GLEANINGS:
Scott Russell Sanders,distinguished Professor of English at Indiana University Bloomington,author of twenty books and conservation advocate,has written an important book titled A Conservationist Manifesto. In the summary chapter by the same name Dr. Sanders (who is an Earth Charter Indiana “Green Ambassador”) pens his 40 point manifesto. Every tenet is worth pondering. (In fact,the whole book is well worth the buy and the read.) By permission of the publisher we will reproduce one point each week on this website.
“Governments and businesses promote endless growth,which is a recipe for disaster on a crowded planet. Even the slowest growth,if it continues long enough,will exhaust Earth’s resources. There is no such thing as ‘sustainable growth.’ There is only sustainable use.”
A Conservationist Manifesto. p. 215. © 2009 Scott Russell Sanders. All rights reserved. Appearing with permission of Indiana University Press.
THE EARTH CHARTER AND YOU
Principle 8 -
Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.
This principle covers the following areas:
a. Supporting international scientific and technical cooperation on sustainability,with special attention to the needs of developing nations.
b. Recognizing and preserving the traditional knowledge and spiritual wisdom in all cultures that contribute to environmental protection and human well-being.
c. Ensuring that information of vital importance to human health and environmental protection,including genetic information,remains available in the public domain.