Gandhi's Nonviolent Ecology: Conversations about Climate Change
Angelia Shugarts, Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: News
Dr. Byron Plumley's Peace and Justice class participated in the 'Conversations about Climate Change' week focusing on Gandhi's Nonviolent Ecology. This class was one of many classes focusing on climate change held throughout the week.
Plumley and his students "put on [their] environmental caps" and focused its climate conversation around Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence in relation to the environment. By developing an "interspecies engagement" from a comprehensive ecological perspective, Plumley emphasized the idea of "creating a harmony" with the world around us.
Through Gandhi's terminology of "ahimsa" meaning do no harm, methods to preserve the earth included student suggestions like planting trees, preserving the rain forest, and growing one's own food. These simple ways of living and preservation of the environment were also strategies of Gandhi's in regards to "swaraj" meaning self-discipline or self-rule.
For Gandhi, his display of swaraj included making his own clothes to go against British rule of manufactured goods. This display of independence and individual control is connected to the methods of environmental preservation.
Plumley recalled the activity of creating an "environmental footprint" and students responded to this activity recalling experiences in high school where this activity involved the conservation of resources in one day to see how one person's change of daily activity can help save the earth.
Plumley referenced Sally McFague, professor of Theology at Vanderbilt University, who wrote an article several years ago about how "the planet is the body of God" and asked her students to reflect on how Gandhi would take this idea and put it into action.
Plumley also questioned "would we treat the world differently if we saw it this way?" Gandhi's Nonviolent Ecology emphasized the ideas of doing on harm to the earth and living a life of simplicity not only is environmentally friendly but an act of noncooperation in regards to mass production and destruction of our earth.
Next week, the Highlander will further the discussion of climate change, examining media coverage and the role of government in supporting renewable energy and sustainability.
Plumley and his students "put on [their] environmental caps" and focused its climate conversation around Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence in relation to the environment. By developing an "interspecies engagement" from a comprehensive ecological perspective, Plumley emphasized the idea of "creating a harmony" with the world around us.
Through Gandhi's terminology of "ahimsa" meaning do no harm, methods to preserve the earth included student suggestions like planting trees, preserving the rain forest, and growing one's own food. These simple ways of living and preservation of the environment were also strategies of Gandhi's in regards to "swaraj" meaning self-discipline or self-rule.
For Gandhi, his display of swaraj included making his own clothes to go against British rule of manufactured goods. This display of independence and individual control is connected to the methods of environmental preservation.
Plumley recalled the activity of creating an "environmental footprint" and students responded to this activity recalling experiences in high school where this activity involved the conservation of resources in one day to see how one person's change of daily activity can help save the earth.
Plumley referenced Sally McFague, professor of Theology at Vanderbilt University, who wrote an article several years ago about how "the planet is the body of God" and asked her students to reflect on how Gandhi would take this idea and put it into action.
Plumley also questioned "would we treat the world differently if we saw it this way?" Gandhi's Nonviolent Ecology emphasized the ideas of doing on harm to the earth and living a life of simplicity not only is environmentally friendly but an act of noncooperation in regards to mass production and destruction of our earth.
Next week, the Highlander will further the discussion of climate change, examining media coverage and the role of government in supporting renewable energy and sustainability.
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Russian Wives
posted 3/19/10 @ 1:29 PM MST
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Russian Wives
posted 3/19/10 @ 1:49 PM MST
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