An Earth Charter Commission has recently been formed by the Earth Council and Green Cross International and the Earth Charter Management Committee. A Benchmark Draft was prepared as a result of this initial consultation process and is being circulated widely as a document in progress. The consultation process is extended until late 1998, and it is hoped that many organizations will conduct their own workshops on the Benchmark Draft and report their findings and recommendations to the Earth Council. It is hoped that the Earth Charter will be endorsed by the United Nations around the year 2000, and mainly that this process of values internalization generates public awareness and the necessary change towards a better future. The Earth Council welcomes your contributions to this process.
Earth is our home and home to all living beings.
Earth itself is alive. We are part of an evolving universe. Human beings are members of an interdependent community of life with a magnificent diversity of life forms and cultures. We are humbled before the beauty of Earth and share a reverence for life and the sources of our being. We give thanks for the heritage that we have received from past generations and embrace our responsibilities to present and future generations.