We would appreciate any feedback and suggestions

on how you use thistool or improve it.

What can I do with the Earth Charter ?

This tool is for anyone asking themselves:

Produced by the International Secretariat, with the extraordinary help of our network May 2003

Earth Charter International Secretariat – PO Box 319-6100 – San José – Costa RicaPhone: + 506 205 1600 Fax: + 506 249 3500 info@earthcharter.org www.earthcharter.org

This is not the only answer,but it will help guide you to your answer.

Respect and Care for the Community of LifeEcological Integrity

Social and Economic JusticeDemocracy, Nonviolence, and Peace

What can I do with the Earth Charter? The Road Map

Click on the numbers or the specific groups and individuals to reach that theme.

To implement the Earth Charter, you can go through these 3 questions:

If you’re using the electronic version, you can click on the icons below to:

Local Communities

Specific groups and individuals implementing the Earth Charter:

Youth

Educators

Businesses

Go to our Web Site Write us an e-mail Go back to the road map

What is the vision of the Earth Charter?

1 3

How can I help the Earth Charter Initiative?

What can I do in my everyday life with the Earth Charter?

2

More Information:

Follow the links through the documentor see the Appendix on:

• The Earth Charter Text and its structure

• General information on the Earth Charter Initiative (Origin, History, Structural Information)

• Examples of Earth Charter workshops

• Tips to launch a project

Earth Charter and UN,Maurice Strong – May 98:

“Let me be very clear, this is a People's Earth Charter. It will have its power, it will have its influence because it comes from people. (…)

That is even more important than putting it on the UN Agenda. (…)

It will become a symbolof the aspirations and the commitments of people everywhere.”

What is the Earth Charter ?

If you want to know more, see:• www.earthcharter.org/aboutus : Presentations, Press Kit, Background Information, Frequently Asked Question, …

• www.earthcharter.org/resources/ : Publications, Case Studies, Related Websites, Interviews, …

What is the vision of the Earth Charter?“There are enormous thought provoking words in this document and what we

should do is instead of just reading through, reflect on

what those words mean so that we can be moved to action".

Prof.Wangari Maathai, Kenya

1

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society. It seeks to inspire in all peoples a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The Earth Charter is a product of a decade long, worldwide, cross-cultural conversation about common goals and shared values.

Through its preamble, 16 principles and 61 supporting principles divided in 4 parts, and conclusion,the whole text of the Earth Charter is understood as a path to peace.(More about the Earth Charter’s Origin and Structure in the Appendix)

• Mikhail Gorbachev, President of Green Cross International, Co-Chair, Earth Charter Commission"In its essence the Earth Charter shifts the focus to people on the Earth, their responsibilities, their morals and spirituality, their way of consumption. To save humankind and all future generations, we must save the Earth. By saving the Earth, humankind saves himself; it is that easy to understand!

• Mirian Vilela, Executive Director of the Earth Charter International Secretariat“The Earth Charter Initiative is like the two sides of a coin, one is the theory and philosophy that gives the direction of where to go, and the other side is the practice. The Earth Charter calls for action with an integrated vision and can be used as an effective instrument for change.”

• One of our National Representative when consulted about the Earth Charter

“The interconnectedness of every aspect of the Charter is critical.”

Their Vision of the Earth Charter

“Never doubt that asmall group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only

thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Dr Charlie Clements, Nobel Price for the

Land Mine BanTreaty

After too many chirurgical interventions on civilians due to Land Mines, Dr Clements decided with friends and contacts to fight for “our whole life, we thought”, Land Mines use and production.

About 5 years later, the Treaty was signed and simple citizens received a Nobel Price for Peace, “none of us being president of any state”.

Implement the Earth Charter values in your everyday life

A logical process is to reflect upon the principles and vision of the Earth Charter,What is the meaning of it and how that relates to your decisions in your everyday life or in your organization.

It should be a constant exercise of action – reflection – action, with a gradual understanding and raising awareness of the notions of interdependence and responsibility.

Nice, but how?

The roots of the answer are included in the Earth Charter:

• Preamble – The Challenges : “We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more.”

• The Way Forward: “(Adopt and Promote those values) requires a change of mind and heart. It requires a new sense of global interdependence and universal responsibility. We must imaginatively develop and apply the vision of a sustainable way of life locally, nationally, regionally, and globally.(…) different cultures will find their own distinctive ways to realize the vision.”

