Ecology

Author: David Hoare - Ecologist and environmental consultant

( Article Type: Opinion )

Values and Vision:

Values

Facts and information alone do not translate into action. There is no doubt that the facts about the environmental challenges we face have been known and spoken about for a long time. Furthermore, to respond to the ecological challenges we face, there is no way that a sufficiently comprehensive set of eco-logical rules could be developed to adequately prescribe the appropriate responses to every conceivable current and future situation. This is why thinking about our social and environmental challenges from a 'value system' perspective is so much more practical and useful. It gives us a frame of reference and empowers us as individuals to work out our own solutions to our challenges in our own way - applying an eco-conscious value system in a logical way.

Whilst the qualities of an Eco-Logical mind may provide a useful frame of reference to begin the process of evolving into 'eco-logical human beings', we should also recognise that most people are not motivated by negative messages (as illustrated by the fact that health warnings on cigarette packets have been relatively ineffectual).

Far more people are motivated by positive messages and images (smiling healthy people buying . . . . name the brand). It will therefore be beneficial to identify positive eco-logical aims and develop a desirable eco-logical vision to aim for and to inspire us into action.

Whilst our eco-logical aims and vision will undoubtedly evolve and mature over time with much discussion needed to reach broad public consensus, we need to begin somewhere and I therefore put forward for discussion, my own initial thoughts on the qualities of ‘An eco-logical world that I would like to live in' - as follows:

Vision: An Eco-Logical World - I would like to live in:

Sustainable (moral) Living: Comfortably meeting my needs today, knowing that I am not compromising my children’s ability of to meet their needs

A Caring Community (UBUNTU): Recognising that my well being is entirely dependant on the well being of the community (human & non human) that I live in and treating others as I would like them to treat me

A Revised Structure of Social Status: Recognising and appreciating people for the amount of their contribution to society rather than for the amount of their consumption of Earths resources and having a greater respect for intellectual wealth rather than material assets.

A Lifestyle of "Elegant Sufficiency": Re-discovering the benefits and beauty of simplicity in which we appreciate quality more than quantity. - resulting in a reduction of:

• Amount of Earths resources used
• Manufacturing emissions ( Which are currently driving climate change )
• Pollution of Air, Soils & Water
• Loss of Earth and Marine Biodiversity
• Chindogu

An absolute reduction in human population - through education

Reconnection with Nature - leading to:

• 'People friendly' Cities - designed and built to engender and support a sense of 'caring community'
• Cities built 'in Tune' with Nature - waterways ,walkways trees and greenery , open spaces, refreshing clean air
• Buildings constructed of natural (non toxic) materials in more organic (rounded) shapes
• Localised production of (organic) food and (renewable) energy.
• Close proximity of home & work - enabling most to either work from home or walk or cycle to work
• Clean & silent long distance transport
• Equal proportion of time engaged in work & recreation
• Recreation - becoming more creative, productive, health and nature focussed ( to replace many ‘mind numbing’ and ‘dumbing down’ activities sold to us as being ‘fun,fun,fun’ ) ,
• Products designed to achieve: Quality, durability, elegance; efficiency; least resource intensive; recyclable (by applying principles of Biomimicry)
• Greater personal responsibility for health through exercise and diet with less reliance on chemical based or invasive medical treatment
• High priority placed on quality of food (in the process of both production and consumption) Social respect for the honour and dignity of work (including de-mechanised physical labour) resulting in zero unemployment
• Social respect for knowledge and wisdom gained through age (to balance the current infatuation with youth)
• Social position based on level and quality of contribution to society (rather than quantity of material possession)
• Socially aberrant behaviour mostly remediated through service to society (fewer prisons - criminal universities)
• Regeneration of health (personal & planet) - owning and acting in accordance with our role and responsibilities as Stewards of this Earth

Time now for your Action Plan

You may choose to agree or disagree with some of the individual reasoning above - each of us will also have different needs and priorities. I therefore invite you to take what you find to be useful, and find your own eco-logical response to the others.

What is most important is that you:

1. Recognise your personal authority and ability to change and make your world a better place. Understand clearly that Government and Business alone CANNOT do it for us -it is therefore absolutely essential that we all participate and contribute to constructive change in our own large or small way - remembering that people have succeeded in doing this before. The French revolution happened, the Berlin Wall came down and Apartheid was overturned. We need mass participation on a similar scale - and it’s up to us as individuals to drive it.
2. Identify specifically the qualities and features of the world you would really like/love to live and work in.( Remember that we are far more motivated by what we want - rather than what we do not want . So Identify exactly what you really WANT)
3. Identify what you can personally do to make the changes and get closer to this world you want to live in (create your own Eco-Logical Action Plan).
4. Have fun and take pleasure in your Eco-Logical actions, appreciating and enjoying the benefits of each step along the way - remembering that this is a journey of discovery and continual improvement.

David Parry-Davies,

Publishing Editor - The Enviropaedia