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The Web Way To Save Planet Earth

By John McConnell

"The Man Who Started Earth Day And The Earth Trustee Idea"

Internet has provided WWW – a World Without Walls. Here is how anyone and everyone can think and act as an Earth Trustee and help make our planet a World Without War. The Earth Trustee Agenda can appeal to the most people (people of every creed and culture) and do the most good for people and planet. Also, here is the formula for individuals and institutions that can convert words into actions, tap the best of every religion and ethic, and rapidly replace hate, fear, greed and injustice with altruistic attitudes and actions that will eliminate poverty, pollution and violence. As we approach a new millennium a new global state of mind is emerging. The end of the "Cold War" and the new communication connections of Internet provide new possibilities for peaceful change.

While the old way of thinking still hinders peace and justice in Jerusalem and other trouble spots, the miracle of the World Wide Web brings new connections among people of good will who are seeking a way to global peace and prosperity. Following is the Earth Trustee Agenda that can best serve this purpose and provide a sustainable future:

Earth Trustee Agenda

"Let every individual and institution now think and act as a responsible trustee of Earth, seeking choices in ecology, economics and ethics that will provide a sustainable future, eliminate pollution, poverty and violence, awaken the wonder of life and foster peaceful progress in the human adventure."

To succeed we must combine heart and mind in effective action. If this article moves you emotionally and you know what to do, you will act. Let us first consider the following:

In order to come together in care for our planet we must respect and care about one another. People of all creeds and persuasions find agreement in the three most important words in human history, "Love One Another." They were uttered by Jesus, the man most recognized in history as wise and good. Heartfelt love, faith and prayer is increasing around the world. While great differences exist in creeds and social issues, more and more people are finding common ground. There is growing awareness that we are one human family and must now take charge and take care of our planet. We can and must now come together where we agree -- leaving room for differences on matters where we don't agree.

Space Age World View

"We set out to explore Space and discovered Earth."

Now we know Planet Earth has amazing raw materials (land, water, gold, oil -- etc., and organic life). With proper use of our new technologies, with logical economic policies and fair benefits for services, everyone could join in the rejuvenation of Earth. In the New Millennium we can make our planet a Garden of Eden.

There is no excuse for extreme poverty and unearned extreme wealth. New Earth Trustee economic policies can remedy this. There is growing support for a New Millennium Proposal to cancel the massive debts owed by the poorest countries. This should be followed by vigorous efforts to restructure economic institutions and achieve just and efficient production, trade and currency exchange. Internet now provides access to ideas, actions, records and results. Let all institution now report how much their policies and programs accomplish Earth Trustee goals. A growing flood of Earth Trustee solutions will follow.

Facing the Difficulties

While it is good to accent the positive and focus on solutions, we also need to honestly face the difficulties. Whether it is the result of sinful nature, childhood neglect or bad genes, humanity today is crippled by hate, fear, greed, sickness, crime and misuse of money and power. Fortunately, the vast majority of people believe in the golden rule and try to be honest. They can support the vision and actions that will bring a positive, global, state of mind. This will better enable efforts and their values to reach the minds and hearts of those engaged in evil acts -- who in truth "know not what they do." Earth Trustee vision and action will replace enmity with harmony.

Actions good or bad begin in the mind. Evil will be overcome -- not just by laws or military might, but by love and faith and vision of a better way.

Two Levels of Reality

To achieve Earth Trustee goals it is important to recognize two levels of reality -- the physical and the metaphysical, or spiritual.

People of all creeds and cultures can now agree on physical reality. We agree we have a great planet and can benefit by its nurture.

In the larger question, "What’s life all about?" we are faced with profound mysteries of life and death. Conflicting creeds try to deal with them.

Some of my best friends and I disagree on life after death. I don’t believe in reincarnation. When I met with the Dali Lama, I praised him for his strong support of peace and the care of Earth. We agreed that in our differences over reincarnation we each based our beliefs on hypothesis that could not be scientifically proven. I did not have a videotape of what people were doing in heaven – and he did not have an X-ray of a soul waiting for reincarnation. We must recognize our differences and work together where we agree.

