Poursuing my commitment to peace

A statesman’s responsibilities do not end with his term of office. Above and beyond political  commitments, there remains an individual’s duty to fight for that which he believes to be right.

Today’s major question concerns the world we will leave behind for future generations. It is also because this involves the future of the French people and their children that I wish to take on my full responsibility in this fight. I wish to remain fully mobilized in the thick of the fray on their behalf.

Since the end of the 1980s, a triple threat has pervaded over us all: the danger of the standardization of our diverse world cultures, the menace to our environment, and the scandal of poverty. These are major threats to peace and the very survival of our planet.

The urgency of the situation has pushed to me to act and led me to orient the Fondation’s first efforts towards five vital axes to help the poorest countries:

•    Conflict prevention
•    Access to clean water and sanitation
•    Access to quality medication and healthcare
•    The fight against deforestation and desertification
•    The safeguarding of cultural diversity

Governments, businesses, and citizens: together we must unite behind these objectives. Each of us has a role to play and we must start today. Tomorrow is already too late.

President Jacques Chirac