consider that climate change and environmental deterioration
constitute serious threats to the health and well-being of present humankind, other species
and even more so of future generations, understanding these problems
to be the consequence of our excessive use of fossil fuels and other
natural resources and generally wasteful lifestyles;
recognize increased greenhouse gases, the near depletion of
relatively clean and efficient fossil fuels, declining biodiversity
and increasing pollutants in the air, water and soil to be symptoms
of distress calling us to urgent action;
further recognize that climate change and environmental
deterioration result in environmental injustice, that those most
harmed have no voice in the economic and political decisions that
cause this injustice--future generations, the young and those in
countries at whose expense we profit;
acknowledge the abundance of well-researched warnings of harm,
from reputable experts in government departments, international
agencies, academic and other institutions, and the nearly total
absence of action on the comprehensive and well-articulated
recommendations for remedy;
understand that the waging of war and the preparation for it, in
addition to all their harmful direct consequences, also contribute
to environmental damage and divert scarce resources from such uses
as health, education, development and environmental remediation, so
that the peaceful resolution of conflicts is a parallel concern; we
recognize further that resource depletion itself is a cause for war.
We accordingly affirm the need for profound
changes in our political, economic and cultural systems.
While we believe that technological advances may help in the
solution of many problems, we do not believe that there are technical fixes for everything, so that we must change the way we
live and work to meet the challenge. We encourage examination of the
underlying philosophical and spiritual principles that guide human
activity.
We believe that people are capable of growth and change, and can
rethink and reformulate the required changes. We take as positive
examples the achievement of such reforms as the ending of slavery
and apartheid, the recognition of human rights of all kinds, the
development of democracy in many nations and the early stages of
international co-operation in the United Nations and its agencies.
As individuals we pledge ourselves to work
towards fundamental change of our political, economic and cultural
systems in order to develop a viable relationship with the planet
that sustains us.
