The Global Call to Action comes from a group of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, men and women who have dedicated their lives to working for peace, equality, justice and a better world. These international leaders have identified ten problems that are at the root of much of the world’s suffering. Here, in no specific order, are the ten Global call To Action Issues:
Equal Access to Water and Other Natural Resources
The lack of access to clean water and arable
land is an increasing problem for many people around the world – and the struggle over
these limited resources provides fuel for war and conflict, especially in those parts of
the world where the population is exploding. We must work to ensure access to at least
the most basic of natural resources, such as safe drinking water, for all.
Ending Racism and Hate
Racism and the growing divide between rich and poor are
endemic, and it is a problem that affects all of us. There are two societies in most
countries – one which is a reflection of the media image of prosperity, and one that is
hidden and full of suffering. This is creating a tremendous time bomb, ready to go off
at any moment, and making it easier for demagogues to fuel hate and to rule by fear.
Halting the Spread of Global Disease
One of the effects of globalization is the spread of
disease, and the potential for devastating new diseases to ravage humanity. National
boundaries no longer mean what they once did. The rapid movement of people and goods
means that many “third world” diseases are now threatening the developed world, and have
now become the problem of everyone. We must address these diseases together, as one
human family.
Eliminating Extreme Poverty
Our world cannot be secure when so many billions of
people are forced to exist on less than $1 per day, without access to even the most
basic levels of shelter, sustenance, or education. Extreme poverty can be eliminated in
our lifetimes, and this must remain a fundamental goal.
Social Justice and Human Rights for All
The lack of basic human rights and civil liberties, and
the persistence of social injustice over long periods of time with no hope or plan for
progress or change, always creates a backlash. To try to impose a military solution
without addressing the fundamental issues at the core of a society will only feed the
growth of paramilitary groups, violence, and lack of security in that society.
Rights for Women and Children, and their Role as Leaders
It is essential to bring an end to the exploitation of
children, and to defend the basic human rights of women around the world. This includes
the right to a decent education. The role of women and youth as leaders in local
communities, in developing creative solutions to problems, must be fostered and
encouraged.
Restoring Earth’s Environment
The earth is our mother, and it is wounded. It is out of
balance and needs to be healed. Global warming is a reality, and only by a concentrated
effort involving individual citizens, civil society, and our government leaders can we
address the many causes for the precarious situation we have created for ourselves here
on earth.
Controlling the Proliferation of Weapons
It is incomprehensible that the world still wastes
nearly a trillion dollars each year on the weapons of war. We must change our values and
our priorities as we enter the 21st century. We must end the ever increasing spiral of
expenditures on arms, both nuclear and conventional, which only serves to increase the
likelihood of violent conflict.
Investing in Human Security
In order to create increased security in this new world
in which we live, we must focus on the issue of human security. When we ensure that
basic human needs are met, we are creating a more secure world. When we work for social
justice, or to stop global warming, or to provide decent education, or to end racism, we
are creating a more secure world. The time has come to shift our energy and our
resources from military security to a long-term investment in true human security.
Breaking the Cycle of Violence
One of the first things that we must do is to dismantle
our own armed consciousness because we are children of a culture of violence, and our
minds have been armed. Peace is the grand revolution that humanity has been waiting for.
What is required is a profound understanding of the new realities created by our
increasingly interconnected and interdependent world.
