The International Brain Education Association (IBREA) started the Earth Citizen Movement as a practical way for people to exercise our brains innate potential for peace. Formally beginning in April 2009, the movement was inspired by Ilchi Lee’s concept of an “Earth Citizen”—a person who recognizes the planet earth as the primary element uniting all humanity. It evolved from earlier movements based on Ilchi Lee’s philosophy such as the Healing Family Movement and the HSP Movement.

For most of human history, people have identified themselves by limited political boundaries, calling themselves Americans, Koreans, Japanese, etc. Or, they have defined themselves according to perceived cultural or racial distinctions. This has been the source of a great deal of suffering in the world as people entangle themselves in wars and other efforts of domination and submission. But now that the Earth’s environment is in serious peril, it has become imperative that we all grow beyond these old notions to embrace one another as fellow citizens of the single planet on which we all rely.

So far, over 100,000 people have joined the movement from around the world. The movement’s goal is to reach 100 million people because, as Ilchi Lee wrote in his book Healing Society in 2001, once the Earth Citizen philosophy is advocated by a little more than one percent of the human population, humanity can achieve change.

For more information about the Earth Citizen Movement and www.iearthcitizen.org.