This is my first blog. I am sitting in Starbucks attempting to write a paper on the Earth Charter. Who knows what the Earth Charter is? Not many of you have every even heard of the Earth Charter. Yet, it may be one of the most important documents of our generation.
This generation will be defined by how we handle many injustices currently oppressing humanity and creation. One that stands paramount is how our generation will move into the next generation revamping, ending, or revolutionizing the structures of politics, economics, and society in general, that do not approach their objectives in a sustainable way.
In his letter to Rome, Paul of Tarsus personifies creation as a women pained by the labor of childbirth, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning…”. Even before the talk of global warming and the greenhouse effect Paul recognized that the same condition that humanity was suffering from was trapping creation as well. Only recently have the groans of creation been so loud that some have taken notice. The authors of the Earth Charter are those that have not only heard the groans but have decided that it is no longer time to only be a witness to the groaning but to act.
Its not just creation itself that the Earth Charter hears groans from. In the Bible’s account of humanity’s first murder, God addresses Cain by saying, “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” Blood is spilled on this generation’s soil every minute and the groans that use to only reach God’s ears are now reaching those who are behind the Earth charter.
The Earth Charter is essentially the declaration of independence for the earth, a call for revolution to end the rule of the oppressive King of sin, selfishness, and the human condition that has ruled over humanity for far too long.
Here is the link that will take you to the real life Earth Charter. I envision as a dialogue that people will come in contact with and walk away with a new perspective on how to approach every decision they make. Or better yet a filter that individuals, businesses, and organizations use to bring everything they do through the Earth Charter, throwing anything that does not align with the principles outlined in the E.C. out!
http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/2000/10/the_earth_charter.html
In peace, pocket parks, and Jesus
David
David, you are a Voice for Earth! And in the spirit of deep earth dreams, I love in Blessed Unrest where it says,
ReplyDelete"When asked by colleges if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science that describes what is happening on earth today and aren't pessimistic, you don't have the correct data. If you meet the people in this unnamed movement and aren't optimistic, you haven't got a heart. What I see are ordinary and some not-so-ordinary individuals willing to confront despair, power and incalculable odds in an attempt to restore some semblance of grace, justice and beauty to the world."
Let's be those kind of people.