“Explore ways this vision can help re-shape your value system,ways to be more consistent between what you believe is good and your own lifestyle.”

What can I do in my everyday life with the Earth Charter?2

… if you think it’s not possible: Read the story of Charlie Clements on this page.

… if you need more knowledge on the subject: See the links next page to UNESCO’s and YouthXchange Projects

… if you need some practical steps to help you starting or to “not reinvent the wheel”: See next page

Bring it home

UNESCO uses the Earth Charter in

“Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future” (TLSF - module Understanding Sustainable Development):

TLSF is a great link tolearn more on thechallenges ahead.

It helps students better understand the world in

which they live, addressing the complexity and

interconnectedness of problems such as poverty,

wasteful consumption, environmental degradation, population, health, conflict

and human rights that threaten our future.

www.unesco.org/education/tlsf

Internalise the vision !

Designing your own charter unites people around its value.

In Spain, a version for kids and youngsters was written and translated in many languages.The 1800 employees of San José Municipality in Costa Rica also have their version.

The Earth Charter, a guideline to “action oriented” ideas

So many ideas and ways to act. One way to organize these examples and initiatives is to use the Earth Charter (!), sorting out the ideas with the 4 main parts of the Charter, indicating the principles they relate to:

 Respect and Care for the Community of Life• Learn from elder’s wisdom and kid’s creativity, respect the nature around you and become aware of its diversity. • Make sure your organization promote a good participatory process. (principles 1a, 3, and 4b) 

Ecological Integrity• “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”: have your car checked, bike or use public transportation, use renewable energy in

your home and office, watch your paper consumption, …• Watch the origin of the products you buy: avoid primary forest wood, where and how has your food been grown.• Think about quality of life versus quantity of belongings: buy something if you need it. (principles 5, 7b, 7f, 8b) 

Social and Economic Justice• Give some of your resources, time, money or knowledge, to underprivileged people or countries.• Again watch the origin of the product you buy: does the company and country of origin respect human rights and

progressive labour standards? (inquire about it) (Principles 9b,c, 10a,c)  

Democracy, Non-violence, and Peace• Be informed about your community or country reality and reflect on the relation between that and the Earth Charter.• Promote multi-cultural and inter-generation exchanges in your life, within your group and in its activities.• Join a local association in your field of interest. (Principles 13a, 13b, 16a)

www.youthxchange.net a great link for youth (and others)

UNEP and UNESCO interviewed 10 000 youth to explain how lifestyle choices in affluent countries and the situation in developing regions are closely interrelated.

Over 2 billion people need to consume more just to survive.Sustainable Consumption (SC) is about how to consume differently and efficiently.The output is a training kit, information, tools and tips to help in our daily choices.

2

Bring it home

What can I do in my everyday life with the Earth Charter?

Help the Earth Charter Initiative

in 2 steps:

This page will focus on:

Spreading the word

Next page on:

Engaging others

Promote and disseminate the Earth Charter and its valuesWe receive many testimonies of how inspirational the Earth Charter is, you can use it as:

• a call to action and guide to a sustainable way of life that can inspire commitment, cooperation, and change.• an invitation to individuals, institutions, and communities for internal reflection on fundamental attitudes.

There are many creative ways to communicate:

Provide copies of the Earth Charter text on brochures, downloading it, or using the Press Kit available on our web site. “I gave an Earth Charter poster to my personal doctor, and he put one in his waiting room”.

Use opportunities to spread the word: Use your own experience and get ideas from successful activities. In Boulder, during the Earth Charter Community Summits, they pointed out local governments, schools and local businesses as main targets. The text besides expresses the fact we can all find our own way !

Special events are good occasions: A new or an existing conference or event where the organizers could include the Earth Charter. Example: In Vermont, the Ark of Hope was created as a refuge for the Earth Charter handwritten on papyrus. It received handcrafted books expressing individual and collaborative affirmations for Earth.

Use arts to communicate, poems, songs, drawings and paintings have been created from all over the world. In Brazil an Earth Charter monument has been erected. (see our art page)

Organize workshops. Use your own experience to help convey a powerful message.

How can I help the Earth Charter Initiative?3

The Earth Charter in my Daily Life

  Beatriz Coningham, Brazil

It may seem naive but one very simple way to support the Earth Charter is simplyto talk about it to the people that are closer.

I don’t mean to “convert” anyone, attitude with whichI disagree, but simply to inform them.

