4 May 2015

A final quotation from the letter from the Church of England bishops concerning the forthcoming election – this time about the environment:

“We need an honest account of how we must live in the future if generations yet to come are not to inherit a denuded and exhausted planet.”

“Who is my neighbour?” paragraph 27 (www.churchofengland.org/GeneralElection2015)

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)

6 - 13 Dec 2009

Another quotation about the environment as the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meet during the next two weeks to negotiate a framework for a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol. I am not sure of the original source of this quotation as it has probably been said by many people:

“Care for our world; it is the only one we have.”

Desmond Tutu (born 1931; Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984).

29 Nov - 6 Dec 2009

From 7 – 18 December 2009 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet in Copenhagen to negotiate and agree the framework for a new international climate change agreement. This will be a last opportunity to pave the way for updating and replacing the Kyoto Protocol before it expires in 2012. A quotation often used in articles about environmental issues:

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

Source unknown but probably a Native American Proverb