Charter of Planetary Citizenship

      In all continents forums and social organizations networks are springing up in search of Peace, Justice and a more equitable communication between humanity and nature. The World Economic and Social Forums, although great achievements, represent important yet incomplete visions of how the world should be. In unison with all this international process we, participants of the First World Spiritual Forum, gathered in Brasília from December 6th through the 10th, 2006, affirm that the economic and social guidelines established cannot, on their own, satisfactorily solve the problems facing mankind. A spiritual perspective is urgently needed, based on unconditional love. Spirituality is, after all, the fertile ground where wisdom and love can grow, amplifying the meaning of human existence, in the awareness of the unity of all things and of the sacredness in every existence.

      We believe that life obeys cosmic laws. Water makes wet, fire burns, rain falls, seeds sprout, buds become flowers, after winter we have spring, after summer, autumn, love brings into being and also brings forth happiness and joy. Cosmos, galaxies, suns, planets, minerals, heaven, earth, springs, rivers, oceans, vegetation, animals and humans are interdependent and complementary. From the macrocosm to the microcosm life is one, intelligent, loving, everything part of a perfect and harmonious balance.

      The scientific, technological, political and economic evolutions are and have been a blessing for mankind. However, something is missing, a more significant ingredient, more efficient, more profound, in order to render it possible for each human being, and mankind as a whole, to enjoy a state of completeness and felicity. The lack of awareness of our interdependence and complementariness originates an individualistic, a materialistic way of seeing things, the illusion of separateness. The awareness of the brotherhood of all live beings of all kingdoms, races, ethnicities, beliefs, genders and social classes makes itself abundantly needed. We all proceed from the same source, made of the same clay. Our family is mankind and all creatures that make up the web of life, daughters and sons of Mother Earth.

      Therefore, the fundamental basis in the construction of a just society lies in the awareness of the unity of all life, awareness that must come forth through a real, true solidarity, through concrete action showing sensitivity, brotherhood, ethical values, simpathy, gentleness and care. These attitudes depend on the transformation of each one of us, an expression of our inner potential. No regime, system or form of government, political or economic institution can, of itself, guarantee a just society. Only as we incorporate in our lives solidarity, brotherhood, friendship, love, spirituality and tenderness can we reach healthy human and planetary reletionships. There is no ideology superior to solidarity.

      Within this perspective it becomes essential a new way of looking at things, a new philosophical understanding that begins with the respect for and the appreciation of diversity, expanding into the awareness of the unity of life and bringing about an entirely new attitude. This new attitude, of looking at things with the eyes of the heart, should transform our motivation and intentions to the end that they be altruistic, promoting a thorough examination of our values.

      This needed examination must encompass the area of economics placing it at the service of sustainability and social justice. It will encompass the political and educational institutions that have to review their roles in the construction of a compassionate civilization, able to express their highest motivation: the pursuit of happiness, peace, respect, authenticity, harmony and cooperation. It must, moreover, include the religious organizations to the end that they adapt themselves to the demands of our time, recyling and giving more depth to their teachings, producing more mature human beings, wiser and more responsible, capable of loving and working side by side with the diverse. Our future rests on our capacity to attain genuine spiritual wisdom, whether by integrating the different scientific, philosophical and religious views, or by the disposition to surrender deeply to the energy of the sacred, whatever one may call it, since it is the source of profound wisdom and unconditional love, the source of true ethics.

      Education must favor ethical values; health sciences must promote a holistic view of the human being; economics and technology will champion human and planetary needs; politics will have as its primordial foundation ethics, public service and the concerns of the masses; religions must be truly focused on spirituality, religiosity, tolerance, mutual respect and, above all, universal brotherhood; society in general will promote new paradigms centered upon solidarity and protection of all life. All activity will be imbued with spirituality, a firm belief in the sacredness of life and positive action to bring forth goodness for the plenitude of being.

