Commitment 8: Country

A person’s country/nationality is for many people the highest level they can identify with. But in this day and age it is also important for us all to develop a continental and global identity.

Man has been to the moon and back. This has provided magnificent views of our earth and indicated how finite our resources are. We live in a global village and, whilst our country/nationality is important, it is just one of ten levels we experience and identify with, as part of mankind.

8.1 It is important that our democracy is based on maximum representation with each persons vote counting, so each country should follow Australia’s example and adopt mandatory voting. Britain could easily adopt mandatory voting for the next general election likely to be in 2008/9. But is the political will there?

8.2 To achieve equality in Parliament each constituency should be merged with the next one to create doubles with a male and female MP to be elected in each. That is, 659 constituencies become 330 with a male and female MP to each - 660 MPs.

8.3 In view of the river and coastal flooding problems we are all experiencing, each country should adopt the approach in Barbados and nationalise full access to the coastal area for public benefit and protection.

8.4 Legislation is needed to ensure that, all envelopes/notepaper/newspapers and magazines are from recycled paper and/or sustainable woodland

8.5 The use of non-renewable resources must be recyclable or phased out and renewable zero foot print resources used a.s.a.p.

8.6 Each country must adopt a policy of self-sufficiency for most of its food needs on the basis that the food is as organic/natural as possible. This could be instigated in the rural uplands and developed gradually down to the ports.

8.7 Each country needs to adopt a policy of self-sufficiency in the provision of totally renewable energy as soon as possible but definitely within the next three generations i.e. by 2050. This could initially be introduced on the Isles of Wight, Anglesey and Bute as different experiments and then developed on the British mainland.

8.8 Radical policies are needed to develop new zero footprint types of public transport, with strict restrictions on the type of cars manufactured based only on renewable fuels.

8.9 All countries should develop a new ethical taxation based on multiples of the minimum and average wages of that nation.

8.10 Each country should instigate a one year Youth Earth Service (YES) that each young male and female must attend to receive an ethical/ecological training on the Earth’s finite resources and the importance of air, water, soil and energy, as well as undertaking defence/medical/community service.

In 1945 mankind activated the first atomic explosion.