Environmental Ethics

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. Environmental Ethics Sherry L. Creighton Sr. Loan Originator Flagstar Bank 100 Mill Plain Road Danbury, CT 06811 Ph 203-791-8105 FX 203-794-1724 Cell 203-948-8209 References Paul Maltby (2008). FUNDAMENTALIST DOMINION, POSTMODERN ECOLOGY. Ethics and the Environment, 13(2), 119-141. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 1589453681 Ruggiero, Vincent R. (2008). Thinking critically about ethical issues. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Green Retailing: Green futures? Jo Roberts. In- Store. London: Sep 4, 2008. P. 27 Global Climate Change:? A more complex issue’. Beth L. Jokinen. McClatchy- Tribune Business News. Washington: Jun 15, 2008. Environmental Ethics. First published Mon Jun 3, 2002; substantive revision Thu Jan 3, 2008 The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2003 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-environmental/