Every vote counts!

People who have consciously opted for a wisdom-orientated, ethical, humanistic, spiritual, and religious way of life have a special responsibility to stand up for values that create unity while preserving plurality - in everyday life as well as in social and political discourses. Values that recognize diversity as an opportunity. Values that enable respectful, peaceful, and solidary coexistence. Values that nourish respect for the environment and climate. Values that put the equal worthiness of all people, human rights, and animal welfare at the center.

Peace, freedom, justice, cohesion, cosmopolitanism, prosperity, and the opportunity to participate in social and political processes cannot be taken for granted. They are the result of individual and collective dedication of people from diverse backgrounds.

We encourage all those who stand up for unifying values to vote for candidates in upcoming regional and national elections who are demonstrably committed to these values. This is particularly important in times when major social transformations are taking place. Violent conflicts, climate change and new technologies such as artificial intelligence are changing our lives considerably. So called social media is making our everyday lives more hectic and superficial. Responsible, level-headed, and reflective behavior is therefore becoming increasingly important.

To be able to make a well-considered election decision in the course of upcoming elections, we encourage everyone to find out more about the process and the election programs of the parties standing for election. The same applies to the background of the candidates running for election, their campaign speeches, and their voting behavior to date. Publicly available, well-founded independent information and vote match tools (Wahl-O-Mat) can be of assistance here if available.

From a holistic, wisdom-orientated perspective, the following key questions can provide guidance when making an election decision:

Does the party (the candidate)

1. stand up for the equal worthiness all people?

2. favor values that create unity while respecting diversity?

3. promote the rule of law, equal opportunities, freedom of religion and belief, the protection of minorities and those in need, and does it take a stand against all forms of exploitation, discrimination, marginalization, fanaticism, nationalist ideologies and racism?

4. prioritize the long-term well-being of nature, people, and animals over clientelist interests and short-term goals?

5. deal with complex issues respectfully and factually or does it use simple black and white slogans, and fuels emotions and prejudices with the help of derogatory rhetoric and fake news?

6. advocate an education system where pupils receive a potential-oriented and holistic education beyond technical knowledge to strengthen their skills in the areas of self-reflection, dialogue, inclusion, cooperation, creativity, ethical decision-making and cyclical and long-term thinking?

7. favor compliance with supply chain protection laws, the Paris Climate Agreement and the 1.5-degree target (with regard to the humman-made global rise in temperature due to the greenhouse effect), and is it pursuing a clear strategy for implementing the global UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

8. proactively support alternative forms of measuring prosperity based on the well-being of nature, humans and animals (Global Well-being Index), and does it promote the development of nature-oriented and cyclical rather than linear economic growth models?

9. stand up for (nuclear) disarmament and using negotiations and diplomatic channels to solve conflicts?

10. favor an ethically reflected approach to artificial intelligence and other new technological and medical developments?

Remembering that we are guests

It is important to remember this in everything we do:

We are all guests on Mother Earth. It is up to us to behave like good guests and collectively nourish the wonder of life with humbleness, love, and creativity.

ਜਿਨਿ ਸੇਵਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੋਈ ਰਾਜ ਨਰਿੰਦੁ ॥੨॥ GGS, 48, M.5

ਰਾਜ ਮਿਲਕ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੀਆ ਰਸ ਭੋਗਣ ਬਿਸਥਾਰ ॥ ... ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਇਓ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਤਾ ਸਰਪ ਕੀ ਜੂਨਿ ਗਇਆ ॥੬॥ GGS, 70, M.5

ਰਾਜੇ ਰਯਤਿ ਸਿਕਦਾਰ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਰਹਸੀਓ ॥ ਹਟ ਪਟਣ ਬਾਜਾਰ ਹੁਕਮੀ ਢਹਸੀਓ ॥ ਪਕੇ ਬੰਕ ਦੁਆਰ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪਣੇ ॥ ਦਰਬਿ ਭਰੇ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਰੀਤੇ ਇਕਿ ਖਣੇ ॥ GGS, 141, M.4

ਆਪਨ ਤਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾ ਕੋ ਗਰਬਾ ॥ ਰਾਜ ਮਿਲਖ ਨਹੀ ਆਪਨ ਦਰਬਾ ॥੧॥ ਆਪਨ ਨਹੀ ਕਾ ਕਉ ਲਪਟਾਇਓ ॥ ਆਪਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਪਾਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ GGS, 187, M.5

ਬਿਖੈ ਰਾਜ ਤੇ ਅੰਧੁਲਾ ਭਾਰੀ ॥ ਦੁਖਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਚਿਤਾਰੀ ॥੧॥ GGS, 196, M.5

ਹੈਵਰ ਗੈਵਰ ਰਾਜ ਰੰਗ ॥ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਚਲਿਓ ਹੈ ਮੂੜ ਨੰਗ ॥੨॥ ਚੋਆ ਚੰਦਨ ਦੇਹ ਫੂਲਿਆ ॥ ਸੋ ਤਨੁ ਧਰ ਸੰਗਿ ਰੂਲਿਆ ॥੩॥ GGS, 210, M.5

ਜਿਸ ਕੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਰਾਜ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਨਰਕਪਾਤੀ ਹੋਵਤ ਸੁਆਨੁ ॥ … ਧਨ ਭੂਮਿ ਕਾ ਜੋ ਕਰੈ ਗੁਮਾਨੁ ॥ ਸੋ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਅੰਧਾ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਿਸ ਕੈ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਬਸਾਵੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਈਹਾ ਮੁਕਤੁ ਆਗੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੧॥ GGS, 278, M.5

ਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲਾਰੇ ॥ GGS, 534, M.5

ਛੋਡਿ ਖਿਆਲ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਕੇ ਧੰਧੇ ॥ ਹੋਇ ਪੈ ਖਾਕ ਫਕੀਰ ਮੁਸਾਫਰੁ ਇਹੁ ਦਰਵੇਸੁ ਕਬੂਲੁ ਦਰਾ ॥੧॥ GGS, 1083, M.5

ਧਨ ਅਰ ਭੂਮਿ ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਬੈਰਾ ॥ ਜਿਨ ਕਾ ਮੂਆ ਕਰਤ ਜਗ ਘੇਰਾ ॥ DG, 48

Publisher

The SikhiCouncil is an independent voluntary initiative. The Council provides insights into Gurmat, timeless spiritual wisdom that has been handed down in writing (Gurbani), and enables creating unity while embracing diversity. On the basis of Gurmat, which is at the heart of the fifth largest world religion, Sikhi, the Council fosters respectful exchange among and with Sikhs of the younger generations as well as interfaith dialogue. The Council is committed to peaceful coexistence and Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB). In line with the UN 2030 Agenda (SDGs), its focus is on well-being, education, environmental protection, peace, and global partnerships. The SikhiCouncil is available as a point of contact for the media, educational and healthcare institutions, and government agencies. Its partners include the Global Ethic Foundation (Stiftung Weltethos), the Foundation against Racism, and SikhTeachings.

The SikhiCouncil's election recommendations may be passed on and also used in educational contexts.