Recognition of Responsibility
by University Students of America
http://members.tripod.com/ysec/index.htm
This is a statement of intent by American
University students of our generation. We
stand on the brink of adulthood, when many
of us are making decisions about the direction
of our futures.
The United States represents less than 5%
of the world's population, but uses 40% of
the world's energy, drives 30% of its automobiles,
and is the source of over 20% of the world-wide
carbon emission. We are, without doubt, the
country with the largest ecological footprint.
Our current lifestyle comes at the expense
of the health of the planet and its people.
As students in the most industrialized, wealthy,
and powerful country in the world, we recognize
that these privileges come with responsibility.
I, a University student in 2002, I recognize
that the Earth has finite resources. I recognize
that my everyday actions continue to affect
communities on a local and global scale,
today and in the future, for better or for
worse. I also recognize and believe that
infinite growth of our economy and of GDP
does not mean the increase of human well-being
or happiness.
Today I commit to make a positive contribution
to the future.
I will take environmental responsibility
and promote sustainable development in my
daily life by:
I) Respecting and caring for the community
of life that sustains me, and protecting
ecological integrity.
a. Explore my local natural environment.
b. Support efforts to conserve natural resources
and ecosystems.
c. Avoid products that are damaging to humans
and the natural world.
d. Support and promote the humane treatment
of all life.
II) Promoting a culture of democracy, social
justice, and peace.
a. Learn about international social, political,
and environmental issues, and recognize how
they are interconnected
b. Advocate for the basic human right to
clean, fresh air and water.
c. Make my voice heard through voting and
social activism.
d. Respect everyone's right to free speech
and opinion.
e. Support efforts to use non-violence in
conflict resolution.
f. encourage my workplace to minimize damage
to human and natural
environments.
g. Invest my savings in a socially and environmentally
responsible
manner.
III) Reducing my consumption of resources
and my impact on the environment.
a. Resist the urge to buy things I don't
need and understand the environmental and
social impacts of things I do buy.
b. Reduce the amount of garbage I create.
c. Reduce my waste of fresh water.
d. Recycle and buy items made from recycled
or reused material where possible.
e. Travel by foot, skate, bike, transit,
train, and carpool.
f. Learn how things are made, and where they
come from, and to support technology that
is less harmful.
g. Buy food that is produced locally and
sustainably.
We also call on our elder generations and
those in power to support and mentor us in
our vision -- to help us shape the present
so that future citizens will not remember
our generation as one of wasteful consumerism
and social blindness. We hope this document,
in alignment with the Earth Charter and other
documents for change, conveys the commitment
of the students of our generation. Today,
we take responsibility so that the students
of tomorrow will remember our era as one
of responsible living and positive change.