The Sirisuk Declaration - Charter for Citizenship & Activism

A Charter for Global Citizenship and Political Activism


"At the heart of the Declaration is the idea that controlling other people's lives and their environment is a privilege rather than another reward given to those who already have more than enough. Having responsibility for others is undoubtedly stressful but, equally, it is rewarding in and of itself.


Its strength is that anyone, politician or not, can sign and therefore register the fact that they believe in certain standards of behaviour for themselves and for their politicians and public servants. It encourages our political class not to buy their way into public life and assume they are worthy of further privilege by virtue of their existing privilege: in other words it is a charter for every citizen that sets the tone for those we elect to office or pay to run our country and our corporations; internationally, nationally, locally or at the level of a village, school or small institution or business enterprise.


There are people who believe that unfairness in life is not only the 'natural' way of things but that it is beneficial to society. To those people I say, simply, that you are wrong; the suffering of poverty and the arrogance of the super-rich diminishes us all. Civilisation is a serious art and those who do not take it seriously are reducing us to a life without ethics."


Nicholas Chulapatnabongse Na Nakorn, 5th June 2010, Bangkok

For more information go to www.sirisuk.org

Sirisuk Declaration
www.sirisuk.org



A Charter for Citizenship & Political Activism


Thankyou for taking the time to read the Charter.


We the undersigned believe:




Article 1




That the only legitimate waged activities for a politician or public servant are to ensure adequate living conditions and prospects for all people in an equitable manner and to protect the environment on behalf of the whole biosphere.




Article 2




That all activities falling outside those stated in Article 1 are not legitimate waged activities for a politician or public servant.




We further believe:




Values to Article 1




1.1
That a politician or a public servant is anyone who's actions or conduct might result in the control, curtailment or restriction of another person's liberty or adequate living conditions or might result in a change or degradation of the local environment or biosphere.




1.2
That a politician or public servant is anyone who's campaigning or propaganda might lead to the control, curtailment or restriction of another person's liberty or adequate living conditions or the change or degradation of the local environment or biosphere.




1.3
That adequate living conditions and prospects include physical and cultural conditions within a framework in which the health and human rights of all the people are respected and protected.




1.4
That all the people will include anyone within the individual politician's or public servant's sphere of influence or jurisdiction.





Values to Article 2





2.1
That a politician or public servant, in exchange for their privileged position in society, should voluntarily limit all their waged activities, total income and capital wealth, however earned, to the amounts as specified in the Sirisuk Formulae below.




2.2
That any person wishing to become a politician or public servant, or considers that they are a politician or public servant under the definition here described, and is a signatory to the Sirisuk Declaration will voluntarily give any surplus s/he has already acquired to a registered charity that does not have a party-political, military or religious purpose or affiliation and to which the politician or public servant will have no access, can effect no influence and will not lend his or her name or brand.




2.3
That any activities undertaken by a politician or public servant falling outside those not already mentioned in this declaration should be undertaken on an unpaid voluntary basis.





The Sirisuk Formulae



The formulae applies individually to all who sign the declaration as follows:





I  < (5 x Avi) Exp

And



C < (3 X AvC)

And




P < (3 X AvC)





Where, before any local, national or other taxation:




I = annual income



C = total capital worth excluding pension capital



P = pension capital



Avi = the average income for the preceding year of the country or region in which the signatory lives



Exp = personal expenses not covered by an employer to a total not exceeding AvI



Av C = the average value for the preceding year of a three bed-roomed residence, house, apartment, condominium or equivalent in the country or region in which the signatory lives.


The Signing



In recognition that I wish to see politicians and public servants conduct themselves in a manner befitting their privileged position, I hereby sign this declaration voluntarily, of my own free will, and undertake to abide by its articles, values and formulae.





End of Declaration
This document written by Nick Nakorn, Bangkok, May/June 2010

for further explanation please go to www.sirisuk.org

Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.