RESPONSE works in support of Earth-Responsibility through education, action, research, kaitiakitanga, Projects include Te Waipuna Ariki, a NZ network in support of integrating environmental and social responsibility, and Te Au o Te Moana Across Oceania, a Pacific regional initiative for water ecosystems.
RESPONSE is associated with an international Initiative on a Ethics and Responsibility. http://allies.alliance21.org/charter
Responsibility Locally
In the South Pacific region we work on collaborative projects for ecological and societal responsibility. We focus on linkages between social and environmental systems to progress integrated governance. We have special interests in water and governance. Our work includes customary knowledge in Pacific countries as a primary reference for systems to support the health of ecosystems.
In Aotearoa, a priority reference is to kaitiakitanga as a system of care and governance in which social and environmental wellbeing are integrated. Ecology and ecosystems are another reference for responsible management and governance.
RESPONSE projects are developed in consultation and partnership with Tangata whenua/Maori in Aotearoa, and with Pasefika and Aboriginal peoples in regional programmes as appropriate.
Projects
RESPONSE works in collaboration with local and regional organizations on projects to build values and ethics of earth-responsibility. Contact us if you have a partner proposal.
Some Actions in Aotearoa –New Zealand
Projects:
- Te Waipuna Ariki. Hosting a seminars on the Health of Water Ecosystems. Seminars are collaboratively hosted and held at different locations. Recent examples include:
- Hoskins and Martin (2011) Preparation of Working paper on Environmental Governance for Ethics and Responsibility Meeting Nov. 2011.
- 2011. Sharing Power Assembly. Collaboration with IUCN/CEESP Conference
- 2010. Youth environmental education project ‘Lets Take Care of Aotearoa-New Zealand and the Planet. Collaboration with Enviroschools and the UNICEF Climate Ambassadors (who attended Copenhagen Summit) to contribute to and international youth programme ‘Lets Take Care of the Planet’. RESPONSE is supporting a small youth delegation to participate in the international youth conference in Brazil, June 2010.
- 2009 Watersheds and Responsible Governance was co-hosted with Waterscape and Ngati Wehi Wehi and Ngati Tukorehe. November 2009,
- 2007 seminar led by Natural Science philosopher Callum Coats.
Public forums were held with Human Rights Commission on:
- Indigenous Knowledge, Law and Custom in the South Pacific in the context of Human Rights and Responsibilities
- Environmental Sustainability – Human Rights and Responsibilities
- Rights and Responsibilities for Water
Publications and Papers:
Betsan Martin. (2011) Water is Life: Governance and Local Responsibility in Pacific Case Studies 2008–2010. Paper for Winston Churchill Fellowship
Betsan Martin (2011) ‘Social Knowledge of Responsibility for Water and Pathways Towards Ethics of Responsibility in Governance ‘ Special Edition of the International Journal of Water Management: ‘Transitioning toward sustainable water futures in Australasia: the role of social knowledges in socio‐technical change’
Betsan Martin., Te Kawehau Hoskins, Maria Humphries (2011) ‘The Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) as an Ethic of Relationality’. In Stakehold Engagement for Global Responsibility theme. Principles for Responsible Management Education Conference, Finland,
Te Kawehau Hoskins(2011) ‘A Paradigmatic Shift for indigenous-settler relations: Rights as/and Responsibility in power-sharing’ In Educational Philosophy and Theory.
Betsan Martin and Gary Williams (2010) Watersheds and Responsible Governance.
Edited collection of papers for Watersheds symposium, 2009.
Contribution to Intercultural Dialogues on Responsibility . Edith Sizoo ed. (2008). With international contributors, translation forthcoming).
