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The Soon Coming Judgment Of God Upon America and How To Escape It 411
The Earth Charter and The American Connection
Drafting of the Earth Charter was an international effort that involved participants from
78 countries but it was heavily influenced by American contributors. National Committees were
formed in thirty-five countries. Prior to the formation of these national committees a “study of
over 50 international law instruments entitled Principles of Environmental Conservation and
Sustainable Development: Summary and Survey (1996) was prepared by Steven Rockefeller.
Rockefeller is a professor of religion and ethics at Middlebury College.
Because of Rockefeller’s contribution through the Summary and Survey (1996), he “was
invited to head up the drafting process” and was made chairman of the drafting commission.
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As a result he was one of the principal contributor to the document along with Maurice Strong
and Mikhail Gorbachev. At the World Summit on Sustainable Development (also known as
Earth Summit II), Rockefeller stated that the Earth Charter was an effort to incorporate the
“wisdom of the world’s religions.…”
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Also actively involved in the Earth Charter drafting process were members of the IUCN
Commission on Environmental Law. This included U.S. member Nicholas Robinson who was
the past chair of the commission. Harvard University was also involved in the drafting process.
In 1998 the “Charter was presented and debated at a series of conferences on religion and
ecology at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University.”
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In 2000 the
final version of the Earth Charter was presented to the public.
Funding of the Earth Charter
A brochure put out by the Earth Charter International Secretariat explains that, “The
Earth Charter Initiative is dependent upon contributions from individuals, nongovernmental
organizations, and foundations.” It further states: “Some governments have also given support.”
According to Will Banyan in an article in Nexus Magazine, funding for the Earth Charter
Initiative primarily came from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, some UN agencies, and the
Netherlands government.
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Steven Rockefeller, who chaired the Earth Charter drafting
committee, is Chairman of the Rockefeller Brothers fund.
Once the Earth Charter was finished, additional funding was and still is required to
promote the initiative to individuals, organizations, schools, and both local and national
governments. This is largely accomplished through both international events such as the State of
the World Forum and local events called Earth Charter Community Summits.
Funding is provided to the Earth Charter Initiative both through donations of money and
in-kind donations. The Humane Society provides office space for Earth Charter USA.
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This is
considered an in-kind donation. The Institute for Ethics and Meaning provides funding examples
on their website of both donations of money and in-kind donations. Individuals, corporations,
and foundations provide donations of money. American universities, colleges, municipal
community centers, museums, bookstores, and religious organizations provide in-kind donations
including office space and meeting space.
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That’s right governments at all levels in the U.S. support the Earth Charter through in-
kind donations. The U.S. and state governments provide indirect funding through in-kind
donations made through universities and colleges. Local governments make direct in-kind
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