I received the following message today. 1) The original date on it is Feb 7, why so slow to get out? 2) The petition site does not contain this wording. 3) I would like to see a direct reference to our need to care for each other. I signed the petition anyway.

The Evolutionary Leaders Counsel is a group of spiritual and thought
leaders called together by Deepak Chopra. They have been meeting in
person and by phone to address the needs of the planet and how best to
facilitate change of consciousness on the planet. Below is their
response to a request by the Obama administration. Their petition
addresses many of the concerns in the NSP Spiritual Covenant with
America. It is thrilling to see our current administration reaching
out to spiritual leaders and showing an interest in consciousness.

By the Evolutionary Leaders
The human family is in the midst of the most significant
transformation of consciousness since its emergence in Africa over one
hundred thousand years ago. Consciousness has been evolving for
billions of years from the first cell to us. We are becoming aware
that through our own consciousness the universe can know itself. This
awareness reveals incredible new potential for our individual and
collective humanity.
Simultaneously, we are the first species on this Earth aware that we
can destroy ourselves by our own action. This may be the greatest
wake-up call to the evolution of consciousness since the origin of
Homo sapiens.
We now realize that we are affecting our own evolution by everything
we do. This knowledge awakens in us the aspiration to become more
conscious through subjective practices including meditation,
reflection, prayer, intuition, creativity, and conscious choice making
that accelerate our evolution in the direction of unity consciousness
and inspire us to deeply align our collective vision.
THE CHALLENGE
At this juncture in human history, urgent global crises challenge us
to learn to live sustainably, in harmony and gratitude with one
another and with the living universe. The changes required of humanity
are broad, deep, and far reaching. Only by acting swiftly and
creatively can we birth a planetary culture that will bring well-being
to every form of life in the Earth community.
The good news is that a compelling new story of our potential as a
whole human species is emerging-a story of collaboration, citizen
action, dialogue and new understandings propelled by unprecedented
levels of democratic freedom, multicultural exchange, and access to
communication technologies. It is nothing less than the story of our
collective evolution.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION
We recognize that the inner and outer aspects of life evolve together.
A dramatic awakening in consciousness will involve an equally dramatic
shift in outward aspects of our lives. In particular, we see the
following as vital opportunities for our conscious evolution, both
personally and collectively:
Cultivating a Paradigm of Aliveness: We regard the universe as deeply
alive and conscious by nature. In a living universe, our sense of
subtle connection and participation with life around us is the basis
for a compassionate and cooperative approach to living.
Educating for an Evolving Consciousness: Awakening consciousness is
the foundation for all the change we seek to see in the world. We can
work to elevate our capacity for conscious reflection and creative
action in our personal lives as well as our collective lives as
communities. We must support research and educational strategies that
optimize human capacities and explore the nature of consciousness.
Restoring Ecological Balance: The balance of planetary ecosystems is
fundamental to our survival. We must reverse the pollution of our
global commons-the water, air and soil that nourish all life. We must
encourage the proliferation of clean, renewable energy sources and
expend all necessary resources toward mitigating the effects of
climate change.
Encouraging Conscious Media: We must find innovative ways to use the
new electronic media as the mirror of our positive evolutionary story,
investing in their capacity to reach across differences of generation,
culture, religion, wealth, and gender to build a working consensus
about our collective future.
Engaging in Social and Political Transformation: More sustainable ways
of living will require the support of a more conscious democracy and
vibrant civil society from which more enlightened leaders will emerge.
All individuals should be encouraged to use their gifts to create
participatory, responsible and compassionate models of governance.
Working for Integrity in Commerce: Conscious businesses that are aware
of the scope, depth, and long-range impacts of their actions are key
to achieving sustainability. Business must become an ethical steward
of the Earth’s ecology and consciously establish an economic basis for
a future of equitably shared abundance.
Promoting Health and Healing: The science of mind-body-spirit health
has demonstrated the profound connection between the health of a whole
person and the health of the system in which he or she lives. Whole
systems healing, respecting both traditional knowledge and modern
sciences, must be supported in physical, social, and spiritual domains.
Building Global Community: The new story is about all of us who share
this planet. Together, we can create a culture of peace that
eliminates the need for armed conflict, respecting and appreciating
the glorious diversity of our human family.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IS VITAL
Our group has done its best to articulate possibilities for the
evolution of consciousness at this crucial moment in time. Please
reflect on this document, feel what resonates in your being and calls
forth a response on your part. We invite you to discuss it with
others, continuing this global conversation by adding to it the wisdom
that is uniquely your own.
Together, let us co-create a new narrative of conscious evolution that
is a call to individual and collective action, birthing the most
significant transformation of consciousness in history. Join in the
Call to Conscious Evolution by signing the pledge now.
FOUNDING SIGNATORIES
Chopra Center , Carlsbad , California , July 26, 2008
Michael Beckwith, Joan Borysenko, Gregg Braden, Rinaldo Brutoco,
Thomas Callanan, Deepak Chopra, Mallika Chopra, Dale Colton, Gordon
Dveirin, Duane Elgin , Leslie Elkus, Barbara Fields, Debbie Ford, Ashok
Gangadean, Kathleen Gardarian, Tom Gegax, Charles Gibbs, Kathy Hearn,
Jean Houston, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Bruce Lipton, Judy Martin, Rod
McGrew, Steve McIntosh, Lynne McTaggart, Deborah Moldow, James O’Dea,
Carter Phipps, Wendy Craig-Purcell, Carolyn Rangel, Rustum Roy, Peter
Russell, Gerard Senehi, Emily Squires, Brian Swimme, Diane Williams,
Marianne Williamson, Tom Zender.
See what others are saying, sign petition and write your comments:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/248704259

