Keepers of Creation Church
First Published - August 3, 2003
Open Letter
To
Kings,
Queens, Heads of State, Presidents, Leaders of the World
Religious Leaders of the World
All Citizens of the World who must take charge if the Leaders will not
Freedom, Prosperity and Justice are Human Rights that are Gifts from God.
Dear
Esteemed Heads of State and to Esteemed Heads of Religious Groups:
It is
presumed that you make the best possible effort to lead well. However, I respectfully suggest that some things
are not working as they should in this world.
There
are poor, hungry, sick, underpaid workers and exploited individuals in every country in
the world. Some citizens bear the hatred and
sting of prejudice and injustice in their own countries. Legal
systems often do not provide Justice with an even hand for the wealthy and for the poor. Corruption and Crime go unchecked even though the
criminals are well known in the society. Drug
Dealing, Prostitution and Gambling feed funds into mainstream society to be laundered by
Banks and Businesses. Governments often
support one Religion while persecuting and harassing minority Religions.
These
difficulties are not limited to any particular part of the world or to any particular
country. The problems are similar in all
parts of the world, in every language and in every culture.
There seems to be an underlying belief that if some people are kept down, there
will be a cheap source of labor. Another
belief seems to be that the “have nots” are to blame for their own situation
after being denied education, proper food, clean water, shelter and medical care.
War, and especially Civil War is more expensive than Peace. The People and resources lost can never be replaced. The cost in treasure and damage to the land is wasted and could be better used to maintain Justice and Peace. Differences must be solved with due process and the orderly following of "Just" Laws. Leaders and rival Political Parties must put the Good of the People and Civil Order ahead of their personal ambition for leadership and/or power. No person lives more than a handful of years. Each must seek to leave the Planet and their People in a better condition. History will not be kind to tyrants.
Those who rule by tyranny and terror will not be able to take treasure with them when they die. Power won through fear and assassination ends with death, or sooner, when people depose bad leaders. Evil may not hide in today's world of international media and instant imaging by satellites.
All in Society are at
risk if any in a Society are denied Justice and Equity.
· Viruses
and germs do not care if a person is rich or poor. The
wealthy in society often put the poor in charge of cleaning their homes, preparing their
food and caring for their children. If the
maid and cook are sick is the family safe?
· There
are leper prostitutes in some countries today. Isn’t
it reasonable to assume that some of the clients will become infected and spread that
infection to their wives and to their children.
· Whole
Societies are being decimated by the AIDS Virus. Thousands
of children are without parents or grandparents to care for them or to pass on the Culture
of the Country
· Corrupt
Politicians, Officials, Police, Judges and Business Persons take bribes from criminal
syndicates only to find that it is never enough because soon the criminals are dictating
policy, murdering judges, legislators and honest individuals.
· Government
Officials take payoffs from International Corporations and then grant the Corporations the
right to strip mine, pollute and siphon off the Natural Resources of the country using
underpaid and exploited local workers.
· Slave
wages allow companies to come into a country and to work the local residents long hours
for very little compensation and no benefits. The
companies have also left behind thousands of jobless individuals in their former
countries. The overall result is financial
instability and economic crisis in both countries.
As the Leaders of your
Countries, Cultures and Societies, you can make changes with the stroke of a pen. You do not have to wait years or decades for
change. You are “In Charge." It is your Privilege and Responsibility to Rule. Your decisions can change the Law and the Customs
within your country overnight. One example is
the wages paid to workers. You, as the
Leaders, can make it Law that there is a Minimum Wage that must be paid to a laborer,
skilled worker or professional. Workers may,
of course, earn more at any level. The
Minimum Wage is the lowest wage that may be paid to a worker in a particular category. Is it equitable that an unskilled beginning worker
in America makes $5.25 per hour of his life at work while America’s neighbor to the
south in Mexico may be legally paid $0.47 per hour for doing a high tech job? Is it equitable that a worker in China can be paid
only about $1.00 per day for a ten hour day? Is
it equitable that a skilled Doctor in the Russian Federation should be paid $5,000.00 per
year while Doctors in America make $200,000.00 for doing the same work? As Leaders, you can establish a Minimum Wage in
your country with a stroke of a pen.
An International Minimum
Wage can be as high as the wages paid in America or in Germany. Benefits, such as Vacations, Health Care and a
Safe Work Environment, are also necessary. People
are still crawling through holes underground and dragging four thousand pound carts by
hand for mining in some countries. Those
individuals have no protection when they become ill from the dust in mines. They have wages so low that savings are impossible
and there is no retirement fund.
