What Might the Future Bring?
The Founder of Earth Day Explains His Vision
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Earth Day was founded by John McConnell in 1970. A lot has happened, and failed to happen, since that time. Here are the founder's latest remarks on where we're headed. |
What Will the Future Bring?
by John McConnell, founder of Earth Day
The 9-11 destruction of the World Trade Centers has resulted in people all over the world asking the question, "What will the future bring?" The following is for those who believe in the power of faith and welcome records of the past that point the way to a better future.Earth Day promoted the openness, awareness and attitudes that helped end the Cold War. It brought together Capitalists and Communists -- and people of almost every religion. It helped create the conditions that made possible the historic handshake between PLO Chief, Yasser Arafat and Israel's Yitshak Rabin.
Earth Day affirms that we can disagree on creeds and still cooperate in deeds for our mutual benefit; deeds that will benefit the wonderful skin or life on our planet -- on which our own life depends.
With this generation's increasing longevity I expect a few more years before it's my time to go. (I turned 90 on March 22, 2005.) I hope to live a few more years and see a breakthrough to a world view that will bring the global changes in attitude and conduct that are needed.
Here is my dream:
I believe the "Battle for Earth" that I have advocated could in time win the support needed to defeat the enemies of humanity -- pollution, poverty, ignorance and strife -- in the coming decades.Following are the key actions that have been started and the difficulties that can and must be overcome in order for this dream to come true:
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In 1957, in the midst of the Cold War and right after the first Sputnik Satellite was launched, a beautiful idea came to me. Why not launch a bright visible Star of Hope as a symbol of understanding and good will? The editorial I then wrote in my weekly newspaper in North Carolina (The Toe Valley View) brought global attention and support from world leaders. But the funding to make it happen was never provided and the satellite was never launched.
In 1960 I wrote a proposal for a World Peace Blitz which was distributed in San Francisco at a World Industrial Conference. It urged municipalities to step in where nations had failed and vigorously engage in joint ventures across national boundaries to heal, unite and build the future. The President of Stanford University and the Chairman of the Conference Board both expressed strong support for the idea, but action did not follow.
In 1962 I became the director of the Meals for Millions office in San Francisco and worked to stem the hunger problem in India and other places. We sent Multi-Purpose food to Hong Kong refugees. Again, the program was in place that could help solve the hunger problem worldwide -- but while much good was done the effort fell far short, despite our best efforts.
Lester Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada, once said, "When it comes to war we're precocious giants. When it comes to peace we're stunted pygmies." The same could be said when it comes to hunger.
In 1963 we ended the period of mourning for President Kennedy on December 22 with a global "Minute for Peace." This was initiated at my behest. We had the sound of a bell and then the voice of Kennedy on radio world wide. In this "Minute for Peace" we heard his voice in a speech he had given at the United Nations before his death:
"Never have the nations of the world had so much to gain or so much to lose. Together we can save our planet, or together perish in its flames. Save it we can and save it we must..." Then people were invited to join with silent prayer and a renewed commitment to work for peace.
In 1965 "Minute for Peace" played a role in ending the war between Pakistan and India. A Minute for Peace musical program across the street from the United Nations was provided for UN Delegates from India and Pakistan. It featured the voice of Ghandi speaking for peace. They then joined in singing Ghandi's favorite song -- The Rhan Dhun --and that evening at the United Nations came together and agreed to end the war.
It was while working with Minute for Peace that I became aware of the need for a global holiday that would celebrate the wonder of life on our planet and deepen commitment to the peaceful care of earth. I spoke to friends about the idea of an "Earth Day" and finally in 1969 at San Francisco, my former home, I was able to launch the first Earth Day -- which was March 21, 1970.
In 1971 UN Sec. Gen. U Thant signed an International Earth Day Proclamation and obtained global participation. Earth Day's celebration has continued every year since 1971 with the ringing of the Peace Bell at the moment Spring begins. This is the global moment of nature's equipoise and the appropriate time for joining our hearts and minds in commitment to peaceful relations and mutual efforts for the care of earth. When the Peace Bell rings people of different religious beliefs and political views join in silent prayer, meditation or reflection and manage to forget their differences for a moment -- and discover what they have in common: a beautiful planet that needs our care, and that together, helping each other, we can use our amazing technology in production and communication to eliminate pollution and poverty -- and diminish misunderstanding and discord.
From Earth Day has sprung the "Earth Trustee" concept, that everyone and every institution can and should now act as a Trustee of Earth -- in ecology, economics and ethics -- seeking the benefit of people and planet.
To add vigor to these efforts we are urging institutions and individuals to now join in a "Battle for Earth," a war against pollution, poverty, hate and greed. Mass media -- TV, radio, press -- can help by changing their definition of important news from"conflict and change" to "change without conflict" -- the moral war.
Are they idle dreams? It's true civilization is in a crisis of turmoil, violence, danger and confusion. Every phase of my effort has met with disappointment. The Star of Hope was never launched. Meals for Millions never adequately backed. Minute for Peace dwindled and almost disappeared. World Peace Blitz -- applauded but not mobilized.
