[spectre] EARTH EMERGENCY - A CALL TO ACTION
domiziana giordano
domiziana@nexus.it
Fri, 26 Jul 2002 15:20:49 +0200
EARTH EMERGENCY - A CALL TO ACTION
An acute State of Emergency exists on Earth, imperiling its climate,
its life support systems and the lives of billions of people. The
inter-connected crises of environmental degradation and the
destitution of a third of humanity are worsened by a profound failure
of world governance.
We are all called upon to implement the planetary ethic expressed in
the Earth Charter - of respect for life and human dignity, as the
basis for political thought and action. By working together through
our global and local networks, accelerating initiatives already under
way, we can shift the global balance of power in favour of restoring
the Earth and assuring the sustainable well-being of present and
future generations. In particular, we can use the current decade to -
1. rapidly phase in renewable energy technology in place of current
polluting energy systems
2. shift taxes from labour to the use of resources, pollution and
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3. create an ecological economy, compatible with the Earth's
ecosystems - acknowledging that perpetual economic growth is not
possible in a finite world
4. build global co-operation towards restoring local economies -
prioritising local production for local consumption, and minimizing
the need for long-distance transport of goods
5. make sustainable agriculture the global norm - assuring that
security of food supplies is achieved with minimal environmental
impacts
6. honour and protect traditional knowledge and prohibit patents on
life
7. repay the historical and ecological dept of the countries of the
north to those of the south
8. reform worldwide monetary and financial systems to protect and
enhance the well-being of human communities and the natural
environment on which they depend.
9. initiate a major shift of funds from armaments production towards
environmental security - providing adequate water, nutrition,
healthcare, shelter and sustainable livelihoods for all
10. create a participative Earth Democracy - achieving fundamental
reform of global governance in response to the needs of people and
nature rather than of powerful vested interests
Finance is always made available at times of war or disaster. We
challenge world leaders at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on
Sustainable Development to acknowledge the Earth's State of Emergency
and to commit the resources required to restore ecosystems, alleviate
hunger and misery and create sustainable human settlements.
To achieve these aims, we call for a global alliance of all sections
of society. The creativity of all of humanity is needed, using
traditional knowledge, art, design, engineering, modern science and
business as tools for creating a sustainable and thriving
relationship between people and planet. Another world is possible.
Let's make it happen.
To sign this call, please contact earthemergency@freeuk.com
<mailto:earthemergency@freeuk.com>, or visit www.earthemergency.com
<http://www.earthemergency.com>, or write to Earth Emergency, 21
Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6RA.
Signed (so far)
Schumacher Society, Bristol
Positive News, UK
Sustainable Society, London
Gaia Foundation, London
Right Livelihood Foundation, London
Ecologist Magazine, London
L' Ecologiste, Paris
Resurgence Magazine, Hartland
International Society for Ecology and Culture, Dartington
Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, Delhi
Henry George Foundation, London
ROSE, Findhorn
Simultaneous Policy
The Action Research Unit, Delhi
Management Institute for Social Change (MINSOC), Asia
Sustainable Development Network (SUSDEN), Malaysia
Sustainable Kuantan Initiative, Malaysia
Transnational Institute, Amsterdam
Vandana Shiva
Edward Goldsmith
Helena Norberg Hodge
James Robertson
Susan George
Charles Secrett
Fritjof Capra
Satish Kumar
Jakob von Uexkuell
Liz Hosken
Herbert Girardet
Jane Taylor
Nick Nielson
Francesca Romana Giordano
Michael Hill
John Bunzl
Shauna Crockett-Burrows
Annelies Borsboom
The 1972 Stockholm Declaration states a clear obligation to guard the
environment and protect it from damage:
"Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate
conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a
life of dignity and well-being, and he bears a solemn responsibility
to protect and improve the environment for present and future
generations."
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Francesca Romana Giordano
Sustainable Society
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21 Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6RA
Phone: +44 (0)20 7604 4321 Mobile: +44 (0) 7710 124 669
E-mail: francesca@franmail.freeuk.com
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The Sustainable Society Directory
Web: http://www.sustainable-society.co.uk
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Positive News
http://www.positivenews.org.uk
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DG / DSI domiziana@DigitalSistersIndeed.org
It was pure bliss
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 when I finally achieved silence.
> http://www.digitalsistersindeed.org/
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