The Earth Treaty process began at a meeting of indigenous
peoples in Australia. It was called the Earthwalk Conference. Indigenous
peoples and environmentalists from all over the world came together to help
restore the earth. The people attending this conference came up with the idea
of making an Earth Treaty between Mother Earth and the world's peoples and governments.
The idea of an Earth Treaty blossomed all over the world. Soon treaties were
being written by families, schools, churches, organizations, businesses, and
local governments. Children in such faraway countries as Kuwait and Brazil were
writing their own Earth Treaties.
The Mohawk Indians in Upperstate New York made a treaty with Mother Earth to
clean up the lake near their land. They asked Mother Earth for her forgiveness
and promised never to let the lake get dirty again.
Laurel Springs School heard about
these Earth Treaties and visited schools all over Southern California to help
students write their own. In 1992, some of the Laurel Springs students and the
Center for International Cooperation took the treaties to the Earth Summit being
held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Earth Treaties were presented to the indigenous
women, who were holding their own parliament.
Now you have a chance to write your own Earth Treaty,
a chance to make your own promise to help protect the Earth. You have a chance
to take individual responsibility for the Earth.
