This document calls for an acknowledgement of global interdependence and the establishment of a new world order based on compassion, peace, justice, and security. It affirms that all people are part of a global community and dependent on shared resources. The document states that narrow notions of national sovereignty must not limit obligations to future generations and calls for international cooperation on issues like pollution, resource management, and disarmament to ensure human survival and civilization can flourish.

1. A DECLARATION OF INTIRDEP.ND
~'~( IN THE COURSE OF HISTORY the threat of extinction confronts : man
H ENN kind, it Is necessary for the people of The United States to declare their
Interdependence with the people of all nations and to embrace those principles .and
build those Institutions which willenable mankind to survive and civilization toflourish.
Two centuries ago our forefathers brought forth a new nation; now we must join with others
to bring forth anewworld order: On this historic occasion it Is proper that the American people
should reaffirm those principles on which the United States of America was founded, acknowl-
edge the new crises which confront them, accept the new obligations which history Imposes'
upon them, and set-forth the causes which Impel them to affirm before ail peoples their com=
mitment to a Declaration of Interdependence . .
We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men arecreated equal ; that the Inequalities
and injustices"filch afflictso much of the human race are the product of historyand society, not
of God or nature; that people everywhere are entitled to the blessings of life and liberty,- peace
and securityand the realization of their full potential ; that they have an Inescapable moral bbliga-,
clop to. preserve . those rights for posterity; and that to achieve these ends.all the peoples and
notions of theglobe should acknowledge their Interdependence and join• together to dedicate
their minds and their hearts to the solution of those problems which threaten their su? i al.
Toestablish a newworld orderof compassion, peace ; justice and security, itis essential that
mankind free itself from the limitations of national prejudice, and acknowledge that the : forces
that unite It are Incomparably deeper than those that divide it-that all •ipeople are part of one Philadelphia, P.a
global community, dependent on one body of resources, bound together by the ties of a com- public schools
mon humanityand associated in a common adventure' on the planet Earth.-
a is e a 1 r e a d y- u s i n
Let us thenjoin togethertovindicateand realize this great truth that mankind Is one, and as
a ter a 1 s wh t' h
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one will nobly save or irreparably lose the heritage of thousands of years Ofcfvillzation
. And let sovereignty sindus set forth the.principles which should animate and inspire us If burr civilization . Is to survive: which quest oil
he
valtbecomecrucial for, human survival, a.j that t eir expioli.,
#i on should be' so . regulated as to serve, the interests Oft)*
entire globe, and of future : generations.
WE AFFIRM that pollution flows withh the waters and flies
Mth ti .e winds, that it recognizes no boundary lines anti pen ,
etrates all-defenses, that it. works Irreparable damage alike to
Nature and to Mankind` threatening' with extinction the life
of the seas, the flora and fauna of the earth, the hey fth.of the
people in cities and the countryside alike -anti that It can be
adequately controlled only through international .coop era
tlon
WE AFFIRM. that the exploration: and utilization of outer
space is a matter'. equally important to all the nations of the -
globe and that no'natioh can be permitted to exploit or de-
velop the potentialities of the planetary system exclusively
for its own benefit:
WE AFFIRM that the
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that the resources of
the.-globe are finite,
not infinite, that they are the, heritage of no one
nation orgeneeration, but of all, peoples, nations
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~4.vae,i~y,~ii u thn~Li iFt~iti:r~s:St Gutt`s{di ,1Ji Ii aL7 ticttt3 .
rrue. ca brat posterity a lobar richer in material bouncy, InP
I- eauty and In delight than we found it Narrow notions of ta-
tional sovereignty must not..t be permitted to curtail that obis-
gation.
WE AFFIRM that the expioitatlon ofthe-poor by the rich.P
and the weak by the strong violates' our common humanity'
and denies to large segments of society. the blessings of life.
Iiberty and happiness : We recognize a moral obligation to
strive for a more prudent and more equitable' sharing off the
resources of the earth in order to ameliorate poverty, hunger
and disease.
WEAFFIRM that the resources of nature are sufficient to
louri5h and sustain all the present Inhabitants bf the' globe _
ind that there is an obligation on every
.
society to distribute
:hose resources equitably, along . with A. corollary: obligation
iporl every sodety to assure ., that its population does,`i of -
-)lace upon Nature a burden heavier than it can bear.
WE AFFIRM our responsibility to help orate conditions
which will make for peace: and security and to build more, ef-
f tiv
ine for keeping
ce anion the' rations.: 66-prigerrktchry
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Muse the insensate accumulation of nuclear Chemical and:,
3lological weapons threatens the survivalnkind we call
or the Immediate reduction; .and eventual elimination .o
base weapons under international supervision.'We deplore:
he reliance on force to settle .disputes between nation states
end between rival groups thin. such states.
WE AFFIRM that the oceans are: the common property
)f mankind whose dependence on their Incomparable re
,ources ofnourishment and Strength will, in the= ,next century,
THIS 'DOCUMENT N
SIGNED BY 12 :5
MEMBERS OF THE,'
U .S . CONGRESS
Jan . 29, 1976 .
THE NATIONAL
EDUCATION 'ASSO(
TION IS PUSHIN(
GURR I BULUht WH Tf
STRESSES GLOBAL
INTERDEPI NDa NG1
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onom. of all niistions'l
web:an t atno..one nation can any orieer effectivelyr .*In-,
ttin.Its rocesses.of roduc
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Intemational authorities.
WE AFFIRM that in a civilized society, the institutions of
science and the arts are never at war and call upon all nations`a
to $xemi~t obese Institutions from the doll tie of ch ..uvinistic
nationalism and tq foster: that great community:, of learning
nd creativity whose benign function it is to advance civillza.,
On and the health and happiness of mankind .
WEAF IRM that a world without law; Is a world without
order, . and we call upon all .•nations to strengthen arid to sue
ain. the United Nations and Itss specialized .~agendes, and
other institutions of world order, and to broaden the jurisdlc-
tiOn of the World_ Court; that these may preside over a reign
oflawthatwfll not only end wars but end as well that mindless
v niviolence which terrorizes our society e e n times of ease .ty
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can no longerafford to make little plans,allowourselves to be the captives of events
and forces over which we have no 'control, consult our fears rather than ourr hopes .
We call upon the American people, on the threshold of the third century : of their, na-
tionalexistence, to display once gain that boldness , enterprise . magnanimity and vision ,bvhich
enabled the founders of our Republic to bring forth a ;; new nation anti inaugurate a new er as in
human history, The fate, of humanity hangs in . the balance. Throughout. the globe, -hearts and
hopesu wait; upon us. We summon ail Mankind to unite; to meet the g
hallenge.
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