Mission
The ecological challenge of today is a serious “global” threat of our time from which no one can escape. Some scientists say that a major extinction of the Earth’s species—the “sixth extinction”—is already on its way, and that unlike the previous ones, we—humans—are responsible for this one. Many agree that the current ecological challenge is a moral crisis, and that it is closely related to other moral challenges that threaten the world peace today.
The aim of this subcommittee is to explore and promote an “eco-spirituality” that can address the current ecological challenge, and do so in a manner that can potentially overcome the fragmentary character of contemporary life. Morality is concerned with issues of right and wrong. Ethics is concerned about human conduct. Spirituality, on the other hand, can be defined as a “way of perceiving,” or way of being in the world. Furthermore, the spiritual is the deepest sense of belonging and participating—there is something in all of us that seeks the spiritual. Spirituality, conceived this way, does not separate and can lead us to a vision or a world view that can be shared by all. Then an eco-spirituality is rooted in an ecological vision or an ecological world view that is inclusive, interdependent, relational, communal, and holistic, with special concerns for (environmental) justice and for all life in the universe.
Our objectives include:
° To articulate essential components of eco-spirituality that can be shared by all people of good will, including:
- Appreciation of the wonders of nature that is rooted in the awareness of its creativity, diversity, and its wholeness.
- Awareness that humans are an integral part of the interconnected web of all forms of life in the universe.
° To foster environmental responsibility inspired by and drawing from eco-spirituality.
° To encourage the inclusion of eco-spirituality awareness into the various environmental programs, activities, and strategies at the UN.