(…) I am sure people in different professions in different places will choose different things to do. The Links

Press Kit: www.earthcharter.org/aboutus/press_kit.pdf Bulletins & Reports: www.earthcharter.org/resources Join our mailing list: www.earthcharter.org National activities: www.earthcharter.org/country/Ark of Hope: www.ark-of-hope.org Earth Charter Art Page: www.earthcharter.org/art

Look in the Appendix for Examples of Earth Charter Workshops and information on the Initiative.

Join others: Be aware of actions taken around you by local associations or national representative.See on our web site under “Country Activities”and Bulletins & Reports.

Talk about it

"I tend to get cynical about the state of the world, so I need

events like this to remind me to have hope,andthat individual actions

are important tocreate change".

US Participant in an Earth Charter Community Summit

Create activities to help others implement the Earth Charter values

Where can you direct your efforts?

• Incorporate the Earth Charter into your organization’s mission statement, codes of conduct, programs, etc.• Use the Earth Charter as a framework or guide for local, national or regional planning.• Amplify the widespread political support expressed for the Earth Charter

How can you use the Earth Charter to help others towards sustainability?

• To inspire and motivate in the first step of communication with the organization / people you address.• To educate others and help them understand the concept of Sustainable Development (see Unesco’s TLSF).• To create constructive dialogue promoting reflection among all actors and sectors about ethics and sustainability.• To implement accountability measures, including the Earth Charter as a basis for developing laws and measurable

indicators, and for improving governance and assessing progress towards sustainability.

Where can you find some support?

• Contact active groups with the Earth Charter in your country or region, and/or the International Secretariat.• Use the political support expressed during Johannesburg’s WSSD and preparation process by governments, local

governments associations, educational institutions and many others.• Find out and study the existing lobbying strategies and local activities used by other activists worldwide.

Tips and informationyou can use to create

your activities

In Appendix, you will find:

• More information on the Earth Charter Initiative:

- The text & its structure- Origin, History and

Structural Information on the Initiative

• Tips to launch a project and design a strategy

And remember:

• The Earth Charter International Secretariatcan help

• The Earth Charter web site provides a lot of useful information.

Have it used

Specific groups

The next pages provide information about specific groups, and the actions that are or can be taken to help them implement the Earth Charter values

Educators Local communities Youth Business

3 How can I help the Earth Charter Initiative?

Transformative education is needed: education that

helps bring about the fundamental changes

demanded by the challenges of sustainability.

Synthesis- Earth Charter Education Advisory Committee On-line Forum

Why does the Earth Charter provide a

unique frameworkfor education ?

Because the Earth Charter:

• Was produced as theresult of a decade long, multicultural global dialogue.

• Helps explain the interconnectedness of our planet and conveys a sense of universal responsibility.

• Articulates the principles for promoting a sustainable future

• Provides the necessary pedagogical tool for a culture of peace

The Earth Charter bridges the gap between subjects

There is much that remains to do in bringing the concept of sustainability to the education.The Earth Charter helps as an instrument to bring the vision of sustainability.

Particularly the need to shift our fragmented approach to education to amore integral understanding that one field is interrelated to the other.

Educational objectives when using the Earth Charter

Consciousness raising – Deepening awareness and understanding Example: Several children’s versions of the Earth Charter have been developed and are made available to educators from the earliest years of school curriculum. Local and foreign language teachers can use part or the whole charter as material to work or discuss from.

Application of principles – Looking at the values and their implementation in formal or informal setting Example: Principles 5 and 7 referring to Ecological Integrity can be used in the study of the notion of Ecological Footprint in Science classes.

Call for action – Gathering people and organizations around its values Example: With 800 different language groups, Papua New Guinea represents the most diverse and unique cultural heritage. Its 870 tribes used the Earth Charter to create their Mama Graun Tribal Charter.

In the hands of a dedicated educator, the Earth Charter is its own best resource.

The Links

www.earthcharter.org/education/stimulus_material.doc Earth Charter Stimulus Material for Creative Arts, English and other languages, Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

www.ecreflection4action.org/ The Earth Charter – A study book of Reflection for Action developed in chapter 12 “a study guide for use in classroom and small groups”.

Educators

The Earth Charter Education Advisory

Committee

It has been set up to offer resources, to manage new educational activities, new questions from educators that want to use the Earth Charter.

www.earthcharter.org/education/committee.htm

“Earth Charter: Pathway to a sustainable future?”

