Petition of Principles

Dear Friends,
I have just read an email from a fellow progressive from CA and signed the online petition he mentions below:

"What We Believe"

hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at: http://www.petitiononline.com/whatwebe/petition.html

I personally agree with what this petition says, and what we can do forward in its message. I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please continue reading below, and consider signing yourself.

Thank You,
WA Spirit Matters
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Dear WA Spirit Matters,

Please consider signing the What We Believe petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/whatwebe/petition.html

This statement of fundamental principles has been developed as a public education tool to encourage positive personal and social change. It is the result of an extensive, collaborative process with more than 25 individuals suggesting changes in early drafts.

At some point, the statement may be used as points-of-unity for new projects, perhaps initiated by existing organizations. Signatories may:

Write essays on “Why these principles are important to me” and/or solicit other signatories to do so. These essays could be posted on the Web and some of them could eventually be published in a book.
Establish a YouTube channel and post interviews on “Why these principles are important to me.”
Prompt some existing organization to undertake a new project to advance these principles. Also, a group of signatories might initiate a new organization to do so.
Invite signatories to brainstorm together (either face-to-face or on the Net) about other possibilities.

If you sign, you will be asked if you want to keep your email address private. Please consider selecting the "Available to Petition Author" option so we can stay in touch. No more than twice a month, we'll send signatories email reports on efforts to advance these principles (and will not give or sell your email address to anyone).

Also, if you can, please help spread the word about the What We Believe petition.

The petition reads as follows:

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To: Concerned Individuals and Organizations

We, the undersigned, encourage concerned individuals and organizations to affirm and implement the following principles.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

We promote the common good and protect the environment by honoring these principles to the best of our ability.

We foster strong communities that nurture personal development, caring relationships, and healthy families. By becoming better human beings, we better serve others.

We believe humanity needs to create and maintain a healthy planet because our complex, fragile ecosystem is endangered by current patterns of consumption and pollution.

Because life is mysterious, wonderful, and awe-inspiring, we cherish beauty, spread joy, and love others as we love ourselves.

We do what we can to prevent suffering and accept our responsibility to help shape our nation’s public policies.

We come together freely, support each other’s empowerment, and resolve conflicts nonviolently. We use force only as a last resort to protect life or prevent physical injury.

We respect others as equals and criticize individuals for specific actions without condemning them, for all of us are imperfect.

We listen carefully and appreciate what is true about all points of view, without demanding complete agreement. Sharing facts, feelings, and opinions enables us to better understand reality.

We experiment in order to discover what works best.

We support businesses that serve the public interest, empower workers, and care for the environment.

We believe all people are entitled to a voice in matters that affect them.

We hold the federal government responsible for wisely managing the economy, sustaining the environment, protecting national security, safeguarding human rights, and guaranteeing all our people the means to live decently.

We believe mutual respect and cooperation are required to build a loving, global society based on democratic local communities.

We work steadily to advance these principles by improving our institutions and ourselves to make the world a better place for all life.

Sincerely,

Wade Lee Hudson
http://wadehudson.net