And one more final final thought: Bono, in his TED Prize wish, challenged TED to produce one billion media hits for his DATA campaign. Thus was born the ONE movement. So, let's up the stakes: one billion documented acts of compassion. Oh yes, it can be done.

"Small things [done] with great love." I hope this insight from Mother Teresa will become a part of the document, inspiring more acts of compassion, both large and small. But the charter runs the very real risk of becoming inert: another set of suggestions in a world already full of suggestions, unless something even more concrete than "action" is prescribed. Everyone will have their own path to compassionate action, but I believe the charter can assist in keeping us mindful that we are all presented with small opportunities to make a difference everyday, and actions need not be grand, just small and constant--like habits. Also, what techniques can materially assist our compassionate actions? So, two concepts to fill out: Tools of Compassion and Habits of Compassion. What would these be? How could we spread them?

In the end, compassion is a celebration of diversity.

Above all else, compassion is a celebration of diversity.

First and foremost, compassion is a celebration of diversity.

Preamble-when religious others demonstrate a willingness to engage with otherness and difference, they create a sense of being and becoming together; which erodes and transcends barriers of prejudice and suspicion, facilitating an attitude of mutual regard. A language of human solidarity seeks to articulate religion as a human phenomenon,effectively affirming a humano-centric approach. Thus,our starting point ought to be our common humanity! Such inter-faith groups as Columba Community and Touchstone in Bradford(to name two)and The Focolare Movement, reach out to others, regardless of their faith, ethnicity and culture. It is in this very act of 'reaching out' that we demonstrate compassion. In doing this we create a reciprocity-an attitude of radical love. A Charter of Compassion will only be realised if it can be seen to be put into practice within communities.The insights and shared experiences lie at the heart of any charter.

Preamble-when religious others demonstrate a willingness to engage with otherness and difference, they create a sense of being and becoming together; which erodes and transcends barriers of prejudice and suspicion, facilitating an attitude of mutual regard. A language of human solidarity seeks to articulate religion as a human phenomenon,effectively affirming a humano-centric approach. Thus,our starting point ought to be our common humanity! Such inter-faith groups as Columba Community and Touchstone in Bradford(to name two)and The Focolare Movement, reach out to others, regardless of their faith, ethnicity and culture. It is in this very act of 'reaching out' that we demonstrate compassion. In doing this we create a reciprocity-an attitude of radical love. A Charter of Compassion will only be realised if it can be seen to be put into practice within communities.The insights and shared experiences lie at the heart of any charter.

Affirmations: Compassion as an urgent global need In religion spirituality and cultural traditions are often intertwined. Some cultural traditions are valuable, others go against human rights (e.g. treating women as inferior and genital mutilation), others were valuable in the past but are not useful anymore in the present. Looking with compassion to our children and their children helps to let go of the cultural tradition of having many children. Overpopulation creates tension, waterstress, hunger and poverty for many and increases the risk of wars over limited natural resources. This is not the heritage we wish to leave to our (grand)children.

Affirmations: Compassion as a concern to everybody. Masaru Emoto’s pictures show that (the language of) compassion, love and gratefulness shapes watermolecules into beautiful crystals, and so has a beneficial effect on all living beings. People living a spiritual life are happier and live longer than people that don’t. Focused compassionate group-meditation and prayers have the power to lower violence rates. It is not necessary to believe in God or to be a member of a religious group to create ethical alchemy, it only takes compassion, an open heart and the wish to live in a peaceful world.

ADD NEW GROUP TO ACTIONS: GOVERNMENTS AND CORPORATIONS .... Major institutions such as governments and corporations play a crucial part in creating the fabric of our social order, and set the tone for people's behavior through their laws, regulations, policies and activities. These essential and extremely powerful institutions may encourage universal respect and compassion, or may cause people to see each other as adversaries, polarized groups, and objects for exploitation. Therefore, it is the responsibility of governmental and corporate entities to * Affirm, uphold and protect the inherent worth and dignity of every human being and everyone's basic human rights and freedoms; * Exist for the purpose of securing a peaceful life and a better standard of living for all, not for the special benefit of leaders, the wealthy and the powerful; * Foster the development of a social contract based on compassion, caring, and the promotion of the common good.

ADD NEW GROUP TO ACTIONS: WEALTHY PEOPLE .... People of financial means have tremendous power to affect the world, either for good or for ill, by using their wealth to fund the activities of organizations and individuals. As such, it is the responsibility of wealthy people to * Act as generous benefactors to those who are working to spread peace, love, mutual respect and compassion, including charities, humanitarian projects, religious leaders and organizations, and other people and groups that espouse and practice these universal, world-healing values. * Tell wealthy friends, relations and associates about such worthy individuals, projects and organizations, and encourage them to contribute financial support; * Deny funding to any person or group that is teaching hatred, causing fruitless division, or in any other way acting contrary to the spirit of compassion and universal love.