MSU Course

This course focus on the Earth Charter document as a vehicle for personal, institutional, community, national and global transformation.

Students have the opportunity to engage with a variety of speakers as they address the fundamental principles of the Earth Charter.

One session out of two will be structured as dialogue circles for shared reflection on putting the Earth Charter into action.

www.ecofoot.msu.edu/new/earthcharterflyer.htm

Teaching further the values of Earth Charter

1- Use the Earth Charter in programs and activities to explain what is Sustainable Development

“Using the preamble to teach our common critical challenges, our sense of interdependence, and the need to live with an ethic of universal responsibility. The rationale is that once interdependence and responsibility is accepted, people will be more likely to adopt the 16 principles as a guide for action.” A. Brenes, Earth Charter Education Adviser.

2- Teach about the Earth Charter itself and the need for an emerging global ethics for the common good

From the history of the Earth Charter, its integration in major international text, through its main themes, or following its principles, the Earth Charter is an educational tool to promote a sustainable way of life. Teaching about the Earth Charter can be achieved in many ways: Michigan States University (USA) developed a full course (see on the right).

3- Incorporate the Earth Charter in a Curriculum

In the Ubuntu Declaration, 11 of the world's foremost global educational organizations and scientific academies states that “there is a need to integrate a sustainable development focus into the curriculum at every level of education, starting in primary school.” See Earth Charter Curriculum Stimulus Material (link on the precedent page): different areas of study with each section including a main theme, background on the topic, activities and outcomes.

Get support: the Education Database

It will bring together the dispersed body of educators and educational materials that have been developed all over the world using the Earth Charter as a guiding framework. This information is classified by category, language, and country and made available via our web-site so that can be accessed by the world, with a description field and accompanying documentation if available.

www.earthcharter.org/education/database

Educators

The Earth Charterin your Local Community

in 2 steps

This page will focus onSeeking Engagement

Next page onImplementing the values

How to best approacha local community ?

Of course, things are different from one country to the other, and even within the same regions, but here are 2 tips that could apply to you:

1- Use your contacts and your existing activities.

2- To reach everyone faster, here are key targets:

• Schools: mobilize the kids, the parents will follow.

• Local Businesses: they have a big impact on the community.

• Associations: they bring together active people.

• Local Governments, since they are in charge of many decisions.

Seek the engagement of your Community

Using the Earth Charter as a guide in moving towards a sustainable community can help define interestsand values, and can lead to commonly shared vision and outcomes, even between diverse interests.

1- Define your strategy

• The purpose may be to integrate the Earth Charter as part of the common vision or aspiration for the community.• One first step is to have all people of your own group understands the vision of the Earth Charter.• You can find tips on this page and in the Appendix Tips to launch a project.

2- Use existing support and find inspiration in the actions of others (See the links below)

• In Johannesburg, a major international association of Local Governments affirmed their support to the Earth Charter:”To develop a new and deeper culture of sustainability in our cities and localities,(…) we ask all local governments to discuss endorsement of the Earth Charter”. Use this support when promoting the Earth Charter.

• Spain’s 8.104 municipalities received the Earth Charter from DEYNA Foundation. Only three months later, 142 had already endorsed the Earth Charter.

• Starting in the USA, but becoming international, the Earth Charter Community Summits are helping a lot to create a momentum in local communities. After this year’s summit, the mayor of Minneapolis proclaimed September 28th to be “Earth Charter Day”, and in Boulder the Centre for Sustainable Business Education was created to help businesses with the transition to sustainability.

Links: www.iclei.org/rioplusten for Johannesburg Call and Local Government Declaration, also web site of our partner ICLEIwww.earthchartersummits.org to find out more of the local outcomes of the Earth Charter Summits, and get more ideas on people’s local actions.www.earthcharter.org/communities/communities.htm to find more on the Earth Charter’s Local Community program

Local Communities

Rating your activities with the Earth CharterTo monitor your progress towards sustainability, or to identify the main needs:1- List all your activities, with eventually some decomposition in major tasks2- For each task or activity:

• Note the relevant principles or sub-principles of the Earth Charter• Rate yourself for each principle, fixing objectives, identifying gaps• Design a strategy towards your goals, keeping in mind the interconnectedness of

the similar efforts you might have to do for different tasks.

You can also use the Earth Charter as a values framework for assessing progress towards sustainability and for designing professional codes of conduct and accountability systems.

Getting key actorsof your Community toimplement the Charter

Getting endorsements is a big step indeed, but the values need to be implemented to lead us all towards sustainability.

