in England, I plan to study

young people to publish their essays and Join us! books, in order to pave the way for new ideas into society.

What is YOIS Europe? Youth for Intergenerational Justice and children's rights. We want to make chan- Sustainability - Europe e.V. (YOIS Eu- ges happen. rope) is a European organisation of young people. We consider ourselves as We aim at influencing politicians and lob- Supporters a lobby organisation - independent of byists who usually think only in short The young executive board is supported party policies - for the rights and interests terms and postpone problems into the by a committee to which belong the fol- of future generations as well as of to- future. Our target is to mobilize all soci- lowing personalities: Prof. Rademacher, day's youth. al forces and to get them around one Prof. Renn, Prof. Schnellnhuber, Prof. conference table whenever a task requi- E.U. von Weizsäcker. YOIS Europe was founded in summer res a long-term solution. 2000 on the occasion of the European Furthermore we want to foster the pro- Youth Congress "Our Common Future - cess of the European integration and Realising Sustainability". contribute to the political education of future decision-makers. YOIS Europe is open-structured and in- vites you to participate on many levels. How do we take action? We are looking for supporters striving for The projects organised by YOIS Europe a future worth living. Our vision raise public awareness for the ideas of Our vision is a Europe of intergenera- intergenerational justice and sustainabili- If you enjoy planning and implementing tional justice and sustainability. Sustaina- ty. Our aim is to be influential on the Eu- creative campaigns and projects, you bility will be achieved as soon as no ge- ropean, national, regional and local level. will find a whole range of new possibili- neration lives at the expenses of the For that we want to establish a broad net- ties with YOIS Europe. Do you enjoy following ones. An intergenerationally work of subdivisions in all European discussing, are you willing to listen to ot- just society will be attained when each ge- countries - from national down to local her arguments and then accept the best neration has got the possibilities to de- levels (even university- and school- ones? If this is the case, we can hardly velop as far as the previous one. Other groups are possible). wait to get to know you at our next mee- ideas of justice like e.g. social justice or In cooperation with other organisations ting. gender justice are not left aside but do we plan and realise congresses and fun not belong to the actual area of respon- events. In our opinion, fun and project Visit YOIS Europe online, chat with us sibility of YOIS Europe. work are not contradictory but comple- about topical issues. Found, with like- ment one another. We collect signatures, minded people, a national, regional or lo- discuss with politicians and screen the cal group. E verybody is needed!

Further information at: http://www.yois-europe.org Via e-mail: [email protected] Or from the YOIS Europe office: At the moment many examples for the P.O. Box 5115 discrimination against following genera- programmes of political parties, just to 61422 Oberursel tions exist - progressive ecocide, natio- mention some of our activities. Germany nal indebtedness, excessive burdens on In addition, YOIS Europe regards itself Phone: +49-6171-982367 the pension systems, youth unemploy- as a "brain pool", elaborating on solu- Fax : +49-6171-952566 ment, education crisis and insufficient tions for actual problems. We support

2/2004 Intergenerational Justice 31 Review SRzG, Postfach 5115, 61422 Oberursel, PVSt., DPAG, Entgelt bezahlt, D 54906

Fill in this form and send it to us by fax: Fax no. +49 06171 952566, or by post:

FRFG - Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations Postfach 5115 61422 Oberursel

Application to become a Member of FRFG I hereby apply to become a member of the 'Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations' and o be accorded the privileges of sponsorship. €25.00- / €50.00- Annual Subscription to the magazine Generationengerechtigkeit!/ Generational Justice Review I hereby subscribe to the magazine at the annual rate of €25.00- Double Application for Membership of FRFG and YOIS I hereby apply to become a member of the 'Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations' and to be accorded the privileges of membership, and to become a member of 'Youth for Intergenerational Justice and Sustainability-Europe' Annual Contribution €75.00-; Under thirty years old €40.00-; Under twenty years old €35.00- Application to become a Member of FRFG -for Organisations- I am an organisation and hereby apply for membership of FRFG (€75.00-)

Last Name ______First Name ______Street ______Town/ Postcode ______Country ______Phone ______Fax Number ______Email ______Date of Birth ______Membership in other organisations, parties, NGOs etc. ______Occupation (details voluntary) ______Why do you want to become a member of FRFG and /or YOIS? ______How did you get to know FRFG or YOIS? ______I am particularly interested in the following (tick all that are applicable): Generational Justice L i fe Sciences Education Ecology Child Rights Labour Market Pension Plans Population Growth State Finance Globalisation/Global Governance

* E very member is invited to make an annual contribution according to his/her means. The minimum contribution for YOIS is €10.00- for those under twenty years, €15.00- for those under thirty, and €25.00- for those who are older. For FRFG, the minimum contribution is €25.00- for those under thirty years, and €50.00- for those who are older. Organisations can become sponsors of SRZG or members of YOIS for an annual minimum contribution of €100.00-. Please fill out the following standing order for direct debit from your bank account.

______Place and Date Signature

STANDING ORDER FOR DIRECT DEBIT I hereby authorise the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG), and/or YOIS-Europe, to debit annually my mem- bership donation or membership fee to the amount of ______Euro for SRZG or ______Euro for YOIS from my/our account, until this is revoked. If my/our account does not contain the necessary funds, the Bank in which the account is opened has no obli- gation to honour this agreement.

______Account number Location and Name of Bank Bank Sort Code/ Routing No.

______Place and Date Signature For Further Information Contact Tel: +49 06171 982367, www.srzg .de, email: [email protected] 32 Intergenerational Justice 2/2004 Review