The best of our science and logic provide no answers all can agree on. Our beliefs are based on faith. While we may differ on the nature of God and life after death, we can commend actions that nurture people and planet -- regardless of the persons creed.

The Earth Trustee agenda should not be a stumbling block to people of any creed -- who want to help "peace, justice and the care of Earth."

When it comes to the mysteries of life the human search continues and will not diminish. The explosion of knowledge about the Cosmos is accompanied by scientific study of spiritual healing and psychic phenomena. The more we learn, the greater the mystery! The Astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking, is concentrating on how the Cosmos grows. The results are astounding. However, in his last words on a recent TV program, "The Universe" he stated, "We are finding the answer to 'how.' When we find the answer to Why?, we will have the mind of God."

To continue our quest to understand the great mysteries of life we must avoid the death of nature and the collapse of civilization -- a real present danger. Let us now convert Earth Kill to Earth Care and make the next millennium an Earth Trustee Millennium.

Earth Day

International Earth Day -- 2000 -- will be celebrated at the United Nations in New York – on Monday, March 20. At 2:35 a.m. the United Nations Peace Bell will ring -- followed by two minutes for silent prayer or meditation. This is the moment that Spring begins and provides a powerful time for people worldwide to join in dedication to be responsible Trustees of Earth.

The March Equinox was chosen for the first Earth Day (1970). The idea was not local convenience or comfortable weather -- which varies from place to place, but a day suitable for international celebration. On this day, night and day are equal. This day is a million year symbol of the balance of nature and the equilibrium we seek on Earth.

The local time of the equinox – which changes every year -- is always more convenient in some places than in others. In the year 2000 the area where the equinox will be at High Noon is Bombay, India. (12:05 p. m. March 20) Midnight Equinox will occur in the longitude of Mexico City on March 20 at 12:35 a. m.

What Individuals Can Do

If you agree in principle with this Earth Trustee proposal for a sustainable future, then decide you will help make it work.

First, adopt an Earth Trustee attitude. That means an Earth Trustee way of looking at everything. You want your daily choices in work, travel, shopping and other activities to naturally reflect your Earth Trustee values. Individuals will differ in what they pay most attention to. You may get interested in composting, planting trees, or volunteering for some project that is bringing peace and justice with understanding and action to better your neighborhood.

If you have not already done so, join some group that you feel will assist Earth Trustee goals. Where possible get them to use the Earth Trustee label for their efforts. All who seek to further peace, justice and the care of our planet can foster mutual understanding and cooperation by labeling their effort an "Earth Trustee" effort. The Earth Day/Earth Trustee agenda in the Earth Magna Charta can help any worthwhile project. Your church, club, school or business can adopt the Earth Magna Charta and in its own way implement its policies and agenda.

Earth Trustee Institutions

Individual Earth Trustee actions can improve conditions in institutions as they presently exist. Far more will result as we restructure institutions to conform with Earth Trustee policies and purposes. Businesses, banks, churches and temples, clubs, towns and cities, are all invited to help implement the Earth Trustee Agenda. They can adopt the Earth Magna Charta (http://www.earthsite.org) and implement its Earth Trustee ideas in their own way. Every web site can be an Earth Trustee site and do their part to help people and planet.

World Wide Web -- Make Earth Day 2000 an Internet Earth Day

Proceed Earth Day with Earth Trustee solutions on Internet. On Earth Day join with your friends and family at home, church, school or work to mark this day with attention for the wonder of life and what we can do for people and planet. Let's have bells ring all over the world when the Peace Bells are rung on Earth Day. Explorers in Space will share their inspiring views of our beautiful planet as they join in the celebration. The new Earth Trustee Millennium will be a new beginning of promise and hope. Spread the word. Now is humanity’s greatest opportunity.

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