Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Angaangaq Lyberth: Claire, it’s so interesting what is the basic dignities. Where I come from on top of the world the basic dignity is recognizing each one another. When we don’t then we begin to remove those dignities. Each person on Earth, 6-1/2 billion of us, have the right to be recognized. But we don’t. Look at your people in Australia. They don’t recognize the Aborigines. They were there before anyone else. As in Greenland, where I come from, the Danes don’t recognize the rights of my people. So the dignities are removed by the rightful ownership of the land, when nobody owns anything but themselves. So when you realize that, you begin to see how we treat each other degradingly to a large, large degree everywhere. To answer your question, Claire, everyone has rights and deserves the dignity but that comes from you. If it does not come from you it cannot be delivered. You are responsible for recognizing everyone as I do. So let’s help each other to achieve that.

by Angaangaq Lyberth

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Anthony Arnove: Every human deserves basic human rights that involve not just meeting of their material needs, although those are absolutely a must and should be met, the right to clothing, the right to housing, the right to be free of disease, which can be easily prevented. Those are basic material rights. But, beyond that, I think we have to assert the right of people to have control over their lives, the right of people to have individual personal freedom of expression, but also freedom to control the circumstances in which they find themselves. And that means not only the right to have work, but the right to have leisure. That means not only the right to work, but the right to control the circumstances and the nature of one’s work. And it means the right to be able to express oneself creatively, to be able to have the circumstances that really call out for the maximization of freedom, the maximization of creativity and expression. We can’t even begin to imagine the kind of human culture, the kind of human possibilities, the kinds of artistic possibilities that would be unleashed in the society, which meets basic human needs universally, minimizes drudgery, minimizes the amount of work, which is necessary in order to meet the basic needs of the society and seeks to maximize, creatively maximize freedom. We’ve never lived in such a society. We can’t even begin to imagine what a society might produce, but we certainly can begin from looking at history to understand that and the circumstances where people have gained those freedoms and control over their lives even in limited ways. They have been able to produce remarkable things.

by Anthony Arnove

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Anuradha Koirala: The basic dignities that each human being deserves are respect and love. So many people go without it because we are self centered and selfish.

by Anuradha Koirala

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Anuradha Mittal: I think the basic dignities that each one of us as a human being deserves or actually has have been ensured by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They go from political freedoms and the political aspirations that we have. For example, the right to association, right of gathering, or freedom of speech, but at the same time our economic social cultural rights, for example the right to an adequate standard of living which would include our right to food, right to be free of hunger, right to have shelter, right to healthcare. And the reason that so many people go without them are these inherent inequities in the economic system that we live in, that today’s world instead of being guided by the conventions such as the covenant on economic social cultural rights, the covenant on civil and political rights which come from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have been put in the backseat whereas the new treaties such as our trade agreements, they take -- they come first. So, as long as we have that, we find these power structures that some people -- their greed and the corporate greed -- is based on the violation of the human rights of so many people. Human rights are basically guarantees of a human dignity, a life of dignity, free of hunger, free of exploitation, free of endangered servitude.

by Anuradha Mittal

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Ashok Gangadean: If we look at the human being, the whole human being in terms of global wisdom, global consciousness and the collective wisdom of our planet, we recognize that all human beings and all creatures are deeply interconnected in this sacred space of this infinite force, whatever name we call it, we can call it power, Aum, Allah, Yahweh, Christ, energy, nature, spirit, whatever name we use for the infinite force that surrounds us and in every cell, in every moment and every human being. A human being is part of that sacred fabric of life and of existence with nature. And, if we really see that global wisdom, we recognize that the human rights are the rights to flourish to become whole, to self-awareness, to self-empowerment, to self-love and the love of others, and the deep dignity that comes with our inherent sacredness. That is the source, the global source of human rights and human values. And, if we see a culture that can live in this global consciousness and global spirituality of the sacredness of life, we will then see that it's intolerable to have cultures that are ego-based and that are in violence to ourselves. And not just the human rights of others, but the self, when we are an ego-self, we are in deep violence to ourselves and undermining our own deep dignity and sacredness. So, I bring it right home and ask “Are we in an ego-based culture and a way being a self?” In that ego-based culture, we will always degrade and violate a sacredness of other human beings, of ourselves and of nature. But, if we can move into an integral global culture, we will then move into one that recognizes this deep dignity and sacredness. That’s universal human rights.