You can help each of those organizations and, with their help, the local population to:

1. Understand the vision by having workshops put together for their members and others. This is especially essential to understand the concept of sustainable development.

2. Use the Earth Charter in their strategy planning process (see on this page).

3. Use it to create and rate their activities (see beside).

Implement the Earth Charter in your Community

3 Examples of Local Governments and associations implementing the Earth Charter

City of Joondalup, Australia:The City of Joondalup is applying the Earth Charter as part of its Strategic Planning process. A comparison between Council policies and the Earth Charter demonstrates significant common ground between the two and the value of the Earth Charter as a tool in local government strategic planning.

www.earthcharter.org/communities/Joondalup_casestudy.pdf

Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, Canada After its endorsement of the Earth Charter, TRCA used a very interesting chart to better understand the vision and prepare its implementation of the Earth Charter. They went through the Charter and pointed out the principles and sub-principles specially relevant to them. Then for each of them, they came up with their interpretation and comments of the sub-principle and how it can be implemented in their organization.

www.earthcharter.org/communities/TRCA_application_of_EC.doc

San Jose Municipality, Costa RicaThey developed a project for the training and integration of the Earth Charter principles into the daily activities of the city employees, as part of a vision towards a sustainable future. About 1800 employees participated, including police, administration, infrastructure, sanitation, and health departments.

www.earthcharter.org/country then go to Costa Rica

Local Communities

Why is the Earth Charter important?

Because people live on the Earth.

4 years old US Citizen

IYECC*

The International Youth Earth Charter Coalition

is made up of a core-group of young people from different countries committed to the Earth Charter, and active in bringing it to a larger number of young people worldwide.

Individuals and groups can join the IYECC with the only criteria of actively promoting the Earth Charter locally and internationally. We are aiming at having a cultural diverse group with a thorough understanding of the Earth Charter Process.

www.earthcharter.org/youth

Youth Activism and the Earth Charter

Youth is given a special place in the international movement towards sustainability, as the ones who will live with the consequences, and as agents of change. You can use the ideas described in other sections of this document, and

here are some specific ideas and resources you can use and projects you can join:

IYECC* activities – Implementing the values is becoming a higher priority through:• Earth Charter Youth Groups: Young people getting organized to act locally more efficiently.• Local Projects are going on in many places, as an Earth Charter Youth Forum in Mato Grosso, Brazil, Dec 2002• Participation in international Youth initiatives, as in the Youth Caucus for the World Summit on Sustainable

Development. It proved being efficient since the Earth Charter was part of youth declarations during the Summit.

Networking (see also links below):• Opportunities other age groups have less is educational projects students have to write or create: the Earth

Charter is a never ending subject and that’s a way to do your work while promoting those values you endorsed!• Schools, universities, and youth associations generally understand quickly the importance of the Earth Charter.

They are important places to have its values promoted and implemented.

Support:• Many national programs support youth projects, especially the ones linking North and South countries around

sustainable development and peace. Get information locally and use the Earth Charter for a deeper content.

Links – 2 IYECC Partners

www.EarthYouth.net : a network of young people acting for a more sustainable planet, working together on projects, and sharing experiences. Some of the most active international youth organizations are in the section About us / International Partners.

www.YouthEmploymentSummit.org : the launch of a Decade Campaign of Action, so that an additional 500 million young adults, especially youth facing poverty, will have productive and sustainable livelihoods by the year 2012.

Youth

Business has not been part of the main focus of the Earth

Charter Initiative so far.

Mainly due to our other priorities, it explains the lack of

case studies.

Here are a few ideas and please contact us if you want some

support in your actions.

A few reasons for a business to implement the Earth Charter

1- For many companies, hiring and keeping employees is a major cost. People will stay longer if they feel the ethic of their company suits theirs.

2- Customers are more and more demanding on the social responsibility of companies. The loss in publicity of a bad campaign is worth a lot of investment to be more sustainable.

3- Leading companies in the field are realizing that the return on investment is very quick: lower consumption of resources, better efficiency of employees, and better acceptance by the public are some of the reasons.

Why and how to implement the Earth Charter in Businesses

For businesses, the Earth Charter can be a values framework for assessing progresstowards sustainability and for designing professional codes of conduct and accountability systems.

Endorsed by the World Federation of Engineers, and Calvert ethical investment firm,the Earth Charter complements other initiatives like ISO 14001 and Agenda 21, by offering

the needed ethical framework, “the simpler guidelines around the large amount of regulations”.