Truth in vending: There should be heavy penalties for advertising and publicity that creates a false impression. Like “clean coal” when the technology isn’t developed “organic” that is 90%, “healthy snacks” that are just a little bit less unhealthy than the alternative. To maintain our democracy, read - national security, we need an informed public not a misinformed one. It may be that for our national security we cannot afford to presume that a member of the general public will do the research necessary to uncover the thinly veiled falsehood.

Crowning achievement of democracy: If people are educated and participate in their democracy, if they are compassionate and humanitarian, if they have vision and the interest of humanity at heart would we not vote to take care of “the least of these.” The crowning achievement of democracy could be that it takes power out of the hands of the self serving elite and puts it in the hands of those who will be inclined to care for each other.
Example: Carbon tax or the equivalent; Elected officials have a mandate to deal with global climate change. They institute a tax on the sources of pollution. Those with the resources to continue polluting pay. The funds are used to employ those in need to build affordable public transit, weatherproof their homes and otherwise reduce their contribution to the problem as well as reduce their dependence on the primary polluters.

Probably the biggest reason to go to single payer universal coverage is to reduce the overall cost of healthcare. This system could eliminate the cost of the insurance industry, health insurance and malpractice insurance as well as the legal costs of the medical and pharmaceutical industries defending themselves from frivolous lawsuits. PPO’s, HMO’s and other brokers could be reduced as well. We already pay for Medicare and Medicaid, so much of the system is in place, they would just get bigger. When we include new technology there should be no reason we cannot have a higher quality, more efficient, and less expensive healthcare system. Many of those currently working in the industries that would be eliminated could devote their energies to keeping people healthy, healthcare, and be paid well with some of the savings resulting from increased efficiency.

On reading Howard Bloom’s article “Reinventing Capitalism” at http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j28/bloom.asp?ecp=tat-031809
It seems he throws all of Western enterprise under the umbrella of capitalism. The “Reinventing” part is what I’m after. The enterprise powered by the desire to express our innate creativity and guided by humanitarian values is a far cry from the dollar as the bottom line.
3/20/09 I like the tone and direction of David Korten’s article in the Spring 2009 YES Magazine much better. Find an excerpt from his new book: “Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth” at www.YESMagazine.org/kortenbook

Eat local: I haul, and see trucks hauling a lot of highly processed foods. It looks like most of it is destined for the restaurant and fast food industry. Peak oil will make these more expensive. If we eat local and whole much of the processing that is now done in huge plants would need to be done locally. A green investment that could be profitable would be the manufacture and distribution of machinery designed for the small local processor. Examples: fruit pitters, dryers, canning, freezing, oil expressing/expelling equipment.

Horticulture: We have deforested much of our planet. As I drive I see vast expanses of brushland and suspect it was once a vital forest. Our land grant colleges focused on grain crops in monocultures, livestock in pastures or feedlots. We have neglected the study of forest crops. If we bring a Permaculture mindset to this inquiry we can not only retain topsoil but build it using forest crops.

Expanding the range of crops: With the increase in the cost of shipping it will be increasingly advantageous to grow a greater variety of crops locally. We should begin this research and development now.