Security Lies
In Healthy Earth

I hear and read a lot about "security" these days, and the enormous amounts of money that are being spent which could be put to better use elsewhere. We need to redefine the word: True security is clean air, water, soil—basic needs of all humans being met—healthy humans, healthy planet.

I hope we all understand we will have no "security" for anyone on this planet until we have "a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace." Those are words from the Earth Charter, a people's charter, worked on for 10 years by non-governmental representatives from all countries and approved by all a year ago in Geneva.

We should understand that now that our country has been attacked. It was difficult for many to understand that we are all connected and that what we did to other countries, people, Earth, would ever affect us. I suspect many of our citizens are not even aware of what we have been doing.

If we are truly a "free," "democratic" country, our people will not support any more bloodshed. We can make the choice this time for life, not death—light, not darkness. We have an Earth Charter, a people's charter. It is only a matter of choice.

Marion Leonard

Rochester

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