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Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 13:14:23 -0400 (AST)
From: Leif Helmer <phelmer@is2.dal.ca>
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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kn
Hello all.  

An interesting piece snipped from the Choose Sustainability
web site (address contained within following text).  General interest to
some on list to be sure

An interesting initiative is taking place in Canadian environmental
policy, now in public discussions.  It is led by several concerned
individuals from my neck of the woods in Eastern Ontario, in particular a
first time Liberal MP, Joe Jordan.  He is a really interesting guy, even
taking the time to listen to constituents...and his ideas are well thought
out.  

Anyhow, ignore that preamble and take a read of the following draft of a
potential new bill to be brought to federal legislature - it draws on an
diverse set of ideas that many of us discuss or apply daily. 


Leif Helmer
MES candidate
School for resource and Environmental Studies
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Canada
ph: 902-494-3632
fx: 902-494-3728

Note: The following is a DRAFT only. Until the "7th Generation Bill" has
been worked into the actual format to be presented in the House of
Commons, this document can only be considered as the spirit of the
proposal.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Proposal to the Government of Canada
The "7th Generation Bill"
"There is a tradition within some aboriginal cultures, 
whenever decisions are being made, to consider 
the interests of the next seven generations.

For the modern world to do the same 
would mark our passage to maturity."


Planning for Seven Generations

Be it resolved: 

That the Treasury Board Guidelines for evaluating proposed legislation be
amended to include the values of community cohesion and ecosystem health
outlined below. 

We encourage the Government of Canada to develop a system for measuring
the situation in Canada with respect to these values and to report
annually on the findings 


Preamble:

The "7th Generation Bill" is about responsibility. It is about caring for
the well-being of civilization over the long-term and responding to
developments that put long-term well-being at risk. 


Seven generations is long enough for small, cumulative, negative impacts
to become significant problems. Planning for seven generations implies
responsibility for decisions that lead toward trouble even if the trouble
will not become problematic for many years.


People have walked the Earth for more than ten thousand generations. We
owe the privilege of life to the work of those who came before and to the
billions of years of ecological preparation that shaped a world capable of
supporting us. It is our responsibility to plan and act so as to preserve
the opportunities we enjoy today, for generations to come. Seven
generations is long enough for personal and vested interests to become
irrelevant. Decisions made in the interest of the 7th generation are,
therefore, not made for personal gain; they are made for the common good.


The human family has grown to an enormous size and strength, capable of
great creativity and immense destruction. To our credit are remarkable
accomplishments in education, heath care, psychology, science, art and
communications. But with these accomplishments comes the fact that we have
become a force comparable only to continental glaciation in our effect on
the face of the Earth. Civilization is at a stage equivalent to late
adolescence. As individuals, when we reach adult size, we have the
strength and ability to do almost anything. With adult capabilities,
however, we become responsible for our actions. All earthly life,
including ourselves and the generations that follow, have to live with the
consequences of our collective activities.


As the new Millennium dawns, we face a number of trends which, if not
corrected, will progressively undermine the foundations of civilization.
Those who have risen to decision-making positions have a responsibility to
be mindful of these trends. The actions and inaction which they influence
will have decisive effects for all life on Earth.


This enormous responsibility is not easy to carry. By engaging the
inspiration and creativity of concerned citizens, the burden can be
shared. A transparent, open decision-making process can examine a wide
variety of possibilities in search of effective, equitable, long-term
solutions that are at the same time responsive to present needs. The
effort and will of all who are concerned is our greatest potential for
addressing the problems before us. To apply anything less than our
greatest potential is to gamble with the lives of our grandchildren.


Areas of responsibility include: 
I) Community Cohesion:

Whereas:

The primary element of civilization is that of people living and
interacting with other people in communities. Whether these be geographic
communities, economic communities or communities of interest, our
sustenance and emotional foundations are dependent on their well-being.
This well-being is dependent on the inclusion of all citizens in mutual
provision and decision-making and on opportunities for people to enjoy
life.

Therefore:

Decision-making must consider the impact of decisions on:

i) Economic inclusion:

Every person requires opportunities to participate in the processes that
provide for our needs. Among other things, we all need food, shelter,
education and health services. To maintain personal well-being, we must be
able to contribute something to society in exchange for these basic needs.
If a person is unable to get what they need in a dignified fashion, the
costs to the individual, their family, community and society as a whole
are unacceptably high.

ii) Unpaid work:

Unpaid work in families and communities is critical to the well-being of
society. We must recognize and encourage this work as a valuable,
legitimate way for people to contribute to society.

iii) Democracy:

In the interests of fairness and good decisions, people need to be
involved in the decisions that affect their lives.

Decisions are better informed when everyone affected can add their
perspectives into the decision-making process. The implementation of
decisions is more effective when people have been involved in determining
the action. Exclusion, on the other hand, can lead to poor decisions,
injustice, unrest and social upheaval.

Furthermore:

People flourish when life offers them not just the security of economic
and democratic inclusion but also opportunities for personal development.
If we are to achieve the enduring golden age that should be the destiny of
our immensely gifted species, we need to bear this in mind and be sure
that opportunities for personal fulfillment are among our goals.


After material sufficiency has been achieved, fulfillment has little to do
with more consumption. Policies that direct people to spend their lives
consuming, and that ignore the development of our human qualities are
responsible for the loss of culture and meaning in our lives. 
II) Ecological Health:

Whereas:

The Earth and the life processes on it are the foundation of our
existence. It is our responsibility to maintain in perpetuity the health
and integrity of these systems.

Policy proposals must take into account the environmental impacts that the
policies would have if they were to remain in place for seven generations.

Therefore:

Decision-making must consider the impact of decisions on:

i) Biodiversity:

All species have a right to existence. 

All life on