Challenges to face

One reflection from our agreement to integrate the concept of responsibility into existing local organizations, is to question whether the concept of responsibility becomes assimilated, or absorbed rather than identified as a distinct, future oriented concept.
The Human Rights Commission is well respected in New Zealand and has excellent strategies for wide dissemination of their work. They are interested in ‘responsibility’ but then tend to interpret it within their existing frameworks, which tend to be around the individualized concept of rights, rather than relational and ecological principles.

Responsibility in the Charter orientation arises from a wholistic worldview, inspiring a relational ethic and generated from reference to the earth and ecology, with social organization emanating from these orientations. The Charter is supporting the inauguration of a different consciousness and world view.

Given that all the people involved are highly committed in various spheres of work, both in institutions and communities, the Charter becomes an added ‘responsibility’, without significant resources to support it.

With the resources available, for which we are most appreciative, it is possible for us, as a national committee) to meet twice per year (formally). This has the effect of encouragement, inspiration, cross-fertilization of ideas and project clarification.

While the concept of responsibility is well received, there is a sense of distance that it has originated in Europe.