Earth Charter 

The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful world.  It is the product of a decade-long, worldwide, cross-cultural dialogue on common goals and shared values, integrating environmental, social and economic dimensions of global concerns.  The Earth Charter has been endorsed by environmental groups, companies, governments and faith-based organisations from different religious traditions around the world.  It provides a comprehensive vision of the elements which could make up a sustainable world.

The Earth Charter has 16 principles, the first four of which provide an overview of its holistic ethical vision:

1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.

2. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.

3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable and peaceful.

4. Secure Earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generations.

“I believe that the Earth Charter gives ethical and moral orientations that will help to strengthen the human spirit. The Earth Charter opens a new phase not only in the ecological movement, but also in the world’s public life.” Mikhail Gorbachev, Earth Charter Commission Co-Chair.


A Decade of Education for a Sustainable Future

Following the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), a resolution was passed at the UN General Assembly in December 2002, designating the ten-year period beginning January 2005 as the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. UNESCO, named the lead agency, was tasked to draw up an implementation plan and guide governments on how to promote education for sustainable development in their respective national education plans. The SGI is particularly committed to this Decade as it was proposed originally by the SGI to a Japanese NGO forum before becoming part of the Japanese Government’s input to the 2002 WSSD and being adopted by the UN.

In the proposal by SGI President, Daisaku Ikeda, “The Challenge of Global Empowerment: Education for a Sustainable Future”, he asserts that if people are to take environmental issues as their personal concern, and to harmonise their efforts for our common future, education is vital. Only education, he states, can provide the driving force for such a renewal of awareness. He believes that the decade of education for sustainable development should be promoted with three goals in mind
(1) to learn and deepen awareness of environmental issues and realities
(2) to reflect on our modes of living, renewing these towards sustainability and
(3) to empower people to take concrete action to resolve the challenges we face.

“Education must also inspire the faith that each of us has both the power and the responsibility to effect positive change on a global scale.” Daisaku Ikeda.

The Power of the Individual

Individuals in different parts of the world have tackled problems in their local communities and have become a force for global change. One such person is biologist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai, who, concerned about deforestation in her native Kenya, created a tree nursery in her back garden and encouraged other women to do the same. The initiative escalated and now more than 20 million trees have been planted throughout Kenya, empowering women and alleviating poverty.

“Every one of us can make a contribution… Sometimes I tell myself, I may only be planting a tree here, but just imagine what’s happening if there are billions of people out there doing something. Just imagine the power of what we can do.” Wangari Maathai.

This, and two other case studies, is the subject of the related award-winning documentary film, “A Quiet Revolution”, a collaborative project by the SGI, the UN Environment Programme, the UN Development Programme and the Earth Council.


What You Can Do? – go to www.sgihants.org for details about the event in April 2007


• Earth Charter: For more information and resources and to learn about the International Youth Earth Charter Coalition, an initiative linking young people who are committed to being local promoters of the Earth Charter, go to www.earthcharter.org or email info@earthcharter.org
• UNESCO: “Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future“ is a multimedia teacher education programme consisting of 25 modules of interactive activities available on www.unesco.org/education/tlsf
• Soka Gakkai International (SGI): For more information, go to www.sgi.org, call SGI-UK Hampshire on: 02380 768495. SGI is an NGO and lay Buddhist association with more than 12 million members in 190 countries and territories worldwide. The promotion of peace, culture and education is central to SGI’s activities.
• Daisaku Ikeda is a Buddhist philosopher, author and peace builder. Since 1975, he has been President of the SGI. He founded the Soka education system and created the Boston Research Centre for the 21st Century and the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research. A consistent supporter of the Earth Charter, Mr Ikeda authors annual proposals in which he explores paths to sustainable world peace.
 

Click here to view the whole article or here to download the article in pdf format