A RECOGNITION OF RESPONSIBILITY by and for the young generation

"What can we do for sustainability?"

...asked university students during EWOC's Interdisciplinary Video Conference on the Implementation of Global Sustainability Education, 13 Oct 2004.

Helmut Burkhardt, president of the Council on Global Issues, which hosted the Conference, recommended youth to join politics. Eric Schneider, developer of the World Future School online campus stressed that advancing societies towards sustainability requires a dedication to lifelong learning of tidal wave and best practice knowledge on how to design functional societies, as well as connecting to youth leadership communities as www.takingitglobal.org.

However, ROR - the Recognition of Responsibility - might have been the most straightforward answer. 

This pledge has been formulated by the Sky Fish Project, spearheaded by Severn Cullis-Suzuki. It addresses the fundamental issue of an aware, sustainable lifestyle as a Fair Global Citizen. A prerequisite both for the quest for holistic knowledge and entering politics.  

"What can we do for sustainability?"

Well, (sign and) live the...

RECOGNITION OF RESPONSIBILITY

"This is a statement of intent for our generation. Our nation represents a small fraction of the world's population, but uses far more than our share of the world's energy, and emits a large percentage of the world's carbon dioxide pollution. We are a country with a huge ecological footprint. Our current lifestyle comes at the expense of the health of the planet and its people. As a citizen in one of the most industrialized, wealthy, and powerful countries in the world, I recognize that with these privileges comes responsibility. I recognize that the Earth is finite and in a finite world, steady growth forever is impossible. I see that measures of economic growth are not directly correlated with human well-being or happiness. I recognize that my everyday actions continue to affect communities on a local and global scale, today and in the future, for better or for worse.

Today, I commit to a more sustainable lifestyle. I will take environmental responsibility and promote sustainable development in my daily life by:

Respecting and protecting ecological integrity by:

Exploring my local natural environment.

Supporting efforts to conserve natural resources and ecosystems.

Avoiding products damaging to humans and the natural world.

Supporting and promoting the humane treatment of all life.

Promoting a culture of democracy, social justice, and peace by:

Learning about international social, political, and environmental issues and recognizing how they are interconnected.

Advocating the basic human right to clean air and water.

Making my voice heard through voting and social activism.

Respecting everyone's right to free speech and opinion.

Supporting efforts to use non-violence in conflict resolution.

Investing my money in a socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible manner.

Reducing my consumption of resources by:

Resisting the urge to buy things I don't need.

Understanding the environmental and social impact of the things I do buy.

Reducing the amount of garbage I create.

Reducing my waste of fresh water.

Recycling and buying items made from recycled or reused material where possible.

Travelling by foot, bike, public transit, train, and carpool when possible.

Being aware of where my food comes from and making best efforts to buy food produced locally and sustainably.

I also call on our elder generations and those in power to support and mentor this vision -- to help shape the present so that the future citizens will not remember this time as one of wasteful consumerism and social blindness. Today, I take responsibility, so that the generations of tomorrow will think of this era as one of responsible living and positive change.

This is where you can sign ROR: www.skyfishproject.org/ror.html

ROR for Youth & ROR in Schools

Maybe ROR is the most straightforward and youth compatible adaptation of the Earth Charter (the world leading declaration for new, sound, responsible global policymaking). The ROR resonates well in schools, too! 

"Last September Texas schoolteacher Carrie Ketron asked us if she could use the ROR as an assignment for one of her classes. We thought that was a great idea. So her students at Duncanville High School took on “Project Skyfish” and took their version of the ROR out into their community - then they sent us a big envelope stuffed with 720 signatures.

It was pretty inspirational to see a community take on this project, make it their own, and bring so many names to our roster. So a big thanks to Duncanville High School for inspiring and challenging people to take responsibility for their lifestyles.

And it's sure nice to see some responsible leadership coming out of Texas..."

Already, ROR is making its way around the world, and has been translated to Japanese. Here are news from the Sky Fish Project's website:

"Last November, invited by Japan's Namakemono (Sloth) Club, Severn and the Skyfish Project toured Japan with the ROR. Big supporters of the 'slow food movement' and community money, The Sloth Club organized an incredible tour and translated the ROR into Japanese. It was a great success, and the Japanese version now contains more than 1400 signatures.

The Sloth Club is a powerful force challenging the voracious consumer world of Japanese culture; and is beautifully based on a philosophy of slowing down our hectic daily lives. Like one of the Sloth Club founders, Keibo Oiwa, says: Everything enjoyable in life is slow - who wants to be loved efficiently?

Check them out at www.sloth.gr.jp The Japanese ROR (in Japanese)"

To get involved in ROR, contact Severn at info@skyfishproject.org

ARTICLE SUBMITTED TO PNYV BY:

Eric Schneider