Please consider the
advantages of ruling and governing with Equity and Justice at all levels of Society. Higher wages will be spent for all of the things
people need and want. Domestic industries
will be required to fill those needs and desires. The
Rich will not be drained or become broke. The
Rich will become richer. It is the top of the
society who will build the new manufacturing facilities and reap the profits from meeting
the new demand for goods and services in the domestic market.
Every Nation has the
Right to Print and Distribute Currency to meet the needs of its domestic economy. The Currency is backed by the Good Faith and
Resources of the Country. Governments should
supply the additional funds to pay higher wages to Businesses for a transition period of
three to five years. Only businesses that
provide higher wages should receive assistance.
Consider the advantages
of educating your populations. The entire
society is elevated as literacy improves and increases.
Education should be Free at all levels because it is an investment in your
country's future. Children without uniforms or from
poor families should not be barred from schools. The Government should supply
uniforms and books to school children as readily as it supplies uniforms and guns for the
army. No country should have an army with new boots while their children have
no shoes. No country should have an army with
automatic weapons and bullets while the children have no books, paper or pens with which
to work. No country should have an army that
is well fed and transported with trucks and tanks while the general population must carry
crushing burdens to market on their backs or walk miles for clean water. No Army should have land mines to plant while there is
wheat to be planted so people will not have to go without loaves of bread. Defense
is important but inequity and injustice will eventually cause the army to have to fight
its own people.
The Armies in each
country drain resources. Armies are necessary
but they should be put to work building and rebuilding infrastructure of the country. The Armies are already being fed, clothed, housed
and paid. They are an organized force that
can be used to build roads, dig wells, build schools, build public buildings, put in
proper sewers and sanitation systems, provide power grids, construct airports etc. Such use of Armies allows individual soldiers to
learn real job skills that may be used in the civilian sector. The Armies will not be competing with the
civilian sector if they are used to build and to rebuild infrastructure.
Armies in a country that has been torn by Civil War should not trade guns for dollars and the promise of jobs. The armies should be continued but the guns should be replaced with tools for construction and for reconstruction of the country. Most of the soldiers have been in service for many years. Their homes have been destroyed and their families are dead or scattered. Turning such men out without direction or with limited resources but no job will lead to dissatisfaction, idleness and anarchy. It is better to keep the men in their units but to give those units constructive projects and jobs for which they receive just compensation. The men can settle in the communities with income to feed the local economy. Their work on construction projects will enhance the quality of life and the stability of the Community.
Those men who wish to return to their own community should be allowed to return. They can get jobs with local units in their own communities.
The former military units can be transformed into local police, construction companies, sanitation work units, agricultural cooperatives, trucking companies, harvesting brigades, live stock companies, and into similar productive organization units that are needed in the society. Unit Commanders are respected and the men are accustomed to following their orders. The military units can gradually transform into civilian companies doing civilian projects. The commanders can transform into managers and supervisors.
Human waste disposal is a serious problem. Human populations generate millions of metric tons of solid and liquid waste from their bodies each day. That waste should be captured, harnessed and put to work generating methane gas as a serious source of energy. The methane gas can be used as fuel for cooking and heating. The methane gas can be used to generate electricity. An important by-product of the conversion process is a rich and safe fertilizer for gardens and farms. Local Municipalities should put their human and animal waste up for bid by existing energy companies.
All captured waste would not go into the ground water supply nor into the rivers, bays or oceans. The water in oceans near large cities are brown because of the sewage being dumped into the water. Coral reefs, fish and eco-systems are threatened and destroyed by the waste. The waters can recover if we change our habits.
Methane is a clean fuel
that can be provided by taking a waste product and using it as a resource.
Populations that live near the Ocean should use modern Desalination Plants to produce clean water for growing needs. Large Metropolitan Areas, such as those in California, can have as much water as needed for industry and for use by people.
Governments, where dowries are customary, should establish a maximum dowry to prevent female infanticide because poor families are not able to pay the customary dowry for their girls to marry. The government should pay the dowry for every girl who marries because wives and mothers are the backbone of the family which in turn stabilizes the Culture and Society of a Country. Government paid dowries would prevent families from putting themselves in financial ruin to save face. Government paid dowries would help to eliminate discrimination and "Class" distinctions which have no place in a modern society.
