by David Gallup
“As a Citizen of World Government, I affirm my awareness of my inherent responsibilities and rights as a legitimate member of the total world community of all men, women, and children, and will endeavor to fulfill and practice these whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself.”
–from the World Citizen Affirmation
World Citizenship means not only recognizing our
universal rights, but also
recognizing our universal responsibilities
to each other and to the earth.
World citizens endeavor to make our communities and
our world a better place to live. We call upon all world citizens to
self-organize for the benefit of each other and the earth. We can take action
to enhance our own lives and those of everyone around us. This process is about
creating an independent and self-reliant knowledge-based system of world
citizen interaction. Each of us has special knowledge and skills that we can
share.
At WSA’s World Citizen Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WorldCitizen),
at its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Service-Authority/149086282356)
or through other social media, world citizens can reach out to each other to
lend a hand.
Fulfilling our responsibilities may mean writing a
letter on behalf of another person who has been refugeed by war. It may mean
contacting a government ministry to expose a violation of someone’s right to
residence or work. It may mean providing clothing or shelter to someone in need
whether in your neighborhood or around the world.
Using social media or in person, we can provide
assistance to each other outside of the national monetary system. By minimizing
the use of national payment systems, we can chip away at the flow of money and
taxes that go to waging wars.
We can barter and exchange ideas, skills, services,
and knowledge. For example, a carpenter could help a teacher with some home
repairs, and the teacher could teach the carpenter a new language. Or we can
share or give away items that can still be used by others. We can help each
other with assistance that we need whether it is architectural, linguistic,
scientific, mathematical, legal, artistic, mechanical, technological, etc.
The World Citizen Credo
affirms that “As a global person, a World Citizen relates directly to humankind
and to all fellow humans spontaneously, generously and openly. Mutual trust is
basic to his/her lifestyle.” By sharing skills and knowledge, we relate to each
other “generously and openly,” and we establish trust by working together.
As we start this new
year, let us make our world better for everyone by reaching out to our fellow
humans and organizing as world citizens. Let us each ask, “How can I help you
as your neighbor and fellow world citizen?”
