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The
Way To Peace And Prosperity On Planet Earth
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
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