Toward an “Earth First” Future—Now at a Turning Point in History—
With the rise of President Trump, the world has been thrown into waves of upheaval and confusion.
In my earlier writings, such as "The "Fortunate Misfortune" Brought by President Trump – We Are at a Turning Point in History",I have already touched upon this issue.
Where the world is headed remains uncertain for some time to come. Will this path of chaos and division continue, dragging nations into war and leading humanity toward extinction? Or will humankind regain its wisdom and reason, turning instead toward mutual trust, coexistence, and prosperity? I believe we now stand precisely at such a historical crossroads.
The ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity—pursued by humankind for centuries—were spread across the world through the tireless efforts of our predecessors and at the cost of countless precious lives. Yet even today, these ideals remain far from fully realized. Sadly, in 2025, the world is still filled with violence and war, tyranny and subjugation, oppression and intolerance, fear and want.
Today, human-centered thinking (Humanism) is facing a profound crisis. The age of global “boiling” caused by climate change is not only threatening humanity but placing the entire ecosystem of Earth in peril.
This summer, Japan has been struck by unprecedented waves of scorching heat, with life-threatening temperatures day after day. When the rains fall, record-breaking downpours mercilessly ravage fertile lands and cities alike. Under these circumstances, surely no one can deny that climate action can no longer be postponed.
Having long worshipped at the altar of economic growth and the pursuit of limitless prosperity, humanity is now being forced to confront the stark reality: the modern civilization built upon mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal has reached its limits.
Indeed, humanity is now threatened by five forms of excess born from modernization and the Industrial Revolution: excessive production, excessive consumption, excessive waste, excessive inequality, and excessive militarization. As a result, the world faces a fivefold crisis of food, climate, war, inequality, and the human spirit. Overcoming these challenges demands nothing less than a transformation of civilization itself—not merely economics, but society, culture, and even religion.
At this turning point, for humanity to survive, we must adopt a new philosophy—something to replace human-centered materialism, capitalism, and economic supremacism. I call this philosophy “Earthism.”
Earthism means recognizing that we, as living beings on this miraculous planet, must accept diverse values among nations and peoples while also coexisting with the Earth’s ecosystems and environment. It is a new worldview: a peaceful and sustainable society in which the Earth itself is understood as one community.
To define it simply: Earthism is a set of values that transcends borders and national frameworks, treating the entire Earth as a single community.
It goes beyond the existing ideas of the “Global Citizen,” “Cosmopolitan,” “Environmentalist,” or “Ecologist.” Instead, it integrates the concept of global citizenship with environmentalism and advances one step further: a philosophy that places the interests of the Earth as a whole above all else.
Action Principles of Earthism
Abolition of nuclear weapons
Disarmament from military buildup toward demilitarization
Declaration by all nations to renounce war
International contribution through non-military means
Elimination of socioeconomic inequality & promotion of climate action
Protection of biodiversity
Respect for diverse cultures, religions, and values
Respect for individuality
Full achievement of the SDGs
These principles pursue peace through disarmament and war renunciation while simultaneously advancing environmental preservation and social justice—always prioritizing the benefit of the Earth as a whole.
Concrete Measures
1. United Nations Reform
Gradually restrict the veto power of permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Ultimately abolish the current permanent membership system and create a new council elected by the General Assembly, where crucial issues such as security are deliberated and proposals submitted to the Assembly.
2. Disarmament
Dissolve all military alliances and instead conclude new partnership agreements for non-military security.
3. Environmental Protection
Immediately ban nuclear power and fossil fuels, and achieve a global transition to renewable energy under UN leadership.
Abandon economic-growth supremacism and move toward smaller-scale, sustainable socio-economic systems.
4. Social Safety Nets
Correct income inequality, establish social security systems that enable all people to live with dignity throughout their lives, and respond effectively to aging populations.
Of course, I am well aware that these proposals are not easy to achieve. That is why a combined approach is essential: bottom-up from citizens and top-down from states and international organizations.
The principle should be one of partnership and subsidiarity: starting with local issues at the citizen and community level, moving upward through municipal, national, and international levels, with bottom-up initiatives complemented by top-down responses as needed.
Step by step, where we can, we must act.
Although we do not have the luxury of time, I believe it is still not too late—if we begin now.
This, then, is my vision of Earthism, summarized here with the support of ChatGPT.
I sincerely hope to continue discussions with all of you. Thank you.
(Note: The principle of subsidiarity is the idea that decisions and governance should be carried out at the smallest possible unit, with larger units supplementing only what smaller ones cannot accomplish. —Wikipedia)
□ Here is the Japanese version.
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