Earth Charter

The Earth Charter urges environmental responsibility, peaceful coexistence, respect for life, Democracy , and Justice . It is organized into 16 general headings, each covering a general principle, as follows:
#Respect Earth and life in all its Diversity .
#Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.
#Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable and peaceful.
#Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
#Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's Ecological systems, with special concern for Biological Diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
#Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
#Adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, Human Rights and community well being.
#Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
#Eradicate Poverty as an ethical, social and environmental imperative.
#Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
#Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
#Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care and economic opportunity.
#Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision-making, and access to justice.
#Integrate into formal education and lifelong learning the knowledge, values and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.
#Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
#Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence and peace.

REACTION

In the United States and other countries, members of the Religious Right have found the document alarming claiming in part it is Secular , espouses Socialism , and contains no reference to the doctrines of Judeo - Christianity . In addition, some conservatives cite a statement by Gorbachev that the document is "a kind of Ten Commandments ", and the fact that at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa , a copy of the document was placed symbolically in an "Ark of Hope" which resembles the Ark Of The Covenant . Thus, some see the Charter as a proposed replacement for the Ten Commandments , and part of a conspiracy to establish a New World Religion that replaces Christianity .

However, the Charter was not intended to replace the Ten Commandments or to establish a new world religion. Rather, it arose in response to the need for an integrated ethical framework for sustainable development as articulated in the Brundtland Commission Report "Our Common Future". The Earth Charter was born out of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit) and was based on a global dialogue process which involved thousands of individuals and organizations, including representatives of the world's religions. The critical nature of the global environmental crisis has called forth an ethical response that is embodied in the text of the Charter. The ten year drafting process was attentive to the need for respect for religious and cultural diversity while also calling the human community to a responsibility for preserving healthy ecosystems for future generations. The Earth Charter as both a document and a movement has gained an extensive and positive response in many parts of the world. It offers an integrated vision and ethical values for a sustainable future.

SEE ALSO

EXTERNAL LINKS

The Earth Charter

Official ''Earth Charter'' Site

The Earth Charter (Rome 1993)

Information About

Earth Charter