An unjust Society will
not continue indefinitely. Modern History has
shown that Tyrants can no longer abuse their populations in secret. The World will isolate and eventually move to
correct abuses. Evil and Corrupt leaders can
lie, cheat and steal for a time but eventually they will be removed by their own people or
with the help of other Nations. The People
will not be denied. Individuals with nothing
to lose are most likely to cause revolution.
Societies that keep
their people at the subsistence level with minimal education and opportunities are most
easily destabilized from political upheaval.
As Leader of your country, you have the power to stop Religious fighting as "Destructive to the Civil State." Riots and murder among rival Religious Groups have contributed to widespread destruction of lives and property in Lebanon, Ireland, Palestine/Israel, Eastern Europe, African Nations, and in many other parts of the World.
Religious/Political Leaders who sow the seeds of hatred and intolerance against other Religions and Nations will soon be exposed as Evil Doers who violate God's Basic Command against idol worship by allowing their own images to be paraded as idols for worship. Leaders who encourage their children and young people to sin by murdering others will be judged for their evil twisting of their religious leadership into offices of death and destruction. Leaders who create false "Holy Wars" and encourage children to die as Martyrs will be shown as cowards as they refuse to Martyr themselves for the false cause.
Individuals who "Martyr" themselves as suicide bombers help the opposition and weaken their own movements.
The individuals who are willing to kill themselves for their beliefs are the most dedicated and religious of their movement.
They should become the next leaders of their Religious Group. Instead they die and leave less fervent individuals in charge.
Those in charge who encouraged the sacrifice of the Faithful have succeeded in eliminating their opposition within the Faith.
The overall result is that all of the most fervent and dedicated die and only the lukewarm are left
Moderates will prevail "The Meek will inherit the Earth"
The most dedicated voices will be silenced and the cowards will speak for the movement
The suicide bombers create "Martyrs" for the other side. All of the innocents who have been killed by the suicide bomber are Martyrs because they were innocents.
Suicide bombers are not remembered. They are forgotten and ignored by history as "nuts" and as "fanatics"
Those who were Martyred by the suicide bombers are remembered and have Memorials built to their Memories for all to see.
The Martyrs of the Age, who have been killed by the foolish and misguided, become Inspirations for all People who love Freedom and Democracy to Fight against ignorance and tyrants who seek to advance themselves by using the gullible as puppets and as disposable cannon fodder.
Governments benefit from
Religious Practices. Religions of the world
all teach that is better to do good than to do evil.
Most Religions teach respect for authority, kindness, good citizenship, tolerance,
support of the poor, compassion for the needy, and fellowship. Most Religions are formed into congregations or
assemblies that are well organized. The
Religious Organizations are an excellent way for governments to provide education and
social programs for their populations. Religious
Groups can communicate to the entire population very quickly. Most Religions teach that is necessary to be
patient and to suffer in this life to have a better after-life. Such self-sacrifice usually serves governments
well as things get tough.
All governments must speak out against the evils of Slavery of all kinds. Those countries which engage in slavery or who allow slavers to operate in their countries must be boycotted and isolated from the World Community. Countries who allow the enslavement of women and/or of children for the sex trades must be reminded that such behavior is a Crime Against Humanity. Women are the Keepers of Culture and Civilization within every society. Children must be cherished and protected because they are the future of every country.
Individuals who would use women or children for their own profit or base lust must be punished by the society and by the World. The women and the children have more value as productive citizens and as contributors to the Culture then they would as slaves for the profit of criminals and degenerates.
Additional examples are not necessary. Everyone with any intelligence knows the problems. Please use the Power within your hands to make changes immediately. History will remember you as a Hero.
His Eminence The Metropolitan/Archbishop
Dr. Chief
 |
Alexander Swift Eagle Justice
D.D., Ph.D., J.D. -Theologian, Academician
Metropolitan/Archbishop and Member of the Imperial Holy Orthodox Synod of the Holy Orthodox Church of All Russia and Appointed Chief Patriarch for United States of America - California, Mexico and for ALL Latin American Countries.
Metropolitan/Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Native Americans and President of the College of Bishops of the Mexican National Catholic Church
Metropolitan/Archbishop of the Holy Orthodox Native American Catholic Archdiocese and Chief Patriarch of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Holy Orthodox Native American Catholic Church
Bishop of The National Pentecostal Overcoming Churches of the World Inc. View Certificate
(AKA - Keepers of Creation Church)
I would like to remind you of the wonderful work that has been done by the United Nations Committees to outline solutions to many of the inequities and injustices around the world.
