Development

The Earth One Country, Mankind Its Citizens

The Earth One Country, Mankind Its Citizens

Article in Masterworks of Man & Nature: Preserving Our World Heritage, published by Harper MacRae with editorial assistance from UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and IUCN (World Conservation Union)

1 December 1992
BLESSED IS THE SPOT, and the house, and the place, and the city, and the heart, and the mountain, and the refuge, and the cave, and the valley, and the land, and the sea, and the island, and the meadow where mention of God hath been made, and His praise glorified. - Bahá'u'lláh

This simple yet eloquent verse paints a vivid picture of the importance of place in the relationship between humanity, culture, nature, and the divine. It reminds us that places, both man-made and natural - cities, mountains houses, and valleys - have value beyond their physical purpose. It suggests the sacredness of those places and sites in the world around us - whether divinely created or built by man.

The purpose of this book, to laud, appreciate and protect those masterpieces of man and nature that comprise our world heritage, carries with it an understanding that there are places that have a distinctive capacity to take individuals beyond themselves: to awaken, to inspire, and to help them understand their place in society, in nature and before the divine.

The natural sites that comprise our world heritage represent some of the most grand, the most beautiful, and the most inspiring places in the natural world. These sites mirror the divine and serve to remind us of our insignificance. They are holy, in the truest sense of the word.

More than 100 years ago, Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i­ Faith wrote: "Nature in its essence is the embodiment of (God's) Name, the Maker, the Creator...Nature is God's Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world."

Baha'i­s understand that nature is to be respected and protected as part of a divine trust for which humanity is answerable. Many of the World Heritage sites, despite their qualities of majesty and grandeur, are also among the most delicate sites on Earth. In this sense, they serve also to remind us of the fragile nature of the global ecological system. And they are surely a special part of this divine trust.

The human sites and cultural monuments that comprise our world heritage represent a rich cultural mosaic that is a celebration of the myriad peoples on this planet. They reflect the summits of human creation and genius. They are a record of our social and cultural diversity, written in boldface type across the surface of the planet. Many such sites also record, in the art and architecture of pious devotion and towering majesty, the record of humanity's search for a closer relationship with the Creator.

The recognition that such diverse places, both man-made and natural, are part of our common world heritage implies a profound new reality: that we exist today in a world society. That specific sites and places, deemed to be of high value to one culture or one nation, should be valued by all, carries with it an implicit recognition of the oneness of humanity. That humanity has begun to take tentative steps to protect and preserve these sites further demonstrates the growing recognition of humanity's fundamental oneness.

The oneness of humanity is a theme that best reflects the spirit of our age. Recognition and acceptance of this idea determines the rate at which human civilization will advance.

The world, it has been said, has become a global village. The World Heritage sites can be likened to those features of terrain, architecture, and culture that define and bring cohesiveness to a village. A village is defined by its location in relation to a nearby river, valley, or mountain. It is defined by the nature and the culture of the people who live there. In the global village, those features of natural and man-made beauty that represent our common heritage likewise help to define who and what humanity is, giving substance to our collective identity, and locating our place in the universe.

Human society has reached a new stage of maturity. The forces of change in the world today reflect part of an organic process of social evolution leading ultimately and irresistibly to the unification of the human race into a single social order whose boundaries are those of the planet. "The Earth is one country, and mankind its citizens," wrote Bahá'u'lláh.

In the next stage of this evolution, a world federal system, guided by universally agreed upon and enforceable laws, will inevitably emerge, allowing nation states to manage cooperatively the resources - including the treasury of World Heritage sites that sustain our increasingly interdependent and diverse world.

Supported by a consciousness of world citizenship, this system will ultimately address the problems of economic relations and the sustainable use of natural resources from a global perspective, providing for the needs of all peoples. It will of necessity avoid the evils of excessive centralization, respecting the rich diversity of cultures and climates and engaging communities in making the decisions that affect their lives.

Such a new civilization will also mean a broad transformation in the relationships between individuals. An individual's worth to society will no longer be defined by material wealth or status; rather, service to humanity as a whole, instead of to any particular nationality or group, will be the watchwords. Personal trustworthiness and compassion will be among the foundations for such a new order, as will humility before others, before nature, and before God.

Baha'i­ teachings, which are in essential harmony with the spiritual truths that underlie every major world religion, emphasize this understanding of humanity's nobility and the importance of building an ever-advancing and self-sustaining civilization. Baha'i­ teachings also stress the fundamental connections that tie humanity to the natural world, and the concomitant need to respect and protect it.

The masterpieces of man and nature compose part of the treasury on which humanity will of necessity draw to advance its unity. As a record of human attainment and a living testimony to the beauty and grandeur of the natural world, these places comprise a powerful force for the binding together of humanity. The preservation and protection of these sites are a responsibility for all.

The Baha'i­ International Community, an international non-governmental organization that represents and encompasses the millions of members of the Baha'i­ Faith who live in more than 150 countries around the world.

SÜRDÜRÜLEBILIR BIR GELECEK IÇIN DEÐERLER, KURUMLAR VE LIDERLIK

SÜRDÜRÜLEBILIR BIR GELECEK IÇIN DEÐERLER, KURUMLAR VE LIDERLIK

Ahlaki Liderligin Gelistirilmesi Için Bir Yapiya Dogru Hazirlayan: Eloy Anello Bahai Uluslararasi Toplumu tarafindan düzenlenen bir sempozyumdan derlenmistir.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—8 June 1992

GIRIS

Bahai Uluslararasi Toplumu, 3-14 Haziran 1992 tarihlerinde Rio de Janeiro'da yapilan Küresel Forum'da, arasinda Sürdürülebilir bir Gelecek için Degerler, Kurumlar ve Liderlik konulu bir sempozyumun da oldugu bir dizi etkinlik düzenledi. Sempozyumun ana konusmasi, Yeni Zelanda eski Basbakani Sir Geoffrey Palmer tarafindan yapildi. Sir Palmer'in konusmasindan sonra söz alan panel üyeleri sunlardi: Barbados'tan Dr. Rosina Wiltshire, Yeni Bir Çag Için Kadinlarla Kalkinma Alternatifleri Arastirma Koordinatörü (DAWN); Ingiltere'den Sn. Koy Thomson, Uluslararasi Çevre ve Kalkinma Enstitüsü'nün Program Müdürü (IIED); A.B.D.'den Dr. Elizabeth Bowen, Sosyal Sorumluluk için Doktorlar Baskani (PSI); Bolivya'dan Sn. Eloy Anello, Bolivya'daki Nur Universitesi'nin kurucusu ve ahlak egitimi konusunda uluslararasi danisman. Panel yöneticisi ise, Brezilya, Parana Üniversitesi'nden Prof. Maria de Lourdes Montenegro Holzman'di. Panel tartismasindan sonra, katilimcilar biri Ingilizce, digeri de Portekizce olan iki workshop (atölye) çalismasina katildilar. Bu çalismayi ise, her iki grubun tartismalarinin sonuçlarini sunduklari bir oturum izledi.

