What Would Make a Better World? Many things

I write about nurturing a better world in this blook, but better is a value-laden word. Better for whom? Even Adolf Hitler thought he was making a better world. So, what do I mean by a better world?

Introduction

What would constitute a better world?

I am trying to figure out the role of the individual in ensuring humanity’s long-term survival and nurturing a better world, beyond initiatives such as 50 Ways to Save the Planet or protesting with Extinction Rebellion. I am not criticizing these actions, but they fall far short of what is needed.

We need to build a sustainable global civilization that we can be proud of. The challenges are IMMENSE. Let’s begin by examining the high-level actions we need to take.

• • ensure our long-term survival
    • mitigate existential risks
    • stop destroying the planetary ecosphere
    • without a livable planet, all is lost
  • ensure the survival of democracy
    • rethink democracy
    • democracy is not perfect, but everything else is worse, especially autocracies
    • without good governance and the freedom to act, we will achieve little
  •  rethink capitalism and the way companies do business
    • capitalism has achieved so much, but at great expense
    • business has had a massive impact on society, both for the better and for the worse
    • we need to  rethink capitalism
  • ensure human rights are protected
    • human rights, such as freedom of speech, are critical to our survival
  • agree on a set of human obligations
    • human rights need to be balanced with human responsibilities
  • agree on a global ethic
    • independent of religious belief

Resources

Several organizations, such as the United Nations, have published a set of universal values and principles that could help nurture a better world if adopted. Here are some of them:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is an international document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings.

The General Assembly accepted it as Resolution 217 on 10 December 1948.

The UDHR has inspired and paved the way for the adoption of more than 70 human rights treaties, which are applied today at both global and regional levels.

The Declaration of Human Duties and Responsibilities

The Declaration of Human Duties and Responsibilities (DHDR) was written to reinforce the implementation of human rights under the auspices of UNESCO and in accordance with the interests of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was proclaimed in 1998 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Universal Declaration of Human Obligations

On 1 September 1997, the InterAction Council published a draft proposal, the Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities.

The InterAction Council (IAC) is an independent, non-profit organization comprising 30 former heads of state and prime ministers who collectively develop recommendations and practical solutions for the political, economic, and social challenges facing humanity.

The rationale behind the proposal is outlined in the article “Some Contributions to a Universal Declaration of Human Obligations” by Oscar Arias Sánchez.

The proposal did not progress further for several reasons, as summarized in this report by the IAC: Summary Report of the Steering Committee Meeting on the Dissemination of the Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities.

However, there is a call to revive the proposal, as shown in “Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities: A Distant Dream in the 21st Century” by Ashutosh Kumar Singh in April 2020. And also, in the article Promoting Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities by Dr Laksiri Fernando in July 2021

Global Ethic

The Global Ethic is a declaration of the Parliament of the World’s Religions stating the universal values and principles shared by the world’s religious, spiritual, and cultural traditions.

Although it emerged from consultations with scholars and religious leaders from many of the world’s religions and regions, the Global Ethic is a statement of fundamental ethical commitments shared by people worldwide, regardless of their religious affiliation.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are seventeen interlinked global goals designed to achieve a better and more sustainable future. The SDGs were created in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be completed by 2030.

The seventeen SDGs are listed below. Interestingly, they are primarily focused on enhancing the quality of life. Only goals 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, and 15 are about “saving the planet”.

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10. Reducing Inequality
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life On Land
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals

Inner Development Goals

In addition to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, there are the Inner Development Goals.

This is how they are described on their website:

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals gave us a comprehensive plan for a sustainable world by 2030.

The 17 goals cover a wide range of issues that involve people with different needs, values, and convictions.

There is a vision of what needs to happen, but progress along this vision has so far been disappointing.

We lack the inner capacity to deal with our increasingly complex environment and challenges.

Fortunately, modern research shows that the inner abilities we now all need can be developed.

This was the starting point for the ‘Inner Development Goals’ initiative.

Credit: Inner Development Goals

The IDGs will provide an essential framework of transformative skills for sustainable development, a field-kit (in co-creation now) on how to develop these necessary skills – open source and free for all to use.

The current IDGs framework represents 5 categories and 23 skills and qualities which are especially crucial for leaders who address SDGs, but fundamentally for all of us!

It is the greatest possible accelerator to reach the Sustainable Development Goals and create a prosperous future for all humanity.

Credit: Inner Development Goals

See the complete framework here and read the full report Inner Development Goals: Background, method, and the IDG framework here

The Earth Charter

The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental values and principles that its supporters consider beneficial for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century.

Created by a global consultation process and endorsed by organizations representing millions of people, the Charter “seeks to inspire in all peoples a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family, the greater community of life, and future generations.”

Credit: Wikipedia

Taking personal responsibility

Where do we begin? Perhaps by fully embracing the idea of personal responsibility and actively taking charge of fostering the transformative changes we desire.

We can choose to be audacious enough to take responsibility for the entire human family. We can choose to make our love for the world what our lives are really about.

Each of us has the opportunity, the privilege, to make a difference in creating a world that works for all of us. It will require courage, audacity and heart.

It is much more radical than a revolution – it is the beginning of a transformation in the quality of life on our planet. What we create together is a relationship in which our work can show up as making a difference in people’s lives.

I welcome the unprecedented opportunity for us to work globally on that which concerns us all as human beings. If not you, who? If not now, when? If not here, where?

Credit: Werner Erhard