23 Mar 2015

Last week’s Thought drew a response quoting from Rachel Carson’s book “Silent Spring”, published in 1962. Rachel, a marine biologist, advanced the environmental movement with this book. Here is an earlier quotation by her:

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction.”

Rachel Carson (1907-1964; John Burroughs Medal acceptance speech, 1952)

16 Mar 2015

A quotation continuing on the theme of environmental diversity (but this quotation could apply to our relationships with others as well as the environment):

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

Dame Jane Goodall (b. 1934; English primatologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace)

9 Mar 2015

Moving on from the last few quotations about diversity among humans, here is a quotation – and a challenge – about environmental diversity:

“We do justice to what we are as human beings when we seek to do justice to the diversity of life around us; we become what we are supposed to be when we assume our responsibility for life continuing on earth. And that call to do justice brings with it the call to re-examine what we mean by growth and wealth.”

Rowan Williams (Anglican bishop, theologian and poet; Lecture given on 13/10/2009)