United
Nations
This site
contains the most comprehensive collection of translations of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 217 A (III)
of 10 December 1948. Over 285 different language versions are available in HTML, PDF and
graphical forms.
http://www3.itu.int/udhr/index.htm
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
Whereas
recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members
of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas
disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have
outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall
enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as
the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas
it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to
rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the
rule of law,
Whereas
it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,
Whereas
the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in
fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal
rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better
standards of life in larger freedom,
Whereas
Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations,
the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental
freedoms,
Whereas
a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the
full realization of this pledge,
Now,
therefore,
The
General Assembly,
Proclaims
this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society,
keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to
promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both
among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under
their jurisdiction.
All
human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason
and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Everyone
is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without
distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore,
no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or
international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be
independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Everyone
has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
No
one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited
in all their forms.
No
one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
Everyone
has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
All
are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection
of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation
of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Everyone
has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts
violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
No
one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Everyone
is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial
tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge
against him.
1. Everyone
charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty
according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for
his defence.
2. No one
shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not
constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was
committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the
time the penal offence was committed.
No
one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or
correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to
the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
1. Everyone
has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
2. Everyone
has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
1. Everyone
has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
2. This right
may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes
or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
1. Everyone
has the right to a nationality.
2. No one
shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his
nationality.
1. Men and
women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the
right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage,
during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage
shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family
is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by
society and the State.
1. Everyone
has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one
shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Everyone
has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom
to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others
and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice,
worship and observance.
Everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas
through any media and regardless of frontiers.
1. Everyone
has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may
be compelled to belong to an association.
1. Everyone
has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely
chosen representatives.
2. Everyone
has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of
the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed
in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall
be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Everyone,
as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization,
through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the
organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights
indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
1. Everyone
has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of
work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone,
without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone
who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his
family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other
means of social protection.
4. Everyone
has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Everyone
has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and
periodic holidays with pay.
1. Everyone
has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself
and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social
services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability,
widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood
and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in
or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
1. Everyone
has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and
fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional
education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally
accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education
shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the
strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote
understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and
shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents
have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
1. Everyone
has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the
arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone
has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any
scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Everyone
is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth
in this Declaration can be fully realized.
1. Everyone
has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his
personality is possible.
2. In the
exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as
are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for
the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public
order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These
rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of
the United Nations.
Nothing
in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any
right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of
the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
UNITED
NATIONS
HUMAN
RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
On 16 May 1994, an international group of experts on
human rights and environmental protection convened at the United Nations in Geneva and
drafted the first-ever declaration of principles on human rights and the environment.
The Geneva group assembled at the invitation of the
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund--in cooperation with the Association mondiale pour l'école
instrument de paix and the Société suisse pour la protection de l'environnement- -on
behalf of Madame Fatma Zohra Ksentini, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the
Environment for the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and
Protection of Minorities.
As U.N. Special Rapporteur, Mme Ksentini has since
1989 presided over a study of the connections between human rights and the environment.
Mme Ksentini's final report to the Sub-Commission is due in August 1994. The final report
will include the Draft Declaration produced at the Geneva Meeting of Experts.
The Draft Declaration is the first international
instrument that comprehensively addresses the linkage between human rights and the
environment. It demonstrates that accepted environmental and human rights principles
embody the right of everyone to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment. The
Draft Declaration describes the environmental dimension of established human rights, such
as the rights to life, health and culture. It also describes the procedural rights, such
as the right to participation, necessary for realization of the substantive rights.
The Draft Declaration
also describes duties that correspond to the rights--duties that apply to individuals,
governments, international organizations and transnational corporations.
