1. Grassroots Democracy

All human beings deserve a say in the decisions that affect their lives, and should not be subjected to the will of others.  Therefore, we must work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them.  We will also work to create new types of political organizations that expand the process of participatory democracy by directly including citizens in decision-making.

2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity

All persons should have the equal rights and should benefit equally from the resources afforded to us by society and the environment.  We must consciously confront - in ourselves, our organizations, and our society at large - barriers such as racism, class oppression, sexism, homophobia, ageism, and disability which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice to all persons under the law.

3. Ecological Wisdom

Human societies must operate with the understanding that they are part of nature, and not separate from it.  We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological boundaries of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit, rather than suffer, from the practices of our generation.  To this end we must practice agriculture which replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

4. Non-violence

It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to society's current patterns of violence.  We will work to demilitarize our world, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction without being naive about the intentions of other governments.  We recognize the need for both self-defense and the defense of others who are in helpless situations.  We promote non-violent methods of opposing practices and policies with which we disagree, and will aim our actions toward creating a lasting peace on a personal, community, and global level.

5. Decentralization

Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization.  Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political, and economic institutions in such a fashion that society moves away from being controlled by the powerful few, and towards becoming a more democratic and less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, take place on an individual and local basis, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.

6. Community-Based Economics and Economic Justice

We recognize that it is essential for us to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system; one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance.  A successful economic system will offer meaningful work with dignity, while paying a 'living wage' which reflects the real value of a person's work.

Local communities must look to economic development that assures the following: protection of the environment and workers' rights; broad citizen participation in planning; and enhancement of our quality of life.  We support independently owned and operated companies that are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute both resources and control to more people through democratic participation.

7. Feminism and Gender Equity

We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics.  We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender.  Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience.  We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.

8. Respect for diversity

We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines.  We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and our decision-making bodies.  Furthermore, we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles.  We acknowledge and encourage respect for life forms other than our own and encourage the preservation of bio-diversity.

9. Personal and Global Responsibility

We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony.  We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.

10. Future Focus and Sustainability

Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals.  We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or 'unmaking' all the waste we create, while developing a sustainable economy that does not depend on continual expansion for survival.  We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Our overall goal is not merely to survive, but to share lives that are truly worth living.  We believe that the quality of our individual lives is enriched by the quality of all lives.  We encourage everyone to see the dignity and intrinsic worth in all of life, and to take the time to understand and appreciate themselves, their community, and the magnificent beauty of this world.