The Earth Charter
Preamble
We stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a
time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly
interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great
promise. To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of a magnificent
diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and one Earth
community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth a
sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human
rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is
imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one
another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations.
Earth, Our Home
Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is alive
with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence a
demanding and uncertain adventure, but Earth has provided the conditions
essential to life’s evolution. The resilience of the community of life and the
well-being of humanity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its
ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure
waters, and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a
common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth’s vitality, diversity,
and beauty is a sacred trust.
The Global Situation
The dominant patterns of production and consumption
are causing environmental devastation, the depletion of resources, and a
massive extinction of species. Communities are being undermined. The benefits
of development are not shared equitably and the gap between rich and poor is
widening. Injustice, poverty, ignorance, and violent conflict are widespread
and the cause of great suffering. An unprecedented rise in human population has
overburdened ecological and social systems. The foundations of global security
are threatened. These trends are perilous—but not inevitable.
The Challenges Ahead:
The choice is ours: form a global partnership to
care for Earth and one another or risk the destruction of ourselves and the
diversity of life. Fundamental changes are needed in our values, institutions,
and ways of living. We must realize that when basic needs have been met, human
development is primarily about being more, not having more. We have the
knowledge and technology to provide for all and to reduce our impacts on the
environment. The emergence of a global civil society is creating new
opportunities to build a democratic and humane world. Our environmental,
economic, political, social, and spiritual challenges are interconnected, and
together we can forge inclusive solutions.
Universal Responsibility
To realize these aspirations, we must decide to
live with a sense of universal responsibility, identifying ourselves with the
whole Earth community as well as our local communities. We are at once citizens
of different nations and of one world in which the local and global are linked.
Everyone shares responsibility for the present and future well-being of the
human family and the larger living world. The spirit of human solidarity and
kinship with all life is strengthened when we live with reverence for the
mystery of being, gratitude for the gift of life, and humility regarding the
human place in nature.
We urgently need a shared vision of basic values to
provide an ethical foundation for the emerging world community. Therefore,
together in hope we affirm the following interdependent principles for a
sustainable way of life as a common standard by which the conduct of all
individuals, organizations, businesses, governments, and transnational
institutions is to be guided and assessed.
Further notes on Sculpture 4: Photosynthesis Formula
·
Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other
organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy for themselves to live.
The majority of the oxygen required for life on Earth is produced by
photosynthesis. It also maintains the oxygen content of the Earth’s atmosphere
and supplies most of the energy necessary for life on Earth, so it is an
extremely important process for the existence of life on Earth. Photoautotrophs
are the organisms that perform photosynthesis, such as algae, cyanobacteria,
and most plants.
Photosynthesis Formula
6CO2 + 12H2O +
Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2 +
6H2O
Carbon
dioxide + Water + Light energy → Glucose + Oxygen + Water
The
above equation is the overall reaction for photosynthesis. A molecule is the smallest particle of matter that has an independence
existence. Here, six molecules of carbon dioxide and twelve molecules of
water combine to produce a glucose molecule, six molecules of water, and six
molecules of gaseous oxygen with the use of light and chlorophyll.
(Based on Monlare and Gair: 2021)