About — The Global Pledge — GlobalPledge.org

A Love of the Earth and All Its Inhabitants

Making a pledge to the Planet Earth is not a new idea. For centuries, people of every color, creed, and country have prayed and pledged to make this a better, healthier, and safer world for all.

And yet, war, famine, hate, prejudice, and pain still plague our planet. For this, we — the adult humans who inhabit the Earth today — must accept responsibility.

The Global Pledge© was born from a simple but powerful idea: our children do not have to inherit our hate, our greed, our prejudices, or our destructive habits. In just one generation, they truly can make this a better, healthier, and safer world for all.

I believe one child can change the world, but I know millions of children will change the world.

This simple Global Pledge — free from political or religious views — is a tool to help make that possible.

While children are clearly the key to long-term change, we — the adults who are leaving them this world — must begin by changing ourselves.

With the days we have left on this planet, we must empower our children and inspire them to begin this journey today.

— Jerry Schmeer Jr.

The 100th Monkey: How Change Begins

Part of the inspiration behind the Global Pledge comes from a concept known as The 100th Monkey, popularized by author Ken Keyes Jr.

The idea suggests that when a critical number of individuals adopt a new way of thinking or behaving, that change can spread rapidly — sometimes far beyond what seems possible at first.

Whether viewed as metaphor, social science, or inspiration, the message is simple and powerful: when enough people begin moving in the same positive direction, meaningful change can occur.

The Global Pledge was created with this idea in mind — that if enough children, families, classrooms, and communities choose kindness, responsibility, and care for our planet, the world they inherit can be profoundly different from the one we leave behind.

One child can change the world.
Millions of children will.

The Global Pledge Today

The Global Pledge is entering a new chapter.

With modern tools like the internet, global communication, and classroom connectivity, the original vision of the Global Pledge now has new opportunities to grow — thoughtfully, inclusively, and peacefully.

New letters of support and endorsements
Positive media coverage and articles
Classroom participation and global connections
Current initiatives inspired by the pledge

The story of the Global Pledge is still being written — and everyone is invited to be part of it.

The History of the Global Pledge

The Global Pledge began in the late 1980s, at a time when the world felt increasingly divided.

In response to discussions about mandatory patriotism in schools, a different idea was offered: that true commitment cannot be forced — it must be chosen.

Rather than pledging allegiance to a single nation, the Global Pledge invited people everywhere to make a voluntary promise to the Planet Earth and to one another.

Long before the internet made sharing ideas easy, the pledge spread through newspapers, letters, classrooms, and word of mouth — reaching schools, organizations, and individuals around the world.

This section preserves that history — articles, letters, and early participation — while keeping the focus on a forward‑looking, global future.

Letters of Support

Over the years, the Global Pledge has received encouraging letters from Presidents, Vice Presidents, Governors, Senators, educators, organizations, parents, and children. Each letter icon below opens a readable page.