The Earth Charter - The Ark of Hope -

The Ark of Hope, a 49" 124.5cm x 32" 81.3cm x 32" 81.3cm wooden chest was created as a place of refuge for the Earth Charter document, an international peoples treaty for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. The Earth Charter will be presented to the United Nations in 2002 for endorsement. Visit www.earthcharter.org for complete information on the Earth Charter. The Ark of Hope also provides refuge for Temenos Books, Images for Global Healing, Peace, and Gratitude. Over 300 handcrafted 8" x 8" x 2" books were made by artists, schoolchildren, and Vermont citizens, expressing their individual and collaborative prayers and affirmations for Earth. The Earth Charter's 16 principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society were the guiding vision behind the creation of these books.

The Ark was designed and painted by Sally Linder, built by cabitnetmaker Kevin Jenness and lined by fabric artist Beth Haggart. It was crafted from a single plank of sycamore from a tree in Germany. The five painted panels that form the sides and top of the Ark each represent the flora and fauna of the world as seen through the images of the world's traditional artists. Each panel visualizes a season, a direction, an element, and a universal symbol. Symbols of faith from traditional religions and indigenous societies surround the top panel of "Spirit" that honors the children and young animals of the world. The 96" carrying poles are unicorn horns which render evil ineffective.

Inside the Ark, the Earth Charter is handwritten on papyrus paper. The University of Cairo supplied Sally with instructions for making paper with papyrus – a plant known to have the ability to purify water of pollutants in the world. The papyrus was harvested from the Living Systems, Inc. waste treatment plant in South Burlington, VT, soaked for two weeks in Sally’s bathtub, then pressed using a 90,000 press at Landell Papers, a Vermont papermaker in East Topsham. The Ark of Hope was created for a celebration of the Earth Charter that was held at Shelburne Farms, Vermont on September 9., 2001. The event, for love of Earth, featured keynote speaker Jane Goodall, global peace walker Satish Kumar, musician Paul Winter, and Dr. Steven C. Rockefeller, a member of the Earth Charter Commission. Visit website http://phlox.gardeners.com/earthcharter for a description pf the event and http://www.jasonhouston.com/earthcharter for photos of the day

On September 11, volunteers were cleaning up from the September 9th event when news of the New York and Washington, DC tragedies was heard. Sally Linder’s immediate, spontaneous response to the horror was to begin walking the Ark of Hope to New York and the United Nations. Joined by Andrea Morgante and Janet Fredericks, they carried the 200-pound chest across the meadows of the farm to Rt. 7 where they were joined by Susan Diehl Dufort. Many other walkers have since joined this pilgrimage to the United Nations, bringing with them hope and the vision of the Earth Charter to communities along the way. The Ark of Hope with the Temenos Books will be gifted to the United Nations.

Recognizing that the United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems which challenge humanity, the 500-pound Ark of Hope carrying the Earth Charter and the books was walked over 350 miles from Vermont to New York City, USA and exhibited at the United Nations during the World Summit PrepComII in January-February 2002. It was also exhibited at the Interfaith Center of New York.

At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Ark of Hope will be ceremoniously offered to the world by the children of Diepsloot, an informal settlement in Johannesburg.

The Ark of Hope carrying the vision of the Earth Charter belongs to Earth and humankind. Its life grows when it is shared. It is hoped that nations around the world will bring the Ark of Hope to their people, continuing to introduce the Earth Charter to audiences globally, spreading hope and the recognition of the interdependence of justice, and economic and ecological integrity, which together build a culture of peace.

This is scary stuff. Whenever they begin to speak of "sustainable" anything, "social justice," or "environmental justice," it is time to reach for the ol' shootin' iron:

PRINCIPLES

I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE

1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.

Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings. Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings and in the intellectual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual potential of humanity.

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

Accept that with the right to own, manage, and use natural resources comes the duty to prevent environmental harm and to protect the rights of people.

Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and power comes increased responsibility to promote the common good.

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

Ensure that communities at all levels guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms and provide everyone an opportunity to realize his or her full potential.

Promote social and economic justice, enabling all to achieve a secure and meaningful livelihood that is ecologically responsible.

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

Recognize that the freedom of action of each generation is qualified by the needs of future generations.

Transmit to future generations values, traditions, and institutions that support the long-term flourishing of Earth's human and ecological communities.

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

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.

Adopt at all levels sustainable development plans and regulations that make environmental conservation and rehabilitation integral to all development initiatives.

Establish and safeguard viable nature and biosphere reserves, including wild lands and marine areas, to protect Earth's life support systems, maintain biodiversity, and preserve our natural heritage.

Promote the recovery of endangered species and ecosystems. Control and eradicate non-native or genetically modified organisms harmful to native species and the environment, and prevent introduction of such harmful organisms.

Manage the use [Boris says: THEY manage the use, not the free market...in other words, this is the iron fist of POWER] of renewable resources such as water, soil, forest products, and marine life in ways that do not exceed rates of regeneration and that protect the health of ecosystems.

Manage the extraction and use of non-renewable resources such as minerals and fossil fuels [ditto] in ways that minimize depletion and cause no serious environmental damage.

