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Human and Earth rights represent
an ideal and a supreme goal which can give meaning to life in society.
Throughout the history of humanity, the rights of human beings have been
defined and enshrined with reference to the values of the dignity
of each individual and of freedom, equality and justice. These values
are universal. The Earth Community Organization has accepted
and enshrined them into its own ways of behaving and dealing with all peoples.
Cultures and societies differ so much that their expression takes varying
forms, but diversity does not affect the foundation of inalienable values
constituted by human rights. Each individual is recognized as a representative
of humankind.
Human dignity resides in each of us, and this dignity
must be recognized and respected by all.
It was shown during the World Congress on Managing
and Measuring Sustainable Development - Global Community Action 1 held
August 2000 that there is a close interdependence between the human health,
the conduct of the people, the quality of their environment, the type of
their professional occupation, the motives and objectives of their lives,
their religious beliefs, the relationships with other people and with the
natural elements.
The Earth Community Organization recognizes
that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Freedom
is both a principle and a value. Individuals have the freedom of decision
and action to the extent that their actions do not interfere with the rights
of others. It is because human beings are free that they are subject of
law and are creators and holders of rights. Freedom and human rights are
therefore basic to each other. Fundamental freedoms are far from
being enjoyed by all but it is our common future, it is part of our Vision
statement for year 2024. Human freedom is a value to be attained. Equality
is a value, an ideal for people who live a hard day-to-day life of economic
inequalities such as unemployment, and social inequalities caused by the
privileges enjoyed by some people and the exploitation of others, and inequality
of educational and health opportunities. Freedom and equality are both
indispensable. Equality and freedom are therefore accepted and enshrined
as universal values by which the Earth Community Organization
will governed its affairs. As universal values they are concerned with
our ability to decide, to choose values and to participate in the making
of laws, and they are dependent on the recognition of other people. These
values forbid any form of discrimination on the grounds of race, nationality,
sex, religion, age or mother tongue. By accepting both values of freedom
and equality we can achieve justice. One can be answerable for one's
actions in a 'just' way only if judgements are given in the framework of
democratically established laws and courts. Social justice is another
universal value to which Earth Community aspires and accepts
as a universal value. Social justice consists in sharing wealth with a
view to greater equality and the equal recognition of each individual's
merits. All persons within a given society deserve equal access to goods
and services that fulfill basic human needs.
We also accept human rights as part of our universal values
from which we base our decisions. Human rights and democracy are closely
intertwined. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is one of
the characteristics of a democracy. The typical fundamental freedoms of
a democracy (freedom of expression, thought, assembly, and association)
are themselves part of human rights. These freedoms were present during
the World Congress as we have dialogued and debated on the rights
of different people and their accompanying obligations and responsibilities
as human beings. These freedoms can exist everywhere. Democracy
is a political system based on the participation of the people. It foresees
the separation of powers among the judiciary, the legislative and the executive
authorities, as well as free and regular elections.
The Glass Bubble concept
of
"a Global Community"
The Glass Bubble is designed to illustrate the
concept of "a global community" to elementary school children as opposed
to the idea a community is "the street where I live."
It is an imaginary space enclosed in a glass bubble. Inside
this is everything the child can see: above to the clouds, below into the waters
of a lake or in the earth, to the horizons in front, in back, and on the sides.
Every creature, every plant, every person, every structure that is visible to
him(her) is part of this "global community."
By focusing on familiar ground in this manner it can be taught
that every living thing within the glass bubble is there because his/her food is
there, his/her home is there, all he/she needs to survive is there. And every creature
will stay as long as what his/her needs remains to be available within that
"global community."
Look up, look down, to the right, to the left, in front and
behind you.
Imagine all this space is inside a giant clear glass bubble.
This is "a global community."
Wherever you go, you are inside a "global"
community. Every thing, every living creature there, interacts one upon the
other. Influences inter-weave and are responsible for causes and effects. Worlds
within worlds orbiting in and out of one another's space, having their being.
Your presence has influence on everything else inside your immediate global
community.
Learn to be aware of that and act accordingly, to create good
or destroy, to help or to hurt. Your choice.
Now let us explore this Global Community that we have
visited and discover why each member is important ~ each bird, each tree, each
little animal, each insect, plant and human being ~ and how all work together to
create a good place to live.
You walk like a giant in this Global Community. To all
the tiny members you are so big, so powerful, even scary…
You can make or break their world. But by knowing their needs,
and taking care, you can help your whole Global Community be a good one.
From the experience in your life and local community tell us:
* Why are you important to this "Global
Community"?
* Why is it important to you?
* What do you like about it?
* What bothers you about it?
* Anything need to be done?
* What is really good there?
* What is very very important?
* What is not so important?
* What is not good?
* What is needed to keep the good things?
* What could make them even better?
* What could you do to keep the good things good?
* Could they help get rid of bad things?
* What unimportant things need to go?
* How could you help get rid of these things?
to sustain Earth, humanity and all life.
Let each child be aware he either grows up to be a person who
helps or a person who destroys.
Each child makes his own choice. He creates his own future in this way. He
becomes a responsible citizen.
This may or may not inspire some sort of creative project of
what "could be" to aid this Global Community to remain healthy.
To interact knowledgeably within one's global community has to
be taught ~ especially to urban children. It has to be brought to them very
clearly all life forms interact and depend upon other life forms for survival.
They need to know "reasons why" ignorance of nature's law causes such
damage, and why working in harmony with nature produces such good results.
The concept of the Glass Bubble can be extended to
include the planet Earth and all the "global communities" contained
therein.
The following definition of The Global Community is
appropriate:
"The Global Community is defined as being all
that exits or occurs at any location at any time between the Ozone layer above
and the core of the planet below."
Definition of sustainable development
The technical definition being "a sound balance among the
interactions of the impacts (positive and/or negative), or stresses, on the four
major quality systems: People, Economic Development, Environment and
Availability of Resources," and
The none-technical definition being "a sound balance among the
interactions designed to create a healthy economic growth, preserve
environmental quality, make a wise use of our resources, and enhance social
benefits."
When there is a need to find a solution to a
problem or a concern, a sound solution would be to choose a measure or conduct an action, if possible, which
causes reversible damage as opposed to a measure or an action causing an irreversible
loss. Earth Community Organization
can help you realized your actions by coordinating efforts efficiently together.
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