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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1607 ..
MS TUCKER (continuing):
I attended at least one of the three consultations held in Canberra in 1999, which were sponsored by the previous government. At the last forum, Mr Smyth agreed to present the Earth Charter to the Assembly when finalised.
The Earth Charter Commission approved the final version of the charter in March 2000. The next phase of the initiative is to have the charter endorsed by the United Nations as part of the Rio+10 Earth Summit, which is happening in late August in Johannesburg, South Africa. However, the Earth Charter can also be used as a stand-alone document in educational activities for developing an understanding of the critical challenges currently facing humanity, and to provide a values framework for guiding the strategic planning and day-to-day operations of governments, businesses and other community organisations.
The Earth Charter has a preamble, 16 main principles and supporting objectives. The principles are simply stated, but convey great meaning. They are:
1. 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.
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 wellbeing.
8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
9. 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 wellbeing, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
13. 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, nonviolence, and peace.
It would be hard to find a more visionary and comprehensive set of principles.
The Earth Charter Commission is encouraging organisations to endorse the Earth Charter to signify a commitment to the spirit and aims of the document and a commitment to work for the implementation of the values and principles of the Earth Charter.
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