      In our fleeting and transitory lives we are citizens of the planet Earth. The divisions we create are artificial ones, an error, since the planet is one. We are the crew of the spaceship Earth, we are Earth itself, it is therefore fundamental that we be lovingly together so as to warrant a safe and pleasant trip for the preservation of humankind and planetary life, in this wonderful saga of our mother Earth spinning harmoniously towards the infinite.

      We, cosmic beings, are the world. Thus we have the power to transform it into a better world. Life is ruled by dependable cosmic laws and that allows us to act with confidence towards a shift in planetary life. There is a perfect and dynamic correlation between cause and effect. Whether we like it or not, we are inexorably responsible for the world we live in, whether due to action or inaction. As peace activists we must create a critical mass that will permit the establishment of new paradigms. Each one of us is a link in the chain that brings together all creatures. We must bring about the collective consciousness of individual responsibility acting so as to replace selfishness by altruism, individualism by solidarity, consumerism by simplicity, the have for the Being, materialism by spirituality.

      May each one of us pledge, to oneself, to one's higher Self, to one's conscience, to humankind and to the Planet: "Aware that the construction of a just society depends upon the individual transformation of each human being, I vow to act with love, intelligence and solidarity, putting the best of my capacity and abilities in the service of the construction of a free, egalitarian and brotherly society, just and gracious, endeavoring to protect planetary life, recognizing that my family is humankind and that I am one with all live beings."

RECOMMENDATIONS

      The Worlds Spíritual Forum recommends that we all:

a) promote the brotherhood of all beings, independently of kingdom, race, ethnicity, gender, belief and social class, as the fundamental basis for the organization of society and political action;

b) support the work of the United Nations and other national and international organizations in promoting world peace and human rights;

c)encourage harmonious and consensual action for the political and economic integration of all peoples, respecting their culture, religion, traditions and local languages;

d) stimulate education and the comparative study of cultures, religious and philosophical traditions, and of the arts and sciences with the objective of bringing together and integrating human beings and the peoples of the world;

e) urge society to protect life and the conservation of the natural environment for the maintenance of biodiversity, flora, fauna, rivers, lakes and springs; prevail upon those who have caused or who may cause damage to nature, specially to springs, to recompose the damaged ecosystem;

f) engage oneself in the struggle towards world disarmament, clearing all minefields;

g) encourage the Armed Forces to employ its troops in tasks that promote the establisment of social justice and planetary ecological balance;

h) create a personal I.D. to be honored all over the Planet;

i) promote the realization of plebiscites as a way to value citizenship and to increase direct and participative democracy;

j) strive for the democratization of all means of communication to the end that all persons may express their thoughts and ideas and that the media abide by its duty to serve values that build and promote the culture of peace among all beings;

I) recommend the creation of a single monetary unit to be honored all over the planet based upon the respect for and the valuing of a supportive economy with special attention paid to the most needy communities;

m) defend a just legislation, valuing the Right of Law;

n) set up mechanisms and systems that will make possible the real participation of all people in the political, economic, cultural and social life in all the planet;

o) develop the respect for individual and collective rights as well as for the plurality and diversity of ideas and thought;

p) promote equal opportunities for all without any discrimination as well as the erradication of extreme poverty;

q) guarantee for all access to education, specifically concerning values;

r) assure to all access to health care, encouraging the adoption of a healthy life-style and natural food;

s) promote changes in the common, habitual life-style, to the end that consumerism be replaced by a conscious life-style with the balanced use of the natural resources;

t) encourage, all over the planet, the adoption of a neutral language, such as Esperanto, as the commercial and cultural language for communication, preserving the local languages and dialects, guaranteeing thus a linguistic democracy with the maintenance of the cultural values of all peoples;

u) recommend the setting up of enterprises where the participants be, in a system of cooperation and equality, its proprietors;

v) support and develop agricultural activities that, based upon the awareness of the unity of all life, preserve the environment and nature, yielding ecologically correct produce that brings about great organic food;

x) bring together social organizations to increase their power and make their work known;

z) support and promote cultural and spiritual events or drives to upraise society's paradigms.

      Humankind needs all of us! Each one of us has the power to change the world. And together that power is magnified!

First World Spiritul Forum
Brasília, December 2006