As for Earth Day, the authentic original Earth Day was based on the scientific and historic meaning of the March Equinox. Earth day deals with the whole: people, freedom, justice, the planet -- and the environment. There should be a singular date for Earth Day. April 22 and other dates that are being called "Earth Day" defeat the original purpose of Earth Day. They should use other names for events that are not on nature's day and seek to complement instead of undermine the real Earth Day.
It is my dream that eventually we will have a singular Earth Day where bells will ring all over the world -- in some places trumpets will sound and drums will roll -- when the Peace Bell at the United Nations is rung at the moment Spring begins. It is my dream that the Battle for Earth will bring a rapid transition from polluting fuel to clean energy; composting and recycling in every community; new villages where interactive communication by computer enables people to work in their homes or neighborhood for offices in other cities.
The goal will be: Every person a home owner -- able to buy a computer if they wish! Art and music of every culture will be encouraged. There will be freedom to choose a community that features your religion and culture, or one where they are diverse. But there will be a common bond and toleration of differences because all will recognize they are members of one human family.
It is my dream there will be a global sense of unity as people everywhere join in observance of the Earth Day Minute for Peace. Cooperation in the care of Earth will also increase as radio, web and TV program daily "Earth Minutes" using their best talent to keep them interesting and effective symbols of our common identity -- a human family with a great future.
These simultaneous minutes (0300, 1100 and 1900 GMT) will speak without words using sounds of music, bells, nature, with pictures of Earth, trees, whales, elephants, humming birds, children.. a heartbeat of hope for humanity.
A CALL TO LOVE
The meanings we give to words are in a measure affected by our feelings and attitudes. When I began this article I thought "A Call To Arms," could use the sense of power that military terms suggest, and direct it to non-violent action. This was effective in William James essay, "The Moral Equivalent of War." However, in thinking of Martin Luther King and his wonderful book, "Power to Love' I believe a strong appeal can be "A call to Love." Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself."
At this important juncture in history there are leaders and laymen in every major religion who believe in the power of divine love, the kind of love Dr. King talked about. What I have described here is a "Call To Love." It provides a way to come together in a global effort that will not compromise our separate beliefs. Here is a way to effectively demonstrate our common identity with the human family: to join with heart, hand and mind for our mutual goal -- harmony with nature and neighbor. This is the way to a peaceful prosperous future.
I dream of the time when as stewards and trustees of Planet Earth, we recognize the link between the slaughter of animals and our health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial and environmental. In the Bible Adam was told to sustain all the living things of Earth and his food was to be the fruit of the tree and the grain of the soil. Vegetarians have demonstrated the benefits to health and peace of mind that comes from reverence for life.
I dream of a global attitude of mind where individuals and groups are not trapped in the mistakes of the past: Where complicated, unfair and inefficient taxes and credit policies will be replaced by simple, fair mechanisms as they are tested and proven of value; where ancient rules, values and customs that have stood the test of time are revered and applied whenever they can improve life today. I dream of a time when mistakes will not be repeated, nor magnified more than records and achievements of human integrity, progress and success.
I dream of the time when everyone will know that change in individuals and situations can always be better achieved by the power of reason and good ideas than by the power of weapons. Once we learn the ways of honest love we will demonstrate that in a world of interactive communication the power of good is greater than the power or guns.
Our task is to increase our understanding of the past, recognize what is best in every place and culture, preserve the records and artifacts so that people in this and future generations can find in their roots the basis to define their unique role in cultures that complement and enrich one another. Then the profit seeking imposition of multi-national images and products -- soda, food, garish foreign hotels, etc., will be replaced -- aided by new technology -- with architecture and products that reflect distinct cultures and roots in the past.
I dream of the time when the value of creeds will be judged by deeds. And people of different religions and with different ideas about the great mysteries of life can firmly hold to their beliefs and reject other beliefs without rejecting the people who hold them, when they too show honesty, fairness and mutual respect in their actions.
I dream of the time, which may be rapidly approaching, when we will discover that there are other beings in our galaxy, whose life adventure has brought them to an understanding, probably better than ours, of the mysteries of life and love.
I dream of the time when a Star of Hope will circle our planet. A bright symbol of understanding and goodwill, its radio beams will report progress on Planet Earth Worldwide. A child looking up at night will say, "That's the Star of Hope. My name's in it. I'm a Trustee of Planet Earth."
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John McConnell is Chairman Emeritus of the Earth Society Foundation. The Foundation was formed in 1975 by Mr. McConnell and Margaret Mead to foster worldwide participation in the peaceful care of earth and the annual celebration of Earth Day on March 20-21 -- the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The Earth Trustee symbol used by the Foundation and by people who support its purpose is the Earth Flag, designed by Mr. McConnell in 1969, which shows the Earth as seen from Space on a dark blue background.
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Also see:
When is the Real Earth Day, March or April?
John McConnell Explains How You Can "Become an Earth Trustee"
International Earth Day |
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