SR-09-24-2013-3Lmllm City of i Council
Santa Monica'
City Council Meeting: September 24, 2013
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rod Gould, City Manager
Subject: Charter for Compassion
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to sign the Charter
for Compassion on behalf of the City of Santa Monica.
Executive Summary
The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and
national differences and calls for the worldwide activation of the Golden Rule. Signing
the Charter for Compassion would be an active and visible affirmation of the City of
Santa Monica's values and demonstrate support for the principles of universal justice
and respect.
Background
On February 28, 2008 the $1 million TED Prize was awarded to former nun and
religious writer Karen Armstrong to help create, launch and propagate a Charter for
Compassion, a document that would be based on the fundamental principles of
universal justice and respect, with the Golden Rule at its ethical core.
The Charter for Compassion was created through an open and collaborative effort. In
the fall of 2008, people of all nations, faiths, and backgrounds submitted their own
words for inclusion in the Charter. In a six -week period, thousands of submissions from
all over the world were entered and then read and commented upon by over 150,000
visitors. These contributions were then reviewed by the Council of Conscience, a multi -
faith, multi - national group of religious thinkers and leaders, and incorporated into the
final document.
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The Charter for Compassion is facilitated by the Compassionate Action Network
International (CAN]). CANT is a worldwide network whose goal is to advance The
Charter and the spirit and practice of the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you." The group works in diverse ways through various sectors of
society to create and establish cultures of compassion locally and globally.
By the end of August 2013, over 98,000 individuals and organizations had signed the
Charter for Compassion. The Charter has inspired community -based acts of
compassion from Seattle to Karachi, Houston to Amsterdam, in schools, houses of
worship, city governments, and among individuals.
Discussion
The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and
national differences. It is a cooperative effort to restore not only compassionate thinking
but, more importantly, compassionate action to the center of religious, moral and
political life. Compassion is the principled determination to put ourselves in the shoes of
the other, and lies at the heart of all religious and ethical systems. The text of the
Charter is included in Attachment A.
Signing the Charter for Compassion would be an active and visible affirmation of the
City of Santa Monica's values. Additionally, the principles and vision outlined in the
Charter reinforce the Council's policy on civility, adopted on December 13, 2011, which
promotes civil discourse and participation during public meetings by enhancing the
people's right to speak and allowing all present to express their opinions without the fear
of retaliation or verbal attacks.
By adding its name to the Charter for Compassion, the City of Santa Monica would join
a growing and vocal movement advocating for the principles of universal justice and
respect.
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Next Steps
Should Council direct staff to sign the Charter on behalf of the City, staff would do so
electronically at http:/ /charterforcompassion.org /the - charter .
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared by: Danielle Noble, Assistant to the City Manager
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould Rod Gould
City Manager City Manager
Attachment A: Charter Flyer
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The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual tradi-
tions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Com-
passion .Impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures,
to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to
honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without
exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It Is also necessary in both public and private I'de to refrain consistently and
empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism,
or self- Interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to
incite hatred by denigrating others —even our enemies —is a denial of our common
humanity We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some
have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women —to restore compassion to the centre
of morality and religion —to return to the ancient principle that any interpreta-
tion of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate —to ensure
that youth are .given accurate and respectful information about other traditions,
religions and cultures—to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and
religious diversity—to cultivate an Informed empathy with the suffering of all human
'beings -even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently :need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force
in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend
selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious
'boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human re-
lationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible
to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
Attachment A
In 2008, Karen Armstrong
won the TED Prize for
her wish to create a
Charter for Compassion.
Thousands of people contrib-
uted to the process and the
Charter was unveiled in No-
vember 2009. Since then, the
Charter has inspired community -based acts of com-
passion all over the world. From Seattle to Karachi,
Houston to Amsterdam, in schools, houses ofworship,
city governments, and among individuals everywhere,
the message of the Charter is transforming lives.
join the global compassion movernend
• Sign the Charter
• join Our Community
• Become a Partner
• Start a Compassionate Cities Campaign
• Find Resources
ch arterfo rco m pass ion.o rg
facebook.com/charterforcompassion
twitter /The Charter