Congratulatory address to Green Cross Japan

April 1995- by Mikhail Gorbachev

It is with great privilege and honour that I address Green Cross Japan as a highly distinguished national organisation member of the Green Cross movement. Considering Green Cross Japan's current activities encompassing the ideology of the Green Cross Movement, they are to be commended as pioneers of the transition to a new global environmental consciousness.

As we progress into the 21st century, nations, states and civilisations are rethinking guidelines for their behaviour towards the environment. A new set of modern values and approaches must be recognised and acted on to overcome the many environmental problems we face today. I have founded the Green Cross International as a new global non-governmental initiative with the goal of creating a profound shift in values that will end humanity's aggressions on the environment. In this, Green Cross International seeks to provide an open forum bringing together top level decision makers and leaders from all sectors of society (political, business, science, religion, arts, environmental) as well as grassroots groups who are willing and capable of leading this critical movement. I am greatly honoured to recognise the nation of Japan as such a leading world power equipped in every facet for advancing the evolution of new goals and values necessary for preserving our civilisation. As a world leader in technology, the economy, law, science, religion, education, philosophy, and custom, Japan contributes a most innovative influence on the behaviour of the rest of the world. Thus, Green Cross International was officially launched in Kyoto, Japan on April 20, 1993. Green Cross relies on national organisations such as Japan to carry out concrete applicable programs suitable to their unique environment and to provide subsequent policy direction serving as a positive example for the global community.

Unless radical steps are taken to improve the health of our planet, unless we change to very fundamentals of development of the international community very soon, the next several decades will show irreversible changes in the ecology of our planet. This responsibility is shared by all and is a movement that requires co-operation and participation in a shift to new ecological values on a global scale. In light of this, Green Cross International's emphasis to serve as a co-ordinator facilitating co-operation between various national organisations. Green Cross International strives to be a catalyst in bringing environmental issues forward, seeking to bring together those who perceive a problem, those who have the knowledge and capacity to solve the problem, and those who have the means to contribute to the solution. It is only through this international co-operation that a value change can be effective; creating an environmentally secure and harmonious future for all of humankind.

Thank you.

Mikhail Gorbachev
President of Green Cross International