Items of Interest June 24, 2013 ISSUE

Living the Golden Rule—globally

Sentinel staff

In 2008, over 154,000 people gathered in Seattle, Washington, (along with seven million who watched online) to talk about compassion. Anchored by the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and others, the five-day meeting explored ways that children and adults could commit to living with compassion for others and for themselves. After these meetings, the dialogue continued, via the Internet, and led to the Charter for Compassion in November 2009.

Resting on the biblical message to love our neighbors as ourselves, the invitation to sign the charter is open to all. The charter transcends cultural, political, and religious beliefs.

It declares that “the principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical, and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures … to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity, and respect.”

Treat others in the same way
that you would want them to treat you.

Luke 6:31, New English Translation

The site also includes the “International Campaign for Compassionate Cities.” Like the Charter, it is inspired by the Golden Rule, and aims to encourage city leaders from around the world to work toward increasingly compassionate policies, projects, and initiatives.

One city that developed a plan for compassion was Louisville, Kentucky. Its mayor, Greg Fischer, said that compassion could take the form of shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor, reading to a struggling student, and similar activities. During April 15–22, 2012, about 90,000 city residents participated in the city’s “Give A Day” week of volunteer service.

Besides American and Canadian cities, many others around the world are working toward “compassionate” status. They include urban areas in Turkey, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Croatia, the United Kingdom, and Portugal, among others.

For more information go to charterforcompassion.org.

Sentinel Staff

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