The Philosophical Basis of the Environmental Movement

Fazlous Satter

To keep our planet earth inhabitable for all the living organisms, we need to develop a global community based on sustainable peace, Sustainable livelihood, sustainable technology, and sustainable development, sustainable ecological equilibrium, and environmental balance & stable climate. Therefore, apart from changing the consumerist outlook as well as plundering and exploitation of natural resources by the TNC & MNC; Finally, we also need to rethink the definition of so-called civilization based on industrialization and change our philosophical position regarding human superiority over Mother Nature and our relationship with every component of it.

We need to consider ourselves as a tiny / smallest microscopic part of our cosmic system/ ever-expanding universe. As a human, we need to recognize the role of indigenous people as the custodian of bio-diversity.

We also need to recognize the important contribution of each component that belongs to our planet earth that includes from soil to ocean, river to lake and canal, sub-soil water reservoir to ice shield, under ocean rock, insect to birds, plant to aquatic and marine organism, river morphology, tectonic movement, mineral resources, domestic animals to wild animals like a ferocious tiger to innocent deer, grass to cosmic ray, fish to a parasite, giant tree to algae, frog to reptile, a giant poisonous snake to another amphibian, sun’s ray to the ozone layer, rain to cloud and sunshine.

We must understand that loss of any component from nature means re-shaping this equilibrium and making its imbalance. For that reason, we need to recognize that as human beings, we have lots of things to learn from each of the creation/ elements/components that exist in our nature that how to adapt to the sudden climate changes and its possible consequences. Everything that belongs to Mother Nature and our cosmic system is interred related.

In a real sense, there is no glory in conquering mother nature but proud belongs to living with peaceful co-existence and finally showing due respect to it. So, the environmental movement is not merely a struggle for the protection it is also a philosophical position regarding the ever-expanding universe/ cosmology where our planet earth belongs to and it is also a lifestyle. It is also the matter of justice & due respect to all the creation/ elements/ components that contributed to shaping this planet for our lives and livelihood.