Her iki atölye grubu da, Dünya Zirvesi sürecinin, insani çabalarin her alaninda bir ahlaki liderlige acilen ihtiyaç duyuldugu gerçegini açik bir sekilde ortaya çikardigi sonucuna vardi. Bunu izleyen mesveret, özellikle liderlik konusu üzerinde yogunlasti. Bu oturumun sonunda katilimcilar liderlik konusundaki asagidaki bilgileri sivil toplum kuruluslari (STK) toplumu ve diger sektörlerden bu konuyla ilgilenen kisilerle paylasmaya karar verdi. Grup, liderlik kavraminin yeniden degerlendirilmesinin, sürekli gelisen ve sürdürülebilir bir dünya uygarliginin kurulmasi yolundaki hayati ve ayrilmaz bir adim olduguna karar verdi.

STK OLGUSU

Geçtigimiz on yil içinde dünyada, özellikle de Güney'de binlerce sivil toplum kurulusunun (STK'lar) ortaya çikisi, son derece önemli sosyal bir olguyu temsil etmektedir. Eger biz kalkinma sürecini, dünyayi paylasan herkese karsi duyarli olacak ve herkesin gereksinimlerini karsilayacak sekilde yeniden yönlendirecek gerekli degerleri hareketlerimizle etkili bir sekilde tanitacaksak, yeni bir tür ahlaki liderlige ve vizyona gerek olacaktir. Iste STK'lar, uygun bir yapiya ve liderlige sahip olduklari takdirde, bu tür bir ahlaki liderligi ve vizyonu saglayacak potansiyele sahiptirler.

Bazi verici kurumlar STK'lari simdiden, toplumlarinin gereksinimlerine yaratici bir sekilde yanit verme konusunda hükümet bürokrasilerinden çok daha etkili bulmaktadir. STK'lar genellikle daha holistik ve sürdürülebilir alternatif kalkinma yollarini arastirmaya isteklidirler. Bu nedenlerden dolayi, belki de, yeni bir tür liderlik ihtiyacina STK toplumundan baslayarak deginebiliriz. STK'lar genellikle hükümetler tarafindan gelistirilen liderlik modellerine elestirel bir bakisla yaklasmislar, ancak öte yandan da, kendi kuruluslari içinde ayni modellerin degisik sekillerini devam ettirmislerdir.

AHLAKI LIDERLIK GEREKSINIMI

Günümüzde insanligi etkileyen küresel krizin en temelinde, toplumun tüm kesimlerinde ahlaki liderligin eksik olmasi yatmaktadir. Ahlaki liderligin eksikligi, dünyanin her kösesinde ve toplumun her düzeyinde sürekli kendisini gösteren ahlaksiz davranislarla sergilenmektedir. Aileden yetkinin en üst düzeylerine varincaya kadar, insan çabasinin hiçbir alani bunun disinda kalamamaktadir. Ahlaki liderligin tanimlanmasi genelde zordur, çünkü toplum liderligin ne anlama geldigi konusunda birçok çeliskili mesajlar vermektedir. Sempozyuma katilanlar, etkili ahlaki liderligi belirleyen birkaç temel özelligi tanimlamanin ve bu özelliklerin topluma hizmet veren kurumlarda gelismesini saglayacak sistemli bir ögrenme sürecinin baslatilmasinin yararli olacagina inanmaktadir.

HIZMETE YÖNELIK LIDERLIK

Ilk sorun, liderlik teriminden ne kastedildiginin açikça tanmlanmasidir. Genellikle "liderlik" kelimesi, bu tartismada kullanildigi seklinden çok farkli kavramlar çagristirmaktadir. "Bir lider"i tanimlamasi istendiginde insanlar çogunlukla, "yöneten, is basinda olan, kontrol eden kisi"veya "emirler veren kisi" seklinde yanitlar vermektedir. Ne yazik ki, tarih sayfalari da liderligi yukaridaki terimlerle tanimlayan kisilerle doludur.

Dünyanin her yerinde görülen, otokratik, babacan, yöneten ve "herseyi bilen"liderlik sekilleri, hizmet etmekle yükümlü olduklari kisileri yetkisiz kilma egilimindedir. Bu tür liderler karar verme sürecini asiri bir merkeziyetçilik anlayisi içinde kontrol eder ve digerlerini anlasmaya zorlarlar. Sadece kendi sabit ve kesin fikirlerini daha da gelistirmek amaciyla dinlerler. Eger insanlik ortak ergenlik döneminden, ortak olgunluk çagina geçecekse ve eger Dünya Zirvesi sürecinin uzun vadeli semerelerini toplamak istiyorsak, kendimize bazi sorular sormaliyiz. Birincisi, günümüzde yaygin olan liderlik modelleri, insanligin karsisindaki önemli küresel konulari bütünlük ve adalet içinde çözme yetenegine sahip liderler üretebilmekte midir ? Ikincisi, günümüzün liderlik modelleri tarafindan olusturulan kurumlar, sürdürülebilir bir dünya uygarligi yaratma yetenegine sahip midir ? Üçüncüsü, biz kendimiz modasi geçmis aliskanliklarimizi ve eski bagliliklarimizi terk etmeye ve yeni bir ahlaki liderlik modeli aramaya hazir miyiz ? Dördüncüsü, böyle yeni bir liderlik sekli nasil olacaktir ? Bu sorularin bazilarina yanit olarak, yeni bir ahlaki ve etik liderlik modeli için asagidaki öneri sunulmaktadir.

Önerilen liderlik modeli, kesinlikle diger insanlara hizmet üzerine kuruludur. Bu nedenle, ahlaki liderligin ön kosullarindan birisi hizmet ruhudur -- kisinin kendi ailesine, toplumuna, ulusuna ve sonuçta da, dünya toplumuna hizmet. Bu hizmet ruhu hiçbir sekilde, bireysel inisiyatifi veya bireysel istekleri yadsimamakta veya bireysel yaraticiligi bastirmamaktadir. Aksine, bu kavram, bir yandan bütünün refahini ve mutlulugunu güvence altina alirken, öte yandan da bireyin içindeki potansiyeli ortaya çikaran bir liderlik modeli gerektirmektedir. Liderler olarak ortaya çikan kisilerin, hizmet ruhu ile mükemmellik arzusunu birlestirmeleri gerekecektir. Hizmete dayali bir liderlikten ortaya çikacak olan kurumlar ise, bir yandan her bireyin haklarini, özgürlüklerini ve inisiyatiflerini güvence altina alirken, öte yandan da tüm toplumun refahini ve mutlulugunu saglayacaktir. Bu kurumlar, bizi doganin ve dünya üzerindeki tüm varliklarin güzelligine büyük bir özen gösteren bir uygarliga götürecek olan insan onurunu koruyacaklardir.

