http://www.wcrp.org/files/G8%20Meeting%20World%20Religious%20Leaders%20Summit%20for%20Peace%20(07-04-08).doc
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We, senior leaders of the
world’s religions, have convened in a World Religious Leaders
Summit for Peace in Sapporo, Japan, just prior to the Group
of Eight (G8) Hokkaido Toyako Summit. We are united in our
commitment to peace, which includes our concern for the
inviolable dignity of all people, the dire suffering of so many
and the well-being of our shared Earth.
We carry forward important
work begun in multi-religious meetings held just prior to the G8
summits in Moscow (2006) and Cologne (2007). We have been
convened by Religions for Peace—Japan in partnership with
the World Conference of Religions for Peace.
We are united in our call to
the G8 to take bold action to address the threats that confront
humanity, including the destruction of the environment and
climate change, extreme global poverty and deteriorating food
security, nuclear arms, terrorism and violent conflict....
Action by all governments,
civil society, private sector, religious communities and—in the
final analysis—every member of the human family is required
to advance the common good. We urge the G8 to respond in
ways designed to engage these stakeholders in building our
common future.
Religious communities have
roles in building peace. Before outlining these roles, we
acknowledge with genuine sorrow that all religions have at times
been misused in fomenting violence.
...Collectively, our
religious communities are the world’s largest social networks
which reach into the furthest corners of the earth and include
countless institutions dedicated to caring for people. ...
Mobilizing these great social, moral and spiritual dimensions of
the world’s religions in service of the common good is essential
for the well-being of the human family.
...all religions obligate
their followers to work for justice among all peoples, and
to care for one another and our common home, the earth....
OUR
COMMITMENT. As religious
leaders, we are committed to the path of multi-religious
cooperation for peace. Religious traditions—each in its own
way—summons their followers to the path of multi-religious
cooperation for the common good....
SHARED SECURITY.
... Shared Security builds on the concept of Human Security by
focusing on the fundamental inter-relatedness of all persons
and the environment.
Shared Security includes
a comprehensive respect for the interconnectedness and dignity
of all life. It is based upon our mutual interdependence
and the most universal and fundamental fact that all humans live
in one world. It recognizes that the well-being of one is
related to the well-being of others and ultimately to the earth
that we all share. It calls us to recognize that past, present
and future are linked. Together, we must acknowledge past
failings, face present challenges and accept our
responsibilities to future generations.
Shared Security is
concerned with the full continuum of human relations—from
relationships among individuals to the ways that peoples
are organized in nations or international organizations. It
respects state sovereignty, but also supports democratic and
transparent cooperation among states and peoples.
It follows that the security
of one actor of international relations must not be
detrimental to others. International actors who are
responsible for global decision-making must act transparently
and be open to the contributions of all stakeholders,
including religious communities which represent a major part of
civil society. A similar concern for a just world order,
respecting different national and religious traditions, was made
at the Moscow World Summit of Religious Leaders (2006).
....
...We call upon the G8 to:
- Provide global
leadership designed to combat the victimization of groups
based on culture or creed.
- Work to end occupation
and establish just, honorable and comprehensive peace...
- ...partnerships to help
address the problems of terrorism and violent conflict.
- ... limit the
production and export of arms into areas of violent
conflict.
- Promote a culture of
peace by advancing non-violent conflict resolution and
peace education.
[i]
We recall and embrace as our own an historic
multi-religious acknowledgement on the misuse of
religion:
“As men and women of religions, we confess in humility
and penitence that we have very often betrayed our
religious ideals and our commitment to peace. It is not
religion that has failed the cause of peace, but
religious people. This betrayal of religion can and
must be corrected.”[i]
(From the global multi-religious Declaration adopted at
the Religions for Peace First World Assembly in Kyoto,
Japan, 1970.)
See also
The U.N. Plan For
Global Control: The Habitat II Agenda
The Global Compact |
Universal Forums of
Culture
Don't Be
Deceived!