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Earth
Charter NewsFlash
MAY
2002
** Senate Puerto Rico Fully Endorses The Earth Charter **
On 22 April, the Senate of Puerto Rico, approved the Resolution Number
1582, endorsing the Earth Charter and expressing the commitment of the
Senate of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico to the principles declared
in the Earth Charter. The resolution includes a quote as follows: "The
Senate of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico, exhorts the Government
and all sectors: arts, science, religious, educational institutions, media,
business and non governmental organizations to adopt and agree to be ruled
by the principles established in the Earth Charter and to develop and
put into practice, with creativity, the vision of a sustainable way of
life at a local, national, regional and global levels." This was
issued in the office at the Capitol, San Juan, Puerto Rico, with the stamp
of the Senate of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico. This is a major
accomplishment for the Earth Charter to receive such recognition from
parliamentarians at the highest levels.
** All Municipalities in Jordan Endorse the Earth Charter **
On Wednesday 15 May, the heads of the Kingdom of Jordan's 99 municipalities
endorsed a declaration of support for the Earth Charter at the Greater
Amman Municipality. According to the Jordan Times of 16 May 2002, the
adoption of the Earth Charter by local municipalities is intended to promote
an integrated and strategic plan in Jordan to advance sustainable development
in preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This significant
event under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma was organized by the Jordanian
Hashemite Fund for Human Development and the Ministry of Municipal and
Rural Affairs and Environment, in cooperation with the General Corporation
for Environmental Protection.
** Australian Capital Territory - What a Commitment! **
The Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory (http://www.act.gov.au/)
has endorsed the Earth Charter and calls on the ACT Government (which
is drawn from the majority party in the Assembly) to adopt the Earth Charter
as a framework of principles to help guide the work of its new Office
of Sustainability. This endorsement follows a number of multi-sector forums
and public meetings held over the last few years where support for the
Earth Charter was expressed by the major political parties, civil society
representatives, and progressive business leaders. Special thanks also
to Kerrie Tucker, MLA from the ACT Greens party, who proposed the motion.
**
Soria Declaration in Spain 14 to 17 May **
Last week a European Seminar on Protection of Land and Sustainable Development,
issued the second Declaration of Soria where participants reiterated their
commitment to the Earth Charter as a guide for their planning. They have
also re-affirmed their support to establish a World Forum for Sustainability
in Soria. This event gathered European Parliamentarian and government
officials from the region. It was organized by the Ministry of Environment
in collaboration with Fundacion Deyna. All the municipalities in the province
of Soria Spain have been exploring ways to incorporate the Earth Charter
in their work following the unanimous endorsement of the Association of
Municipalities of Soria Province for the Earth Charter.
** Websites in French and Spanish **
This month the Earth Charter Initiative has launched websites in French
and Spanish, in an attempt to respond to the growing interest the Earth
Charter Initiative from the many non-English speaking countries. See:
www.cartadelatierra.org or www.chartedelaterre.org
** Teaching for the Environment in Higher Education: The Promise of
the Earth Charter **
A
remarkable Academic Symposium organized by The Chewonki Foundation and
the Center for Respect of Life and Environment took place 17 - 19 May
in Wiscasset, Maine, USA. The Symposium brought together a number of academics,
university representatives, and students to address questions such as:
What is the moral responsibility of the academy toward the environment?
Why is teaching for the environment in higher education so problematic?
How can the Earth Charter inform the liberal arts curriculum? What might
be a pedagogy of the Earth Charter? For all of those who participated,
the Symposium generated wonderful insights, motivation, and materials
to use in higher education. For more information, contact: crle@aol.com
**
Earth Charter Launch in Jakarta, Indonesia **
As a joint effort of the Institute for Environmental Awareness and Ethics,
KEHATI and Sokka Gakkai Indonesia, the Earth Charter launch in Indonesia
is taking place this week on 22 May 2002, at Hotel Aryaduta, Jakarta.
Approximately 350 participants are expected, including the media. During
this event an Earth Charter publication in Indonesia will be launched.
The will also include youth and children through a presentation entitled:
"Expressions from children of Earth."
** Earth Charter Events in Bali during PrepCom IV **
For those of you going to Bali, Indonesia for PrepCom IV, and all those
who are interested in joining us, the Earth Charter Initiative has organized
the following events in collaboration with many others: 1 and 2 June (during
the day) - Earth Charter Partnership working session - at Hilton Hotel
2 June (evening) - Cultural event organized by Soka Indonesia. A 2-hours
cultural event in the evening, consisting of songs, poems, angklung (bamboo
musical instrument), a video show, and probably Bali/Javanese dance. 3
June - (at lunch time) Side event at the UN Conference entitled "Can
we Achieve Sustainability without a Common Ethical Framework?: The Promise
of the Earth Charter" 6 June - (at lunch time) HRH Princess Basma
Bint Talal of Jordan will make a presentation on the Earth Charter process
in Jordan. This will have limited participation.
**
Brazilians Moving Forward with the Earth Charter **
A major event entitled "The Earth Charter for a More Secure City"
is taking place on 19 - 21 June 2002 in Joinville, Santa Catarina - Brazil.
The Mayor of the city of Joinville, Dr. Luis Henrique da Silveira, is
closely involved with the organization and invitations. The objective
of this event will be motivate our political, administrative, business,
and technical leaders as well as the population in general to reflect
together and exchange experiences in the context of a global order and
democracy. Participants will also debate and promote relevant themes in
the agenda of municipalities towards a more secure city. The whole society
is invited and hopefully all major groups will be directly or indirectly
involved. Some of the invitees for this event are government officials,
state governors and 6000 mayors, municipality councils, individuals from
social movements and NGOs, primary schools' professors and pupils, secondary
schools, universities, businessmen, senators as well as national and departmental
members of parliament. The promoters of the event include: Institute Paulo
Freire, Institute for Sustainable Development, Brazilian Municipal Association
and States and Municipalities Mail Magazine, in conjunction with the city
government of Joinville; and UNESCO, World Educators Union, and the Earth
Council. For more information please contact via e-mail: cartadaterra@terra.com.br
or ids.joinville@terra.com.br
__________________________________________________________________________________
For
more information on these and other Earth Charter activities taking place
around the world, please visit the Earth Charter website at: http://www.earthcharter.org
For
contact us at: info@earthcharter.org
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