Toward a Sustainable World: The Earth Charter in Action

Toward a Sustainable World: The Earth Charter in Action was published in 2005 by the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in the Netherlands. It is available in English, Dutch, and Spanish, with other translations pending.


Toward a Sustainable World: The Earth Charter in Action is available for purchase worldwide:
USA: Click here to purchase from Stylus
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The book is also available for download, below. Please find the section you are interested in and click on your preferred language to download it in portable desktop format (PDF).

Colofon
English | Nederlands | Español

Acknowledgements
English | Nederlands | Español

Preface

Mikhail Gorbachev
The Third Pillar of Sustainable Development
English | Nederlands | Español

Maurice F. Strong
A People's Earth Charter
English | Nederlands | Español

Foreword

Wangari Maathai
Abandon Apathy and be Moved to Action
English | Nederlands | Español

Introduction

Peter Blaze Corcoran
Making the World One
English | Nederlands | Español

The History and Provenance of the Earth Charter

Mirian Vilela and Peter Blaze Corcoran
Building Consensus on Shared Values
English | Nederlands | Español

Preamble

English | Nederlands | Español

Mary Evelyn Tucker
Humanity is Part of a Vast Evolving Universe
An extended thematic essay on key concepts in the Preamble
English | Nederlands | Español

Parvez Hassan
Earth Charter: An Ethical Lodestar and Moral Force
A thematic essay on the historical context and significance of the Earth Charter
English | Nederlands | Español

Hamza Alamoosh
Black Iris: The Earth Charter as a Common Vision for Muslim and Christian Youth in Jordan
A project descriptive essay on bridging Islamic and Christian cultures
English | Nederlands | Español

Abelardo Brenes
Universal and Differentiated Responsibility
A thematic essay on responsibility to the whole Earth community and to promote the common good
English | Nederlands | Español

J. Ronald Engel
The Earth Charter Covenant
A thematic essay on solidarity and kinship with all life.
English | Nederlands | Español

Part I: Respect and Care for the Community of Life
English | Nederlands | Español

Leonardo Boff
Respect and Care for the Community of Life with Understanding, Compassion, and Love
An extended thematic essay on the overarching themes of Part I
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 1. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity

Homero Aridjis
Saving the Landscape of our Childhood and Backdrop for our Dreams
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 1 on the rights of nature
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 2. Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.

Jane Goodall with Robert R. Sassor
Our World's Youth: Taking Compassionate Action for a Better Tomorrow
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 2 on caring for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 3. Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful.

Wakako Hironaka
The Aims of the Earth Charter in Japan
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 3 on using the Earth Charter in the Japanese House of Councillors
English | Nederlands | Español

Alberto Cárdenas Jiménez and Mateo A. Castillo Ceja
The Earth Charter in Mexico: Actions to Advance Towards Democratic Societies that are Just, Participatory, Sustainable, and Peaceful
A project descriptive essay on building participation in sustainable development as it relates to Principle 3
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 4. Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
English | Nederlands

Awraham Soetendorp
To Avert the Day of Destruction
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 4 on intergenerational responsibility and the Millennium Development Goals
English | Nederlands | Español

Laura Westra
Securing Earth's Bounty for Present and Future Generations
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 4 on legislation regarding harm to nature
English | Nederlands | Español

Part II: Ecological Integrity
English | Nederlands | Español

Brendan Mackey
Ecological Integrity - A Commitment to Life on Earth
An extended thematic essay on key concepts in Part II
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.

Khyn P. Yap
Using the Earth Charter in Local Campaigns against Genetically Modified Organisms
A project descriptive essay as it relates to Principle 5 on preventing introduction of harmful organisms
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.

Ruud Lubbers
The Shift from Economy to Ecology
A thematic essay on globalization relating to Principle 6

English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.

Hazel Henderson
Beyond Economism: Toward Earth Ethics
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 7 on regenerative economies and the economics of sustainability
English | Nederlands | Español

Hermann Garritzmann
The Earth Charter on its Way Through Germany
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 7 on lifestyles that emphasize the quality of life
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and
wide application of the knowledge acquired.

Hans van Ginkel
The Ubuntu Alliance: Mobilizing Knowledge for Sustainable Development
A project descriptive essay on the Ubuntu Declaration as it relates to Principle 8 on advancing sustainability education and knowledge
English | Nederlands | Español

Part III: Social and Economic Justice
English | Nederlands | Español

Yolanda Kakabadse
Using Earth Charter Principles to Assess Social Economic Justice in Latin America
An extended thematic essay on key concepts in Part III
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 9. Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.

Erna Witoelar
The Earth Charter and the Millennium Development Goals
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 9 on using the Earth Charter to achieve the United
Nations Millennium Development Goals
English | Nederlands | Español

A.T. Ariyaratne
Awakening and the Earth Charter in Sri Lanka
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 9 on recognizing the ignored, protecting the vulnerable, and serving those who suffer
English | Nederlands | Español

Michèle Sato, Luiz Augusto Passos, and Carlos Maldonado
Mato Grosso Writes Its Earth Charter
A project descriptive essay on the many inspirations and applications of the Earth
Charter in Mato Grosso, Brazil
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 10. Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.

Dumisani Nyoni and Ismail Serageldin
Youth Employment: A Global Priority for Sustainability, Peace and Prosperity
A project descriptive essay on equitable employment for the future as it relates to Principle 10.
English | Nederlands | Español

Rene Ledesma and Josephine Espaillat
The Earth Charter: A Beginning of Sustainable Development in the Dominican Republic
A project descriptive essay on equitable and sustainable human development as it relates to Principle 10
English | Nederlands | Español

Oscar Motomura
The Earth Charter and the World of Business and Economics
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 10 and sustainable business practice
English | Nederlands | Español

Sixto Rojas
Giving The Earth Charter "a Local Habitation and a Name" In The Philippines
A project descriptive essay on humane sustainable development in national economic policy
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 11. Affirm gender equality as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.