Preamble
Guided
by the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights, the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action of the World
Conference of Human Rights, and other relevant international human rights instruments,
Guided
also by the Stockholm Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment, the World Charter for Nature, the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, Agenda 21: Programme of Action for Sustainable Development, and other
relevant instruments of international environmental law,
Guided
also by the Declaration on the Right to Development, which recognizes that the right to
development is an essential human right and that the human person is the central subject
of development,
Guided
further by fundamental principles of international humanitarian law,
Reaffirming
the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights,
Recognizing
that sustainable development links the right to development and the right to a secure,
healthy and ecologically sound environment,
Recalling
the right of peoples to self-determination by virtue of which they have the right freely
to determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural
development,
Deeply
concerned by the severe human rights consequences of environmental harm caused by poverty,
structural adjustment and debt programmes and by international trade and intellectual
property regimes,
Convinced
that the potential irreversibility of environmental harm gives rise to special
responsibility to prevent such harm,
Concerned
that human rights violations lead to environmental degradation and that environmental
degradation leads to human rights violations,
THE
FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES ARE DECLARED:
Part
I
1.
Human rights, an ecologically sound environment, sustainable development and peace are
interdependent and indivisible.
2.
All persons have the right to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment. This
right and other human rights, including civil, cultural, economic, political and social
rights, are universal, interdependent and indivisible.
3.
All persons shall be free from any form of discrimination in regard to actions and
decisions that affect the environment.
4.
All persons have the right to an environment adequate to meet equitably the needs of
present generations and that does not impair the rights of future generations to meet
equitably their needs.
Part
II
5.
All persons have the right to freedom from pollution, environmental degradation and
activities that adversely affect the environment, threaten life, health, livelihood,
well-being or sustainable development within, across or outside national boundaries.
6.
All persons have the right to protection and preservation of the air, soil, water,
sea-ice, flora and fauna, and the essential processes and areas necessary to maintain
biological diversity and ecosystems.
7.
All persons have the right to the highest attainable standard of health free from
environmental
8.
All persons have the right to safe and healthy food and water adequate to their
well-being.
9.
All persons have the right to a safe and healthy working environment.
10.
All persons have the right to adequate housing, land tenure and living conditions in a
secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment.
11
. All persons have the right not to be evicted from their homes or land for the purpose
of, or as a consequence of, decisions or actions affecting the environment, except in
emergencies or due to a compelling purpose benefiting society as a whole and not
attainable by other means. All persons have the right to participate effectively in
decisions and to negotiate concerning their eviction and the right, if evicted, to timely
and adequate restitution, compensation and/or appropriate and sufficient accommodation or
land.
12.
All persons have the right to timely assistance in the event of natural or technological
or other human-caused catastrophes.
13.
Everyone has the right to benefit equitably from the conservation and sustainable use of
nature and natural resources for cultural, ecological, educational, health, livelihood,
recreational, spiritual or other purposes. This Includes ecologically sound access to
nature.
Everyone
has the right to preservation of unique sites, consistent with the fundamental rights of
persons or groups living in the area.
14.
Indigenous peoples have the right to control their lands, territories and natural
resources and to maintain their traditional way of life. This includes the right to
security in the enjoyment of their means of subsistence.
Indigenous
peoples have the right to protection against any action or course of conduct that may
result in the destruction or degradation of their territories, including land, air, water,
sea-ice, wildlife or other resources.
Part
III
15.
All persons have the right to information concerning the environment. This includes
information, howsoever compiled, on actions and courses of conduct that may affect the
environment and information necessary to enable effective public participation in
environmental decision-making. The information shall be timely, clear, understandable and
available without undue financial burden to the applicant.
16.
All persons have the right to hold and express opinions and to disseminate ideas and
information regarding the environment.
17.
All persons have the right to environmental and human rights education.
18.
All persons have the right to active, free, and meaningful participation in planning and
decision-making activities and processes that may have an impact on the environment and
development. This includes the right to a prior assessment of the environmental,
developmental and human rights consequences of proposed actions.
19.
All persons have the right to associate freely and peacefully with others for purposes of
protecting the environment or the rights of persons affected by environmental harm.
20.
All persons have the right to effective remedies and redress in administrative or judicial
proceedings for environmental harm or the threat of such harm.
Part
IV
21.
All persons, individually and in association with others, have a duty to protect and
preserve the environment.
22.
All States shall respect and ensure the right to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound
environment. Accordingly, they shall adopt the administrative, legislative and other
measures necessary to effectively implement the rights in this Declaration.
These
measures shall aim at the prevention of environmental harm, at the provision of adequate
remedies, and at the sustainable use of natural resources and shall include, inter alia,
23. States and all other
parties shall avoid using the environment as a means of war or inflicting significant,
long-term or widespread harm on the environment, and shall respect international law
providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its
further development.
