Every Human Has Rights

2008 heralds the 60th anniversary of the creation of a very important document, something that truly belongs to everyone, has relevance for everyone - The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Out of the supreme sufffering, pain, hatred and intolerance of the Second World War came a document which defined what it is to be Human, a list of basic entitlements that every human on this planet should have - the right to live, the right to found a family, the right to exist, regardless of religion, colour, or creed.

I have mentioned before how important these entitlements are to me - they are a huge part of my belief system, of the values I hold. Despite their age, they have as much relevance now, as much importance now .. maybe even more so ..... than they did at the time of their creation. The War on Terror has created an atmosphere where fear of the "other", of those" not like us" has allowed these basic rules and guidelines of Humanity to be disregarded, to be bent, to be broken by those who should know better ... and " in our name", or so we are told.

In this special year, a campaign has started to celebrate this important document, to promote its values, to remind people what it is and what it represents - EveryHumanHasRights.org. This campaign, created and back by various organisations such as Amnesty International and The Elders ( your can find out more about them using the links @ the side of this blog ) is to get individuals to pledge to uphold the Declaration's values in their everyday life, to sign the declaration themselves. This differs from the usual, for up until now, it has been States, Governments and Countries who signed it. The aim is to get one BILLION signatures .... one billion individual people, all over the globe, regardless of their race,religion,sex, whether they are rich or poor, young or old, to sign and say "yes, we believe in these rules , in these rights ..... and we believe everyone is entitled to them ". Only by standing together , by believing in our similarities despite our differences ( for we are not all identical, we have differences - that is the point , to celebrate and welcome both our similaries and differences ) can we start to fight injustice, fear, hate on a global scale...... you can dismiss this as " hippy" thinking if you wish, but who knows, it might just make this planet a better place to live.

I have signed the pledge ....I hope those who might read this will too, but is not up to me to tell you what to do..... just take a look at the campaign site, and read the Declaration ... make up your own mind.... that is your right..........