In the 21st century, it has already been a long time since the world entered the era of the Global Village. A country's very survival is at risk unless it engages in an exchange with others in all areas, economic, political, and cultural. Yet there are still those who fail to recognize that the times have changed, who faild to see differences in race, religion and culture as mere distinctions between people, and who believe that only they are right. The human species is one family living on the planet called "Earth." In our thinking, that fact takes precedence over all of these differences. They must first awaken to this fact.
Now, we cannot solve the problem of world peace unless we have an Earth Human consciousness. We cannot look to nationalism or specific religions to achieve peace. This is becoming the commonly held point of view among intellectuals. Because of this, now is the time when we need an Earth Human movement. It is time for an Earth Human movement, one that goes beyond culture, ideology, and religion, one in which all human beings see themselves as the same, Earth Humans.
If an Earth Human movement is to be created, we must first let people known that the essence of the Earth and humanity is one. The Earth is humanity and humanity is the Earth. Human beings are said to be the cosmos in miniature and the Earth in miniature. It is human beings who bear responsibility for the future of the Earth. And the deterioration of the Earth's environment, ultimately, has resulted from the activities of humans.
And so people's consciousness, the consciousness of the human race, must reach a higher level. The standard for determining whether the consciousness of the our species has reached a higher level is whether it has achieved an Earth Human consciousness. And if in the future the consciousness of human beings living on the earth is said to have evolved, then it will be referring to people who have an Earth Human consciousness.
- Ilchi Lee is the president of the World Earth Human Alliance.