Under a crisp late-summer sky, Shelburne Farms played host to a deeply moving celebration: “Renewing Our Love of Earth,” Earth Charter 25th Anniversary. Sponsored by Shelburne Farms, the Garrison Institute, and Earth Charter International, the day unfolded as a tapestry of music, dialogue, and reflection—woven together by a shared commitment to ethics, community, and ecological consciousness.
The morning began with heartfelt welcomes from Alec Webb and Meagan Camp of Shelburne Farms, setting a tone of warmth and reverence. The air was soon filled with the soulful sounds of saxophonist, composer and bandleader, Paul Winter and Dave Haughey of the Paul Winter Consort, whose music stirred something ancient and hopeful in the gathered crowd. Amy Seidl of the University of Vermont served as master of ceremonies, guiding the day with grace, inspiration, and clarity. A recorded conversation between Tiokasin Ghosthorse of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation and Stephen Posner of the Garrison Institute—titled “A Conversation for Our Times”—offered a profound meditation on Indigenous wisdom and ecological responsibility.
The morning panel, “The Earth Charter: Origin Stories and Why Ethics Matter,” brought together Mary Evelyn Tucker (Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology), Gus Speth (founder of WRI, NRDC), and Sam King (Marist Network), who traced the Charter’s roots and its ethical relevance today. After lunch, four members of the Earth Charter International Council—Michael Bracken, Sam Crowell, Song Li, and Rick Clugston—took the stage to share a powerful declaration. Formalized at the EC+25 gathering in The Hague earlier this summer, the statement reaffirmed the Earth Charter’s role as a living document and ethical compass for a world in urgent need of justice, sustainability, and peace.
Following, Stephen Posner facilitated a vibrant panel titled “Living the Earth Charter,” featuring Amanda Bennett (Earth Charter Young Leaders), Amanda Janoo (Wellbeing Economy Alliance), Keetu Winter (Wellspring Commons), and Peter Blaze Corcoran (Earth Charter International Advisor). Their stories and insights shed light on the significant challenges of our time and how the Earth Charter continues to inspire action across generations and sectors. Bill McKibben, renowned environmentalist and author, followed with a stirring address on “Sun Day,” reminding attendees that “the individual action that actually matters is not being an individual.” His words echoed the day’s theme: that collective love and responsibility for the Earth are our most powerful tools for change.
The program concluded with artist Sally Linder’s moving story of the Ark of Hope pilgrimage, accompanied by music, art, and a silent walking meditation. Sally designed and created the Ark of Hope, right after the launch of the Earth Charter, to carry the Earth Charter with messages of hopes that emerged as the outcome of workshops, with children, youth and adults.
We trust that the nearly 1,000 participants who joined this gathering will carry forward the inspiration and insights from the day, creating ripple effects within their own communities and contexts.
As Michael Bracken, Chair of the Earth Charter International Board, reflected, “The day’s events were inspiring, filled with love and hope, and painted a clear picture of the profound value of the Earth Charter as an ethical compass for making the world a more just, sustainable, and peaceful place.”
Photo credits: Amanda Bennett and Michael Bracken
