The Earth Charter: An Introduction

1. The Earth Charter:An Introduction Values and Principles for a Just, Sustainable, and Peaceful Global Society in the 21st Century Earth Charter International Secretariat

2. Values • What are values? • How do they inform us individually? • Can you think of a value-based decision you made recently? • Do you make value decision when you buy something? When you throw something away? Dilemmas

3. Ethics • The social dimension of values • Why are ethics important? • What questions do they help us address? i.e. How can we live together? • Different ethics for different times – XXI Century ethics • The EC provides an ethical framework for our present time.

4. What is the Earth Charter? Document/ Ethical Framework Secretariat Network/ Initiative

5. The Earth Charter and its Systemic Nature Ecological Integrity Respect and Care for the Community of Life Democracy, nonviolence and peace Social and Economic Justice

6. Mission The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace.

7. UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development and the Earth Charter Education is fundamental to the mission of Earth Charter Initiative. ECI has therefore created the Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development at the University for Peace in Costa Rica. • The Center’s mission is to promote the use of the Earth Charter in schools, colleges, universities, and non-formal education programmes throughout the world and to contribute to education for a sustainable way of life. • The purpose is to help address the overall goal of the United Nations Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD), which is to integrate the values inherent in sustainable development into all aspects of learning to encourage changes in behavior that allow for a more sustainable and just society for all.  • ExcutiveProgrammes – Education and Values for SD and the Earth Charter, International Law, Global Governance and the Earth Charter– July 3rd- 7th(application period is now open!)

8. Earth Charter Youth Network • Altogether, 2,897 individuals and organizations from more than 50 countries have joined the Earth Charter youth network. • Earth Charter International partners with major international youth organizationssuch as the Global Youth Action Network, TakingITGlobal, Peace Child International, OAYouth, SHIFT (Euro-Arab youth initiative), Pides, EOTO World, IDEAS for Us, among others • Earth Charter International conducts online courses, seminars, forums, workshops, etc. toinspire young people to build sustainable communities.

9. Online Courses The main objective of these courses was to inspire participants to drive for positive change and create a sense of global responsibility towards a sustainable world. • e-GLO (Global Learning Opportunity) - UNESCO Good Practices • Youth Leadership, Sustainability and Ethics Course (in partnership with Youth Action for Change) • Euro-Arab Youth Sustainability Course

10. Earth Charter Youth Activism • Individual Activists promote the Earth Charter (EC) among their peers, take part in global EC activities http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/How%20to%20be%20active • Earth Charter Youth Groups organize local sustainability and peace building projects that make the Earth Charter come to life. http://ecyg.wikispaces.com/ • ECYG Google Map, http://goo.gl/maps/HgVfL

11. Earth Charter Youth Activism • Earth Charter Youth Task Force is a group of international youth working together online to promote the Earth Charter globally among young people. http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/pages/Youth%20Task%20Force • Partner Organizations integrate the Earth Charter into their work in different ways.

12. Earth Charter Youth Network—Youth Task Force (YTF) • YTF came together voluntarily after an online course with the intention of continuing to spread and enact the vision, values and principles expressed in the Earth Charter. • E-conference • Video of Earth Charter Youth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq_3nlv33Dc

13. How to use the Earth Charter? • As inspiration to change our lifestyle. • As a values framework for creating policies and plans. • As an education tool to teach what is sustainability. Also as a ethical framework for national curricula. • As foundation for companies’ codes of ethics and as assessment tool. • As a tool for interfaith dialogue.

14. Be part of the Earth Charter Community! • Make the Earth Charter values part of your daily life • Promote the vision of sustainability • Endorse the Charter • Volunteer your time for Earth Charter International • Join the Earth Charter Youth Initiative • Use Earth Charter Tools • Take action to realize Earth Charter values in your community, organization, and personal life

15. Charter International Join the Earth Charter Initiative Contact Earth www.earthcharterinaction.org Earth Charter International Secretariat and Earth Charter Center for Education for Sustainable Development at UPEACE, Costa Rica For general enquires: info [@] earthcharter [.] orgContact the youth coordinator: youthcoordinator [@] earthcharter [.] org