OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF EARTH CHARTER IN THE HAGUE

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 001996 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM SENV NL UN SUBJECT: OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF EARTH CHARTER IN THE HAGUE ¶1. ON JUNE 29, THE EARTH CHARTER COMMISSION HELD A CONFERENCE IN THE HAGUE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING THE EARTH CHARTER CAMPAIGN. MIKHAIL GORBACHEV, A CO-CHAIR OF THE EARTH CHARTER COMMISSION, ATTENDED THE LAUNCH AS DID HER MAJESTY QUEEN BEATRIX OF THE NETHERLANDS, AND RUUD LUBBERS, FORMER DUTCH PRIME MINISTER. MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, THE MEDIA, AND ACADEMIA ALSO ATTENDED. ¶2. THE EARTH CHARTER SETS FORTH PRINCIPLES CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEMOCRACY BUILDING, RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PERSONS, PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES, NONVIOLENCE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. AN EARTH CHARTER WAS FIRST PROPOSED AT THE RIO EARTH SUMMIT IN 1992, BUT A DOCUMENT WAS NOT UNVEILED FOR CIRCULATION UNTIL MARCH 2000. ¶3. WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE COMMISSION INTENDS TO CIRCULATE THE EARTH CHARTER WORLDWIDE AND LOBBY FOR ITS ENDORSEMENT BY THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2002. IT ALSO SEEKS THE USE OF THE EARTH CHARTER IN SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE. TOKOLA