The main epistemological and methodological criticism I have of the text of the Earth Charter proposed by the workshop ‘Human Crossroads’ (see article) is that it is based on a philosophical conception influenced by dualities stemming from Western thought, rooted in the conceptions of Greek philosophy dating back thousands of years. Naturally, I do not mean to say that this philosophical conception is neither interesting nor pertinent, but I do believe that it should not be the sole basis of an Earth Charter whose scope is both international and intercultural at the dawn of the third millenium.

We must avoid being restricted by a framework of dualities that can appear contradictory. It is clear that this type of exercise is capable of leading to a rather manichean vision of the world, or at least to the reduction of ethics. I also suggest expressing in clearer words the reality of certain dualities confronting people, such as War/Peace or Justice/Injustice. One of the perverse effects of abstraction is that it takes the "body" out of ideas and situations in life.

Beyond this framework, there is a fundamental question: since the method adopted, while having its "raison d'être" is neither exhaustive, nor fully satisfactory, can't we consider other processes of research, other methods of thinking, other ways of asking questions? It would be very interesting to appreciate angles of approach and ways of thinking formulated by the other allies who will be involved in this initiative.

To grasp the complexity of the world

Different cultures have different and varied modes of thinking, cognitive processes are not the same everywhere, epistemological approaches are different and the challenge of intercultural research into common values should highlight these thinking processes. For example, asian allies speak of Interconnectedness, of Interwovenness, to express a vision of the world and one-self where all elements, not just two, are linked. Similatly, rooted in his Mediterranean and European foundations, Edgar Morin, quoting Pascal, the french philosopher, emphasizes the importance of not reducing reality to binary thinking. He asserts the need to seek and grasp the complexity of the world and oneself by the linking of many components, not only intellectual but also emotional, artistic and poetic.

It is quite possible and desirable, although nothing is sure in advance, that different cultures meet in seeking and identifying with common values. The challenge of intercultural research into common values should highlight these thinking processes. I am thinking of the very pertinence of the sentence taken from the note The approach of the Earth Charter in the framework of the Alliance: "Today, we are obliged to discover and adopt common principles. They cannot be imposed by Western hegemony, they must result from a dialog between cultures and civilizations".

To leave room for the unpredictable

I hope that we’ll be able to write an intercultural and complex Charter. I believe that we must clearly set out in the Earth Charter that this attempt to draw up a new text fundamental for humanity at the dawn of the next century contains profound feelings of humility and tenderness towards the wealth of complexity and unpredictability of our world and our lives. In a text, however fundamental it might be, as in the Charter, we must take care to leave room for the unpredictable, for that which words do not express. Let's leave a few blank pages, since we do not know what to write, so as to make room for what new generations can express. Let us indicate in a Charter our desire to make our way while travelling along it.

Above all, let us implement a social and participatory process so that this Charter is a genuine Charter of the Peoples of the Earth. In this respect, The Freedom Charter of South Africa (see extracts) is a remarkable example. Each sentence of this text is rooted in the hearts of South Africans, be they blacks, whites, colored or Indians. Every sentence constitutes a line of conduct and combat. Some of them risked their lives when writing these words on walls, and some of them paid dearly. However, these women and men held their own and more than twenty years later they succeeded in freeing themselves from apartheid. A Charter of the Peoples of the World should help us to feel this same courage and share the realism required to face up to the new challenges that are ours.

Gustavo Marin (Chile-France)

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