Reflections on Some Earth Charter Principles

Quick Overview

Every word in the Earth Charter has been carefully chosen upon extensive consultation and intensive deliberation. Professor Rockefeller shares a few stories behind some Earth Charter ideas and principles, such as “Earth” rather than “the Earth,” “the earth,” or “Nature,” and “equitable distribution of wealth” rather than “redistribution of wealth,” among others. He also relates the argument among different groups over the word “compassion,” and over the concept of “intrinsic value,” and how they eventually reached a consensus, sometimes just because of a flash of inspiration. Exceptionally, the case of reproductive health just demonstrates that the Earth Charter does not have to take a position on every single matter for a greater consensus to be built. He reflects on the concept of reverence for life, emphasized by Albert Schweitzer, and how it is weaved in the Earth Charter. He reflects on why the concepts of peace and nonviolence were part of the Earth Charter. Professor Rockefeller explains why the Earth Charter is really about the right relationships and how principle 16f summarizes it all.