24. All international
organizations and agencies shall observe the rights and duties in this Declaration.
Part V
25. In implementing the
rights and duties in this Declaration, special attention shall be given to vulnerable
persons and groups.
26. The rights in this
Declaration may be subject only to restrictions provided by law and which are necessary to
protect public order, health and the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
27. All persons are entitled to a social and international order in which the rights in this Declaration can be fully realized.
An
effort is being made to form Religious Organizations and Denominations into a Global
Religious Community which fosters mutual Respect and Cooperation.
The United Religions Initiative Charter
http://www.uri.org/abouturi/charter/
The United Religions Initiative (URI) is a growing global community
dedicated to promoting enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, ending religiously
motivated violence and creating cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and
all living beings.
Working
on all continents and across continents, people from different religions, spiritual
expressions and indigenous traditions are creating unprecedented levels of enduring global
cooperation. Today, at its birth, people’s hopes are rising with visions of a better
world. It is a world where the values and teachings of the great wisdom traditions guide
people’s service, where people respect one another’s beliefs, and where the
resourcefulness and passion of people working together bring healing and a more hopeful
future to the Earth community. The URI, in time, aspires to have the visibility and
stature of the United Nations.
Since June 1996 thousands of
people have shared their visions and worked together to create the URI. It is an
organization for global good rooted in shared spiritual values. People from many different
cultures and perspectives have worked to create an organization that is inclusive,
non-hierarchical and de-centralized; one that enhances cooperation, autonomy and
individual opportunity. This co-creative work offered by people of many cultures has
produced a unique organization composed of self- organizing groups which operate locally
and are connected globally.
The URI’s Charter has
been spoken into being by a myriad of voices from around the world. Its essential spirit,
values and vision are expressed in the Preamble, Purpose and Principles. Taken together,
they inspire, ground and guide all URI activity. The Charter includes:
Preamble – the call that
inspires us to create the URI now and continue to create it everyday;
Purpose – the statement
that draws us together in common cause;
Principles – the
fundamental beliefs that guide our structure, decisions and content;
Organization design – the
way we organize to enhance cooperation and magnify spirit;
Guidelines for Action –
an action agenda to inspire and guide our worldwide URI community.
The global URI
organization will be born in June 2000. You are warmly invited to participate in the
birth and the growth of the URI and become part of this extraordinary force for good in
the world. This Charter is your invitation to participate in its on-going creation.
Welcome!
We, people of diverse religions, spiritual
expressions and indigenous traditions throughout the world, hereby establish the United
Religions Initiative to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously
motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and
all living beings.
We respect the uniqueness of each
tradition, and differences of practice or belief.
We value voices that respect others, and
believe that sharing our values and wisdom can lead us to act for the good of all.
We believe that our religious, spiritual
lives, rather than dividing us, guide us to build community and respect for one another.
Therefore, as interdependent people rooted
in our traditions, we now unite for the benefit of our Earth community.
We unite to build cultures of peace and
justice.
We unite to heal and protect the Earth.
We unite to build safe places for conflict
resolution, healing and reconciliation.
We unite to support freedom of religion and
spiritual expression, and the rights of all individuals and peoples as set forth in
international law.
We unite in responsible cooperative action
to bring the wisdom and values of our religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous
traditions to bear on the economic, environmental, political and social challenges facing
our Earth community.
We unite to provide a global opportunity
for participation by all people, especially by those whose voices are not often heard.
We unite to celebrate the joy of blessings
and the light of wisdom in both movement and stillness.
We unite to use our combined resources only
for nonviolent, compassionate action, to awaken to our deepest truths, and to manifest
love and justice among all life in our Earth community.
Purpose
The
purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to promote enduring, daily interfaith
cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace,
justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.
Principles
1. The URI is a
bridge-building organization, not a religion.
2. We respect the sacred wisdom of each religion,
spiritual expression and indigenous tradition.
3. We respect the
differences among religions, spiritual expressions and indigenous traditions.
4. We encourage our
members to deepen their roots in their own tradition.
5. We listen and speak
with respect to deepen mutual understanding and trust.
6. We give and receive
hospitality.
7. We seek and welcome
the gift of diversity and model practices that do not discriminate.
8. We practice equitable participation of women and men
in all aspects of the URI.
9. We practice healing
and reconciliation to resolve conflict without resorting to violence.
10.
We act from sound ecological practices to protect and preserve the Earth for both present
and future generations.
