Earth Democracy
Published on August, 50 2012
We are all members of the Earth Community. We all have the duty to protect the rights and welfare of all species and all people.
Humans, along with other species, share the ecological space of our planet. We humans must show respect both for other humans and for other life forms. The Earth Democracy issue committee calls for recognition of the Rights of Nature.
Earth Democracy connects people in circles of care, cooperation, and compassion instead of dividing them through competition and conflict, as presented by Vandana Shiva in her book, 10 Principles of Earth Democracy.
Earth Democracy Structure
- Earth Democracy Co-chairs: Nancy Price, Sacramento Branch, & Jean Hays, Fresno Branch
- General meeting times (monthly, evenings) to be arranged. Contact the co-chairs at earthdemocracy@wilpfus.org for more information.
- Coordinating Committee group meets Wednesday, 9:00 am PT once or twice a month. Current Coordinating Committee members include the following:
Lib Hutchby, Triangle Branch, NC
Eileen Kurkoski, Boston Branch
Jane Doyle, Randa Solick, Santa Cruz Branch, CA
Mary Hanson Harrison, at-large WILPF member
Marybeth Gardam, Chair, WILPF Women, Money & Democracy Issue Committee, Des Moines Branch, IA
Cindy Piester, Veterans for Peace, Ventura, CA
Earth Democracy’s Subject Areas
At this time, we are broadening the range of our work, although since 2020 we have been focused on the dangerous PFAS group of chemicals called “forever chemicals”. Our PFAS work has relied on several key ongoing leaders. Marguerite Adelman is the Coordinator of the Vermont PFAS/Military Poisons Coalition, a project of WILPF US. Investigator, reporter, and researcher, Pat Elder publishes articles based on his leadership on our MlitaryPoisons.org project website. And Patricia Hynes, a Traprock Peace & Justice Center Board member in Deerfield, Massachusetts, has contributed important articles, books, and works on peace education and women’s health.
Going forward, we will be clustering our work under three campaigns: Human Right to Water and Health, Global Warming and Renewable Energy, and Food Sovereignty and Local Economy. We will be creating special projects for immediate and more intense focus.
To integrate these broad subject areas under Earth Democracy, we highlight two framing initiatives:
Our Three Campaigns
Human Right to Water and Health
Water, including the privatization of community water systems, has become an increasingly crucial concern. Earth Democracy is tracking these developments:
Water Act Congressional legislation to fund repair, rebuilding, and new infrastructure
Blue Communities: local resolutions to keep water in public hands
In the Human Right to Water and Health campaign, Earth Democracy has these Special Projects:
Exposing the Pentagon: Hidden Polluter of Water
PFAS and WILPF US MilitaryPoisons.org & Vermont PFAS/Military Poisons Coalition
UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030: #6 Clean Water and Sanitation
Global Warming and Renewable Energy
In this campaign we have multiple focuses. Under Climate Justice + Women + Peace we include these areas:
Impact of Militarism and War on Climate and Environment
Toward a Just Transition: From a War Economy to a Peace Economy
Special Projects:
Mobilization to support the Fossil Fuel Treaty and Moving to a Green Economy
UN Climate Change Conference: COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 11-22, 2024
Food Sovereignty and Local Economy
This campaign includes these areas:
Indigenous Ecological Knowledge and Rights of Nature
Regeneration, Living Soil and Eco-Feminism
Special Project:
Confined Animal Feeding Operations: CAFOs – water and land pollution
How You Can Be a Part of our Earth Democracy Work
As you see, our work is expanding with new campaigns and special projects crucial at this time for the advocacy and action needed to take society in new directions.
We welcome you to join and engage in our Earth Democracy campaigns and special projects. Your work can go to research and writing; developing tactics and strategies; media outreach; and creating and designing actions, events, rallies, signs, banners and more.
You can help build this moment for change – based on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; climate justice; and peace-building. If you’d like to know more about our Earth Democracy Committee and work, please email Nancy Price at EarthDemocracy@wilpfus.org.
