Sustainable Humanity

There is more to sustainability than cutting back on waste and making efficient energy choices. Look behind all of our agencies, departments and institutions, and you find regular people. You and me. This week’s Sustainable C focuses on just that – sustainable people, sustainable humankind. For me, the sustainability of people – of humankind – rests on respect for and improvement of human rights.

In this entry, I proudly share a letter from my mom to the editor of the newspaper she reads every day. I am moved by the sustainable humanity of her purpose.

“I was very saddened to read in your newspaper on May 21, 2010, that a gay couple in Malawi was sentenced to 14 years of hard labor. It is important that you have brought this to the public’s attention, and it is important that we speak out against such abuse of human rights.

As a mother of a lesbian daughter, I am speaking out. My daughter cannot live in Oregon with her partner because her partner is from Sweden. They cannot be married in Oregon making residency for her partner impossible unless she finds a job in her field. As a couple, they have chosen to live in Sweden where same-sex marriage is officially recognized along with all the benefits of marriage.

Amnesty International said of Governor Patterson’s support for same-sex marriage in New York, ‘Marriage equality is a basic human rights issue. Until same-sex couples are able to marry, they will continue to face discrimination in housing, health care and on other critical matters directly tied to familial rights.’ So many gay people face discrimination in one form or another in many places around the world. It is deplorable and it limits our ability to move forward as productive societies. It is a shame that our society is among those that has such limits.

As human beings, our most important job is to be loving toward our family and others. When we see abuse of basic human rights, it is also our job to speak out. One voice does matter, especially in today’s world of technology where words are transported electronically with ease. Be loving, be generous and please speak out against abuse of human rights such as those taken from Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza in Malawi who were sentenced to 14 years of hard labor simply for celebrating their engagement. Join me as I speak out for equal rights here at home, as well.”