Austin, Texas has been selected as one of 10 satellite-linked locations around the country to participate in a special program on the world's environmental challenges through The Earth Charter Community Summit. The Summit will take place on Sat., Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Mabee Ballroom of the Ragsdale Center at St. Edward's University. This event is free and open to the public. Featured panelists and participants include Robin Rather, former president of Save Our Springs Alliance, and Dr. Jack Bacon, an engineer of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The Earth Charter Community Summits are an historic grassroots movement or create and maintain an economically just and environmentally sustainable global society. The Earth Charter is an international treaty to sustain the planet and is the result of a grassroots drafting process in 56 countries over 12 years.

Growing out of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, it was revitalized in 1994 by Maurice Strong, secretary general of the Earth Summit; Mikhail Gorbachev, chair of Green Cross International; and the Dutch government. Steven Rockefeller chaired the international drafting committee, and plans are underway to present the Earth Charter to the United Nations' General Assembly for endorsement in June 2002.

The four principles of the Charter are: 1) ecological integrity, 2) economic and social justice, 3) peace, democracy and human rights and 4) respect and care for the community of life.

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St Edward's University is an independent Catholic liberal arts university of 4,100 students located in Austin, Texas.

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Austin's Earth Charter Community Summit
Schedule of Events

Morning Program (Speakers from Tampa, Florida - Satellite feed in the Mabee Ballroom of the Ragsdale Center at St. Edward's University)

9 - 9:45 a.m.
Registration and Charter Signing with SEU Omni Singers
Opening Blessing Ceremony by Danse Adje (African Drums and Dance)

9:45 - 10:20 a.m.
Welcome by Robin Rather and Phil Thompson
Check-in by city to all 12 satellite linked locations

10:20 - 10:30 a.m.
Phyllis McKeun, poet, Performer

10:30 - 11 a.m.
David Korten, president, Positive Futures Network

11 - 11:45 a.m.
Mirian Vilela, executive director, Director of Earth Charter International Secretariat, Costa Rica
Steven Rockefeller, chair of International Drafting Committee and Earth Charter Commissioner

11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lunch featuring Polynesian Dance by Tropical Productions
(Please bring your own lunch or you may purchase one at the Ragsdale Center.)

Afternoon Program

1 - 2:30 p.m. Session I Workshops

(Jones Auditorium) Respect and Care for the Community of Life - "Spaceship Earth: The Maintenance of Fragile Environments in Space and on Our Planet"
Lecture by Dr. Jack Bacon, NASA engineer and author of My Grandfathers' Clock

(Mabee Ballroom A) Ecological Integrity - "Think Globally, Act Locally: Strategies for Protecting Your Local Environment"
Facilitator: Scott Swearingen, instructor at St. Edward's University and former executive committee chair, Austin Lands Management Alliance

(Mabee Ballroom B) Social and Economic Justice - "Civil Rights and the 21st Century: Redefining or Retreating"
Jim Harrington, director, Texas Civil Rights Project

2:30-3:00 p.m. Break - Middle Eastern Dance, Hands of Fatimah

3:00-4:30 p.m. Session II Workshops

(Mabee Ballroom A) Respect and Care for the Community of Life - "Interreligious Dialogue and the Interdependent Web of Life"
Facilitator: Donna Howard, Austin Interreligious Ministries

(Mabee Ballroom B) Social and Economic Justice - "Dylan, MLK, Marley, Che, and Mandela - Perspectives on Globalization and Economic Justice"
Facilitator: Jere Locke, director, Texas Fair Trade Coalition

(Mabee Ballroom C) Democracy, Nonviolence and Peace - "Ethical Dimensions of the Death Penalty: National and International Perspectives"
Facilitator: David Atwood, Texas Death Penalty Coalition

(Room 338) Ecological Integrity - "Regional Issues: Ecological Integrity Along the United States (Texas)-Mexico Border"
Facilitator: Brion Champie, instructor of English, St. Edward's University

4:30-5:00 p.m. Break - Closing Drum Ceremony

5:00-6:00 p.m. Closing Session - Mabee Ballroom; Feed from all cities, music, etc.; SEU Jazz Ensemble