Proclamation of Costa Rica for Peace with the Earth*

Whereas all forms of life are subject of law; whereas the Earth is a living being; whereas the Earth Charter contains the values and principles necessary to assume universal responsibility for protecting and preserving it; whereas the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and whereas the Government of Costa Rica has proposed to make our country a Carbon Neutral Nation by the year 2021, we invite all individuals, organizations, institutions, companies, tribes, nations and the international community to unite around the following objective:

FIRST. Invite all individuals, communities, organizations, institutions and companies to sign the Peace Agreement with Earth:

“I choose here and now, freely and consciously, to make peace with the Earth and to do what is necessary to live sustainably; to know, minimize and compensate my carbon footprint; and to have my country reach the state of Carbon Neutral Nation.”

SECOND. Invite the media, educational institutions, professional associations, cooperatives, environmental organizations, the Red Cross, the Association of Guides and Scouts and other youth associations, instructors and centers of yoga and personal development, gymnasiums, companies that research or provide friendly products and services, and the sustainable tourism sector, to take the initiative in the mission of spreading the content of this Proclamation, to sign the Peace Agreement with Earth, to create opportunities for people to sign this Agreement, and to begin the process of knowing, minimizing and compensating their carbon footprint.

THIRD. Invite all actors of civil society to carry out a joint effort to promote the objectives of this Proclamation, through a permanent campaign based on the values and principles set out in the Earth Charter and aimed at the active involvement of children and youth in the Peace Agreement.

FOURTH. Deliver the peace agreement with its signatures to the President of Costa Rica on December 21^st, 2012, as the Maya Long Count calendar comes to a close, in homage to the contribution of the indigenous and tribal peoples’ ancestral wisdom toward the solution of current environmental problems, and as civil society’s contribution and commitment toward the country goal of reaching the level of Carbon Neutral Nation by 2021.

FIFTH. Name that day, Day One, and hold the greatest number possible of separate events at which participants together make the following choice:

"Given that I am responsible for what happens in the world, I choose here and now, freely and consciously, to do what I have to do to become the person I want to be, to construct the life I want to live, to make peace with my essential nature, and to make life on Earth sustainable. Because there will only be peace on Earth if I am at peace. So it is.”

*Activity of the Planet Earth Project, declared of Public and National Interest through Decree No. 20257-MIRENEM. Organized by Fundación Gaia, legal identity no. 3- 006- 105388, declared of Public Utility through Decree No. 234-39 MJG and registered as entity authorized to receive donations through official communiqué issued by the Directorate of Direct Taxation on May 9, 1991.