Request for ideas for SG's report on harmony with Nature

[Commons Action Planning]

Dear Global Commons Friends, Founding partner organizations, and Friends from Our Common Future Fulfilled,

The UN invites relevant organizations of the UN and international, regional and subregional organizations to consider the issue of promoting life in harmony with nature and to transmit to the Secretary General our views, experiences and proposals on the issue. (Resolution 64/196 Harmony with Nature). These will be considered for a report he is preparing for the General Assembly (and thus all Member States) at the end of this year.

 

We are requested to send our ideas by 19^th July to his representatives in this project:

 

Mr Nikhil Chandavarkar: chanda...@un.org Phone 1-212 963 8980
Ms Maria Mercedes Sanchez:  sanc...@un.org Phone 1-212 963 9421

This is a great opportunity to put forward incisive ideas that, for instance, show the need for one or more global shifts, as well as a diversity of other views, which normally might not be considered by the Secretary General (SG) or any of the UN’s Member Nations. For if sufficient organizations show the need for these global shifts and diversity of approaches then the SG will have little alternative but to mention them in his report to the 2010 General Assembly at the end of the year.

 

Practically, we might work this project as follows:

 

1. Each organization goes to the Google Group page, http://groups.google.com/group/ourcommonfuturefulfilled/web/response-to-secretary-general---july-2010 and
       • click Edit This Page 
       • add ideas to the two lists: 
           a. Global Shifts our organization considers essential for harmony with nature; and 
           b. Other points our organization finds important to mention and would like others to support
        • click Save and Publish 
2. Each organization submits a letter to the SG representatives (above) and mentions as many of the main global shifts and the additional points as they wish from above lists.
3. Each might even send copies of the letters you write to selected Governments with an accompanying note to say how important these points are. We have a list of UN Ambassadors and their addresses. (Please let me know which addresses you would like to have)
4. If you like, post your letters on the above google page

 

This approach has the following advantages

1. The points each of us wish to make will get the support from (some) others and therefore carry more weight
2. The SG will feel freer to include more radical points of view in his report since he experiences popular backing
3. Governments will also feel freer to consider more radical and a greater diversity of points since these have appeared in the SG’s report
4. Nature benefits because global shifts and diverse measures are needed if we are to curb present destructive trends.

 

Here are some points to begin the process. Please add your own! We are eager to benefit from your ideas added to the two lists on the above web page!  Please remember that the deadline for our letters to the SG is 19^th July!

 

Examples of Points we can make

Global Shifts

 

I.                   A shift in the global economy:

 

1. Our present economic system undermines nature’s ability to thrive and is thereby eradicating as many as 150 species and threatening millions of human lives.

 

Our present global economic system regards natural resources as simply for the taking: we require a system that regards these resources as part of a global commons to be cooperatively and responsibly stewarded by all people.

 

The wellbeing of nature could be placed in trust with the UN’s Trusteeship Council which would implement a Cap& Share system, simultaneously addressing sustainability limits and needs for economic growth of developing nations.

 

 

II.                A shift in values

 

1. Humans are a part of the Earth’s systems. A shift in values and norms is necessary from win/lose and win/win  which place humans in the center of our consideration to the all-win value and norm which takes the wellbeing of all of nature and all people into account.

 

III.             A shift in global decision making

 

1.  Since each person contributes or detracts from our ability to live in harmony with nature and we are all stakeholders, it is important that all participate in decision making with regard to our stewardship of the natural global commons.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps this project will rekindle the synergy that many of us felt in our previous contacts.

 

With warmest best wishes,

 

Lisinka Ulatowska

--
Dr. Lisinka Ulatowska
UN Rep. Association of World Citizens;
Institute for Planetary Synthesis
www.ipsgeneva.com
www.globalcommonstrust.org
www.worldcitizensaction.com
www.allwinnetwork.org