YETENEKLER KAVRAMI

Ahlaki egitim konusundaki geleneksel yaklasimlar genellikle, ahlakli insan için pasif bir kavram gelistirme egilimi içinde olmuslardir: iyi olmak, beladan uzak olmak demektir. Ancak burada su soru akla gelmektedir: Bu ahlakli insan, bireysel ve toplumsal degisimi saglayacak eylemler içinde bilinçli ve aktif bir sekilde yer alan sosyal bir aktör konumuna nasil gelebilir ? Öncelikle, bir bireyin ahlakli bir kisi olmasi için, ahlaki ve etik eylemler gerçeklestirmesini saglayacak belirli yeteneklere sahip olmasi gereklidir. Neyin ahlakli ve etik oldugunu bilmek, yeterli degildir. Bireyin ahlakli bir insan olmasi için, bilgisini eyleme dökmesi gerekir. Bu nedenle, bireyin ahlaki bilgiye ve ahlaki bir eyleme sahip olmasini saglayan yetenekler, ahlaki liderligin gelistirilmesinde büyük ve öncelikli bir önem tasimaktadir.

Her yetenek özel islevlere ve özelliklere sahiptir ve belirli kavramlarin veya ilkelerin, erdemlerin, tutumlarin (aklin sahip oldugu aliskanliklar) ve becerilerin bir bilesiminden olusmaktadir. Bu islevler ve özellikler, asagida siralanan onbes yetenegin herbirini tam olarak anlamamizda bize yardimci olmaktadir. Örnegin, mesverete etkili bir sekilde katilma yetenegine bakalim. Bir liderin mesverete etkili bir sekilde katilmasi için sahip olmasi gereken erdemler nelerdir ? Anlamasi gereken kavramlar veya ilkeler nelerdir ? Mesverete etkili bir sekilde katilmasi için, ne gibi tutumlari olmasi gerekir ? Liderin mesverete etkili bir sekilde katilmasi için ne gibi becerileri olmasi gerekir ? Bu unsurlarin bireydeki özel karisimi, o bireyde belirli eylem tiplerini gerçeklestirme yetenegi yaratmaktadir.

Ahlaki liderlik için sistemli bir ögrenme süreci veya egitim programinin gelistirilmesinde ilk ve en önemli görev, programin gelistirmeyi hedefleyecegi gerekli yeteneklerin tanimlanmasidir. Bunu, müfredat unsurlarinin tasarimi ve ögrenme sürecini kolaylastiracak olan uygun egitim yöntemlerinin seçimin için gerekli ön bilgiyi saglayan, her yetenegin unsurlarinin (yani, erdemler, kavramlar, tutumlar ve beceriler) analiz edilmesi izlemektedir.

LIDERLIK IÇIN GEREKLI YETENEKLER

Asagida siralanan yetenekler listesi, etkili ahlaki liderlik için gerekli olduguna inanilan özelliklerden olusmaktadir. STK'larda çalisan bireyler bu yetenekleri gelistirdiklerinde, kurumlarinin, sürdürülebilir bir dünya uygarligina dogru giden degisim sürecinde önemli bir ahlaki liderlik rolü oynamalarini saglayabileceklerdir.

Bu yetenekler önem sirasina göre siralanmamistir. Ayrica, bunun gerekli bütün yetenekleri kapsayan tam bir liste olarak da düsünülmemesi gerekir. Liste sadece çalisma grubu tarafindan ahlaki liderlik için gerekli görülen yetenekleri kapsamaktadir. Bu listeyi gören herkesin bunu kullanmasini ve kendi kurumlarina uyarlamasini ve bu yazida sunulan noktalari gelistirmeye devam etmesini diliyoruz.

Asagida siralanan yeteneklerin herbiri, belirli kavramlar, erdemler, tutumlar ve becerilerden olusmaktadir. Her yetenek konusunda daha açik bir anlayis kazanmak için, kendimize su sorulari sormaliyiz: Belirli bir yetenegin gelistirilmesi için gerekli erdemler nelerdir ? Bir yetenegin gelistirilmesi için kavranmasi gereken kavramlar nelerdir ? Bir yetenegin gelistirilmesi için kisinin sahip olmasi gereken tutumlar nelerdir? Belirli bir yetenek için gerekli beceriler nelerdir ?

  • Diger insanlari tesvik etme ve kalplerinde sevinç yaratma yetenegi;
  • Kendi düsüncelerini ve eylemlerini sevgiyle yayma yetenegi;
  • Vizyon sahibi olma ve digerlerini de vizyon sahibi olmalari için tesvik etme yetenegi;
  • Kendi islerini ve sorumluluklarini dürüstlük içinde yürütme yetenegi;
  • Kendi güçlerini ve zayifliklarini, egoyu isin içine katmadan degerlendirme yetenegi;
  • Yaratilisin daha yüce amaçlarina yönelerek, kendi bencil egilimlerine karsi koyma yetenegi;
  • Yaratici ve disiplinli bir sekilde inisiyatif uygulama yetenegi;
  • Çabayi sürdürme ve engellerin asilmasinda kararli olma yetenegi;
  • Üstünlük (tahakküm) iliskilerini anlama ve bu tür iliskilerin karsilikli bagimlilik ve hizmet iliskilerine dönüsmesini kolaylastirma yetenegi;
  • Adaletin olusturulmasinda bir katalizör görevi görme yetenegi;
  • Egitim etkinliklerinin gerçeklesmesine hem bir ögrenci ve hem de bir ögretmen olarak katkida bulunma yetenegi;
  • Eylem üzerinde sistemli bir sekilde düsünerek ve bunu da, gelisen ve tutarli bir çerçeve içinde yaparak ögrenme yetenegi;
  • Çözümlerin arastirilmasinda sistemli bir sekilde düsünme yetenegi;
  • Mesverete etkili bir sekilde katilma yetenegi;
  • Bir yandan çesitliligi desteklerken, öte yandan da birligi olusturma yetenegi;
  • Toplumun kurumlarinda, bu kurumlarin hizmet ettikleri bireylere güç vermelerini ve yeteneklerini insanligin hizmetinde kullanmalarini saglayacak sekilde islemeleri amaciyla hizmet etme yetenegi.

Moral Leadership

Moral Leadership

"Values, Institutions, and Leadership for a Sustainable Future: Towards a Framework for Developing Moral Leadership," a reflection document prepared by Eloy Anello from a symposium sponsored by The Baha'i International Community at the '92 Global Forum (in conjunction with the Earth Summit)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—8 June 1992

Introduction

At the Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June, the Baha'i International Community sponsored a number of activities including a Symposium on Values, Institutions, and Leadership for a Sustainable Future. The key-note address was given by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. The members of the panel which followed Sir Palmer's address were: Dr. Rosina Wiltshire of Barbados, Research Coordinator for Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN); Mr. Koy Thomson of the United Kingdom, a Programme Director with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED); Dr. Elizabeth Bowen of the United States, the President of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSI); Mr. Eloy Anello of Bolivia, international consultant on moral education and founder of Universidad Núr, in Bolivia. The moderator of the panel was Professor Maria de Lourdes Montenegro Holzman of the Federal University of Parana, Brazil. Following the panel discussion, participants took part in two workshops, one for English speakers and another for Portuguese speakers. This was followed by a plenary at which both groups presented the final outcome of their discussions.

