John McConnell, 91 Year Old Founder of Earth Day, Writes About Hope
John McConnell's recent essays
At age 91, John McConnell continues to write and esplouse his concepts for "peace, justice and the care of Earth." Nearly every day, he works via telephone and Internet to promote his philosophies. The following are a collection of his recent essays.
Star of Hope
By John McConnell: 91 year old founder of Earth Day
June 13, 2006
Faced with a growing global danger of total catastrophe, we need a way to unite humanity in commitment to peace, justice and the care of Earth and enable us to continue the human adventure.
STAR OF HOPE POINTS THE WAY
To peaceful progress on Planet Earth
In October 1957 I obtained global attention for an editorial in my weekly North Carolina "Toe Valley View" newspaper. It urged that we launch a Satellite that would have a bright flashing light that would appear every night and be seen globally as a bright Star of Hope for all humanity.
Sputnik, the first Satellite, had just been launched on October 4th. None of the media seemed to note that this was the "Feast Day of St. Francis." (The "Godless Russian" who chose the date must have been a secret Christian.)
My own study and prayer life led to the conviction that we needed a common purpose that would appeal to people of all creeds and cultures - and a way to get attention for it. We needed something that would end history's terrible record of war and injustice.
When we set out to explore Space, we discovered Earth. Now we know we are one human family and have only one Earth.
But our addiction to war and our greed have almost ruined planet Earth and the future of its people. At the same time there is a growing recognition that we must change.
SAINT FRANCIS PRAYER FOR PEACE
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury...pardon,
Where there is doubt... faith,
Where there is despair... hope,
Where there is darkness... light,
And where there is sadness... joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
The Prayer of St. Francis appeals to people of every creed and culture and aids the Earth Day goal of Peace, Justice and the Care of Earth.
The Space Program should plan now to launch a Star of Hope Satellite on October 4, 2007. This will be the 50th anniversary of our human venture into Space. This can obtain global attention for the wonderful way to global peace that St. Francis provided -- and aid all sincere efforts for peace.
MAGNIFICENT MYSTERY
By John McConnell
June 8, 2006
We all would like to know:
What is our soul?
Is there a continuance of our consciousness when we die?
Is there life after death?
While religions of every kind claim to answer these questions, there is no evidence to support them that scientists can agree on. We are confronted with total mystery.
BUT, the mystery is a MAGNIFICENT MYSTERY -- for now our love of God and neighbor is without proof of reward in a future life.
Love can now be a magnificent unselfish obsession.
We don't do good to get a reward -- but respond to the love and light that Jesus brought. The record of his words and actions inspire the best efforts in this life and the best hope for a future life. They also help us find in our worst enemies the common ground where we agree. We then are able to work together for what we mutually approve and leave room for our differences.
While there is no proof of a future life, neither is there proof it does not exist. Jesus, by his life and words, inspires a wonderful hope that our future life will be magnificent.
Oh the faith that works -- not by proof, but by love.
GLOBAL ACTION TO SAVE PEOPLE AND PLANET
By founder of Earth Day, John McConnell
May 31, 2006
President Bush fails to grasp the nature and extent of our global crisis, and on the other hand the opportunity for change -- an historical change from Earth Kill to Earth Care. He has ignored the importance of the original Earth Day and its Earth Trustee Agenda - which fosters peace, jusitce and care of Earth.
America enjoys its greatest prosperity, but at the expense of a major part of the world. Its system of money and power robs the suffering poor – that are in the majority in many countries.
While America pioneered democracy and laws to further freedom and justice, most of its resulting wealth has been spent on vast military programs and weapons to kill people. The terrible record of war and injustice during the past millennium is still with us. You cannot pick up a newspaper without some story about violence, injustice and conflict.
Action must be taken that will provide a future, something to live for. The idea needed is the simple truth, good and bad, about human history. Our appalling past must be recognized as we seek to realize the positive potential of Earth's people.
People are the problem. With a new vision they can be the solution. Wake up world. A great future is possible now!
