In the year 2008, the need for
politicians to address Environmental Ethical issues is
needed more than ever. The age of Christianity ruling over
the salvation of our planet needs to come to an end. It is
time for every human on planet earth to step up and do their
part to save what is left of Mother Nature’s gifts.
Environmental Ethics were introduced in the 1970’s. In the
past thirty years researchers began to assess the
environment and question the relationship between humans and
the environment. This clearly reflects that we will soon be
faced with an environmental crisis. When Environmental
Ethics were first introduced it challenged the concept of
anthropocentrism, a human centered world. Environmental
Ethics questioned the superiority of human beings to members
of other species and it opened the door to assigning value
to the natural environment (Brennan, 2008)
There were a number of works and articles that drew a lot of
attention in the 1960’s in reference to Environmental
Ethics. One essay published in the New Yorker magazine in
1963 by Rachel Carson addressed pesticides used to grow
crops, such as DDT, aldrin and deildrin. In 1967 historian
Lynn White Jr. published an essay that argues that Judeo-
Christian thinking was the root of the environmental crisis.
Lynn White felt that Judeo-Christians encouraged
overexploitation of nature and maintained superiority of
humans over all things (Brennan, 2008).
Christian Fundamentalist use the bible as their endorsement
by taking certain passages to a literal sense. For instance,
the book of Genesis reads “man should fill the earth and
subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and
over the birds of the air and over every living thing that
moves upon the earth” (Gen.1:28). Christian Fundamentalist
uses these passages as their approval to “view nature as a
God given resource for unlimited human use”. According to E.
Calvin Beisner who is a fundamentalist economist, putting
the earth before humans’ needs would mean we were guilty of
“idolatry of nature (Beisner, 1990)” (Maltby, P. PG 120).
Dominionism means the responsibility of Christians to
subject the spheres of everyday life and all institutions to
the rule of God’s laws, thus securing the conditions for
Christ’s returns (Maltby, P. PG 120). Therefore Christians
think they have a divine right to subdue the earth and to
have power over nature. The New Testament of the Bible
refers to the Apocalypse and the Rapture as prophecy.
Rapture is believed to be the salvation when Christ returns,
which is why Christians see no need for conservation, they
feel it is irrelevant.. The thought is that there is no need
to conserve the planet as it will be destroyed upon the
return of Christ. Christians don’t see or feel the need to
care about an ecological crisis when they are to be rescued
by the Rapture.Calvin E. Beisner, who is a professor of
Interdisciplinary Studies at Covenant College, Georgia,
stated “global warming is indeed an expression of God’s
will” (quoted in Moyers 2006).
Christians and fundamentalist economists believe that
climate change and environmental crisis are no indication
that we have been exercising irresponsible social practices
but that it is God’s punishment for human sin. (this is
compared to Noah and the flood) ( Maltby, P. PG 122). I feel
that this relates to the philosophy "For moral judgment to
be reliable, all significant consequences must be identified
(Ruggiero, PG 119), as Christians and fundamentalist
economists have not done there research or put aside their
ignorance long enough to see what the true damage is to our
environment and our children’s future.Today there is an
extreme urgency to gain the public’s attention toward the
ecological crisis that is in store for everyone. Now with
the “credit crunch”, “declining housing market” and the
economy on the verge of recession, there is question whether
companies in general will keep up with the “Green” twist
that so many companies had marketed towards in recent years.
Retailers are trying to find the balance between “greener
retailing” and “leaner retailing” during this depressed
economic time. Many large retailers had announced long term
plans to be environmentally responsible but they are afraid
that consumers will decide they can no longer afford to
purchase green products. The bigger concern that Lionie
Smith, director of the brand consultancy Wanda, addresses is
that retailers will reflect green veneer on the front but
not follow through with what is going on behind the scenes.
Companies are struggling to meet profit margins and there
are concerns that the advertised Green companies will cut
corners on their products or product packaging in order to
reduce green products pricing to consumers (Roberts. 2008).
This reflects back to the philosophy “ the end does not
justify the means” in which you cannot do whatever it takes
to get green products or concepts to sell, you have to do
what is ethically and morally correct throughout the whole
process (Ruggiero, PG 121).
There are companies who realize that not only can we do good
by saving our environment and changing our lives to live in
harmony with nature, but that you can also boost the economy
and make money as well. I had the privilege to work with
Steve Schappert of Connecticut Real Estate and Construction
LLC. on his construction of the Bios Building Technology
Center. The Bios Building Technology Center will include,
panelized home packaging, real estate and finance services,
alternative energy resources and an ecological art gallery.
Steve Schappert has taken the stance that he wants to change
the way the world constructs homes from this point forward
and that includes energy efficient, durable homes and
alternative energy sources. Since the homes he constructs
are 25% less than a standard stick built home of a similar
size, this leaves room for a profit margin instead of the
standard shrinking profit margin during this economic
recession and he even can you show how to gain rebates on
the alternative heating, cooling, electrical, and energy
efficient products.
Steve Schappert’s vision ( no longer a vision, he started
construction in 2008) includes eco friendly products that
will save the consumer money for the initial construction,
save money during the life time of the home on energy
resources and save natures resources. (Panelized Building
Systems LLC, 2008). Not only would this save money for
consumers this could quite possibly boost the economy by
breaking the housing crisis, creating more affordable homes
instead of overpriced ones and includes saving the
environment.It is time for every human on planet earth to
step up and do their part to save what is left of Mother
Nature’s gifts.
We all have an ethical environmental responsibility to take
care of our planet, our natural resources and protect the
living creatures that co exist with humans. A political
leader or a leader of the new ecological era needs to take a
stand to educate everyone as to what should be done now to
prevent further damage to earth as humans know it.
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