Both workshop groups concluded that the Earth Summit process had effectively highlighted the vital need for moral leadership in all spheres of human endeavor. The consultation which followed focused primarily on the subject of leadership. At the end of the plenary session the participants decided to share the following information on leadership with the NGO community and beyond that with people in other sectors who may be interested in the subject. The group felt that a reexamination of the concept of leadership is a vital and indispensable step on the road to the construction of an ever-advancing, sustainable world civilization.

NGO Phenomenon

The dramatic emergence, during the last decade, of thousands of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout the world, particularly in the South, represents a highly significant social phenomenon. With appropriate structure and leadership, NGOs have a potential to provide the type of moral leadership and vision that is required if we are to effectively promote, through actions, those essential values that must reorient the development process so that it is sensitive to and meets the needs of all who share the planet.

Already, some donor agencies find NGOs to be much more effective than government bureaucracies in creatively responding to the needs of communities. NGOs are often willing to explore alternative paths to development which are more holistic and sustainable. For these reasons, perhaps, it is within the NGO community that we can begin to address the need for a new kind of leadership. Too often, NGOs have been critical of the leadership models promoted by governments, while at the same time perpetuating modified versions of the very same models within their own organizations.

The Need for Moral Leadership

At the heart of the global crisis currently afflicting humanity, there exists a pervasive lack of moral leadership in all sectors of human society. The lack of moral leadership is demonstrated in the continuous uncovering of unethical behavior at all levels of society in all parts of the world. No sphere of human endeavor, from the family to the highest corridors of power, remains unaffected. Often, moral leadership is hard to identify because society presents too many conflicting messages about what is meant by leadership. The participants of the symposium felt that it would be helpful to identify a few fundamental capabilities that characterize effective moral leadership and to set in motion a systematic learning process that will foster the development of these capabilities within the institutions that serve human society.

Service-Oriented Leadership

The first challenge is to clearly define what is meant by the term leadership. Too often, the word "leader" conjures up notions which are contradictory to the way it is used in this discussion. When asked to define "a leader," people frequently say - "one who is in charge, in command or in control," "one who gives orders." Unfortunately, the pages of history are replete with those who defined leadership in the terms stated above.

Autocratic, paternalistic, manipulative and 'know-it-all' modes of leadership, which are found in all parts of the world, tend to disempower those whom they are supposed to serve. They exercise control by over-centralizing the decision making-making process, thereby coercing others into agreement. If humanity is to move out of its collective adolescence and enter its age of collective maturity, if it is to reap long term benefits from the Earth Summit process, we have to ask ourselves some pertinent questions. First, are the currently-prevalent models of leadership capable of producing leaders who are able to address, with integrity and justice, the essential global issues facing humanity? Second, are the institutions which are brought into being by the currently-prevalent models of leadership, capable of creating a sustainable world civilization? Third, are we ourselves, ready to abandon our outmoded practices and old loyalties and explore a new model of moral leadership? Fourth, what would such a new form of leadership look like? It is in response to some of these questions that the following proposal is being made for a new model of moral and ethical leadership.

The leadership model which is being proposed, is unequivocally centered on service to others. Therefore, one of the prerequisites for moral leadership is the spirit of service - service to one's family, community, and nation. This spirit of service does not in any way negate individual drive or initiative, nor does it stifle individual creativity. Rather, it calls for a model of leadership which will release the potential of the individual while safeguarding the well-being of the whole. Those who emerge as leaders would likely combine a spirit of service with a drive for excellence. The institutions which would emerge from a service-centered leadership would promote the well-being of the whole community while safeguarding the rights, freedoms and initiatives of each individual. These institutions would preserve human honor which would lead to a civilization which deeply cares for the beauty of nature and all beings on the planet.

The Concept of Capabilities

Traditional approaches to moral education have often tended to promote a passive concept of the moral person: being good means keeping out of trouble. The question is, how does this moral person become a social actor who is consciously and actively engaged in performing actions that promote individual and social transformation? First and foremost, for an individual to become a moral person he/she must possess certain capabilities that empower him/her to perform moral and ethical actions. To know what is moral and ethical is not enough. To become a moral person, the individual must put this knowledge into action. Thus, the capabilities that empower the individual to know and to act morally are of primary importance in developing moral leadership.

Each capability has unique functions and characteristics and is composed of a combination of specific concepts or principles, virtues, attitudes (habits of mind) and skills. These functions and characteristics help us gain a fuller understanding of each of the fifteen capabilities listed below. For example, let us look at the capability to participate effectively in consultation. What are the virtues which a leader must have in order to participate effectively in consultation? What are the concepts or principles which she or he must understand? What are the attitudes the leader must have in order to effectively participate in consultation? What are the skills the leader must have in order to effectively take part in consultation? The unique mix of these elements within the individual creates a capability to perform specific types of actions.

In developing a systematic learning process or training program for moral leadership, the first and most critical task is that of identifying the necessary set of capabilities that the program intends to develop. The subsequent tasks entail an analysis of the elements of each capability (i.e., virtues, concepts, attitudes and skills), which provides the focus for the design of the curricular elements and the selection of appropriate teaching methods that will facilitate the learning process.

The Essential Capabilities of Leadership

The following list of capabilities consist of those that are considered to be essential for effective moral leadership. Perhaps as individuals who work in NGOs develop these capabilities, they will empower their institutions to play an important moral leadership role in the process of transformation towards a sustainable world civilization.

These capabilities are not listed in order of importance. Nor is this to be considered an exhaustive list of capabilities. The list simply represents those capabilities which were considered by the working group, to be essential for moral leadership. We recommend to all who come across this list to use it and adapt it to their particular institutions and to continue refining the points presented in this paper.

Each of the capabilities listed below is composed of certain concepts, virtues, attitudes and skills. To gain a clearer understanding of each capability, one must ask the following questions: What are the essential virtues for developing a certain capability? What are the concepts that must be grasped to cultivate a capability? What are the attitudes that one must possess to develop a capability? What are the skills necessary for a particular capability?

The capability to: encourage others and to bring joy to their hearts; infuse one's thoughts and actions with love;  be visionary and to encourage others to be visionary; manage one's affairs and responsibilities with a rectitude of conduct; assess one's strengths and weaknesses without involving the ego; oppose one's self-centered tendencies by turning towards one's higher purpose for existence; exercise initiative in a creative and disciplined way; sustain effort and persevere in overcoming obstacles; understand relationships of dominance and be able to facilitate their transformation into relationships of inter-dependence, reciprocity and service; serve as a catalyst for the establishment of justice; engage in empowering educational activities, both as a student and as a teacher; learn from systematic reflection on action and to do so within an evolving and consistent framework; think systemically in the search for solutions; participate effectively in consultation; build unity while cultivating diversity; and serve on the institutions of society in such a manner that these institutions are actively encouraged to empower the individuals whom they serve, to express their talents in service to humanity.

