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peoli

(3,111 posts)
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 10:22 PM Jul 2013

Eco-spirituality: towards a values-based economic structure

As our world stumbles to the brink of ecological collapse, the "tipping point" of irreversible climate change, sustainability has become a vital issue. But in order to consider the question of sustainability, it is important to begin with the question: who or what is being sustained?

Does sustainability refer to sustained economic growth, and an environment that is able to maintain the status quo with our energy-intensive, consumer driven needs? Or does sustainability refer to the whole ecosystem, an interconnected web of life with its vast and rich diversity of species? What is the relationship between sustainability and the economy?

What kind of world do we want to sustain?

The first image of sustainability presents economic models of growth and energy efficiency, often with accompanying "green" ideas, such as green technologies or green energy, to help our civilisation develop. This is the corporate image of sustainability, orientated almost solely towards our human prosperity, with images of material progress that the environment is seen as supporting. This is sometimes referred to as "surface ecology".

The second image of sustainability is often referred to as "deep ecology", and it considers the ecosystem as a living whole of which humanity is only one part. In this complex web of interrelationships all species are dependent upon each other, and it is this organic pattern that needs to be sustained. No one part can be considered as separate from the whole, and the idea that the environment is just here to support us and our prosperity is a travesty of real environmental consciousness.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/eco-spirituality-values-based-economic-structure#ixzz2UiiZ1LNW

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Eco-spirituality: towards a values-based economic structure (Original Post) peoli Jul 2013 OP
Sooooo into this! FirstLight Jul 2013 #1
Cool. You should check this out too... peoli Jul 2013 #2
nice! FirstLight Jul 2013 #3
"Deep ecology." LWolf Jul 2013 #4
links... peoli Jul 2013 #9
Thank you. nt LWolf Jul 2013 #14
cool. PowerToThePeople Jul 2013 #5
No, its this... peoli Jul 2013 #10
Once we all starve I hope our ancestors can pursue this NoOneMan Jul 2013 #6
Indeed. This may interest you ~ A Basic Call To Consciousness Zorra Jul 2013 #7
1977 NoOneMan Jul 2013 #8
I hope so. nt Zorra Jul 2013 #11
marking to read later! nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #12
Most read worthy pecwae Jul 2013 #13
Once upon a time mixing religion and politics was considered a bad idea Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2013 #15

FirstLight

(13,360 posts)
1. Sooooo into this!
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 10:29 PM
Jul 2013

it's a stretch, and considered "woo" to so many...but it could very well be the economic shift that helps us as a species. Not like I think i will happen anytime soon, the shift from the 1% who control our current Oil and MIC based economic model is gonna be very uncomfortable indeed.

I am currently taking part in the rise of Eco-Tourism in Tahoe...something based APART from the casinos and the current model...
*fingers crossed*

 

peoli

(3,111 posts)
2. Cool. You should check this out too...
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 10:39 PM
Jul 2013

This is the website of the person that wrote the article.

http://spiritualecology.org/

I saw on your profile your post about John Lash. I read his book, "Not in His Image" a couple of summers ago. I've been poking around with Gnosticism for a long time.

FirstLight

(13,360 posts)
3. nice!
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 10:54 PM
Jul 2013

thanks for posting even of it is not popular...it is necessary. You should post this in the "good news" forum

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
7. Indeed. This may interest you ~ A Basic Call To Consciousness
Mon Jul 29, 2013, 11:16 PM
Jul 2013
A Basic Call To Consciousness

The Hau de no sau nee Address to the Western World
1977

In the beginning, we were told that the human beings who walk about the Earth have been provided with all the things necessary for life. We were instructed to carry a love for one another, and to show a great respect for all the beings of this Earth. We are shown that our life exists with the tree life, that our well-being depends on the well-being of the Vegetable Life, that we are close relatives of the four-legged beings. In our ways, spiritual consciousness is the highest form of politics.

Ours is a Way of Life. We believe that all living things are spiritual beings. Spirits can be expressed as energy forms manifested in matter. A blade of grass is an energy form manifested in matter -- grass matter. The spirit of the grass is that unseen force which produces the species of grass, and it is manifest to us in the form of real grass
snip---
The air is foul, the waters poisoned, the trees dying, the animals are disappearing. We think even the systems of weather are changing. Our ancient teaching warned us that if Man interfered with the Natural Laws, these things would come to be. When the last of the Natural Way of Life is gone, all hope for human survival will be gone with it. And our Way of Life is fast disappearing, a victim of the destructive processes.
snip---
We know that there are many people in the world who can quickly grasp the intent of our message. But experience has taught us that there are few who are willing to seek out a method for moving toward any real change. But, if there is to be a future for all beings on this planet, we must begin to seek the avenues of change.

pecwae

(8,021 posts)
13. Most read worthy
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 07:24 AM
Jul 2013

and it makes perfect sense at the basic level of spirit. If the ecosystem, Mother Earth, whatever one wishes to call it, was honestly considered a part of each human (which it is) the natural instinct would be to protect.

Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)
15. Once upon a time mixing religion and politics was considered a bad idea
Tue Jul 30, 2013, 06:34 PM
Jul 2013

Unless people are suggesting no laws will be derived from the tenets of this movement.

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