Earth Covenant

A Citizen's Treaty for Common Ecological Security

One of the articles in Earth & Spirit (IC#24)
Late Winter 1990, Page 39
Copyright (c)1990, 1997 by Context Institute | To order this issue ...

PREAMBLE

We, the peoples of the Earth, rejoice in the beauty and wonder of the lands, skies, waters, and life in all its diversity. Earth is our home. We share it with all other living beings.

Yet we are rendering the Earth uninhabitable for the human community and for many species of life. Lands are becoming barren, skies fouled, waters poisoned. The cry of people whose land, livelihood and health are being destroyed is heard around the world. The Earth itself is calling us to awaken.

We and all living beings depend upon the Earth and upon one another for our common existence, well-being, and development. Our common future depends upon a reexamination of our most basic assumptions about humankind's relationship to the Earth. We must develop common principles and systems to shape this future in harmony with the Earth.

Governments alone cannot secure the environment. As citizens of the world, we accept responsibility in our personal, occupational and community lives, to protect the integrity of the Earth.

PRINCIPLES AND COMMITMENTS

In covenant with each other and on behalf of the whole earth community, we commit ourselves to the following principles and actions:

Relationship with the Earth: All Life is sacred. Each human being is a unique and integral part of the Earth's community of life and has a special responsibility to care for life in all its diverse forms.

Therefore, we will act and live in a way that preserves the natural life processes of the Earth and respects all species and their habitats. We will work to prevent ecological degradation.

Relationship with Each Other: Each human being has the right to a healthful environment and to access to the fruits of the Earth. Each also has a continual duty to work for the realization of these rights for present and future generations.

Therefore - concerned that every person have food, shelter, pure air, potable water, education, employment, and all that is necessary to enjoy the full measure of human rights - we will work for more equitable access to the Earth's resources.

Relationship Between Economic and Ecological Security: Since human life is rooted in the natural processes of the Earth, economic development, to be sustainable, must preserve the life-support systems of the Earth.

Therefore, we will use environmentally protective technologies and promote their availability to people in all parts of the Earth. When doubtful about the consequences of economic goals and technologies on the environment, we will allow an extra margin of protection for nature.

Governance and Ecological Security: The protection and enhancement of life on Earth demand adequate legislative, administrative and judicial systems at appropriate local, national, regional, and international levels. In order to be effective, these systems must be empowering, participatory, and based on openness of information.

Therefore, we will work for enactment of laws that protect the environment and promote their observance through educational, political and legal action. We shall advance policies of prevention rather than only reacting to ecological harm.

Declaring our partnership with one another and with our Earth, we give our word of honor to be faithful to the above commitments.

I have signed the Earth Covenant, committing to the principles and actions therein. I have thereby entered into a covenant with others around the Earth to live ecologically responsible lives. I wish my name to be entered in the Register of Signatories to the Earth Covenant, which will be presented at the World Conference on the Environment in 1992 and other global environmental events.

Signature___________________________________________________

Print Name__________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Country_____________________________________________________

How to use this covenant

Your signature above indicates that you are entering into a covenant with others around the world. Please keep a copy of the document for personal reflection and commitment. For discussion and action in group settings, you are invited to duplicate the Covenant. Both individuals and groups are asked to print clearly the name(s) and complete address(es) - including country - of those signing the Covenant, and to send them to the address below.

The sponsors of the Earth Covenant are developing materials for use with different groups for actions, education, research and networking. For more information, write:

Earth Covenant, c/o Global Education Associates, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 456, New York, NY 10115 (212) 870-3290.

Reprinted in IN CONTEXT "Earth and Spirit" issue (#24), P.O. Box 946, Langley, WA 98260

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