O Desenvolvimento Sustentável e o Espírito

O Desenvolvimento Sustentável e o Espírito

Adaptação da declaração apresentada à Cúpula da Terra (Conferência da Nações Unidas sobre o Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil—4 June 1992

Acima de questões técnicas e políticas tais como os limites a serem estabelecidos para a emissão de gases do efeito estufa, como promover o desenvolvimento sustentável, e quem pagará a conta, a pergunta fundamental com que se defronta a comunidade munidal é esta: Pode a humanidade, com seus padrões arraigados de conflito, egoísmo e conduta tacanha, comprometer-se com uma cooperação esclarecida e com um planejamento de longo prazo em escala global?

O processo da Cúpula da Terra realçou tanto a complexidade como a interdependência dos problemas que a humanidade enfrenta. Nenhum desses problemas ­ as iniquidades debilitadoras do desenvolvimento, as ameaças apocalípticas do aquecimento atmosférico e da destruição da camada de ozônio, a opressão da mulher, o abandono de crianças e populações marginalizadas, para citar apenas alguns ­ pode ser abordado com realismo sem que se considerem todos os demais. É impossível solucionar qualquer um deles sem uma magnitude de cooperação e coordenação em todos os níveis que ultrapassa em muito qualquer esforço anterior da experiência coletiva da humanidade.

O potencial para tal cooperação, entretanto, é solapado pela distorção geral do caráter humano. Embora não sejam comumente discutidas no contexto dos desafios do meio ambiente e do desenvolvimento, vigoram no mundo atual certas tendências ­ que incluem a carência generalizada de disciplina moral, a glorificação da ambição e da acumulação material, a destruição crescente da família e das comunidades, o alastramento da anarquia e da desordem, a ascensão do racismo e do fanatismo, e a atribuição de prioridade a interesses nacionais em detrimento do bem-estar da humanidade ­ as quais todas, sem excessão, destroem a confiança mútua, alicerce da cooperação.

A reversão dessas tendências destrutivas é essencial para o estabelecimento da unidade e da cooperação. Isso exigirá uma compreensão mais profunda da natureza humana; pois embora a economia, a política, a sociologia e a ciência ofereçam ferramentas importantes para a abordagem das crises interdependentes que afligem a humanidade, uma verdadeira superação do estado de perigo em que se encontram os assuntos humanos só poderá ser levada a efeito quando a dimensão espiritual da natureza humana for levada em conta e o coração humano, transformado.

Embora certos aspectos místicos não sejam fáceis de explicar, a dimensão espiritual da natureza humana pode ser compreendida, em termos práticos, como a fonte das qualidades que transcendem a estreiteza do interesse próprio. Tais qualidades compreendem o amor, a compaixão, a tolerância, a fidedignidade, a coragem, a humildade, a cooperação e a vontade de sacrificar-se pelo bem comum ­ qualidades de uma cidadania esclarecida, capaz de construir uma civilização mundial unificada.

As transformações profundas e de vasto alcance, a unidade e a cooperação sem precedentes, necessárias à reorientação do mundo rumo a um futuro de justiça e sustentável quanto ao meio ambiente, só serão possíveis tocando-se o espírito humano, apelando-se àqueles valores universais que, por si só, podem capacitar os indivíduos e os povos a agir em conformidade com os interesses de longo prazo do planeta e do gênero humano como um todo. Uma vez explorada, essa fonte poderosa e dinâmica de motivação individual e coletiva liberará um espírito tão profundo e salutar entre os povos da Terra que poder algum será capaz de resistir à sua força unificadora.

A verdade espiritual fundamental de nossa era é a unidade da humanidade. A aceitação universal desse princípio ­ com suas implicações em relação à justiça social e econômica, à participação universal em processos decisórios isentos de antagonismo, à paz e segurança coletiva, à igualdade dos sexos e à educação universal ­ possibilitará a reorganização e administração do mundo como um só país, o lar da humanidade.

Há mais de cem anos atrás, Bahá'u'lláh conclamou os governantes e povos da terra a tornarem sua visão mundialmente abrangente: "Que não se vanglorie quem ama seu próprio país, mas sim, quem ama o mundo inteiro." Este desafio ainda deve ser atendido.

Zhvillimi i Pandërprerë dhe Shpirti Njerëzor

Zhvillimi i Pandërprerë dhe Shpirti Njerëzor

Përshtatur nga Deklarata e bërë në mbledhjen plenare të "Takimit të Nivelit të Lartë të Tokës" (Konferenca e Kombeve të Bashkuara për Mjedisin dhe Zhvillimin), Rio de Zhaneiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—4 June 1992

Problemet me të cilat ndeshet njerëzimi nuk mund të trajtohen plotësisht pa një kooperim e bashkërendim të gjerë në të gjitha nivelet, që tejkalon shumë çdo gjë që përfshihet në përvojën kolektive të njerëzimit.

Një zgjidhje e vërtetë e gjendjes së rrezikshme të punëve në botë mund të realizohet vetëm kur dimensioni shpirtëror i natyrës njerëzore
të mbahet parasysh dhe zemra njerëzore të transformohet. Dimensioni shpirtëror i natyrës njerëzore mund të kuptohet praktikisht si burimi
i cilësive që e kapërcejnë egoizmin e ngushtë.

Tej çështjeve të tilla teknike e politike, si ç'kufizime duhen vënë për gazet e serrave, si mund të stimulohet zhvillimi i pandërprerë dhe kush do të paguajë për të, çështja themelore me të cilën ndeshet komuniteti botëror është kjo: A mundet njerëzimi, me modelet e tij të rrënjosura të konfliktit, me egoizmin dhe qëndrimin e tij dritëshkurtër, të angazhohet në një kooperim të qytetëruar e në një planifikim afatgjatë në shkallë botërore?

Zhvillimi i Takimit të Nivelit të Lartë të Tokës ndriçoi si kompleksitetin dhe ndërvarësinë e problemeve me të cilat ndeshet njerëzimi. Asnjë prej këtyre problemeve - padrejtësitë rraskapitëse të zhvillimit, kërcënimet apokaliptike të nxemjes së atmosferës e të shterimit të ozonit, shtypja e grave, lënia pasdore e fëmijëve dhe e popujve të prapambetur, duke përmendur vetëm disa prej tyre - nuk mund të trajtohet në mënyrë realiste pa mbajtur parasysh të gjitha të tjerat. Asnjëri prej tyre nuk mund të trajtohet plotësisht pa një kooperim e bashkërendim të gjerë në të gjitha nivelet, që tejkalon çdo gjë që përfshihet në përvojën kolektive të njerëzimit.

