Where the rights and interests of the corporation conflict with the rights and interests of the community, the latter must prevail. All elements of society, irrespective of gender, class or ethnic identity, have a right and obligation to participate fully in the life and decisions of the community. The presently poor and disenfranchised, in particular, must become full participants. Women's roles, needs, values and wisdom are especially central to decision-making on the fate of the Earth. There is an urgent need to involve women at all levels of policy-making, planning and implementation on an equal basis with men.
Gender balance is essential to sustainable development.
Indigenous peoples also bring vital leadership to the task of conserving the earth and its creatures and in creating a new life-affirming global reality. Indigenous wisdom constitutes one of human society's important and irreplaceable resources. The rights and contributions of indigenous peoples must be recognized. While overall population growth is a danger to the health of the planet, growth in the numbers of the world's over-consumers is a more important threat than population growth among the poor. Assuring all people the means to meet their basic needs is an essential precondition to stabilizing population.