The core concept needed by Earthkind for a better tomorrow is the need to be Trustees of Planet Earth, to take charge and take care of our planet with fair benefits for all. To accomplish this, five major items need to be addressed: Ecology, Money, Property, Government and Inner Life.
Let us begin with Ecology. A first priority is protection and care of the environment – Earth’s raw materials and natural resources, including creatures large and small. Everyone should be encouraged to think and act as an Earth Trustee - and have or support an Earth Care project.
At this moment Global Warming is a major problem. Everyone should seek a solution.
The whole world can further this purpose by joining in the observance of one great global holiday – Earth Day on the March Equinox.
When the Peace Bell at the United Nations rings at the moment Spring begins, people of every creed and culture can strengthen our global sense of community by their silent prayers and positive thoughts, by their heartfelt commitment to think and act as trustees of planet Earth. A real understanding of Earth Day and its purpose – peace, justice and the care of Earth, will bring commitment and Earth Trustee actions.
Second, is Money. We must provide an honest, fair, medium of exchange and equitable access to credit. A money system is needed that will facilitate barter or exchange with advantage to workers and producers instead of to money manipulators. Money should be a means for exchange with minimum cost to the user. Where there is adequate security for a loan there should be no interest charged, only a charge for the cost of the transaction. A simple change in the Federal Reserve would make this work. Money should be available in exchange for a legal loan on adequate tangible assets; available in a fixed percentage of assets that will meet the need for money flow – without inflation. A fair money system will bring benefits to everyone.
The third item is Property. Planet Earth is humanity’s inheritance. We must recognize the rightful claim of every person to inherit an equitable portion of Earth’s natural bounty. Land, or a portion of money from the sale of land, can and should provide every family on Earth with a habitable homestead – a farm, a house or apartment. Fair property rights will bring security to everyone. Taxes should be based on the value of land – not improvements.
Fourth is Government. To achieve a balance of freedom and order – and check the power plays of national governments – local communities must be given a larger responsibility for peace and the care of Earth. Let towns and cities link with each other – locally and across national boundaries – in major vigorous independent programs to foster understanding and cooperation in solving social and environmental problems.
A Council or Councils, of World Towns and Cities is needed for these purposes. This can bring the measure of unity we need in our diversity and help foster the trust needed by nations to achieve lasting peace for all peoples.
Fifth, is Inner Life. One of the greatest causes of conflict in history has been the conflicting views of different religions. (Including ethical atheism). And at the same time, it is religion that has most effectively fostered humanitarian actions. The question is, can the obvious benefits in different religions be approved and supported without approving that part of their creeds with which we differ?
Allegiance to a creed dealing with the mysteries of life … Why are we here? Is there a future life? Is there a God? ... often provides meaning and incentives for a virtuous life. But each person must temper their belief by recognizing any virtue they see in people with a different hypothesis about the mysteries of life.
Most seekers of truth share the conviction that love is the greatest wisdom. The Creator must have infinite wisdom. Therefore the Creator must be a God of Love. By emphasizing our common search for love and light and basic points of agreement – the importance of the Golden Rule, creative altruism, integrity, repentance, forgiveness and recognizing our differences -- we can with a touch of humility, focus on where we agree -- and reinforce the values we share. Inner experience can then fuel mutual efforts for a better life, a better world.
Heralding a program for Trusteeship of Earth with these redemptive policies would quickly bring new attitudes of trust and hope – a change of heart worldwide. Efforts for completion of a safe disarmament will then succeed. The money saved can provide a great education in the power of real love and nonviolence for the next generation.
Is it possible to turn things around, turn things right side up? Yes. The means of great change are at our fingertips. With the aid of the telephone, radio, TV, computers and web sites, we can inspire a new global climate for opinion that will enable us to harvest Earth’s bounty instead of suffer from fear-induced scarcity and greed.
In scattered places all over the world, a few people are demonstrating solutions to major problems. Mostly unknown to each other, they are showing the way. Let us launch a global campaign for the redemption and renewal of Planet Earth. Let us headline the creative actions and the ideas, new and old, that are healing and nurturing people and planet.
Let each of us spread the word: Wake up World. A great Future is Possible Now
John McConnell -- May 31, 2006