by Ashok Gangadean

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Audrey Kitagawa: Basic dignities that each human being deserves, be -- to have proper food, shelter, clothing as well as to be respected as an individual, as a human being, to be afforded certain freedoms, freedoms of expression, freedom of speech, to have certain rights accorded to them, the right to education, and there's a whole plethora of ways that we can say this dignifies the human being. Why do we have so many people go without them? This is a very complex reason why people are divested of their freedoms. It depends on the political situation of the country. Many of the disparities that are created by our current economic systems as well as our political systems and institutions that we must all be inspired to be able to see where these indignities may occur, because we basically want to be able to live life as just people that recognize and wish to honor and dignify the lives of not only human beings but of all living beings. And so to that extent we have much work to do to live life in a way that will help our brothers and sisters to be able to have these basic dignities, these basic rights, and also to be able to understand that our ability to do this helps to make us better human beings, to develop the compassionate heart, the loving heart for each other that will weep to see when indignities occur in our brothers and sisters around the world.

by Audrey Kitagawa

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Benjamin Fahrer: What are the basic dignities that each human deserves and why do we let so many people go without them? It’s a really good question. The basic human rights is access to the commons, access to clean water, to air, to land, to grow food, to communication, to freedoms. This are common, it should be basic to everyone that lives. Unfortunately, we live in a system now that has taken that, has taken away people’s common rights, common dignities to live and to be human. What it means to be human? We’re not human doers, we’re human beings. And so we need to have access to these resources in order to be. In order to be.

by Benjamin Fahrer

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Benson Venegas: Basic dignities that a person in this world deserve are freedom, equality, justice, love, work, self-determination, health care, and also the possibility for religious freedom. When these values enter in competition with political social interest if some systems, then some governments stand to reduce or limit these universal values in people. We need to recognize that these values are important and that people need to go with these values. Always. Thank you.

by Benson Venegas

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Beverly Schwartz:

by Beverly Schwartz

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Bianca Jagger: Answertext will be available soon.

by Bianca Jagger

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Bora Cosic: Each person has to gain the human dignity for him self. However before that, he must resign of every kind of self oppression through: politics, ideology, religion, nationalistic narrowness. We must remember how many people in foretime, (for example of my country, and of society where I lived, grow up, and developed) in socialism, (no matter what kind of socialism, the soft one of former Yugoslavia or the hard one of Columbia), were ready to sacrifice them self, not in the sense of sacrificing one self in the war or in some big battle, but in the complications of everyday life of these societies. This underlying to the every decision of government on harm of own integrity, that was the problem of people of that era. When the human being must own his dignity with his own resources.

by Bora Cosic

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Brian J. Weller: Basic dignities, this links to the last question really. Our dignity really refers to worth. In human terms, being treated with due respect. I’m reminded of the expression “do as you would be done by,” the basic law of Karma. I guess by treating each other as sovereign beings. I think basic human dignities are the cornerstones of a just and sustainable community; social justice, greater equality among nations, within nations, between ethnic groups, classes, between men and women and children. I think these are the basic dignities. We let these go really at our peril, and maybe the reason we do that is because we judge each other. We judge people before we truly appreciate their differences. So, returning to this sense of dignity, or these basic dignities, I think is learning again to see the highest good in each other. If we can do that, then our perception and our behavior will follow. My God, love one another. I think that’s the key to respect.