Por mundësinë për një kooperim të tillë e minon ulja e përgjithshme e karakterit njerëzor. Megjithëse zakonisht nuk diskutohen në lidhje me sfidat e mjedisit e të zhvillimit, në botë ka sot disa rryma - duke pëfshirë mungesën gjerësisht të përhapur të disiplinës morale, ngritjen në qiell të lakmisë e të akumulimit material, dobësimin gjithnjë më të madh të familjes e të komunitetit, rritjen e paligjshmërisë e të rrëmujës, mbisundimin e racizmit e të fanatizmit, përparësinë që u jepet interesave kombëtare mbi mirëqenien e njerëzimit - të cilat të gjitha shkatërrojnë besimin dhe sigurinë, që janë themelet e bashkëpunimit.

Eliminimi i këtyre rrymave shkatërrimtare është thelbësore për vendosjen e unitetit e të kooperimit. Eliminimi i tyre do të kërkojë një kuptim më të thellë të natyrës njerëzore. Sepse megjithë që ekonomia, politika. sociologjia dhe shkenca janë mjete të rëndësishme për trajtimin e krizave të ndërvarura me të cilat ndeshet njerëzimi, një zgjidhje e vërtetë e gjendjes së rrezikshme të punëve në botë mund të realizohet vetëm kur dimensioni shpirtëror i natyrës njerëzore të mbahet parasysh dhe zemra njerëzore të transformohet.

Megjithëse ka aspekte mistike që nuk shpjegohen lehtë, dimensioni shpirtëror i natyrës njerëzore mund të kuptohet praktikisht si burimi i cilësive që e kapërcejnë egoizmin e ngushtë. Cilësi të tilla përfshijnë dashurinë, dhembshurinë, durimin, besueshmërinë, kurajën, përunjësinë, kooperimin dhe vullnetin për sakrifica për të mirën e përbashkët. Këto janë cilësi të një qytetarie të ndriçuar, të aftë për të ndërtuar një qytetërim botëror të unifikuar.

Pasi të ketë vërshuar, ky burim i fuqishëm e dinamik i motivimit individual e kolektiv do të përhapë një frymë kaq të thellë e të shëndetshme midis popujve të botës, saqë asnjë forcë nuk do t'i rezistojë dot fuqisë së tij unifikuese.

E vërteta shpirtërore themelore e epokës sonë është njëshmëria e njerëzimit.

Ndryshimet e thella e që shkojnë larg, uniteti dhe kooperimi pa precedent që kërkohen për ta riorientuar botën drejt një të ardhmeje ekologjikisht të qëndrueshme e të drejtë, do të jenë të mundura vetëm duke prekur shpirtin njerëzor, duke iu drejtuar atyre vlerave universale, të cilat janë të vetmet që mund t'u japin mundësi individëve e popujve të veprojnë në përputhje me interesat afatgjate të planetit e të njerëzimit si një e tërë. Pasi të ketë vërshuar, ky burim i fuqishëm e dinamik i motivimit individual e kolektiv do të përhapë një frymë kaq të thellë e të shëndetshme midis popujve të botës, saqë asnjë forcë nuk do t'i rezistojë dot fuqisë së tij unifikuese.

E vërteta shpirtërore themelore e epokës sonë është njëshmëria e njerëzimit. Pranimi universal i këtij parimi - me të gjitha implikimet që sjell ai për drejtësi shoqërore dhe ekonomike, për pjesëmarrje të përgjithshme në marrjen e vendimeve pa kundërvënie, për paqen dhe sigurimin kolektiv, për barazinë e sekseve dhe arsim për të gjithë - do të bëjë të mundur riorganizimin dhe qeverisjen e botës si një vend i vetëm, si shtëpia e njerëzimit.

Mbi njëqind vjet më parë, Bahá'u'lláh-u sfidoi sundimtarët dhe popujt e tokës që ta bëjnë botëpërfshirës vizionin e tyre: "Nuk duhet të krenohet ai që do vendin e vet, por ai që do gjithë botën." Kjo sfidë ende pret përgjigje.

Sustainable Development and the Human Spirit

Sustainable Development and the Human Spirit

Based on the statement "The Most Vital Challenge" presented to the Plenary of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, Earth Summit '92)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—4 June 1992

Beyond such technical and political questions as what limits should be placed on greenhouse gases, how can sustainable development be promoted, and who will pay for it all, the fundamental question facing the world community is this: Can humanity, with its entrenched patterns of conflict, self-interest, and short-sighted behavior, commit itself to enlightened cooperation and long-range planning on a global scale?

The Earth Summit process highlighted both the complexity and the interdependence of the problems facing humanity. None of these problems -- the debilitating inequities of development, the apocalyptic threats of atmospheric warming and ozone depletion, the oppression of women, the neglect of children and marginalized peoples, to name but a few -- can be realistically addressed without considering all the others. None can be fully addressed without a magnitude of cooperation and coordination at all levels that far surpasses anything in humanity's collective experience.

The potential for such cooperation is, however, undermined by the general debasement of human character. Although not commonly discussed in relation to the challenges of environment and development, there are current in the world certain trends -- including the widespread lack of moral discipline, the glorification of greed and material accumulation, the increasing breakdown of family and community, the rise of lawlessness and disorder, the ascendancy of racism and bigotry, and the priority given to national interests over the welfare of humanity -- all of which destroy confidence and trust, the foundations of collaboration.

The reversal of these destructive trends is essential to the establishment of unity and cooperation. This reversal will require a deeper understanding of human nature. For, although economics, politics, sociology and science offer important tools for addressing the interdependent crises facing humanity, a true resolution of the dangerous state of affairs in the world can only be realized when the spiritual dimension of human nature is taken into account and the human heart is transformed.

Although there are mystical aspects that are not easily explained, the spiritual dimension of human nature can be understood, in practical terms, as the source of qualities that transcend narrow self-interest. Such qualities include love, compassion, forbearance, trustworthiness, courage, humility, co-operation and willingness to sacrifice for the common good -- qualities of an enlightened citizenry, able to construct a unified world civilization.

The profound and far-reaching changes, the unity and unprecedented cooperation, required to reorient the world toward an environmentally sustainable and just future, will only be possible by touching the human spirit, by appealing to those universal values which alone can empower individuals and peoples to act in accordance with the long- term interests of the planet and humanity as a whole. Once tapped, this powerful and dynamic source of individual and collective motivation will release such a profound and salutary spirit among the peoples of the earth that no power will be able to resist its unifying force.

The fundamental spiritual truth of our age is the oneness of humanity. Universal acceptance of this principle -- with its implications for social and economic justice, universal participation in non-adversarial decision making, peace and collective security, equality of the sexes, and universal education -- will make possible the reorganization and administration of the world as one country, the home of humankind.

Over one hundred years ago, Bahá'u'lláh challenged the rulers and peoples of the earth to make their vision world-embracing: "It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world." This challenge has yet to be answered.

