Earth Charter

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=56 BGCOLOR="#666633" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="00fc8c83.jpg"> <div> The Earth Charter</div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#FFCC00" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=424 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>The Earth Charter</B><B> <A NAME="charter"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="1c2a5ca0.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1c194ca0.jpg" border=0 width="148" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1c48ec90.jpg" border=0 width="142" height="201" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="1c78aca0.jpg" border=0 width="138" height="202" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>The Earth Charter is an agreement created by tens of thousands of people through an extraordinary grassroots drafting process over 12 years in communities worldwide. People from 78 countries created the Earth Charter. It contains a preamble, 16 main principles and 61 supporting principles which are intended to help guide humanity toward a "sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace." </I></div> <div> <I>The Charter represents an inclusive ethical vision that recognizes the interdependence of environmental protection, human rights, equitable human development, peace and justice.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>EARTH CHARTER PREAMBLE</B></div> <div> We stand at a critical moment in Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life and to future generations.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Earth, Our Home</B></div> <div> Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence a demanding and uncertain adventure, but Earth has provided the conditions essential to life's evolution. The resilience of the community of life and the well-being of humanity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure waters and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth's vitality, diversity and beauty is a sacred trust.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Global Situation</B></div> <div> The dominant patterns of production and consumption are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources and a massive extinction of species. Communities are being undermined. The benefits of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is widening. Injustice, poverty, ignorance and violent conflict are widespread and the cause of great suffering. An unprecedented rise in human population has overburdened ecological and social systems. The foundations of global security are threatened. These trends are perilous - but not inevitable.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Challenges Ahead</B></div> <div> The choice is ours: form a global partnership to care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life. Fundamental changes are needed in our values, institutions and ways of living. We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more. We have the knowledge and technology to provide for all and to reduce our impacts on the environment. The emergence of a global civil society is creating new opportunities to build a democratic and humane world. Our environmental, economic, political, social, and spiritual challenges are interconnected, and together we can forge inclusive solutions.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Universal Responsibility</B></div> <div> To realize these aspirations, we must decide to live with a sense of universal responsibility, identifying ourselves with the whole Earth community as well as our local communities. We are at once citizens of different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked. Everyone shares responsibility for the present and future well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The spirit of human solidarity and kinship with all life is strengthened when we live with reverence for the mystery of being, gratitude for the gift of life and humility regarding the human place in nature.</div> <bR> <div> To read the full text of the Earth Charter:</div> <div> http://<A HREF="http://www.earthcharter.org/earthcharter/charter.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.earthcharter.org/earthcharter"><U>www.earthcharter.org/earthcharter/charter.htm</U></A></div> <bR> <div> For further information about the Earth Charter:</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.earthcharter.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.earthcharter.org/"><U><U>http://www.earthcharter.org/</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> For further information about the Earth Charter Summits:</div> <div> http://<A HREF="http://www.earthchartersummits.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.earthchartersummits.org"><U>www.earthchartersummits.org</U></A>/</div> <bR> <div> <B>Sixteen principles </B></div> <div> <B>of the EARTH CHARTER</B></div> <bR> <div>    1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.</div> <bR> <div>    2. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love.</div> <bR> <div>    3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.</div> <bR> <div>    4. Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.</div> <bR> <div>    5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.</div> <bR> <div>    6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.</div> <bR> <div>    7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights and community well-being.</div> <bR> <div>    8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.</div> <bR> <div>    9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social and environmental imperative.</div> <bR> <div>   10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.</div> <bR> <div>   11. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.</div> <bR> <div>   12. 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 people and minorities.</div> <bR> <div>   13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.</div> <bR> <div>   14. Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.</div> <bR> <div>   15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.</div> <bR> <div>   16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>