by Brian J. Weller

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Catherine David: I think that deals with the same things as the previous question. Everybody knows the basic dignities of humanity even if not everybody knows where they are laid down exactly. So why do we leave so many people without these rights? We have to start by considering the state of things at our countries, in the streets and the metro in Paris and in Berlin so its not necessary to glance on countries which are far away. So why we refuse them the same rights? Because of a simple lack of political will.

by Catherine David

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

China Keitetsi: I think every human being should have a sense of belonging. Every human being should never be raped, for example. Every human being should not go without food. Every human being should have a home and every human being should live in an environment where they have no fear. They have to live in an environment where they are not told what to do. They should live in an environment where they don't have to do anything against their will, but I also feel that many have been betrayed. For example, in Africa there are women sitting there and watching how children die. And yet in the world here we sit and we think everything is fine. Everything we have here- water, Coca Cola- if you want you can even wash, take a shower with it. And there are, for example, children in Africa which have never even tasted Coca Cola. I don't say Coca Cola is a nice thing for a child. It was funny for me when people were asking me yes, China, you've been a soldier all your life and yet your teeth are very nice. How did you do it? I didn't eat sweets. I didn't drink Coca Cola. This was very funny. I think that it also changing because as you see 112 people are sitting here with me and are all fighting for the good of the world. So it is not like 10, 20 years ago where, for example, dictators had to kill and they get away with it. It's not any more easier for dictators to be corrupt and get away with it. But I think we should do more. I think everyone who is over 20 years old should take such a responsibility very personal.

by China Keitetsi

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Constantin von Barloewen: Human dignity as a native requirement of the human rights, liberty, the forms of expression, the soundness of the body, expression of opinion, to nourish and not to suffer hunger, are native constants, which should be fulfilled world-wide, but they are not. Over a billion humans live in the world today with the existential minimum of one dollar. Over a billion humans has no access to water, to ecological conditions, to hygiene. A majority of the population is excluded from electric energy, like the states in subsahara Africa, i.e. in the world today, which permits on the one side a hyperpower of the technology, also to the "technocracy", technocratia, from the Greek of power, an abuse of technology, on the one side in the states of the first world and do not guarantee the basic conditions of human dignity for billions of humans. This hubris, this unfairness can not and should not continue any longer, access must be created to the basic conditions of human dignity. For the predominant number of the population of world and not only for a small, small infinitesimal part, that is a policy, which is irresponsible.

by Constantin von Barloewen

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Cornel West: I believe every human being has a sanctity and a dignity and that translates into every human being deserving an access to water, shelter, quality education, decent healthcare, and, in fact, a job with a living wage. This requires then a social system, a form of democratic globalization that keeps track of what each precious human being deserves in the form of the healthcare, a job, individual rights to speak their mind, personal liberties to make their choices regarding their own destiny, have shelter, water, and food. So, this is in the end a fundamentally moral question; and there is a long tradition that talks about each human being being a creature who deserves dignity and the question is how do we translate it into a democratic globalization movement, so that these needs and rights are not only talked about, but are actually acquired on the ground by concrete persons.

by Cornel West

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Dedi Baron: Answertext will be available soon.

by Dedi Baron

Sep 9, 2006 11:30:00 AM cite

Donato Bayu Bay Bumacas: Well, as I said, the basic dignities of human beings would go for the basic rights of every human being in this world to live in dignity, to have equal access to resources, to have access for pure and clean air, water, food, shelter, clothing. Those are the basic human rights and the basic dignities of human beings. And often times not all people, individual in this world enjoy those basic human rights and human dignity to live in decent lives, to have access for clean air, clean water, food, clothing and shelter. And, it's just really sad to see people without them. And, those who have let these things happen and maybe perhaps the question is how should those people who are having those much can provide those less fortunate brethren so they can also enjoy the basic human rights and maintain their human dignity and integrity.

by Donato Bayu Bay Bumacas