Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Thoughts on Deep Ecology

Today I watched "The Call of the Mountain," a documentary about Arne Naess and deep ecology with other deep ecologists Bill Devall, Vandana Shiva, George Sessions, Helena Norberg-Hodge, and Harold Glasser. The movie was made in 1997 by Rerun Productions.

Naess's friends describe deep ecology as a social movement centered on a passion for nature.  It is the cooperative efforts of people working together in community based upon ecology (the relationship between organisms and their habitats).   

Deep Ecology encourages people to develop a concern for nature that is deep within themselves through a physical, intellectual and spiritual connection to the natural world.  The motivation for saving the earth should come from a deeply philosophical and religious influence.  For example, Buddhism, which teaches the interconnectedness of all things, influenced Naess heavily.  People are encouraged to act and live in a way that is universalizable and forward-thinking.  Decisions must take into account the potentials of evolutions of the system; they should plan for the unpredictability of nature.

Supporters of Deep Ecology argues that a life live connected with nature in this way will lead to a richer life, both spiritually and in terms of biodiversity.  

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