Review of The Future of Life, by Edward O. Wilson

[Excerpt] It is refreshing to read an environmental diatribe where the writer has both the authority of a world expert and a willingness to compromise to pursue realistic solutions. Wilson is a Harvard biology professor, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and a director of the Nature Conservancy. In The Future of Life, he presents a succinct evaluation of the great ecological issues of our day, focusing on the rapid pace of species extinctions, and on the promise of finding a balance between conservation and human activity that will bring the extinctions to a halt

Ecological Communication in Information Society: Reflections on Niklas Luhmann's Thought in Understanding Ecological & Disaster Issues in Indonesia

Ecological issues pose a serious threat to the continued existence of contemporary society. The recent development of humanity as an information society has been unable to overcome ecological issues; indeed, they have become more complex. Rapid advances in information and communication technology have fundamentally transformed various dimensions of human life. At the same time, ecological problems have been complicated by increasingly intense disasters, limited awareness of environmental degradation, as well as the increasingly apparent threat of global warming and climate change. Niklas Luhmann, a German sociologist, offered ecological communication as a conceptual framework for understanding the ecological problems faced by modern society. Through his system theory and concept of resonance, Luhmann sought to explain how modern society, as a complex social system, responds to ecological issues. This article seeks to explore in detail the ecological communication framework developed by Luhmann and use it to understand the ecological issues facing today#39;s information society, especially in Indonesia. The main method used by this research is exploration and explication of the principles of Luhmann#39;s theory, which are implemented to analyze various ecological issues and natural disasters in Indonesia. This research involved the collection of materials on ecological communication from Luhmann#39;s books, as well as the linking of these materials to the ecological problems faced by information society

American Indian Environments: Ecological Issues in Native American History

Review of: American Indian Environments: Ecological Issues in Native American History. Vecsey, Christopher and Venables, Robert W., ed

American Indian Environments: Ecological Issues in Native American History

Review of: American Indian Environments: Ecological Issues in Native American History. Vecsey, Christopher and Venables, Robert W., ed

Beyond the resource curse: minerals and global development

This repository item contains a single issue of Issues in Brief, a series of policy briefs that began publishing in 2008 by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future.This policy brief discusses the concept of the “resource curse” and the often-assumed connection between a country’s significant mineral wealth and violence and corruption. The paper argues that developing countries with abundant mineral resources can have positive and equitable development programs by establishing long-range plans that address governance, economic and social policies, and ecological issues associated with mineral extraction, and establishing appropriate frameworks and infrastructure to carry out these plans

Leonardo Boff’s Social-Environmental Ecology Exposition, Analysis, and Appropriation for Lutheran Theology

Furst, Alan Diego. “Leonardo Boff’s Social-Environmental Ecology: Exposition, Analysis, and Appropriation for Lutheran Theology.” MA Thesis, Concordia Seminary, 2018. 107pp. Ecological issues throughout the world present an urgent need for a deepened theological approach to the doctrine of creation. In fact, recent studies have shown that such issues point to a more serious problem with the entire system at work shaping social relations today. This situation calls Christian theologians to rethink the doctrine of creation in light of ecological issues. This includes Lutheran theologians, who still need to address the current situation involving ecological issues and to offer reflections and responses from a Lutheran perspective, identifying ways by which the doctrine of creation helps Christians to live out their faith within God’s creation in the face of such reality. The question is how to do this. This thesis contributes to an answer by considering answers already given by theologians of other Christian traditions on the topic. Specifically, this thesis exposes and analyzes the most influential works of Leonardo Boff on ecological issues, and considers insights and recommendations for Lutheran theology. As a result, this thesis identifies Boff’s reflection over the question of what it means to be human and what is the relation human beings have with other creatures and the rest of creation as his most basic contribution. More specifically, Boff’s perspective analyzes how aspects such as society, economy, politics, etc. affect and give shape to the human relationship to creation today. In conclusion, this thesis argues that Lutheran theology should not dismiss Boff’s theology but acknowledge and appreciate the relevance of his reflection on current issues. Accordingly, this thesis offers recommendations and possible appropriations from Boff’s approach to Lutheran theology, especially on ways of rethinking the doctrine of vocation in light of current ecological issues

Attachments to nature : design and eco-emotion

This paper is concerned with how technology influences people’s emotional attachments to nature. The paper proposes two theoretical works in progress: a model which shows how emotions are constructed through social, technological and ecological experience; and a framework which proposes ways in which technology influences the construction of emotional attachments to nature. The aim of these models and frameworks are to enable designers to reframe their perceptions of ecological issues and recognise the behavioural, cultural and social complexities. The paper also hopes to further the relevance of the design and emotion field to sustainable development. The paper emerges from an investigation into an anthropological approach to ecodesign, and one of the key aims of presenting the paper is to understand its relevance of this enquiry to the design and emotion field

Ecological issues – green and blue – as a niche for Croatia

Croatia, as a relatively new member state of the European Union, has an interest to find a niche in foreign policy. The importance of specialization of Croatian foreign policy is emphasized by current trends in the world, and by the need to distinguish itself in the international community. Ecological issues and the protection of the sea and rivers, the preservation of the marine – so-called blue economy – and terrestrial environment, as well as organic farming, are the areas in which Croatia needs to find its niche in foreign policy. Consequently, it is extremely important that Croatia’s foreign policy plays an active role in promoting ecological issues in both the European Union and in the whole Mediterranean region. The foreign policy of specialization in the field of ecology is supported by Croatian recognition in the world for its natural beauty and for it being one of the most ecologically preserved countries in Europe