Monthly Archives: November 2006

Deeply Conservative

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The distinguishing and original characteristics of the deep ecology movement were its recognition of the inherent value of all living beings and the use of this view in shaping environmental policies. Those who work for social changes based on this recognition are motivated by love of nature as well as for humans. They recognize that we cannot go on with industrialism’s “business as usual.” Without changes in basic values and practices, we will destroy the diversity and beauty of the world, and its ability to support diverse human cultures….The platform can be endorsed by people from a diversity of religious and philosophical backgrounds as well as differing political affiliations. “Supporters of the deep ecology movement” (rather than being referred to as “deep ecologists”) are united by a long-range vision of what is necessary to protect the integrity of the Earth’s ecological communities and ecocentric values.

World denial

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Just a thought – as yet unformed, but I wanted to acknowledge and record it.

Pacifism – resolute non-violence – rests on the refusal to act in a way which is sinful (that a violent action is sinful is not disputed).

The church’s role is to cultivation and form disciples in such a way that this becomes second nature, that it governs the way that they think about these things.

Sometimes the consequences of acting in this sin-less manner (or less sinful manner) is that great harm is achieved within the world by those who have chosen violence. World War II is the classic example. Non-violent resistance did not/ would not dissuade the Nazis.

There is, therefore, a claim implicitly being made here, that the ‘eternal’ consequences justify the temporal costs.

This, it seems to me, is a form of world-denial. I am not sure how to reconcile this with an incarnational faith.

Heat (George Monbiot)

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This was very good, and an excellent complement to The Last Generation. The basic argument is that it is possible to have civilisation more-or-less as we know it, coupled with a rapid (Let us be human!

I’m wondering about some ‘pledges’ that might be made. The first and clearest might be: I shall never board an aeroplane again. The second might be: I shall never enter a supermarket again (ie big out of town thing – not sure the local co-op counts). On this latter, I was most struck by the figures for electricity use in supermarkets, and the way in which shifting to a delivery system (whereby the superstores become warehouses) is part of the solution. So: walking into a Tesco store (even if you haven’t driven there!) is part of the problem, due to the phenomenal profligacy of the store itself. But having Tesco stuff delivered to your home – this might effect a 70% reduction in traffic, leaving aside anything else. (As long as you don’t then buy lots of stuff flown in from the other side of the world. Actually, you should just use it for bulk goods; veg etc should be locally grown.)

Hmm.

“Prevent Global Warming! Get Tesco to offer Free Home Delivery”

Do you think it’s a runner?