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A Declaration of Interdependence
We declare that all people on this planet are
citizens of this one earth.
We affirm that the only justification for the
institution of government is the organized promotion of the
well-being of its citizens, but now it can no longer be limited
to any group smaller than the whole family of humankind.
As citizens, each one of us bears ultimate
responsibility for what happens to our planet; anything we
do or neglect to do has its effect on the future, even to
the end of time. We are totally interdependent upon each other and upon the
earth itself for our continued survival.
There may have been a time when we needed to
be violent in order to survive. But not now.
There may have been a time when, in ignorance,
we could justify the exploitation of other people and the
natural world. That time, too, is past.
We must face the reality that we all live on
one earth. We are one humanity. We are one with all of life.
Violence to people and the natural world can
no longer be justified under any circumstances.
The continued preservation of any nation or
class as superior to any other nation or class is unacceptable.
We have taught ourselves to believe that in
every conflict situation there must be a winner and a loser. But this is false: there are no winners
as long as anyone loses. Those whose power comes at the cost of others’ suffering
must relinquish it. Cooperation at all levels—personal, national and international—is
the only method left open to humanity for the preservation
of the planet and the survival of our species.
We must choose life over death and turn our
energies and the earth’s resources to work for a world without war, poverty or greed. We must create
a world for all of our children where truth, beauty and fulfillment
are the birthright of all.
Toward the realization of this imperative and
achievable goal, we commit all that we have and all that we
are. Everything.
Change the paradigm.
Distribute this manifesto wherever you find others fighting
for change.
Ideas can give birth to realities.
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