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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Earth Charter


“The Earth Charter Initiative” is an extraordinarily diverse, global network of people, organizations, and institutions that participate in promoting and implementing the values and principles of the Earth Charter. The We Can Work It Out Project joins with the Earth Charter Initiative to spread the idea that it is in our hands that the future of the earth resides.


Preamble

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.

Earth, Our Home

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.

The Global Situation

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. 

The Challenges Ahead

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. 

Universal Responsibility

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.
We urgently need a shared vision of basic values to provide an ethical foundation for the emerging world community. Therefore, together in hope we affirm the following interdependent principles for a sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the conduct of all individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and transnational institutions is to be guided and assessed.......More

Thursday, June 16, 2011

In the Beginning, In His Own Words

The man with the dream is Mike Williams, known for his pursuit of loving and peaceful endeavors in support of world humanity. There he is with his lovely wife, Shari. He was struck by an idea in his hospital bed. He contacted a friend to ask for support. A man who loves music of every type and has a special affinity for the Beatles, Mike also has vision and a heart filled with hope. He believes in the goodness of his fellow human beings. Are you one of those good beings? 

Pleased to meet you. I'm Leslie Morgan, the friend. I am excited to be your frequent tour guide and contact person for We Can Work It Out. I manage the nuts and bolts here and will be working to build a strong support team for Mike. I'd love to hear ideas and suggestions (yes, really) for a successful campaign to reach the goal. If you in, say you in! And then help us in some way that is meaningful to you. Believe me, we'll be posting a menu of help opportunities.


In Mike's own words:

"I have an IDEA that WE can get the whole world to sing this song (the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out") on the so called Day of the Apocalypse, December 21st, 2012 - the last day of the Mayan Calendar, the beginning of a new age. This is my thought:  A CELEBRATION of whatever you like about this beautiful world we have been so fortunate to be born into. A day of music and art built  on the idea that we can stop fussing and fighting, at least enough, just enough for the length of time it takes to sing this song. That's it! WE CAN WORK IT OUT is the message. IN EVERY LANGUAGE  BY EVERY VOICE ON THE PLANET.  Here is a Music video From Playing for change. 


Wouldn't it be cool if we can get a video documentary of the whole process up to and including 12/21/12? So with that in mind: I've sent an e-mail to an organization called Playing For Change that has been doing this for a number of years to ask if we can do this on a global scale. I've already heard back from them once! Enjoy the video.


and the Web site for more examples:

This is a huge task I know. I also know it may sound crazy but my idea is that this be a completely not-for-profit effort to unite as much of the world as we can. To pass this simple message from John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr And George Harrison, I ask that we start by asking a few others to spread that word WE CAN WORK IT OUT."

Please visit this blog often, with a full and open heart. We are going to ask for your simple loving support frequently. Remember, goals are met by good people pitching together. And everyone has some talent to offer. 


FIRST REQUEST: Sign on as a follower. That's easy. Come back and visit often. This blog will have an ever-changing face as we reach for the dream.


SECOND REQUEST: Ask all of your followers to become followers.  That's easy. You may create links or cut and paste copy as you choose. Use Facebook, use Twitter, use +1, use your own blog or write a letter. Just spread the word!


FINAL REQUEST (FOR TODAY): Leave us a comment with ideas, kudoes or to let us know you're putting out the word. We want to give lots of thanks where thanks are due!


If you in, say you in!