To the Authors of...
"Change the World! Decide
Whether We Should Show Up!"
Introduction
This petition is in
response to the communication, purportedly from a benevolent
extra-terrestrial group, titled "Change the World! Decide
Whether We Should Show Up!".
Please read their message before
reading the petition or signing it.
Petition - We Are Ready to Change
the World
While we, "individuals without distinction", as you put it,
cannot be certain that your message is a sincere attempt
initiate first contact, nonetheless we feel it is prudent to
respond with our aspirations for such an encounter.
The forthright picture that you paint of us lets us know that
you value honesty above superficial pleasantries even in an
introduction. For us as well, honesty has proven to be a key in
building close relationships.
As you point out, our experience on this planet demonstrates
that the contact of a human society with a larger collective can
be difficult. We understand that, in this situation, we are in
the role of Pacific Islanders on the eve of Discovery. Great
ships of the foreign powers wait offshore, out of visual range.
Even though the ships are invisible, our seers have advised us
that the ships are out there, waiting.
So it is time to consider our
options.
With respect to malevolent foreign powers, the
strategic options are limited to either resistance or
capitulation. Resistance in the face of overwhelming
technological superiority is ultimately a futile exercise in
self-mortification. Yet capitulation could entail a long process
of colonial occupation and exploitation. While this might be in
the perceived interests of certain elites, for the people in
general, it is a disaster.
But what if one of the foreign powers is benevolent?
As we see
it, your proposal presents us with the possibility of a third
option, namely, to establish a partnership with a foreign power
that has our best interests at heart. In this way, even though
we might lack the military capability to defend ourselves, any
power that would threaten us would also be taking on our
friends, and so therefore would be restrained. Since our
prospects under this option are far preferable to those under
the other two scenarios, we wish to explore the opportunity you
have offered.
How can we be sure of your good intents?
The simple truth is that we cannot
know at first. We can build trust only through working together
successfully toward shared goals. As we understand your offer,
you will give us new information regarding science, technology,
medicine, personal empowerment, energy and consciousness. With
these tools, it is our responsibility to build the world we
desire.
To us, this seems to be an ideal method to build
self-confidence and accelerate our progress toward the
"technical and spiritual maturity" we need for productive
interplanetary relations. The terms of your offer in and of
themselves give us confidence that you have our long term
interests in mind.
What can we offer in return?
We can envisage a time in which the
human experience can be brought to bear to resolve contentious
issues in many places in the galaxy. On this planet, South
Africa is a country that has overcome a violent history and has
reconciled diverse antagonistic communities, so much so that it
is now a model of successful peacemaking and healing for the
rest of our planet. We would like to be able to offer what we
have learned on Earth to assist in resolving conflicts occurring
in other places.
What is the best way to proceed?
While, no doubt, many humans will be
eager to immediately explore the full spectrum of opportunities
afforded by contact, we appreciate the wisdom of waiting until
after we have absorbed the initial shock. And, to be truthful,
we would like to postpone any binding interplanetary agreements
until we are confident we understand your values and goals, and
we have had the opportunity to demonstrate the unique offerings
that we have to contribute to interplanetary society.
Therefore, we suggest a seven year period during which we can
learn about you and
the larger Federation of which you are a
part; and so you can learn more about us, and our unique
talents. During this time, we can develop a coherent planetary
voice and new institutions suited to the task of conducting
interplanetary affairs. At the end of the transition period, a
properly constituted authority can enter into formal agreements
that we consider would best serve our collective interests.
Are you right about the presence of a "third party" of ETs?
After we meet you, we will be in a
position to consider your allegations of misconduct on the part
of "third party" ETs or humans acting in collaboration with
them. Certainly we are already aware that some humans in
positions of power do not seem to act in the best interests of
their people. What we do not know is the cause of their choices.
If, as you allege, many in power are not free to choose their
actions, we would consider this a gross violation of their human
rights.
We can offer to establish a Truth
Commission that will consider any evidence that you may like
to bring forward regarding human rights abuses on, above, or
below the planet's surface.
If you do decide to go ahead and make yourselves visible, we are
sure you understand that you do so at your own risk. We are not
able to guarantee your safety and so you will have to take
appropriate measures to defend yourselves in the event of any
adverse reaction on the part of humans or other ETs. Especially
at the beginning, we may have difficulty distinguishing friend
from foe, and we and our representatives, do have the right and
responsibility to defend ourselves from actual threats.
Given the difficulties you cite with our current governmental
institutions, we wish to make sure that the transition process
is conducted in an open, transparent way. In particular, we feel
it vital to include "individuals without distinction" in
decision making bodies that include our political
representatives. As they do not represent any national
government, such individuals could be charged with holding in
mind the interests of humanity as a whole. Individuals with a
history of dedicated service, and a commitment to truth, peace
and justice are not hard to find.
As just one example, the World
Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality, brings
together esteemed individuals of integrity that share a positive
vision for our planet:
"The Commission seeks to inspire
consciousness of the wholeness of the human family and the
sacred tapestry of all life. "
THE WORLD COMMISSION ON GLOBAL
CONSCIOUSNESS & SPIRITUALITY
Certain universal values, such as
the aspirations for Peace, Truth, Compassion and Justice, come
naturally to humans, and we would love to see them everywhere
become more compelling than the allure of parochial interests.
We can wholeheartedly endorse such a goal as part of this
process.
We appreciate your respect for the sanctity of human free will,
and the inalienable right of each individual to pursue their own
spiritual path. In the past, humans have looked to the skies for
gods or some kind of salvation. We understand that this is not
part of your offer, and that we must each continue to pursue our
own individual development. As a species and a planetary
ecology, we remain responsible for our own evolution.
What do we want?
Certain places on Earth are of
exceptional beauty. The island of Tahiti is an example of a
place so beautiful that visitors are content to "take only
memories" and "leave only footprints." We would like to be able
to conserve the planet's natural environment so we can continue
to enjoy the rich variety of life that surrounds us. As well,
certain places on Earth are sacred.
We desire that the Earth’s
sacred landscape will remain dedicated to universal values such
as Truth, Freedom, and the quest for God.
After contact, we can anticipate that we will need a new
foundation for our economy, one that reflects the system of
values current in the interplanetary economy. We can see that it
is to our advantage to be able to function autonomously within
this context as soon as we can. Of course, because of our
isolated condition, we must be technically backward by
Federation standards. While we are ignorant of what you might
use as a process or medium of exchange, we know we must offer
something that you value in order to receive much of what we
will need in order to develop without undue dependency.
We are quite pleased to read that you value Joy and Peace. Many
here would delight in providing just such commodities to the
Federation! With this in mind, we would like to suggest that
Earth establish an economy based on interplanetary tourism and
peacemaking rather than any extractive industry.
We would like to be known as a place of Truth, Peace and Beauty.
This is the identity we feel would do the most to preserve what
we love about our precious planet, while also providing the
basis for our economic and political independence.
If you are in alignment with these goals, we are on board with
your proposal.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
