Principle of Truth Seeking

Proposed UN Principle Planning Decade

Year One, The Principle of Truth Seeking

Part One, Overall Goals and Objects

The first year of the UN planning decade is dedicated to individual
reflection about truth, principle and the role that each person can
play during the upcoming years of the decade. At the UN itself a
schedule of goals and deadlines is agreed upon among governments and
NGO's for improving reflection. Why does refection come first? In two
paragraphs, here is why.

Meditation is the mother of all human rights. Leisure and a moderate
amount of time each day, week and year for reflection are defining
elements of both individuality and our common humanity. In religious
tradition this wisdom is enshrined in the Sabbath and sabbatical
years, and positive teachings such as: "Man does not live by bread
alone..." Philosophy is founded upon the motto of Socrates: "The
unexamined life is not worth living."

Conversely, it is our first duty to remove obstacles to reflection,
for large populations deprived of this Sine Qua Non of the human being
are soil in which thrive tyranny, totalitarianism and war. Whatever
threatens leisure and a reflective life must be promptly addressed,
according to the Latin dictum, "Principiis Obsta," "Resist the
beginnings (of evil)." This is fundamental to security and democracy
as well as prosperity and development. It must be the urgent concern
of all free persons and responsible institutions to ensure that every
owner of a human brain has full opportunity to use and improve it by
means of leisure, reflection and self-improvement.

Planning and Implementing the Truth Seeking Year

To work out high-level and local goals of this principle year
brainstorming meetings are sponsored throughout the year by the UN
among both expert and lay. Specially designed conferencing software
placed in strategic access points in every major region will help
explore ways and means of improving and universalizing recreation,
meditation and reflection. A set of public, standing documents and
discussion areas on the internet will invite the thoughts and artistic
contribution of every human being on earth. On the local level
libraries and museums already set up in most neighborhoods act as
hosts and conduits for this consultative process. Their displays and
access points will remain open for fresh input until the second
decade's year for truth seeking renews the cycle ten years later. The
best products and expressions of this first universal consultation of
all humanity on reflection will then enter into a permanent historical
archive and hall of fame.

Here are some possible specific goals for truth seeking that might
come out of all this.

First Goal; Reflection in Nature

General object: Improve access to nature

Experience has shown that the profoundest and most effective
reflection takes place when one has direct, regular contact with
nature. The prime goal, therefore, is to universalize access to nature
while improving the nature of the contact between humans and natural
areas. This may not necessarily mean more interaction but better
contact with natural areas, intercourse that benefits both human
beings and natural ecosystems. The financing of nature tourism is
regularized so that a percentage of every tourism dollar goes directly
to benefit wildlife, parks, and other natural areas. A formula is
devised to ensure that as broad a variety of people from all cultures,
ages, and walks of life are brought into natural surroundings in
non-intrusive ways.

Second Goal; Recreation and Work

General object: To guarantee a modicum of rest, recreation and
reflection in every career and work day

An overall goal of the first planning decade is to devise a universal
worker's bill of rights and obligations. This first year of the first
decade is dedicated to thinking about how to give everyone a chance to
find rest, recreation and self-improvement. The showpiece is the
bottom rung of the work hierarchy, the minimum wage job. How do we
bring those below this, workers without even this minimal level of
rights, such as part-time, migrant, domestics and so-called casual
laborers, up to this minimal level? How can we assure that all workers
have not only a minimum income but also basic rights, protections and,
mostly for now, leisure and access to relaxation? The answers to such
questions will inform the goals for the upcoming years of this
planning decade.

Third Goal; Integration of Leisure with Family

General object: To increase diversity of recreation.

Variety is the spice of life as well as recreation. A broad diversity
of activities recreate more effectively than frivolous, undirected
play. The most effective leisure therefore is not done in a vacuum for
its own sake -- though to a moderate degree this is morally acceptable
and indeed part of the very definition of the word "recreation."
Rather recreational time is most effective and meaningful when one is
involved in some kind of service beyond the demands of one's trade or
profession. The first priority for this is family. This institution
itself is inherently diversifying; by nature it broadens variety in
recreational activities by forcing entertainers, tour guides and
programmers to appeal to the widest possible variety of ages and
tastes.

Fourth Goal; Integration of Education and Faith into Leisure Programs

General Object: To see to it that education and faith organizations
have full opportunity to enrich the recreational interludes of as many
people as possible. Conversely, to see to it that as many people as
possible have the leisure and energy to contribute to goals of
education and the ideals and ethics of their faith.

Prime time for spare time is best spent supporting family, but after
that and part of that recreation is most effective guided, informed
and integrated into long term educational and faith based goals. This
means supporting educators and faith groups, which in turn support the
reflection of families. This first year of reflection will be
dedicated to reflecting upon and pounding out specific goals for
supporting and universalizing support for such education and faith
based recreation. To cite one specific example, tax exemption and
other public support and funding should be extended first to temples
and holy places that are open to the public. Exclusive privilege in
schools and religion should be more expensive than openness. This is
just the first step in further steps to take in future decades to
assure that family and public interest are best served by both
educators and people of faith.

--
John Taylor

badijet@gmail.com