Our Commitment to the Earth Charter
The Earth Charter is a document with sixteen principles, organized under four pillars, inspiring a global movement for building a just, sustainable and peaceful world. It is the product of a decade-long, worldwide dialogue on shared values.
At Montessori Earth School, we use the values expressed in the Earth Charter to guide our decisions and planning.
Four Pillars
Respect and Care for the Community of Life
I
Our curriculum focuses on the interdependence of all life.
Social and Economic Justice
III
Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Ecological Integrity
II
Our student projects focus on ways to protect the environment and share knowledge of sustainable practices.
Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace
IV
Our commitment to uphold the right of everyone to receive clear and timely information of all plans and activities.
Join us in turning values into action
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Start with the Earth Charter. Let the Earth Charter be your basic guide when you are planning and undertaking activities to make the Earth Charter vision a reality.
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Be a Living Example. Strive to be a living example of the spirit of the Earth Charter in your day-to-day life – at home, in the workplace, and in your community.
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Empower Yourself. Act boldly, and trust that you can make a difference as an individual and that your activities will catalyze the efforts of many others.
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Cooperate, Cooperate. Create the power to affect change by building partnerships and collaborating with others, and seek to win/win solutions.
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Empower Others. Share power by being inclusive and providing others with opportunities to strengthen their capacities for problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership, unleashing human creativity.
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Promote Respect and Understanding. Endeavor to build relationships of mutual respect and trust among individuals and groups from diverse cultures and communities, and resolve differences through dialogue in a way that produces learning and growth.
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Facilitate Self-Organization. Facilitate the spread of initiatives inspired by the Earth Charter without trying to control them, counting on the capacity of human groups with a clear ethical purpose to self-organize and achieve positive outcomes.
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Focus on Root Causes. Focus thought and action on the root causes of the major problems and challenges facing humanity, and do not let the pressures of existing unsustainable systems and practices deter you from the action.
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Be Committed Yet Flexible. Be unwavering in your commitment to fundamental principles and ensure that the means adopted to achieve your goals are consistent with Earth Charter values, but always be flexible and innovative in selecting means and methods as circumstances change.
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Be Resourceful. Do not let your thinking and acting be restricted by dependence on money; use your imagination and be resourceful in making things happen.
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Use Technology Wisely. Be mindful that large numbers of people do not have access to advanced technology, and when constructing technological solutions to problems ensure that they are appropriate.
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Protect the Integrity of the Charter. When presenting, quoting from, or translating the Earth Charter be faithful to the words and spirit of the original text, and link the Charter only with organizations, products, and events that are consistent with its values and vision.