For the sake of a sustainable life
APPEAL of the Writers for Peace Committee 2009
« Writers, International PEN members, conscious that one of our fundamental principles leads us to work for peace, conscious of our imperative duty of humaneness, we are calling on the conscience of world leaders.
It is indeed fundamental and urgent, for the survival of mankind with dignity and for the survival of our planet, to make all world citizens, beginning with our leaders, aware of the situation of extreme vulnerability in which the human species and all other species find themselves today.
Deforestation, environmental degradation, and pollution in various forms are massive and will soon be irreversible.
Population explosion, global warming, lower water tables, are all of concern.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is proven. Resources are shared less and less. Inequalities in all areas, especially in access to health care and education, are growing, as are poverty and malnutrition.
Many of the human rights stated in the Universal Charter ratified by the United Nations are not being respected in numerous countries, at a time when the importance of highlighting new rights, such as the right to peace, has arisen.
Living beings should not become a trade commodity, any more than air should be taxed.
The right to water for all in this world should be considered as an ethical principle, a categorical imperative as defined by Kant, an irrefragable right.
The use of renewable energy should be favoured and developed everywhere, as should be the rights to education, to work, to leisure activities and to culture for all.
All these rights should be recognized as patrimonial rights worldwide.
The issue in question is the capacity of mankind to think the world, to understand that there is only one world which is our shared asset.
We need to change our benchmark of what is progress, and invent a new paradigm, as true progress for humankind is still conceivable; it is linked to the real achievement of all the above mentioned rights, which should govern the organisation of a new world order, that of a sustainable and supportive planet.
Yes, it is urgent to accelerate the achievement of real democratic societies, ensuring for their citizens total freedom of conscience and the full use of all their patrimonial rights.
We appeal, with all our hearts, for the achievement of such societies, able to federate in order to share freely the governance of our planet.
We are launching this appeal to our leaders to incite them to work in this direction, as we are aware that scientific and technical progress do not automatically bring social and cultural progress for all.
We, writers, members of International PEN, recognize that real progress is linked to sharing, and therefore to the sharing of universal ethical values which alone will allow all humankind to share wealth equitably with mutual respect, meaning with respect for the planet and for future generations ».
Writers for Peace Committe (International PEN)
