An Ethical Approach to Environmental Protection

Peace and survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities which lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and nature resources results from ignorance, greed and lack of respect for the earth’s living things.

This lack of respect extends even to earth’s human descendants, the future generations who will inherit a vastly degraded planet if world peace doesn’t become a reality, and destruction of the natural environment continues at the present rate.

Our ancestors viewed the earth as rich and beautiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we know is the case only if we care for it.

It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past, which resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. Clearly this is pivotal generation. Global communication is possible, yet confrontations take place more often than meaningful dialogues for peace.

Our marvels of science and technology are matched if not out weighed by many current tragedies, including human starvation in some parts of the world, and extinction of other life forms.

Exploration of outer space takes place at he same time as the earth’s own ocean , seas, and freshwater grow increasingly polluted and their life forms are largely unknown or misunderstood.

This message, dated June 5, 1986, marks World  Environment Day, and that year’s theme, Peace and the Environment.