Project Abstract:

Initiating a first ever "Global Sabbath/Rest Year" which will recommence once every several years thereafter. Global Warming is the consequence of humanity's profound material progress since industrialization's start, 3 or 4 hundred years ago. As a result of this, the 7-day-week time division model continues to dominate Homo Sapien lifestyles and consequently Earth. Such a time division model, however, is not ecologically based but is rooted on the compromise between the oppressor and the oppressed. This time system impedes ecosystem processes from running efficiently, and alienates humans from Nature. Furthermore, in spite of current efforts to protect some natural areas, the biosphere still lacks an adequate amount of time to mitigate the historical impacts of economic development.

Due to international political powers, any reality in which efforts like the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements to improve circumstances before an inevitable catastrophe remains distant. Therefore, a fundamental change is necessary. I/We/Global Greens call for a "Year-long Global Sabbatical", in which the following may be achieved:

- Work 2 days and rest 5 days, especially in the developed countries and regions;

- Use Indigenous peoples' traditional lifestyles as primary references for a new time-division model;

- Consider 'ecological conservation' as a universal Human Obligation, like Human Rights;

- Consider 'ecosystem integrity' to include all aspects of a political nation, like territorial boundaries, population, government, and sovereignty; Redefine "Nation" into "Netion".

- Reducing and reallocating national military budgets for climate change and ecological conservation spending;

- Develop Global Peace Day (September 21) into a Global Peace Week, Peace Month and eventually, Global Peace Year.

Submitted by: CHEN-YANG, LIN

Date: 22 April, 2008

Topic: Lifestyles

Related Topics: Sabbath / Indigenous peoples / Conservation / Peace