Summary of 2048 Humanitys Agreement to Live Together

The Turning Point for Humanity 1) 1948the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a. Response to the atrocities of WWII b. The United Nations Charter of 1945 created to replace the League of Nations that failed to prevent WWII. c. Based on the Four Freedoms outlined in President Roosevelts speech d. New Commission on Human Rights created as a core part of the United Nations. e. First task of the Commission was drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. i. Failure to adopt the Bill globally linked to Cold War politics ii. Segregation policies in the US iii. Colonialists policies of United Kingdom and other countries iv. Adopted by all countries in December 1948 as an unenforceable written moral code. f. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) with its two Optional Protocols and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) were ratified in 1976. These two Covenants concerning human rights not enforceable in a court of law. Commission opinions are issued instead. 2) European Convention on Human Rights a. Enforceable document adopted by 47 European countries. Is international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. 3) The International Bill of Rights a. Refers to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the two on covenants mentioned above. b. Purpose is a global Bill of Human Rights adopted by all countries. 4) The 2048 Project a. The 2048 Project is an affiliation of educational institutions, human rights centers, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and foundations collaborating to educate students and the public about the evolution of human rights and to provide a process to draft an international framework for enforceable human rights that can be in place by the year 2048, the 100th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. b. This international framework would level the playing field of capitalism by incorporating laws concerning socially and

environmentally responsible practices and encourage participation between for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. c. Forge a connection between scholars and students, areas of concentrations and levels of expertise in communication to build a living document that is based on constructive criticism and sharing of ideas. d. Ultimate outcome is respect for one another through the basic understanding of rights we all share. 5) Events that have set the stage for the ratification of an enforceable International Bill of Human Rights by 2048. a. The cost of war particularly the war in Iraq costing over 2 trillion dollars and thousands of lives b. Global Warming and a renewed concern about the safety and sustainability of the environment c. The massive financial meltdown The International Bill of Human Rights 1) Based on Five Freedoms a. Freedom of Speech b. Freedom of Religion c. Freedom from Want d. Freedom from Fear e. Freedom for the Environment 2) The first four Freedoms were defined in FDRs State of the Union address in 1941. These freedoms are an outline used to draw up an agreement for humanity. 3) The first four Freedoms ensure dignity and cover most of our social contract among ourselves and government. The fifth freedom ensures preservation of our planet and ecosystems.. 4) The preservation of the planet counterbalances the freedom from want so resources are used effectively and efficiently to provided for all instead of plundering the environment and creating waste as destruction. 5) Financial studies support the claim that a human rights agenda a. saves costs in damage and destruction through war and environmental damage and b. is beneficial by ensuring a healthier, educated and productive citizenry. 6) Fundinga. Military Spending is 1.4 trillion yearly b. Reallocate 500 billion in military costs toward the realization of the Five Freedoms leaving 900 billion for military c. This creates no need to increase taxes. The Five Freedoms

1) Freedom of Speech a. Protects our right to voice our opinions b. Generates new thouhts and ideas c. Speaks to power d. Supports the dissemination of ideas through media and social networks e. Provides a safe harbor to assemble in groups to protest, march and gives us the right to vote for those we choose, not those who are foisted upon us. 2) Freedom of Religion a. The right to choose our own personal belief whether an organized religion or private value system. b. Preservation of the separation of church and state 3) Freedom from Want a. Freedom from Want is security meaning there is a bottom through which none of us can fall. b. The details of this right were described by FDR in his State of the Union address in 1944. This speech is known as the Second Bill of Rights speech. i. Right to a job ii. Right to earn an adequate living to support oneself iii. Right to farm a product that will support a decent living iv. Right to compete in a fair environment v. Right to have a decent home for every family vi. Right to adequate medical care. vii. Right to adequate protection from economic fears of employment, sickness and old age. viii. Right to a good education. c. This list describes dignity. Roosevelt believed that poverty was preventable and morally unacceptable. d. The top 2% of the population in the US, much of Europe and Latin America own 70% of the wealth. An international bill of rights is it protects a middle class in all countries at a time when wealth is consolidating into the hands of fewer and fewer people e. If the economic balance becomes too great, people will fight and die for a redistribution of wealth. f. Presently 80% of humanity lives on $10 a day. g. Freedom from Want is a human right that should be protected to avoid recourse to rebellion. h. Regarding terrorism, Mortenson, author of the best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea, writes that terrorism happens because children arent being offered a bring enough future that they have a reason to choose life over death. i. Reduction in fertility rates linked to better educated citizens

