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THE UBUNTU GROUP
In the 20th century, advances in science, technology and medicine afforded mankind startling economic progress, wealth, and an increase in the average lifespan. The downside of these advances is the destruction of the environment, and an increase in the scale of damage caused by war. Economic growth has given rise to many injustices, such as increasing disparity in wealth. Sometimes the damage done to the environment is irreparable. After two world wars and the cold war that followed, many people were killed, or lost their property in regional conflicts. War is the greatest destructive force to the environment. The 20th Century bore wealthy countries, and prosperous people, but the poor countries have become all the more disadvantaged. Population growth will also place yet further burden on the environment. With further economic growth, the world's resources will be further depleted, causing yet more damage to the environment. The world's less privileged people will be further disadvantaged by the environmental changes brought about by global warming. This in turn could give rise to environmental refugees. Poverty breeds discontent. Should such discontent boil over in to conflict, it will produce yet further poverty and environmental damage. At present, a mere 20% of the nations of the world consume 80% of the world's resources. "Global Fairness", the challenge of creating an equitable global society that will break the vicious circle of conflict and environmental degradation, is the issue of the new century. I believe that we as members of the human race must make the creation of such an equitable society our mission. It was against this background that in 1987 the Bruntland Commission expressed the opinion that treaties and laws were not enough to curb environmental problems, and that what was really needed was a philosophy, an ethical outlook, a system of norms that would change people's way of thinking and behavior. The Bruntland Commission published a report called "Our Common Future", calling for the creation of the Earth Charter. Subsequently, at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the theme of "sustainable development" was adopted. At the Rio Summit, the Climate Change Convention, and the Biodiversity Convention were signed, and discussions towards the adoption of the Desertification Treaty started. However, although several NGOs, including IUCN, submitted proposals regarding the Earth Charter, no agreement was reached. Following the Rio Summit, a new movement towards the creation of the Earth Charter started. The movement centered on Mikhail Gorbachov, the former President of the Soviet Union (the representative for Green Cross International), and Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the Rio Summit. In 1995 a meeting was held at the Peace Palace of the Hague. NGOs, religious groups, academics, international organizations, and politicians from around the world attended. A proposal for the creation of the "Earth Charter" was made, and there followed a two-day brain storming session to discuss its content. I was fortunate enough to participate in this, as was Kazuo Takahashi, currently a professor at the International Christian University. 2 years later in 1997, a second meeting was held in Rio, in conjunction with Rio plus 5. A committee for the drafting of the Earth Charter was set up, with 24 members representing different regions from around the world, different generations, and professions. With the draft charter as our foundation, and with the suggestion of Maurice Strong to solicit and implement a broad range opinion from around the world, and to make the charter a "people's charter", the work of the committee spread around the world. I participated in the Earth Charter Committee from Japan. In order to solicit opinion from the Japanese people, I translated the English version in to Japanese. With the aid of Green Cross Japan, a group under the presidency of Saburo Kato, we reconsidered the Earth Charter. Following our discussions, we made amendments to the draft, and submitted our proposals to the Earth Charter Committee. It was in this way, with opinions being gathered from around the world that S.Rockfeller, professor of philosophy, completed a draft text of the Earth Charter. In March 2000, the Earth Charter Drafting Committee gathered in Unesco headquarters in Paris, and decided the final version. The following June, we gathered again in the Hague Peace Palace, and the Earth Charter was formally promulgated in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen. The Earth Charter states the values and principles required to share responsibility toward the earth, our only home, and to create a peaceful, sustainable and fair society based on compassion to others, and to other living things. It sets out the scope of actions required to this end. In short, it sets out to prevent further degradation of the environment by amending the current pattern of mass production, consumption and disposal, and by using the earth's resources prudently to make society sustainable. It seeks to preserve the entire global environment, while paying consideration to the people of the different regions, to their cultures and ways of life. It is a peaceful and democratic attempt to create a society that protects human rights, and which will exterminate poverty, raise literacy levels, and respect the status of women and minorities. The work to date has been a great success, and I am grateful to all those who have given freely of their time and energy for our cause. However, the work to realize the ideals set out in the Charter is only just beginning. It is mindful of this that we are gathered here today. In September 2001, the Earth Charter Commission of Japan was founded with the goal of spreading the ideals of the Charter. We hope that the UN Decade of Education will provide a fitting setting in which the Charter can be promoted. So far, we have considered several concrete plans to raise awareness of the Charter and its ideals at the grass roots level:
We invite any new ideas for promotion of the Charter. Please do not hesitate to make whatever suggestions you think might be useful. The Earth Charter brings to mind the basic need for people of the 21st century to create a peaceful and safe society, and act with consideration to each other, and to other living things. I sincerely hope
that you will all help us to further the cause of the Earth Charter. |
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