David J Quinn
Florida Gulf Coast University
EDG 7046
Dr. Greene
10/21/08
Reaction #2
David Quinn reacting to the text titled “The Transition to Sustainability”
By Steven C. Rockefeller
In “The Transition to Sustainability”, Steven C. Rockefeller (2005) called on citizens, non government organizations (NGOs), and religious organizations to put pressure on governments and businesses to support a transition toward sustainable patterns of development both locally and globally. In addition, he believed the Earth Charter can continue to be used as an ethical guide, a teaching tool, and a source for inspiration (p. 170). Rockefeller (2005) suggested that we should be concerned with promoting ethical values that are shared. What values can we possible share with foreign nations? The author responded to this question by arguing that we live in an “increasingly interdependent, fragile, and complex world” (p. 166). According to Rockefeller, “each and every nation is being affected by the accumulated impact of the behavior of all others” (p. 166). What is causing this problem? The author pointed to scientific evidence that the Earth’s climate is warming largely due to the human generation of greenhouse gas emissions.
What shared values and common goals did Rockefeller think inspired nations to collaborate? Rockefeller (2005) cites the Earth Charter preamble paragraph 6 which states the following: “we urgently need a shared vision of basic values to provide an ethical foundation for the emerging world community” (p. 166). He argued that “problems like poverty, inequity, economic instability, global warming, the loss of biodiversity, the depletion of resources, nuclear proliferation, and terrorism” required highly effective cooperation amongst countries who realized that they are in an interdependent world. Therefore, common goals and shared values are essential. The author referred to the language of the Johannesburg Declaration whereby the authors refer to the greater community of life and our responsibility to each other (p. 171).
Furthermore, the Johannesburg Declaration deepens the meaning of respect for nature by affirming that people are responsible to, as well as for, the protection of the greater community of life. From the perspective of the Earth Charter, there is implicit in this formulation recognition that people are members of Earth’s community in general, all the members of the community of life—non-human species as well as people—are worthy of moral consideration. (p. 167)
Rockefeller (2005) believed that there has been an expanding vision of shared values internationally. According to the author, this vision can be found in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the World Charter for Nature, and in many other covenants, treaties, and declarations issued by UN Summits and intergovernmental partnerships. In addition, Rockefeller stated the following: “One especially important contribution to the Earth Charter to the shaping of the new global ethics is the document’s recognition of the interdependence of all its principles and presentation of a holistic and integrated ethical outlook” (p. 166). The author pointed out several positive trends like increase in countries considering being democratic, wealthier nations forgiving debt of the poorest countries, business’s costs savings due to environmental efforts, and augmentation in the use of alternative energies.
Andres Edwards (2005) stated the following: “Since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) gathering in Johnannesburg in 2002, the Earth Charter has developed into a significant educational tool providing a useful framework for discussing such topics as globalization, ethics, and social justice” (p. 46). In addition, Edwards found that the charter has been endorsed by the US Conference of Mayors, the Florida League of Cities, and several cities including Berkeley, California and Burlington, Vermont (p. 46). However, Edwards (2005) critiqued the Earth Charter when he stated the following:
The result is a well-intentioned utopian, yet conceptually diffuse, vision of international harmony relying on international agreements for its implementation. The Charter’s broad-stroke look at the sustainability issues from an international perspective may be a necessary first step before nations can agree on common goals, yet it would benefit greatly from the practical approach of the NEPP and Minnesota principles. (p. 31)
“The Minnesota Round Table on Sustainable Development offers five principles as guideposts along the path to sustainable development” (p. 34). These principles consist of global interdependence, stewardship, conservation, indicators, and shared responsibility. Based on the Minnesota effort, Edwards (2005) cited research whereby citizens wanted good jobs, vital communities, and a healthy environment (p. 35). Therefore, their efforts sought to maintain all three.
Based on the reading, I’d argue for a combination of approaches to work for sustainable development. We need a far reaching local, state, national, and international effort to educate, share responsibility, participate in government, and monitor the efforts of businesses and governments to be more environmentally friendly. In addition, we need local, state, federal, and international effort in order to ensure compliance with international efforts to decrease global poverty, depletion of resources, inequity, and to help with a host of other issues. This will entail educating people to recognize shared values and goals for the future. This will entail motivating people to collaborate rather than compete in some areas. Ultimately, I agree with Rockefeller who argued that no one can do it alone. I agree with Rockefeller who argued for using the Earth Charter as a teaching tool and an ethical guide. After all, we are a part of the greater community of life, and we need to sustain as much quality life as possible. In addition, we need to be more unselfish in order to provide a better quality of life for all citizens of the global community. Finally, we should consider it our ethical responsibility to participate in some way in this effort.
References
Edwards, A. (2005). The Sustainability Revolution (pp. 29-47). Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.
Rockefeller, S.C. (2005). The transition to sustainability. In Corcoran, P.B., Vilela, M., & Roerink, A. (Eds.), The Earth Charter in action: Toward a sustainable world (pp. 165-170). Amsterdam: KIT Publishers BV.