Think Like the Chiquibul

Humanity exists as part of nature, and our futures are interlaced. We shouldbegin to call attention to the fact that humans are a part of nature. Thiswill make it easier for us to begin to respect nonhuman be ings. Peo-ple must not take more from nature than nature can replenish. Intrinsic

value of nature states that every life form warrants respect independent of its worthto people. In the past, nature has only had the value we as a society have placed onit and as humans we have a responsibility to consider the rights of those in the land- community who do not have a voice, such as plants and animals. “A thing is rightwhen it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of a biotic community. Itis wrong when it tends otherwise.” Aldo Leopold

“To harm nature is to harm ourselves, and to defend Earth is self–defense”.Næss, 1989

Our conservation efforts are failing and we use terms such as “Sustainable develop-ment,” “maximum sustainable yields,” “resource conservation,“ “wise use” which arein fact attempts to sugar - coat our ongoing intention to continue to exploit nature forour own, often indefensible, ends. Environmental ethics should be based on a rela-tionship of care between humans and non human beings. We have a basic moral dutytowards non - human individual living things in nature. We are members of the Earthcommunity, and we should live in harmony with others. We are not superior to otherlife forms; indeed, we are their equals. No other members of the Earth community livesuch a destructive and narcissistic existence as we do. Earth is not our planet; Earthbelongs to no one in particular. We need to strike a harmonious balance between ourcivilization and non human nature. We must meet human needs without degrading ordisrupting the natural system. While concentrating on improving human life, we needto maintain the diversity of nature. This should be our goal. We can not prosper if wecontinue to over exploit nature. We must work together to ensure that our society, inthe post - industrial era, is functioning in such a manner that protects our Earth. Wehave not been acting in an ethical manner. We must accept our responsibility of livingas an integral part of an ecosystem.

Removing the oppressive dualism (human/nature), which exist within eco femi-nism theories, will help to decrease the continued domination of women and nonehuman beings. Then we might expect to see right relations men and women and be-tween humans and the rest of the natural world; becoming a virtual utopia, void ofgender inequality and containing no sexual oppression. And perhaps women will nolonger be viewed as subservient to men.

Written by Green Revolutionaries of Belize

Think Like the Chiquibul

Humanity exists as part of nature, and our futures are interlaced. We shouldbegin to call attention to the fact that humans are a part of nature. Thiswill make it easier for us to begin to respect nonhuman be ings. Peo-ple must not take more from nature than nature can replenish. Intrinsic

value of nature states that every life form warrants respect independent of its worthto people. In the past, nature has only had the value we as a society have placed onit and as humans we have a responsibility to consider the rights of those in the land- community who do not have a voice, such as plants and animals. “A thing is rightwhen it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of a biotic community. Itis wrong when it tends otherwise.” Aldo Leopold

“To harm nature is to harm ourselves, and to defend Earth is self–defense”.Næss, 1989

Our conservation efforts are failing and we use terms such as “Sustainable develop-ment,” “maximum sustainable yields,” “resource conservation,“ “wise use” which arein fact attempts to sugar - coat our ongoing intention to continue to exploit nature forour own, often indefensible, ends. Environmental ethics should be based on a rela-tionship of care between humans and non human beings. We have a basic moral dutytowards non - human individual living things in nature. We are members of the Earthcommunity, and we should live in harmony with others. We are not superior to otherlife forms; indeed, we are their equals. No other members of the Earth community livesuch a destructive and narcissistic existence as we do. Earth is not our planet; Earthbelongs to no one in particular. We need to strike a harmonious balance between ourcivilization and non human nature. We must meet human needs without degrading ordisrupting the natural system. While concentrating on improving human life, we needto maintain the diversity of nature. This should be our goal. We can not prosper if wecontinue to over exploit nature. We must work together to ensure that our society, inthe post - industrial era, is functioning in such a manner that protects our Earth. Wehave not been acting in an ethical manner. We must accept our responsibility of livingas an integral part of an ecosystem.

Removing the oppressive dualism (human/nature), which exist within eco femi-nism theories, will help to decrease the continued domination of women and nonehuman beings. Then we might expect to see right relations men and women and be-tween humans and the rest of the natural world; becoming a virtual utopia, void ofgender inequality and containing no sexual oppression. And perhaps women will nolonger be viewed as subservient to men.

Written by Green Revolutionaries of Belize