Whereas this is the year 1992
Whereas human beings have an absolute intrinsic value
Whereas this value is equal for all
Whereas the endowment of the natural world is a great gift we have received
Whereas on this continent during the past five hundred years there have been and still are guiding principles which treat people and the natural world as objects, deny their intrinsic value, push them out of the way, use them for gain
Whereas great suffering and been caused
Whereas great injustice has been visited
Whereas this suffering and injustice have been interpreted as natural and right by the civil, military and religious authority of the country
Whereas this suffering fell first most heavily on Indian people who were living here originally
and later on African people who were brought here by force
and on Latin people who were displaced by war and on many who have come here escaping misery
and on those who slip and fall or are sick or young or old
or ordinary people, getting along
and it falls even on exploiters themselves, for their humanity is lost
Whereas the land provides the ground beneath our feet
Whereas the land gives us food
Whereas the land produces the materials we need
Whereas the land provides a base for our shelter and our daily activities
Whereas the land provides space for our imagination and projects
Whereas the land provides a platform for independent action
and a portion of self-sufficient livelihood
Whereas the land demands care and responsibility
Whereas the number of landowners has been decreasing
Whereas the extremes between ownership and non-ownership have been increasing
Whereas human poverty and oppression have been increasing
Whereas the means of separating people from land have been unfair, illegal and ruthless
Whereas the natural endowment has been damaged in the process
Whereas the moment provides an opportunity for new direction
We resolve to work toward reform of the land ownership patterns in this country so that indigenous land is protected
so that ownership of land is more evenly distributed
so that greater justice is achieved
so that natural endowment is better protected
so that people have a better chance to reach their full potential, individually and collectively
We resolve to learn about the historical land struggles and strategies of other groups of people and to form alliances with them on this issue
We resolve to document these struggles and strategies and share them with others with live and work and with whom we speak and correspond
We resolve to work toward new mechanisms, policies and models for broad ownership of land
and we resolve to challenge others to join in this mission.
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