by John McConnell,
Founder of Earth Day

Stephen Hawkings has answered key questions about time and space in the universe. What we most need to understand is the nature of our planet and the human family -- who will determine its future.

We are now in the greatest global crisis in human history. "Crisis," means danger and opportunity. Never has it been possible for so few to kill so many. Devilish weapons are now available to angry dissidents.

In our global society we have many different creeds and cultures -- with differences and limited mutual understanding. The world is filled with real and imagined injustice. The 9-11 terrorist attack is only a tiny sample of what can happen.

During the brief period of my life I have seen more and more evil at work worldwide. It has reached a point where some scholars believe civilization is doomed and will come to an end in the next few decades.

On the other hand...

Our amazing technologies make possible communication and the rapid spread of solutions -- all over the world.

The Way To A Better Future

To turn the world right side up and provide a future for ourselves and our children, we need to look at the Big Picture.

In this article I am seeking to look at what we know about the state of the world, the nature of people and planet and the factors that must be addressed in order to provide a future of peace, justice, freedom - and prosperity.

To be practical, we must first look at the enigma of human ignorance. Most people want to do the right thing. But they choose the words and actions that cause conflict, waste, pollution, injustice and diminish freedom and order. "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

An example: The United States and its Christian majority spend billions for bombs -- and pennies for peace. Were the money devoted to our vast military establishment given to global education that would foster peace, justice and a sustainable future, there would be no more wars and we could have a future of peaceful progress.

I provided a small demonstration of possibilities in my Earth Day efforts -- which helped His Holiness Pope John Paul II end the Cold War and I obtained support for Earth Trustee solutions. (See www.earthsite.org)

Jesus said, "Love your enemies," and was the world's greatest example of nonviolence. (See Martin Luther King's "Power to Love")

I credit the measure of success in my efforts for peace to my Christian faith. At the same time, I applaud those of other religions who also work for "peace, justice and the care of Earth."

When it comes to ultimate questions regarding reality, we are confronted with profound mystery. I have no proof of what will happen when I die. (No video tape of Heaven.) But I am impressed with the local and global results of actions by devout Christians who put their faith to work.

It is interesting to note that those who have done the most to benefit people and planet have been those who believe in a future life. While only a small minority of those who claim to be Christians do what Jesus taught, without them, the world would be far worse than it is. Jesus told us to love one another and forgive one another.

To choose a better future we not only need to understand the nature of people, but also the nature of institutions. Few people realize how much their words and actions are the result of what they see and hear --on TV, radio, newspapers -- and now on the Internet web. Then there is the influence of your school, religion, and the nature of the culture in which you live.

In all of this what gets attention is the result of who has the money. One of the tragic problems is that mass media does not accent the positive. They make more money when they accent the negative. A TV anchor man told me the easiest way to keep up their ratings was to identify with peoples hate, fear, greed and lust. Turn on the TV and you will see the result.

Add to this the nature of our banks, corporations and stock market and you see money is made, not in ways that further justice and freedom, but in ways that make millions for the people who best control the system. Lord Acton said, "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

The biggest enigma is the way President Bush invited Christian leaders to the White House to pray that he would make Christian choices in his administration. Then he did the opposite of what Jesus taught. He wanted their backing as he stepped up the killing of people he claimed were our enemy.

The way to eliminate terrorism is to eliminate the causes of terrorism--poverty caused around the world by the greed and unjust advantage taken by the wealthy Americans. The more they get, the more they want.

But again, it is ignorance of the Big Picture that prevents peaceful progress on our planet.

The Global Solution

Let's spell out the global solution that will appeal to the most people and do the most good.

A Global Earth Trustee Campaign

We must get the backing of powerful leaders and big money who will reward the best examples of Earth Trustee actions. Institutions of every kind will find in the Earth Magna Charta the policies and agenda that will best serve this purpose. (See www.earthsite.org)

Foundations are urged to provide grants for the best examples of Earth Trustee actions. Media can do their part by featuring what they see as the best examples.

A key objective is a change in the global state of mind -- reflected by mass media -- that will inspire the best in people and institutions.

Get this article to religious, business, political and leaders of every kind. Offer a heartfelt prayer that we will succeed in a global effort to think and act as responsible Earth Trustees - with liberty and justice for all.

The best place for an Earth Trustee example would be the City of Jerusalem - holy to Christian, Jew and Muslim.

We need a miracle. But I believe in miracles! Get this message to the White House and to members of Congress. And pray that the President and members of Congress will take action -- Earth Trustee action for a peaceful prosperous future.

eMail both Houses of Congress, the V.P. and President: http://www.eMailCongress.net

Source: http://www.EarthSite.org

750 Women Go Nude in Protest

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know?
For this is what I have done.
And I am Caesar."
Anon