El Desarrollo Sostenible y el Espíritu Humano

El Desarrollo Sostenible y el Espíritu Humano

Río de Janeiro, Brasil—4 June 1992

Junio de 1992

Por encima de cuestiones técnicas y políticas como los límites que han de fijarse a los gases que producen el efecto invernadero, la forma de promover un desarrollo sostenible y quién ha de pagar por ello, la cuestión fundamental que enfrenta la comunidad mundial es ésta: ¿Puede la humanidad, con sus arraigadas esquemas de conflicto, intereses egoístas y falta de previsión, comprometerse a una cooperación bien orientada y una planificación de largo alcance a escala global?

Las decisiones de la Cumbre para la Tierra destacaron tanto la complejidad como la interdependencia de los problemas que enfrenta la humanidad. Ninguno de estos problemas - las debilitantes desigualdades en el desarrollo, las amenazas apocalípticas del calentamiento de la atmósfera y la reducción de la capa de ozono, la opresión de las mujeres, el abandono de niños y pueblos marginados, por nombrar algunos - puede ser abordado en forma realista sin considerar todos los demás. Ninguno puede ser abordado plenamente sin una medida de cooperación y coordinación en todos los niveles que supere con creces todo cuanto haya experimentado colectivamente la humanidad.

Sin embargo, la posibilidad de tal cooperación es arruinada por la degradación generalizada del carácter humano. Aunque no son comúnmente debatidos en relación con los desafíos del medio ambiente y el desarrollo, hay actualmente en el mundo ciertas tendencias - entre las que se cuentan la muy difundida falta de disciplina moral, la glorificación de la avaricia y la acumulación de riquezas, el creciente colapso de la familia y la comunidad, el aumento de la delincuencia y el desorden, el dominio del racismo y la intolerancia y la prioridad que se da a los intereses nacionales por encima del bienestar de la humanidad - todas las cuales destruyen la confianza y la credibilidad, que constituyen la base de la colaboración.

La inversión de estas tendencias destructivas es esencial para el establecimiento de la unidad y la cooperación. Esta inversión requerirá una profunda comprensión de la naturaleza humana. Pues, si bien la economía, la política, la sociología y la ciencia ofrecen importantes herramientas para abordar las crisis interdependientes que enfrenta la humanidad, una verdadera resolución del peligroso estado de las cosas en el mundo sólo podrá lograrse cuando sea tomada en consideración la dimensión espiritual de la naturaleza humana y el corazón humano sea transformado.

Aunque hay aspectos místicos que no son fácilmente explicables, la dimensión espiritual de la naturaleza humana puede ser comprendida, en términos prácticos, como la fuente de cualidades que transcienden el estrecho interés personal. Tales cualidades incluyen el amor, la compasión, la tolerancia, la confiabilidad, la valentía, la humildad, la cooperación y la disposición al sacrificio en aras del bien común: cualidades propias de una ciudadanía esclarecida, capaz de construir una civilización del mundo unificado.

Los cambios profundos y de largo alcance, la unidad y cooperación sin precedente, requeridos para reorientar el mundo hacia un futuro justo y sostenible respecto del medio ambiente, sólo serán posibles tocando el espíritu humano, apelando a los valores universales que son los únicos que pueden hacer que las personas y los pueblos actúen en concordancia con los intereses de largo plazo del planeta y de la humanidad como un todo. Una vez que sea utilizada, esta poderosa y dinámica fuente de motivación individual y colectiva liberará un espíritu tan profundo y benéfico entre los pueblos de la tierra, que no habrá poder que resista su fuerza unificadora.

La verdad espiritual fundamental de nuestra época es la unicidad de la humanidad. La aceptación universal de este principio - con sus efectos en la justicia económica y social, la participación universal en la toma de decisiones sin antagonismo, la paz y seguridad colectiva, la igualdad de los sexos y la educación universal - hará posible la reorganización y administración del mundo como un solo país, el hogar del género humano.

Hace más de cien años atrás, Bahá'u'lláh desafió a los gobernantes y pueblos de la tierra a hacer que su visión abarcara el mundo: "No debe enorgullecerse quien ama su propio país, sino más bien quien ama el mundo entero."La respuesta a este desafío está pendiente.

Duurzame ontwikkeling en de menselijke geest

Duurzame ontwikkeling en de menselijke geest

Bewerking van de verklaring aan de Algemene Vergadering van de Earth Summit (De VN-conferentie over milieu en duurzame ontwikkeling 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazilië).

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—4 June 1992

Voorbijgaand aan technische en politieke vragen over grenzen aan broeikasgassen, duurzame ontwikkeling en de hiermee samenhangende financiering, is de fundamentele vraag voor de mensheid of zij, met haar diepgewortelde patronen van conflict, eigenbelang en kortzichtigheid, zich op mondiale schaal kan toeleggen op redelijke samenwerking en planning op langere termijn.

De Earth Summit bracht zowel de complexiteit als de onderlinge samenhang aan het licht van deze problemen, waarmee de mensheid wordt geconfronteerd. Deze problemen - waaronder de apocalyptische dreiging van verwarming van de atmosfeer en de dunner wordende ozonlaag, de onderdrukking van vrouwen, de verwaarlozing van kinderen en onbelangrijk geachte volkeren, om er een paar te noemen - kunnen geen van alle op een realistische manier de aandacht krijgen, zonder dat rekening wordt gehouden met alle andere problemen. Ze kunnen niet worden opgelost zonder een zeer grote mate van samenwerking en coördinatie op alle niveaus, een samenwerking die de totale gezamenlijke ervaring van de mensheid overstijgt.

Het potentieel voor een dergelijke samenwerking is echter ondergraven door de algemene verlaging van het menselijk karakter. Hoewel dit gewoonlijk niet besproken wordt in het kader van de milieu- en ontwikkelingsuitdagingen, zijn er op dit ogenblik in de wereld bepaalde tendensen - waaronder het wijdverbreide gebrek aan morele discipline, de verheerlijking van hebzucht en materialisme, het steeds verder uiteenvallen van gezin en gemeenschap, het opkomen van wetteloosheid en wanorde, van racisme en fanatisme, en het stellen van het nationale belang boven het welzijn van de mensheid - die de fundamenten van samenwerking - geruststelling en vertrouwen - vernietigen.

Voor de vestiging van eenheid en samenwerking is het keren van deze vernietigende tendensen onontbeerlijk. Deze ommekeer zal een groter inzicht in de menselijke natuur vereisen. Want hoewel economie, politiek, sociologie en wetenschap belangrijke gereedschappen zijn om de onderling samenhangende crises waarmee de mensheid wordt geconfronteerd het hoofd te bieden, kan voor de gevaarlijke situatie waarin de wereld verkeert alleen dan een werkelijke oplossing worden verwezenlijkt, wanneer rekening wordt gehouden met de geestelijke zijde van de mens en het hart van de mens wordt getransformeerd.

