Dear ReWilder,
Welcome to ReWild Explained!
It is becoming increasingly clear that as we move towards a ‘sustainable’ and technologically advanced future, we are needing to ground ourselves in ecological wisdom. Re-connecting with nature is an important step we need to take in order to avert ecological, economic or social crises that awaits us.
What is Deep Ecology ? 🦓🦏
“Deep Ecology is a branch of ecological philosophy (ecosophy) that considers humankind as an integral part of its environment. The philosophy emphasises the interdependent value of human and non-human life as well as the importance of the ecosystem and natural processes. It provides a foundation for the environmental and green movements and has led to a new system of environmental ethics.” - Environment & Ecology
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” Foreword, A Sand County Almanac.
The 8 Basic principles of Deep Ecology
1.The flourishing of human and non-human life on Earth has inherent value. The value of non-human life-forms is independent of the usefulness of the non-human world for human purposes.
2.Richness and diversity of life forms are also values in themselves and contribute to the flourishing of human and non-human life on Earth.
3.Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.
4.The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of non-human life requires such a decrease.
5.Present human interference with the non-human world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.
6.In view of the foregoing points, policies must be changed. The changes in policies affect basic economic, technological, and ideological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present and make possible a more joyful experience of the connectedness of all things.
7. The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent value) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great.
8. Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes. Our current economic model, and common land ethics do not value the inherent value of all life that exists on earth. One of our core foundations of being human is disconnected; our connection to the natural world and its processes and systems. Do our new technological and capitalistic innovations value this?
The “Great Work” that lies ahead for humans is one where we must carry out a transformation from an era of human devastation of the natural world to one where humans live in harmony with the earth.
Watch out for more of these ReWild Explained videos where we seek to share knowledge and stories of a wilder world.
Thanks again for coming back, and reading our newsletters, we really appreciate your support.
Other News from ReWild Africa 🐆
Huge thanks to everyone who came and participated in our event ‘Climate Change Conversations’ last Thursday. We are left invigorated and inspired by all of you! Watch this space for more to come…
Megan has just come back from a shoot with BBC StoryWorks and WWF - an amazing story of forest restoration in the heart of Uganda.
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