6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.

Take action to avoid the possibility of serious or irreversible environmental harm even when scientific knowledge is incomplete or inconclusive. [in other words, we can do anything based upon no scientific evidence whatever, if the "possibility" exists that "harm" can occur.]

ce the burden of proof on those who argue that a proposed activity will not cause significant harm and make the responsible parties liable for environmental harm.

Ensure that decision making addresses the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long distance, and global consequences of human activities.

Prevent pollution of any part of the environment and allow no build-up of radioactive, toxic, or other hazardous substances. [Which would pretty much demand that we all commit suicide tomorrow]

Avoid military activities damaging to the environment.

7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle the materials used in production and consumption systems, and ensure that residual waste can be assimilated by ecological systems.

Act with restraint and efficiency when using energy, and rely increasingly on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Promote the development, adoption, and equitable transfer of environmentally sound technologies.

Internalize the full environmental and social costs of goods and services in the selling price, and enable consumers to identify products that meet the highest social and environmental standards. [we know better than capitalism what the costs 'ought' to be, and we will impose it upon YOU. Say hello to $10/gallon gas]

Ensure universal access to health care [guess who pays?] that fosters reproductive health and responsible reproduction. [abortion for everybody!]

Adopt lifestyles that emphasize the quality of life and material sufficiency in a finite world.

8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.

Support international scientific and technical cooperation on sustainability, with special attention to the needs of developing nations.

Recognize and preserve the traditional knowledge and spiritual wisdom in all cultures that contribute to environmental protection and human well-being.

Ensure that information of vital importance to human health and environmental protection, including genetic information, remains available in the public domain.

III. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.

Guarantee the right to potable water, clean air, food security, uncontaminated soil, shelter, and safe sanitation, allocating the national and international resources required. [Tax the West until its ears bleed in order to "allocate" resources to Third-World basket cases that nothing can help]

Empower every human being with the education and resources to secure a sustainable livelihood, and provide social security and safety nets for those who are unable to support themselves. [Remember, this is world-wide, and who pays?]

Recognize the ignored, protect the vulnerable, serve those who suffer, and enable them to develop their capacities and to pursue their aspirations.

10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.

Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations.

Enhance the intellectual, financial, technical, and social resources of developing nations, and relieve them of onerous international debt.

Ensure that all trade supports sustainable resource use, environmental protection, and progressive labor standards.

Require multinational corporations and international financial organizations to act transparently in the public good, and hold them accountable for the consequences of their activities.

11. Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.

Secure the human rights of women and girls and end all violence against them.

Promote the active participation of women in all aspects of economic, political, civil, social, and cultural life as full and equal partners, decision makers, leaders, and beneficiaries.

Strengthen families and ensure the safety and loving nurture of all family members.

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.

Eliminate discrimination in all its forms, such as that based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, language, and national, ethnic or social origin.

Affirm the right of indigenous peoples to their spirituality, knowledge, lands and resources and to their related practice of sustainable livelihoods.

Honor and support the young people of our communities, enabling them to fulfill their essential role in creating sustainable societies.

Protect and restore outstanding places of cultural and spiritual significance.

IV. DEMOCRACY, NONVIOLENCE, AND PEACE

13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.

Uphold the right of everyone to receive clear and timely information on environmental matters and all development plans and activities which are likely to affect them or in which they have an interest.

Support local, regional and global civil society, and promote the meaningful participation of all interested individuals and organizations in decision making.

Protect the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, association, and dissent.

Institute effective and efficient access to administrative and independent judicial procedures, including remedies and redress for environmental harm and the threat of such harm. [in other words, "redress" would be payable if someone claims a threat of harm...]

Eliminate corruption in all public and private institutions.

Strengthen local communities, enabling them to care for their environments, and assign environmental responsibilities to the levels of government where they can be carried out most effectively.

14. Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.

Provide all, especially children and youth, with educational opportunities that empower them to contribute actively to sustainable development.

Promote the contribution of the arts and humanities as well as the sciences in sustainability education.

Enhance the role of the mass media in raising awareness of ecological and social challenges.

Recognize the importance of moral and spiritual education for sustainable living.

15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration. [including, I suppose, cockroaches, AIDS viruses, et al.]

Prevent cruelty to animals kept in human societies and protect them from suffering.

Protect wild animals from methods of hunting, trapping, and fishing that cause extreme, prolonged, or avoidable suffering.

Avoid or eliminate to the full extent possible the taking or destruction of non-targeted species.

16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence, and peace. Encourage and support mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation among all peoples and within and among nations. Implement comprehensive strategies to prevent violent conflict and use collaborative problem solving to manage and resolve environmental conflicts and other disputes.

Demilitarize national security systems to the level of a non-provocative defense posture, and convert military resources to peaceful purposes, including ecological restoration. [After WE get done, Mexico can invade the U.S. militarily, and march all the way to Canada. No more long wait for the 'reconquista'...]

Eliminate nuclear, biological, and toxic weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Ensure that the use of orbital and outer space supports environmental protection and peace.

Recognize that peace is 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.

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