At what level can you use the Earth Charter?• You can build the ethical code of conduct of your company on the Earth Charter. ManyOne Networks is

guided by the principles found in the Earth Charter: ”We believe that the Earth Charter represents the most complete and balanced expression of global social priorities yet achieved. We believe that every organization’s first responsibility is to the world as a whole, not to its narrower self-interests.”

• You can use it for for your Strategic Planning and to assess if your projects answer today’s challenges. See examples of Joondalup and TRCA in the Local Communities section

• You can promote the use of the Earth Charter to educate your employees on sustainable development.

Business companies can make significant contribution to society through its activities,its social investment and philanthropy programmes, and its engagement in public policy.

The way in which a company manages its activities and its relationship with other sectors is vital to the contribution it may offer to society as a whole.

Links on Sustainable Development for Businesses

www.wbcsd.org World Business Council on Sustainable Development

www.naturalstep.org A non for profit organization that helps businesses and governments integrate sustainability.

www.sustainablebusiness.com Information and networking in the field

Businesses

The Earth Charteris made of:

•Preamble

•16 Principles divided in 4 parts

•Conclusion “The Way Forward”

The Earth Charter (1/3)

Earth, Our HomeHumanity 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 SituationThe 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 AheadThe 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 ResponsibilityTo 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.

PreambleWe 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.

Respect and Care for the Community of LifeSocial and Economic Justice

Ecological IntegrityDemocracy, Non-violence, and Peace

The 16 Principles are supported by 61 sub-

principles.

This is a shorter version of the Earth Charter.

You can find the complete version in many languages

on www.earthcharter.org

The Earth Charter (2/3)

In order to fulfill these four broad commitments, it is necessary to:

II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY 5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach. 7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being. 8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.  III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative. 10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner. 11. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic

opportunity.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 peoples and minorities.  IV. DEMOCRACY, NONVIOLENCE, AND PEACE13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making,

and access to justice. 14. Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.16. Promote a culture of tolerance, non-violence, and peace.

PrinciplesI. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE1. 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.

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a

just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the

21st century.

It seeks to inspire in all peoples a new sense of global

interdependence and shared responsibility.

The Earth Charter (3/3)

As never before in history, common destiny beckons us to seek a new beginning. Such renewal is the promise of these Earth Charter principles. To fulfill this promise, we must commit ourselves to adopt and promote the values and objectives of the Charter.  This requires a change of mind and heart. It requires a new sense of global interdependence and universal responsibility. We must imaginatively develop and apply the vision of a sustainable way of life locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Our cultural diversity is a precious heritage and different cultures will find their own distinctive ways to realize the vision. We must deepen and expand the global dialogue that generated the Earth Charter, for we have much to learn from the ongoing collaborative search for truth and wisdom. Life often involves tensions between important values. This can mean difficult choices. However, we must find ways to harmonize diversity with unity, the exercise of freedom with the common good, short-term objectives with long-term goals. Every individual, family, organization, and community has a vital role to play. The arts, sciences, religions, educational institutions, media, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and governments are all called to offer creative leadership. The partnership of government, civil society, and business is essential for effective governance. In order to build a sustainable global community, the nations of the world must renew their commitment to the United Nations, fulfill their obligations under existing international agreements, and support the implementation of Earth Charter principles with an international legally binding instrument on environment and development.  Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.

The Way Forward

Respect and Care for the

Community of Life

Ecological Integrity

Social and Economic Justice

Democracy, Non-violence, and

Peace

"The Earth Charter embodies our shared destiny. By

adopting the principles of the Charter, we, the community of Earth in all its diversity,

reinforce our commitment to protect our common home".

Princess Basma BintTalal of Jordan

The Earth Charter Structure

"The Earth Charter vision reflects the conviction that

caring for people and caring for Earth are two

interdependent dimensions of one task.

We cannot care for people in a world with collapsing ecosystems, and we cannot care for Earth in a world with widespread poverty,

injustice, economic inequity, and violent

conflict".

Prof. Steven C. Rockefeller,Chair, Earth Charter Steering Committee

Find your way through the layered structure of the Earth Charter

A preamble briefly describing the major challenges and choices facing humanity.

16 Principles divided in 4 parts.

The 1st principle is the foundation of the next 3 and of all the other principles in the Charter.

