Creation
Integrity
Integrity is moral wholeness—living
consistently in moral wholeness. Its opposite is corruption, the distortion,
perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, resulting in the exploitation
of people. Global integrity is moral wholeness at all levels in our
world—from the individual to the institutional to the
international. Global integrity is requisite for “building the future
we want—being the people we need.” It is not easy, it is not always black and
white, and it can be risky. These entries explore the many facets of integrity
with a view towards the global efforts to promote sustainable development and
wellbeing.
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‘Creation Integrity” refers to the wholeness
and health of the world—nature--of which humans of course are part. It requires
humans having integrity at all levels (global integrity) in order to preserve the
integrity of the earth. Here are seven items/quotes over the past 25 years that
deal with this important topic: our integrity for creation integrity. Some also
represent movements that have merged and morphed into other earth-ecological emphases. Note: See also World Day of Creation on 1 September--short video message from Desmond Tutu
World Council of
Churches (written in early 1990s, quote from website)
“Over the years, an emerging
conviction that justice, peace and creation are bound together has found
expression in such World Council of Churches' study and action programmes as
the Just, Participatory and Sustainable Society (JPSS), the conciliar process
for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and…the Theology of
Life (TOL) programme. The quest, in the 1970s, for a "just,
participatory and sustainable society" was a response to growing
recognition of the persistence of poverty and misery and of the limits of and
threats to the earth's capacity to sustain human life. Between its sixth
(1983) and seventh (1991) assemblies, the WCC appealed to the churches to make
public commitments and undertake common action on the threats to life in the
areas of justice, peace and integrity of creation as part of the essence of what
it means to be the church. Since 1991, this effort has centred on
articulating a "theology of life". In a series of 22 case studies, local groups
from around the world have examined one of ten affirmations made by a 1990
world convocation on JPIC, and have sought to understand both what it implied
in their own context and how these local elements fit into a global analysis.
These programmes, each of which built on the insights of its predecessor,
sought to encourage the churches to make costly commitments to justice, peace
and creation. They also sought to identify and make the connections visible,
and to encourage churches to keep them in mind when addressing justice, peace
and creation issues.”
World Council of
Churches (current, quote from the website)
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“The WCC has a long tradition of addressing the links between Justice,
Peace and Integrity of Creation. Today, this approach is applied and
updated in regard to some of the most urgent global challenges. The WCC work on eco-justice is
implemented through the Ecumenical Water
Network, the Climate
Justice project and the Poverty,
Wealth and Ecology project.
Eco-justice
– what is that? The “eco” prefix comes from the Greek word oikos for “house” and is part of the
etymological roots of economy and ecology, but also ecumenism. In linking
environmental and social justice issues the environmental justice approach,
“eco-justice” in short, challenges both humanity’s destruction of the earth and
the abuse of economic and political power which result in poor people having to
suffer the effects of environmental damage.”
Pope Francis (2016)
“13. The urgent challenge to
protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family
together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that
things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his
loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to
work together in building our common home. Here I want to recognize, encourage
and thank all those striving in countless ways to guarantee the protection of
the home which we share. Particular appreciation is owed to those who tirelessly
seek to resolve the tragic effects of environmental degradation on the lives of
the world’s poorest. Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can
claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental
crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.
14. I urgently appeal, then, for
a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a
conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are
undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide
ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the
establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these
challenges. Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the
environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful
opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest. Obstructionist
attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem
to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical
solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity. As the bishops of
Southern Africa have stated: “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to
redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation”. All of us can
cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his
or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”
Earth Charter
Initiative (2000, current)
the Earth Charter and use it to guide the transition towards a more just,
sustainable, and peaceful world.” (quote from website)
“We stand at a critical moment in
Earth's history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world
becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great
peril and great promise. To move forward we must recognize that in the midst of
a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms we are one human family and
one Earth community with a common destiny. We must join together to bring forth
a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human
rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace. Towards this end, it is
imperative that we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one
another, to the greater community of life, and to future generations. Earth,
Our Home Humanity is part of a vast evolving universe. Earth, our home, is
alive with a unique community of life. The forces of nature make existence a
demanding and uncertain adventure, but Earth has provided the conditions
essential to life's evolution. The resilience of the community of life and the
well-being of humanity depend upon preserving a healthy biosphere with all its
ecological systems, a rich variety of plants and animals, fertile soils, pure
waters, and clean air. The global environment with its finite resources is a
common concern of all peoples. The protection of Earth's vitality,
diversity, and beauty is a sacred trust. (excerpt from Preamble)
Ecological
Integrity [4 of the 16 Principles in the Charter]
--5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
--5. Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
--6. Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and,
when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
--7. Adopt patterns of production, consumption and reproduction that
safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights and community
well-being.
--8. Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the
open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.”
Earth Day Network (quote from website)
“Earth Day Network’s mission is to
broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it
as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment,
address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations. Growing
out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network is the world’s largest recruiter
to the environmental movement, working with more than 50,000 partners in 196
countries to build environmental democracy. We work through a combination of
education, public policy, and consumer campaigns.
The first Earth Day on April 22,
1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely
credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the
landmark Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and
many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years
later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries
and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion
people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest
civic observance in the world.”
United Nations (2015)
(excerpt below from text of the agreement)
See also the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
“The Parties to this Agreement,
--Being Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, hereinafter referred to as "the
Convention"
--…being guided by its principles,
including the principle of equity and common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different
national circumstances….
--Emphasizing the intrinsic relationship
that climate change actions, responses and impacts have with equitable access
to sustainable development and eradication of poverty,
--Recognizing the fundamental priority
of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular
vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate
change,
--Taking into account the imperatives of
a just transition of the workforce and the creation of decent work and quality
jobs in accordance with nationally defined development priorities,
--Acknowledging that climate change is a
common concern of humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address
climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on
human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local
communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in
vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality,
empowerment of women and intergenerational equity,
--Recognizing the importance of the
conservation and enhancement, as appropriate, of sinks and reservoirs of the
greenhouse gases referred to in the Convention,
--Noting the importance of ensuring the
integrity of all ecosystems, including oceans, and the protection of
biodiversity, recognized by some cultures as Mother Earth, and noting the
importance for some of the concept of "climate justice", when taking
action to address climate change,
--Affirming the importance of education,
training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information
and cooperation at all levels on the matters addressed in this Agreement,
--Recognizing the importance of the
engagements of all levels of government and various actors, in accordance with
respective national legislations of Parties, in addressing climate change,
--Also recognizing that sustainable
lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production, with
developed country Parties taking the lead, play an important role in addressing
climate change,
Have agreed as follows:” [29 Articles,
27 pages]
United Nations (2015)
“This Agenda is a plan of action for
people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in
larger freedom. We recognise that eradicating poverty in all its forms and
dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an
indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all
stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We
are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to
heal and secure our planet. We are determined to take the bold and
transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a
sustainable and resilient path. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge
that no one will be left behind. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169
targets which we are announcing today demonstrate the scale and ambition of
this new universal Agenda….
--Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all
--Goal 13. Take urgent action
to combat climate change and its impacts.
--Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development
--Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and
reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss."
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Applications
--Which of the above items would you like to study further?
