We must join together to bring forth
a sustainable global community founded on these principles:

Respect for nature, universal human rights
economic justice and a culture of peace.

Music by Carolyn McDade/ Text excerpted from/based on The Earth Charter

There it is in a nutshell. If we could live these principles, imagine what our world would look like! Imagine how it would feel for each one of us--and for every species on the planet--if we could join together in this work! I am reminded of John Lennon's song, "Imagine" where these words appear:

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Before we act, we must dream. We must DARE to dream. But dreaming is not without risk. When we dream we are opening ourselves up to the possibility of failure. If we stay numbed and without hope, yes, we protect ourselves from disappointment, but at what cost? In this case, at what cost to ourselves and all who share life with us here on this fragile planet? We must dream of a better way of existing together because it is obvious that our recent attempts are not working. Not working for us as a human community. Not working for the life forms around us. And not working for the planet itself.

But we don't have to do it by ourselves. Much of the dreaming already exists. And it is the product of minds and hearts of concerned individuals and groups across the globe who joined together to envision a world of sustainability, mutual respect, justice and peace. A world where each voice is heard and valued, even those too faint for the human ear to hear, even those that cry out in the depths of oceans polluted by human choices.

This dream is clearly expressed in The Earth Charter (CLICK HERE to read it). And there are those in our world who are studying this dream and doing all they can to enact its principles in their lives. Among their numbers are the communities of singing women across Canada and the United States who joined together to work on the "My Heart Is Moved" CD project inspired by The Earth Charter and coordinated by the composer, spiritual feminist, social activist Carolyn McDade. When I took this photo on Friday night, one of the communities--the Gaia Women of the Great Lakes Basin--were launching their CD in Michigan. Tonight--Saturday--they will again join together to launch the "My Heart is Moved" CD in Windsor, Ontario. To read about and/or order a copy of this magnificent CD, CLICK HERE.

Dare to dream! Our lives depend on it...