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th principles in Part I (Respect and care for the community of life) deal with the three major spheres of human relationship and ethical responsibility: relations between human beings and the greater community of life, relations among human beings in society, and the relations between present and future generations.

12 main principles in Parts II, III, and IV spelling out more fully the meaning of the first four principles. The titles of these three parts--"Ecological Integrity," "Social and Economic Justice," and "Democracy, Non-violence, and Peace"--indicate the inclusive nature of the Earth Charter vision.

61 supporting principles dealing with critical issues are clarifying the meaning of the 16 main principles.

The conclusion, entitled "The Way Forward“, is a call for commitment and action.

The whole Charter is understood as a path to peace,

defined in the last principle as "the wholeness created by right relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part."

The Earth Charter includes the outcomes of 7 UN summits:Children New-York, 1990Earth Summit Rio, 1992Human Rights Vienna, 1993Population and Development

Cairo, 1994Social Development

Copenhagen, 1994Women Beijing, 1995Habitat Istanbul, 1996

More on the Earth Charter :

www.earthcharter.org/aboutus

• Background Documents• Frequently Asked Questions• Overview of Activities• PowerPoint Presentations• Information on the Earth

Charter Commissioners

The Earth Charter Initiative – General Information (1/2)

Origin and history of the Earth Charter In 1987 the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission) issued a call for creation of a new charter that would set forth fundamental principles for sustainable development. The drafting of an Earth Charter was part of the unfinished business of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. In 1994 Maurice Strong, the Secretary General of the Earth Summit and Chairman of the Earth Council, and Mikhail Gorbachev, President of Green Cross International, launched a new Earth Charter initiative with support from the Dutch government. An Earth Charter Commission was formed in 1997 to oversee the project and the wide international consultation process.An Earth Charter Secretariat was established at the Earth Council in Costa Rica. A new phase in the Initiative began with the official launching of the Earth Charter at the Peace Palace in The Hague on June 29, 2000.

Mission of the Earth Charter Initiative The mission of the Initiative going forward is to establish a sound ethical foundation for the emerging global society and to help build a sustainable world based on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace.

The goals of the Earth Charter Initiative are: • To promote the dissemination, endorsement, and implementation of the Earth Charter by civil society,

business, and government. • To encourage and support the educational use of the Earth Charter. • To seek endorsement of the Earth Charter by the UN.

The World Summit on Sustainable Development

(WSSD), Sept. 2002, was one of the main benchmarks of the Earth Charter Initiative. During that occasion the Charter received major and various support including the opening speech, 8 nations’ heads of states interventions, the main Local Communities and Education organizations worldwide. The Charter was in the first drafts of the political declaration, and influenced some of the final version: a lot remains to work with for the future.

WSSD Reporthttp://www.earthcharter.org/wssd/summit_report.docPreparatory Process Reporthttp://www.earthcharter.org/wssd/Prep_WSSD_Report.doc

The Earth Charter Handbook

A 2001 publication with in-depth information on the Initiative in 6 main parts:

What is the Earth Charter? (FAQ) Organizational StructureActivities and Programs How you can participateHistory Examples of the Earth Charter in Action

www.earthcharter.org/resources/publications/handbook.pdf

Earth CharterInternational Secretariat

PO Box 319-6100 San José – Costa Rica

Phone: + 506 205 1600Fax: + 506 249 3500

info@earthcharter.orgwww.earthcharter.org

The International Youth Earth Charter Coalition

supports youth organizations and individuals working to bring the Earth Charter and its values to young people. Thanks to its actions, youth declarations in WSSD included the Earth Charter.

www.earthcharter.org/youth

The Earth Charter Initiative – General Information (2/2)

Commissioners

Latin America and the CaribbeanMercedes Sosa (Co-chair)Leonardo BoffYolanda KakabadseShridath Ramphal

Asia and the PacificKamla Chowdhry (Co-chair)A. T. AriyaratneWakako HironakaPauline TangioraErna Witoelar

EuropeMikhail Gorbachev (Co-chair)Pierre CalameRuud LubbersFederico MayorHenriette RasmussenAwraham Soeterndorp

North AmericaMaurice F. Strong (Co-chair)John HoytElizabeth MaySteven C. RockefellerSevern Cullis Suzuki

Africa and the Middle EastAmadou Toumani Toure (Co-chair)Princess Basma Bint Talal of JordanWangari MaathaiMohamed Sahnoun

Organizational Structure

The Earth Charter Commission, established in 1997, oversaw the consultation and drafting process. It will meet infrequently in the future, and only for decisions concerning major changes in the goals and governance of the Initiative. A short biography of each member is available on:

www.earthcharter.org/aboutus/commissioners.htm

A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the operations and programs. It is formed by members of the Earth Charter Commission and co-chaired by Kamla Chowdhry (India), Yolanda Kakabadse (Ecuador), Ruud Lubbers (The Netherlands), and Steven Rockefeller (USA).