ADD NEW GROUP TO ACTIONS: NONRELIGIOUS PEOPLE .... There are millions of people around the world who profess no religious faith. Nonreligious people such as atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists are equally capable of compassionate and morally exemplary conduct as are religious adherents. In recognition of this fact, it is the responsibility of nonreligious people to * Look with a charitable eye on those who are religious, and be willing to see the potential for good in religious faith; * Encourage people of faith to focus on universal moral principles such as the Golden Rule, which transcend specific religious beliefs; * Work together with people of faith to promote the values of peace, love, respect and compassion for all human beings, regardless of their belief or nonbelief in a deity or religious tradition.

In honor we hold ourselves for we are the Earth, all decisions we make shall bring wisdom, we shall not begin what we cannot finish in love, joy and peace. We accept all people as our own and open our hearts to share with them. We sow the seeds of eternity and reap the harvest of love and joy over and over and over again. May our actions take place in rightness, and our passion lead to devotion. May our changes bring healing and our light bring comfort. May protection be guidance, strenght be supportive, laughter set us free, and love uplift our world. by Ilowanji

Action: Compassion is practical spirituality and is the basis for true community. It is the only authentic spiritual form of existence. It is a practical application of what we already know to be true, “faith without works is dead.” Yet we settle for substitutes and are left feeling isolated, devoid of universal significance, embedded in our own little spiritual ghettos. True community that comes from practical spirituality is born out of service to humanity.

Preamble: Without compassion, wisdom has no heart. Without compassion, experience has no expression, no connection. Without compassion, existence has no depth, no colour, no joy, no tears, no meaning. Compassion is the connecting thread that holds us all together: that both embraces and celebrates our differences, and defines our common bond.

Everyone has a spiritual belief system, conscious or unconscious. How do you "classify" someone who considers themselves an atheist, but is as deeply devoted to science (or learning or discovery or creating art) as any 12th century ascetic? I’ve noticed that the qualities that distinguish the "devout" - a sense of awe and wonder, a rigorous devotion to growth, kindness to those less fortunate, an open willingness to listen and to try to understand, the list goes on - these qualities often reside, deeply rooted, in those who do not consider themselves to be at all religious… A curious fact of modern-day humanity! While I, personally, do not adhere to any religion in the dogmatic sense, I have an active spiritual life, and am not intimidated by the word God. I feel that God is present in all living things and in the systems which link them (gravity, love) and that - though we are each free to believe what we choose – uncovering what we already do believe is more valuable than choosing. That said, it saddens me that so many people I know seem uncomfortable even saying the word God out loud, so they don't even have this conversation. And these are compassionate, loving, peace-spreading people! I hope that the charter for compassion succeeds to spark deep and broad discussion, not just among all the world's religious folk, but among self-declared Atheists and Agnostics as well.

Action: Everyday compassion. To think and reflect upon how we are compassionate in everyday life, decide for ourselves how we would like to respond to the people we meet everyday, how we live with the people that are in our lives, and imagine from time to time how we would like our everyday life to be as a compassionate life, and how our diversity as human beings enrich our lives.

Yes we can be compassionate and we can take positive action to restore balance in this turbulent world. We can if we recognize that we the people of the planet have caused these problems, so we have to act dynamically with compassionate solutions. But remember this: remember love. We humans are just love: love is all there is, love is in the oceans, love is in the forests, love is in you, love is who we are, remember love.

Final Declaration: When I stumble or lose my way, will you see me and help me? When you do, there is compassion. We are small grains of sand. You have to look to find me. You have to reach for me to pick me up. Be calm and quiet so you can hear the many voices calling for you in the stillness. Think and do compassion.

We must recognize that compassion on the level necessary to change the world cannot exist without the willingness to use empathy in an active and structured manner. We must develop and grow the tools necessary to bring more empathy into people's lives, because walking a mile in another's shoes is the only way to truly understand that person without actually being them. We must understand that to change the world, everyone must be included in that change and given a voice and the respect of being listened to.

Compassion and judgment cannot exist in the same moment. Compassion is not a reward, an approval or the result of any assessment. Compassion is the innate impulse to help and to act that we all feel when faced with suffering. The Charter for Compassion is putting that impulse into action.

I suggested two additional calls to action in other sections-I didn't realize you would have this last thoughts section! One for parents is in the final declaration section, one is for businesses in the media call to action. Rather than repeat, I'll just note they are there. Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on the nature of compassion.

Compassion is not an abstract concept that we need to teach to the children of the world. Compassion is given to each of us at birth, a first gift of the Creator. We as adults need only find peace with our own fears, or in the absence of this peace, stay quiet and allow the children to remind us of what is ours to reclaim.

We must teach compassion to our children, in schools, through technology. We must help them learn to live with others to accept the difference. Teachers must guide, accompany and be models of life, showing the possibility of a better world and that if we can achieve it.

Preamble: Human dignity and responsibility begin by enhancing human values that are consistent with the fundamental ethical beliefs and principles of all religions. We are equally God’s children is a tenet of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.