A new dream emerges

[GliderGuider]

This organization is the first I've found that appears to be in 100% alignment with my evolving understanding of the human and planetary predicament. Reading the web site felt like coming home.

The Awakening Dreamer Intiative

The world seems to be spinning ever faster toward disaster through climate change, warfare, disease, famine and financial meltdown. We could be forgiven for reacting with denial, despair or despondency, and some people are. Yet simultaneously the largest ever social movement in history is rising up to resist the forces causing these crises and to build a world that works sustainably for all life.

This is arguably the biggest story of our age; how tens of millions of people in millions of organisations around the world are recognizing that our current ways are dysfunctional, they are seeing sustainable, peaceful and just alternatives and standing up for their visions. In many cases this means standing up to governments, corporations or the peer pressure that seeks to perpetuate our present worldview.

The movement embraces the work for human rights, for the protection of our environment, for access to education, healthcare, housing and even food and water. In another language these are: environmental sustainability, spiritual fulfillment and social justice.

Also check out:

The Earth Charter

PREAMBLE

We stand at a critical moment in Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations.

The Challenges Ahead

The choice is ours: form a global partnership to care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the diversity of life. Fundamental changes are needed in our values, institutions, and ways of living. We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human development is primarily about being more, not having more. We have the knowledge and technology to provide for all and to reduce our impacts on the environment. The emergence of a global civil society is creating new opportunities to build a democratic and humane world. Our environmental, economic, political, social, and spiritual challenges are interconnected, and together we can forge inclusive solutions.

PRINCIPLES

I. RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF LIFE

1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.
a. Recognize that all beings are interdependent and every form of life has value regardless of its worth to human beings.
b. Affirm faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings and in the intellectual, artistic, ethical, and spiritual potential of humanity.

II. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY

5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
a. Adopt at all levels sustainable development plans and regulations that make environmental conservation and rehabilitation integral to all development initiatives.
b. Establish and safeguard viable nature and biosphere reserves, including wild lands and marine areas, to protect Earth's life support systems, maintain biodiversity, and preserve our natural heritage.
c. Promote the recovery of endangered species and ecosystems.
d. Control and eradicate non-native or genetically modified organisms harmful to native species and the environment, and prevent introduction of such harmful organisms.
e. Manage the use of renewable resources such as water, soil, forest products, and marine life in ways that do not exceed rates of regeneration and that protect the health of ecosystems.
f. Manage the extraction and use of non-renewable resources such as minerals and fossil fuels in ways that minimize depletion and cause no serious environmental damage.

THE WAY FORWARD

Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.

The times they are a-changin'...

[Gregorian]

1. Some of us are already there.

Along side those great principals is less human growth. I suppose they talk about that somewhere in their discussions. It's hard to accomplish the rest if the population continues growing.

By the way, one thing I've been looking at lately is the production of nitrogen in factories, in order to fertilize and grow enough food for billions. It's a problem on a similar magnitude of global warming. You might look at that some time. I suppose you already have. I know you are well versed. One percent of the energy we use in America goes to nitrogen production. And the results are essentially dead aquatic systems. Just another subject along the lines of the original post.

[silverweb]

2. Wonderful links.

I'm too late to recommend, but I can still kick this thread.

:kick: