Category:Eco-ethics
- Eco-ethics @GreenPolicy360
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Planet Citizens / Scientists, Preserving & Protecting the Home Planet, Earth
GreenPolicy360 and StrategicDemands:
Steve Schmidt / GreenPolicy360 Siterunner: Eco-ethics is seen as a system of ethics, of values, principles, ideals that guide us as we act in our day-to-day lives. We see this as "vita activa", a life of action, politics, choices that we make individually and together. With your GreenPolicy360 founder, a young life of choices and political involvements led to what, in the 1990s I chose to call a 'values-based politics'. An eco-ethics and a green formative politics that became global resulted in a Green Platform, Green Politics, and continues on year after year, decade-to-decade. Here is a touch of this eco-story, now told with a personal perspective.
In the 1990s, in Santa Fe, a city named after St. Francis, I began drafting what became the founding platform of the U.S. Green Party. The U.S. Green Platform was, as I described it, a "values-based platform" and it was intended to set in place a foundation of values that Green politics shared. We looked to "key values" and an international Green parties "four pillars". As I wrote I envisioned a "politics of values" that could be applied to "the issues" of the day, the questions of the day, and this would, with integrity (as opposed to money-in-politics, influence-buying and/or opportunism) bring forward a "call to action" with Green positions. Not an ideologically determined document, drawn to be 'political correct', but a democratic statement reflecting life-affirming hopes and beliefs that was an eco-ethics, a vision of a better world and how to make a positive difference in our 'vita activa', our daily actions.
It's always good to see how our day-to-day choices and actions are part of multiple threads, a tapestry woven by kindred groups and causes, religions and movements. So, with respect, let's look at some who share eco-ethics, a 21st century vision, a legacy we hope to send forward to coming generations.
A 'Values-based' Green Politics
Earth Day Memories on the 50th Anniversary
Earth Charter -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Charter
The Earth Charter is an international declaration of fundamental values and principles considered useful by its supporters for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society in the 21st century. Created by a global consultation process, and endorsed by organizations representing millions of people, the Charter "seeks to inspire in all peoples a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family, the greater community of life, and future generations."[1] It calls upon humanity to help create a global partnership at a critical juncture in history. The Earth Charter's ethical vision proposes that environmental protection, human rights, equitable human development, and peace are interdependent and indivisible. The Charter attempts to provide a new framework for thinking about and addressing these issues. The Earth Charter Initiative organization exists to promote the Charter.
The idea of the Earth Charter originated in 1987, by Maurice Strong and Mikhail Gorbachev as members of The Club of Rome, when the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development called for a new charter to guide the transition to sustainable development. In 1992, the need for a charter was urged by then-Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, but the time for such a declaration was not believed to be right. The Rio Declaration became the statement of the achievable consensus at that time. In 1994, Strong (Chairman of the Earth Summit) and Gorbachev, working through organizations they each founded (the Earth Council and Green Cross International respectively), restarted the Earth Charter as a civil society initiative, with the help of the government of the Netherlands.
The drafting of the text was done during a six-year worldwide consultation process (1994–2000), overseen by the independent Earth Charter Commission, which was convened by Strong and Gorbachev with the purpose of developing a global consensus on values and principles for a sustainable future. The Commission continues to serve as the steward of the Earth Charter text.
Earth Charter Principles
The four pillars and sixteen principles of the Earth Charter are:
I. Respect and Care for the Community of Life
Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.
Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion and love.
Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable and peaceful.
Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for present and future generations.
II. Ecological Integrity
Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
Adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights and community well-being.
Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
III. Social and Economic Justice
Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social and environmental imperative.
Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care and economic opportunity.
Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
IV. Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace
Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision-making, and access to justice.
Integrate into formal education and lifelong learning the knowledge, values and skills needed for a sustainable way of life.
Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
Promote a culture of tolerance, nonviolence and peace.
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The Challenge of Choosing to Protect The Commons
- Differing Ethical Approaches, Differing Communities, Cultures, and Nations, Differing Religions
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Ancient Wisdom
Indigeneity, Indigenous Peoples Act with Understanding
Generational Thinking, Sustainable Living
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- A Modern Eco-Movement
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* https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:ECO.png
Eco Definition
German zoologist Ernst Haeckel, who in 1866 coined the term oekologie from the Greek oikos, meaning “home, place to live.” Haeckel was thinking primarily of the “homes” of animals, but by the time the word translated into English in 1875 (initially spelled “oecology”), its meaning had broadened to embrace plant habitats as well.
The related term ecosystem was proposed by the British botanist Arthur Tansley, 60 years after one of his own professors first translated Haeckel’s oekologie. It may have been ecosystem, which treats eco- as a prefix to a standard English word, that gave English speakers permission to do the same in coining a host of other terms... (Via Merriam-Webster)
Ecosystem becomes a term of a movement, a modern environmental movement, a whole earth movement...
Whole Earth, the Home Planet
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Interfaith Dialogue
Throughout the world there are local, regional, national and international interfaith initiatives; many are formally or informally linked and constitute larger networks or federations. The often quoted statement "There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions. There will be no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions" was formulated by Hans Küng, a Professor of Ecumenical Theology and President of the Global Ethic Foundation.[1] Interfaith dialogue forms a major role in the study of religion and peacebuilding.
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Biblical 'Stewardship' of Earth and a Virtuous Life ....
A Catholic Pope (who names himself after St. Francis, a 'patron saint of the environment and life on earth') and who writes and offers up the first eco-encyclical doctrine in the Church's long history
Laudato Si, an Eco-Encyclical Letter
The Letter: Laudato Si
- The Pope, the Environmental Crisis, and Frontline Leaders
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East and West, North and South, a Whole Earth
Remembering 75 Years Ago
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Within the Protestant Christian Tradition
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Buddhists Raise Voices for Peace, Service and Environmental Life Protection
The Buddha said, “It is important to renew humanity.” I like that vision. How do we renew humanity? And he made three recommendations. He said generosity, truthful and constructive speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which shall renew humanity." -- Roshi Joan Halifax, Upaya Zen Center, New Mexico
- On the great road of Buddha ancestors,
- there is always unsurpassable practice, continuous and sustained.
- It is the circle of the way and is never cut off.
- Between aspiration, practice, enlightenment, and nirvana,
- there is not a moment’s gap;
- continuous practice is the circle of the way.
- This being so, continuous practice is unstained,
- not forced by you or others.
- The power of this continuous practice confirms you as well as others.
- It means your practice affects the entire earth
- and the entire sky in the ten directions.
- Although not noticed by others or yourself, it is so.
- — Dogen
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Soka Gakkai International (SGI) / Nichiren Buddhist
The belief of the Soka Gakkai centers on recognizing that all life has dignity with infinite inherent potential; this immanent "Buddhahood" exists in every person and can be awakened through the Buddhist practice prescribed by Nichiren. Further, a person's social actions at every moment can lead to soka, or the creation of value (the theory of the interdependence of life). Societal change is facilitated through "human revolution", a way of living in the world that creates value.
Ikeda's vision for the SGI was described in 2010 by Olivier Urbain, then director of the Toda Peace Institute founded by Ikeda, as a "borderless Buddhist humanism that emphasizes free thinking and personal development based on respect for all life."
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Ikigai
Ikigai: Reason for Being
Love | mission | vocation | profession | passion
— What you are good at — What you love — What the world needs — What you can be paid for
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A New Vision of Life on Earth -- Earthrise
- As Planet Citizens We See Our Home Planet in a New Light
Beginnings of the Modern Environmental Movement
Planet Citizen Vision of Living Earth
GreenPolicy360 Page Highlights
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Planet Citizens
- Time for Planet Citizen Action
A Call to Action to Preserve & Protect Life on Earth...
- Your Life Is Your Message
Planet Citizen Service
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Strategies of Resilience & Survival
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See the Big Picture, It's All Connected
- SJS / GreenPolicy360 Siterunner: As interconnected Planet Citizens our challenge is to improve our Quality of Life and Secure our Common Future...
- Launch new initiatives, improve the environment, change the way governments run, impact and transform how businesses work
- We encourage you to join in, dream and create your own green stories venturing on and making a positive difference every day
- Now is time to go beyond old ways of thinking and shape new visions of our communities and our living home -- Planet Earth
PlanetCitizen.org / Earth System Science / Measuring "Vital Signs"
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Planetary Awareness www.planetaryawareness.org
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Pope Francis speaks of Climate, Politics, Personal Responsibility
"It would be sad, and dare I say even catastrophic, were special interests to prevail over the common good and lead to manipulating information in order to protect their own plans and interests"...
- "The Pope took particular aim at those who reject the science behind global warming..."
Pope Francis on the Environment
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Climate Action: An Ethical Responsibility
- Beyond Preparing for Crisis Management
Biodiversity, Protecting Life
Planetary Health Pledge / Via The Lancet (2020)
Green 'Vita Activa'
Climate Problems, Climate Solutions
Beginnings of U.S. Climate Science and Action to Protect & Preserve a Healthy & Sustainable Planet
Via the Ethics Institute at Penn State College of the Liberal Arts ... In 1977, Robert M. White, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, wrote a report for the National Research Council a branch of the National Academy of Sciences that concluded that CO2 released during the burning of fossil fuel could have consequences for climate that pose a considerable threat to future society. (White, 1978)
- Your GreenPolicy360 remembers the National Academy report of 1977 and what followed immediately from Congressman George E. Brown -- the formal beginnings of government climate change study ... For more about the 1977/78 Congressional climate legislation and climate plan and the array of Congressional environmental science, programs and actions set in motion beginning in the late 1960's, visit GreenPolicy360's page (and links) in memory of George Brown -- https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/George_E._Brown_Jr
A government report prepared ... in 1981 declared that "[t]he responsibility of the carbon-dioxide problem is ours - we should accept it and act in a way that recognizes our role as trustees for future generations." (Charney et al., 1979) This report also estimated that the amount of warming that would be experienced from a doubling of the pre-industrial levels of CO2 would be 3 degrees C, very close to the amount that the "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change" would predict almost 30 years later." (Charney et al., 1979)
For over thirty-five years, the US Academy of Sciences has warned the US about the enormous threats of climate change with each successive report making stronger claims that human caused climate change is a serious threat to civilization. If the United States can be accused of failing to live up to its ethical responsibilities to the rest of the world on climate change, one cannot blame the US Academy of Sciences for failing to ring alarm bells. US citizens cannot claim that their most prestigious scientific institutions have failed to take a position on the seriousness of climate change.
