Recognition of Responsibility University Students of the U.S.A.
This is a statement of intent for the college students of our generation. We stand on the brink of adulthood, when many of us are making
decisions about the direction of our futures. The United States represents less than 5% of the world's population, but uses 40% of the world's
energy, drives 30% of its automobiles, and emits over 20% of the world's carbon dioxide pollution. We are, without doubt, the country with the
largest ecological footprint. Our current lifestyle comes at the expense of the health of the planet and its people. As students in the most
industrialized, wealthy, and powerful country in the world, we recognize that these privileges come with responsibility. I, a university student
in 2002, recognize that the Earth has finite resources. I recognize that my everyday actions continue to affect communities on a local and global
scale, today and in the future, for better or for worse. I also recognize and believe that infinite economic growth and GDP does not mean
increase of human well-being or happiness.
Today I commit to making a positive contribution to the future. I will take environmental responsibility and promote sustainable development in my daily life by:
I) Respecting and caring for the community of life that sustains me, and protecting ecological integrity.
a. Explore my local natural environment.
b. Support efforts to conserve natural resources and ecosystems.
c. Avoid products that are damaging to humans and the natural world.
d. Support and promote the humane treatment of all life.
II) Promoting a culture of democracy, social justice, and peace.
a. Learn about international social, political, and environmental issues, and recognize how they are
interconnected
b. Advocate for the basic human right to clean, fresh air and water.
c. Make my voice heard through voting and social activism.
d. Respect everyone's right to free speech and opinion.
e. Support efforts to use non-violence in conflict resolution.
f. encourage my workplace to minimize damage to human and natural environments.
g. Invest my savings in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
III) Reducing my consumption of resources and my impact on the environment.
a. Resist the urge to buy things I don't need and understand the environmental and social impacts of
things I do buy.
b. Reduce the amount of garbage I create.
c. Reduce my waste of fresh water.
d. Recycle and buy items made from recycled or reused material where possible.
e. Travel by foot, skate, bike, transit, train, and carpool.
f. Learn how things are made, and where they come from.
g. Buy food that is produced locally and sustainably.
We also call on our elder generations and those in power to support and mentor us in our vision -- to help us shape the present so that the future citizens
will not remember our generation as one of wasteful consumerism and social blindness. We hope this document, in alignment with the Earth Charter and
other documents for change, convey the commitment of the students of our generation. Today, we take responsibility so that the students of tomorrow will
think of our era as one of responsible living and positive change.
Sign the Recognition of Responsibility
Back to YSEC