Ten Key Values

1. Grassroots Democracy
All human beings deserve a say in the decisions that affect their lives. We will work to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that all representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will also work to create new types of political organizations that directly include citizens in the decision-making process.

2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
All persons should have the opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront barriers such as racism and class oppression, sexism and homophobia, ageism and disability, which act to deny fair treatment and equal justice under the law.

3. Ecological Wisdom
We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the ecological limits of our communities and our planet. We support a sustainable society that utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice agriculture that replenishes the soil; move to an energy efficient economy; and live in ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

4. Nonviolence
It is essential that we develop alternatives to society's current patterns of violence. We will work to demilitarize, and eliminate weapons of mass destruction, without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We promote non-violent methods to oppose practices with which we disagree, and which will guide us toward lasting personal, community and global peace.

5. Decentralization
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization. Therefore, we support a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system controlled by a powerful few to a democratic, less bureaucratic system. Decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all.

6. Community Based Economics & Economic Justice
We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while maintaining a healthy ecological balance. We support independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as co-operatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people through democratic participation.

7. Gender Equity and Cooperation
We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. We should remember that the process itself, and equal participation in it, are just as important as achieving the outcomes for which we work.

8. Respect for Diversity
We believe it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across these lines. We believe that the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and encourage respect for life forms other than our own.

9. Personal and Global Responsibility
We encourage everyone to act to improve their personal well being while also enhancing ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet.

10. Future Focus and Sustainability
Our actions and policies should be motivated by long-term goals. We seek to protect valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or "unmaking" all waste we create, while developing a sustainable economics that does not depend on continual expansion for survival. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are responsible to future generations who will inherit the results of our actions.