New Year's Note from the Founder of Earth Day
GLOBAL PEACE PROCLAMATION
by John McConnell
WHEREAS: Diabolical weapons of mass destruction are now widely available, and the long human history of greed, injustice, violence and war must now cease, or human life on this planet will end, and
WHEREAS: Hatred does not cease by hatred, nor violence by violence, and
WHEREAS: There have been many cases in history where people have demonstrated the power of good will and faith to bring understanding, forgiveness and periods of peace, and
WHEREAS: We must reverse our policy of spending billions for bombs and pennies for peace, and
WHEREAS: We can convert conflict into cooperation by searching for points of agreement and support of common goals, and
WHEREAS: Planet Earth is an amazing planet with a skin of life that with understanding and care can provide a good life for its human inhabitants, and
WHEREAS: When more money and effort is spent on eliminating the causes of war than on weapons of war -- the world will have a peaceful, prosperous future, and
WHEREAS: Businesses and institutions of all kinds now follow greedy, deceptive policies that make money without rendering service, instead of policies that will reward service to human welfare. Our institutions can no longer be trusted.
THEREFORE: In order to help provide a future for out planet, each person who adds their name to this Peace Proclamation will seek to think and act as a responsible Trustee of Earth, seeking personal choices -- and policies in institutions and governments -- that will foster peaceful progress and help provide a sustainable future for our Earth Home.
We will engage in a moral equivalent of war: Giving more sacrifice, vigor and money to peacemaking efforts than people gave to the support of World War II.
We will honor those who are most effective in peaceful resolution of conflict. There will be no more war heroes, only peace heroes -- those who sacrifice and risk their lives to eliminate the causes of violence.
Recognizing that Prayer is the mightiest power in the world, every day we will pray for understanding of those who differ with us and ways to cooperate in achieving a great global goal -- to be peacemakers and pursue peaceful progress on our beautiful planet.
Mass media has a sacred obligation as the eyes and ears of the public to:
-- Feature solutions as well as problems
-- Headline cases of peaceful progress in the human adventure that replace hate, fear, greed and lust.
-- Give recognition and attention to people and projects that eliminate pollution and poverty and foster peace, justice and the care of Earth.Every radio and TV station should program a daily "Minute for Peace." A voice would state, "In this minute for peace let us join our hearts and minds, each in our own way, with faith and commitment to peaceful actions today and every day." This would be followed by appropriate music or sounds of nature.
In 1963 when President Kennedy was killed we ended the period of mourning for him on December 22 with a "Minute For Peace" which was broadcast globally. It carried the voice of Kennedy with words he had spoken the year before: "Never have the nations of the world had so much to lose, or so much to gain. Together we can save our planet, or together perish in its flames. Save it we can, and save it we will."
"Minute for Peace" was later broadcast and led in 1966 to ending the war between India and Pakistan.
On Earth Day at the United Nations there is a global "Minute for Peace," signaled by the ringing of the Peace Bell at the moment Spring begins.
Spread the word. We can change this global crisis into a new beginning for Planet Earth.
With the faith that works by love, we will expect a miracle -- a cessation of war and violence of all kinds and a peaceful future for people of every creed and culture.
We invite all the peacemakers of the world to spread this Global Peace Proclamation. Make every day an Earth Trustee Day with attitudes and actions that benefit people and planet -- and while leaving room for differences in creeds and cultures, the power of our great common cause will inspire cooperation.
Earth Day, on nature's symbol of new life -- the first day of Spring, is the ideal time to celebrate the wonder of the love of God and the benefit of loving one another. This Great Day of Earth is an event that can aid all our altruistic endeavors. We invite peacemakers of every creed and culture to join on Earth Day, March 20, 2003, in celebration of a new beginning for the whole human family.
************************************Copy the above, add your name, email to your closest friends and ask them to do the same. Add any example of Earth Trustee actions and their result. This Global Peace Proclamation will soon circle the world.
All media are urged to now feature peacemakers more than warmakers.
Here is a chance for every person to help decide the future of the human family.
Together, we can save our planet.
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John McConnell is the founder of Earth Day. His WWW site is at www.earthsite.org
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