Reduction of disease and death linked to having available health care available and can prevent the offset of unchecked virulent pandemics. 4) Freedom for the Environment a. The core of the Freedom for the Environment is the preservation of our resources including forest, soil, mineral resources, wildlife and water to name a few. b. Decisions must be informed by scientists rather than politics to guide outcomes. c. Must be balances with Freedom of Speech to ensure all citizens affected have their voices heard. d. Intergenerational Equityfuture generations can enjoy the resources we enjoy now. 5) Freedom from Fear a. This is our collective reward for the realization of the other four freedoms. It is a state of well-being. b. Hinges on an independent judiciary everywhere in the world making these Rights enforceable under the law. c. Making judges accountable for decsions with a system of checks and balances with higher bodies reviewing local decisions. d. Disarmament is also part of the freedom from fear and is linked to the freedom from want. i. The dot in the center represents all the fire power expended during WWII including the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Hundred of dots around the center represent explosive power that is available today.

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iii. Freedom from fear will be impossible to achieve as long as there continues to be a flood of weaponry into our communities. iv. Redirection of military funds can be used to provide for health care, education, sanitary water, shelter. In essence, provide us with Freedom from Want. Where the Movement is Headed 1) Regional Agreements to Live Together a. European Convention on Human Rights i. An example of a well-written list o rights with courts to enforce it, working today in Europe ii. Transnational document that applies to 47 countries iii. Must adopt to be part of the Council of Europe, a political and trade organization iv. Makes the convention enforceable in its domestic court system. v. Example: McDonalds vs. Steele and Morris. Alleged that McDonalds exploited child labor, damaged the environment and stifled union members and provided unsafe working condition. McDonalds counter sued and won in the British High Court. The European Court overturned this. b. African Convention on Human Rights c. American Convention on Human Rights 2) Humanitys Agreement to live together a. Consists of a compilation and consolidation of the various existing documents on human rights and fashion into an enforceable Bill of International Rights. b. Dispel myth of Cultural relativism Everyone is human so everyone should have basic human rights such as freedom from slavery. c. Human rights are innate yearnings in human beings that manifest themselves through a social contract, embodied in documents, and eventually enforceable through the rule of law. 112 d. Ex: Chinese man who photographed poor construction of schools after 2009 Earthquake imprisoned and given hard labor for exercising his right to free speech. Rebuttal: Citizens give up some rights to provide for social stability. Boyd calls this indoctrination, what we are taught to believe. Cites example of clitoral removal at 10 years in some cultures, an indoctrination of the same sort. e. Cultural Claims do not reflect the current state of affairsex: HealthcareThe US signed the Declaration of Human Rights that supports the Freedom from Want and access to healthcare however, until recently access to healthcare was restricted to

those who can afford to pay for health insurance with no preexisting conditions. Boyd argues that the majority of US citizens want universal health care. Cultural Relativism should not be used to deter the forming of Universal Rights but may be used in the application of those rights in a court decision. f. Sovereignty MythThe choice is with people who elect leaders. The Path Together 1) Focus on the goal 2) Think togetherwith an open mind and a philosophical perspective in which we think about others as well as ourselves 3) Write togetherdrafting a dialogue, writing commentary, participate in the 2048 Project on December 10, Human Rights Day by posting thoughts about the International Convention, writing with the United Nations Human Rights Council 4) Deciding togetherfocus, thinking and writing together should produce a draft document authentic enough for acceptance.