The Earth Charter International Secretariat works with the global network of the Earth Charter, and coordinates its major programs from Costa Rica, on the campus of the University for Peace.

National Focal Points and Local Contacts: In many countries, organizations and/or individuals work with the Earth Charter, disseminate it and promote its implementation. They are active in some or all of the programs of the Initiative, and usually have their own Earth Charter related projects. It is helpful to contact them before starting new projects to understand local opinions and ideas on what has been done, what works or not. Activities and contacts by country are available on:

www.earthcharter.org/country/

Example 3:

• Dream your community in 30 years.

• What are the problems you are facing to achieve that dream?

• What solutions can you find? What values do you need ?

• Compare them to the Earth Charter or draft your own Charter before comparing.

Examples of Earth Charter Workshops

Example 2:

An Earth Charter Introductory Workshop

During the workshop, the group explored their shared values, deepened their understanding of sustainability and interdependence, and came up with ways to take daily actions to contribute to a sustainable way of life.

« (Promoting the Earth Charter) is not about carrying the document around like a set of rules, but about how we connect with the values in it, and share those with others. »

The structure of thisworkshop can be found on:

www.earthcharter.org/youth/EC_introworkshop_Dumi_BRC.doc

Example 1:

Below is a sequence of reflections you can follow andillustrate with pictures, graphs and concrete examples to answer:

Why values? Why the Earth Charter? How do you inspire people to use it?  

1. The Challenges we face:Mahatma Gandhi: “Mother Earth has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” The Earth Charter: “Once basic needs have been met, human development is about 'being more' not having more.”

2. What is preventing us from solving them:Many people think that to change the unsustainable way we live, it's not the resources or knowledge needed we lack, but motivation, political will, and compassion.

3. We need a common statement of ethical values:We need to build bridges and bring different groups and culture together: “We are at once citizens of different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked” (The Earth Charter)The different aspects of human development (social, ecological, cultural, spiritual, political, economic) need to be balanced, and this is what the integrated vision of the Earth Charter offers.

4. Building on existing instruments: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, over 50 years old, is still very valuable, but is limited to human rights. The Earth Charter can be a next step to it.

5. The Earth Charter (Origin, History, Mission and goals): (Information in the precedent pages) It does not belong to any group and was developed through a global dialogue. It is at the same time a document, a process and a movement.

“When people are worried with the fact that they've never heard of it, I quite often say that I feel we're at the beginning of our own 50-year process of learning,

education and awareness-raising. That somehow reassures them.”

What you know,You don’t say.

What you don’t say,You forget.

These basic tips on projects are here to avoid the above.

Tips to launch a project

From the idea, to the realization …

One suggestion for developing a project (again, there are other ways)

1. Decide what you want to do.• Do you want to work locally or further (scope of your involvement)?

• Who in the society do you want to reach (your target audience)?

• What outcomes do you want to have?

• Do you want people to know about the Earth Charter or to implement its values?

2. With the resources you have (financial, knowledge, time, …), develop a few ideas.• Avoid starting with a huge plan if you are not used to such activities.

• It might be wise to work as a team, or as an association. At least seek for support and advices around you.

3. Make a quick survey to find out what has been done.• In the scope of your project: who can help you, who to create a partnership with.

• Seek for advices with others in the Earth Charter network.

4. Write a precise mission for your projects, with defined objectives.• See Basic Knowledge on Projects on this page for a few advices.

5. Break your project in logical steps and tasks with deadlines … and start acting.

6. Report progress and good ideas back to us, so that they can be used elsewhere !

Basic Knowledgeon Projects

A project is something unique, from its content and/or its environments, and has a defined beginning and end.

Its mission statement must be clear and shared by all actors. It can be useful to be precise regarding what is and what is not in the project’s scope.

Its objectives reflect “Who gets What When”. Achievable deadlines are necessary.

The strategies and planning following from the objectives must be built and agreed on by all actors in concert.