Irene Dankelman
Gender Equality and Equity: At the Heart of the Earth Charter
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 11 on gender equality and equity
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 12. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.

Henriette Rasmussen
Sustainable Greenland and Indigenous Ideals
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 12 on indigenous thinking embedded in the Earth Charter and the participation of Circumpolar peoples
English | Nederlands | Español

Philip Osano
Shaping Our Common Future: Youth Campaigning for Sustainable Development Using the Earth Charter in East Africa
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 12 on honoring and supporting youth people
English | Nederlands | Español

Sergey Shafarenko
A Test for the Maturity of Humankind
A project descriptive essay on democracy and social justice in Central Asian civil society as it relates to Principle 12
English | Nederlands | Español

Michael Slaby
Making Ripples of Change: The Hopes of the Earth Charter Youth Initiative
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 12 on youth aspirations
English | Nederlands | Español

Part IV: Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace
English

Federico Mayor
Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace
An extended thematic essay on key concepts in Part IV
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 13. Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making and access to justice.

Edgar González-Gaudiano
The Earth Charter in Action: Experiences and Perspectives for Education in Values in México
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 13 on citizen participation in environmental and
educational programs
English | Nederlands | Español

Alexander Likhotal
The Earth Charter as a Vehicle of Transformation
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 13 on creating global dialogue on sustainable
development
English | Nederlands | Español

Alide Roerink
Pay it Forward - Living the Earth Charter in the Netherlands
A project descriptive essay on the uses of the Earth Charter in NCDO projects as they relate to Principle 13
English | Nederlands | Español

Karine Danielyan
Five Years with the Earth Charter in Armenia: The Development of Democratic Institutions
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 13
English | Nederlands | Español

Chamniern Paul Vorratnchaiphan
Earth Charter Imperatives: Linking the Global and the Local in Developing Countries
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 13 on localizing the Earth Charter in developing countries
English | Nederlands | Español

Rustem Khairov
The Earth Charter in Russia: 1994 - 2004
An Earth Charter project descriptive essay on the process of Earth Charter endorsement by the
Republic of Tatarstan as it relates to Principle 13
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 14. Integrate into formal education and life-longlearning the knowledge, values, and
skills needed for a sustainable way of life.

Angela Antunes and Moacir Gaddoti
Eco-pedagogy as the Appropriate Pedagogy to the Earth Charter Process
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 14 on eco-pedadogy
English | Nederlands | Español

Razeena Waiget
South African Initiatives that Draw on the Earth Charter
A project descriptive essay on using the Earth Charter in the national curriculum and in national park staff training as it relates to Principle 14
English | Nederlands | Español

Louise Erbacher, Ben Glass, and Kendon Glass
Taking it to the Brink: The Story of the Brink Expedition
An Earth Charter project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 14 on education for sustainable development and sustainable living
English | Nederlands | Español

Liu Yunhua
The Earth Charter and Development of China's National Guidelines for Environmental Education in the School Curriculum
A project descriptive essay on the Earth Charter as an inspiration for environment education as it relates to Principle 14
English | Nederlands | Español

Guillem Ramis
Testimonials and Experiences from the Balearic Islands, Spain
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 14 on empowering children
English | Nederlands | Español

Sally Linder and Cameron Davis
The Ark of Hope and The Temenos Books
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 14 on promoting the arts in sustainability education
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 15. Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.

Richard M. Clugston and John A. Hoyt
The Earth Charter and Animals
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 15 on humane animal treatment and humane sustainable development
English | Nederlands | Español

Principle 16. Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence and peace.

Sylvannus Murray
Using the Earth Charter with Ex-combatants in Sierra Leone
A project descriptive essay which speaks to Principle 16 on encouraging and supporting mutual understanding, solidarity, and cooperation
English | Nederlands | Español

Martin Lees
The Earth Charter as a Guide to Building a Culture of Peace and Sustainable Development
A project descriptive essay on education at University for Peace
English | Nederlands | Español

Mohamed Sahnoun
Degradation of the Environment as the Cause of Violent Conflict
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 16 on African diplomacy and resolving environmental conflicts
English | Nederlands | Español

Muazama Burkhanova
Environmental Problems and Sustainable Development in Tajikistan
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 16 on peace through participation
English | Nederlands | Español

Jan Pronk
The Earth Charter as the Basis for a Comprehensive Approach to Conflicts in Sudan
A thematic essay which speaks to Principle 16 on African diplomacy and the Earth Charter
English | Nederlands | Español

The Way Forward

Steven C. Rockefeller
The Transition to Sustainability
An extended thematic essay on key concepts in The Way Forward
English | Nederlands | Español

Klaus Bosselmann and Prue Taylor
The Significance of the Earth Charter in International Law
A thematic essay on the significance of the Earth Charter for global law
English | Nederlands | Español

Joan Anderson
Building Support for the Earth Charter Movement
A thematic essay on Earth Charter advocacy and activism
English | Nederlands | Español

Herman Wijffels
The Way Forward on Coalitions of Workers and Businesses for Sustainability
A thematic essay on encouraging solidarity
English | Nederlands | Español

Nigel Dower
The Earth Charter and Global Citizenship: A Way Forward
A thematic essay on global interdependence and universal responsibility
English | Nederlands | Español

Kamla Chowdhry
The Spiritual Way, the Gandhian Way
A thematic essay which speaks to values and politics
English | Nederlands | Español

Afterword

HRH Princess Basma Bint Talal
The Only Way Forward
English | Nederlands | Español

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