The Earth Charter Initiative - Values and Principles for a Sustainable Future

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Mission

The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace.

United Kingdom


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England

In March 2006, at Imperial College London, Earth Charter International convened an invitational seminar with about seventy-five UK opinion leaders in sustainable development called, "The Value of Values: Global Ethics and the Future of Sustainable Development". The seminar's purpose was to introduce the Charter to this group, and to set the stage for the expansion of Earth Charter activity in the United Kingdom.
 
Participants ranged from sustainability directors of companies to heads of research institutions, from representatives of leading NGOs to local government officials, from well-known financiers to small business entrepreneurs. A strong youth contingent was also invited, reflecting the Earth Charter Initiative's prioritization on the substantive engagement of youth in sustainable development work. ECI has a complete multi-media package documenting this ground-breaking seminar, which featured internationally renowned speakers as John Elkington, Alexander Likhotal, Ruud Lubbers, Herman Mulder, Jane Nelson, and Princess Basma Bint Talal.
 
In February 2007, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Earth Charter Commissioner, Wangari Maathai, was the guest of honor at the special seminar on the “The Earth Charter, Past and Future” at Exeter College, one of the oldest colleges at Oxford University. The seminar brought together a small number of international Earth Charter leaders with members of the newly-formed Earth Charter UK Trust. During that time the Earth Charter UK was established. Together this group took a fresh look at the Earth Charter's past and future -- partly with an international focus, and partly with an eye to the Earth Charter's future in the United Kingdom.
 
In September 2008, a diverse group of representatives of faith-based organizations in the UK came together to explore the Earth Charter. Among the key speakers were Dr. Doug Bourn, chair of the Earth Charter Council of Trustees in the UK, Rabbi Jeffrey Newman, Founder of Earth Charter UK and Michael Slaby.

Since the Earth Charter UK formation in 2007, the participants of the Earth Charter UK have worked to introduce the EC nationally, regionally and locally within the ‘sectors’ of Education, Youth, Faith Communities, Business and ‘government’ including NGO’s.

They have set up an organisational framework (a group of Trustees and Patrons) and are seeking to be granted charitable status which will provide them with a number of advantages. Founding Sponsor www.pentland.com has offered unique support.

Possibly the most important development in the UK with regard to the EC has been the endorsement by Bournemouth Borough Council and this has been followed by the endorsement also of the Bournemouth 2026 Partnership, which involves 200 local voluntary and statutory groups. During 2009, the Earth Charter UK looks forward to continuing work with the Charter in schools in the area, and the involvement of local business. All this came about through the work of a local Inter-faith group www.eco-faith.org which saw the environment and climate change as the greatest issue facing Earth and the Earth Charter as a way of thinking about such issues which could unite many people.

In this way, the process of introducing the Earth Charter in the UK shows how true is the phrase that “the individual can make a difference.” This is also true of individual organisations. Once the inspiration of the Charter, combined with its practical, specific detailed requirements, has communicated with a person or group then change and development can happen very quickly. You can find more information on the South West of England, Faith and Interfaith, Education and Business if you go here.

Scotland

In October 2003 Scotland’s Second Earth Charter Community Summit took place. It was organized by members of Earth Charter Scotland in conjunction with Fife Council, Benarty Regeneration Action Group, the Lochore Country Meadows Country Park Rangers, as well as Rev. Monica Michelin-Salomon from TIBAL, an interfaith organization. The main theme of the event was “Propagating the Seeds of Change”. Action for change, a local NGO, has been promoting the Earth Charter through its activities for a number of years.



The first Earth Charter Student Group was formed to UK in September 2009.



Faith and Climate Change Conference held in London

Earth Charter UK Affiliate Rabbi Jeffrey Newman and Michael Slaby, Earth Charter Coordinator of the Jacob Soetendorp Institute for Human Values, participated in the Faith and Climate Change Conference in London

Interfaith Initiative moved Bournemouth Borough Council to adopt the Earth Charter

Bournemouth Borough Council has become the first UK district council to adopt the Earth Charter - which offers a foundation for a peaceful, just and sustainable global society – thanks to the efforts of two Reform rabbis, Neil Amswych and Jeffrey Newman.

 

British Journal of Religious Education explores the Earth Charter

The latest edition of the British Journal of Religious Education contains an insightful essay on the use of the Earth Charter in religious classrooms. In their article „Ethics in a global world: the Earth Charter and religious education“ the authors reflect on the potential of the Charter to draw together the themes of human rights, citizenship, globalization and ecological responsibility and consider the value of the Earth Charter for religious education in pluralist societies.

Active Faith Earth Charter Seminar held at Taplow Court, UK

On September 25, a diverse group of representatives of faith-based organizations in the UK came together to explore the Earth Charter. The workshop took place in the beautiful mid 19th century mansion of Taplow Court set high above the Thames near Maidenhead, the head office of Soka Gakkai International in the United Kingdom. The seminar was hosted by Earth Charter UK in cooperation with the national commission of UNESCO and the Development Research Center of the University of London.

British Muslims Launch "Islam is Peace" Campaign

Our friends at the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environment Sciences (IFEES) in Birmingham made us aware of an important public awareness campaign launched by British Muslims to educate the general public about the peaceful message of Islam. ECI gladly helps to spread the word about this inspiring initiative that addresses some of today's core challenges to intercultural and interreligious understanding: the widespread misconceptions about Islam in Western media as well as the hijacking of the sacred texts of Islam by a small group of extremists that tries to legitimize its violent conduct in religious terms.

Oxford University Seminar Kicks Off Earth Charter UK, Wangari Maathai as Special Guest

On 9-10 February, a special seminar on "The Earth Charter, Past and Future" was held at Exeter College, one of the oldest colleges at Oxford University. The Earth Charter UK Trust was formally launched at this seminar to the music of New Orleans Jazz, and with the powerful symbol of a special tree planting ceremony, whose special guest of honor was Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Earth Charter Commissioner, Wangari Maathai.

EC Principles Support The Converging World - UK/India

The principles of the Earth Charter are being applied by a new organization called The Converging World, which has launched innovative projects to build wind turbines in Southern India with finances from UK companies and individuals.

The Value of Values Seminar 2006: Podcasts, Report and DVD

In March 2006, Earth Charter International sponsored a special leadership seminar in London the topic of "The Value of Values: Global Ethics and the Future of Sustainable Development."

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