11. We seek and offer
cooperation with other interfaith efforts.
12.
We welcome as members all individuals, organizations and associations who subscribe to the
Preamble, Purpose and Principles.
13. We have the
authority to make decisions at the most local level that includes all the relevant and
affected parties.
14. We have the right to
organize in any manner, at any scale, in any area, and around any issue or activity which
is relevant to and consistent with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.
15. Our deliberations
and decisions shall be made at every level by bodies and methods that fairly represent the
diversity of affected interests and are not dominated by any.
16. We (each part of the
URI) shall relinquish only such autonomy and resources as are essential to the pursuit of
the Preamble, Purpose and Principles.
17. We have the
responsibility to develop financial and other resources to meet the needs of our part, and
to share financial and other resources to help meet the needs of other parts.
18.
We maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, prudent use of
resources, and fair and accurate disclosure of information.
19. We are committed to
organizational learning and adaptation.
20.
We honor the richness and diversity of all languages and the right and responsibility of
participants to translate and interpret the Charter, Articles, Bylaws and related
documents in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles, and the spirit of the
United Religions Initiative.
21. Members of the URI
shall not be coerced to participate in any ritual or be proselytized.
The URI is an organization where
people act from their deepest values and claim their right and responsibility to do
extraordinary things to serve interfaith cooperation on a local and a global level. The
URI is made up of groups of people all over the world who take many different kinds of
actions to serve a common purpose.
Individuals,
associations or organizations seeking membership in the URI shall create a Cooperation
Circle (CC) or join an existing Cooperation Circle. Groups are called Cooperation Circles
because they are created by people who come together to initiate acts of interfaith
cooperation. Every URI Circle determines its own unique purpose, membership, and ways of
making decisions that are relevant and consistent with the Preamble, Purpose and
Principles. If a Cooperation Circle chooses to coordinate its efforts with other
Cooperation Circles, it may decide to form a Multiple Cooperation Circle (MCC). If two or
more Multiple Cooperation Circles wish to coordinate efforts they may form a
Multi-Multiple Cooperation Circle (MMCC). See diagram on page 8.
To
provide initial stability and interfaith diversity, Cooperation Circles must have at least
seven (7) members who represent at least three (3) different religions, spiritual
expressions or indigenous traditions.
Each URI Circle has the right:
·
to organize in any manner and around
any issue or activity which is relevant to and consistent with the Preamble, Purpose and
Principles;
·
to determine its own process of
governance and decision-making that is in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and
Principles;
·
to choose to combine with or join any
other URI Circles;
·
to participate in the selection of
Trustees to serve on the Global Council;
·
to use the name “United
Religions Initiative” and its related names, abbreviations, logos, and images so long
as they are used in furtherance of and in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and
Principles of the URI;
·
to review and accept, on behalf of
the URI, applications for membership from individuals, organizations and associations
seeking to join in pursuit of the Purpose.
Each URI Circle accepts
responsibility:
·
to act in accordance with the
Preamble, Purpose and Principles;
·
to determine its own process of
governance and decision-making that is in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and
Principles;
·
to take actions to encourage and
ensure that its own members act in accordance with the Preamble, Purpose and Principles;
·
to actively use its best efforts to
achieve the Purpose in accordance with the Principles;
·
to adhere to the by-laws and
operating procedures as they evolve in the life of the URI;
·
to communicate best practices and
stories and highlights of activities with other parts of the URI;
·
to develop financial resources to
meet its own needs;
·
to share financial and other
resources to help meet the needs of other Circles;
·
to pay any dues and/or offer such
appropriate contribution as the Global Council may establish;
·
to keep accurate and current records
of its members, financial transactions and activities;
·
to indemnify and hold the Trustees,
the United Religions Initiative, its employees and
representatives, harmless from any liabilities arising out of or in any way caused by a
URI Circle’s breach of any provision of the Articles, by-laws or operating
procedures.
Individuals,
associations, and organizations may form their own Cooperation Circle and may apply for
membership directly to the Global Council or to an existing MCC or MMCC.
Individuals,
associations and organizations who value and support the URI Preamble, Purpose and
Principles may become Affiliates. Affiliates desire to be informed of and to participate
in the work of the URI but do not desire to have the rights and responsibilities of
membership. Affiliates may be asked to pay a fee and/or offer such appropriate
contribution as the Global Council may establish in order to participate in URI activities
and the communication network. Affiliates may apply to the Global Council or to URI
Cooperation Circles.
