Global Charter
Written on the side of a building at Fisherman’s wharf in Victoria’s inner harbour, some time ago. Author unknown, but then considering the global intent, so very apropos.
Global Charter.
Think of no one as them.
Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety.
Talk to strangers.
Imagine other cultures through their Art, Poetry and Novels.
Listen to music you don’t understand. Dance to it.
Act locally.
Notice the working of power and privilege in your culture.
Question consumption.
Know how your lettuce and coffee are grown.
Wake up and smell the exploitation.
Look for fair trade and union labels.
Help build economies from the bottom up.
Acquire few needs.
Learn a 2nd or even 3rd language.
Visit people, places and cultures, not tourist attractions.
Learn peoples history. Re-define progress.
Know physical and political geography.
Play sports/games with other cultures.
Watch films with subtitles.
Know your heritage.
Honor everyone’s holidays.
Look at the moon and imagine someone else, looking at it too.
Read the UN Universal Declaration of Human rights.
Understand global economy in terms of people, land and water.
Know where your bank banks.
Never believe you have a right to anyone else’s resources.
Refuse to wear corporate logos: defy corporate domination.
Question military/corporate connections.
Don’t confuse money with wealth, or time with money.
Have a pen/e-mail pal.
Honor indigenous cultures.
Judge governance by how well it meets all peoples needs.
Be sceptical about what you read.
Eat adventurously. Enjoy vegetables, beans and grains in your diet.
Choose curiosity over certainty.
Know where your water comes from and where your wastes go.
Pledge allegiance to the earth: question nationalism.
Think North/ Central/ South.- there are many Americans.
Assume that many others share your dreams.
Know that no one is silent though many are not heard. Work to change this.
Don’t always look for the differences in people. Notice the similarities.
Do unto others what you would want them to do unto you.