Plans:
2010. A seminar/assembly on responsibility for the coastal marine area, with associated publication.
Continuing youth programme with follow-up involving dissemination of tools for environmental responsibility in schools
A seminar on GPI – Genuine Progress Indicator. This is an alternative to GDP measurement of economic performance. The GPI factors in social and environmental costs and benefits associated with economic growth
Regional Actions
Across Oceania Te Au o Te Moana. Regional initiative on Responsibility for the Health of Water Ecosystems. Involving partners from Pacific Island nations, Australian, Philippines. An inaugural symposium Samoa, January 2008. Case-studies and/or research on integrated management and governance of water ecosystems.
Partnerships in Samoa, Vanuatu, Fiji for environmental responsibilities with special interest in the health of water ecosystems
Support Pacific Indigenous and Inter-religious dialogue for Peace and Ethical Governance, in Samoa; hosted by Afeafe o Vaetoefaga. 2006
Contribution to Tamasese Taisi Efi, Tamasailau, Martin et al (eds) Pacific Indigenous Dialogue on Faith, Peace, Reconciliation and Good Governance .
Meeting with Australian and Aboriginal counterparts, Plans for water policy project and youth and elders exchange for environmental responsibility.
Ethical considerations
The principle of Human Responsibility is being activated in recognition of the interdependence of all peoples with each other, with species and earth.
Working with Human Responsibility includes respect for solidarity, hospitality and justice, with preference for the common good over self-interest. The immense possibilities of human interaction globally go hand in hand with technology which has brought unprecedented power over nature. The environmental crisis is bringing re-evaluation of models of development and concepts of progress, to include respect for spirituality, sustaining the integrity of ecosystems and biodiversity, and cultural diversity.
An ethics of responsibility provides a basis for decision-making which has regard for uncertainty – the use of technology brings the possibility of unknown impacts on an unprecedented scale. Responsibility is a framework with both legal and relational attributes to contribute to managing unforeseeable environmental, economic and social decision-making.
A Charter for Human Responsibility
International
A Charter for Human Responsibility is international in scope with activities in all the continents, including the Pacific ‘Liquid’ Continent. Initiatives for Human Responsibility are interpreted according to regional priorities, with responsiveness to environmental sustainability.
A Charter for Human Responsibility is envisaged as complementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter for Peace and the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights.
The regional Pacific initiative for Human Responsibility is based in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and is working with associates in Pacific Islands, Australia and the Philippines.
Responsibility, like Human Rights, values human wellbeing and respect for relationships between people and communities, and extends to collective action for earth sustainability.
Principles to support discussion on Ethics and Responsibility.
Responsibility is envisaged as supporting humankind towards relational and holistic world views manifest in unique, indigenous, and diverse cultural frameworks.
- Responsibility for ensuring Human Rights is a basis for dignity, peace, justice with an equitable sharing of wealth
- To face the challenges of today and of tomorrow, joining together and uniting in action must be balanced with respect for indigenous knowledge, cultural integrity and diversity
- Every person’s dignity involves contributing to the freedom and dignity of others
- Responsibility includes support for the holistic qualities of human life for women and men, and includes individual and relational, material, nonmaterial and spiritual dimensions
- The legitimate exercise of power/authority derives from ethical and accountable decision-making to serve the common good. Informed, conscious, collective, integrated decision-making is to be provided for in all spheres, including family, citizen, community, state.
- The harvesting of natural resources to meet human needs, must be limited by the requirements of active protection and care for ecosystems and the viability of the environment
- Freedom of scientific research implies being guided by ethical criteria such as enhancement of biodiversity, regard for the limitations of human knowledge, respect for all (living) things
- The full potential of knowledge and know-how is realized through valuing different knowledge systems and ways of knowing, sharing them, and through using them in the service of solidarity and harmony
- Decisions about short-term priorities are to be evaluated in the light of long-term consequences, and are to accord with priorities of justice and inter-generational environmental stewardship, taking account of risks and uncertainties
Contact
Betsan Martin
Convenor for RESPONSE Trust and Regional Committee, based in Aotearoa-NZ.
Mob. 64 (0)21 388 337