The
purpose of the Global Council (GC) is to support the Membership in making real the vision
and values of the Preamble, Purpose and Principles. The Global Council’s central
spirit is not one of control, but rather one of service informed by deep listening to the
hopes and aspirations of the whole URI community. The Global Council will inspire and
support the URI worldwide community in cooperative global action. It is envisioned that
their deliberations will be tempered with tenderness for one another and for the Earth
community. It is envisioned that their actions will reflect a yearning to help people of
the URI fulfill their aspirations to be a positive force for peace, justice, and healing
in the world.
The
Global Council is responsible to develop financial and other resources to meet the needs
of the URI, Inc. The Global Council will accept eligible applicants for membership to the
URI and manage the affairs of the URI, Inc.
The
term Trustee signifies that trustees carry the trust for the URI world membership. The
Trustees of the URI will be exemplars who manifest the vision and values of the Preamble,
Purpose and Principles, and who will model leadership and service by their actions. They
will have a deep commitment to serve the whole of the URI community.
· A maximum of twenty four
(24) trustees elected by the world membership through elections in eight (8) regions.
· A maximum of twelve (12)
trustees selected at-large by the GC to meet the need for greater diversity or a
particular expertise.
· A maximum of three (3)
trustees designated from among the members of a Transition Advisory Committee composed of
members of the current URI Board of Directors. The Transition Advisory Committee will
remain in place until June 2005.
· One (1) Trustee shall be the
Founding Trustee to honor the unique role of the URI founder.
·
One (1) Trustee shall be the
Executive Trustee to ensure that the URI staff is represented.
To
ensure that there are people from diverse geographic perspectives on the Global Council,
24 seats will be filled through an election process. URI Circles within a geographic
region can select up to three (3) trustees from among the eight (8) regions listed below.
The regions are: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East,
North America, and the Pacific. The eighth (8) region is a non-geographic region that
includes URI Circles that are multi-regional in composition.
To
ensure optimum diversity and to meet the need for particular expertise at the GC, twelve
(12) seats will be filled by appointment by the GC.
Trustees
are chosen every two years to serve on the GC.
Models
of reflection, meditation and prayer which deepen understanding of the qualities of
leadership which embody service and spiritual wisdom are encouraged as part of every
governance selection process.
A
Global Assembly of all the Members of the URI is planned to take place every two years at
a place designated by the Global Council. The Global Assembly will be a vibrant gathering
where people deepen their experience of living into the Preamble, Purpose, and Principles
as a global community. The Global Assembly will magnify everyone’s capacity to carry
forward their dreams and initiatives, address visions of collective actions for service in
the world, and give voice to collective hopes and aspirations. The Global Assembly will
align strengths and call forth unprecedented cooperation. The Global Assembly will
celebrate the totality of the URI and offer opportunities to give and receive hospitality,
to share work, and to offer help to each other.
In
light of the essentially self-organizing nature of the URI which gives members freedom to
choose what they want to do, the following Agenda for Action is offered as guidance for
URI activities. Inspired by a Javanese phrase, Memayu
Hayuning Bawano, which when translated means "to work for the safety, happiness
and welfare of all life," the URI seeks to serve as a moral voice and a source of
action grounded in contemplation in each of the following areas:
Sharing
the Wisdom and Cultures of Faith Traditions – actions to promote dialogue,
education and kinship among the diverse religions and spiritual traditions of the world.
Nurturing
Cultures of Healing and Peace – actions to develop cultures in which all people
can live without fear of violence.
Rights
and Responsibilities – actions to uphold human rights.
Ecological
Imperatives – actions to uphold the welfare and healing of the entire Earth
community.
Sustainable
Just Economics – actions to bring a spiritual perspective to the tremendous gap
between rich and poor.
Supporting the Overall URI – local, regional and global actions to support all URI activities.
These ideas and suggestions
are Respectfully offered in the hope that you Kings, Queens, Heads of State, Presidents, and Leaders
of the World will use the great power that has been placed in your hands to make immediate
changes for the Good of your People and for Future Generations.
Please contact me if I may be of help in any way. My usual office hours are Tuesday – Thursday, 12:00 Noon –4:00 PM, Pacific Time. My Toll Free Number is: 1-866-794-8133 or 1-866-795-5062.
E-Mail: chancellor1@education-1.net
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