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TEN KEY VALUES
Grassroots
Democracy
Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their lives;
no one should be subject to the will of another. Therefore we will work
to
increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure
that our public representatives are fully accountable to the people who
elect them. We will also work to create new types of political
organizations that expand the process of participatory democracy by
directly including citizens in the decision-making process.
Ecological
Wisdom
Human societies must operate with the understanding that we are part of
nature, not separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance
and live within the ecological and resource limits of our communities
and
our planet. We support a sustainable society that utilizes resources in
such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the
practices of our generation. To this end we must have agricultural
practices that replenish the soil; move to an energy efficient economy;
and
live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.
Social
Justice and Equal Opportunity
All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally
from
the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must
consciously confront in ourselves, our organizations, and society at large,
barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and heterosexism,
ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice
under the law.
Nonviolence
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to our current
patterns of violence at all levels, from the family and the streets, to
nations and the world. We will work to demilitarize our society and
eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the
intentions of other governments. We recognize the need for self-defense
and
the defense of others who are in helpless situations. We promote nonviolent
methods to oppose practices and policies with which we disagree, and will
guide our actions toward lasting personal, community and global peace.
Decentralization
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic
injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we
support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions
away
from a system that is controlled by and mostly benefits the powerful few,
to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as
much
as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring
that
civil rights are protected for all citizens.
Community
Based Economics
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic
system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living,
for all people, while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A
successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while
paying a "living wage" which reflects the real value of a person's
work.
Local communities must look to economic development that assures protection
of the environment and workers' rights, broad citizen participation in
planning, and enhancement of our "quality of life". We support
independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible,
as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that spread out resources
and control to more people through democratic participation.
Feminism
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics
and
economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination
and control, with more cooperative ways of interacting which respect
differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between
the
-sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with
moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines
our
decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we
want.
Respect
for Diversity
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual,
religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of
respectful relationships across these lines. We believe the many diverse
elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and
decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have
been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and
encourage respect for other life forms and the preservation of
biodiversity.
Personal
and Global responsibility
We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well being and,
at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We
seek
to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace,
economic justice, and the health of the planet.
Future
Focus and Sustainability
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek
to
protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or "unmaking"
all
waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not
depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counter-balance the
drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new
technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations
who
will inherit the results of our actions. Our overall goal is not merely
to
survive, but to share lives that are truly worth living. We believe the
quality of our individual lives is enriched by the quality of all of our
lives. We encourage everyone to see the dignity and intrinsic worth in
all
of life, and to take the time to understand and appreciate themselves,
their community and the magnificent beauty of this world.
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