Declaration
of the Rights of the Memory of the Earth
Planets, like people, have their
own life history - they are born, they mature and die. For planets, as for
people, each life history is unique: the time has come to recognise the uniqueness
of the Earth.
Our planet, the Earth, is the
only bond which unites all mankind. We are, each and everyone of us, linked
to the Earth, and it is the link between us, and indeed all life
The Earth is 4.5 thousand million
years old and the cradle of life; life which has undergone many metamorphoses
and renewals through geological time. Its long evolution, and slow maturation,
have shaped the environment in which we live.
Our history and the history of
the Earth cannot be separated. Its origins are our origins, its history is
our history and its future will be our future.
The surface of the Earth is our
environment. This environment is different, not only from that of the past,
but also from that of the future. We are the Earth's companions for the present, but are only transient, and with time we will pass.
Just as an ancient tree retains
the record of its life and growth, the Earth retains memories of the past
inscribed both in its depths and on its surface, in the rocks and in the landscape,
a record which can be read and translated.
We have always been aware of
the need to preserve our memories – our cultural heritage. Now the time has
come to protect our natural heritage. The past of the Earth is no less important
than that of Man. It is time for us to learn to protect this Earth heritage,
and by doing so learn about the past of the Earth, to learn to read this 'book',
the record in the rocks and the landscape, which was mostly written before
our advent.
Man and the Earth share a common
heritage, of which we and our governments are but the custodians. Each and
every human-being should understand that the slightest damage could lead to
irreversible losses for the future. In undertaking any form of development,
we should respect the singularity of this heritage.
The participants of the First
International Symposium on the Conservation of our Geological Heritage, including
over 100 specialists from more than 30 nations, urgently request all national
and international authorities to take into consideration and to protect this
heritage, by all the legal, financial and organisational measures that may
be necessary."
(This is the English translation used
by ProGEO of the original Digne le Bain Declaration, which was conceived
as a French text, modified and accepted by the EWGESC, and adopted at Digne by
delegates from more than thirty countries.)
