The ethics of the future is an ethics of the fragile and the perishable. We must hand down to future generations an inheritance that has not been irretrievably damaged and polluted. We must bequeath to them the right to live in dignity in a world preserved. The ethics of the future is a peasant ethics. It consists in transmitting an inheritance ". (Federico Mayor - Director-General of the UNESCO - Rio, July 1997)
The Earth Tree, the reflection of this message, will be a sign of the union of the destinies of the man and his Earth, a sign of peace.
The Earth Tree, in assertion of the universality of this message, will initiate the creation of annual prizes on the model of the Nobel prizes:
"The Earth Prizes"
These prizes will honour diversity in the world and will reward one
or more ordinary personalities, individuals, associations, communities,
companies, tribes or countries. They will reward for example :
- a great scientist having worked particularly for sustainable development
- a child with a difference, mentally handicapped perhaps, who will have succeeded in walking in a straight line, or making a paper boat; a heroic act for the child.
- a man, from the soutern hémisphere certainly, wearing feathers and tattooed with superb drawings.
We will celebrate all children of the Earth..
They will solemnly
be given each 21st of March - Earth day - by the President of the Republic.
Thus the message of the Tree will be seen prolonged year by year and
will register in time, the ideal of the Tree of the Earth; the influence
of the "Earth Prizes" will be that of its land of welcome
and its partners.
