Manifesto for the
Transition
To a Sustainable, Just
and Cooperative Society
This manifesto is an invitation into a
"movement of movements", the call for diverse groups and sectors to
come together around the common cause of transitioning from our present state
of life-threatening global crisis to a sustainable, just and cooperative global
society that serves the well-being of all.
Based on separation, competition and the pursuit
of self-profit regardless of the consequences for others and the planet, the
now-globalized capitalist system, particularly in its advanced neo-liberal
form, is causing multiple crises of vast social and economic inequality,
climate emergency and other forms of ecological devastation that threaten the
very survival of life on Earth.
We need to transition, as quickly and smoothly
as possible, to a system based on the opposite values: sustainability,
cooperation, caring, our interconnectedness with each other and nature, an
ethic of solidarity that serves the well-being of all of us and all life.
Many people and organizations have recognized
this, and are already working towards this transition, at different levels and
in diverse ways. We have distilled a manifesto based on the common values and
goals of these movements, which can serve as the platform for a "movement
of movements", around which they can gather, coordinate their goals and
collaborate in action. This will both accelerate the transition to a
cooperative, sustainable society so many desire today, and model new
collaborative processes for co-creative synergy and participatory governance
for our future.
The seven goals of the manifesto, and the
movement of movements, include:
1. Ecological sustainability: Moving towards maximum renewable energy
globally in the minimum time possible. Instituting policies, on all scales, for
the reclamation of the commons and the restoration of healthy natural
ecosystems.
2. Cooperative, equitable economics: Replacing the current neo-liberal,
deregulated capitalist global system with a cooperative, equitable system,
serving people and planet rather than the profits of the wealthy.
3. Social justice globally: Providing equal social status, dignity and
opportunity for all to have their necessities met and to reach their highest
potentials, regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, class,
ethnicity, age or ability.
4. Non-violence: In our own action and strategies. On the global scale, moving
towards nuclear disarmament, the dismantling of the war machine and the weapons
industry. Responding to violence with forms of restorative justice and
reconciliation rather than retaliation.
5. Consciousness-Change: Bringing a holistic, ethical worldview of
interconnectedness, at all levels of our being, into our educational systems,
as well as the general cultural consciousness via the media. Some of the points
would include: our interconnection through subtle fields of energy and
consciousness; our ecological interdependence with other life forms and natural
systems; the need for cooperative, sustainable, equitable social and economic
systems which reflect that; and an appreciation of unity-in-diversity, along
with the skills of collective intelligence and co-creative synergy. Though
consonant with the worldview of indigenous and ancient spiritual traditions,
these principles can also be framed in secular or scientific terms.
6. Developing Forms of Participatory Governance: Promoting local resilience and self-reliance,
as well as new forms of participatory governance, at levels local to global.
Developing a true democracy of, for and by the people, with everyone included,
as well as the interests of Mother Earth and all life forms on the planet.
7. Empowering Women and Feminine Values: Ending all violence towards and oppression
of women. Empowering women as transformational leaders as well as men bringing
the feminine values of interconnectedness, caring, cooperation and reverence
for the sacredness of all life into the collective consciousness and our social
systems
Our plan is to send the manifesto to major
leaders already active in these directions, invite them to sign and, if
possible, join a guiding body. With these names behind it, we would then send
it out to relevant groups and organizations by direct invitation, as well as
the general public through the social media, social activist petition sites,
etc. We could also link the manifesto to a succinct, direct hashtag like
"#transformingthesystem" and send it out to go viral. This in turn
could be linked to an invitation to a day of world-wide demonstrations, a
"Transform the System" day, and a series of general strikes until the
demands are recognized and met.
Behind this would be a platform for on-going
collaboration, the Spheres of Co-Creation: an interactive digital website where
the different organizations and their activities would be mapped, allowing them
to identify each other and further consolidate action. The website would also
elaborate the points of the vision in greater detail, and continue to evolve as
the movement itself does. The site would offer a cohesive, holistic vision of
how the principle of interconnectedness expresses itself at every level of our
being: the inner levels of consciousness, energy, psyche and healing, as well
as the outer social, ecological, economic and governance levels, as a basis for
multi-dimensional, whole-systems transformation, and coordinated action towards
it.
We believe that such a "movement of
movements" could galvanize hope and vision not only among fragmented
movements, but also among the many individuals around the world disaffected by
the current dismal global direction, and ripe for a positive vision and
structure into which they can put their energy. Our future is not
fore-ordained; it is up to us to create it. It is time to consolidate our
movements towards a new world of solidarity, economic, ecological and social, where
all of us and all of life can flourish.
~ Kavita Byrd, June 3, 2018
If interested please contact kavitaji25@yahoo.com or see my website https://shakticentre.blogspot.com
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