NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
By John McConnell, Founder of Earth Day

In this new millennium it is imperative the whole human family mobilize for a moral equivalent of World War II.  All people who receive this message are urged to quickly choose what they will do. Think about it, talk about it -- and then act.

The Earth Trustee idea of the original Earth Day (March 21, 1970) provides the key: Every individual and institution must now seek to eliminate pollution, poverty and injustice by Earth Trustee choices in ecology, economics and ethics.  Thousands of group projects are already helping people and planet.  Their impact can increase dramatically by uniting in a global Earth Trustee Campaign with one common cause -- the REJUVENATION of Earth.

Human greed, injustice and folly have almost ruined our planet.  But with the aid of new technology a vigorous global effort can repair the damage. Until now, Earth Caretakers have been a sad minority.  The most powerful institutions (global corporations and rich governments) have usually put financial profit first.  The resulting social and environmental damage is disastrous.  But Earth Trustee vision and action can change that.  It provides a way for you to tap the best in your thinking and in your faith.

Press, Radio, TV and Internet play a vital role.  Actions, good or bad, begin in the mind.  Those able to command media attention have a special obligation to speak out about the crisis and its solution -- the Earth Trustee vision and agenda.  (See:  www.earthsite.org )

Earth Day provides an opportunity for Pope John Paul II, Billy Graham, The Dali Lama, and ALL world leaders to call for prayer and heartfelt dedication to the care of Earth  -- to think and act as Trustees of Earth.  Leaders in other areas of public trust should do the same.  The March 20 Earth Day is the day to focus attention on what can be done.

When people think and act as Earth Trustees they will show a reverence for life - and for holy places.   Earth Day helped move toward conciliation when it had Shimon Perez of Israel ring the United Nations Peace Bell -- and persuaded Yaser Arafat of Palestine to add his name to the Earth Day Proclamation.  Jerusalem is a holy place to Christian, Muslim and Jew and its role in history is important to  people of every religion.  

Earth Day and its Earth Trustee agenda, puts The Golden Rule to work - do unto others as you would have them do unto you.   Here is a chance for people of all religions to show their ethical values by being Earth Trustees and practicing reverence for life in word and deed.

Mass media has a sacred obligation as the eyes and ears of the public to:

• Feature solutions as well as problems

• Headline cases of peaceful progress in the human adventure that replace hate, fear, greed and lust.

• Give recognition and attention to people and projects that eliminate pollution and poverty and foster peace, justice and the care of Earth.
  
  

With the media's cooperation, each year's Earth Day -- on nature's historic annual event, the March Equinox, will provide a great global holiday with world wide participation by people of every creed and culture.  This will inspire actions for Earth's rejuvenation with peace, justice and prosperity for all.
                                     
John McConnell
1933 Woodbine St.
Ridgewood, NY 11385
www.earthsite.org