Earth Charter facts for kids

The Earth Charter is a special document that shares important ideas and rules for building a fair, lasting, and peaceful world. It was created by people from all over the globe working together. The Charter wants to inspire everyone to feel connected and responsible for our planet and each other. It asks us to work together to protect the environment, respect human rights, ensure everyone has a fair chance to grow, and live in peace. These ideas are all connected and important for a good future. The Earth Charter Initiative is an organization that helps share these ideas.

How the Earth Charter Started

The idea for the Earth Charter began in 1987. Two important people, Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev, thought it would be a good idea. They were part of a group called The Club of Rome. At the same time, the United Nations asked for a new set of guidelines to help the world move towards sustainable development. This means living in a way that meets our needs now without harming the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In 1992, the leader of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, also said a charter was needed at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. However, people felt it wasn't the right time for such a big declaration. So, the Rio Declaration was made instead, which was a step in that direction.

But Strong and Gorbachev didn't give up! In 1994, they started working on the Earth Charter again. They did this through groups they had founded, the Earth Council and Green Cross International. The government of the Netherlands also helped them. This time, it was a "civil society" effort, meaning it was led by regular people and groups, not just governments.

Writing the Earth Charter

The Earth Charter was written over six years, from 1994 to 2000. Many people from all over the world shared their ideas during this time. An independent group called the Earth Charter Commission guided this process. Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev brought this group together. Their goal was to find common ideas and rules for a sustainable future that everyone could agree on. This Commission still helps protect the Earth Charter text today.

One important person on the Earth Charter Commission was Steven Clark Rockefeller. He helped lead the international team that wrote the Charter. Other members came from many different countries, including Amadou Toumani Touré from Mali, Princess Basma bint Talal from Jordan, and Leonardo Boff from Brazil.

The final words of the Earth Charter were approved in March 2000 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. The official launch ceremony happened on June 29, 2000, at The Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. Even Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands attended the event!

What the Earth Charter Says

The Earth Charter is about 2,400 words long. It is divided into different sections, which are called "pillars." It has 16 main principles and 61 smaller supporting ideas. The document starts with an introduction called a "preamble" and ends with a section called "The Way Forward."

The Preamble

The preamble is like an introduction that sets the stage. It says:

We are at a very important time in Earth's history. Humanity must choose its future. The world is becoming more connected and also more fragile. Our future holds both great dangers and great promises. To move forward, we must understand that even with all our different cultures and life forms, we are one human family. We are one Earth community with a shared future. We must work together to create a lasting global society. This society should be based on respecting nature, universal human rights, fairness in money matters, and a culture of peace. To do this, we, the people of Earth, must declare our responsibility to each other, to all living things, and to future generations.

The Main Principles

The Earth Charter has four main pillars, each with several principles:

I. Respect and Care for the Community of Life

1. Respect Earth and all its different kinds of life.
2. Care for all living things with understanding, kindness, and love.
3. Build fair societies where everyone can take part, that last a long time, and are peaceful.
4. Make sure Earth's richness and beauty are safe for people now and in the future.

II. Ecological Integrity

1. Protect and fix Earth's natural systems. Pay special attention to all the different kinds of plants and animals, and the natural processes that keep life going.
2. Stop harm before it happens. This is the best way to protect the environment. If we don't know much about something, we should be careful.
3. Use ways of making things, buying things, and having families that protect Earth's ability to renew itself, human rights, and the well-being of communities.
4. Learn more about how to live sustainably and share that knowledge widely.

III. Social and Economic Justice

1. End poverty because it's the right thing to do for people, society, and the environment.
2. Make sure that all money-related activities and groups help people grow in a fair and lasting way.
3. Say that men and women are equal and fair treatment is needed for lasting development. Make sure everyone can get education, health care, and jobs.
4. Protect the right of everyone, without being treated unfairly, to live in a natural and social environment that supports human dignity, health, and spiritual well-being. Pay special attention to the rights of native peoples and minority groups.

IV. Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace

1. Make democratic groups stronger at all levels. Be open and responsible in how things are run. Let everyone take part in decisions and have access to justice.
2. Teach people, in schools and throughout life, the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.
3. Treat all living beings with respect and care.
4. Encourage a way of life that includes tolerance, no violence, and peace.

Who Supports the Earth Charter?

Many groups and organizations around the world support the Earth Charter. These include the UNESCO, over 250 universities, and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The city of Delhi in India and the 2001 United States Conference of Mayors also support it. Many youth organizations have endorsed it too.

Different religious groups also support the Earth Charter. The Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist group with over 12 million members, has supported it since it started. The Unitarian Universalist Association in the United States, representing over 1000 churches, also supports it. The official group for the Baháʼí Faith religion said they think the effort to create the Earth Charter is very good. They continue to take part in related events. The World Pantheist Movement, which sees religion in nature, supports the plan. Several Christian groups, like the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, have also approved it.

In 1992, over 650 representatives of indigenous peoples (native peoples) created their own "Indigenous Peoples Earth Charter." They also took part in the Earth Charter discussions in 1996. In 2000, a group representing 31 indigenous peoples in Russia formally supported the Earth Charter.

Many cities have also endorsed the Charter. These include Tainan in Taiwan, Corvallis in Oregon, Berkeley in California, and Pickering in Canada. Twenty-one towns in Vermont have also supported it.

Other groups like Engineers Without Borders, which helps poor communities, and the Green Party of Botswana also support the Earth Charter. The African Conservation Foundation calls the Earth Charter movement a "partner." In the UK, the Bournemouth Borough Council supported the Charter in 2008.

Earth Charter International, the group that promotes the Charter, says that the Earth Charter respects and includes all religious traditions. They explain that the Charter does not try to replace any religion or create a world government. Instead, it is a statement of shared ethical values for a sustainable future. It recognizes that all humans have a shared responsibility to Earth and to each other.

See also

In Spanish: Carta de la Tierra para niños