Friends and the Earth Charter

by Ruah Swennerfelt

For me, September 9, 2001 was a day filled with hope and joy, in contrast to the tragic events that took place two days later. I had the privilege of joining more than 500 people who came together at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont, to celebrate and honor the Earth Charter, a worldwide movement to replace war and injustice with peace and justice for the life community. Paul Winter offered sensuous music that evoked the sounds and rhythms of nature as well as the human longing for beauty and connection. Steven Rockefeller (one of the co-creators of the Earth Charter) shared the history of the Earth Charter's and the unique democratic process that created it. Jane Goodall explained how the Earth Charter gives her another reason for hope for a peaceful, just, and sustainable planet. And all the participants celebrated through music, ritual, and art.

The first paragraph of the Preamble to the Earth Charter provides the best insight into its purpose and direction and why it should be celebrated and promoted by Friends:

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.

Friends have a long and rich history of working for peace and justice, not just from their own perspective, but side-by-side with other faith groups and organizations. But we’re often seen as a fringe group by the dominant culture. What better way to convince that culture to join our work for peace and justice than to develop a common language, a common vision, and a common set of principles by which to live? I believe that is what the Earth Charter offers.

The Earth Charter is the product of a decade-long, worldwide, cross-cultural conversation about humanity's common goals and shared values. Although it was inspired in part by the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, its persuasive power is due largely to the fact that it has evolved independently of conventional governmental and corporate processes.

The breadth and depth of the Earth Charter is shown in the titles of its four main sections:

I. Respect and Care for the Community of Life.

II. Ecological Integrity.

III. Social and Economic Justice.

IV. Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace.

Within those sections are 16 principles that reflect extensive international consultations, not by heads of state, but by a variety of citizens of many classes, of many countries. John Scull of Canadian Yearly Meeting reminded Canadian Friends that it is important to understand that the Earth Charter is not just about ecological integrity, but includes social and economic justice, democracy, peace, and respect for diversity. If you look at the faith and action of most Monthly Meetings, you would already see them adhering to these principles whether they’ve heard of it or not. The great power of the Earth Charter comes from its emphasis on the interconnectedness of all these concerns.

I believe that the Earth Charter can become the common frame of reference for humans. It was written by a diverse set of people, and if that group could come to agreement on the language, we Friends should be able to find how our particular language can harmonize with the Earth Charter language. The Earth Charter is compatible with our Quaker Testimonies. I have facilitated workshops for Friends on the Earth Charter, and the participants are asked to find these compatibilities. It’s never a difficult exercise. One stumbling block to overcome for some Friends is that the Earth Charter is not written in the manner of Friends. But it is not ours to change, only to understand “where the words are coming from” and reflect on how endorsing it challenges us in our actions.

According to Larry Rasmussen, a Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary, “The genius of the Charter is that its scope…is the whole of earthly life. Its subject is not, say, “the environment” only, nor “society” only, in the manner of past charters. “Respect and Care for the Community of Life” is its first section, “Respect Earth and life in all its diversity” its first principle. Furthermore, unlike most charters, it invites and embodies the spiritual wisdom of diverse religious traditions… Religious values suffuse the Charter, even when great care is taken in this “people’s treaty” not to “establish” any one faith.”

So, given that the Earth Charter is something we Friends need to look at, what shall we do next? What is significant to me is the growing awareness of ecological integrity as an integral part of our historic testimonies and therefore, what changes are being made which reflect that new understanding. What happens when a Friend’s Meeting studies, reflects on, and then endorses the Earth Charter? In my work as General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness, I recently asked our supporters that question. The responses were too numerous to detail here, but I’ve chosen to highlight a few examples of how Meetings have learned about it and acted on that knowledge.

The Process of Understanding the Earth Charter

Once Quaker Earthcare Witness endorsed the Earth Charter, effort was made to inform and encourage action in Monthly Meetings. Many Meetings have taken creative approaches to studying the Earth Charter, with articles in their newsletter, activities in their adult and children’s religious education classes, and even games to play. At Burlington, Vermont Friends Meeting (my Meeting) Earth Charter cards were created. For inspiration, people could pick a card on which there was a painting depicting a principle on one side and an Earth Charter principle on the other. We also invented a “Twister” type game, where the Earth Charter principles and Quaker testimonies were linked by stretching out bodies.