Hoewel er mystieke aspecten zijn die zich niet makkelijk laten verklaren, kan de geestelijke zijde van de mens in de praktische zin worden gezien als de bron van eigenschappen die bekrompen eigenbelang overstijgen. Hieronder vallen eigenschappen als liefde, mededogen, verdraagzaamheid, betrouwbaarheid, moed, nederigheid samenwerkingsgezindheid en bereidheid tot opoffering voor het algemeen belang - eigenschappen van een verlichte bevolking die in staat is om een verenigde wereldbeschaving op te bouwen.

De grondige en verstrekkende verandering, eenheid en ongekende samenwerking, nodig om de wereld te heroriënteren in de richting van een milieukundig duurzame en rechtvaardige toekomst, zullen alleen mogelijk zijn door de menselijke geest te beroeren, door een beroep te doen op die universele waarden welke als enige aan individuen en volkeren de kracht kunnen geven te handelen in overeenstemming met de belangen van de planeet op lange termijn en van de mensheid als geheel. Eenmaal aangeboord, zal deze krachtige en dynamische bron van individuele en collectieve motivatie zo'n diepgaande en heilzame geest onder de volkeren van de aarde vrijmaken, dat geen macht in staat zal zijn de verenigende kracht ervan te weerstaan.

De eenheid van de mensheid is de fundamentele geestelijke waarheid van onze tijd. Het universeel aanvaarden van dit principe - met zijn gevolgen voor sociale en economische rechtvaardigheid, universele deelname in conflictvrije besluitvorming, vrede en collectieve veiligheid, gelijkwaardigheid van man en vrouw en universeel onderwijs - zal het mogelijk maken om de wereld te reorganiseren en te besturen als een land; het thuis van de mensheid.

Meer dan honderd jaar geleden daagde Bahá'u'lláh de heersers en volkeren der aarde uit hun visie wereldomvattend te maken: "Men beroeme zich er niet op zijn vaderland lief te hebben, maar stelle er een eer in de gehele wereld lief te hebben." Deze uitdaging wacht nog altijd op antwoord.

Restructuring the International Order

Restructuring the International Order

Statement to the 16th Meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) of South Pacific Commission (SPC)

Noumea, New Caledonia—18 May 1992

Over the past fourteen years, the Baha'i International Community has been eminently honored by having been allowed the privilege of forging significant working relationships with the South Pacific Commission and the governments of the Pacific Region.

Since 1978 the Baha'i International Community has supported your varied and significant projects and has participated in all your conferences, seminars and workshops. Of particular significance to us, however, is that you have kindly allowed us to present to you our views on subjects of concern to our communities in the Pacific Region.

Over the years we have shared with you Baha'i perspectives on such issues as youth, nutrition, women, health, education, alcohol & drug abuse, environment, and rural development. This year, at the Sixteenth Meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Government and Administrations, it seems appropriate, in light of the upcoming Earth Summit to be held this June in Rio de Janeiro, to address the critical issues of environment and development.

A little over a hundred years ago, in a series of letters to the world leaders of the day, Bahá'u'lláh spoke of humankind as entering on a period of history that would entail the radical restructuring of the life of the planet. Challenges never before contemplated would, He said, soon overwhelm the resources of even the most advanced nations. They could be addressed only by a world federal system whose central organ would be a representative world parliament empowered to create a code of universally agreed upon and enforceable international law. "The earth is but one country," Bahá'u'lláh asserted, "and mankind its citizens."

As the magnitude, complexity and urgency of environmental problems have gradually forced themselves on public attention, the logic of this prescription has become daily more apparent. The available international legislative machinery and processes are proving inadequate, primarily because they are based on laws governing nation-states. Moreover, the process for creating environmental legislation, which addresses only one problem at a time, is fragmented and unsystematic. No one body is responsible for drafting international environmental legislation. Nor have the nations of the world agreed on a set of principles upon which such legislation can be based. Furthermore, the countries signing the various legislative instruments are rarely identical. Thus, it is almost impossible to harmonize or combine agreements.

Many countries with limited numbers of diplomats and experts cannot cope with the time-consuming and expensive procedures currently in place, particularly as the number of negotiations is increasing to respond to pressing global environmental problems. The present ad hoc process can only become more unmanageable. Numerous proposals have been offered to provide global mechanisms to create and support a sustainable pattern of development. Some experts advise strengthening the existing UN system by upgrading the mandates of agencies such as the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), reconfiguring the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), or using the Trusteeship Council to administer certain global resources. Others suggest creating new bodies such as an environmental security council, a World Court of environmental justice, or an international environmental negotiating body to prepare, adopt and revise international legislation on issues requiring global action.

However well motivated and helpful such proposals are, it is apparent to the Baha'i International Community that the establishment of a sustainable pattern of development is a complex task with widespread ramifications. It will clearly require a new level of commitment to solving major problems not exclusively associated with the environment. These problems include militarization, the inordinate disparity of wealth between and within nations, racism, lack of access to education, unrestrained nationalism, and the lack of equality between women and men. Rather than a piecemeal approach conceived in response to the needs of the nation-states, it seems clearly preferable to adopt an umbrella agreement under which specific international codes could be promulgated.

Long-term solutions will require a new and comprehensive vision of a global society, supported by a new system of values. Acceptance of the oneness of humanity is the first fundamental prerequisite for this reorganization and administration of the world as one country, the home of humankind. Recognition of this principle does not imply abandonment of legitimate loyalties, the suppression of cultural diversity, or the abolition of national autonomy. It calls for a wider loyalty, for a far higher aspiration than has so far animated human efforts. It clearly requires the subordination of national impulses and interests to the imperative claims of a unified world. It is inconsistent not only with any attempt to impose uniformity, but with any tendency towards excessive centralization. Its goal is well captured in the concept of "unity in diversity."

No real change is possible without a vision. The world federal system proposed by Bahá'u'lláh is one "in whose favour all the nations of the world will have willingly ceded every claim to make war, certain rights to impose taxation and all rights to maintain armaments, except for purposes of maintaining internal order within their respective dominions." Such a world commonwealth will include "a world legislature, whose members will, as the trustees of the whole of mankind, ultimately control the entire resources of all the component nations, and will enact such laws as shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy the needs and adjust the relationships of all races and peoples. A world executive, backed by an international Force, will carry out the decisions arrived at, and apply the laws enacted by, this world legislature, and will safeguard the organic unity of the whole commonwealth. A world tribunal will adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and final verdict in all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements constituting this universal system." Under such a system, "a single code of international law - the product of the considered judgement of the world's federated representatives - shall have as its sanction the instant and coercive intervention of the combined forces of the federated units..." At the same time, "the autonomy of [the] state members and the personal freedom and initiative of the individuals that compose them [will be] definitely and completely safeguarded."

Baha'is the world over find in the process of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development a powerful reinforcement of the optimism they feel about the future of humankind. We believe that, empowered by the universal recognition of the dangers presently facing the planet, the governments of the world can be moved to act courageously on behalf of the human race as a whole. The result may well prove to be not only an effective response to the environmental and developmental problems now facing us, but another enormous step forward in the building of a federal system able to take up the entire array of challenges confronting a rapidly integrating human race.

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