The failure of the United States to respond to climate change can be attributed in largest part to a well-financed, well-organized climate change disinformation campaign. As ClimateEthics has previously cited, see "A New Kind of Crime Against Humanity?: The Fossil Fuel Industry's Disinformation Campaign On Climate Change". (Donald Brown, 2010a)
ClimateEthics has also repeatedly argued that the failure of the United States to respond to its ethical duties for climate change may also be attributed to the almost complete failure in the United States of the media and even climate change policy advocates to acknowledge that climate change raises not only national interests but also duties, responsibilities, and obligations to others.
See, for example, "Are Ethical Arguments for Climate Change Action Weaker Than Self-Interest Based Arguments? Why Taking Ethical Arguments Off the Table Is Like A Soccer Team Unilaterally Taking The Goalie Out of the Net. (Brown, 2010b)
- The Ethics and Climate site contains over 185 articles (as of 2017) including 13 videos on ethical issues raised by climate change. The site seeks to help policy makers and interested citizens understand the ethical dimensions of climate change issues in contention in policy debates.
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Ethics and The National Academy of Sciences
If climate change must be understood as a civilization challenging ethical issue, can the US Academy reports on climate change be criticized on ethical grounds?
The US Academy reports acknowledge that climate change has serious adverse world-wide impacts, that is impacts outside the United States. For instance, in its most recent report, the US Academy concluded that climate change would cause the following world-wide impacts:
• Water availability will decrease in many areas that are already drought-prone and in areas where rivers are fed by glaciers or snowpack;
• A higher fraction of rainfall will fall in the form of heavy precipitation, increasing the risk of flooding and, in some regions, the spread of water-borne illness;
• People and ecosystems in coastal zones will be exposed to higher storm surges, intrusion of salt water into freshwater aquifers, and other risks as sea levels rise;
• Coral reefs will experience widespread bleaching as a result of increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification.
Climate Change is an Ethical Problem
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- Read more re: initial climate change study and science
- In the UK
- https://www.wired.com/story/meet-the-amateur-scientist-who-discovered-climate-change/ -- About Guy Callendar
- In the US
- http://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:US_Public_Law_95-367.png -- At the beginning...
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An Initial Climate Study/Report: Historic
Energy and Climate Report, 1977, National Academy of Sciences / 175 pp. / PDF via GreenPolicy360
Congressman Brown / Science Committee in Front of Climate Action
SJS / GreenPolicy360 Siterunner: My friend George E. Brown, from the 1960s to 1999 lived his life with a vision of what could be. His actions were a model ...
George Brown, one planet citizen, in action ....
National Climate Program Act, 1978 / PDF
- The first federal program established to study and assess scientifically the issues and risks of human-caused climate change
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In the US Green Party founding platform (2000)
GreenPolicy Siterunner / SJS: From the Green Party's platform, as drafted by GreenPolicy360's Siterunner
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@GreenPolicy360
Oren Lyons, Chief of the Onondaga Iroquois Nation, speaks of ancient wisdom:
- "We are looking ahead, as is one of the first mandates given us as chiefs, to make sure and to make every decision that we make relate to the welfare and well-being of the seventh generation to come...."
- "What about the seventh generation? Where are you taking them? What will they have?"
GreenPolicy Siterunner / SJS: Chief Lyons is one of our favorite Bioneers' who has joined with the Bioneers conference from its eary years in the 1990s -- and helped to open our eyes and hearts over many years
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Today's Challenge
- Generational Thinking, Sustainable Living
"The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time." -- Terry Tempest Williams
"We bring a Green Vision & Values-based Platform" (SJS)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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Subcategories
This category has the following 17 subcategories, out of 17 total.
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Pages in category "Eco-ethics"
The following 67 pages are in this category, out of 67 total.
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- Earth and Space, Politics
- Earth Day
- Earth Day Is Every Day
- Earth Day Memories on the 50th Anniversary
- Earth Imaging-New Space
- Earth Science Research from Space
- Earthrise
- Earthviews from Astronauts
- Ecolivia
- Environmental Law, Rollbacks under Trump 2016-20
- Environmental Laws and Modern Environmental Movement
- EOS eco Operating System
- Ethics and Climate Change
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- Going Green
- Google Earth
- Green New Deal
- Green Politics 360
- Green Quotes
- Green Stories of the Day
- GreenAction
- Greening Our Blue Planet
- GreenLinks
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2013
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2014
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2015
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2016
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2017
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2018
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2019
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2020
- GreenPolicy360 Archive Highlights 2023
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Media in category "Eco-ethics"
The following 19 files are in this category, out of 221 total.
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