The Unity with Nature Committee of Goose Creek (Va.) Friends Meeting, in order to encourage Meeting members to become familiar with the Earth Charter, provided four two-page commentary inserts in the Meeting newsletter over four successive months.

The New England Yearly Meeting (NEYM) Friends in Unity with Nature Committee was charge by the Yearly Meeting to bring awareness of the Earth Charter to the Yearly Meeting members. According to the NEYM minute: Endorsing the Earth Charter “indicates a commitment to the aims and spirit of the Charter…demonstrates a commitment to its values and willingness to work locally and regionally as we feel led.” At the 2003 sessions different principles were highlighted each day with posters and discussions and a workshop on the Earth Charter was offered.

Environmental Actions Taken Because of Endorsement

In this article I’m focusing on the environmental impact coming from endorsing the Earth Charter. We know well the great works of peace and justice in which Friends are engaged. I want to focus on the interconnecteness of all life and point out that if I reduce my energy consumption or increase my recycling, the planet and all living creatures are affected.

Victoria, British Columbia Monthly Meeting’s minute endorsing the Earth Charter stated: “Our endorsement [will] mean taking a pro-active stand, both individually and as a Meeting, to promote and to live according to its principles.” State College, Pennsylvania Monthly Meeting’s letter to the Earth Charter Secretariat stated: “We will seek to apply its principles in our programs, policies, and other activities. When feasible, we will promote it at an educational level in formal and non-formal settings.”

Ottawa, Ontario Monthly Meeting decided to make their endorsement of the Earth Charter real by agreeing to take the David Suzuki “Nature Challenge” (www.davidsuzuki.org/) which they reformatted as a survey to find out which actions were of most interest to the members of the Meeting. Consequently they will be reducing their dependency of electricity by at least 10 percent.

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting endorsed the Earth Charter in May, 2002 and subsequently in January, 2003 it adopted a Minute on energy stewardship in Meeting facilities and grounds. Here are some of the actions of the Monthly Meetings in response to those Minutes:

• Centre Meeting has removed electricity from its meeting building.
• Chestnut Hill Meeting has switched to 100% wind power, installed programmable thermostats, bought a new energy-efficient refrigerator and installed compact fluorescent lights in all spots.
• Cropwell Meeting installed a new wood stove (replacing coal).
• Goshen Meeting conducted an energy audit, and switched to renewable energy.
• Mount Holly Meeting purchased a small Energy Star refrigerator and buys renewable electricity.
• Valley Meeting buys renewable energy and uses compact fluorescent bulbs.
• At Burlington (Vt.) Friends Meeting we have installed new energy-efficient heaters and compact fluorescent bulbs. We drink Fair Trade (a label guaranteeing that the growers and producers are paid a fair wage) coffee and is considering its environmental responsibilities in the renovations about to begin. Buffalo, New York Friends Meeting has minuted agreement to purchase renewable energy credits. Bellingham, Washington Friends Meeting uses recycled paper for their newsletter, drink Fair Trade coffee and cocoa, encourage carpooling, and uses reusable plates, mugs, utensils, and napkins. Hamilton, Ontario Friends Meeting drink Fair Trade coffee, composts waste, recycle paper, and are insulating their meeting house.

These actions give me hope. They reflect a changing attitude among Friends towards an “Earthcare Testimony.” Although the immediate concerns of the suffering of humans is still the main focus of Friends actions, many are coming to understand that there can be no peace without a planet and that what we do to one part of creation affects the whole.

Friends are encouraged to study and reflect on the Earth Charter (www.earthcharter.org), bring it to their Monthly Meetings for endorsement, report their endorsement to the Earth Charter Secretariat, and put their “faith into action.”•

Ruah Swennerfelt is a member of the Burlington, Vermont Friends Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting. She is General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness.

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